[Warning! You have killed the Tainted Monster, Wolf of the Paradise Forest!]
[Warning! You have killed the Tainted Monster, Wolf of the Paradise Forest!]
[Warning! You have killed the Tainted Monster, Wolf of the Paradise Forest!]
The «Princess's Sorrow» once again split the wolf's body in half. The sword continued to slash at the enemies in its path. Blood flowed in all directions, splashing onto the ground, the trees, and Someon.
Several days had passed since he'd made his first kill. It was then that he noticed something strange. With each passing hour, the number of monsters he fought grew. Whereas before it had been one or two monsters, and skirmishes with them were rare, now encounters with five or six wolves every hour, or even more frequently, had become the norm.
He was already used to it. To his surprise, his swordsmanship skills were quite good. At least they were enough to deal with the packs of beasts that lay in their path.
In those rare moments when he managed to get a second of rest, he sent the «Princess's Sorrow» back to «Welter's Grace» to allow it to recover.
The blood always disappeared from the blade after it returned to Someon's hand. And he always looked at his own reflection. It had changed. Over those few days, his appearance had changed greatly.
The cadet's uniform had become darker, stained with blood. His face and hair were also stained with blood. His silver hair had become darker and matted together, clinging to his face with sweat. His face itself was stained not only with blood but also with dirt and dust from his journey.
For those few days, all he did was fight and kill... fight and kill... fight and... kill... And so on, hour after hour. Day after day. Every step he took left a new monster corpse behind him. A trail of blood trailed behind him, his footprints as bloody as the hands that held the sword.
He did nothing but fight. Passing by trees with enticing, juicy fruit, Someon paid them no attention. After the time he'd almost been killed because of it, he paid them no mind. He continued his journey at night, too.
Without pause. Only rare periods of rest. But not the usual kind. He didn't sleep, eat, or drink.
No matter how hard Someon tried, he couldn't do it. So he decided to test a few things. And... he wished he hadn't done it...
«Who am I? – he asked himself again. He had asked himself this very question more than once over the past few days. – Why don't I feel anything?»
A previously unknown feeling began to swirl deep within him. It wasn't fear, nor anything else he knew. Everything around him was bright, beautiful, fantastical, as if he'd stepped into the pages of a fairy tale.
Someon couldn't remember where this association had come from. He couldn't remember much anymore. While the lights danced magically around him, calming the raging storm in every living thing... the young man simply walked past, ignoring them all.
Only monsters attracted his attention. Because they became his enemies. Every single one of them.
– Hah... haa... hah... – The young man, breathing heavily, looked up at the bright daylight, then turned back. Six dead monster bodies lay there. – Nothing again, huh?
He ran his hand through his hair, smearing blood across it. The beasts were already approaching him again, preparing to attack. The blade of his sword glinted in the sun's rays. In them, the forest itself seemed safe. Just as it had appeared to Someon at the very beginning of his journey. But now he wasn't buying into that image of a kind and gentle forest.
«New wolves, again? Could they be gone already?» – he thought with irritation, grimacing.
Once again, he did what he had been doing all these days. That is, he was going to kill all his enemies. But he hesitated for a moment.
«Killing someone again. And everything inside is empty.»
But this hesitation was short-lived, and soon the wind swirled around him and the blade. The onyx-black sword gleamed and prepared to reap the lives of new enemies.
– Forward, – he whispered under his breath, counting the enemies.
«Six, seven, eight… ten?» – he was genuinely surprised by such a number.
Ten wolves. Never before had there been such a large pack. A maximum of six wolves in a single pack, and then rest. This cycle was part of his current life, growing more complex with each passing day.
Rrrrrrrrrrr!
The wolves growled together, turning their eyes full of hatred on him. They were ready to pounce on the young man at any moment.
But he didn't give them that chance. With a swift movement, his body enveloped in the wind, he found himself next to one of them. Just as quickly, the sword took his life.
«Don't give them the right to attack first» – is a rule that Someon came up with for himself during one of the battles.
Rrrrrrr? Rrrrrrrrrrr!!!
They were taken aback by the sudden death of their fellow, but immediately came to their senses and rushed at him with even greater fury.
Wolves, slightly larger than normal, with coal-black fur and red eyes, bloodshot and furious, rushed forward. They had only one goal: to kill, to tear apart their enemy. And they sought this, fearing nothing, not even death.
The wind was refreshing on a warm day, blowing on him from all sides, more than on anyone else here. The entire forest was a magical place, enchanting everyone. But it was one big trap: it turned animals into monsters consumed by madness, and used them to lure and kill people.
«They're different, – Someon remarked, looking closely at these wolves. Their fur was blacker, their bodies larger, their strength greater. – Could they really be of a higher rank?»
Bang!
Blocking the claws of one, he dodged the second. The wind gave him an advantage in speed and agility.
Nine left. Nine enemies he must kill.
By extending the invisible "Wind Shroud" field twenty meters, he saw the battlefield more clearly. The wind whispered everything he needed to know directly into his mind: where they were. What they were planning to do, and so on.
He had all the information he needed and was therefore calm. Then again, he was always calm. Yet his heart didn't change its rhythm for a moment.
Bang! Clink!!
Several wolves rushed forward, fast and furious! Someon managed to dodge one. But the second slowed slightly and appeared right in front of him. Someon lunged, wrapping his blade in the wind!
Bam!!
The beast's jaws gripped the blade, refusing to let go. He dug his paws into the ground, not moving!
«Damn it! You monster! You bastard!!» – Someon screamed as he saw several monsters running towards him!
One of them was already close enough to attack, and he saw it. The wolf's claws slashed across his leg! The young man managed to lean back, letting go of the hilt!
He sent the «Princess's sorrow» back. It disintegrated in a shower of golden sparks, vanishing from the wolf's mouth. He was visibly surprised, but immediately rejoined the rest of the pack.
Now he was deprived of his weapon, and it would take him at least two seconds to summon it. Somehow, he had to hold out against nine of them.
«And what should I do?»
Rrrrrr!!!
Rrrrrrrrr!
Rarryrryr!!
The wolves' roars echoed through the forest. The entire pack stared at the young man, their red eyes fixed on him. The next moment, three of them rushed forward with all their might! Two on the left, two on the right. And the last ones remained in place, ready to attack.
«These ones are even smarter?!»
While the ones he'd encountered were simple beasts, these had some semblance of teamwork. Primitive, but still, they had it. And that was a problem… a big one!
But their delay gave him everything Someon needed. Golden sparks sparkled in his right hand, and "The Princess's Sorrow" completed its appearance.
Then he leaped back and headed left toward the two. The wind enveloped his body and sword even more intensely! The patterns on the sword began to shimmer faintly.
Bang! Shurkh!
His speed was far greater than the beasts', so he reached them faster. The other wolves were close, but not too close. The two of them stopped standing and rushed straight toward him to help the pack. Their eyes were ablaze with fury.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, he lunged forward and slashed at one of the wolves. One blow and the creature's body was split in two.
Someon didn't hesitate. Taking a deep breath, he tried to attack the second one. But it, its jaws open and its sharp fangs bared, was already trying to bite off his arm!
The «Wind Shroud» enveloped his body more, spreading from the sword. The young man knocked the wolf back with an elbow strike! His reaction was barely enough. Otherwise, the wound would have been serious.
– Haaah... Heh... This is bad! – His situation was dire. Eight more wolves. It was difficult for him to fight so many in his current state of strength.
Breathing heavily, he could clearly feel his heart. Beating calmly in his chest. The same as always. The same as all these days before.
«Damn, I've cut down so many wolves and now I'm going to die from them? What irony», – He almost closed his eyes, resigned to his imminent death...
«Brother!.. Brother! Brother!»
A familiar female voice brought him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes and blocked the claw strike with his blade! Someon could have died if not for the voice.
He hasn't spoken a word in days. Why does he only show up in situations like these? He shouldn't have shown up during vacations!
Someon didn't understand why he was hearing that voice. But so far, all he'd done was help. So he didn't object.
Jumping back, he tried to catch his breath. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with blood and dirt. His dirty hair stuck to his face.
Just at that moment, the voice of «Mercy…» sounded in his head:
[Congratulations! You have killed the Infected Monster, Wolf of the Paradise Forest!]
– What? – he asked without thinking, once again dodging the claws and fangs of several wolves!
He couldn't find a moment to attack. Now he could only dodge. This continued for a full minute. Small cuts from claws began to appear on his body. Then the first wound appeared on his arm from the fangs of one of them!
«Run!» – was the only sensible thought that loudly declared itself!
Someon glanced behind him. Nothing but trees and the natural beauty of the Paradise Forest. Everything was still as wonderful and fantastical as before.
Swallow!
He swallowed and jerked away from the battle. The wolves chased after him, leaving the fallen behind. Every movement was painful. While Someon tried to escape, the wolves, growling and breaking branches beneath them, ran after him.
At that moment, the design on the blade of the "Princess's Sorrow" began to shimmer faintly. The blood dripping from her hands onto the blade was instantly absorbed by the sword.
In Someon's ears, all he could hear was the wind and the roar of the wolves. He ignored what was announced:
[The blood of suffering has been consumed! Your Artifact is filled with power!]
Someon ran and ran through the forest, past trees, as fast as he could! Tree branches struck his face and body, leaving cuts and bruises! Blood flowed from small cuts and a wound on his arm.
A pack of black wolves, their eyes burning with hunger and rage, chased after him.
«Damn! Where's the exit?!» – the young man shouted, looking around!!
And then the river came into view. It was to his right and much shallower than the one Someon had emerged from. With no other option for escape, he veered sharply toward it, cutting down a slender tree with a single, precise blow.
It should have delayed the flock, at least for a second.
Once he was close to her, Someon didn't think twice and immediately jumped into the water!