The Shadow in the Forest

The forest had become Tanuj's second home over the past month. Every day, he ventured deeper into its labyrinth of trees, growing more confident with each successful hunt. His level had steadily risen to 6, and the creatures that once terrified him were now manageable challenges.

Today was no different. Tanuj moved quietly through the underbrush, his senses alert for any signs of movement. The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls, but Tanuj had learned to tune out the background noise and focus on what mattered—potential threats and opportunities.

"Alright, Lightning Mouse, let's find something good today," Tanuj whispered, glancing at his small companion, who was perched on his shoulder, its tiny nose twitching as it sniffed the air.

The Lightning Mouse squeaked in agreement, sparks crackling faintly around its fur. Tanuj couldn't help but smile. The little guy had become his trusted partner, and together they had overcome numerous challenges.

As they moved through the forest, Tanuj's keen eyes caught sight of a familiar creature up ahead—a **Horned Bunny**, grazing on some plants. It was alone, and its level was low enough that Tanuj knew he could handle it easily.

"Perfect. Let's take it down quickly and—"

Tanuj's words died in his throat as the forest around him suddenly grew darker, the shadows lengthening unnaturally. Before he could react, something massive and dark moved within the shadows, quicker than he could follow. In an instant, the Horned Bunny was gone, snatched up by a large, ominous shape.

Tanuj froze, his heart racing as he watched in horror. The creature that had devoured the bunny stepped into the dim light, revealing itself fully. It was a wolf—huge, with fur as black as the deepest night, and eyes that glowed with a sinister red light. This was no ordinary monster. This was a **Shadow Wolf**.

The wolf's powerful jaws clenched, and with a sickening crunch, it bit down, splintering the bones of the Horned Bunny with ease. Then, with an almost disdainful flick of its head, it spat out the bunny's horn, letting it clatter to the ground.

Tanuj's blood ran cold as the wolf's gaze shifted to him. It studied him for a moment, those red eyes gleaming with a predatory intelligence that sent chills down his spine. He felt a surge of panic, knowing he was outmatched.

"This is bad… really, really bad," Tanuj whispered, slowly backing away as the Shadow Wolf began to advance on him.

The Lightning Mouse, sensing the danger, leaped from Tanuj's shoulder and took a defensive stance, sparks flaring around it. But Tanuj knew that his small companion, despite its courage, was no match for this creature.

The Shadow Wolf began to circle them, its movements fluid and silent, its eyes never leaving Tanuj. The air around them grew colder, the forest holding its breath as the tension mounted. Tanuj could feel the weight of the wolf's presence pressing down on him, every instinct screaming at him to run.

But he couldn't run. Not now. Not when he had come so far.

"Lightning Mouse," Tanuj muttered under his breath, "be ready."

The Lightning Mouse squeaked, its fur bristling with anticipation.

The wolf lunged without warning, its massive body a blur of motion as it closed the distance in an instant. Tanuj barely had time to react, throwing himself to the side as the wolf's jaws snapped shut where he had been standing.

He rolled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest as the wolf turned to face him again, its eyes burning with a fierce, predatory hunger. Tanuj could feel the adrenaline surging through his veins, sharpening his senses as he tried to come up with a plan.

The Shadow Wolf growled lowly, lowering its body to the ground, ready to pounce again. Tanuj knew he had to act fast, but his mind was racing, struggling to find a way out of this situation.

"Lightning Mouse, Thunderbolt!" Tanuj shouted, hoping to buy himself some time.

The Lightning Mouse unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity, the bright arc crackling through the air and striking the wolf's side. The wolf snarled, its muscles tensing as the electricity coursed through its body. But it wasn't enough to stop it. The wolf shook off the attack, its eyes narrowing with renewed focus.

Tanuj's heart sank. "That barely fazed it… what do I do now?"

The wolf began to circle again, its movements slow and deliberate, as if it were toying with its prey. Tanuj could feel the weight of its gaze, the pressure mounting as the wolf prepared for its next move.

Desperate, Tanuj's mind raced through his options. He needed to weaken the wolf, create an opening—something to tip the odds in his favor. But what could he do?

Then, in a flash of inspiration, a plan began to take shape in his mind. It was risky, but it might be his only shot.

"Lightning Mouse, keep it distracted for just a moment!" Tanuj called out, his voice steadying as he prepared to act.

The Lightning Mouse responded immediately, darting forward with another Thunderbolt, the electric crackle echoing through the forest as it struck the wolf again. The wolf growled, turning its attention to the small creature, giving Tanuj the opening he needed.

With a quick, decisive motion, Tanuj activated his Summoning Skill. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as a massive magic circle appeared on the ground, glowing with a brilliant light. The sudden burst of brightness lit up the forest, driving back the shadows and blinding the wolf.

The Shadow Wolf snarled in confusion, its movements faltering as the intense light disoriented it. But Tanuj wasn't done yet. As the light from the summoning enveloped the area, Tanuj quickly opened the system store, his mind focused on the plan he had formed.

He didn't have time to think—he needed to act. His fingers moved rapidly over the interface as he purchased the skills he needed.

**[Swordsman Skill: 500 Points]**

**[Haste Skill: 1000 Points]**

The knowledge and power flooded into him, his body responding immediately to the newly acquired skills. Without wasting a second, Tanuj activated the Haste Skill, feeling a surge of speed and agility as the world around him seemed to slow.

With lightning speed, he darted toward the Horned Bunny's horn, which lay forgotten on the ground where the wolf had spat it out. Grabbing it, he turned to face the wolf, who was still struggling to recover from the blinding light.

"Time to end this," Tanuj thought, steeling himself for what was about to come.

The Shadow Wolf shook its head, its vision clearing as it locked eyes with Tanuj once more. But this time, Tanuj was ready.

He charged at the wolf, the Horned Bunny's horn gripped tightly in his hand. Drawing on his newfound Swordsman Skill, he struck with precision and power, driving the horn into the wolf's side.

The wolf howled in pain, its body convulsing as the horn pierced deep into its flesh. Tanuj didn't let up. He twisted the horn, using his enhanced speed and strength to deliver a flurry of rapid strikes, each one weakening the beast further.

The Shadow Wolf staggered, its strength waning as it tried to fend off the relentless assault. But Tanuj was relentless, his determination fueling every strike.

Finally, the wolf collapsed to the ground, its body heaving as it struggled to breathe. The fight wasn't over, but Tanuj had the upper hand now. The wolf's movements were sluggish, its energy drained by the blinding light and the vicious attack.

Tanuj took a step back, panting heavily as he assessed the situation. He could see the fear in the wolf's eyes, the realization that it was no longer the hunter, but the hunted.

But Tanuj knew better than to let his guard down. The Shadow Wolf was still dangerous, and he couldn't afford to take any chances.

"Lightning Mouse, stay sharp," Tanuj warned, his eyes never leaving the wolf. He tightened his grip on the horn, ready to deliver the final blow.

The wolf growled lowly, its eyes burning with a fierce determination. It wasn't going to go down without a fight.

But this time, Tanuj was ready.