Battle in the Forest

Massive trees shattered and were torn down by some unseen force. The loud shouts of mercenaries echoed through the forest as they relentlessly pursued a swift, fleeing figure.

Black Sword rode the wind, slightly behind all the other mercenaries, following leisurely. In his hand, a complex array of runes formed a floating orb of light. The orb was connected to three larger orbs, casting a wide, ethereal light across the forest, allowing the mercenaries to track their prey without the need for torches.

"I didn't expect to find such a rare mutation here," Black Sword mused casually, adjusting the feathers on his shoulder-mounted pet. "It looks like it's been tainted by werewolf blood. A nice specimen to bring back for further study, don't you think, my dear?"

The black bird's eyes flickered red as its beak twisted unnaturally, almost forming a smile, giving the scene an eerie feel.

Ahead, Snoke led his team of mercenaries, relentlessly closing in on their prey. They employed all kinds of beast-capturing tools, but Night Howl seemed to always be one step ahead, narrowly escaping each trap set for it. To Snoke, what should have been a simple hunt had dragged on far longer than it should have.

Night Howl was battered, its body covered in numerous injuries, and its healing process was slow. The wounds had been inflicted during its earlier skirmish with the mercenaries. Black Sword, using some dark magic, had significantly diminished Night Howl's regenerative ability, forcing the creature to flee and continue evading capture while it awaited rescue.

Aware that it couldn't win, Night Howl had wisely chosen to escape, running deeper into the forest to buy time.

Snoke swung a chain hook, fast as lightning, matching Night Howl's speed and keeping close on its tail. The moment Night Howl was forced to change direction, Snoke pounced, throwing the chain hook at the creature.

Whoosh!

The metal of the hook tore through flesh, followed by a sickening rip as the chain tightened, pulling taut. Snoke immediately began yanking the chain back, stepping on trees or rocks to gain leverage as he pulled.

With a pained howl, Night Howl lost its balance and crashed to the ground. The mercenaries, eager for their prize, rushed in, focusing on the injured creature.

Sensing the danger, Night Howl opened its enormous jaws, targeting the nearest mercenary. The man, seasoned in battle, was quick to react, dodging just in time to avoid being bitten. The massive jaws clamped down with a resounding crack, and the air filled with the sharp sound of bone breaking as the mercenary narrowly avoided death.

The mercenaries behind him froze in fear, knowing that even the strongest armor wouldn't protect them from those jaws. They quickly backed off, opting for ranged weapons to wear down the creature from a safe distance.

Black Sword, watching the mercenaries struggle, felt irritation bubbling up. He raised his hand, and a jet-black wind blade formed, ready to slice Night Howl's jaws off. But just as he prepared to launch it, an unexpected sense of danger struck him.

Before he could react, his black bird spread its wings wide, blocking the view in front of him. The bird's wings exploded outward like a violent storm, covering Black Sword's entire body. At that moment, a sharp, high-pitched screech of metal on metal rang out.

Black Sword felt his wind-based magic dissipate, the protective winds and his body flying backward as the bird's wings withdrew. The mercenaries' agonized screams filled the air, followed by the sound of bodies falling to the ground.

Black Sword's pristine attire was now wrinkled, his hair disheveled, and a surge of anger boiled within him. He pushed himself up with his cane, his eyes darting toward the battlefield.

A young man stood beside the mutated creature, his arms covered in black, wolf-like claws. Around them, the mercenaries had already fallen. Only Snoke and three other elite mercenaries were still alive, though their situation wasn't any better.

The black bird returned to Black Sword's shoulder, its wings still unfurled as it screeched loudly, showing the scratches on its wings that still smoked.

"That's you, isn't it? The one who took our cargo?" Snoke growled through gritted teeth, sweat dripping from his face.

Glen glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Cargo? Oh, you mean the forest elf. Yes, she's with me, but I'm not giving her to you. What will you do about it?"

Snoke's eyes reddened as veins bulged on his neck. He roared, "Who do you think you are?! Do you think a little power lets you trample over anyone?! Our backing is something you can't even fathom, kid! Hand over the cargo and come with us. Maybe your punishment won't be so bad!"

Glen gave a mock shudder, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh no, I'm so scared. As if I've never dealt with nobles before. Your precious Pank family is just a count, right? Not a big deal. You think I can't handle them? You want to make me laugh?"

Snoke was furious. His teeth ground together, but he couldn't think of a retort. Instead, he sneered, "You talk so big, but you've never seen the real world, have you? You've gained a little power and think you're invincible? Let me teach you a lesson!"

By now, Black Sword had arrived at Snoke's side, his clothes and hair somehow magically restored to their perfect condition. He gave a cold glance at Glen.

Glen sized up the man, recognizing the familiar dark aura around him. He raised an eyebrow. "An evil dark magic user?"

Black Sword scoffed. "Magic is just magic—there's no good or evil. Talking to someone like you, who doesn't understand magic, is beneath me. It's time for you to die."

With that, Black Sword thrust his hand forward, releasing a ball of dark wind blades that sped toward Glen with terrifying speed.

Glen acted quickly, hurling Night Howl aside and dodging the attack by using centrifugal force. The wind blades whizzed past him, narrowly missing his body. He could tell that this sorcerer's power was formidable, capable of piercing through even Night Howl's tough hide.

However, Glen quickly assessed that Black Sword was at least a third-tier magic user, and that was something he could handle without transforming into his beast form.

As the first attack missed, Black Sword was already preparing his second spell. He summoned swirling black winds that formed into sharp, spinning rings—each one aiming to slice through Glen.

Glen's form blurred as he darted around, evading the razor-sharp rings. He got closer and closer to Black Sword, drawing near with every movement.

"You're like a mouse—so annoying to deal with," Black Sword hissed, frustrated. "Then try this! Let's see if you can avoid it!"

With an exaggerated motion, Black Sword threw out a large, corrosive net of magic that spread out like a blanket, aiming to trap Glen.

Glen smirked. "Can't dodge it? Well, I won't."

His right hand transformed into a massive wolf's claw, swiping through the net. The net, which had been emanating a deadly corrosive aura, was torn apart effortlessly.

Seeing the situation turn against him, Black Sword's expression faltered for a brief moment. In a panic, he summoned his most powerful magic.

As Glen charged forward, he suddenly felt an ominous presence lock onto him, and he couldn't evade the incoming attack in time.

A massive, shadowy arm emerged from behind Black Sword, smashing into the ground. The arm ripped out a huge, broken knight's sword dripping with dark liquid and swung it down toward Glen with deadly force.