They crawled out of their hiding place, backs still bent low. Noah's breath came in short, ragged gasps, each exhale feeling like a knife stabbing his lungs.
"Don't make a sound," he whispered, his index finger pressing against his chapped lips. In the distance, Allen's star light flickered weakly—like a dying firefly trapped in thick fog.
Advance slowly. One step. Two steps.
The forest grew denser, the trees forming a dark tunnel. The trunks of old oaks intertwined like a giant rib cage, forcing them to walk single file. Noah walked in front, his right hand clenched tightly while his left held onto Sena's arm firmly.
Behind him, Sena bit her already bleeding lip, trying to suppress the pain as her hair got caught in the thorns of a bush.
Suddenly—
**CRAAACK!**
The sound of snapping bone echoed loudly. Followed by the abruptly cut-off squeal of a boar, and then... the horrifying crunch of breaking bones.
Noah froze. Before his eyes, the air wavered with purple—ten meters ahead, the bushes moved not from the wind, but as if pushed from within by something breathing heavily.
"It's… here."
Sena reflexively wanted to scream. But Noah quickly covered her mouth.
The wolf rose. Its height surpassed the bushes, its muzzle dripping fresh blood—the remains of a freshly torn boar. Noah's heart pounded loudly, the thumping echoing in his own ears.
"This is too close..." Noah murmured to himself, his hand trembling uncontrollably.
His eyes glanced downward. A flat stone lay among the roots. With a careful movement, he picked up the stone. Swung his arm. And threw the stone toward the farthest bush—without a sound.
**WHOOSH!**
The stone hit the dry leaves in the bushes. The wolf growled viciously, then shot toward the source of the sound with unreasonable speed.
Without a second thought, Noah gripped Sena's wrist and slipped into a narrow path. An open field was visible at the end.
Behind them, the sound of claws tearing through bushes could still be heard... then suddenly stopped. The wolf had realized their trick.
They ran down the narrow path, trying to get away. "We have to hurry, soon…" Noah said urgently. Allen's star was getting closer. Its light was now visible through the bushes ahead.
The wolf was still tearing through the surrounding bushes searching for them, until finally its eyes found them in the distance.
Noah glanced back. Their eyes met. A smile was carved on the wolf's face.
With giant steps, the creature gave chase. Each step made the ground shake, the distance between predator and prey narrowing rapidly.
Noah looked at Allen's star, now so close—just thirty steps away from that illuminated clearing. But the mutated wolf only needed ten steps to tear him apart.
"HELP US, ALLEN!" he screamed, his voice breaking between hope and despair.
Behind his back, Sena stumbled. Her breath gasped, her small legs already out of energy.
No... There's no way we all die here.
Time seemed to slow down as Noah saw: Sena fallen with bloody knees, Allen's star light beginning to fade, and the giant shadow ready to pounce.
Without thinking, Noah gathered all his remaining strength. With a strong push, he shoved Sena's body forward—sending the girl tumbling two meters ahead—right to the edge of the clearing.
**NOAH—!** Sena turned around, her eyes wide. Only now did she realize the sacrifice Noah had made for her.
But it was too late.
Noah turned, his body taking a low stance even though his knees trembled.
"This will be my final effort," he whispered, his sweaty hands clenching tightly. "If this is my end, at least I fought."
**SNARL!**
The mutated wolf shot forward like a bullet.
Noah held his breath—his muscles tensed, preparing for impact. But at that moment—
—Noah's body was suddenly pulled back by an invisible force. The small stars that had been shimmering swarmed around him, forming an energy shield just before impact.
CRACK…!!
The hundred-year-old oak tree beside him collapsed. Right in front of the leaping wolf.
THUD!!
The creature hit the tree hard. Its muzzle shattered into pieces, thick purple blood spurting from the gaping wound. Finally... it fell motionless.
Dust and wood fragments flew everywhere, creating a blinding gray haze.
Silence. Noah's eyes widened in disbelief at the miracle that had just saved him.
Then—
"Yep... according to plan." Haru's distinctive voice echoed. His hand still emitted remnants of fire energy from the magic he had just used to fell the tree.
"What kind of wolf is this…" Haru murmured, his voice trembling with fear.
Noah stood frozen, his eyes still teary seeing Haru standing beside the tree debris. "Haru..." he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Suddenly a warm hand patted his shoulder. Allen stood beside him with a relieved smile. "You were amazing,"
Noah took a deep breath. "Good thing you were on time..." his body began to weaken, the adrenaline slowly subsiding. "Sena..." He approached the girl with a limping step. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Sena answered while holding back tears. "Thank you..."
"We should head back soon, before something else happens," Allen said, trying to stay calm.
They began walking away from the dense forest, though still far from home. Ahead of them, two steep cliffs rose high on either side, forming a narrow path between them.
'My body is so weak,' Noah thought, his legs feeling heavy. 'Is it because I haven't been exercising lately?'
"Thank you, Haru, Allen," Noah said sincerely.
"I want to go home now," Haru complained while walking lazily. "I'm hungry…"
Suddenly
Click..!!
A sound came from behind them.
At that moment, all heads turned simultaneously.
Thick purple smoke began to billow from the body of the motionless wolf… Then— a low growl was heard from the wolf that should have been dead.
The wolf began to rise. Its shattered muzzle began to reform into something even more terrifying—a second mouth appeared and gaped open on its neck. Its body swelled unnaturally until its hip bones protruded out through its skin.
New eyes grew and glowed, spotlighting the four children with a hateful gaze.
Sena immediately slipped behind Noah, gripping his shirt so tightly she pulled him back unconsciously. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
'This is no longer a wolf…' Noah thought to himself, the sound of his heart pounding like a war drum.
They retreated step by step, their eyes wide open, filled with horror. Sena couldn't hold back a scream of fear that broke the eerie silence.
"What kind of creature is that?!" Haru shouted, his voice nearly breaking with panic.
'This isn't a wolf anymore…' Noah muttered to himself, his heart pounding like a war drum. 'He's a demon…'