Chapter 65 The Wolves Territory
Arthur flicked his hand, summoning Lupin from a swirling portal of dark energy. The lone wolf emerged with a low growl, its lithe form crouched close to the ground.
Lupin's sharp nose twitched, sniffing the air, while its eyes scanned the dense forest around them, alert to any movement.
Arthur's gaze shifted upward. "Hank," he muttered, his voice steady, "scouting duty. Let me know if there's trouble up ahead."
With a soft cry, the hawk launched into the air, its wings slicing through the filtered beams of sunlight streaming between the trees.
For a moment, Arthur watched as Hank disappeared above the canopy, his talons glinting faintly before vanishing from sight.
Arthur adjusted his grip on the dagger resting in his hand. The faint crunch of his boots against the leaf-strewn ground seemed almost too loud in the otherwise silent forest.
"This area should be a prime spot for farming," he said under his breath, glancing at Lupin, who prowled beside him, as silent as a shadow.
As they went deeper into the forest, signs of life became less frequent. The rustling of leaves to his left drew Arthur's attention, his body tensing. Before he could react, a corroded rabbit burst from the bush, its decayed fur exposing patches of flesh, white teeth and it's infamous red eyes.
Arthur stepped back in one fluid motion, clearing the way. "Lupin, take care of it!"
The wolf shot forward, a streak of shadow and muscle. The corrupted rabbit tensed, its rotting body twitching with unnatural speed as it sprang into the air, jagged claws aiming for Lupin's body.
Lupin met the creature head-on, its fangs flashing. With a precise snap of its jaws, the wolf clamped down hard on the rabbit's shoulder, forcing it to the ground.
thud.
-15HP
The rabbit shrieked, its sickly red blood spraying from the wound as it kicked out frantically, trying to break free. But Lupin didn't relent. Before the rabbit could retaliate, the wolf's powerful paws slammed down, pinning it in place. With a savage growl, Lupin sank its teeth into the rabbit's exposed neck and twisted violently.
-30HP [Critical Hit!]
The corrupted creature spasmed, its movements frantic and desperate. But just as it seemed to regain its strength, Lupin struck again. The wolf lunged low, sinking its fangs into the rabbit's hindquarters and flinging it across the clearing.
The twisted creature hit the ground hard, its body skidding through the dirt as a fresh spray of blood splattered across the leaves.
-25HP [Critical Hit!]
Arthur watched the fight, his eyes narrowed as the rabbit twitched on the forest floor, its health bar hanging by a thread. Lupin prowled toward it, slow and deliberate now, his head low and teeth bared. The rabbit tried to rise—its claws scraping the ground weakly—but the wolf was already there.
With one final strike, Lupin's jaws closed around the creature's throat, cutting off its pained screech in an instant. He shook his head once, sharp and precise, and the corrupted rabbit fell still.
-10HPn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
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[Ding! You have slain a Corroded Rabbit (Level 4).]
Arthur let out a low breath as the notification chimed softly.
Lupin released the rabbit's limp body, green ichor dripping from his fangs as he stepped back. The wolf turned to Arthur, its steady gaze asking for approval.
Arthur smirked, crouching briefly to pat Lupin's body. "Good boy. Not too bad, huh? You didn't even break a sweat."
Lupin let out a low huff of satisfaction, his tail giving a single flick before he turned his attention back to the forest—ready, waiting for the next fight.
Arthur straightened, his gaze drifting to the rabbit's corpse as the last of its health bar faded from view. "It put up a bit of a fight… but nothing we can't handle."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, raising a brow at the notification. "But to think that there's a Level 4 rabbit? That's new." He crouched to inspect the loot the creature had dropped.
[Stone Sword (Uncommon) has been dropped.]
His lips curled into a small smile as he lifted the weapon, its crude blade glinting faintly in the dappled light. "An uncommon stone sword? I haven't had one of those in a long time. I almost thought they were extinct now." he murmured, stowing the weapon into his inventory.
He nodded to Lupin. "Let's move on. There's plenty more where that came from."
With silent grace, the wolf fell back into step beside him, the two disappearing deeper into the forest.
They continued forward, carving a path through the increasingly dense mobs. Arthur let Lupin handle most of the creatures, taking the opportunity to observe the wolf's movements. Its precision and ferocity left little doubt about his ruthlessness and strength.
"Good boy," he said, ruffling the wolf's fur lightly as it returned, carrying another piece of loot in its jaws. "As expected from a pseudo-elite lone wolf,"
A sharp screech echoed from above, drawing Arthur's attention. Hank swooped low, circling briefly before darting off toward a thicket ahead.
Arthur's hand tightened around his dagger as his gaze followed the bird. "More mobs up ahead?" he guessed, his tone steady. "Alright, let's see what we're dealing with."
The trio moved in synchrony. Lupin stalked low to the ground, Hank scouted above, and Arthur checked the path ahead of them. Together, they cleared the forest quickly and efficiently.
Each encounter ended swiftly, Arthur relying on his summons to handle the brunt of the work while he focused on strategy or better put...being lazy.
An hour later, Arthur halted near a familiar clearing, his senses on high alert. The faint, metallic tang of blood remained in the air. His eyes narrowed at the sight of deep claw marks gouged into the bark of nearby trees.
"This is it," he said, his voice low, almost swallowed by the silence. "The wolves' territory."
As they stepped into the wolves' territory, the air grew heavier. Arthur paused mid-stride, a thought sparking in his mind. He glanced down at Lupin, who prowled silently beside him.
"You were in a pack before, weren't you?" Arthur asked, his voice calm.
Lupin's ears flicked, and the wolf slowed. A low, mournful howl rose from his throat—soft at first, but heavy with the weight of old memories. Arthur caught the shift in its posture.
'His muscles tensed,' He thought.
Arthur's lips quirked into a faint smirk. "Do you hate that old pack?"
Lupin's response was immediate. The wolf's head shot up, and a growl rolled deep in its chest, raw and guttural.
It was more than a sound—it was fury, almost primal. The faint light caught the glint of its fangs as the growl gave way to a howl, louder and sharper this time, like a battle cry.
Arthur's grin widened, a flicker of amusement crossing his face as he crouched slightly to meet Lupin's gaze. "What do you say we go take your revenge? Do you want to?"
Lupin's eyes locked onto his, glowing with an intensity that left no room for doubt. The wolf's tail lashed, claws digging into the earth, its howl echoing through the clearing—almost as if it was answering yes to Arthur's question.
"Good," Arthur murmured, standing tall again, his smile turning sharper. "Then let's make sure they regret ever turning on you."
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