The Blossom Wolf stepped into the clearing like a ghost carved from petals and moonlight.
Its fur rippled between pale pink and white with each breath, shedding blossoms that dissolved before touching the ground. Muscles coiled beneath its coat, taut and powerful. Its eyes—bright, intelligent, ancient—locked onto the group with terrifying calm.
Sofia's heart lurched.
Echo slid in front of her, fur bristling.
Les curled into a quivering moss-ball.
Aria whispered, "I want one."
Riley did not take his eyes off the beast.
"We are NOT capturing this."
"Rude," Aria muttered.
Hayes stepped forward, shield raised.
Hayley mirrored him, sword low and ready.
Kipp's hands shook around Mossling, who clung to him like a leafy limpet.
Riley drew a slow breath.
"Hayes, Hayley—front. Keep it pinned.
Sofia, stay behind them. Echo supports, Les shields.
Aria—don't run ahead."
Aria opened her mouth.
"Aria."
"…Fine."
Her grin said she would absolutely run ahead anyway.
Riley lifted his bow.
"Pulling."
The Blossom Wolf didn't wait.
It lunged first.
Hayes barely got his shield up before the wolf slammed into it with bone-rattling force. The ground cracked beneath Hayes' boots as he slid back, teeth gritted.
"Sturdy—thing!" he gasped.
Hayley darted in and slashed across its flank, but petals burst outward, absorbing part of the blow.
> BLOSSOM AURA – Reduces incoming damage (20%)
Great.
"Les!" Sofia called. "Verdant Guard—Hayes!"
Les squeaked, puffed up, and released a shimmering moss-green glow.
> VERDANT GUARD APPLIED (+5% DEF)
Hayes steadied his stance immediately.
Riley fired.
> SPIRIT SHOT
A radiant arrow slammed into the wolf's shoulder, drawing a low, dangerous growl.
It turned toward Riley.
"HEY! PETAL-DOG!" Aria yelled.
She sprinted forward and threw a punch straight into the wolf's jaw.
Electricity crackled from her Arcshock Grips.
> ARC DISCHARGE (Stun chance—SUCCESS)
The wolf's muscles seized momentarily.
"YES!" Aria cackled. "FEAR MY HANDS!"
"Keep moving!" Riley snapped.
Hayley pivoted, shield-bashing the wolf's flank.
Echo dashed in, her body glowing—
> QUICK ATTACK
She struck the wolf's hind leg and darted away again.
Kipp finally managed to shout:
"Mossling—Bindroot!"
Mossling extended its arms as green vines erupted from the ground.
> ROOT SNARE (Slow—PARTIAL HOLD)
Not perfect, but enough.
The wolf shook violently—petals swirling around it like a storm.
Then its chest glowed.
Riley's eyes widened.
"SCATTER!"
The Blossom Wolf unleashed—
> BLOSSOM BURST
A shockwave of petals blasted outward.
Hayes and Hayley shielded themselves.
Aria was thrown into a tree.
Echo tumbled head over heels.
Les rolled away like a tiny spiky bowling ball.
Riley grabbed Sofia and dove sideways as the blast tore through the clearing.
They hit the ground hard.
"You okay?" he gasped.
Sofia nodded weakly. "Yes—thank you."
The wolf prowled, petals swirling faster.
It was preparing another charge.
"Hayes, ready!" Riley called. "Hayley—flank!"
Hayes raised his shield.
Hayley slid to the side.
The Blossom Wolf lunged—
Hayes met it square on.
> SHIELD WALL – Reduced damage (40%)
Hayley slashed at its hind legs.
Echo snapped at its paws.
Les cast Verdant Guard again—this time on Hayes AND Aria.
"Nice work, Les!" Sofia cheered.
The wolf snarled, turning its head toward Aria.
"Oh no," Aria whispered. "It has taste."
She ducked under its claw swipe, electricity crackling from her gloves.
Riley drew his bowstring again.
> SPIRIT SHOT
SPIRIT SHOT
"Aria—get clear!"
"I AM CLEARISH!"
Riley prepared his next arrow—
> PIERCE SHOT (Every 3rd shot)
He released.
The arrow streaked like a razor of light and smashed into the wolf's chest, fracturing its aura.
The wolf whipped its head toward him again.
It vanished in a burst of petals—
"RILEY!" Sofia screamed.
He dove—
The wolf's jaws snapped shut where he'd been standing—
Lumi shrieked—tiny, sharp.
Riley's bow flashed with white-gold light—
> STAR TRACE (Triggered after Flash → Synergy)
His next arrow glowed like a comet.
He fired—
The arrow struck the wolf dead center—
Radiant energy blasted outward—
The wolf staggered—
Collapsed—
And dissolved into blossoms.
A long chiming tone filled the clearing.
> LEVEL UP!
Riley — 7
Aria — 7
Sofia — 7
Hayes — 7
Hayley — 7
Kipp — 6
The Spirits chimed alongside them:
Lumi sparkled.
Echo bounced.
Dot clicked triumphantly.
Les squeaked.
Moggy and Tommy arched proudly.
Mossling flopped in relief.
Aria lay flat on her back.
"I am deceased. Please bury me with snacks."
Hayes dropped beside a stump, panting.
"Strong… too strong."
Hayley fanned herself. "I felt real sweat. VR shouldn't do that."
Kipp whimpered. "My heart is going to eject from my body."
Riley approached the glowing pedestal where the wolf fell.
Two items floated above it:
> BLOSSOM FANG (Uncommon)
Crafting material — ranged/precision upgrades
> BLOSSOM HIDE (Wool-type) (Uncommon)
Crafting material — lightweight armor / Spirit capes
"Good loot," Riley murmured.
Aria jolted upright.
"I CALL—"
"No," Riley said.
"YOU NEVER LET ME HAVE ANYTHING."
"You try to eat everything."
"That's fair."
Sofia opened Echo's Spirit window.
> ECHO — LV 7
Unlocked Skill: Healing Pulse
Emits a small wave of light that restores minor HP to allies.
"Echo…" Sofia whispered, eyes shining. "You did so well."
Echo yipped proudly.
Sofia checked Les:
> LES — LV 7
Thorn Curl — reflects 5% damage while curled; reduces knockback.
Aria gasped.
"HE IS A SPIKY DEATH BEAN."
Les squeaked heroically.
Hayes crouched beside Moggy.
> MOGGY — LV 7
Silver Swipe
Crescent claw slash dealing light-aspected damage.
Hayley checked Tommy:
> TOMMY — LV 7
Silver Swipe
"Same skill tree," Riley noted. "Good—means predictable synergy."
Next, Aria opened Dot's window.
> DOT — LV 7
Sticky Trap
Slows enemies who step into the adhesive web.
Aria pumped her fist.
"Yes! So much control! COME TO MY WEB OF POWER!"
Finally, Riley checked Lumi.
> LUMI — LV 7
Lumina Pulse
Short-range burst of blinding light with minor stun.
Riley smiled.
"Nice job, buddy."
Lumi chirped and nuzzled his neck.
The clearing quieted, petals fading into nothing.
The tension drained from their shoulders.
Hayley nudged Riley.
"You knew this boss was here."
Riley shrugged lightly.
"Just… something I read on a forum."
Aria pointed at him accusingly.
"You have FUTURE KNOWLEDGE. Admit it."
"No."
"YES."
"No."
Aria squinted. "I'm watching you."
Riley ignored her.
Kipp asked hesitantly, "So… w-where now?"
Riley looked north, into the denser, darker forest.
"The Thorned Basin," he said.
Hayes lifted his shield.
"Dangerous?"
"Yes," Riley said. "But not too dangerous."
Aria grinned.
"Perfect amount of dangerous. Let's go get murdered."
"Please don't," Sofia whispered.
Mossling clung to Kipp's shoulder.
Moggy and Tommy trotted confidently.
Echo and Les flanked Sofia, eager.
Lumi pulsed like a tiny star on Riley's shoulder.
Riley stepped forward.
"Alright," he said, voice steady.
"Let's move."
They followed him into the deepening woods.