Eli and the mysterious wolf sprint through the forest,
branches whipping past as thunder shakes the sky behind them.
Gunfire and screams echo in the distance—
the chaos of battle fading only slightly with every step they take.
Above them, the storm rages on,
lightning flashing through the clouds,
turning the forest into a world of shadows and firelight.
Each flash reveals the wreckage they've left behind—
a reminder that the night itself is still at war.
As they ran, heavy footsteps thundered ahead—
the ground itself trembling with each impact.
From deep within the forest came a strange sound,
a faint electronic chime, echoing through the rain and trees.
The wolf froze, eyes widening in shock.
Wolf (under his breath):
"Oh, shit empty head… now of all times?"
Eli"
What ?
He grabbed Eli by the arm and dove with her into the thick undergrowth.
Leaves and mud flew as they hit the ground.
Eli stared at him, confused, ready to speak—
but the wolf raised a hand to his lips,
his eyes sharp and tense.
Wolf (whispering):
"Don't. Make. A sound."
From the darkness between the trees, two lights began to flicker—
white and black, flashing rhythmically like warning beacons.
The sound of electronic chimes grew sharper, louder,
blending into a high, piercing beep-beep-beeeep that echoed through the forest like a radar pulse.
Then—a flash of lightning split the sky.
For a brief second, the storm illuminated their forms:
two Black Wolves, each towering nearly six meters tall,
their massive, armored bodies gleaming wet under the rain,
steam hissing from their mechanical joints as they moved.
The ground trembled beneath their weight.
On their heads, each of the giants wore a metallic helmet—
forged in the shape of a wolf's skull,
featureless and hollow, with no eyes and no mouth.
At the center of each helm burned a single round light,
flashing between white and black,
sweeping across the forest like a searchlight.
Their appearance was monstrous—
like muscular machines, built from steel and bone,
moving with the weight of something that shouldn't be alive.
Their bodies were hulking, robotic, every motion heavy and unnatural,
as if their muscles were made of iron cables instead of flesh.
There was no spark of life in them—
only the cold, mechanical rhythm of movement,
as though some unseen force was puppeteering dead bodies,
dragging them forward through the storm.
Suddenly, one of the mechanical beasts turned its head—
the harsh light from its helmet swept across the trees,
cutting through the darkness until it landed on the patch of foliage
where Eli and the wolf were hiding.
A low, vibrating hum filled the air—
a deep mechanical growl that made the ground tremble.
The creature began to move,
each step pounding into the earth,
shaking the trees as it advanced.
Eli's body stiffened; her hands trembled uncontrollably as the monster drew closer.
Her breath caught in her throat.
The mysterious wolf glanced at her sharply,
raising a hand once more to his lips,
his expression deadly serious.
The hollow-headed giant leaned forward—
its massive frame lowering until the blank metal helmet hovered
just inches above Eli's head.
The light from its visor bathed the foliage in a blinding glow,
every leaf and shadow flickering in white and black as the beam swept over them.
Eli clamped a trembling hand over her mouth,
her body frozen, her breath shallow.
The forest fell utterly silent.
The only sound that remained—
was the rapid, pounding beat of her heart,
hammering in her chest like a motor struggling to stay alive.
The hollow-headed giant stood motionless, its massive frame looming over the brush.
A faint, organic scent drifted from its metal shell — it smelled like a real wolf, damp and wild, despite the lifeless machine beneath.
For a few long seconds, time itself seemed to stop.
The creature didn't move, didn't breathe — only that eerie, bell-like tone echoed from deep inside its body.
Then it stirred.
The giant raised its colossal arm, gears whining softly, and reached toward the foliage — its open hand hovering just above Eli's head.
Suddenly—gunfire ripped through the forest.
The machine's head jerked upward, the blinding light on its helm flaring white.
A deafening metallic chime rang out, reverberating like a cathedral bell.
It turned sharply, facing the forest's edge.
Behind it, the second metallic wolf lifted its head and answered with the same haunting tone.
In perfect unison, the two giants began to run—
their thunderous steps shaking the ground as they charged straight toward the ruins of the Marshal's fortress,
passing so close to Eli that the shockwave of their movement nearly threw her off her feet.
The hollow-headed giants vanished into the darkness—
their pounding steps fading into distant echoes,
the light from their helmets blinking one last time
before the forest swallowed them whole.
Only the trembling of the ground remained,
a fading reminder that they had ever been there at all.
The mysterious wolf rose from the brush, eyes tracking the path where the metal wolves vanished.
Wolf "
Chain ! you piece of shit
He glanced back at Eli.
Wolf: "All right—they're gone. Come out, cat."
Eli stepped from the thicket. "What was that?"
Wolf (uneasy): "Headmetal—soulless death machines. Iron fused with flesh."
Eli: "and Who is Chain, anyway?"
Wolf: "A bastard."
From deep in the forest, the bells return—paired with the thud of heavy steps.
Wolf: "Enough talk. We move. Now."
Eli nods. "Right."
They sprint through the rain—heavier, relentless—until the trees break. Ahead, a river rushes over a cliff, collapsing into a vast waterfall that disappears into mist.
Behind them, alarm bells swell like screams. The ground shivers with each colossal footfall, trees toppling somewhere in the dark.
The wolf's eyes widened in fear. He turned toward the edge and ran straight for the cliff.
Eli froze, staring down into the endless void below.
Wolf: "Jump!"
Eli: "No!"
Wolf: "You'll jump—or I'll kick you down!"
Eli (snapping): "Don't you dare—!"
As they argued, the forest behind them erupted—
five Headmetals emerged from the shadows,
their footsteps crushing the ground like thunder.
Wolf (panicked): "Oh, great. They found us!"
Eli turned her gaze back to the abyss.
Behind her, the machines raised their heads—
the white-and-black lights on their visors shifted to a glowing violet,
morphing into a triangular pattern that pulsed like a heartbeat.
A chorus of metallic bell-tones filled the air
as the giants broke into a sprint—charging straight toward them.
Without thinking, the wolf grabbed Eli.
Wolf (shouting): "Hold on!"
He shoved her off the edge and leapt after her,
both of them vanishing into the roaring mist below the waterfall.
Eli (shouting as they fall): "The second we hit that cliff, I'm gonna kill you!"
Wolf (smirking as he tumbles):
"You won't get the chance — we'll both be dead! Hahaha!"
Eli and the wolf plunged into the river, vanishing beneath the raging water.
Eli broke the surface first, gasping for air as the current hurled her downstream.
The river roared, wild and merciless, dragging her through the foam.
Ahead, a crooked tree leaned over the torrent, its branches stretching low.
Eli reached out—her fingers brushed a limb—and she caught it, pulling herself up with every ounce of strength she had left.
From the distance, she saw the wolf still being carried away by the current,
his body spinning helplessly in the waves.
Eli (shouting):
"Take my hand!"
The wolf reached for her, their fingers almost touching—
but the slick water tore him away before he could grasp her hand.
Eli launches herself onto the riverbank and bolts, chasing the wolf as the current rips him downstream.
Eli:
"HOLD ON!"
The wolf snarls, dripping sarcasm.
Wolf:
"Brilliant idea — let me just pick one of the zillions of places to grab onto."
Eli races along the bank, eyes locking on a crooked tree ahead — its roots jutting out from the soaked earth.
She stops for just a heartbeat, then drives a sharp kick into the trunk.
The tree cracks and topples, crashing into the river and breaking part of the current.
The wolf grabs onto the floating trunk and hauls himself up, drenched but grinning.
Wolf: "I'm saved!"
The tree immediately lurches, dragged back into the raging water.
Wolf: "…Or maybe not."
Eli (snapping): "Shut up and jump!"
The trunk sweeps downstream—
the wolf leaps from it and crashes into the river again, reaching out desperately—
his hand catches Eli's.
The current tugs hard, nearly dragging him back in,
but Eli digs her heels into the muddy ground, gripping his wrist with both hands.
Eli (straining): "Hold on!"
Wolf (yelling): "I am holding on!"
With one final pull, she drags him up onto the riverbank, both of them collapsing in the mud, soaked and gasping for air.
The wolf takes a deep breath, his eyes lifting toward the sky—
where the first light of dawn begins to break through the clouds.
Wolf:
"Now that looks promising."
Eli pushes herself up, glaring down at the wolf lying lazily in the mud.
Eli (sarcastic):
"Yeah, real promising… just perfect."
The wolf stood up, brushing mud and dirt from his fur.
He stepped to the riverbank, crouched down, and dipped his hands into the cold water, scrubbing at his fur.
Eli: "What are you doing?"
Wolf: "After everything that just happened, I need a bath."
Eli sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead and closing her eyes.
Eli: "Are you done? Can we please go now?"
Wolf (smirking): "Yeah, yeah—don't rush me, cat."
They began walking side by side through the forest.
The morning light grew brighter ahead, until the trees parted—
and before them stretched a vast, emerald meadow covered in wildflowers of every color.
In the distance, as the sun climbed higher,
a massive rainbow arched across the sky, glowing like a bridge to heaven.
The wolf stopped, eyes wide in awe.
Wolf: "Now that's something you only see once in a lifetime."
Eli (softly): "It's beautiful."
The wolf turned toward her, his calm orange eyes reflecting the morning light.
The rising sun gleamed against his gray-white fur as the breeze ruffled through it.
Eli looked back at him—her white fur glimmering, green eyes glowing under the golden sky.
Eli: "What's your name?"
Wolf: "Krabi. And you?"
Eli: "I'm Eli."
Krabi (smiling): "Pretty name."
Eli: "Come with me to Forest City. I'll introduce you to my friends."
Krabi closed his eyes and gave a dry, sarcastic laugh.
Krabi: "Nah… I'm heading west. I've had enough of war and chaos. Seen more blood than anyone should in a lifetime."
He glanced at her with a crooked grin.
"Why don't you come with me instead? Yeah—good idea. We'll head for the Golden Jungle. Not the best place, but it's quiet enough."
Eli: "No thanks. I'm not leaving my friends behind."
Krabi (half-smiling): "Yeah, but think about it… no war there."...and no black wolf and dog shit ....
"And no crazy celestial freaks either."
Eli: "No thanks."
Krabi chuckled, dry and sarcastic.
Krabi: "Heh… I'm running out of ways to convince you."
Eli smirked as she turned to leave, scanning the horizon—
searching for Forest City, though she clearly had no idea where to go.
Eli: "You've already done plenty."
Krabi raised an eyebrow.
Krabi: "Guess you're right… You do know where Forest City is, right?"
Eli shot him a teasing look over her shoulder.
Eli: "I'm a cat. I can smell anything."
Krabi laughed softly, turning his back to go his own way.
He glanced at her one last time, smiling faintly.
Krabi:
"Goodbye. I hope we meet again someday."
Eli turned slightly, her grin sly and playful.
Eli: "You know… they say strange things happen when you turn your back to say goodbye."
Krabi: "Nah… I don't believe in fairy tales or myths."
Eli gave a small, amused laugh and walked away.
Their paths split—each heading off in opposite directions.
Then, suddenly—
Krabi froze. His eyes widened, his breath caught. Something felt wrong.
Krabi (startled): "What the hell—?"
He spun around—
and saw Eli collapsed on the ground.
He sprinted to her side. Blood trickled from her mouth, her eyes, her ears—
her body burning hot with fever.
Krabi (desperate): "Eli?! Someone—anyone—what do I do?!"
He lifted her into his arms, running aimlessly across the endless meadow,
alone, lost, and panicking.
Krabi (voice breaking): "What do I do…?"