Transmigrated to a Dark Fantasy World of SSS-Rank: King of the Void-Chapter 75: Wendigo

The group went on high alert the moment they heard the noise. Monar struck the ground with his staff, handing the bow to Azel, who drew the string and aimed toward the source. Marco unsheathed his sword with a frown, and Mitsuki pulled out his shotgun, aiming at the same spot Azel had his eyes on.

"Keep your eyes open," Marco said. "We can’t leave any openings for them to flank us."

"Flank us...? Hah! Yeah. Monsters are still intelligent, as always. This is probably a trap," Azel added with a nervous smile.

The dark elf whispered a spell under his breath, reinforcing their protection against curses. Then, as translucent cloaks covered the group, he spoke:

"There are several possibilities right now. The first—according to old legends—within the forests surrounding Holylight, long before the Mystery of Cinder, there were cults devoted to corrupted gods and primordial demons. The people of those cults practiced cannibalism and blasphemy, deforming themselves until they became beings of pure corruption."

"That still happens even today, Monar," Azel added. "It’s nothing new, you know? Anyway, where are you going with this story?"

Mitsuki frowned, staring into the depths of the forest as his body trembled nervously.

’I was thinking the same thing. What is Monar trying to tell us? He’s not the type to show off his knowledge. It’s obvious he knows something—and it’ll help us right now.’

"That’s exactly my point," the dark elf said. "There are many kinds of creatures in these woods that could attack—iron wolves, possessed deer, forest guardians, killer plants—but among the strongest, those that can survive even hundreds of years after the curse while fighting other creatures... without a doubt, the most dangerous are Wendigos."

Marco tightened his grip on his sword.

"Are you sure about that? Is there a Wendigo stalking us?"

"Unfortunately, yes. It knows how to hide well—at least it did at first—but its hunger is palpable... I can feel it in the air—the miasma of death, a dark energy similar to that of a witch. It’s a Wendigo, without a doubt."

"Then we better get ready to have our asses kicked," Azel said, sharpening his gaze toward the source of the noise.

’Wait a second... Are they talking about that kind of creature? In games, they’re usually not that strong. Why is Azel saying we’re going to get our asses kicked?’ Searching for an answer, he asked, "Are Wendigos strong?"

Monar frowned.

"Of course they are. The weakest are usually classified as Rank B, but those born from humans corrupted by cannibalism and greed can reach Rank S. Not all Wendigos are transformed humans—most are malevolent beings that possess innocent humans. They’re commonly found throughout the forests surrounding Nemoria."

That’s not good.

’Damn... So we’re about to fight another monster like the Lover of Flowers Among Blood. I need to stay focused if I want to be useful, but... huh?’

Crack... A branch snapped. Something dragged itself through the bushes in the distance, and suddenly, a voice from beyond the grave whispered—deep, hoarse, and broken.

"Don’t split up!" Marco said, making everyone stand back to back.

Beneath their feet, a mysterious black smoke appeared, filling the scene and spreading with the density of fog. The surroundings among the trees darkened, as if night had fallen in the middle of the day—while daylight still lingered above them—preventing them from seeing where the beast would come from.

’Shit, shit, shit! This is my first time fighting a monster like this! What are its abilities and attack patterns? Does it have a second phase like classic boss fights?’

Heavy footsteps echoed, cracking the ground. The tension rose as the smoke thickened.

"It’s in front of you, Marco," Monar said.

The blond nodded, showing the same seriousness as the night before. He raised his sword in front of his face, silently measuring the creature’s steps.

’As long as it doesn’t target me directly, I can still help.’ Mitsuki knew what he had to do. Even if he didn’t know whether his magic would affect the beast, he had to try if the opportunity came. ’Even if it attacks me, I can dodge with my new skill—as long as my timing is perfect.’

One attempt would be enough to prove what he was capable of—but that conviction would soon fade.

The fog parted violently. From the darkness emerged an aberrant beast, running on four long, uneven limbs. The creature stood as tall as two grown men, thin and emaciated, with long, bristling black fur covering its deformed body. Its triple-jointed limbs were crooked; some bones were slightly larger than others, causing it to move with aggressive, jerking motions.

Massive moose-like antlers jutted from its head like blades—the nightmarish fusion of a broken human-animal skull, consumed by the Curse of Cinder. Sharp, triangular teeth lined the edges of its bone structure, and long hair concealed its small yellow eyes, faintly glowing within dark sockets. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Ash seeped from its form like a faint trail of dust, while its long limbs scraped against the ground at high speed, taking massive strides. Its intentions were clear: to kill. Not even a fraction of a second passed before Marco had to counterattack, slashing sideways with his sword.

The Wendigo reacted instantly, raising its antlers to block the blade. As its long legs came to an abrupt halt, metal clashed against bone, producing a short, dry sound.

Marco pulled his sword back immediately. At the same time, Azel released a light arrow that pierced the creature’s side. The Wendigo groaned in its dreadful voice, trying to retreat—but Monar had a surprise waiting.

With his staff raised high, he summoned a white lightning bolt that crashed down from the sky. The display of light impressed Mitsuki, who didn’t think he could do anything to help. The Wendigo seemed like all appearance and little substance.

...No. That’s not how this works.

The Wendigo slammed its front limbs—twisted, horrible hands with long bone claws the size of daggers—into the ground, dispersing the lightning that made it writhe.

"Shit! Marco!" Monar shouted.

The blond followed the call, attempting another slash, but the darkness swallowed the beast. In that brief moment, Mitsuki fired a blue fireball, which seemed to hit the creature, as a deafening scream echoed through the mist.

"It’s Rank A. We can beat it," Azel said.

Monar nodded, but then the fog surged like a powerful tornado, swirling around the group and blinding them. Immediately after, the Wendigo’s thunderous roars echoed from one place to another as the beast moved around them at incredible speed.