As Volk strode ahead of the Horde, his sharp, crimson eyes swept across the rugged terrain, scanning for any movement in the dense underbrush or atop the jagged cliffs. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature—crickets chirping, wind rustling through the treetops, and distant calls of nocturnal predators. But beneath these natural sounds, Volk detected something else: the faint crunch of heavy paws against the undergrowth and the guttural snarls of predators marking their territory.

He raised a hand, signaling the Horde to stop. Their armor clinked softly as they halted, weapons ready but still. Volk motioned for silence, and the Horde obeyed, their gazes following his as he fixed his attention on a shadowy clearing ahead.

There, illuminated by streaks of pale moonlight, were three hulking beasts. Their forms were massive, each standing nearly twice the height of an ogre, with sinewy limbs rippling under thick, matted fur. Their heads were wolf-like but distorted, with elongated snouts lined with jagged teeth that gleamed even in the faint light. Their eyes glowed an unnatural yellow, and each movement they made exuded a terrifying, predatory grace.

Volk crouched low, narrowing his eyes to focus on the creatures. One of them—a pack leader, he presumed—stood taller than the others, its fur darker and its posture more confident. It sniffed the air, the ridges along its snout flaring as if it had caught their scent. The beast let out a low growl, the sound reverberating through the clearing like a warning bell.

The other two flanked it, their bodies hunched and coiled like springs ready to launch. Their claws dug into the earth with each step, leaving deep gouges in the soil. Volk noted their patterns—how they moved in sync, circling their leader but never crossing its path. These were not mindless beasts; they were organized, intelligent predators.

The pack seemed to be guarding something. In the center of the clearing lay a carcass—large, perhaps a stag or a boar. The meat was partially devoured, its bones picked clean in some places but still dripping with fresh blood in others. Around it, the earth was littered with scraps of fur and shards of bone, evidence of the beasts’ recent feast.

Volk’s mind raced as he observed. He could see the tension in their movements, the way their muscles tensed and relaxed, as if they were ready to defend their meal at a moment’s notice. Their eyes scanned the perimeter, sharp and calculating. These were apex predators, confident in their strength, but Volk also saw their vulnerability. They were focused on the clearing, their attention centered on the carcass and any potential threats to their prize.

Volk turned slightly, glancing back at his Horde. They stood ready, weapons in hand, but he raised his hand again, signaling them to stay put. “Stand by,” he whispered, his voice barely audible yet firm.

The orcs exchanged glances, their hands tightening around the hilts of their weapons. One of the ogres shifted his massive weight, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Volk shot him a sharp glare, and the ogre froze, his expression sheepish.

Volk turned back to the clearing, his mind already formulating a plan. These beasts were dangerous, yes, but not invincible. Their strength lay in their coordination, their ability to work as a unit. If he could disrupt that, he could exploit their weaknesses.

Still crouched, Volk adjusted the gauntlets on his hands, the faint hum of magic emanating from the runes etched into the metal. The Horde behind him watched in silence, their expressions a mix of awe and anticipation.

“Wait here,” Volk said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “This is my hunt.”

The goblins exchanged nervous glances, their small hands fidgeting with their tools. One of them opened his mouth to protest, but an orc quickly silenced him with a firm hand on his shoulder. They all knew better than to question Volk when he spoke like that.

Volk straightened, stepping forward with the measured grace of a predator himself. His boots made no sound against the forest floor as he approached the clearing. The beasts hadn’t noticed him yet, their attention still focused on their meal and the surrounding shadows.

He stopped at the edge of the clearing, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied them one last time. The pack leader’s ears twitched, and its head jerked up, its glowing eyes locking onto Volk. A low growl escaped its throat, and the other two beasts immediately turned toward him, their bodies lowering into defensive stances.

Volk smirked, his gauntleted hand flexing as he prepared to engage. “Let’s see what you’re made of,” he murmured under his breath.

The pack leader let out a deafening roar, its muscles coiling as it prepared to charge. The other two beasts followed suit, their snarls filling the air as they lunged toward Volk with terrifying speed.

Behind him, the Horde watched in tense silence, their breaths held as their leader faced the monstrous predators alone.

As the beasts lunged toward Volk, their claws raking the air with deadly precision, he moved. His body blurred, vanishing in a shimmer of light just as the pack leader’s jaws snapped shut where his neck had been. SHOOM! He reappeared a few paces to the side, his gauntleted fists already crackling with energy. Without hesitation, he drove his palm forward, unleashing a concussive blast that struck one of the smaller beasts square in the side. BOOM! The force sent the creature sprawling, its massive body crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening crunch.

The pack leader howled in fury, its golden eyes blazing with rage. It charged again, its powerful limbs tearing through the soil as it closed the distance in seconds. But Volk had already teleported. FWOOSH! He reappeared behind the beast, his crimson eyes gleaming with calculated intent.

“You’re fast,” Volk muttered, “but not fast enough.”

The second beast lunged at him from his blind side, its claws extended and glinting in the pale moonlight. Volk didn’t turn to face it. Instead, he simply shifted his weight, vanishing just as the creature’s claws sliced through empty air. He reappeared atop a nearby boulder, surveying the chaos with calm precision.

The smaller beast he had struck earlier was back on its feet, snarling as it shook off the blow. Its companion joined it, and together they flanked the pack leader, their eyes locked onto Volk with animalistic hatred. The three beasts moved in unison, spreading out in an attempt to corner him.

Volk smiled faintly. “Clever,” he muttered.

They charged simultaneously, their massive forms barreling toward him like unstoppable forces of nature. Volk waited until the last possible moment, his gaze sharp and unyielding. Then, just as their claws and fangs descended upon him, he vanished again. WHOOSH!

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Reappearing in the center of the clearing, Volk extended his hands outward. The runes on his gauntlets flared to life, and arcs of crimson energy surged from his palms, lashing out like whips. CRACK! CRACK! The energy struck the nearest beast, wrapping around its limbs and dragging it to the ground. It howled in pain, thrashing wildly as Volk tightened his grip, the energy burning through its thick hide.

The pack leader roared, leaping over its fallen comrade to reach Volk. Its claws swiped at his torso, the blow powerful enough to shatter stone. But once again, Volk was gone. ZAP! He reappeared behind the pack leader, slamming his gauntleted fist into the back of its head with a resounding THUD! The creature stumbled forward, shaking its massive head as if trying to clear the stars from its vision.

“You’re strong,” Volk said, his voice calm but laced with menace. “But brute strength isn’t enough.”

The two smaller beasts regrouped, charging at Volk with renewed ferocity. They coordinated their attacks this time, one striking high while the other lunged low. Volk sidestepped the first, his movements almost too fast to follow, and teleported just as the second beast’s jaws snapped shut where his leg had been. Reappearing a few feet away, he raised his hand, releasing a concentrated blast of energy that tore through the smaller beast’s shoulder. BOOM! The creature screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground with blood pouring from its wound.

The pack leader, now enraged, roared so loudly that the trees shook. It charged Volk head-on, its claws glowing faintly with an eerie golden light. Volk narrowed his eyes, sensing a shift in the beast’s power. This wasn’t blind fury anymore—it was a calculated, final attempt to take him down.

The leader’s claws descended toward Volk in a blur of motion. For a moment, it seemed impossible for even Volk to avoid the attack. But just as the claws were about to connect, Volk teleported, reappearing directly above the beast.

“Enough,” he said coldly.

With both hands, Volk unleashed a massive surge of energy directly onto the pack leader’s head. KA-THOOM! The blast engulfed the beast in a crimson explosion, its roar turning into a gurgled cry as it collapsed under the weight of the attack.

The remaining beast, seeing its leader fall, hesitated. Its glowing eyes flicked between Volk and its fallen comrades, the primal instinct to survive warring with its loyalty to the pack. Volk gave it no time to decide. In a single motion, he raised his hand and released another burst of energy. ZAP! The blast struck the creature in the chest, sending it hurtling backward into a tree. Its body went limp, sliding to the ground with a heavy thud.

For a moment, the clearing was silent, save for the faint crackle of energy dissipating from Volk’s gauntlets. He stood amidst the carnage, his crimson eyes scanning the fallen beasts to ensure none of them would rise again.

One by one, the creatures let out their final, labored breaths, their massive forms going still. Volk exhaled slowly, lowering his hands as the runes on his gauntlets dimmed.

Behind him, the Horde erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the forest. But Volk didn’t join them. His gaze remained fixed on the pack leader’s lifeless body, a faint frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Too predictable,” he muttered to himself.

Turning back toward the Horde, he raised a hand to silence their cheers. “The beasts have fallen,” he said, his voice carrying a sharp edge. “But don’t celebrate yet. I only dealt with them so all of you could rest.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep