The large dead tree's branches creaked and groaned as the wind swept through, their ominous movements adding to the tension. Its sprawling shadow loomed over Sir William’s group, casting them in darkness as they engaged in a fierce struggle against the wolves.

“Gaaarggh!” A guardsman’s strained cry echoed as he swung his sword at an attacking wolf. The beast evaded the strike, darting forward with alarming speed, but before it could reach him, a Terean hound barreled into its side, knocking it off course.

“Eltro!” Sylvia’s voice rang out, sharp and focused. A crackling bolt of lightning erupted from her wand, streaking across the ground and arcing toward several of the wolves. Agile and relentless, they leaped out of harm’s way, their glowing eyes fixed on their prey as they pressed their assault.

One wolf darted past the hounds, weaving through the chaos and lunging directly at Sir William. Its robust body launched into the air, jaws wide and fangs gleaming. Sir William reacted instinctively, raising his shield just in time to intercept the attack.

“Urghhh!” he grunted as the wolf’s weight slammed against him, forcing him to stagger back slightly. Its snapping jaws came dangerously close, clawing for purchase. A nearby guardsman saw the struggle and swung his sword, landing a shallow cut on the beast’s flank. With a determined push, Sir William mustered his strength and hurled the wolf away from his shield.

The undeterred wolf rebounded with terrifying speed, charging at the guardsman who had struck it. Before it could reach him, another Terean hound collided with the beast mid-stride, sending it tumbling to the ground. The wolf snarled viciously as it lashed out at the hound, claws, and teeth clashing in a brutal struggle.

Another wolf broke from the pack and surged toward Sir William. Sylvia, her wand already glowing with charged energy, chanted another spell, firing a streak of magical energy that struck the wolf with precision, sending it sprawling back.

Sir William glanced at Sylvia and gave her a curt nod of acknowledgment, his gratitude clear in the brief moment of respite.

Amid the chaos, the larger wolf remained stationary, its immense form unflinching, its glowing eyes observing the battle with a detached calmness. There was an unsettling aura about it, as though it regarded the entire skirmish as little more than a trivial display, its demeanor eerily unamused.

Sir William’s gaze never left the larger wolf, its looming presence commanding a sense of dread that refused to fade. Even amid the chaos, he noted its stillness, its glowing eyes fixed on the battle with a predatory calm.

A sharp cry of pain pierced through the clamor as a Terean hound was overpowered by two wolves. Before the second wolf could finish its assault, a blast of lightning struck, sending it skidding across the ground. Sylvia, unwavering in her focus, lowered her wand as the remaining wolf brawled viciously with the hound.

On all sides, the guardsmen fought with determination, holding their positions against the relentless onslaught. Sir William’s sword moved precisely, cutting down every wolf lunged toward him. Beside him, Sylvia’s magic rained down in bursts of crackling energy. Her blasts were precise, yet the wolves’ uncanny speed allowed many to evade her strikes.

In the center of the group, Professor Gale maintained a position of safety, his trembling hands orchestrating the movements of the Terean hounds while casting healing spells to mend their wounds. The wolves, however, seemed tireless. Even as their bodies bore the marks of injuries, they continued their assault, their wounds knitting themselves together almost as quickly as they were inflicted.

“We can’t keep this up much longer!” a guardsman shouted, straining as he deflected a wolf’s ferocious attack with his shield.

“Their wounds... they heal faster than expected,” Sylvia said, her voice tinged with frustration and concern.

A flash of light reflected off Sir William's sword as it struck an attacking wolf, cleaving a deep gash across its flank. The creature wailed and staggered, but, to everyone’s horror, the wound began to close almost instantly.

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“What the hell?” Sir William cursed under his breath, disbelief flashing across his face.

As he adjusted his stance, the wolf seized the opportunity and lunged forward. Its massive body slammed into him with the force of a battering ram.

“Urgh!” Sir William grunted as the impact sent him sprawling. His shield absorbed most of the blow, but it wasn’t enough to prevent him from being thrown backward, tumbling across the dirt until he came to a halt some distance away.

“Sir William!” Sylvia’s alarmed cry cut through the din. Still, her attention had wavered for only a fraction of a second—a deadly mistake. Sensing its chance, a wolf sprinted toward her, its maw wide and fangs gleaming.

From Sylvia’s vantage, the attack was inevitable. The wolf’s speed left her no time to react, and its gleaming teeth closed the distance with terrifying finality.

The wolf lunged, its fangs aimed straight for Sylvia—but before it could strike, its body slammed hard against the ground. A thick and sturdy vine had shot up from the earth, wrapping tightly around its hind leg. The creature snarled and thrashed, but its movements were halted as massive stone blocks burst from the ground, encasing it in a jagged prison.

"Vlae!" Amabel's voice rang out as she extended her wand, more vines surging to ensnare several other wolves. Their struggles were fierce, but the enchanted vines held firm, binding their limbs with an unyielding grip.

Standing tall and composed, the headmistress flicked her wand with practiced precision. The ground trembled beneath the wolves' feet before large stone pillars erupted upward, locking the creatures in place. Those still free wolves retreated hastily, regrouping in front of the larger wolf. Their growls reverberated, baring razor-sharp fangs, yet the dire wolf remained composed, its eyes gleaming with a predatory calm as it surveyed the situation.

"Senior!" Amabel called, hurrying to Sylvia's side.

"Amabel, you came," Sylvia said, her tone a mix of shock and relief.

Meanwhile, the headmistress extended a hand to Sir William, helping him back to his feet. He gave a curt nod of gratitude, brushing dirt from his armor as his gaze locked onto the massive wolf. Its presence was unnerving, its calm more threatening than the frantic aggression of its pack.

Under Professor Gale's command, the Terean hounds formed a defensive barrier at the forefront, their eyes burning with magical intensity. Moments later, more guardsmen emerged from the woods, their weapons drawn and expressions grim.

"Men, ready your weapons!" Sir William ordered, taking his place at the center of the formation. The guards moved quickly, shields raised, and swords gripped tightly, forming an unyielding line of defense.

Behind them, the headmistress, Sylvia, Amabel, and Professor Gale, gathered alongside the remaining mages. Gale kept his focus sharp, his Terean hounds standing vigilant while he prepared for any further attacks.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Thunder rumbled faintly above, the dark vortex swirling ominously in the sky, its size growing with each passing moment. Every sound—the crack of branches, the rustle of leaves—seemed amplified under its weight.

The dire wolf stood motionless, its glowing eyes fixed on the assembled group. It watched them silently as though calculating its next move, its calm demeanor exuding an eerie dominance.

“What manner of creature is that?” the headmistress asked, her voice laced with curiosity and unease as her gaze remained fixed on the massive wolf.

“It appeared after that large tree behind it rose from the ground,” Sir William replied, his tone heavy with concern.

“That wolf,” Sylvia interjected, clutching her wand tightly, “it’s emitting dark magic.”

Amabel stood silently beside her, her gaze unwavering as she fixated on the dire wolf, her expression unreadable.

“Professor,” the headmistress prompted, turning to Professor Gale, who stood nearby.

“It’s a… a dire wolf, no d…doubt,” Gale stammered, his usually soft demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. “But it has been co… corrupted.”

Before anyone could respond, the dire wolf began to move. It stepped forward slowly, one massive paw at a time, its movements deliberate and imposing.

Sir William and his group instinctively braced themselves, weapons raised and spells ready. Yet, as the wolf advanced, its shape began to shift. The air around it shimmered unnaturally, and its massive frame warped, stretching and contorting.

“What in the—” Sir William muttered, his disbelief evident as the creature’s transformation became clearer.

When it stopped, just a few paces ahead of its original position, the dire wolf no longer resembled a beast. It stood upright, its form now resembling that of a humanoid figure. Yet, even this shape was unnatural.

The creature’s appearance was shadowy and indistinct, its body like a wisp of mist held together by unseen forces. Its dark, featureless form emitted a faint, eerie glow, and no details of a human face or body could be discerned—only its shape, which resembled an adult male.

Most unnerving of all were its eyes. They gleamed a vivid, menacing red, the only distinct feature in its otherwise amorphous figure. It stood tall and unnervingly still, exuding an air of pride and dominance that sent shivers down the spines of all who faced it.

Sir William tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze fixed on the being before him. Whatever this creature was, it was unlike anything they had ever encountered.