I saw the green eyes glowing from the hillside to my left.

  They burned through the darkness—just as sharp, just as hateful as the first time I’d seen them.

  But this time, I wasn’t going to run.

  This time, I’d fight.

  I checked my stats.

  HP: 34 / 45MP: 14 / 18

  Not fully recovered.

  But hopefully…

  Enough.

  I lifted my gaze back toward the hillside.

  The green eyes were gone.

  I scanned the forest.

  Nothing moved.

  No sound.No shifting brush.No snapping branches.

  What game is he pying?

  I’m not coming down,until I know where you are.

  He could see better in the dark than I could.

  I knew that much.

  Seconds passed.

  Then more.

  No howls.No footsteps.No whispers of wind through leaves.

  Nothing.

  It was as if the forest itself had gone silent—

  like it wasn’t allowed to make noise while he was here.

  Then the green eyes appeared again.

  Not on the hillside.

  Beneath my tree.

  They glowed from within a bush as the alpha stepped forward.

  He wasn’t alone.

  Two other wolves fnked him.

  Running out of ckeys.

  The alpha’s gaze locked onto me.

  Then it let out a short howl.

  Not loud.

  Deliberate.

  He wants me to come down.

  I scoffed quietly.

  I’m not pying your game.

  The alpha growled and swiped a cw.

  A bde of force tore through the air and struck the tree at its base.

  The trunk shuddered.

  Then tipped.

  I didn’t panic.

  I stayed stuck to the branch as the tree fell.

  Just before it hit the ground, I jumped.

  I bounced once.Twice.

  Then nded upright.

  I stood calmly in front of the alpha.

  It snarled—irritated, almost offended—

  like it hated how long it had taken to finally corner me.

  He’s annoyed.

  Figures.

  The first faint hint of dawn pressed against the edge of the night.

  I yawned lightly.

  System.Turn off notifications for now.

  I need to focus.

  Confirmed. EXP and level notifications disabled.

  Something inside me settled.

  Locked in.

  It was just me—

  the alpha,

  and his two remaining wolves.

  They split apart and began to circle.

  Then they attacked—

  together.

  I focused on the one to my left.

  I shifted half a step as it prepared a cw ssh,

  then surged forward and punched it square in the torso.

  The impact sent it flying backward, tumbling hard—

  straight toward the alpha.

  The second wolf struck.

  I walked through its attack,

  threading myself between the sshes like they were moving in slow motion.

  My speed carried me in close.

  I ducked beneath its chin and drove an uppercut into its jaw.

  The wolf unched into the air,

  briefly silhouetted by the rising sun—

  —before crashing back down into the darkness.

  The alpha stared at the fallen wolves.

  Then at me.

  Shock.

  Disbelief.

  Then rage.

  The growl deepened, vibrating through the ground.

  It’s just you and me now.

  I stared into those glowing eyes.

  I want to know why the night isn’t whispering.Are you really that strong?

  The alpha lowered its stance.

  Its gaze sharpened, locking onto me completely.

  If you’re not going to move first—

  Then I will.

  I dashed forward and threw a punch.

  The alpha dodged effortlessly.

  My fist smmed into the ground,

  sending a tremor through the earth.

  I pivoted instantly for another strike—

  —but the wolf was gone.

  I froze.

  Then I heard it.

  Air tearing.

  I twisted and leapt left just as a cw ssh ripped through where I’d been standing.

  It didn’t stop.

  It carved into a small hill behind me—

  —detonating it in an explosion of dirt and grass.

  That’s way stronger than mine.

  I turned toward the bushes.

  Still too dark.

  Another ssh.

  I dodged as it sheared clean through trees,

  tearing a path through the forest.

  Then another.

  Different.

  This one crossed into an X—

  six bdes ripping through the air at once.

  I dodged—

  —but barely.

  It grazed me.

  The attack detonated behind me.

  HP: 32 / 45

  I flicked my eyes to the number.

  That was barely a graze…

  And it did that much damage.

  He’s more dangerous than I thought.

  Then—

  Silence.

  I waited.

  Nothing.

  Another ssh.

  I dodged.

  But as it passed, it curved—

  —coming back toward me from behind.

  I barely reacted in time,

  leaping away as it smmed into the ground.

  What was that?

  Did it just follow me?

  No time.

  Another ssh.

  Then another.

  Three in rapid succession.

  I dodged the first—

  —and realized too te.

  They’re coming back.

  They’re tracking me.

  I ran.

  The cw sshes chased me through the forest,

  carving down trees,

  ripping apart branches,

  sending leaves and debris flying in every direction.

  Trees colpsed in front of me—

  I veered.

  Others fell behind.

  Branches snagged in my flesh as I forced my body forward at full speed.

  My thoughts spiraled.

  Why do they know exactly where I am?Is there a trick?Am I tagged?How would he even do that?

  I hadn’t been hit—

  I gnced down mid-run.

  At the spot where I’d been grazed.

  A strip of flesh hung loose.

  And inside it—

  a faint red glimmer.

  …What is that?

  A cw ssh erupted to my left.

  I barely avoided it—

  millimeters from my face.

  My eyes snapped back to the dangling flesh.

  I can’t take any chances.

  I grabbed it.

  And tore it free.

  Pain fred,

  sharp and immediate.

  I screamed internally.

  I hurled the flesh onto the forest floor and kept running.

  Every cw ssh after that smmed into the same spot.

  Three massive explosions tore through the forest.

  Trees wavered as power rippled outward.

  I stopped.

  Breathing hard.

  He tagged me.

  That attack wasn’t simple at all.

  I looked up.

  The green eyes were there again—

  watching from the bushes.

  I scoffed.

  …This isn’t done yet.