Wolf Tide

The swarm of mutated dire wolves surged forward like a living tide, their glowing eyes fixed on Axel and Rael with predatory intensity. The ground of the dungeon trembled beneath the pounding of clawed feet, their snarls and growls forming a cacophony that echoed endlessly in the enclosed space.

Axel darted ahead, claws bared, meeting the pack's charge head-on. The wolves came at him from every angle, snapping jaws and glinting fangs seeking his flesh. His movements were fluid and precise, each swipe of his claws ripping through muscle and bone. Yet, no matter how many fell, more closed in to replace them, their glowing eyes relentless and unyielding.

The sting of pain cut through Axel's focus as claws raked across his side, leaving deep gashes. Another wolf clamped down on his arm, its serrated teeth digging in. With a snarl, Axel tore free, blood dripping down his body in a crimson trail. His blazing red eyes burned brighter, fiercely against the pain.

[Minor Injuries Sustained. Natural Recovery Activated.]

The system's voice was calm and clinical in Axel's mind, contrasting the chaos around him. But there was no time to dwell on it.

"You're taking too many hits! Fall back!" Rael shouted from behind him. His hands glowed with a fiery light as he unleashed a torrent of flame.

The inferno surged forward, consuming the nearest cluster of wolves in a blaze. Yelps of pain and the acrid scent of burnt fur filled the air as the creatures retreated, only to regroup moments later.

"I don't have time to fall back," Axel snapped, his voice sharp with irritation. He twisted, claws rending another wolf in half. "Just keep doing your thing!"

Rael didn't reply. Instead, the air around him shimmered as his Mana Core Cascade rotated to the extreme. A brilliant aura enveloped him, pulsing with raw energy. He extended his hands, and a pulse of gravity magic erupted outward, slamming into the wolves with devastating force. Several hit the ground hard, their bones crunching under the immense pressure.

The pack, however, was unrelenting. For every wolf that fell, two more seemed to take its place. Axel spun, slashing through a wolf lunging for his throat, only to feel sharp teeth sink into his calf. He gritted his teeth against the pain, twisting his leg and kicking the creature away before driving his claws into its skull. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body screaming under the strain of countless wounds.

[Minor Injuries Accumulating. Natural Recovery Slowing.]

The system's voice cut through the haze in his mind once more , but Axel hardly noticed. His vision blurred for a moment before his instincts flared, sharper and more primal. His humanity wavered, dipping further as the line between man and monster blurred. He let out a guttural, inhuman roar and launched himself into the next wave, tearing through the wolves with feral precision.

Rael's magic was a constant presence, each spell a lifeline for Axel as he fought. Chains of light snapped into existence, wrapping around the necks of several wolves and dragging them back. A well-timed burst of flame cleared a path for Axel to regain some ground.

"Don't overdo it," Axel called out, sparing a glance at Rael. "If you burn yourself out, you're no use to me."

Rael didn't respond immediately, the glow of his magic intensifying as he prepared his next spell. But a faint smirk tugged at his lips, visible even through the chaos. "You're welcome, by the way."

At this point Rael's face was pale from the side effects of Mana Core Cascade, beads of sweat rolling down his temples, but his eyes remained sharp. "Just focus on dealing with them! I'll handle the rest!"

The wolves showed no signs of slowing. Axel's claws slashed through another attacker, but his body felt heavier with each movement. Blood loss and exhaustion were taking their toll. A wolf blindsided him, its weight knocking him to the ground. Claws raked across his back before he managed to throw it off and retaliate with a savage slash that left it lifeless.

[Humanity Threshold: 28%]

The notification hit him like a physical blow. He gritted his teeth, shaking off the haze creeping into his mind.

'We need to finish this now!'

Just as Axel thought, he glanced at the few remaining wolve lunging at him in succession. He could could already feel his rationality hanging on by a thread, but still, he launched at them, greeting their attacks with his claws.

A moment later, Axel staggered back, his claws slick with blood and his breathing ragged. The dungeon felt silent for a moment, save for the crackling of flames and the sound of his own heartbeat thundering in his ears.

"That… should take care of them," Rael said, his voice weak as he sank to one knee. The glow of his Mana Core Cascade faded, leaving him visibly drained.

Axel's crimson eyes scanned the carnage, ensuring none of the wolves remained standing. Satisfied, he turned his attention back to Rael. "You okay?"

"I've been better," Rael replied with a wry smile, his breath labored. "But I'm alive. That's worth five million, right?"

Axel snorted, wiping blood from his face. "Well, you still have to see it through to the end."

Rael gave a weak nod in response. "You're... really tough," he said admittedly, wiping sweat from his brow. "Though I can see you're also struggling with your ability. You too have to be careful.

Axel didn't bother replying. His gaze had already shifted to the center of the dungeon, where the false ranker was locked in combat with the dungeon's boss monster.

The false ranker was struggling. His ghostly apparitions swarmed the boss monster like a pack of ravenous predators, clawing and tearing at its massive form. But for all their ferocity, they faltered under the onslaught of the boss's ability. The monster was relentless, its glowing claws tearing through the apparitions with ease.

Sweat poured down the ranker's pale face as he muttered incantations, his hands weaving intricate sigils in the air. But it wasn't enough.

"Why won't this thing die?!" he shouted, frustration and desperation mingling in his voice.

The boss monster roared in response, its glowing red claws slashing through another cluster of apparitions. The resulting shockwave knocked the false ranker off balance, sending him stumbling.

He caught himself just in time, but then froze as his eyes darted to his side.

There, glowing ominously against his pale skin, was a red claw mark, identical to the ones wielded by the boss. Blood seeped from the mark in thin rivulets, pooling at his feet. His strength drained in tandem, his legs trembling under the strain.

"No… what is this?" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding in his head. Panic flared in his eyes as he clutched at the mark, but the glow only intensified, leeching away what little energy he had left.

The boss monster growled, its massive form looming over him as it prepared to strike again.

"This is bad," Rael muttered, his eyes narrowing as he observed the battle. "If that monster finishes him, it'll turn its attention to us, and we're in no condition for another full-scale fight."

Axel's gaze hardened. "We can't let him die. I still need answers."

Rael turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "You want to save him?"

"Nah," Axel growled. "I just need him alive long enough to answer some damn questions. That's all. His motive, it's important we find out."

"Oh…"

Ahead of them, the false ranker stumbled, his footing unsteady as the dungeon boss bore down on him. Its crimson claws arced through the air, deadly and precise, aiming to carve through his chest. Just before impact, a sudden burst of light magic blazed between them. The strike detonated midair with a shockwave that momentarily halted the monster's advance, sending embers and dust swirling through the dungeon.

The boss monster turned its blazing, predatory eyes toward Axel and Rael, a low, rumbling growl emanating from deep within its chest.

[Enemy Identified: Mutated Twin-Horned Alpha – Rank D]

The system notification flashed in their vision, confirming what Axel already suspected. His jaw tightened.

'So, this is it…'

The monster's strength was evident, not just from the way it had dominated the false ranker but also from its earlier clashes against the wolf swarm. Axel had also seen enough to know that the strange, glowing mark it had inflicted was more than a mere attack, it was an ability meant to sap its victims' strength and life force.

Axel quickly summoned his system window, the glowing panel flickering into view as he assessed his stats. His strength had been boosted significantly after defeating the corpse puppet, and even more so after surviving the swarm of wolves. Still, he needed confirmation.

[Status Updated]

Name: Axel Cross

Rank: Monster (D)

Strength: 48 → 56

Agility: 34 → 41

Endurance: 37 → 44

Mana: 50

'This should be enough... right?'

Even as the thought crossed his mind, Axel felt his barely restrained monster instincts surge to the forefront. His humanity threshold was too low to hold it back now. His breathing quickened, the fire in his crimson eyes burning hotter. He locked his gaze with the boss monster, his body trembling with exhaustion, yet his blood surged with an almost maddening hunger for battle.

Before Rael could stop him, Axel lunged forward, his claws flashing in a blur of motion. The Mutated Twin-Horned Alpha twisted with unnerving speed, its glowing claws intercepting Axel's obsidian ones in a clash of sparks. The impact reverberated through the air, sending both of them skidding backward across the floor.

[Humanity Threshold: 15%]