Lia's eyes scanned the surroundings, while Chen Le grew more alert. Alvara only grinned and said, "The enemy faction has already gone this far to challenge the Citadel."
Not understanding the conflict Alvara was talking about, Chen Le just tried to focus on controlling his scooter. Moments later, noises erupted from beside him—hairy legs with sharp claws leapt across the trees around them.
One by one, dark shadows blocked the path of Chen Le and Lia. Gray and brown-furred werewolves stood ready to ambush them, their muscular arms spread wide.
"What now?" Chen Le trembled.
He thought hard, "Chen Le," he muttered, leaning forward.
Chen Le glanced at Lia, but before he could respond, she spoke again. "Can you speed up your mount like lightning?" Lia asked.
Chen Le frowned. 'Like lightning?' He was a little confused, then remembered his scooter had a turbo dash feature.
"Yes, but only for a short while!" Chen Le answered, leaning forward.
"In that case, shoot first…"
WOSSHH…
Lia swerved to the left as a wolf hurled a rock at them. "Tch…" she clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Shoot them, and then use whatever makes your mount faster, even if it's only for a moment!"
Chen Le hesitated, then released his left hand from the handlebars and aimed at the weak spots of the two werewolves in front of him, already marked by the Living Eye.
BAM… BAM…
The bullets pierced each werewolf right in the heart.
"Now!" Lia shouted.
Chen Le panicked, unsure how to trigger the feature—until the system appeared.
[Release the throttle, then pull it to the max]
Hearing the system's voice, Chen Le immediately obeyed. His left hand grabbed the handlebar again, his right hand released the throttle, and the scooter roared before he twisted the throttle all the way.
SWOSSHH....
He shot forward, blazing through the middle of the werewolves still writhing from the pain in their chests. Lia spurred her horse, its hooves glowing as it leapt high—though no more than five meters, only about two above Chen Le's head. The two quickly kept pace until Chen Le's scooter slowed again and Lia's horse landed, galloping once more over the rocky road.
"Don't lose focus!" Lia warned, her eyes fixed ahead.
"WUUUUHHH… How fun," Alvara chuckled, still clinging beside Chen Le's head.
The system hadn't yet announced a reduction in distance, but Chen Le no longer cared—because the wolves' howls rang out again. He forced himself to focus on the road, twisting the scooter's throttle to keep steady and not fall behind Lia's galloping horse.
The howls grew sharper, echoing from deep within the trees. From the left, another shadow leapt down—a body far larger than the others. Its jet-black fur bristled, and its eyes glowed a blazing red.
Alvara's eyes widened, her face stiffening. "That's… the Alpha."
Chen Le choked, almost losing control of the scooter's handlebar. "W-what?!"
The Alpha growled low, a thunderous rumble that shook their chests. Its muscular arms flexed as claws dug into the ground, shattering small stones beneath. The other wolves immediately pulled back, as if clearing a path for their leader.
[ New target detected ]
[ Weak Point locked ]
The Living Eye panel flashed before Chen Le. A red mark pulsed on the Alpha's left chest—but the warning line trembled violently.
"Why… why is the weak point shifting around?" Chen Le panicked.
"Because its flesh is too thick!" Lia snapped back, already unsheathing her sword.
"Don't stop! If you stop, we're finished!"
VRROOOMMM—!!
Chen Le gritted his teeth, slamming the throttle to its limit. But the Alpha lunged, its massive body soaring directly into their path, ready to crush both scooter and horse with a single strike.
"Chen Le!" Lia shouted. "Now—shoot, or we die!" She raised her sword high into the air, its edge gleaming beneath the moonlight.
Moonlight glinted off Lia's blade as she swung it hard. SWIISSHHH—!
A slash burst forth, transforming into a crescent of white light that shot straight toward the Alpha.
At the same time, Chen Le released his left hand from the handlebar again, his palm burning as the system panel lit up.
[Skill: Blood Bullet — Ready]
"Take this!" Chen Le shouted, firing two crimson bullets of blood at the spot marked by the Living Eye.
BAM! BAM!
The crescent of light and the blood bullets struck the Alpha almost together, the explosion deafening. The massive wolf was hurled backward as dust and shattered stone filled the air.
Chen Le let out a breath of relief. "Got him, right…?"
But his smile instantly vanished.
The Alpha growled, still standing firm despite its fur scorched and black blood dripping from its chest. It raised a claw high—then slammed it down with terrifying force.
DOOOMMM!!
The ground split before them, cracks racing across the narrow path. Rocks shattered, some tumbling into the abyss at the cliff's edge.
"Damn it!!" Lia shouted, yanking her horse to a sudden stop. Her sword trembled in her grip, ready to guard.
Chen Le panicked as his scooter swayed violently from the quake. "S-shit! The road's collapsing!"
[Warning: Road stability compromised]
[Recommendation: Dismount immediately]
The scooter shook wildly, its front wheel nearly slipping. Pale-faced, Chen Le slammed the brakes, tires screeching as he twisted the front wheel to the right, his left foot dropping hard to brace.
Lia leapt down first, her black horse neighing sharply. Chen Le lowered his scooter's stand, his legs unsteady as they touched the dusty ground. He stood at Lia's side.
Ahead, the Alpha lifted its head, maw opening wide as a long, thunderous howl shook the forest.
"Now… we face him head-on," Lia said quietly, eyes flashing as she raised her sword high.
Alvara exhaled sharply—even as nothing more than a head without lungs—and clicked her tongue. "This is far too dangerous for you two. I'll be forced to call for help."
"H-Help fro—"
AAAKKKK—!!
Alvara's mouth stretched unnaturally wide, unleashing an ultrasonic wave so fierce that Chen Le felt as if his ears were being stabbed by needles.