Z's heart skipped a beat. What had this idiot done? His first instinct was to ask Ragnar to calm down, but the words died in his throat, because Ragnar was calm.
There wasn't a trace of anger on his face.
He merely stared at the adventurer before him.
The man's heart seized with terror as he instinctively leapt backward.
Unfortunately... Ragnar merely snorted. A single swipe.
His claws flashed. The man's face was shredded into countless strips of flesh before his body collapsed to the ground with a dull thud.
Silence. The scent of blood spread through the camp. Z stared at the corpse in disbelief before instinctively taking several hurried steps backward.
Ragnar's silver eyes shifted toward him with mild curiosity.
"You attacked," Z hastily explained, raising both hands. "I... I simply backed away. I only wanted to understand your intentions."
Ragnar shook his head.
"He was using a skill. A skill to put me to sleep of some kind. He was trying to put me to sleep." Z's expression stiffened.
He turned toward the dead adventurer, anger immediately replacing his shock. That fool...No one had agreed to provoke the Beastkin, no one.
Bowing his head, he spoke hurriedly. "I sincerely apologize. No one authorized the use of a skill against you. He acted entirely on his own."
Taking another cautious step back, he continued, "If you're already resting in this area, we're willing to leave immediately." Ragnar frowned then tilted his head. "Why would I let you live?"
Z froze.
"...What?"
"You've already killed the one responsible," he replied carefully. "None of us intended to attack you. Had we known what he was doing, we would've stopped him ourselves. There is no reason to kill everyone."
Ragnar nodded. "True." For a brief moment, hope appeared on Z's face. Then Ragnar casually continued, "But... You disturbed my sleep."
"..."
Z blinked.
"...So..."
"You'd kill all of us..."
"...because we woke you up?"
Ragnar looked at him as though the answer were obvious. "Why not?" Every trace of hope disappeared. Z finally understood. This young Silverfang wasn't unreasonable. He simply didn't value human lives.
Negotiations had failed before they had even begun. His expression hardened. Raising his sword, he roared,
"Fight!" The instant the order was given, mana erupted throughout the clearing. Ragnar's ears twitched. His head slowly turned "...Hmm."
Vines burst from beneath the earth, racing toward his legs in an attempt to bind him. He merely glanced down at them. Z immediately seized the opportunity. "Surround him!"
The adventurers rushed forward from every direction. The next instant— Ragnar disappeared in a blur. Nothing more. Z's eyes widened. Where...Blood splattered across his face. Three adventurers stood frozen.
Then...Their bodies slid apart into dozens of neatly carved pieces before collapsing onto the ground.
"..." Z gritted his teeth. He turned sharply— before a searing pain shot from his stomach deep unimaginable pain. Blood poured from his mouth. Slowly lowering his gaze, he found a clawed hand buried completely through his stomach.
Warm blood dripped from Ragnar's fingertips. Too... fast... His vision blurred. He had completely underestimated the Silverfang's speed. Summoning every ounce of strength remaining within him, Z shouted,
"RUN!"
Those were his final words. Ragnar ripped his arm free. Blood erupted from the wound as Z's lifeless body crashed to the ground. Then...The slaughter began.
Dropping onto all fours, Ragnar accelerated with terrifying speed. His body became nothing more than a grey blur tearing through the battlefield. He pounced toward his next victim. One of the party leaders reacted instantly, drawing his enchanted sword before swinging with all his strength. Steel met claw before the sword shattered.
Fragments scattered through the air.
Before the man could comprehend what had happened, Ragnar's claws continued through the broken weapon and tore cleanly through his chest.
Eight people had already died.
Panic spread like wildfire.
"RUN!" The remaining adventurers abandoned any thoughts of fighting. They fled in every direction. One warrior threw away his broken weapon and activated his Nature skill. Massive vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around his legs before violently dragging him backward in an attempt to create distance.
Ragnar merely smiled. His speed increased again. Appearing before the man almost instantly, he grabbed his head with one hand.
Crunch. The skull collapsed beneath his fingers as though it were made of brittle clay.
Blood.
The scent.
The warmth.
His instincts stirred. His heartbeat quickened. He wanted more. Far more. He dropped onto all fours once again, chasing after the fleeing adventurers. His claws seemed even sharper than before.
Every fresh corpse only intensified his bloodlust.
He bounded effortlessly between the colossal branches overhead before dropping behind another terrified adventurer.
Slash. Another body fell apart. Then another and yet again another.
"Damned beast!" A roar erupted from above. One of the remaining party leaders descended with incredible momentum. His body gleamed with metallic light.
A Body Enhancement Skill. His skin had become as hard as enchanted steel. Without slowing, he drove a powerful punch toward Ragnar's head. Ragnar vanished. The warrior's eyes widened.
Where—
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Claw after claw struck his metallic body from every direction.
He couldn't even see Ragnar moving.
Only flashes.
Only impacts.
Only pain.
Before he could react— A fist crashed into his stomach. The armored warrior shot through the forest like a cannonball, smashing through tree after tree as blood exploded from his mouth. Ragnar was already waiting.
Landing atop the man before he even stopped rolling, he unleashed a relentless barrage.
Claws.
Fists.
Claws.
Fists Again and Again. Each strike crushed flesh deeper than the last. The metallic body that had moments ago seemed indestructible slowly collapsed beneath the overwhelming assault.
Ragnar threw back his head. His delighted howl echoed throughout the forest. By the time he finally stopped... Nothing remained beneath him except shattered armor, blood, and mangled flesh. His silver eyes glowed with savage delight.
His instincts completely consumed him.
"SLAUGHTER..."
He inhaled deeply.
"HOWL!"
A deafening wolf's howl exploded throughout the forest. The fleeing adventurers staggered simultaneously. Blood trickled from their ears. Their vision spun violently.
Balance disappeared. One after another, they slammed helplessly into nearby trees before collapsing onto the forest floor, unable to tell left from right.
Ragnar smiled. He could smell every heartbeat. Every drop of blood. Every frightened breath. One by one...
He appeared beside them. Some died beneath crushing punches. Others beneath merciless claws. Others never even saw him before claw slashes carved through them from several meters away.
When the forest finally fell silent... Nothing remained. Only blood broken weapons and corpses scattered throughout the Fanged Forest.
Like that...One Guild expedition had lost over forty adventurers within the Fanged Forest.
To those familiar with Beastkin territory...
It was simply another ordinary day.