Chapter 30 - Wolf's Den (2)

As my vision cleared, I found myself standing in a harsh, yet majestic landscape.

The ground beneath me was dry and cracked, with sparse patches of scrubby vegetation clinging to the earth.

The air was crisp and clean, with a hint of the wild scent of pine and damp earth.

In the distance, I saw a forest of towering pine trees, their trunks sturdy and strong, their branches stretching up towards the sky like nature's own cathedral.

The trees seemed to march across the landscape, their ranks broken only by the occasional clearing or rocky outcropping.

The forest floor was a tapestry of rust-red leaves, pine needles, and the occasional flash of gray rock.

To my left, I saw a range of rocky hills, their slopes covered in a thick layer of pine trees.

The rocks themselves were weathered and worn, with deep crevices and cracks that seemed to offer a thousand hiding places.

A narrow stream ran through the hills, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the dappled shade of the trees.

Despite the beauty of the landscape, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

The trees seemed to loom over me, their branches creaking ominously in the wind. I knew that I had to be careful, for in this wild and unforgiving environment, only the strongest would survive.

I took a moment to collect myself, sitting down on a rocky outcropping to assess my equipment and prepare myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

The silence was almost palpable, broken only by the occasional call of a bird or the rustle of leaves in the wind.

I knew that I had to be vigilant, for in this environment, survival depended on strength, cunning and wit.

As I ventured deeper into the landscape, the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath my feet served as a reminder that I was not alone in this wilderness.

The sound of the bushes moving caught my attention, and I instinctively drew my sword from its sheath, assuming a defensive stance.

The metallic ring of the blade sliding out of its scabbard echoed through the air, a stark contrast to the natural sounds of the environment.

Although I had decided to tread carefully, I wasn't overly concerned about the potential dangers that lurked within this portal.

As a level 2 individual, I was confident that most of the monsters here wouldn't pose a significant threat.

The majority of the creatures in this portal were level 0 and 1, and I was fairly certain that I could handle them.

The only thing that could potentially harm me would be someone from outside, but the portal's safety mechanism provided a measure of reassurance.

The mechanism prevented individuals more than one level higher than the boss from entering the portal, lest it implode on itself.

Tightening my grip on the hilt of my sword, I focused my attention on my surroundings.

The sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet served as a reminder to stay vigilant.

Suddenly, a low, menacing growl echoed through the air, sending a shiver down my spine.

Growl.

I turned to face the source of the sound, and my eyes locked onto a creature that resembled a dire wolf.

However, this beast had several distinct features that set it apart from its natural counterpart.

Its fangs were larger and more menacing, resembling those of a saber-toothed tiger.

Its tail, too, was unusual, resembling that of a serpent. The creature's eyes seemed to burn with an inner fire, and I could sense its malevolent intent.

I pointed my blade at the creature, my heart pounding with anticipation.

Huuu. This was it – my first real fight in this world. I felt a surge of excitement mixed with a dash of trepidation.

The creature took a step closer, its eyes fixed on me with an unnerving intensity. I steeled myself for the battle ahead, my senses on high alert.

The wolf-like creature lunged at me with a ferocious snarl, its jaws wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.

I sidestepped the attack with ease, avoiding the creature's deadly bite by a hair's breadth.

As I watched the creature stumble past me, I could sense its primitive fury, its instincts driving it to attack without hesitation.

From its clumsy movements, I could tell that this creature was a level 1, a mere beginner in the world of monsters. Its attacks were wild and uncoordinated, lacking the finesse and strategy of a more experienced foe.

The wolf growled at me again, its eyes blazing with a feral intensity. It lunged at me once more, but this time, I was ready.

As I twisted my body to the side, I used the momentum to slash at the creature with my sword.

The blade bit deep into the wolf's leg, slicing through flesh, blood, and bone with ease.

The sound of the sword cutting through the creature's limb was like a sickening crunch, followed by a wet, tearing sound as the leg was severed.

The wolf stumbled to the ground, its body trembling with shock and pain. I approached the creature, my sword still dripping with its blood.

The wolf looked up at me with a mixture of fear and hatred in its eyes, its body struggling to stand up despite its mangled leg.

I raised my sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight. "Do better next time," I said, my voice cold and detached.

With a swift, deadly motion, I brought the sword down, cleaving the wolf's head clean off its shoulders.

The sound of the blade cutting through the creature's neck was like a sharp, metallic ring, followed by a dull thud as the head hit the ground.

The wolf's body slumped to the ground, its limbs twitching spasmodically as its life force ebbed away.

I stood over the creature, my expression, one of disappointment. It had been an easy fight, almost too easy.

I wondered if it was because my spar opponent for the past month and a half had been the crazily overpowered Justina.

Whatever the reason, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. I had been expecting a slightly harder fight, something that would at least exhilarate me.

Instead, the wolf had been little more than a minor annoyance, a speed bump on my journey through this portal.