The headmaster's speech ended, and he led them to the edge of the WolfBane forest.
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"You'll start entering in 10 minutes," Alpheus said. "During that time you can form teams of up to 4. In moments of grave danger, the instructors inside will save you." Alpheus explained the rules.
⠀
The clearing erupted into low whispers. Students gathered quickly, voices anxious and hands clenched. Some already looked ecstatic while others were terrified.
In the WolfBane forest, monsters aren't the only danger. The other students are.
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'Teams?... I don't think I want a team. After all, my training has made me stronger. I can hold my own in this forest with my experience,' Leo reasoned.
⠀
The entrance to the forest was filled with murmurs, with most trying to form a team to survive. While others entered alone, Leo was part of those alone.
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"Guess we waited too long."
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The voice came from his side. A short man stood there, forcing a smile that didn't quite hold. His eyes flicked past Leo toward the trees, then back again.
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"Everybody's already in a group," he went on, rubbing the back of his neck. "We're heading in soon."
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He pointed behind him. Two others stood there. One was gripping his staff too tightly. The other kept glancing at the instructors.
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Leo followed his finger, then walked away.
⠀
"...No." Leo kept moving forward. The man looked even more desperate.
⠀
Leo ignored him and saw that such scenes were happening a lot.
⠀
The fog clung to the trees like a living thing, swallowing the path ahead. Damp moss coated every root and stone, making even the smallest step treacherous.
Leo shifted his weight from one foot to the other, fingers tightening on the hilt of his sword.
⠀
Entering the forest alone, he immediately felt the damp wetness in the air. The roots of trees twisted on the muddy ground.
The forest was so foggy he couldn't see much in front of him, and it wasn't of help that the trees were so dense they blocked the light.
⠀
The heavy air filled his lungs while he wiped the sweat on his neck.
⠀
Walking cautiously and avoiding even branches, he went deeper into the forest. By now, he couldn't see any other students.
⠀
Each step was deliberate. He tightened his fingers around the hilt, feeling the rough leather press into his palm.
⠀
As he moved, he heard wolves howling. A metallic smell filled his nose. He recognized it.
⠀
Blood.
⠀
He traced the noise to some distance away from him. Growing curious, he followed the sound.
⠀
He moved at an astonishing speed. Reaching a tree, he hid behind it, observing the situation.
⠀
He saw a lone woman tightly clutching a bite wound on her left arm. Her back was to a tree, with wolves growling in front of her.
⠀
Her hand was shaking as she put pressure on the wound.
Her eyes were wide in terror, watching the approaching beasts with a resigned look on her face.
⠀
Off the bat, he saw six gray wolves. Two of them were obviously bigger. The remaining ones were leaner in body.
⠀
Seeing them, he moved swiftly, stabbing at a wolf flanking her left in the shoulder.
⠀
The wolf sensed the attack and retreated, the sword missing him by an inch.
⠀
The wolves regrouped after seeing the new dangerous opponent. They circled him, growling, saliva dripping from their open mouths.
⠀
Leo, seeing this, got into a defensive stance. Sword brandished in front of him, he took a slow deep breath, readying himself for a fight.
⠀
A wolf lunged at him, its sharp claws glinting faintly. Leo sidestepped, avoiding the claws, while leaving his right side open for attacks.
⠀
One of the large wolves bit into his arm, his student tunic proving ineffective. Blood gushed out everywhere, its teeth deep inside.
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The bite wasn't a clean puncture. Blood gushed out, and it caused immense pain. Leo grunted, sticking his finger into the wolf's eye and twisting.
⠀
The wolf howled in pain. Leo took his finger out, leaving a bloody, empty socket.
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The wolf was still writhing in pain, its movement unbalanced and its body trembling as blood sprayed out.
⠀
Using the hole in the wolf's defense, Leo swung his sword roughly with all his might, cutting off its head.
⠀
The remaining wolves, seeing this, howled and attacked at the same time.
Leo parried the claws with difficulty, but the real attack came from behind.
⠀
Mud splashed as he repivoted, narrowly avoiding the jaws snapping shut where his thigh was a moment ago.
⠀
The wolf, seeing its attack fail, regrouped, starting another all-out attack.
⠀
As Leo was forced into a retreat, he suddenly grew bolder and faster.
He abandoned defense for a moment, realizing that hesitation would cause his death.
⠀
Raising his sword high, his blade fell in a flash. He slashed the wolf flanking his back. Its head split in two, rendering it dead.
⠀
The second large wolf saw this and pounced, its jaws chomping his ankle with a snap.
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"Agh! Damn it!" Leo screamed in pain. He stabbed the wolf in its throat repeatedly.
⠀
As he stabbed it, he heard branches snapping.
⠀
Silence dropped over the clearing. The smaller wolves froze, tails low and ears pricked toward the mist.
⠀
The trees seemed to split apart. Through the fog, two dark eyes looked at Leo, calmly assessing him. It was as if he was prey and nothing more.
⠀
A wolf bigger than any he had seen before appeared.
The remaining wolves bent their bodies low in obedience, howling and welcoming their alpha.
⠀
Its left eye was scarred and its right ear was torn, looking as if it had survived countless dangerous fights.
⠀
The alpha didn't attack at first. It circled Leo coldly, eyes fiercely watching his every movement.
⠀
'What the hell is that thing!' Leo was trembling in pain. Blood spattered across the mud from his ankle. His entire weight was on one leg.
⠀
He knew that fighting that huge wolf was a death sentence. He had to use his full power.
⠀
Gripping his sword, a violent, fiery mana spread throughout his body.