The Howl of the Ulk

Martin barely managed to squeeze out his voice.

"M-Monster..."

Evolutionary scholars believe that humans and other animals originated from a single ancestral organism. However, monsters are presumed to have evolved from a completely different ancestral life form, making them impossible to fully analyze through conventional zoological approaches.

These creatures were stronger and more agile than ordinary beasts, and some even possessed intelligence.

'A wolf-like form. Bipedal. An Ulk.'

Shirone recalled the knowledge he had learned from books.

The Ulk had poor linguistic abilities but could express hundreds of emotions through sound. They had enough social intelligence to live in tribes.

Equipped with sharp claws, rapid mobility, and immense strength, they were balanced predators. When hunting in packs, even seasoned monster hunters hesitated to engage them.

'But why is one here? I thought this region was free of monsters.'

Only one possible explanation came to mind.

If the Ulks had lost a tribal war, the survivors might have fled and wandered into this area.

As if to confirm Shirone's suspicions, the Ulk before them bore numerous wounds. However, its fur was so matted with the blood of countless beasts that it was impossible to gauge the severity of its injuries.

"A-Aah..."

The frightened cries of the children reignited Altour's sense of responsibility.

As their leader, he had to protect them.

'It's still a living creature. A shot to the forehead would be fatal.'

Altour nocked an arrow and took aim.

Despite sensing the threat, the Ulk casually leaned against a tree and stared at its prey with an unsettling calmness—a sign of intelligence.

'Die, you filthy beast!'

The arrow shot through the air like the wind, but the Ulk effortlessly dodged by tilting its head slightly.

A guttural sound rumbled from its throat, like a mocking chuckle.

"Grrr... Grrrrr..."

The children gasped in horror at the creature's reflexes, but true despair was just beginning.

CRACK!

With nothing but its jaws, the Ulk shattered the thick tree trunk and roared at them.

"RAAAAH!"

"Damn it! Run!"

The sheer strength it displayed in ripping apart the tree made Altour abandon the thought of firing another arrow.

As everyone sprinted toward the summit, Shirone remained at the rear, shooting an arrow at the Ulk.

"RAAAAH!"

Enraged by Shirone's attack, the Ulk let out a furious roar, but it gave the children precious seconds to flee.

Then, with a beast's explosive power, the Ulk lunged forward, its claws swinging down toward Shirone's head. At that moment, Shirone's body transformed into light, shooting upward into the air.

"Grr?"

Now hovering in midair through teleportation, Shirone quickly surveyed his surroundings.

The dense mountain forest made consecutive teleportation difficult.

'I need to reach the summit.'

Meanwhile, Altour carried the exhausted children, urging them forward.

Choosing to ascend instead of descend was the right decision. Running downhill in such a state would have led to them tumbling down before the Ulk even caught them.

"Hurry! Run faster!"

The children had thrown away their weapons and supplies, climbing desperately with their tongues hanging out.

Lumina shouted, "Where's Shirone? I don't see him!"

"He's buying us time! Just keep climbing!"

Altour urged the group onward. As much as he worried about Shirone, there was nothing he could do. At the very least, he had to ensure the others survived.

"RAAAAH!"

Just as the children reached the summit, the Ulk came charging at them with terrifying speed.

Altour's expression darkened. If it had caught up, it meant that Shirone had either fled or been killed.

"Damn it! There's nowhere to hide!"

The summit was a mostly flat clearing, with a cliff at the edge.

A twenty-meter drop—not too deep for a mountain, but there was no time to climb down.

"Altour! The monster's here!"

The Ulk clawed its way up the slope, its rock-like muscles gleaming under the bright sunlight.

Altour stepped away from the group, willingly making himself a target.

"Over here! Come get me!"

"RAAAAH!"

The Ulk took the bait, but there was nowhere left to run.

Standing at the cliff's edge, Altour turned with grim determination.

No matter how much he had trained, his strength was nothing compared to a monster's. But if he was going to die, he would at least go down fighting.

"Come at me, you bastard! HAAAH!"

With the full weight of his life behind it, Altour's fist slammed into the Ulk's solar plexus.

But all he felt was the shock of hitting solid rock—and the searing pain of his breaking knuckles.

"Grrr..."

The Ulk's guttural chuckle sent a chill down Altour's spine.

Its right arm, now raised high, cast a shadow over him, ready to crush his skull.

'Is this... the end?'

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a blinding light flashed, and the Ulk vanished before his eyes.

"Run! Now!"

Turning toward the voice, Altour saw Shirone tumbling with the Ulk in the distance.

"H-How...?!"

As he stood frozen in shock, the Ulk raised its claws at Shirone.

But then, in a flash of light, both of them reappeared ten meters away.

The children rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

"I-Is that... magic?"

It was the first time they had ever witnessed teleportation.

No matter how fast the Ulk moved, every time it lunged at Shirone, he flickered like light, slipping just out of reach.

"RAAAAH!"

Unable to contain its fury, the Ulk howled in frustration.

Yet its anger was not the simple, mindless rage of a beast.

Realizing that any prey would suffice, the Ulk suddenly turned its attention toward the children.

"Aaaah!"

As they scattered in panic, only Lumina remained frozen in place.

"Lumina! Run!"

"Ah... Ah..."

Realizing that she was half-unconscious from fear, Shirone reached out toward the Ulk.

He intended to blind it with a photon blast, but his Spirit Zone didn't reach far enough.

'Too far.'

Shifting his zone into a cross-shaped formation, Shirone barely managed to lock onto the Ulk at its edge.

'Photon Output!'

The powerful flash he had honed during his training surged forward, striking the Ulk's eyes.

"RAAAAH!"

"He did it! Shirone got him!"

The children assumed the attack had obliterated the Ulk's face, but Shirone knew better.

Photon magic had no physical force.

Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the blinded beast.

"Lumina! Move! Now!"

Summoning every ounce of courage, Lumina threw herself forward, but her legs were stiff with fear, causing her to collapse.

The Ulk, regaining its sight, lunged again.

Just as its claws grazed Lumina's hair, Shirone seized the beast's waist and teleported.

The two of them vanished into the sky.

"Shirone! No!"

As they plummeted downward, Shirone realized he had one shot left.

And this time, he would make sure the Ulk never got back up.