[The "First Step" have been listed]
After the voice faded, a new screen appeared, as before Viktor's could try to focus on it, a new section appeared.
…
[First Step] (Comission) -
Description : Your Strife has just begun. The first step is to understand yourself and your status, but is that truly enough? Not everything is as it seems, for the world around you holds many unknowns that may soon reveal themselves.
Objective : Discover the way to level up and reach level 1.
Rewards: 10 Achievement Points, Unlock [Innate], [??].
…
Viktor's brow furrowed as he read through the objective. It seemed straightforward—he had to figure out how to level up.
But something gnawed at him, a feeling that went deeper than the words. What exactly did "getting to know yourself" mean in this context? And why did it sound like he was missing something crucial, something that hadn't yet revealed itself?
Awoooo!
A low, drawn-out howl echoed through the trees. Viktor's stiffened.
The howl cut through the silence, carried by the wind. It was close. Too close. His lips curled into a wry smile.
"Right. Of course. Wolves."
Instinct kicked in. His eyes swept the treeline, his stance subtly shifting as if the ground beneath him had suddenly turned hostile. His fingers twitched toward his belt, but there was no familiar weight of a hammer.
Instead, his hand brushed against something small—a narrow chisel tucked into his pocket.
A tool, not a weapon. But right now, it was the only thing standing between him and whatever was watching from the dark.
The underbrush rustled.
Three shapes emerged from the gloom, their eyes glinting in the fading light.
Viktor's breath slowed.
Viktor's took an instinctive step back. They were huge—larger than any wolf he had ever seen, their dark coats blending into the night. Their glowing yellow eyes fixed on him with an eerie intelligence.
Three against one.
I'm already Outnumbered.
The wolves circled him, their growls deep and guttural, the sound vibrating through the air.
Two of them—the larger ones—didn't immediately attack. Instead, they flanked him, pacing with measured steps, cutting off any escape route. They weren't reckless. They weren't lunging blindly.
They were corralling him
Viktor's brows knit together.
The third wolf, smaller than the others, stood between them. Its ears pricked forward, muscles tensed. It was young, but its eyes burned with intent.
It shifted its weight, pressing into its haunches.
Viktor's pulse quickened.
"It's going to lunge."
Viktor's mind reeled, instincts screaming at him to move, but something made him hesitate. The two larger wolves stood firm, their focus entirely on the smaller one. Not him.
Viktor's exhaled sharply. His fingers twitched, brushing against the narrow chisel in his pocket. It wasn't much, but it was something.
The young wolf's lips curled back, exposing its teeth.
Then—
It lunged.
The wolf lunged with a speed that sent a shock through Viktor's core, its jaws snapping toward his leg.
"Shit—"
Viktor's twisted—teeth snapped shut where his leg had been a heartbeat ago.
The force of the strike sent dust flying, claws gouging the earth where he had just been.
His heart pounded. That was fast. Too fast.
The other two wolves circled him, their eyes cold. They knew he was vulnerable. They could sense it.
Viktor's shifted his stance, trying to predict its next move.
Again, the wolf lunged.
This time, he managed to sidestep more cleanly, but his balance wavered against the uneven ground. The wolf landed and immediately wheeled around, snapping at him again.
Viktor's barely pulled back in time.
His breathing quickened. His mind raced.
This thing was relentless. It wasn't giving him a moment to react.
And yet—
Something felt off.
The way it attacked. The way it moved. The way—
Viktor's eyes flickered toward the two larger wolves.
The other two wolves—the larger ones—didn't advance. They didn't snarl or bare their teeth. They simply positioned themselves at his flanks, their piercing gazes unreadable.
Still. Silent. Observing.
Don't tell me…
Realization settled in his gut like cold iron.
They're not attacking.
They were letting the smaller one fight.
It clicked.
They were teaching their pup how to hunt.
The next attack came—a wild leap forward, jaws aimed high. Viktor's mind snapped into focus.
This wolf was strong—but inexperienced. It lunged without thinking. It committed too much to each attack.
And that gave him an opening.
Viktor's braced himself.
The wolf lunged again.
He feinted left. The wolf adjusted.
Then—Viktor's pivoted sharply to the right.
The young wolf lunged again—reckless, aggressive, overcommitting. Viktor's twisted his body just enough to let it miss, and in that split second—
Viktor's struck.
Crack—!
The chisel punched through fur and flesh, sinking to the hilt.
A wet, ragged yelp tore through the night. The wolf stumbled, legs faltering, crimson soaking its dark coat.
Viktor's breath hitched. His grip on the chisel tightened.
For a moment, his stomach twisted.
It was young. Learning.
But the low growls of the two larger wolves snapped him back to reality.
The pup still bared its fangs. It still tried to stand.
It would kill him if he hesitated.
Viktor's yanked the chisel free, his grip unsteady. The warmth of blood slicked his fingers, the scent sharp and metallic in the air. He took a half step back, breath hitching—
Then—
Awoooo!—Awoooo!
The parents.
A deep, guttural growl rattled the air, sharp enough to make Viktor's chest tighten.
They hesitated—only for a second.
But that second was all he needed.
Viktor's turned and ran.
Rocks shifted beneath his feet, but he didn't stop. He pushed forward, weaving through the uneven terrain, lungs burning.
The wolves didn't immediately chase. Their growls followed him, but their footsteps did not.
Viktor's didn't dare look back.
Not until he was sure he had escaped.
Not until he was sure he had survived.
Viktor's legs burned as he sprinted through the wilderness, adrenaline coursing through him. His breath came in ragged gasps, his chest tight.
The sound of the wolves' growls still echoed, but the terrain thickened, and the chase seemed to slow.
He didn't dare glance back.
The wolves were still out there, but how far behind? He couldn't tell. All he could do was run, putting as much distance between himself and them as possible.
Viktor's stumbled into a small ravine, jagged rocks and thick underbrush offering a brief reprieve. His breath came in shallow gasps, the panic in his chest dulling as the wilderness hummed around him.
Pressing against the cool stone, he slid into the shadows, trying to steady his breath. His heart still hammered, his thoughts swirling, but he didn't dare relax. Not yet.
The ravine hid him, thick with vines and jagged rock. He listened.
The wolves' growls had faded, but they might still be out there. Lurking.
Viktor's wiped his face with his sleeve, dirt and sweat mixing. The metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth, the sharp scent filling the air. His pulse was still erratic, but the immediate danger seemed to have passed.
He remained motionless, listening intently. The faint rustling of underbrush kept him on edge. They could still be circling. He didn't dare move yet.
Pressing harder against the stone, Viktor's tried to calm his breath. The quiet of the ravine surrounded him—distant rustling, the hum of the wilderness—but nothing else. No growls. No footsteps. He was alone—for now.
Slowly exhaling, he scanned his surroundings once more. Everything was still. The wolves were gone. He had made it.
Then, just as his heartbeat began to slow, a flood of prompts filled his vision.
…
[You have successfully defeated the Young Dire Wolf (Lv.3)]
[Your race level rises by 1]
[Racial Level Up Bonus: +1 Spirit, +1 Constitution]
[Level Up Bonus: 2+ Undistributed Stats Obtained]
[You have reached Level 1 and your Innate ability [1st] Stage has been unlocked]
[Innate [Branded By Fire and Steel] has been unlocked]
[Innate Skill Effects: 1+ Constitution, 1+ Strength]
[Commission "First Step" Objective has been completed]
[Commission "First Step" Hidden Objective completed!]
…
[Your Status has been updated]
…
Viktor's felt a wave of unexpected strength surge through him, washing away the exhaustion.
It was as if the weight of his tiredness had vanished, replaced by a power he couldn't quite comprehend.
...….
UPCOMING NEXT - CHAPTER 3 - Tense Respite
...….
GLOSSARY -:-
[1] Dire Wolf — A large and powerful breed of wolf, known for its formidable strength rather than agility or senses. Dire Wolves are typically much larger than other wolves and are fierce hunters that rely on their strength in combat. They often hunt in packs, and their young are taught the art of hunting by older wolves. The Dire Wolf is a subspecies of the Mountain Dire Wolves, still learning its full potential but already showing significant power.