Chapter 24: The Black Wolves of the Night
Crunch.
Crunch.
The sound of Lei Feng's boots against the forest floor echoed in the eerie silence of the night. The towering trees around him seemed alive, their twisted branches reaching out like ancient, gnarled hands from the shadows. The path underfoot was barely discernible, yet the full moon above cast enough light to guide his way.
He paused for a moment, lifting his gaze to the sky. The moon glowed bright, its ethereal light bathing the forest in a serene radiance. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
It's beautiful...
Lei Feng had never truly experienced nature in his past life. He had never had the time or chance to appreciate simple moments like this.
I really missed a lot...
The stillness was interrupted only by the occasional hoot of an owl, the distant growl of a hidden creature, and the faint rustling of something unseen in the dark. The Hollow's wildness—its dangers—reminded him he wasn't alone.
"I should find a good spot to rest. Something's off tonight," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips. A chill breeze swept through the trees, unsettling the calm, and his heart quickened slightly, both nervous and excited. This was his first time venturing into the wilderness alone, in this life and the last.
The deeper he walked, the heavier the air seemed, thickening with a sense of unease. The path before him split into two. One route was wide and dark, the other narrow, choked with overgrown branches and shrouded in shadows. He rubbed his eyes, stifling a yawn as fatigue tried to take hold.
Which way? he thought, his mind grappling with the choice. He'd never been in this situation before, nor had he ever been trained for it.
Narrow paths are usually bad omens in horror movies, he thought, half-amused.
"I'll go with the wide one," he decided confidently, stepping toward the darker, more inviting route.
As he moved forward, the trees grew taller, their thick trunks blocking most of the moonlight. The further he ventured, the more the illumination faded, until the path was nearly swallowed by darkness.
"Dammit…" Lei Feng cursed under his breath, annoyed at how quickly the light had diminished. "I don't want to walk blindly… better safe than sorry."
He raised a hand.
"Inventory."
His phone's shimmering screen materialized in front of him. He tapped it, summoning a glowing flashlight that blinked into existence. The light it emitted was sharp, almost blinding, but he quickly adjusted it to a more bearable intensity.
"Seriously, does everything in this world have to be so over the top?" Lei Feng muttered, shaking his head.
But before he could take another step, a deep growl broke the silence.
Growwwwwl…
Lei Feng froze, his heart skipping a beat. His head snapped to the direction of the sound.
A pack of wolves, their glowing red eyes fixed on him, emerged from the shadows.
He stared in disbelief.
There weren't just five... No, this was worse—there were many more. They were larger than any wolves he had ever seen, their sleek black fur blending seamlessly into the night. Their muscular bodies rippled with power, and their claws gleamed like sharpened daggers in the dim light.
W-What?
His breath hitched, his body tensing as terror crept in. These weren't ordinary wolves. They were monsters—predators. The sheer size of them made his stomach churn.
Panic surged through him, urging him to flee, but his feet were glued to the ground.
Just as his mind screamed for him to run, a translucent screen materialized in mid-air, glowing with ominous text.
Instant Quest Triggered
Black Wolves of the Night
Due to the Lunar Moon, the Black Wolves have become more active and violent, their malevolent strength growing with each passing moment. They now pose a grave danger to anyone unlucky enough to wander into their territory.
Objective: Eliminate the Black Wolf Pack and slay their Alpha.
Reward: Revealed after completion.
Penalty: Regress one level.
Lei Feng's mind raced. He'd heard of these wolves. They were Level Four Magic Beasts, feared for their ferocity and raw strength. They roamed the untamed regions of the Hollow, thriving in the wilds.
Shit… His heart sank as his eyes flicked over the pack. This is bad. This is really bad.
Before he could gather his thoughts, one of the wolves lunged, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying precision. Instinctively, Lei Feng jumped back, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.
"Inventory!" he barked, the words leaving his mouth in a desperate rush.
In the blink of an eye, a weathered sword appeared in his hand, its cold, sharp edge gleaming faintly in the flashlight's glow.
The wolf growled, baring its teeth, eyes locked on him with murderous intent. Lei Feng's muscles tensed as he focused, his body bracing for the next move. With a swift, fluid motion, he swung the sword in a wide crescent arc.
Swoosh!
The wolf's head flew off with a sickening crack, blood spraying into the air as its body collapsed to the earth with a heavy thud.
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+20 Experience Points
EXP: 50/200
The remaining wolves howled in fury, their voices merging into a chilling cacophony that echoed through the night. Without hesitation, they surged forward, their fangs bared, claws scraping the earth with deadly intent.
Lei Feng tightened his grip on his sword, his resolve hardening.
"They think they can take me down?" he muttered under his breath, his confidence rising. "I may be a single Level Five Awakener, but I'm not some average one!"
With a roar of defiance, Lei Feng launched himself into the fray. His sword was an extension of his will, flashing through the pack with ruthless precision. He cleaved through them, one after another, their blood painting the ground beneath him.
Ding!
Indomitable Will Activated.
His spirit flared, a surge of unstoppable determination flooding his body. The sword hummed in the cool night air, its weight feeling lighter with each swing. The wolves were strong, but Lei Feng was stronger.
And tonight, he would not die in this forest. Not tonight.
The first wolf charged, its claws scraping the earth, but Lei Feng was already several steps ahead. He sidestepped effortlessly, just out of reach, before delivering a swift, deadly strike.
Slash!
The wolf's throat opened in a spray of blood, its body crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+20 Experience Points
EXP: 70/200
Before he could even catch his breath, another wolf lunged at him, larger and more vicious than the rest. Its claws swiped at his chest with terrifying speed.
CRACK!
Lei Feng blocked the strike with his sword, the impact rattling his bones and throwing him off balance. The wolf's claws scraped across his shoulder, tearing through his clothes and skin beneath.
RIP!
"Aahh!" he gritted his teeth, the pain searing through him.
-15 HP
HP: 125/140
Fueled by pain and anger, Lei Feng twisted his body and drove the sword deep into the wolf's skull. The creature fell without another sound.
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+20 Experience Points
EXP: 90/200
The air was thick with blood now, and Lei Feng's boots slipped against the slick forest floor as the remaining wolves closed in, surrounding him. His heart pounded, his breath coming in shallow gasps. There was no retreat. No escape.
This was it.
The next wolf came at him, darting from his right. Its black fur blended with the shadows, and it moved faster than any of the others. Lei Feng reacted in an instant—dodging left—but the wolf's fangs grazed his leg, leaving a shallow wound.
His eyes flashed with fury. He spun, slashing upward.
Slash!
The wolf's chest opened in a spray of blood, and it collapsed with a final, guttural cry.
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+20 Experience Points
EXP: 110/200
The pack was relentless, and they just kept coming. One wolf, larger and faster than the others, darted in from behind. Its jaws snapped shut, and Lei Feng barely managed to raise his sword in time to block the blow.
But the force was enough to knock him back, nearly sending him off his feet.
-5 HP
HP: 120/140
His legs wobbled, exhaustion dragging at him like a heavy weight.
Another wolf lunged for his throat. His eyes flicked to the side, catching the movement just in time.
CRASH!
He dropped low, letting the wolf sail over him, its claws grazing his scalp. In the same fluid motion, he rose and swung his sword upward. The wolf's head flew from its body, its body crashing to the ground.
Ding!
Successful Kill!
+20 Experience Points
EXP: 130/200
Panting heavily, Lei Feng wiped the blood and sweat from his brow. His body screamed in pain, his vision beginning to blur from exhaustion. But his resolve was unshakable. He could hear the wolves closing in, their growls reverberating in the night like distant thunder. They were waiting