Hours ago, while stopping near the cemetery, Alma carried his bow with a leather bag filled with materials. He tossed the bag near a tree and said, 'We still have some meat, so let's make a fire, grab some torches, and then rest. Are you sure you'll manage, Nina?' He looked to the side, appearing concerned, but the girl gave a slight smile, saying, 'It's okay, I rested in the afternoon. You can count on me.' She raised her fist determinedly, and Alma smiled calmly.
However, both of them noticed Viktor standing facing the cemetery, hand in his pocket, sword sheathed at his waist. 'What's up, Viktor? Don't you want to eat?' he asked, puzzled.
"Hey, Alma. Remember the stories my father used to tell? About the spirit that protects the heroes' graves?" Viktor continued to stare ahead.
"Why bring this up now?" Alma furrowed his brow, looking puzzled, but Viktor remained silent, gazing at the cemetery, causing Alma's eyebrows to furrow as well as he said, "Yes... I remember..."
Nina looked curious but stayed silent as the two glanced at the tombstones.
"Graves with swords thrust in them are the soldiers' war graves, and that mark on the map isn't where the creature hides but where it emerges at night," Viktor sighed. "Don't you think..."
"Your father mentioned the spirit only protected heroes from thieves wanting to take their weapons,' Alma furrowed his brow, arms crossed. "It can't be that; we're not thieves..."
"Really?" Viktor looked up and sighed. "After all, it only attacked us once we showed we were going to attack."
"Even if that's true..." Alma looked to the side for a brief moment, but then looked back at Viktor. "You said it, we don't have time."
"Yeah, I know." Viktor once again sighed and crossed his arms looking at the cemetery.
Again, time passed and night fell.
The Wolverine continued to gaze from the mountaintop while Viktor, Alma, and Nina remained alert. The full moon shone intensely, but Alma clicked his tongue. 'You don't have any more arrows,' Alma remarked, catching Viktor's attention, who furrowed his brow. 'Yeah.'
When they looked at the Wolverine's hind leg, there were no more arrows or signs that the monster had been wounded earlier, but its expression remained neutral, seemingly observing.
Viktor, with sword in hand, walked calmly toward the cemetery, and Alma asked.
"Feeling okay?"
"I've had better days, but I won't slack off," Viktor turned his face back with a smile. 'I'm going to fight in a cage after all.'
"But don't worry, you won't be alone," Alma smiled in the end, and Viktor passed through the cemetery gates, the Wolverine's growl echoing louder than before.
With that response, Viktor smiled as he put the sword on his shoulders, tapping lightly, while the wolf turned completely towards Viktor, who held the sword with both hands as the wolf positioned itself and leaped towards the cemetery.
The Wolverine landed and faced Viktor, who maintained a serious gaze, holding the greatsword with both hands, giving a quick shout. 'COME!'
And in an instant, the wolf charged, and Viktor prepared to strike, but this time, the Wolverine maintained a low posture, causing the swordsman to grit his teeth, positioning the sword at the bottom of his body as his eyes began to glow yellow.
The Wolverine poised its horn to strike Viktor, but the swordsman spun and struck; the sword clashed against the horn, a metallic sound and a flash from the weapon collision.
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The Wolverine's head moved slightly upward, and the horn passed just above Viktor's shoulder, who grunted, feeling his hands vibrate from the blow. However, he once again positioned the sword beside his body, and the bite came.
The Wolverine's fangs clashed with the sword, beginning to push Viktor's body. He grunted as he felt the horn slowly descend, aiming for his shoulder.
Despite trying to stand firm, the creature continued to press, pushing him down, while slowly his eyes began to dim.
But in an instant, a blue glow cut through the wind and hit the Wolverine's hind leg, causing the monster to be pushed slightly to the side, losing balance while Viktor tried to resist.
The Wolverine persisted in biting, but another stone hit, then again, and once more. Being struck each time by the stone, the Wolverine seemed enraged, pulling back its mouth, yanking the sword with all its might.
Surprisingly, the monster effortlessly pulled out the sword, slightly stepping back due to the force exerted.
Before it stood Viktor, reaching for one of the graves, pulling out an aged sword that already seemed worn. In an instant, it was enveloped by a yellow aura as Viktor's eyes glowed the same color. In the blink of an eye, he slashed the Wolverine's face, blood spurting as the creature widened its red eyes.
The blood fell on the Wolverine's face, and once again, Viktor's eye glow intensified. After the slash, he dropped the sword, grabbing a star-shaped club, also glowing with the yellow aura. Once more, the weapon hit the monster's face near the greatsword, hitting the beast's jaw, causing it to leap back, dropping the sword on the way.
Viktor found himself catching his breath, slightly dizzy, quickly lowering to grab his sword again, positioning it with both hands after letting go of the club.
He stared at the creature, which now had a cut on the side of its face and a wounded jaw, rapidly becoming breathless as he thought, 'I knew the activation was stronger at the start and gradually decreased, but activating so many times with reinforcement drains you like crazy.' He remained vigilant as the creature stood still, and he recovered.
Until he heard.
"VIKTOR! ATTACK!" Alma shouted alongside Nina, both outside the cemetery.
Without wasting time, Viktor widened his eyes, glowing once more, and he charged again.
However, the Wolverine raised its head, its body filled with blue marks that shone as brightly as its skin. Viktor and Alma recognized it immediately; they had seen it against the magical deer, but this time, it was with a monster that also had marks on its horns.
Instinctively, Viktor shifted his attack to defense, and with its horn, the Wolverine charged. Viktor's sword was positioned sideways on his chest, and again, the clash occurred, the horn colliding with the blade, generating sparks. Viktor's feet reached the ground, the horn's power causing the sword to crack, and the swordsman's eyes widened.
The blade was destroyed, iron flew, and Viktor was hit, thrown against the cemetery's iron gates. The force of the throw was such that the bars gave way, and Viktor flew through the cemetery, landing more than 10 meters from the Wolverine, falling to the ground with the broken sword.
Alma and Nina stared wide-eyed as the creature's marks reached its eyes, now glowing blue. Slowly, however, the marks began to fade, but it took a step forward, and Alma fired the charged blue arrow, hitting the creature's torso, causing it to grunt and look in their direction.
"Run, Nina. Go see how Viktor is, I'll distract it!" Alma gritted his teeth and pulled another arrow.
''Can you handle it?" Nina retorted.
"Just go..." Alma nervously gazed ahead, and Nina nodded in response. She hurriedly ran towards the forest, while the Wolverine turned towards the archer, beginning a rapid sprint as the archer turned to flee.
Alma ran in the opposite direction of Viktor, his eyes glowing blue. With a single leap, he reached a tree branch and turned, shooting arrows towards the Wolverine's face.
'I can't use the empowered arrow if I don't have time to charge it with energy.' He gritted his teeth as he saw the arrows hit the Wolverine's body, merely grazing a thin layer of skin, causing the monster to run as if it hadn't been hit at all. 'Sooner or later, it'll manage to climb this thing, so I need to—'
The archer widened his eyes as the Wolverine repositioned and leaped towards him again. He frowned, jumping to the side as the beast hit the tree, causing leaves to fall and Alma to crash onto the ground, grunting, yet still supporting himself with glowing eyes before getting back up and running again.
Once more, the Wolverine turned towards the archer and advanced, while Nina ran towards Viktor, who struggled to sit despite the pain.
Kneeling next to him, Nina said.
"Alma is being chased; we have to handle the monster!" She looked back, appearing worried, then swiftly moved under Viktor's arm, saying, "I'll help you get up!"
However, as she positioned herself under Viktor's arm, she noticed he still held the hilt of the greatsword, now shattered. It forced a pained smile from the swordsman as he said.
"Again, with just one strike... what a terrifying creature..." He seemed dismayed, and Nina widened her eyes. But soon, Viktor braced himself and said, "I have an idea, but I'll need your help..."