The Wolverine continued to watch from the top of the mountain as he stared at the trio.

Nina crouched slightly, attempting to pick up a stone, and the simple movement was enough to prompt the monster to shift. In an instant, he leaped behind the trio, leaving them with their backs to the cemetery.

Viktor and Alma were sweating profusely as they took in the full size of the Wolverine.

Even in a quadruped position, he still stood taller than Viktor and Alma. His single horn was elongated, its tip seemed sharp, causing Viktor to furrow his brow while still staring at the Wolverine. However, contrary to expectations, silence fell over the area.

The creature's face appeared enraged, its red eyes gleaming, and its sharp, clenched teeth were exposed as it stared them down.

Viktor took a step back, recoiling, and that was more than enough for the Wolverine to lunge forward with a loud growl that made Viktor furrow his brow as his eyes glowed yellow.

Alma ran to the sides, and Nina moved to the opposite side. The creature quickly reached Viktor, who swung his sword, but the creature halted its advance before he could strike, causing the swordsman to widen his eyes, cutting through only the air.

In an instant, the Wolverine spun its body and struck Viktor's side with a blow that made him grunt and fling him backward.

The pain was immense, akin to being hit by an enormous stone, but still, he forced his feet on the ground, sliding slightly, yet soon heard, 'Watch out!'

As Viktor raised his head, he saw the Wolverine charging again, causing the swordsman to grit his teeth, positioning his sword with the non-blade side to block, and once more, the Wolverine struck, hitting the sword's iron.

Viktor felt like he could withstand the blow a bit longer, but that sensation lasted only for a few moments before the Wolverine's force overwhelmed him, pushing his arm against his body and once more hurling him, this time slamming his back violently against the fence.

Upon impact, Viktor felt his body strain, but before he had time, again, his body was struck on the side by the Wolverine's advance, hurling him toward Nina, who widened her eyes and caught him but was also dragged backward.

The Wolverine turned again, but an arrow hit his paw, making him growl, swiftly dodging more arrows shot at high speed.

Viktor recovered, furrowing his brow, 'Sorry, this darn thing is tossing me like I'm a bag of garbage.'

'Okay, be careful!' Nina widened her eyes briefly and pointed, 'Here it comes!'

Viktor swiftly turned his head and saw the Wolverine running while Alma aimed and fired powerful arrows leaving a bluish trail, yet they only caused a slight impact, making Alma furrow her brow, thinking, 'I can't pierce its body.'

The archer widened her eyes as she saw the creature quickly climb the mountain and leap backward, spinning in the air as it pointed its body toward them.

Alma clicked her tongue and started running until the Wolverine landed close behind her and lunged again.

Alma quickly turned and saw the Wolverine's advance, but Viktor appeared beside them, his eyes glowing brighter. He swiftly struck, cutting into the Wolverine's trunk, causing blood to spurt, and the monster growled. However, the beast recoiled, facing the two.

Viktor stopped next to Alma, still panting, as he placed his hand on his ribs, a pained expression on his face.

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'He really got you, huh?' Alma forced a nervous smile.

'And it's because of me that he didn't get you!' Viktor also furrowed his brow, giving a pained smile.

Although the fight had just begun, both were already panting, and the Wolverine continued to stare.

Slowly, the creature lowered its head as its clenched teeth started emitting a loud and threatening growl. This time, however, Viktor composed himself, taking a deep breath while Alma slowly reached for one of her arrows.

The creature leaped again, and Viktor yelled, 'Come on!'

In an instant, the beast charged. Alma jumped to the side, but Viktor held his ground. His eyes glowing brighter, he positioned his leg backward and the sword in front of his body.

The Wolverine kept running toward him, leaping and delivering a body blow that pushed Viktor, yet he resisted more, stopping just a few inches ahead, sporting a wide smile as both his sword and body emanated a yellow aura.

'If I know it's coming, sooner or later, I'll manage to deal with it.' He maintained the same smile, but again, the monster charged. 'Whoops!'

Viktor's body was once more pushed by the creature's force, his feet dragged, but he still smiled, pushing his body forward and shouting, 'Nina!'

Before he finished, several chunks of earth flew toward the Wolverine's eye, hitting its face and right eye, weakening the beast as it was blinded.

However, before it could retreat, something cut through the air, hitting the Wolverine's hind leg, causing it to falter slightly while preparing to retreat.

Yet, before it could react, a knee was thrown against its throat, lifting its head.

Viktor grinned widely, again enveloping his sword with the yellow glow, his entire body radiating that light. With a powerful spin, he yelled, 'It's mine!'

The spin occurred, and the blade left a yellow streak. The target was the sharp horn, and they collided, creating a bright flash from the sparks and the metallic echo reverberated.

A piece flew into the sky, illuminated by the moon, reflecting the metal piece in the air while Viktor's face displayed sheer surprise.

Slowly, Nina and Alma grasped what had happened, but before they could react, the Wolverine widened its red eyes toward Viktor. It lifted its paw and struck at an absurd speed, hitting his chest, blood spurting as Viktor's body was thrown backward.

With force, Viktor fell to the ground, rolling and hitting his back against a tree.

The Wolverine continued to stare, its eyes glowing red, seemingly enraged. However, another shadow appeared beside it—Alma, who was airborne, striking with her knife, her entire body enveloped in a bluish aura.

But again, the monster moved, dodging Alma's attack, causing her to only hit the ground as she quickly turned her head, persisting in the assault. But it wasn't enough, and once more, the Wolverine spun its body, striking Alma's face, throwing her even farther away, disappearing into the forest bushes, the sound of her body hitting the ground with violence still audible.

The Wolverine raised its head, focusing on Viktor, who was still recovering and panting, holding only the base of the sword in his hands, grunting in pain as he tried to sit up.

The creature descended the hill, approaching Viktor, yet a shadow stepped in front, pulling a knife from Viktor's boot, holding it with a trembling left hand.

It was Nina, wide-eyed but clearly frightened by the presence of the approaching Wolverine.

Viktor grunted and drove the piece of his sword into the tree, forcing himself to at least sit up, while footsteps were heard in the forest—Alma, with her eyes shining despite blood running from her head and arm.

Slowly, still trembling, the archer positioned one of her wooden arrows on the bow and surrounded it with the same intensifying blue glow. Meanwhile, Viktor enveloped his body while sitting up, widening his eyes as he held the remaining part of his sword until the Wolverine stopped walking, facing Nina and Viktor.

The girl felt the monster's heavy breath on her face as it continued to stare, while Viktor remained breathless and alert, and Alma still trembled but continued to aim.

An unsettling silence filled the place as the creature made its move, causing everyone to widen their eyes.

However, it raised its head to the moon and howled as loud as before;

The howl was so piercing that it caused the wind to blow against their faces, and as they realized it, the day was already almost breaking.

The Wolverine gleamed even brighter and quickly turned, with a single stride raising dust as it moved away, heading toward the hill through a path they couldn't see, leaving a faint trail of blood, keeping Nina wide-eyed and Viktor still stunned.

Nina remained paralyzed until she heard the sound of Viktor falling to the ground, quickly turning to see Viktor grunting in pain, leaning against a tree.

"Damn..."

Once again, the sound of something falling echoed, and Nina turned to her brother, bloodied and leaning against a tree, his forehead creased as he wondered aloud, "Did we win?"

Nina looked surprised and still frightened, but soon Viktor clicked his tongue and said, "At no point did he attack us to kill. Does that seem like a victory?"