All five of them ran, moving in formation toward the area where the alarm blared and red lights flashed on and off.
They reached the location within moments and saw that the entire defensive system of that wall section was active, launching a storm of ammunition toward a thick cloud of smoke where the creature seemed to be hiding.
But the strange smoke that surrounded the creature blocked every projectile fired at it. The grayish-black mist shimmered faintly as countless sparks burst across its surface, deflecting the barrage of shells and bullets as if it were made of living steel.
When Elysia and her team arrived and saw the scene, a sudden look of worry appeared on her face.
"What the?… a Mist Wolf," she muttered, her eyes narrowing. "What is a high-level creature like that doing here? This is dangerous for all of them."
She looked at her team, who were now getting ready for their first encounter. She quickly assessed the situation, recognizing that the thick smoke deflecting the attacks wasn't ordinary fog. It was the creature's mist, and somewhere within it, a big wolf-like creature should be hiding.
"Quick! Close your ears and don't look straight into the eyes of that creature!" Elysia shouted with all her strength, but her voice was lost in the chaos, the booming shots and exploding rounds drowning her words completely.
Everyone turned toward her, confused, not understanding what she was trying to say. A moment later, her voice echoed in their minds through the ear jewelry they all wore.
"There's no time to explain, just do what I say! Close your ears with something."
Then she looked at Liora, and a sudden thought hit her.
"Liora, it's your job to protect everyone's hearing. Your aspect is wind, right? Can you create a vacuum around each one of their ears to block all sound?"
She looked at her, hoping it would be possible. Liora looked at her with a hint of shock, not expecting her aspect to be used like that. But she replied quickly, not wasting a moment.
"I've never tried this before, but I'm sure I can do it."
Then, with a sudden swing of her palms, she created ten spheres of air floating in the air, and with precise control, she placed each sphere around the ears of every team member, including Elysia.
As soon as the spheres surrounded Elysia's ears, every sound around her began to fade until she could hear only her own breathing. And it was a strange feeling, to feel so utterly isolated yet aware.
All of them could now hear nothing but their own breath. They were the only people in the world at that moment, standing behind the active defense mechanisms, which were launching thousands of rounds per minute at the creature.
Elysia tried to look inside the wall to get a better view of the people who should be in a panic by now. The others did the same, hoping to see confusion or fear in the civilians' eyes. But to their surprise, everything was normal.
There was no panic, no running. Perhaps everyone knew they were safe behind the wall, or perhaps the passage of time had dulled their fear. This was the usual routine for all of them.
Everyone looked down at the black metal beneath their feet, covered in giant scales. Everyone except Elysia was lost in thought, reflecting on the revelations about the wall, that it was alive. It was not only alive, but also the body of a Demon God. The god who was sealed by the sacrifice of the first heroes, those who awakened their affinity aspects and rose to heights where they managed to seal the body of a Demon God.
The biggest threat to humankind, the Demon God, was now protecting them. And people lived without tension, oblivious to the unknown creatures lurking beyond the walls, all thanks to the Demon God. How ironic it was.
Elysia looked back at the smoke protecting the creature inside it and then, with commanding authority through the black stones in their ears, shouted:
"Don't look into the creature's eyes! If you do, there won't even be a single chance for me to save you. Do you all hear me?"
They froze for a heartbeat as her words sank in. Why was she asking them not to look into the eyes of a creature? And how were they supposed to fight it without facing that fear?
"I know you've heard about this kind of creature before," Elysia continued sharply through the comms.
"You're all seeing the strange smoke over there, right? It's not smoke. It's a kind of mist. Inside the mist, a big creature is hiding. The creature hidden in that mist is a Mist Wolf, and it is a high-rank monster. It can manipulate your mind through its voice and eyes. It should be classified as a devil, but in terms of physicality and intelligence, it's considered a high-rank monster only."
The moment they heard the name Mist Wolf, everyone tensed in fear and immediately tried to cover their eyes and ears.
It was a creature known not for brute strength but for its terrifying ability to kill without touching its prey. It could destroy a person's soul just by making eye contact and drive them insane with the sound of its voice.
Soon, what felt like an eternity passed before the storm of ammunition and projectiles finally ceased. The part of the city that had echoed with explosions and gunfire moments ago now fell into suffocating silence.
The flashes from the defense mechanisms halted, and for a moment, the world didn't seem so bright anymore. Everything fell into a long pause of silence.
When the people realized the discharge had stopped, they felt some ease. Most assumed the defense had succeeded in eliminating the creature. But they couldn't have been more wrong.
It was only a pause, caused by the cooling and reloading of the massive artillery.
As the wall's defenses paused, the mist began to twist, shifting its shape like something alive. From the large cloud, nine smaller clouds separated and positioned themselves at some distance in front of the larger cloud.
The hot rays of the sun burned brighter than usual. Sweat rolled down the faces of each team member, their grips tight on their weapons, expressions tense but determined.
But something wasn't right. The calm wasn't peace; it was the stillness before the storm.
Here it comes. Can I really do this without the help of my captain? Elysia thought to herself, her expression worried.
But looking at her team, she instantly pushed every negative thought aside.
I can do this. Just… breathe and focus, she told herself, raising her long-range rifle.
Then, with firm, commanding authority, she shouted:
"Take your positions! We need to hold this thing until the defense system cools down!"
Her voice carried over the wall, and her team responded instantly. Each member spread out, taking their stations along the edge, rifles raised and eyes fixed on the swirling mist.
Elysia stood at the center, the barrel of her sniper rifle steady, aimed at the dense gray fog below.
Then, suddenly, a realization struck her.
Wait… where are the others? If my guess is right and we are dealing with a Mist Wolf, then there should be more of them.
Her pulse quickened. Elysia's gaze darted across the open land beyond the wall, scanning through her rifle's scope for movement.
Something's wrong… where are you hiding?
Her thoughts barely finished when the mist below began to churn violently. The nine smaller clouds that had separated from the main mass started shifting and coalescing into figures.
Seconds later, massive creatures emerged, covered in coarse brown fur and steel-black plating along their backs. Their claws gleamed like sharpened blades, and their fangs dripped with saliva that sizzled as it touched the scorched ground. Each stood easily five feet tall at the shoulder, eyes glowing faintly through the haze. Growls rumbled through the air as they locked onto the five humans atop the wall.
Everyone recognized the function of the mist. They understood how it had defended the creature against the wall's fire. Looking at the creatures, all four team members felt a flicker of fear, though muted, because they knew they were safe atop the wall.
But then, a new kind of chill spread through the air.
As the largest cluster of mist parted, a single massive paw pressed against the stone wall. Thick, crimson fur bristled along its length, and every muscle beneath it seemed alive, pulsing with power. The paw was followed by the rest of the towering body, nearly eight feet tall, each step sending tiny vibrations through the ground. Its back was plated in white, steel-like armor that gleamed beneath the scorching sunlight, reflecting sharp glints like a thousand blades.
Every movement radiated authority, dominance. The creature's fur shimmered as if it were smoldering embers, and its fangs, longer and sharper than any of the others, dripped with saliva that hissed as it hit the scorched earth. Its claws scraped against the stone, producing a metallic screech that resonated in the tense silence.
Then it lifted its head. The Alpha's eyes, deep, bloody red, glowing like molten crystal, locked onto the five humans standing above. Even from this distance, the weight of its gaze was unbearable, like iron chains wrapped around their spines. A shiver raced through them, cold and unrelenting, despite the burning heat of the afternoon sun.
The air seemed to thrum around the Alpha, a low, vibrating growl rolling through the mist and echoing against the wall. It was alive. Terrifyingly alive. More than a wolf, more than a beast, it was the embodiment of power, a creature that should not exist in the light of day, yet here it was, commanding the battlefield without moving a muscle beyond its poised, deliberate stance.
Now, they understood. They understood why Elysia had warned them not to meet its eyes.