There had been a massive battle here. Broken weapons lay scattered across the muddy ground, faint smoke rising from shattered armor and scorched earth. The air felt heavy, tense, and eerie. He had expected chaos, but not on this scale. Now, standing amidst the aftermath, he sensed something was off. Danger lurked behind him. Before he could fully react, a monstrous shape lunged from the shadows. Instincts kicking in, he dodged just in time. His body remained unscathed, but a chill ran down his spine — this was only the beginning.
Kael's eyes darted across the battlefield, scanning for anything he could use. Broken weapons, fallen debris, muddy puddles — nothing looked promising at first. But he didn't have a choice. The red-marked hound dogs were closing in, their snarls echoing through the fog.
He crouched low, feeling the slick mud under his boots, and gripped a jagged spear half-buried in the ground. Instincts long buried stirred awake. Every move had to be calculated; one wrong step and the pack would tear him apart.
[Threat Analysis: Multiple Hostile Entities]
[Survival Probability: 36%]
Before he could act, a sudden glow appeared in front of his eyes, and a message popped up in brackets:
[Would you activate Shadowstep skill?]
[Yes / No]
Kael froze. His eyes widened as the system awaited his choice. Surrounded, outnumbered, and trapped — refusing wasn't an option. Instinctively, he pressed Yes.
A surge of energy coursed through his body, sharpening his reflexes and making his movements feel lighter, faster. The skill was granted — but a cold dread ran through him. If this doesn't work… if I fail… I'll die again.
The first hound lunged at him, jaws snapping. Kael's body reacted on instinct. He vanished for a heartbeat and reappeared behind the creature, the Shadowstep skill already in motion. His spear struck true, piercing its shoulder. The creature yelped and staggered, caught off-guard by his sudden movement.
The other hounds hesitated, snarling and circling. Kael could feel their eyes on him, red marks flashing menacingly. More were coming from all directions. His heart pounded — but the skill had given him a brief edge. He had survived, but barely.
A roar echoed across the battlefield, rolling through the mist and muddy wreckage. Kael's eyes snapped forward. From the fog emerged a massive enemy — a bear-like monstrosity, towering above everything around it. Its presence alone made the hound dogs hesitate, their red marks flickering nervously.
There was barely a moment to react. Kael's instincts kicked in. Despite the shock, he lunged at the remaining hound dogs, thrusting his spear with precision. Each strike counted; there was no room for error.
The bear-type monster advanced slowly but relentlessly, muscles rippling under coarse fur, eyes glinting with predatory intelligence. Its roar shook the ground, scattering mud and debris. Even the hound dogs that hadn't been struck seemed paralyzed, unsure whether to attack or flee.
Kael's breath came fast, heart pounding. He knew he couldn't face this creature head-on — not yet. But the small window of opportunity against the hound dogs gave him a chance to reposition, to plan his next move. Every second was vital; one wrong step could mean death.
Kael's eyes flicked to the misty debris around him. A fallen tree trunk, a shallow ditch, scattered rocks — anything could be an advantage. The hound dogs lunged again, snapping at his heels, while the bear-like monster's heavy steps shook the ground with every advance.
Instincts and the newly granted skill moved before thought. He activated Shadowstep, vanishing from one spot and reappearing behind the nearest hound dog. His spear thrust home, piercing its flank. The creature yelped in surprise, stumbling forward.
Before the others could react, Kael shifted again, landing atop a muddy rock to gain higher ground. The Shadowstep skill rippled through his body, letting him dodge the hound dogs' attacks in fluid, almost unnatural motions. Each move was precise, strategic — survival depended on it.
The bear-type monster's roar split the air. Its massive claws tore into the ground where Kael had just stood. Mud flew like shards of glass. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing strike, and used the moment to strike at another hound dog that had tried to flank him.
Kael's mind raced. I can handle these dogs… but that monster… His muscles tensed, spear ready. Every instinct screamed: don't get cornered. The battlefield was small, and time was running out.
From the mist, a low rumble echoed again. Something beyond even the bear-type monster stirred. Kael's heart skipped a beat — he had survived this long, but he knew now with absolute certainty: the real fight was only beginning.