Chapter 14 – Into the Wild

Kael moved through the dense forest, his steps silent, his senses sharp. The underground ruins had given him power. The underground fights had sharpened his instincts. But neither was enough.

He crouched low, studying the tracks in the dirt. Something large had passed through here recently—a beast, perhaps a predator. Good.

His abilities remained unreliable. They surfaced only when he was near death, refusing to obey his will. If he wanted control, he needed to push himself beyond his limits.A rustle in the undergrowth. A shadow moving between the trees. Kael's muscles tensed.

Then—a blur of motion.

A monstrous creature lunged from the darkness, all fangs and claws. Kael barely twisted in time, its claws slicing past his shoulder. Too slow.

He hit the ground, rolling to his feet just as the beast turned, eyes glowing in the moonlight. A direwolf. Larger than any normal wolf, its fur bristling with unnatural energy. A perfect opponent.

Kael exhaled, steadying himself.The wolf struck again, and this time, he didn't dodge.

He met the attack head-on.

Its fangs tore into his forearm, pain igniting like fire. But instead of pulling away, he twisted into the beast's attack, forcing its jaws open and slamming his other fist into its throat. The creature recoiled, choking.

The pain blurred his vision, but something deeper stirred within him.Kael pushed forward, striking, dodging, adapting. Every movement honed by past battles. Every second bringing him closer to control.

When the fight finally ended, the wolf lay motionless, and Kael stood over it, breathing hard. Blood dripped from his wounds, but he barely felt them.

He clenched his fists. Still not enough.

He needed more.

And he would find it.