Chapter 12: The Failed Werewolf

They continued to slash down goblins and wolves, but after a while, the goblins seemed to have finished, leaving only prairie wolves. However, they didn't just kept arriving—they multiplied, as if an entire army was emerging from the forest.

"When will this end?" Jenna asked, her arms aching from the sheer number of arrows she had fired.

"I don't know..." Han began, slicing through an incoming prairie wolf's neck. "But it should finish soon."

"Pant... pant..." Tess was exhausted. Her hands trembled violently. She was a mercenary and had fought countless battles, but this was hell. No matter how many wolves she cut down, another took its place.

Her gaze drifted toward Shay, and her eyes widened in disbelief. A mountain of monster corpses surrounded her. Shay had slain nearly the combined total of Tess, Jenna, and Han. She was cutting them down with such ease that it looked like she was merely trimming grass.

"How is she so strong?" Tess thought. Her momentary distraction allowed a wolf to lunge at her, but before it could strike, an arrow pierced its skull, sending it tumbling lifelessly to the ground.

"Don't get distracted!" Jenna called out, nocking another arrow.

"Yes, sorry!" Tess quickly refocused on the battle.

"What the hell is happening? This is just the 2nd Floor! There's no way there should be this many monsters here!" Han thought as he continued slashing and stabbing his sword through the endless wave of wolves.

"Sigh... I'm getting quite tired of playing with you little dogs..." Shay muttered under her breath. Then, with a single swing, she cut down more than ten wolves in an instant.

"So I think it's time I get serious..." She raised her sword, her stance shifting.

"Solemn Blade..." she whispered before swinging with immense force. "Royal Arc."

A devastating wave of energy followed the swing, cutting through more than fifteen wolves instantly. A wind blade erupted from her attack, extending outward and slicing through even more enemies in its wake.

"Rest a bit, guys," Shay called back to her companions. "I'll take care of them."

Without hesitation, she charged toward the endless horde, cutting them down faster than they could arrive. Their overwhelming numbers rapidly dwindled, their advance crushed under her relentless assault.

"Wow..." Jenna and Tess watched in awe, their mouths slightly agape. "How can someone be so strong?"

Han, however, felt no relief—only unease. A sense of dread crept over him, a foreboding weight settling in his gut.

"What is this feeling?" Han clenched his sword tighter, scanning the battlefield. "Why do I still feel like there's something more to this—"

Han's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a strange howl that echoed through the forest. It wasn't a normal wolf's cry—it was warped, shrill, and carried an eerie, unnatural resonance. It sent a shiver down his spine.

The reaction was immediate. The Prairie Wolves that had been relentlessly attacking them just moments ago froze, their ears flattening against their heads. Then, without hesitation, they turned tail and fled into the shadows of the forest, their fear overriding any instinct to fight.

"What's happening now?" Shay muttered, gripping her sword tighter.

"Y-Yeah, what's happening?" Tess stammered, her spear shaking in her hands.

[Tess (☆☆) is in a state of fear. All stats are decreased by 30%.]

[Jenna (☆) is in a state of fear. All stats are decreased by 30%.]

Jenna, breathing heavily, turned her eyes toward Han. "Han..."

Han took a deep breath, steadying himself as he looked at Jenna and Tess. "Don't be scared, girls. Fear will only hinder you—"

Roar

A deep, guttural growl cut through the air, louder and more menacing than before. The oppressive atmosphere thickened as the trees rustled, and something massive emerged from the forest's depths.

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

Han's eyes widened. "Two warnings? What the hell..."

The entire group stood in frozen shock, even Shay's confident demeanor wavering as the creature stepped into view.

It was massive, towering over them at nearly two meters tall at the shoulder. Its grotesque form was a disturbing fusion of wolf and something else—something failed. Matted, patchy fur clung to its malformed body, but in several places, sinewy, raw muscle was exposed, pulsing with unnatural energy. One of its forelimbs had the grotesque shape of a malformed human arm, while the other remained a powerful wolf leg, making its movements disjointed and unnatural.

The most horrifying part was its face. A twisted blend of a wolf's snout and a half-formed human jaw, stretched unnaturally, making every breath sound like a sickening wheeze. When it opened its mouth, its fangs gleamed in the dim light, saliva dripping as it let out another unnatural, ear-piercing howl.

No one spoke. The air was thick with the weight of the monster's presence.

[Duskfang, the Failed Werewolf]

Han's breath hitched as his eyes locked onto the monstrosity before him.

"A-a werewolf? They... they should only be on the upper floors!" His voice trembled, panic creeping into his thoughts. This situation felt hopeless.

[Han (☆) is in a state of fear. All stats are decreased by 30%.]

"Is this how I die?" His hands started to shake uncontrollably. "I can't die a virgin—"

"Han." A firm hand landed on his shoulder, grounding him. Shay stood beside him, her eyes sharp and unwavering. "Please, throw away that fear of yours."

Han blinked, staring at her.

"I don't know if I can win against that..." she admitted, her gaze fixed on the abomination before them. She didn't even know how to properly address it. "But fear is useless."

Her grip on her sword tightened. "So I'll still try, so please help me."

[Shay (☆☆☆☆)'s Combat Logic has risen to level 3!]

Shay's words echoed in Han's mind, and something within him shifted. The fear that had paralyzed him dissipated in an instant, replaced by something steadier—determination.

[Han (☆)'s fear state has been cancelled. All stats have returned to normal.]

[Han (☆)'s Combat Logic has risen to level 2!]

"Yes, you're right, Shay." Han exhaled sharply, gripping his sword tighter. "Let's kill this failed product and get back—"

Before he could finish, a blur of movement sent a shockwave through the ground. The failed werewolf lunged at him with terrifying speed, its massive claws swiping through the air. Han barely had time to register the attack before he was sent flying, crashing hard into a tree. The impact rattled his bones, but he forced himself up with a groan.

The creature, however, didn't get a chance to finish him off. Shay was already there, intercepting it with a swift strike. Sparks flew as her sword clashed against the abomination's claws, the force behind the attack forcing her back a few steps.

"Han..." she called, her stance firm despite the tremor in her hands. "Try to calm down Jenna and Tess." She parried another strike, gritting her teeth. "We need them as well to kill this thing—"

She was cut off as the failed werewolf swiped at her with its deformed arm, the sheer strength behind the attack pushing her several steps back.

"Shay!" Han shouted in concern.

"I'm fine!" Shay shot back, immediately re-raising her sword. "Just do what I asked you! There's no need to worry about me!" Without hesitation, she launched herself forward, engaging the creature once more.

Han gritted his teeth before turning toward Jenna and Tess. The two were still frozen, trembling in fear, their eyes locked on the monster.

"Hey, girls..." Han reached out, placing a reassuring hand on their shoulders. The touch startled them, but when they saw it was Han, they calmed—if only slightly.

"I know that thing is too strong for us... but do you really want to die like this?" His voice was steady now, filled with conviction. "Devoured, powerless..."

Their eyes widened.

"Don't you want to see your families again? Don't you want to live?" Han pressed on. "Then fight! There's no point in staying still, even if the situation seems hopeless!"

His words struck a chord. Jenna and Tess exchanged glances, their fear beginning to fade as resolve replaced it.

[Jenna (☆)'s fear state has been cancelled. All stats have returned to normal.]

[Tess (☆☆)'s fear state has been cancelled. All stats have returned to normal.]

Their grips tightened on their weapons. The fight wasn't over yet. They weren't done yet.

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How was this chapter?

Did I exaggerate by putting this monster in? Also, I think that putting a moment of Han having some fear could make his character more realistic, so I put it there. Also, I haven't read the novel, so, for those who have, is there any sword energy or aura or stuff like that?