Dire Wolf Moon Kill

The Alpha Dire Wolf stood atop a small hill, its silhouette framed by the dim moonlight. Lucas had never seen such a fearsome predator—even through the panel system, he could feel the aura of death emanating from the creature.

[Alpha Dire Wolf - Mini Boss]

[Level: 15]

[HP: 1,247/1,247]

[Special Abilities: Terror Howl, Pack Coordination, Bloodlust Frenzy]

[Weakness: Light Magic, Silver weapons]

"Six regular wolves plus an alpha," Lucas muttered as he calculated their odds. "With the area's barrier steadily weakening and the kobold army due to arrive in less than two hours..."

"My Lord," Seraphina's voice sounded different—there was an urgency Lucas had never heard before. "There is something you need to know about the Dire Wolves."

Before Lucas could ask, a second howl echoed through the night. This time it wasn't just the alpha—the entire pack joined in a terrifying symphony. The sound made Lucas' bones tremble and his blood run cold.

[Terror Howl activated]

[Debuff applied: Fear (Minor)]

[Movement speed reduced by 15%]

[Attack accuracy reduced by 10%]

"They hunt in perfect coordination," Seraphina continued as her eyes kept a close eye on the shadows' movements in the forest. "And what's worse—they're intelligent. Alphas can devise complex strategies."

Lucas felt the truth of that statement as he watched the wolves begin to move. This wasn't the brutal frontal assault he had expected. Instead, they moved with military precision—three wolves took up flanking positions on the left, two others moved to cut off the retreat path to the Lord's Hall, while the alpha and one other wolf advanced from the front.

"They've surrounded us," Lucas realized with growing horror.

[Pack Coordination in effect]

[Enemy tactical advantage: +25% to all stats]

[Retreat routes: BLOCKED]

Seraphina closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, there was something different in them. It wasn't just any ordinary red glow—there were darker, more ancient depths, as if she were accessing memories and powers that had lain dormant for centuries.

"My Lord," she said in a voice that resonated with supernatural authority, "it's time for me to show you why I'm called the Vampire Queen."

Her right hand rose, and blood essence began gathering around her—but this was different from the usual Blood Lash. This was far more concentrated, more powerful. The air itself vibrated with the energy it contained.

[Seraphina activating: Blood Moon Blade - Ultimate Ability]

[Charging time: 8 seconds]

[Area of ​​Effect: 50 meter radius]

[WARNING: Extreme power consumption]

Lucas felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. Through the blood bond, he could feel the magnitude of the power Seraphina was gathering. This wasn't just any ordinary skill—this was the manifestation of centuries of accumulated power.

But eight seconds was a long time in a combat situation.

The Alpha Dire Wolf sensed the charging energy and reacted with perfect predatory instinct. With an earth-shaking howl, he gave the signal to his pack.

[Alpha command: FULL ASSAULT]

[All pack members engaging simultaneously]

What followed was pure chaos.

Six dire wolves charged at once from multiple directions, moving at almost supernatural speeds. Lucas barely managed to raise his Fang Dagger before the first wolf reached his position.

The collision was brutal. Lucas used all his reflexes to avoid the crushing bite, but the dire wolf's claws still managed to tear through his jacket sleeve. The Vampiric Drain from his Fang Dagger activated as he managed to make a shallow cut on the monster's flank.

[Vampiric Drain activated: 12 HP restored]

[Dire Wolf HP: 445/457]

But one wolf was overwhelming. Lucas couldn't imagine facing six at once.

Fortunately, his Skeleton Warriors were still serving as a distraction. Two of them were engaged with different wolves, giving Lucas crucial breathing room. But Lucas could see that his undead minions wouldn't last long—the dire wolves were far more powerful than regular goblins or kobolds.

"Seraphina!" Lucas shouted as he dodged another lunging attack. "How much longer?"

"Five seconds!" she replied, sweat beading on her forehead from intense concentration.

Five seconds felt like eternity.

Lucas danced with death, using his blood bond-enhanced agility to dodge attacks that would have killed him instantly. His Fang Dagger gleamed with red light every time he made contact, the vampiric drain slowly restoring the HP he'd lost from scratches and grazes.

But then Lucas made a fatal mistake.

While dodging a lunging attack from one wolf, he stepped in the wrong direction—straight into the path of an Alpha Dire Wolf that had been stealthily positioned for ambush.

Time seemed to slow down.

Alpha, with massive size and terrifying power, launched himself with a speed that belied his size. Jaws that could crush bones opened wide, aiming straight for Lucas' throat.

Lucas knew he couldn't avoid this attack. The angle was wrong, the momentum was wrong, the distance was too close.

He would die.

But then, with a speed even faster than alpha's attack, Seraphina appeared.

It wasn't teleportation like Blood Blink—this was raw speed, the vampire queen moving at a velocity that was almost impossible for the eye to follow. She threw herself between Lucas and alpha, using her own body as a shield.

Alpha's jaws, which were aimed for Lucas' throat, instead sank deep into Seraphina's left shoulder.

[CRITICAL DAMAGE: Seraphina]

[HP: 234/890]

[Severe bleeding effect applied]

[Blood Moon Blade charging interrupted]

The scream that came from Seraphina was a mixture of pain and fury that made every dire wolf within a hundred meters to hesitate. This was not a sound made by a mortal creature—it was the wrath of something ancient and terrible.

But the damage had been done. Lucas could see blood pouring from the deep wound in Seraphina's shoulder, and through the blood bond, he could feel the pain stabbing through his consciousness.

"Seraphina!" Lucas shouted, rage building inside him like a volcano about to erupt.

The alpha was still clamped to the vampire queen's shoulder, shaking his massive head to deepen the wound. The other wolves, sensing weakness, began closing in for a finishing attack.

Lucas didn't think. He just reacted.

Using the Fang Dagger with a technique he didn't know he had, Lucas launched himself at the alpha. The blade found a gap between the armor-like fur and sank deep into the monster's neck.

[Critical Hit! Sneak Attack bonus applied]

[Damage: 156]

[Vampiric Drain: 23 HP restored]

[Alpha Dire Wolf HP: 1,091/1,247]

Alpha released Seraphina with a roar of pain and anger, blood streaming from the neck wound. But the damage Lucas had dealt, while significant, was still not enough to seriously threaten a creature of that size.

To make matters worse, Lucas was now in melee range with the alpha, and Seraphina was too injured to immediately help.

Lucas retreated, trying to gain distance, but the alpha was too fast. Massive paw struck Lucas in the chest, sending him flying towards the Lord Hall. He hit the stone wall with an impact that cracked his ribs.

[HP: 67/145]

[Debuff applied: Bruised Ribs - movement speed reduced]

[Warning: Critical health threshold]

As Lucas struggled to stand, he watched the alpha positioning for the final attack. The other dire wolves formed a circle, cutting off all escape routes.

But then Lucas noticed something. Seraphina's blood, which had been dripping to the ground from her wound, began to glow with a faint red light.

And suddenly, Lucas had a desperate idea.

With speed born from desperation, Lucas reached to his belt and took out a small vial—a health potion he had gotten from his starter equipment. But instead of drinking it, he bit his own fingertip with the Fang Dagger, letting his blood mix with the potion.

[Improvised Item: Blood-Infused Healing Potion]

[Effect: Unknown - experimental combination]

"Seraphina!" he shouted as he threw the vial at the vampire queen. "Catch!"

Seraphina, though weakened, still had superior reflexes. She caught the vial with her uninjured hand and, understanding immediately, drank its contents.

What happened next was spectacular.

A brilliant red light exploded from Seraphina's body. The wound on her shoulder began closing at a visible speed, and the aura of power emanating from her body increased exponentially.

[UNPRECEDENTED EFFECT: Blood Resonance Healing]

[Seraphina HP fully restored]

[Temporary buff applied: Blood Moon Empowerment]

[All abilities enhanced by 200% for 5 minutes]

Seraphina stood, and for the first time since Lucas had known her, she looked... different. More powerful, more ancient, more terrifying. Her red eyes now glowed like stars, and the aura surrounding her body made the water tremble.

"My Lord," she said in a voice that now carried echoes of something divine, "thank you."

Then she turned to the alpha dire wolf with a smile that promised destruction.

"Now," she said, raising both hands, blood essence gathering with an intensity that made the ground beneath their feet crack, "you will learn why creatures such as you should fear the darkness."

[Blood Moon Blade - Enhanced Version activating]

[Power level: 300% of normal]

[Target: All enemies in area]

A blade formed from pure blood essence extended from Seraphina's hand—but this was no ordinary weapon. This was the manifestation of wrath and power accumulated over centuries, enhanced by blood resonance with Lucas.

The Alpha dire wolf, sensing genuine threat for the first time, let out a desperate howl. But it was too late.

Seraphina moved.

What happened in the next ten seconds could barely be described as combat. This was extermination.

The Blood Moon Blade cut through the dire wolves like they were made of paper. The Alpha, despite its size and power, could not match the speed and ferocity of the vampire queen empowered by blood bond and fury.

In a matter of heartbeats, the entire pack was eliminated.

[Battle Complete: Dire Wolf Pack eliminated]

[Experience gained: 8,934 XP]

[Blood Essence acquired: 267]

[Rare materials looted: Dire Wolf Pelts, Alpha Fang, Beast Cores]

[Lord Lucas Level Up!]

[Level 5 → Level 8]

[Significant power increase]

[New abilities unlocked]

But the most shocking thing was the notification that appeared next:

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: First Blood Bond Resonance]

[Rare phenomenon: Lord and Mythic Unit perfect synchronization]

[Reward: Crypt Level 1 unlocked]

[Additional Reward: Recruit Slot +1]

[Special Bonus: New Unit Type available - Vampiric Units]

Lucas stared at the panel in disbelief. Crypt? Vampiric units? What exactly had they unlocked?

Seraphina walked toward him, her aura power slowly fading back to normal levels. But there was something different in the way she looked at Lucas now—deeper respect, stronger connection.

"My Lord," she said in a soft voice but filled with emotion, "what you did... giving your blood to heal me... that wasn't just a tactical decision, was it?"

Lucas felt heat creeping up his neck. Honestly, in that moment, he didn't think about tactics or strategy. He just couldn't bear to see Seraphina hurt.

"I..." he began, but the words stuck in his throat.

Seraphina stepped closer, close enough that he could feel the coolness emanating from her skin.

"In my thousands of years of existence," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, "no one has ever been willing to sacrifice their own essence to save me. Not even the vampire lords who claimed to serve me."

There was a silence that stretched between them, filled with the weight of what had just transpired—not just battle, but something more significant. The bond that had formed between them had deepened into something neither fully understood.

But the moment was interrupted by a familiar, terrifying sound—a kobold war horn, now closer than ever.

[WARNING: Kobold Main Force ETA - 45 minutes]

[Force composition updated: 500+ elite units]

[New threat detected: Kobold Warlord (Boss-class)]

Lucas looked toward the sound, then back at Seraphina.

"Ready for next round?" he asked, gripping the Fang Dagger which now felt like an extension of his arm.

Seraphina smiled—genuine smile, no trace of condescension or amusement. Just... warmth.

"With you, my Lord? Always."

[System Notification]

[Crypt Level 1 construction available]

[Would you like to start construction?]

[Warning: Construction will alert all nearby enemies to your location]

[Estimated completion time: 30 minutes]

Lucas stared at the notification. Crypt construction right now, with a kobold army approaching? It seemed like suicide.

But then he realized something. Maybe it's not a coincidence. Maybe the unlocked Crypt system specifically because they needed it to survive what comes next.

With a decision that could determine the fate of his entire territory, Lucas reached for the accept button.