Chapter 9: The Dire Threat

The clearing fell silent, save for the low growls of the dire wolves. Their glowing yellow eyes pierced through the darkness, each step forward radiating menace. The candidates froze, their earlier chatter replaced by nervous glances and trembling hands.

One of the wolves, larger than the rest, let out a chilling snarl, and the pack spread out, encircling the group.

"Stay behind us!" commanded the silver-haired woman, her voice sharp as steel. She stepped forward, her hands crackling with electric energy, arcs of lightning dancing around her fingers.

Axton's heart pounded as he instinctively pulled Elias closer. "What do we do?" he whispered.

"Pray they don't get past the mentors," Elias murmured, though his voice wavered with fear.

The candidates huddled together, some gripping small weapons they had brought, though they seemed useless against such massive beasts. Gavin Harrow, for all his bravado, looked as pale as a ghost. Lila , quick as she was, glanced at the trees, as though calculating whether running might save her.

The silver-haired woman didn't wait for the wolves to make the first move. With a sharp motion, she thrust her hand forward, and a jagged bolt of lightning shot out, slamming into the ground between the wolves and the candidates. The pack snarled, their fur crackling with the static charge, but they hesitated, momentarily thrown off by the electric surge.

"This won't last long," the silver-haired woman said to her comrades. "We'll need to drive them off."

The bearded man stepped forward, earth cracking beneath his feet as jagged stone spikes erupted from the ground, forcing some wolves to retreat. The third mentor, a wiry man with sharp eyes, sent bolts of fire streaking toward the pack, lighting up the night.

But the wolves were relentless. The alpha wolf leaped over the spikes, its claws glowing faintly with mana, and slammed into the barrier. A crack spidered across the shimmering wall.

The candidates gasped.

"We can't just stand here!" Gavin shouted, gripping a dagger. "If they get through—"

Before anyone could stop him, Gavin charged forward, aiming for one of the smaller wolves. The creature snarled and swiped at him, sending him tumbling back.

"Idiot," muttered Lila, but even she seemed unsure of what to do.

Axton's mind raced. The wolves were fast, coordinated, and terrifying, but there had to be a way to help without throwing himself into the fray. His eyes darted to the surroundings—the trees, the uneven ground, the flickering shadows cast by the mentors' attacks.

"They're driving the wolves closer together," Axton murmured, mostly to himself.

Elias looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"The fire and spikes—they're herding them into one spot. Maybe we can…" His voice trailed off as he spotted something in the trees: a massive dead branch hanging precariously above the wolves.

"Distract them," Axton said, gripping Elias's arm.

"What?!" Elias hissed.

"Just trust me! Throw something, yell, anything!"

Reluctantly, Elias grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it toward the pack, shouting, "Over here, you mangy mutts!"

The nearest wolf turned its head, growling, and a few others shifted their attention for a moment—just enough time.

Axton sprinted toward the trees, weaving past the other candidates. "What's he doing?" someone muttered, but he didn't stop. Reaching the base of the tree, he leaped onto the trunk and scrambled upward, his nimble movements surprising even himself.

The mentors, focused on the wolves, barely noticed him. The silver-haired woman's lightning crackled in the air, striking out at any wolf that dared get too close to the barrier. "We don't have much time!" she shouted, her voice tight with strain.

Axton reached the branch, his heart pounding. He tested its weight—it was heavy, but it might just work. Below, the wolves snarled and snapped, oblivious to him.

With a sharp kick, Axton dislodged the branch. It crashed down with a thunderous crack, directly onto the alpha wolf and two others. The alpha yelped in pain, pinned beneath the branch, and the rest of the pack hesitated, their formation breaking.

The mentors seized the opportunity. The bearded man stomped the ground, sending a wave of earth that knocked the remaining wolves back. The wiry man's flames roared brighter, driving the creatures into full retreat.

The clearing grew quiet once more, save for the heavy breathing of the candidates and the mentors. The alpha wolf struggled briefly beneath the branch before letting out a defeated whine. With a final, grudging glare, it limped away, its pack following close behind.

Axton slid down from the tree, his hands scraped and his legs shaky. He barely noticed the stares of the candidates as he rejoined the group.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Elias asked, though there was a note of admiration in his voice.

"I wasn't," Axton admitted, his voice hoarse.

The silver-haired woman approached, her sharp gaze locking onto him. For a moment, he thought she might scold him, but instead, she said, "That was reckless."

Then, to his surprise, she added, "But effective."

Axton blinked, unsure how to respond.

"Come," she said, addressing the group. "The trials are over for tonight. We'll evaluate your performances in the morning."

The candidates trudged back toward the village, their earlier bravado replaced with exhaustion. Axton walked beside Elias, his mind spinning. For the first time, he felt as though he'd done something right—something that mattered.

As the village lights came into view, Axton glanced back toward the dark forest. The wolves were gone, but the unease lingered. Something about the attack didn't sit right with him, as if it had been more than just a random encounter.

He pushed the thought aside for now. Tomorrow would bring answers—or perhaps more questions.