Torren stepped in front of her, shield already coming up.

"Get back!"

Althea’s voice followed instantly.

"Now!"

Her mana surged.

Two layers at once.

They wrapped around Torren just before impact.

Strength.

Defense.

Then... BOOM!

The hit landed.

The sound cracked through the room.

Torren’s shield took it, but the force drove him down for a split second before it gave.

His body was launched backward.

CRASH!

He slammed into the ground, rolling hard, tearing through the dirt before coming to a stop.

"...Ghk..!"

Nox stumbled back, breath shaking.

Arthur was in front of her the next second.

"You good?"

She nodded quickly, still trying to steady herself. "...Yeah."

Arthur didn’t look at her again.

His eyes were already back on the wolf.

The beast lifted its claw slowly.

The ground where Torren had stood was ruined.

Cracked deep.

Split apart from the impact.

The first clash stayed with them.

Not just the broken ground where Torren had been hit, but in the way none of them moved right after. For a brief moment, they all just stood there, eyes fixed on the wolf, replaying it in their heads.

Arthur didn’t like what he saw.

Too fast.

It wasn’t just speed. If it were, he and Ryn would’ve at least reacted halfway.

But that..

That had been something else.

"It didn’t run," Arthur said quietly. "It just... wasn’t there anymore."

Ryn let out a slow breath beside him. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then his voice sharpened.

"We’re not letting that happen again."

Arthur nodded once. "Once is enough."

Behind them, Torren pushed himself up with a low groan. He spat to the side, a bit of blood following it, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"...That thing hits like a damn wall."

He didn’t waste time complaining though. He pulled out a potion, downed it quickly, then followed it up with another.

"Still alive though," he muttered, almost like he was reminding himself.

Althea didn’t look back at him. Her eyes stayed on the wolf, calm but focused.

"It won’t always be enough."

Torren gave a short breath of a laugh. "Yeah. I got the message."

Even so, he stepped forward again, lifting his shield back into place.

Ready.

Arthur shifted slightly without thinking, placing himself just ahead of Nox. It wasn’t something he pointed out. He just did it.

Nox noticed.

She didn’t say anything either.

She tightened her fist instead, forcing her breathing to steady.

"I’m good," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Selene was already set.

Her bow was drawn, arrow in place, her gaze locked on the wolf like she was afraid to blink at the wrong time.

"Just give me a clear moment," she said under her breath.

Arthur didn’t answer.

His focus stayed ahead.

The wolf had moved back.

Far enough to give itself space.

It stood there again, calm, its chest rising and falling slowly as its eyes passed over each of them one after the other.

Measuring.

Arthur felt it clearly now.

"It’s hunting us," he said.

Ryn nodded. "Not rushing either."

That was the problem.

It wasn’t desperate.

It wasn’t reckless.

It waited.

Behind it, a faint sound broke through again.

The cub.

Still in the guardian’s grip.

Still suffering.

Arthur’s jaw tightened as the guardian’s fingers pressed in again, forcing another weak sound out of it. The thing didn’t even hide it. It was enjoying this.

"...I’m going to kill that thing," Arthur said.

Ryn didn’t look at him. "Focus on the wolf first."

"I know."

But he didn’t sound like he’d let it go.

The wolf growled again.

Low.

Different.

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

"...Wait."

The mana around it shifted.

No...

It thickened.

Darker.

He could feel it pulling more in, like something had opened the flow wider.

"...It’s drawing more," Arthur said.

Nox spoke at the same time. "The flow just spiked."

That confirmed it.

It wasn’t subtle.

The wolf’s body tensed as the mana settled into it, like it was accepting it now. Or maybe it didn’t have a choice anymore.

Either way, the pressure coming off it climbed.

Ryn didn’t hesitate. "Close up."

They moved together.

No wasted motion.

Torren stepped in tighter, shield angled forward.

Selene adjusted her position but stayed within the group’s range.

Althea moved toward the center, her hands already glowing faintly.

Nox stayed just behind, keeping her distance but close enough.

Arthur and Ryn took the front.

A tighter formation.

Less space to exploit.

Arthur exhaled slowly, eyes still locked on the wolf.

"Let’s see it try again."

The wolf lowered its body.

Still.

Then.. It vanished.

Arthur’s eyes sharpened.

This time, he didn’t freeze.

He moved.

Not toward where it had been.

Toward where it would strike.

Selene.

He felt it, faint but there. The shift in its focus.

Ryn moved at the same time.

The wolf appeared.

Right in front of Selene, its claw already cutting down.

But this time..

Clang!

Ryn’s blade met it mid-swing, forcing it off line.

At the same time, Arthur stepped in from the side, his dagger slicing across its flank.

Shhk.

The cut wasn’t deep.

But it landed.

The wolf reacted instantly.

Its body twisted with the force of the clash, using it to push itself back.

Then...

Gone.

Again.

Selene let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

"...Thanks."

Arthur didn’t turn. "Don’t wait next time. Shoot if you can."

"Got it."

His eyes were already searching again.

It picks a target first.

Then it tests the response.

Ryn spoke low, like he was thinking out loud. "It’s trying to break us apart."

Arthur nodded. "Or force us to move."

But they didn’t give it that.

Not yet.

The wolf circled again.

Slow.

Careful.

Like it was adjusting.

Learning.

Then—

Arthur felt it shift again.

Different.

"Left!" Ryn called out.

But Arthur was already moving.

The wolf appeared right in front of Althea.

Its claw raised—

But Arthur stepped in first.

Faster this time.

Intent moved before thought.

His body hardened, a thin layer wrapping over him as wind gathered tight around his form.

He didn’t hesitate as he cut forward.

Shhk!