Chapter 11: The Scent Of Death.

Liam's hands trembled, his breath hitching as he stared down from the platform. His wide eyes reflected the monstrous wolf below, its crimson gaze burning like embers in the dark. Even Kael, though experienced, felt a familiar chill crawl up his spine.

An intimidation skill… so that's what this is.

Liam was likely experiencing it for the first time. It was a skill unique to powerful monsters—one that instilled paralyzing fear, freezing its victims in place.

Kael, however, had endured it countless times before. His muscles tensed, but he forced himself to remain calm.

It doesn't seem to have noticed us yet… Good.

He had taken precautions, masking their scents with crushed leaves. As long as they stayed silent, they had a chance.

Below, the beast prowled near the dying campfire, sniffing at the smoldering meat before its nose twitched toward the ground. Its body stiffened.

Shit. It's tracking us. It knows we're here.

Kael barely had time to process his next move before the wolf's head snapped up. Its gaze locked onto his, crimson orbs gleaming like a predator that had found its prey.

A guttural growl rumbled from its throat, its lips peeling back to expose rows of jagged fangs.

There was no time to hesitate.

Kael moved first.

With a sharp exhale, he leapt from the platform, daggers drawn, slicing through the cold night air. The flickering flames below painted his descent in shades of orange and shadow.

The moment stretched, the battlefield silent—until steel met flesh.

Pierce!

His dagger plunged deep into the beast's flank. The wolf let out a deafening snarl, twisting its massive body in an attempt to snap at him. But Kael was already gone.

Kicking off the beast's back, he flipped through the air, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. He landed low, rolling to absorb the impact. By the time he looked up—

The wolf was already upon him.

Kael barely dodged, shifting left just as the beast's fangs carved through empty air. It's fast—too fast. He took another step back, scanning for an opening, but the monster was relentless.

It lunged again.

Kael dodged right. Then left. His breath came quick and sharp, his mind racing. I can't even counter—its speed is insane.

He attempted a quick slash mid-dodge, aiming for its side, but the moment his blade met fur—

Nothing.

The dagger barely left a scratch. Damn it! Not enough force!

The wolf circled, disappearing between the trees, its movements eerily calculated. Then—it struck.

Kael barely had time to react before the beast slammed into him with bone-crushing force.

CRACK.

His vision blurred. The air was ripped from his lungs as he was sent skidding across the dirt. His body rolled to a stop, pain flaring through his ribs.

But he didn't stay down.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet—just in time to see the wolf charging again. Its maw opened wide, aiming to tear him apart in one final lunge.

Kael made his choice in an instant.

Instead of retreating, he rushed forward.

At the last possible second, he activated Quick Step, his body vanishing in a blur. He reappeared mid-air, right above the wolf's lunging head.

With pinpoint precision, he drove his dagger straight into its eye.

The beast screamed.

It flailed violently, its skull jerking sideways, the impact sending Kael flying once more. He tumbled, dirt scraping against his skin before he finally came to a stop.

One dagger remained buried in the wolf's skull. He was down to one weapon—and judging by the pain burning through his body, his left arm was dislocated.

Shit. This is bad.

Then came a flash of light.

Two arrows and a Mana Bolt streaked through the air, crashing against the beast's hide. The arrows bounced off harmlessly, but the Mana Bolt struck true, forcing the wolf to recoil.

That was all the opening they needed.

Liam and Paul dropped down from the trees, landing in front of Kael. Paul took the lead, his shield raised, while Liam stood at Kael's side, sword drawn.

Kael smirked. They didn't run.

"Took you long enough," he muttered, flicking the wolf's blood from his remaining dagger.

Liam grinned. "Sorry, I'm a heavy sleeper."

Kael scoffed. "Yeah, I could tell with all that snoring.."

His vision swayed slightly—blood trickled down his forehead. His left arm throbbed—dislocated from the moment the wolf had struck him. But there was no time to stop. The beast was still standing.

"So, did you come up with a plan?" Kael asked, eyes locked on the creature as it prowled forward, unfazed by the mana bolts and arrows flying past it.

Michael's shots were missing—his injuries affecting his aim. Alysha's magic crackled through the air, but the wolf barely flinched.

"Garve, Michael, and Alysha stay up there—keep firing. The rest of us handle it up close. Sound good?"

Kael glanced at Norvyne, who was already tucked behind a tree, waiting for an opening.

"Sounds perfect."

The instant the words left his mouth, the wolf lunged.

Paul stepped in without hesitation, shield raised.

BAM!

The impact sent him flying, his body smashing through the air before slamming into a tree. He crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

Liam froze for a heartbeat—shocked.

Kael didn't.

He dashed forward, boots kicking up dirt. Paul had done his job—absorbing the wolf's momentum. That was all Kael needed. He activated Quick Step, his body a blur as he leaped, twisting midair.

Aim for the eye.

The wolf flinched, instinctively trying to evade. But Kael knew how to deal with this kind of beast—he had fought them before. He adjusted, predicting its dodge, and drove his dagger straight into its remaining eye.

A shriek tore from its throat, a guttural, primal sound of pain. It thrashed violently, forcing Kael to kick off its head, leaving his weapon embedded in its skull.

The wolf was blind now, but Liam made a fatal mistake. Thinking the beast was helpless, he rushed in—his sword carving a shallow cut along its flank.

The wolf moved.

In an instant, its fangs sank into Liam's shoulder.

A sickening rip echoed through the battlefield as the wolf tossed him aside, flesh torn from bone.

That Idiot...!

Kael gritted his teeth. Just because it couldn't see didn't mean it couldn't hunt. It could still smell him.

His eyes flicked toward Liam's fallen sword, lying just beneath the wolf's hulking frame. There was no way to grab it—not without getting mauled.

Unless—

Norvyn charged from the flank, daggers flashing. He aimed for the injured spot in its flank. But it was too predictable.

The wolf whipped around with terrifying speed, jaws snapping.

Crunch.

Norvyn's scream tore through the night as he was flung across the battlefield, his right arm severed mid-air. He hit the ground hard, blood pooling beneath him.

It happened in an instant. Too fast. But it bought Kael the moment he needed.

He moved. Diving low, he snatched up Liam's fallen sword.

A pulse of something old—familiar—rushed through him the moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt.

The wolf turned toward him, sensing the shift.

Kael exhaled, adjusting his grip.

"…How nostalgic."

His past life had wielded swords—not daggers. A large, one-handed blade, just like this.

Even without his A-Rank Swordsmanship Mastery skill, his mind knew the weight, the balance. His soul remembered the years spent training, the battles fought, the blood spilled.

It wasn't perfect. It wasn't him.

But it would do.

Kael lowered his stance, left foot forward, blade raised in a precise angle. His fingers curled around the hilt, firm but relaxed.

The wolf felt it.

For the first time, true fear flickered in its blind eyes. Instinct screamed at it to flee. But its pride refused.

It roared, lunging with all its strength—jaws wide, aiming to tear him apart.

Now-

Kael sidestepped, pivoting sharply as the beast's fangs snapped at empty air.

One stroke.

He twisted, swinging the sword in a single, clean arc.

Schlick!

The blade carved through the wolf's exposed throat, slicing deep. Its charge carried it past him, a strangled gurgle rising in its throat. Blood spurted in thick, steaming arcs.

It staggered.

It tried to turn, but its legs buckled beneath it.

Kael didn't hesitate. He stepped in, driving the sword deeper—twisting—until the final snap severed its jugular. The beast let out one last, shuddering breath before it collapsed, lifeless.

Silence fell over the battlefield... only the sound of ragged breathing filled the air.

Liam groaned, clutching his mangled shoulder. Norvyn—still alive—grimaced, his face pale from blood loss. Paul stirred, groaning in pain.

Orayne had already rushed to them, kneeling beside the most injured, hands glowing as she began healing.

Kael exhaled, wiping blood from his face. He looked down at the sword in his hand.

A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"…Yeah," he muttered, clutching at his injured shoulder. "That'll do."

You have slain [Umbrolf – Level 5]!

Experience Points Gained. (Bonus Experience Included for defeating a higher-level enemy)

590 Survival Points Acquired.

*Ding!*

Class [Rogue] has reached Level 2!

*Ding!*

Race [Human] has reached Level 2!