The forest was drenched in blood.
Human corpses lay scattered everywhere. Some had been minced into countless pieces, others were missing limbs or heads, while a few had been reduced to nothing more than mangled pulp. The thick metallic scent of blood lingered heavily in the air.
Two human girls sprinted desperately through the forest, pushing their Epic-tier skills to their limits.
They ran as fast as their battered bodies would allow, panting heavily as blood flowed from deep claw wounds covering their arms, backs, and legs. Their clothes had long since been torn apart by the relentless attacks they had barely escaped. Beneath the blood, dirt, and terrified expressions, both girls were undoubtedly beautiful.
Neither dared look back.
"Shion, hurry!"
The voice belonged to a blonde beauty whose once-neat grey shirt had been reduced to little more than torn cloth. Tight leather trousers, a utility belt, and black boots completed what remained of her adventuring attire.
The girl she urged onward wore priestly robes that scarcely resembled robes anymore. Although badly torn, the white garments still clung to her body, matching the pristine white shoes now stained with mud and blood.
Sophie could barely breathe.
Unlike Shion, she wasn't a frontline combatant.
Every step burned. Every breath hurt.
Still...
She forced herself to keep running beside her friend.
Unfortunately, she was slowly falling behind.
Then—
A deafening howl echoed throughout the forest. Both girls instantly paled. Their bodies suddenly felt impossibly heavy.
Their legs buckled beneath them as they stumbled violently, tumbling across the dirt-covered ground before rolling several times.
"Cough!"
"Cough!"
Blood mixed with dirt as they struggled for air. Both were nearing their limits. Shion forced herself onto one knee before immediately crawling toward Sophie.
"You alright?" She grabbed her friend's arm, desperately trying to pull her up. Just as both girls barely managed to get onto their knees...
The wind shifted and a faint breeze brushed across their skin. Turning instinctively—They froze. Barely a step away...
A shirtless young man stood before them. He looked no older than eighteen. Long grey hair rested over his shoulders, while crimson eyes quietly observed the pair. A suffocating bloody aura surrounded him. His clawed feet were bare against the earth. Sharp black claws extended from his fingers. In one hand... He casually held a chunk of fresh flesh.
Whether it belonged to a human or not...Neither girl was willing to think about it. After all...This Silverfang had just annihilated five entire adventuring parties. The young Silverfang tilted his head slightly. He was...Handsome dangerously handsome
And despite everything... A completely ridiculous thought entered both girls' minds at exactly the same moment.
He's... really cute...
The absurd thought only lasted an instant. Warm liquid trickled down both their thighs. Their legs completely gave out. Tears welled uncontrollably within their eyes.
Ragnar quietly observed them.
Humans...
They really were a strange race.
Besides the obvious scent of fear...
He could swear they also smelled strangely similar to females in heat.
Tilting his head with genuine curiosity, he tossed aside the bone still in his hand before scratching his cheek.
"Hm..."
"Do you wish to mate?"
The girls stared blankly at him. Their minds refused to process the words.
Moments earlier, they had watched this very Silverfang tear apart over forty adventurers. He had carved people into pieces with effortless swings of his claws.
Some he ripped apart and others he simply began eating. They had somehow become the only survivors.
Now...
The monster had finally caught them.
Yet...
Several seconds passed. Neither of them had been killed, slowly, they looked back toward Ragnar. He, in turn, looked at them with visible confusion, as though waiting for an answer.
Then...
Realization struck as they glanced at each other and then back at him. The blonde swallowed hard.
"M-My Lord..."
"...Do you mean... have sex with us?"
Ragnar's ears twitched as he smiled.
"Mm. You both smell strangely excited. I also find both of you attractive. This makes things easier you'll make good test subjects. I want to see how one of my skills works. You may refuse but if you do...You die."
"If you agree...You might live. If everything goes well...You may even become suitable wolves for my pack."
Shion cautiously found her voice."...You would actually let us live?" Ragnar nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Sophie immediately looked toward her friend before giving a subtle nod. Shion hesitated after all something about this felt...Wrong.
The Silverfang kept referring to them as part of his pack. Did that mean slavery in beast kind language? Some sort of Beastkin contract? She didn't know. Turning toward Sophie, she whispered,
"Are you sure? You're a priest. If we do this...the Temple may brand you an enemy." Sophie squeezed her friend's trembling hand. Her exhausted eyes remained strangely calm.
"...But I'd still be alive.If we refuse...do you honestly think that he will give us an easy death?"
Ragnar nodded approvingly. "Correct. Sophie, was it? I'm already being generous. You humans lost. Your lives belong to me now. I simply have no interest in anything else."
Sophie bit her lip as seconds passed after a long moment... She nodded. Both girls lowered their heads toward Ragnar.
"My Lord...We, Sophie and Shion..wish to serve you. To prove our loyalty...There are slave collars among our supplies. We intended to use them on any Beastkin we captured. You may use them on us instead."
Ragnar chuckled."No need." Pushing himself away from the tree, he casually walked over until he stood directly before them. With complete indifference, he pointed downward.
"You can decide which of you will suck me of and start first." Both girls froze.
Here...?
Now...?
In the middle of a forest covered in blood and corpses?
Sophie looked toward Shion. Shion looked equally horrified.
Still...Someone had to move, taking a shaky breath, Shion slowly reached toward Ragnar's waistband. With trembling hands, she carefully lowered his trousers, then she hesitated.
Looking up at him, she asked quietly "...My Lord...aren't you worried about putting yourself in such a vulnerable position?"
Ragnar simply laughed. "You can try something...and find out what happens."