Chapter 6: The Path Forward (Part 3 - The Hunt Begins)

The creature stepped forward into the dim glow, revealing its massive, hulking form. Its body was covered in thick, dark fur, and it had the face of a wolf—but far too intelligent—with blood-red eyes that glowed like embers in the dark. Its teeth gleamed sharp and deadly, and its claws scraped against the stone floor, sending a shiver down Lucas' spine.

A low growl rumbled from its chest.

Lucas' heart raced. The air felt suffocating as the creature's gaze locked onto them. It wasn't just hungry—it was predatory.

"Is this some kind of… magical wolf?" Lucas whispered. He took a step back, his body tensing. "Elara?"

She didn't respond right away. Instead, she stepped in front of him, her dagger drawn and ready. "This is a Hunter Beast," she muttered, barely audible. "They don't die easily."

Hunter Beast.

The name alone sent a chill through Lucas. He had never encountered anything like this before in the webtoons he read. Most monsters were manageable with some power or trickery, but this? This wasn't a mere creature—it was a beast of the wild—and it had the advantage.

He glanced at Elara. She was calculating. He could see the tension in her movements.

"Stay behind me," she ordered, without looking back.

"Are you crazy?" Lucas said, his voice a mix of disbelief and panic. "You can't fight that thing!"

"I said stay behind me!" Her voice was sharp, unyielding.

Before Lucas could protest, Elara lunged.

With a speed that was almost inhuman, she closed the gap between her and the creature in the blink of an eye. Her dagger flashed, catching the dim light as it aimed straight for the Hunter Beast's throat.

But the beast was faster.

It swatted her aside like a ragdoll, sending her crashing into the stone wall with a sickening crack.

"ELARA!" Lucas shouted, rushing forward without thinking.

But the Hunter Beast's eyes shifted to him instantly, its gaze sharp and menacing. It let out a roar that shook the very ground beneath them, its massive paws ready to strike.

No way... no way am I dying here.

Adrenaline flooded his veins. He didn't think—he just acted.

He darted toward the creature, his feet pounding against the stone, his body moving on instinct.

"Come on, you overgrown wolf!" he yelled, swerving to avoid a swipe from the beast's claws. He barely dodged, feeling the air shift with the force of the attack.

The Hunter Beast let out a growl of frustration and lashed out again, but this time Lucas was ready.

Dodge left, then right. Wait for it to strike—

He slipped past its claws again and ran for the nearest pillar. He needed a weapon, anything.

The beast was relentless, however, closing in with every step. The ground shook under its weight.

Lucas reached the pillar, grabbing a long piece of stone that had broken off. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

Focus, focus, focus…

He spun around, holding the makeshift weapon.

The Hunter Beast pounced.

Everything happened so fast.

In the split second before the beast collided with him, Lucas thrust the stone upward with all his strength.

The stone connected with the beast's underbelly, and for a moment—a single, precious moment—it screamed.

But the creature was far from defeated. It roared in pain, but the rage in its eyes grew.

It spun and slammed Lucas into the stone floor, its claws raking across his chest.

Pain exploded through him. Blood dripped from his wounds, but he barely felt it. His vision blurred, his breath ragged. He couldn't die here. Not like this.

His hand gripped the stone tighter, his fingers slipping in the blood. But then—a flash of light.

A crackling energy pulsed in his chest, something deep inside him reacting to the near-death experience.

It was that same feeling—the feeling he'd had when he faced the trial in the temple. That surge of power, of will, of survival.

He gasped, his whole body lighting up with a strange energy that flowed through his limbs. He was no longer just a kid from another world—he was more than that.

His vision sharpened, his muscles surged with newfound strength. The pain in his chest dulled, replaced by a deep, primal instinct.

With a roar of his own, Lucas shoved the beast off him.

It stumbled back, surprised by the sudden strength.

Without thinking, he rose to his feet and lunged.

The stone—now crackling with power—became a spear in his hands as he thrust it toward the beast's chest, the energy guiding his strike.

This is it.

The stone pierced through the beast's heart with a sickening thud, and for a moment, the world went silent.

The Hunter Beast's eyes widened, its strength fading in an instant. It let out one final, pained howl before crumpling to the ground.

Lucas stood there, panting, blood dripping from his wounds as he stared at the fallen beast.

It was over.

For now.