Chapter 6 — The Next Wave
Warmth rushed through Sam's veins like liquid fire. His muscles tensed, his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst, and a wild surge of energy coursed through every inch of him. He could feel his body changing—his blood burning hotter, his nerves alive with a power that wasn't there before.
It was the essence of the beast—pure and raw—merging with his own. His cells buzzed, vibrating with a rhythm that wasn't quite normal. For a moment, the sensation was almost too much. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to breathe through the flood of energy that threatened to overwhelm him.
And then—just as quickly as it had come—the rush stabilized.
A glowing blue panel appeared before his eyes, hovering faintly in the dim room.
You have received:
Strength +2 | Agility +1 | Mana +1
He exhaled slowly, flexing his hand. His fingers felt heavier—denser, packed with a coiled strength he hadn't possessed a few minutes ago. He could sense the power hiding just beneath his skin.
"So this is what it feels like to grow stronger…" he muttered, half in awe.
But before he could take it in, Serena gasped sharply.
"Sam…"
Her voice trembled.
He turned—and the blood drained from his face.
The rift that floated in their living room, jagged and pulsing with sickly purple light, rippled violently once more.
Thud. Thud.
Two hulking wolves dropped out, hitting the floor hard enough to shake the room. Shards of glass and splinters of broken furniture scattered around them from the previous battle. They rose slowly, their fur bristling, jaws glistening with saliva and blood.
But it wasn't just wolves this time.
Atop their backs sat something else.
Two green figures hunched forward, wrapped in pieces of crude armor that looked scavenged rather than forged. Their limbs were thin but muscular, sinewy under taut, bark-like skin. Their heads were large and bulbous, their faces twisted—sunken eyes, long pointed ears, and mouths filled with uneven, yellow teeth that gleamed as they grinned.
One grunted low in its throat. The other tilted its head back and cackled.
"Ke ke ke ke ke!"
The sound was shrill and unnerving—half laugh, half animal call.
Looking at them, only one thought came to mind—Goblins.
Sam's stomach tightened. "Serena—move!"
He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the staircase. The pounding of paws followed immediately, deep and heavy.
The moment they hit the steps, Serena stumbled but didn't stop. Her instincts had finally caught up with her fear. Sam threw a quick glance back—just in time to see one of the goblins leap from its wolf, landing with eerie agility, and draw a jagged blade from its hip.
"Go to your room!" Sam shouted, his voice rough with panic. "Lock the door, I'll—"
He caught her expression mid-sentence.
That defiant look. That same stubborn look she'd worn countless times before—when he told her not to sneak out, when she argued that she could protect herself.
"Of course," he muttered bitterly. "You're not going."
He turned back just as the wolves barreled up the stairs. Their claws dug deep into the wood, splinters flying with every bound. Their combined growls filled the stairwell, vibrating in his bones.
Sam gripped his knife, sweat slicking the handle. His heartbeat felt too loud.
"Come on, then!" he roared.
He met the first wolf halfway.
The knife plunged down—but the beast twisted at the last moment. The blade struck its shoulder instead of its head, barely sinking in. The creature howled, jerking violently. Its head snapped forward for a bite but Sam yanked the blade free and struck again, this time driving it deep into the side of its neck.
Stab. Stab. Stab.
Blood sprayed, warm and metallic, painting his forearms. The wolf's paw lashed out, nearly clipping his jaw. Sam stumbled back, panting, knife still in hand.
The second wolf leapt, jaws wide, a blur of teeth and muscle.
Sam barely had time to react before a wave of flame streaked past him overhead.
A blinding column of fire slammed into the wolf mid-air, engulfing it completely. The heat washed over him, scorching the hairs on his hand. The beast's scream was guttural—half growl, half wail.
Sam spun.
Serena stood at the railing, one hand extended, palm glowing red-orange. Tiny embers danced in her hair as she glared down at the burning wolf.
Her posture was fierce, but her lips trembled slightly.
He couldn't help it—despite the chaos, he smiled.
When the smoke cleared, the wolf lay charred and still. Barely breathing. The smell of burnt flesh mixed with blood was suffocating.
Sam turned back to the other wolf, now chocking on its own blood, its body twitching weakly. He didn't hesitate. He pounced, raining blow after blow until its movements ceased completely.
His chest heaved as he looked down at the lifeless bodies. The stairs were painted red.
Above him, Serena leaned against the rail, twirling a ball of flame in her hand with an almost smug grin. "I'm strong," she said softly.
Sam let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah. You are."
He bent to retrieve his knife from the wolf's neck and stabbed into the wolf's head. The blade scraped something solid. A small white crystal rolled free, faintly pulsing with light—the beast's core.
He found another in the burnt wolf, pocketed both, and stepped back.
Stretching his bloodied hand forward, he whispered, "Devour."
The air chilled instantly.
A dark fog burst from his palm, thick and ink-like, wrapping around both corpses. The shadows pulsed once before sinking back into him.
Gone. Not even a bloodstain remained.
The surge came again, fiercer than before. His muscles flexed involuntarily, veins swelling. He gasped as heat and strength flooded him.
You have received:
Strength +1 | Endurance +1 | Mana +2 | Agility +1
He could feel his body changing again, growing sharper, stronger, faster—
Then a sound shattered the moment.
"Ga! Ga! Ga! Ga!"
That same twisted, high-pitched laugh.
Sam turned toward the living room—and froze.
One goblin stood grinning up at him, its yellow eyes glinting from under a dented helmet. The other—
His blood ran cold.
The second goblin stood on the landing, and over its hunched shoulder hung Serena. Limp. Unmoving.
For a heartbeat, Sam's mind blanked.
Then it hit him like a sledgehammer.
"Serena!"
The goblin grunted something and the other responded with the same eerie cackling. Then it bent its knees—and jumped.
The ground cracked as it landed below, Serena still slung over its shoulder like a sack.
"NO!"
Sam bolted. His body moved on pure instinct, faster than ever before. Every muscle screamed but he didn't care.
He was so close but—
Something green flashed in front of him.
The second goblin appeared, its fist already raised.
The hit came like a sledgehammer.
Sam felt the air tear from his lungs as he was thrown backward, slamming hard against the floor. The impact rattled his skull.
"Ke ke ke ke ke!" The goblin's laughter echoed above him, mocking and playful.
Dazed, Sam blinked—and saw the other goblin disappearing into the rift, Serena still on its shoulder.
"Serena…"
Pain flared through his chest as he forced himself to his feet. His arms trembled, his breath came ragged, but his eyes—cold, furious, focused—locked on the goblin blocking his way.
He spoke in a whisper that barely sounded human.
"You're in my way."
And then he charged.