BOOM.
The heartbeat echoed again.
The ground trembled beneath Noah’s feet.
Dust fell from the twisted black trees.
The creatures surrounding him remained perfectly still.
Not a single one moved.
Not a single one blinked.
They simply stared.
Thousands of black eyes fixed upon him.
Waiting.
Watching.
Noah’s grip tightened around Shadowfang.
Every instinct screamed at him to leave.
Unfortunately, the System had other plans.
[Trial of Ragnarok]
Objective:
Reach the Heart of Blackthorn Forest
Distance Remaining:
9.7 Kilometers
"Nine point seven kilometers?"
Noah almost laughed.
Almost.
Because something told him those nine kilometers were going to be absolute hell.
The creatures suddenly stepped aside.
A narrow path appeared between the trees.
Leading deeper into the forest.
Straight toward the heartbeat.
BOOM.
Noah swallowed.
This felt like a trap.
Actually—
No.
It was a trap.
The question was whether he had any choice.
The System answered for him.
[Warning]
Remaining Trial Time: 11 Hours 43 Minutes
"Yeah. Thanks."
Noah took a breath.
Then stepped forward.
The creatures watched him pass.
None attacked.
None spoke.
Yet he could feel their gazes following him.
The deeper he traveled, the darker the forest became.
The fog thickened.
Visibility dropped.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
The heartbeat continued.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Every pulse felt stronger than the last.
As though whatever slept at the center was gradually awakening.
Then Predator’s Instinct exploded.
Pain stabbed through Noah’s skull.
Danger.
Immediate danger.
Noah reacted instantly.
He threw himself sideways.
WHOOSH!
Something passed through the space where his head had been moments earlier.
A blur.
Fast.
Far too fast.
Noah rolled across the ground and regained his footing.
Shadowfang appeared in his hand.
Silence.
The forest was still.
Yet the danger remained.
His eyes narrowed.
Something was hiding.
Watching.
Hunting.
A low growl echoed through the trees.
Noah’s muscles tensed.
Then he saw it.
A pair of crimson eyes.
Floating within the fog.
Another pair appeared.
Then another.
And another.
His stomach dropped.
There weren’t one or two.
There were dozens.
A massive shape slowly emerged from the darkness.
A wolf.
At least it resembled one.
The creature stood nearly three meters tall.
Black fur covered its body.
Its claws looked like swords.
Its crimson eyes burned with intelligence.
Another emerged.
Then another.
Soon Noah found himself surrounded.
The wolves remained silent.
Their eyes never left him.
A notification appeared.
Blackthorn Dire Wolf
Level: ???
Threat Assessment:
Extreme
Noah’s face darkened.
The question marks were never a good sign.
The largest wolf stepped forward.
Its lips peeled back.
Revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
A deep growl escaped its throat.
Then it lunged.
Fast.
Faster than anything Noah had ever seen.
Shadowfang moved instinctively.
CLANG!
Sparks exploded.
Noah staggered backward.
His arms went numb.
The impact nearly ripped the dagger from his hand.
"What the fuck?!"
The wolf wasn’t done.
It attacked again.
And again.
And again.
The pack joined the assault.
The forest erupted into chaos.
Noah barely dodged a claw that split a tree in half.
Another wolf snapped at his throat.
He twisted away.
Too slow.
Its fangs tore through his shoulder.
Pain exploded throughout his body.
Blood splashed across the ground.
Noah gritted his teeth.
This was bad.
Very bad.
He was outnumbered.
Outmatched.
And slowly being cornered.
Then Shadowfang suddenly pulsed.
Crimson energy flowed across its blade.
A new notification appeared.
Hidden Condition Met
First Blood Drawn
Weapon Resonance Activated
Noah’s eyes widened.
The runes carved into Shadowfang began glowing.
The wolves hesitated.
For the first time.
They looked uncertain.
Then a voice echoed inside Noah’s head.
Cold.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
The same voice from before.
Ragnarok.
"Stop surviving."
Noah froze.
"Start fighting."
The crimson glow intensified.
The wolves growled.
The forest trembled.
And for the first time since entering Blackthorn Forest...
Noah felt power awakening inside him.