The night was heavy with silence. Only the crackle of their small fire remained, flickering weakly against the dark.
Lin Tian sat on a fallen log, sharpening the edge of his battered sword with a stone. His eyes were calm, but his ears twitched at every distant sound.
Xiao Yue, on the other hand, sat curled near the flames. Her hands clutched her knees, her eyes fixed on the embers. She tried to appear composed, but her chest rose and fell too quickly.
Every now and then, she stole glances at Lin Tian.
His back was straight, his movements steady. The boy who once cowered under scorn now seemed unshaken, even in this nightmare forest. But that steadiness only made the knot in her chest tighten.
He's changing, she thought, biting her lip Stronger and Sharper. Every fight pushes him further ahead. And I… I'm just sitting here, hiding behind him like a child.
She pressed her fingers to the faint glow within her dantian, where the beast cores' energy now lingered. It pulsed warmly, strengthening her veins and bones. And yet
compared to him it felt so insignificant.
He gave me those cores, when he could have used them himself. He's risking everything… while I cling to his shadow.
Her throat burned, tears pricking her eyes.
Lin Tian… I don't want to be your burden. I don't want you to fall protecting me.
She clenched her fists. Even if I break, even if it kills me… I'll fight too.
Hoooowl!
The sound tore through the night like thunder.
Xiao Yue jolted, her blood running cold. This howl was different from the wolves they had faced before deeper, heavier, carrying a pressure that seemed to shake the very air.
Her gaze shot to Lin Tian.
He had frozen mid-motion, stone still in his hand, eyes narrowing. The shadows from the fire danced across his face, highlighting the grim determination etched there.
"That," he murmured, voice low and sharp, "is no ordinary beast."
Xiao Yue swallowed hard. "Lin Tian… what is it?"
He rose slowly, gripping his sword, every sense alert. The pressure of the howl hadn't faded instead, it drew closer, reverberating through the forest floor with heavy, deliberate steps.
"A predator," he said. His voice was calm, but his body tensed like a drawn bow. "One far stronger than anything we've faced. It's hunting."
The fire sputtered, as if struggling for breath.
Xiao Yue's heart pounded wildly. The fear was suffocating but when she saw Lin Tian step in front of her, standing tall with his cracked sword ready, something inside her hardened.
"No," she whispered, rising to her feet. Her legs trembled, but she lifted her wooden sword, standing beside him.
Lin Tian glanced at her in surprise. "Xiao Yue…"
Her eyes burned with determination, her fear replaced by a fragile, blazing courage.
"I won't hide anymore. If this thing wants our lives, then I'll fight too. Even if I can't stand beside you as an equal—I'll stand beside you as myself."
For a moment, silence hung between them—then Lin Tian's lips curved faintly, a flicker of warmth breaking through his steel.
"Good," he said softly. "Then we fight together."
The forest shook as massive footsteps closed in, branches snapped. The air thickened with the stench of blood and iron.
And then, from the shadows, two glowing crimson eyes pierced the darkness.
The Ironhide Direwolf had arrived.
---
The Direwolf emerged from the shadows like a demon from hell.
Its body was enormous, towering over them, muscles rippling beneath black hide that gleamed like iron. Each step crushed roots and stone beneath its paws. Blood still dripped from its jaws, sizzling as it hit the forest floor.
Its two eyes burning like crimson orbs locked onto Lin Tian and Xiao Yue.
The air itself trembled with its killing intent.
"Xiao Yue back!" Lin Tian barked, pushing her a step behind him just as the beast's growl rolled like thunder.
But the Direwolf didn't wait.
BOOM!
It launched forward, a blur of steel-hard fur and teeth. The ground cracked where its paws had been.
Lin Tian's eyes narrowed. He raised his cracked sword—
CLANG!
The beast's fangs clashed with steel. The impact was deafening, sending shockwaves through the clearing. Sparks flew as the battered blade screeched against iron teeth.
The sheer force hurled Lin Tian backward. His feet dug trenches into the soil as he slid, chest aching from the blow. His hands went numb for a moment, but he didn't fall.
The Direwolf shook its head, growling, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
"Too strong…" Lin Tian muttered, his breathing heavy. "Its hide… its strength… this isn't a foe I can face head-on."
"Lin Tian!" Xiao Yue cried, clutching her wooden sword. She took a step forward—
But the beast turned its gaze on her.
It lunged.
Her heart froze. The Direwolf's jaws opened wide, ready to crush her whole—
Whoosh!
Lin Tian's figure blurred, slamming into the beast's side with his sword glowing faintly from circulating every shred of Qi in his body.
CRACK!
The blade cut into the Direwolf's flank but only shallowly. It barely pierced through the iron-hard fur, drawing a thin line of blood.
The Direwolf roared in fury, tail whipping like a steel whip.
BAM!
Lin Tian was hurled into a tree, bark exploding around him. He coughed blood, forcing himself up. His chest burned, ribs protesting with every breath.
But his eyes burned brighter.
"Even if your hide is iron… even if your fangs can shatter stone… you can still bleed."
The Direwolf growled, blood dripping from its shallow wound, crimson eyes burning hotter. It crouched, ready to tear him apart.
Lin Tian gritted his teeth, lowering his stance, battered sword trembling in his grip.
Behind him, Xiao Yue stood frozen, tears welling in her eyes. Fear screamed at her to run but her body refused.
If I run now… he'll die.
She bit down on her lip until it bled.
"No… I won't… I won't let him fight alone!" she shouted, stepping forward with her wooden sword raised. Her whole body trembled, but her eyes shone with the same fire as Lin Tian's.
The Direwolf roared, its massive form lunging again, fangs bared.