The wind in the Veilmoor forest cut like a wet razor, carrying the scent of decayed leaves, old moss, and something more subtle — iron. Dried blood, mingled with the earth.
Eren Vale advanced with calculated steps. The machete hung at his side, swinging almost silently thanks to the heavy cloak that muffled its movement. His eyes, accustomed to the digital twilight of game maps, adjusted well to the gray dusk of the real world.
Every branch that snapped under his feet created a contained echo, betraying his presence, but he wasn't worried. That sound was part of the test.
Predator. Intelligent. It's listening to me. Smelling me. Assessing.
The forest was dense in some spots, with twisted trunks resembling exposed ribs. Glowing fungi clung to roots, illuminating blue patches on the ground. He didn't avert his gaze. He cataloged everything.
These fungi are good. Limited visibility for it too. No unilateral advantage.
He paused for a moment to examine the ground. Footprints — deep, distorted. Three long toes. Claws that sank into the mud with ease.
Weight confirmed. Humanoid. Capable of jumping. Suggested AI: aggressive, but cautious.
Further ahead, the terrain sloped downwards, forming a shallow valley covered in thin mist. He took a deep breath, listening to the sounds of the night. Owls, the rustling of rodents — but also something deeper, dragged out.
A distant growl.
It knows I'm coming. It's testing territory. Trying to scare me.
Eren didn't smile, but his eyes gleamed with a satisfied coldness.
He descended carefully, machete forward, knees bent. The sound of dripping water mingled with the wind. Finally, among the trees, the mouth of a cave was revealed: a dark fissure between gray stones, surrounded by trampled herbs.
He stopped.
Lair. Almost total confirmation. Lycanthrope or equivalent mutation. High value. Possible contract.
He approached slowly, the sound of internal drips becoming clearer. Then, he held his breath for a moment.
From deep within, he heard noises: not just growls, but something resembling stifled sighs. A wet sound of heavy breathing.
Is it wounded? Or just waiting? Tactical variable: confined terrain. Ideal for ambush.
He tightened his grip on the machete.
Combat planning necessary. But I need to see. Data collection prioritized.
Eren took the first step inside.
Darkness swallowed him.
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
In Darin's house, the air was heavy with smoke and tension. The oil lamp cast flickering shadows on the walls, illuminating the cracks in the wood like dark veins.
Darin sat near the low fire, sharpening the stick with a dull pocket knife. It was more ritual than necessity — something to occupy his hands.
Nyssa huddled in the opposite corner, wrapped in the dark cloak Eren had given her. Even so, she couldn't stay completely still. Her gelatinous body trembled slightly, emitting a muffled plop occasionally, contained by the silence magic, but noticeable.
Her opaque eyes blinked, fixed on the door Eren had left through.
M-master... she whispered almost soundlessly. C-come back soon... please...
Mara watched her from the side, arms crossed. Her brow furrowed.
"Stop it. You should be ashamed to be like this. In someone else's house. In front of my daughter."
Nyssa bit the "lip" she had formed on her improvised face.
"I-I... I try... to cover..."
A thick, viscous tear rolled down her semi-formed cheek.
Mara lost her patience.
"Don't cry! Why are you crying? You're a monster!"
Nyssa sobbed for real, the sound becoming wetter, more humiliating.
Darin dropped the stick forcefully.
"That's enough, Mara!"
She turned, her eyes blazing.
"Are you going to defend her now? She's a monster, Darin! A naked woman in our living room!"
"She's not naked! He covered her with the cloak!"
"Oh, and you noticed well, didn't you?" She spat the words. "Noticed everything, huh?"
Nyssa trembled, sobbing.
"P-please... I didn't... I didn't want to..."
Mara turned her back, arms stiff.
"This house is not a monster's brothel."
Darin sighed, running his hands over his face.
Nyssa cried softly, without stopping.
Outside, the wind howled.
And Eren wasn't there to see any of it.
Mara turned again, her arms tense at her sides, her mouth tightened with barely contained rage. The lamp wobbled on the table, casting wavering shadows on the cracked walls.
"Do you know what's going to happen, Darin?* Her voice cut the air like a dull knife. *He's not coming back."
Nyssa shrank further into the corner, the hood of the Executor's cloak sinking over her semi-formed face. The opaque eyes trembled, wet.
"P-please... don't talk like that..."
Mara pointed at her with a trembling finger.
"Shut up! I'm talking to my husband!"
Darin exhaled in a heavy sigh, dropping the stick on the floor with a dull thud.
"Mara... please..."
"Please what?" She spat the words."Look at you! At this!" She spread her arms, indicating the miserable house. "We barely have enough to eat. Barely have a place to sleep. And you brought a stranger with a monster in!"
Nyssa quivered, clutching the cloak with something like improvised arms. A wet plop escaped, muffled by the magic, but still embarrassing.
"I-I'm not... a danger... I... I..."
Mara stepped forward.
"Shut that mouth! Do you think I want my daughter near that?"
The little girl whimpered silently in the other corner, hugging her rag doll.
Darin raised his hands in surrender.
"Mara. I know. I know! But he promised to help!
She laughed, without humor.
"Help? Did you see him disappearing out there? Do you really think he's coming back?
Nyssa shivered.
"He… he will… he… is strong…
Mara spat on the ground.
"Strong? He's a madman. He'll die out there. And when the monster eats him, who will be left here?
She stared at Nyssa with cold hatred.
"You. This thing. Are you going to stay here waiting for what? For us to feed you? For us to accept you?
Nyssa was truly crying now, thick translucent tears streaming down her semi-formed face.
"I… I just… want… to serve…
Darin squeezed his eyes shut, massaging his temples.
"Mara… please… calm down…
"Calm down?! — She shouted, her voice cracking. — I don't want her here! I don't trust this… this… creature!
Nyssa sobbed louder.
"M-master… come back… come back soon…
Darin bent down to pick up the staff, trying to compose himself.
"Mara… just wait. Wait for him to come back.
Mara spat again.
"He's not coming back.
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
The air inside the cave was colder than the wind outside. Humid. Thick. The smell of mold mixed with oxidized iron clung to the nostrils.
Eren Vale advanced slowly. His boots sank into the wet mud of the floor. The lamp of fungi at the entrance lit part of the way, but soon vanished, swallowed by almost total darkness.
He breathed quietly.
Confined terrain. Little lateral mobility. Hostile AI has the advantage if it's large. Negative visibility. Solution: sound.
He stopped. Listened.
The wind outside moaned, but inside the cave reigned a damp silence, broken only by drops of water falling into shallow puddles.
Then he heard it.
A muffled growl.
Not a wild roar — more of a warning. Territorial.
Confirmed. Predator. It knows I'm here.
Eren flexed his knees. The cloak muffled the noises, yet he felt every muscle ready to explode.
He advanced further.
Saw eyes. Two amber points, shining in the darkness.
A deep growl trembled the air.
And then he saw it better: disheveled fur, exposed bones in some places as if the skin had ruptured to give way to bony spikes. A widened jaw, too many teeth. A hybrid. It looked like a giant wolf, but erect, with patched human arms.
The monster stepped forward, heavy.
[Status]
[Wendigo Lupine Variant]
[Level: 12]
[HP: 420/420]
[Standard Attack: Ripping Bite (Bleeding)]
[Passive Ability: Partial Regeneration]
[Observation: Unstable. High aggressiveness. Reduced reasoning capacity.]
Eren read the stats in an instant.
Partial regeneration. Unstable. High attack. Limited intelligence. Unlikely contract, but not impossible.
He raised the machete.
"Calm down.
The creature growled louder, salivating.
Intimidation test. I will yield ground.
He stepped back half a step.
The monster stopped. Sniffed the air. Saliva dripped like acid on the ground.
Minimal intelligence. Senses fear. Tests reaction. I can tame if…
The creature lunged suddenly.
Eren moved to the side. The claws cut through the air, shattering stones.
He spun, machete in hand. The blade grazed exposed ribs, releasing a guttural squeal. Thick, almost black blood splattered on the ground.
He took a deep breath. The smell of ancient blood and putrid moss filled his nostrils. The heavy air of the cave vibrated with each growl.
Regeneration confirmed. Need to incapacitate.
He adjusted his weight on his heel, eyes scanning the beastly silhouette moving in the dark. Its claws gleamed like wet knives, striking the stone, creating tiny sparks.
Restricted terrain. It has mass advantage. Need to use obstacles.
The creature lunged again, hind legs pushing forcefully. The ground trembled. Eren slid to the side, his back scraping against wet rocks. His machete swung in an arc to slash the flank — but the creature turned with animal reflexes, grazing his chest.
The coat's fabric tore. The cloak absorbed part of the impact, reducing the damage.
No major defense enchantment. Can't allow multiple hits.
He rolled forward, dodging a vertical claw strike. The dry sound echoed as the monstrous hand cracked a stone in half.
Eren rose, half-kneeling, his arm burning.
Estimated strength: level 12. Same category as miniboss. Attack pattern: brute force, less precision. Weakness: elbow joints.
The Wendigo Lupine growled louder, thick drool dripping to the ground. Its tongue split at the tip, trembling as if tasting fear.
Eren didn't blink.
Wants to intimidate me. Basic tactic. Doesn't respond well to pain, but hesitates with unpredictable movements.
He advanced in a low step, machete diagonal. When the creature tried to bite, he threw himself to the opposite side, passing through the overly wide guard.
The blade slashed the arm, cutting deeply between the joints. Thick blood flowed, boiling as if alive.
The monster squealed, slamming against the wall with force, trying to crush him.
Eren spun, machete high.
Weak point exposed. Need to force the hemorrhage.
He struck from above, aiming for the base of the neck. The creature reacted, but not fast enough. The cut opened a deep groove.
The squeal changed tone — from threat to real pain.
Still regenerating. But slower. Deep cuts delay the process.
The Wendigo Lupine staggered back, paws hitting the wet ground. Each of its breaths was a wet snarl.
Eren gave no respite.
He leaped forward, striking the left knee. A dry crack echoed.
The creature fell to its side.
It tried to rise with a growl, but its front paws slipped.
Eren stepped back, breathing heavily.
Final phase. The contract would be possible now. But...
The creature, even bleeding, looked up at him. For a moment, there was no pure hatred. Just a murky understanding.
A sound escaped. A weak howl.
Eren hesitated.
Just for an instant.
The claw came too low, wrong. Reflexive. Not lethal.
But he was already in motion.
The machete plunged into the collarbone, sinking to the hilt.
The Wendigo Lupine shuddered.
Released a sound — half roar, half lament — before falling back, claws striking the stone in a rhythm that slowly died.
The sound of blood dripping echoed like rain.
Didn't mean to kill. But without a contract, I can't back down now.
The creature tried to bite, but its jaw broke crookedly, too torn. The sound it made was a lament—not a roar.
Eren pushed the blade in until the hilt.
The monster fell backward, trembling.
This is bad.
The smell of blood filled the cave.
He pulled the blade out with effort.
Looked at the body.
"It had value."
He didn't scream. But he pressed his lips together until they turned white.
The silence after the death of the Wendigo Lupine Variant was dense, almost physical.
Its thick blood pooled in black puddles on the rocky floor, with a ferruginous smell that burned the nostrils. Eren's blade dripped slowly, the sound rhythmic like a macabre clock.
But he didn't move.
Because he listened.
A sound.
A growl—but not that deep, guttural one, full of the weight of old bones. It was high-pitched, more irregular. Almost a restrained snarl trying to turn into language.
His eyes narrowed.
New target. Not as big. But high aggression.
He took a step to the side, treading slowly on the cold blood, his boot creaking on the damp stone. The faint light of bioluminescent fungi cast fragmented shadows against the cave walls.
Gradually, the figure emerged from the darkness.
Smaller than the other. But not small. A lean body, yet strangely muscular—like an animal bred to hunt. Legs flexed, feet almost human, but ending in thick claws. Arms too long, covered with thick fur on the forearms.
The face was the most disturbing part.
It wasn't the full canine snout of the Wendigo. Instead, it was a semi-human face with lupine features: golden eyes with vertical slits, a thin nose with wide nostrils, a mouth too human for a wolf, but full of sharp triangular teeth. Black hair, long, disheveled, matted with sweat and dried blood.
She was breathing heavily. Her shoulders moved in a predatory rhythm. Her hands closed into claws.
She didn't speak.
But her eyes spoke plenty.
Hate. Fear. Pain. Hunger.
[Status]
[Bloodline Cursed Lupine (Feral Matriarch)]
[Level: 10]
[HP: 300/300]
[Standard Attack: Double Claw Lunge (Medium Bleeding)]
[Passive Skill: Fear Gaze (chance of Mental Paralysis)]
Young adult.
Eren didn't step back. But he didn't attack.
He raised the machete slightly.
"Stop."
She growled loudly, lips pulling back to expose her teeth.
Instinctive response. Dominance test. No language.
The ground around her was covered in bones. Feathers. Coagulated blood. Dead chickens, some only partially eaten. The smell was nauseating.
She made a nest. Storage. Not pure killing instinct. Minimal tactical thought.
Eren noticed other marks. Scratches on the walls. Stones piled to form something like a crude bed.
Not nomadic. Territorial. Fixed lair.
His eyes went to the dead Wendigo. The immense carcass was already beginning to drain of life.
He was serving her. Protector. Submissive. Chain of command.
She took a step forward, claws scraping against the ground.
He didn't move.
Hierarchy. She was the alpha.
The cold night wind entered through the cave's crevice, carrying the smell of death outside.
Eren breathed slowly.
Blood curse. Unwanted daughter. Abandoned here. Grew wild. Wendigo bound as a servant. Mental instability.
He remembered stories of families who, to survive, became cannibals and spawned cursed generations. Or pacts with ancient entities, demanding a marked heir.
Possible blood rite. Or hereditary curse. Would explain partial control over the Wendigo.
She growled again.
Louder.
Her hands opened, fingers stretching unnaturally. The nails extended like blades.
She's still half-human. Not fully transformed. Hybrid form.
He analyzed the muscles in her legs.
Ready to pounce.
Her chest was heaving.
Accelerated respiratory system. High adrenaline. About to attack.
His blade rotated an inch in his hand.
If I hit the shoulder or thigh, I can disarm her.
But Eren felt the muscles in his neck stiffen, the arm with the machete hesitate for a moment.
[Status]
[Effect Applied]
[Fear (Mental Paralysis)]
[Duration: 2 seconds]
Interesting. I've never felt real fear in life. But here the system forces me to feel fear through applied effects. Genius.
A torn sound, starting as a growl and becoming almost a howl, echoed on the wet stone.
The dead chickens trembled at the sound.
The echo seemed to mock them.
Eren didn't hesitate.
He flexed his knees, arm already pulling the machete into a defensive arc.
Likely lateral attack. She's fast, but less heavy. My resistance sufficient to withstand initial impact. Counterattack: sever tendon or joint.
She crouched in a fluid movement. Her eyes burned like embers.
And then she came.