First Hunt

Strolling through the dense forest, Aria navigated her way

eastward, relying on the fragmented memories of the body's former host. It was

impressive, she thought, how the host had managed to keep track of her

surroundings even under the grim conditions of captivity. The tall trees loomed

overhead, their shadows shifting with the faint sunlight breaking through the

canopy. The air was crisp, filled with the earthy scent of foliage, and the

occasional rustle of leaves reminded her that she wasn't alone in the

wilderness.

Barely an hour into her journey, a low growl broke the

silence. Aria froze, her senses immediately heightening. Turning toward the

sound, she spotted it—a wolf. Its sleek, fur-covered form crouched low, muscles

coiled as if ready to spring. Its amber eyes bore into her, glowing with a

feral intensity. A predator, full of hunger and determination.

Under normal circumstances, fear would have gripped her. She

would have run, legs carrying her as far away as possible. But now? Fear didn't

come. Instead, her stomach growled in response, and an unexpected thought

crossed her mind: meat.

Her lips parted slightly as she whispered, "Is wolf meat

edible?"

{Yes. But be wary—wolves rarely hunt alone.}

Aria glanced around but saw no other movement. "This one

seems alone," she muttered, her gaze fixed on the creature.

Her eyes sharpened, gleaming with an edge of hunger and

determination. Slowly, she reached into the deep pocket of her oversized coat,

drawing one of the daggers she'd scavenged. The wolf tensed, sensing her

intention.

"The prey just became the hunter," she whispered with a

faint smirk.

What followed was a blur of movement. She darted forward

with surprising speed for someone still recovering, her dagger gleaming as she

lunged. The wolf snapped its jaws, but she was quicker, sidestepping its attack

and driving her blade into its side. A pained yelp escaped the creature as it

staggered back, blood staining its grey fur. Within moments, the forest fell

silent again, save for Aria's heavy breaths.

With her prey slain, she quickly set about gathering dried

twigs and kindling to start a fire. Her hands trembled slightly—not from fear,

but from the sheer adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"I actually did it," she murmured, staring at the wolf's

lifeless body.

Her first hunt.

Skinning the creature proved to be a messy, amateur affair.

Her hands fumbled with the fur, and the end result was far from clean. Still,

she managed to salvage enough to roast over the flames. The smell of cooking

meat filled the air, making her stomach growl even louder.

Aria sat by the fire, tearing into the roasted meat with an

almost primal satisfaction. The flavor wasn't exactly refined, but after days

of starvation, it might as well have been a feast. Each bite filled her with

warmth and energy, her spirits lifting for the first time since waking in this

unfamiliar world.

But her brief moment of peace was shattered.

The first growl came from behind her, low and menacing. Then

another, and another, until the forest echoed with the sounds of predators

closing in.

Aria froze, her hand slowly lowering the piece of meat she'd

been chewing. Her gaze darted around, her heart pounding as shadows began to

emerge from between the trees.

Wolves. At least twenty of them, their eyes glowing like

embers in the dim light. They surrounded her, each step bringing them closer,

their snarls growing louder.

Her attention locked on the largest of the pack, a hulking

beast that towered over the others. Its fur was a deep, almost black shade of

grey, and a jagged scar ran down its left eye. Both of its eyes glowed an

unnerving, vibrant red, brimming with malice and intelligence.

Aria's pulse quickened. Her hand tightened around her

dagger, but a cold sweat ran down her back. Her body screamed at her to flee,

to run as far as she could.

But before she could make her decision, a familiar chime

echoed in her mind.

{System Notification: You've encountered a pack leader and

its kin. A survival challenge has been issued. Fleeing will result in failure.}

{Quest Issued}

Survive the Wolf Pack's Wrath

Objective: Eliminate the pack leader and fend off the wolves

to establish dominance.

Reward:

1. 

Shadowstep Boots: Lightweight shoes that enhance

sprinting speed and silence footsteps, making movement undetectable.

2. 

Fangpiercer Dagger: A weapon forged with the

enchanted teeth of a wolf, unnervingly sharp and durable. It enhances agility

and precision in combat.

Difficulty: extreme but not impossible

Time Limit: Until the pack leader is defeated.

Failure Penalty: Death

Her breath hitched as she read the notification. "Failure?"

she whispered, the word almost caught in her throat.

Her gaze shifted back to the scarred wolf, its lips curled

back in a snarl. The meat she'd been so eagerly devouring moments ago now sat

cold and forgotten by the fire.

She gulped emptiness as she realized how dire the situation has

gotten. As she gripped both dagger in her hands. The first wolf made his

Aria gulped against the lump of fear in her throat as she

took in the dire situation. Her grip tightened on both daggers, her knuckles

white against the rough handles. The glow of the fire crackled in the clearing,

casting flickering shadows on the snarling wolves surrounding her. She knew

this wasn't just a fight—it was survival.

The first wolf lunged from behind, its claws slashing

through the air with deadly precision. Instinct kicked in. Aria dropped into a

crouch, her senses heightened as she felt the rush of air from its attack. She

twisted sharply, bringing her dagger up in a swift arc. The blade caught the

wolf beneath its jaw, piercing through soft fur and flesh. With a whimper, it

crumpled to the ground.

There was no time to breathe.

A growl came from her left, then another from her right.

Aria spun on her heel, her mind racing. She saw five wolves charging at her in

unison, their glowing eyes locked onto her as their muscles coiled like

springs.

"Not today," she growled through gritted teeth.

Summoning her mana, she thrust her hand forward. Vines

erupted from the ground like serpents, coiling around the wolves' legs. Two

were yanked backward, their bodies slamming against nearby trees with

bone-crunching force. Another wolf leaped into the air, avoiding the vines

entirely.

Aria reacted on pure instinct, activating Telekinetic Push.

A wave of psychic energy burst from her outstretched hand, catching the wolf

mid-air and flinging it backward. It smashed into a thick trunk with a

sickening thud, but it shakily got back on its feet, snarling.

The remaining wolves circled her, their snarls vibrating in

the tense air. One lunged for her throat, its fangs bared and glinting in the

firelight. Aria sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of its hot breath as

it sailed past her. She slashed with her dagger, carving a deep wound along its

flank. The wolf howled in agony, retreating slightly but not defeated.

Her chest heaved, adrenaline pumping through her veins. The

wolves weren't just relentless—they were cunning. One circled behind her while

another feinted an attack to her front.

"Think, Aria, think!" she muttered, panic creeping into her

voice.

As the wolf behind her lunged, she pivoted sharply, bringing

both daggers together like scissors. The blade met its throat in a clean,

decisive motion. Warm blood splattered across her arm as the wolf fell lifeless

to the ground.

The pack hesitated momentarily, clearly unnerved by her

swift takedown. She seized the moment, activating Vine Bind again. This time,

she focused on the two wolves that had been weakened earlier. The vines

tightened like iron chains, slamming them against the ground and pinning them

there.

The fight had dragged on for what felt like an eternity. The

once-clear forest clearing was now a chaotic battlefield, the ground littered

with the fallen bodies of wolves and torn-up vines. Blood and sweat clung to

Aria's skin, her muscles screamed in protest with every movement, but her

resolve remained unbroken.

She stood alone now, her breathing heavy, daggers clutched

tightly in her trembling hands. Across from her, the pack leader stood tall and

unyielding. Its massive frame was illuminated by the flickering flames of her

dying fire. The scars on its body told of countless battles, and its glowing

red eyes burned with an unrelenting fury.

It growled deeply, its sharp claws scraping against the

ground as it prepared to charge. Aria knew this wouldn't be like the others.

This wolf was faster, stronger, and far more intelligent. She couldn't afford

to make a single mistake.

--

Instead of charging forward, the massive wolf began to

circle her, its strides slow and deliberate. Each step exuded confidence, its

glowing red eyes locked onto hers like a predator playing with its prey.

Before Aria could react, a rush of wind brushed past her,

followed by a sharp sting in her right shoulder. She gasped, her hand

instinctively reaching for the pain, only to feel the warmth of her own blood

seeping through her fingers.

Where did it go? Her eyes darted around, only to find the

wolf standing behind her, calm and unhurried. Its sharp teeth glistened in the

moonlight as it licked its lips, watching her every move.

Her breath quickened, and a chill ran down her spine. How

did it do that? Once again, she was reminded that nothing in this world obeyed

the rules she once knew.

She activated Mind Focus, and the fog clouding her thoughts

lifted. The world seemed to narrow, her senses honing in on the wolf. The faint

rustle of leaves and distant chirps faded into nothingness. It was just her and

the beast now.

The wolf vanished again, its form blurring into the

darkness. But this time, her enhanced awareness caught its rapid movements. She

tracked its trajectory, her muscles tensing for a counterstrike.

Yet, even with her heightened senses, the wolf was too fast.

Its claws raked across her left foot before she could fully react. A sharp cry

escaped her lips as she collapsed to one knee, her body trembling from the

pain.

She clenched her teeth, her knuckles white as she gripped

her dagger. Her blood dripped onto the forest floor, but she forced herself to

stay alert. The wolf stood before her, its gaze filled with malice and cruel

amusement.

If it wanted me dead, I'd already be dead, she realized, her

breath shaky. The beast wasn't just hunting—it was toying with her, savoring

her struggle.

Her mind raced. The wolf's speed and strength were

undeniable. Staying in the open was a death sentence. Slowly, she began to back

away, never breaking eye contact with the creature.

Her heart pounded as she retreated deeper into the forest,

where towering trees surrounded them. If she could draw it into tighter spaces,

the dense foliage might hinder its movements and give her a fighting chance.

The wolf tilted its head, as if mocking her plan, but it

didn't hesitate to attack again. In a blur of motion, it lunged for her neck,

its jaws wide and gleaming.

Aria's instincts kicked in. Using Mind Focus, she twisted

her body at the last second, narrowly dodging its fangs. The beast's momentum

carried it past her, but she wasted no time.

Her blade sliced through the air with a sharp swish, but the

wolf was already a step ahead. She swung her dagger toward its side, aiming to

wound it, but it moved again—too fast. Her blade cut through empty air, and she

stumbled back, gritting her teeth.

Realizing her plan to retreat into the trees, the leader

wolf let out a furious snarl. Its calculated movements were replaced by raw,

animalistic rage. It charged straight at her, abandoning all pretense of

strategy.

Aria's legs gave out beneath her, the pain from her wounds

and the blood loss too much to bear. She hit the ground with a thud, her chest

heaving as she struggled to think clearly. The thought of using Symbiotic

Recovery crossed her mind, but she dismissed it immediately. Healing now would

take too much time, and any distraction could cost her life.

As the massive wolf leaped toward her, its fangs bared and

claws extended, her instincts kicked in. Summoning every ounce of focus, she

activated Vine Bind. The vines nearby obeyed her desperate command, twisting

around a thick branch and pulling it toward her just in time.

The branch met the wolf mid-air, intercepting its attack.

Its jaws clamped down on the wood with a bone-chilling crack. The branch wasn't

dry; it was thick and green, yet the wolf's teeth sank into it effortlessly,

saliva dripping down onto her face. The weight of its body pressed down on her

as its claws raked across her shoulders.

Pain tore through her as she screamed, her voice echoing

through the forest. The wolf's claws didn't just scratch her—they dug deep,

tearing through flesh and revealing bone. Blood poured from her wounds,

staining the ground beneath her.

Desperate, she summoned her vines again. This time, they

grabbed a smaller branch and swung it toward the wolf's head with all the force

she could muster. The impact landed squarely on its skull, making a sickening

thud. The beast staggered back, shaking its head, clearly dazed but far from

defeated.

Her arms hung limply at her sides, her shoulders now useless

from the injuries. She panted heavily, trying to ignore the searing pain. She

activated Telekinetic Push and Mind Focus, her mind locking onto the open

wounds on the wolf's body.

With trembling hands, she reached forward, her fingers

splayed wide. Though the system allowed her to control things with her mind,

this attack required everything—her mind, her will, and even her physical

movements. She poured every ounce of focus into her command.

The wolf hesitated, sensing the shift in the air, but it was

too late. The scars on its body began to split further, the flesh tearing open

with sickening sounds. Blood sprayed onto the forest floor as the beast let out

a pained howl.

Realizing it had underestimated her, the wolf charged one

final time, its intent clear—it was going to kill her, even if it meant dying

in the process.

But Aria didn't waver. With tears streaming down her face

and her body trembling, she let out a guttural scream and pushed harder. The

pressure on the wolf's wounds became unbearable, and its body could no longer

hold itself together.

With a loud, horrifying rip, the wolf's body exploded.

Blood, bones, and organs scattered in every direction, painting the forest red.

Pieces of the beast rained down on her, the smell of iron and death thick in

the air.

Aria collapsed onto her back, her chest rising and falling

rapidly. She was drenched in blood—some hers, most the wolf's. Her vision

blurred from exhaustion, and she barely registered the system notifications

that chimed in her mind.

But there was no time to process any of it. Her body

screamed in agony, her shoulders throbbing with unbearable pain. Without a

second thought, she activated Symbiotic Recovery, watching as her wounds began

to close slowly. The process was agonizing, her body fighting to repair itself

as she lay amidst the carnage.

Her breaths were shallow and ragged, her mind on the brink

of shutting down. Yet, despite the pain and horror of the battle, she was

alive.