The wolves' intense, predatory gaze made Reisou's heart pound violently. It was a sensation unlike anything he had ever felt when facing other monsters.
He slammed the door shut with a loud bang and quickly stepped back.
Reisou tightened his grip on the lance and raised it, aiming at the entrance, ready to strike the moment a wolf dared to break through.
Meanwhile, 2B watched his tense stance from the bed, quickly understanding the gravity of the situation. With a quiet groan, she slowly pushed herself up, her body still weak from the toll of her recovery.
Her entire body ached, and her clothes clung to her skin, still soaked from the forced bath in the strange sea.
2B ignored the discomfort and swiftly drew her katana from her inventory, gripping it tightly in her left hand.
"Master, I will help you," she said calmly, taking steady steps toward Reisou while trying to conceal the weakness in her recovering legs.
Reisou turned at the sound of her voice, initially about to refuse, but the uncertainty of the wolves' strength made him hesitate.
If the trial had already begun, those monsters were likely far more dangerous than the ones he had fought on the surface. He might even die if he tried to face them alone.
"Alright... but I'll take the lead, and you provide support from behind," Reisou instructed, moving toward the door.
2B remained silent, giving a firm nod in agreement. She followed Reisou closely, prepared to watch his back.
*BAM! *BAM! *BAM!
The wolves outside the cabin already sensed their prey inside and began slamming their massive, firm bodies against the door, causing it to shudder with each impact.
*CRASH!
Four powerful hits were enough to splinter the old door, and the first wolf lunged inside, hungry for its prey.
However, before it could strike, a searing pain tore through its left eye, blinding it instantly.
A howl of agony echoed through the cabin as the wolf writhed in pain. Reisou, the one responsible for the strike, stepped forward and drove his lance into the beast's side, creating a bloody wound.
With no hesitation, Reisou followed up with a swift kick to the wolf's head, sending it crashing backward. It flew a meter away, coming to a stop near the doorframe.
"Shit, these things are tough," Reisou muttered, struggling to drive his lance deeper into the wolf's body, the resistance far greater than he had expected.
Compared to the goblins, boars, and kobolds, these wolves were nowhere near as easy to deal with.
The wounded wolf showed no signs of stopping and advanced again. At the same time, another wolf entered the cabin, seeking to assist its injured companion.
Both wolves lunged at Reisou, but before the wounded one could sink its sharp fangs into him, a blade pierced its throat. The wolf let out a whimper of pain before it fell dead, its body hitting the ground with a thud.
✫| Sum Fdah |✫
2B, confirming the first wolf's death, activated her dash ability, moving in the blink of an eye. She appeared before the remaining wolf, her katana slicing cleanly through its neck in a single, precise motion.
Unlike Reisou, 2B sliced effortlessly through the beast's tough hide.
As the wolf staggered, seconds from collapsing, Reisou stepped in and drove his lance straight into its skull, finishing it off with a sharp, decisive thrust.
Instead of feeling relief after taking down two tough enemies, both Reisou and 2B tensed up.
More wolves slowly stepped into the cabin, and when they spotted their fallen companions, they let out deep growls, eyes burning with bloodlust as they locked onto the two.
"Master, I'll restrain their movements. Be ready to attack," 2B commanded, quickly improvising a plan.
Reisou instantly remembered her strange technique that summoned shadowy hands and understood what she intended. He tightened his grip on the lance, ready to follow through.
✫| Rerha Orthez |✫
The moment 2B summoned shadow hands to latch onto the wolves' legs, she and Reisou charged forward. They attacked together in almost perfect unison, landing precise blows that killed the beasts before they even had a chance to react.
To make his hits more effective, he combined Fury and Enhancement, amplifying his strength.
When Reisou finished off his second wolf, a system notification appeared, signaling that he had leveled up. However, there was no time to check his status, as four more wolves had entered the cabin, each one fiercer than the last.
Reisou quickly assessed the situation and realized there were too many wolves outside. If they kept fighting, their strength would be drained, and it would lead to certain death.
His mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. The wolves that had entered were ready to pounce—until a sudden, thunderous noise echoed from outside, freezing them in place.
*SHLRRRGG!
A gross, squelching sound ripped through the air, followed by a deep rumble that made the ground shake under Reisou's feet.
The four wolves froze for a split second as their instincts screamed of impending danger. Then, without even glancing at Reisou or 2B, they turned and bolted from the cabin in a panicked rush to escape.
Feeling the situation was about to get worse, Reisou slowly made his way to the entrance and leaned against the wall, carefully peeking outside.
From the dark waters, a massive figure began to rise. The shadows concealed its form, but the two glowing red eyes locked onto him were more than enough to send a chilling wave of unease coursing through his body.
"What the hell is that?!" Reisou blurted out without thinking, finally understanding why the wolves had turned and fled. Whatever that towering thing was, it was enough to make anyone run for their life.
The moment Reisou saw the gigantic figure approaching, he didn't hesitate. He grabbed 2B's hand and pulled her with him, rushing away from the cabin as fast as he could.
When 2B saw the towering figure moving toward the beach shore, memories of the Engels and Goliaths from her world came rushing back.
That's when she realized just how dangerous things had gotten.
If she were back in her world, with YoRHa memory backup and her Black Box, she wouldn't hesitate to face such an enemy. But without those resources, death felt like a real possibility. After all, once a Summon died, there was no coming back.
Reisou was well aware of that, which is why he didn't want her acting like someone ready to sacrifice herself for him.
"Let's head to the forest. Maybe we can find a place to hide," Reisou said nervously to 2B as he ran, holding her hand tightly.
In addition to his fear of facing the giant monster, he was also uneasy about running into the wolf pack again.
Fortunately, once they entered the forest, they didn't run into any danger. The trembling of the ground had stopped, leaving only the soft whisper of the wind and the distant chirp of crickets.
Curious to see if the strange being was still following them, Reisou turned around. But instead of the towering figure, he was met with another startling sight.
A massive hill, stretching high into the sky, appeared out of nowhere, blocking the path they had just come from.
Reisou clenched his teeth, tempted to curse this bizarre place and the knight statue that had dragged them into it.
Every minute that passed only made things more chaotic and harder to understand.
Reisou took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts, and let out a heavy, tired sigh. With no other option, he kept moving through the forest, hoping to find an exit.
The darkness still lingered, reminding them to remain cautious as they continued their journey.
"2B, can you keep walking?" Reisou asked, his concern clear as he glanced at her, watching her carefully.
"Yeah, Master. My legs are better now. My right arm's still hurt, but I can fight if I need to," 2B said, her tone steady and confident.
"I see, but if you feel anything, please just tell me. Don't try to endure it alone, okay?" he said, his voice tinged with a pleading tone.
2B stayed quiet, giving a small nod in agreement. Reisou decided to trust her and motioned for her to keep following him.
They treaded carefully through the unknown environment, walking for hours, always alert to every sound and movement around them.
Throughout that time, they encountered no hostile creatures. Only the chirping of crickets filled the air, and occasionally, fireflies drifted by, lighting their path.
When Reisou began to feel tired and hungry, he spotted a tall tree with sturdy branches, perfect for resting. After climbing up, he and 2B settled there, pulling a few snacks from their inventory to eat while they regained their strength.
The duo ate in silence, the quiet atmosphere oddly comforting. As Reisou looked up at the sky, he saw nothing—no stars, no moon, just pure darkness.
And it made sense, considering this strange place was likely underground.
After finishing their meal and resting for a few minutes, Reisou and 2B resumed their journey, pushing forward through the forest in search of an exit. Unfortunately, their search seemed to lead nowhere.
The forest was incredibly vast, and with everything engulfed in darkness, it became even harder to navigate.
"I really shouldn't have entered this place," Reisou muttered, feeling regretful for going into the temple.
As Reisou sank deeper into regret, 2B came to a halt and gently tapped his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.
She silently pointed to something ahead, and when Reisou followed her gaze, he saw a watchtower glowing faintly in the distance.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, he moved toward it. When they drew closer, the outline of a massive stone castle slowly came into view, its medieval design towering over the trees.
The castle was illuminated by glowing orbs floating around, casting a soft glow on the stone walls. The large wooden gate stood wide open, almost as if it were inviting them in, yet a sense of unease lingered in the air.
"Knowing this place, I bet we're gonna get stuck the moment we go through that gate," Reisou said to 2B, who nodded in agreement. She, too, was starting to recognize a few patterns.
In the end, they decided to enter anyway. The moment the duo passed through the gate, it slammed shut behind them with a thunderous sound.
"Predictable," Reisou remarked with a hint of irony.
Ahead of them stood an abandoned medieval city, its cracked stone paths winding through rows of crumbling houses.
They kept walking, driven by a mix of curiosity and caution, wondering where the path might lead.
However, the deeper they ventured into the empty city, the stronger the feeling of being watched became.
From the corners of his eyes, Reisou spotted faint red dots in every alley they passed, glaring straight at him with malicious intent, silent and unmoving.
Upon reaching the castle square, a large black throne stood on a stone platform. Seated upon it was a tall figure, draped in tattered red robes, with a crown resting atop its head.
The bright glowing orbs floating around, which illuminated the area, purposely avoided the figure, leaving it in darkness.
Just like when he encountered the stone knight for the first time, Reisou felt a deep sense of unease. Judging by the crown, he already had a terrible feeling about who this figure might be.
"Fallen King," Reisou muttered, and the moment the words left his lips, the figure's hands moved slightly, creating a loud, unsettling noise.
Both Reisou and 2B instantly shifted into a combat stance, ready to strike at a moment's notice. The Fallen King gripped the armrest of his throne tightly, then slowly raised his head, his glowing eyes locking onto the two intruders with a piercing gaze.
The Fallen King's empty gaze intensified as his eyes glowed a deeper red, radiating a chilling presence. With a slow, deliberate motion, he lifted his right arm and spoke in a language that was completely foreign.
"Vulkrus Avarem Tata Benkar!"
His voice, though calm, was unnervingly loud, resonating through the entire area. From every corner, black skeletons clad in ancient medieval armor crawled out, emerging from the shadows of alleyways and the ruins of shattered houses.
Each of them had the same glowing red eyes Reisou had seen in the wolves earlier.
"2B, get near me! We're surrounded!" Reisou urged, his voice steady despite the rising adrenaline coursing through him.
Neither he nor 2B would fall easily.
At that moment, it wasn't a battle to level up or complete a mission.
It was a fight for survival.