Size, matters.

In monster physiology, the bigger a monster was, the more difficult it was to kill. In other words, big monsters had more HP than small monsters.

Also, Viers noticed that there were no mini-sized monsters. There were no monsters the size of small insects. The smallest monster on record was a Rank 0 fish as big as a sardine. It seemed all monsters grew bigger as they got stronger.

While a monster’s size did not directly relate to its strengths, it was a clear warning sign. Viers had seen Rank 4 monsters the size of a building during his escape from Freya. While he had the power of a world-class Level 2 Pathseeker, able to kill a Level 3, Viers suspected that he might not be able to kill a building-sized Rank 2 monster.

Other than their strong and resilient bodies, all monsters possessed some form of regeneration which made them hard to take down without very powerful attacks or special methods.

Against the sudden lupus monster intruder, Viers acted decisively, immediately invoking his Overclock Mode. The sudden burst of power was the sign, the wolf pounced upon Viers immediately, baring its teeth.

Viers dashed to the side just in time, dodging the wolf’s teeth. It gnawed a big chunk of a tree behind Viers’ prior position and Viers brandished a strike with his katana. The water Arte-coated strike landed true but it didn't feel like cutting flesh. Without any special tricks, the fur of the wolf monster managed to receive Viers’ full-powered slash without injury.

The beast retaliated, it moved unnaturally agile for a being of that size. A paw would have mauled Viers’ left leg if Viers didn't make the beast miss its aim by hitting its face with a laser beam of Sunburn.

The man and wolf continued their effort of murdering each other. Each wanted to establish which was the predator and the prey. Seeing his normal Artes didn't work, Viers used his stronger Artes. He managed to injure the wolf but the wounds he inflicted were only superficial. Meanwhile, the wolf also fought for real. With a howl, it jumped up high and turned into a ball of fire. Its fur became flames itself and the flaming wolf aimed to fall on top of Viers’ location. Viers dodged out of the way but a circle of fire that the landing created engulfed him all the same. Viers’ Water Barrier Arte managed to hold out thanks to the elemental advantage.

The battle raged on. Viers had wounded the wolf many times and Guren had turned red but Viers frowned. Some of the three-eyed wolf’s earlier wounds had already healed. Its regeneration was extraordinary even for a monster’s standard. On the other hand, the wolf’s fire-based attacks -such as fire claws, fire breath, firetail sweep- lost much of its potency against Viers’ water defense. The battle was at a stalemate with neither side having the advantage against the other.

The battle didn't last long but it raised a big commotion.

“Master!” Boram screamed.

“Mu? Vile beast!” Takju rapidly approached.

The wolf might have sensed that Takju was stronger than it or realized Viers was a lump of tough meat to chew so it quickly retreated.

“You think you can attack me and retreat without a price?” Viers made a square using both hands’ thumbs and index fingers.

Arte - Fatal Soulframe First Form: Horror!

A blinding flash of white light lit up. The wolf yelped in pain but it still dashed deeper into the woods. A single photo of the wolf’s backside floated in front of Viers.

Hmph. Not photogenic at all. Who wants a photo about a wolf’s ass?

Viers grabbed the photo and pressed the wound on his left arm. The wolf’s fangs punctured his leather armor like paper. Viers had a moderate wound on the arm and his left little finger was broken. Considering what he fought against, a Rank 3 monster, Viers exhaled in relief.

A normal Level 2 Pathseeker would suffer much more serious consequences than this.

“Master, are you okay?” Boram worriedly asked while eyeing the bleeding wound. His sincerity was pleasing to Viers.

“I’m fine. Can I ask the two of you to put out the fire?”

Since the wolf used fire, the area around Viers still had fires burning. Since they were in a place with a lot of vegetation. The fires might become a forest fire if they are left alone.

“Of course. It was a splendid battle, young Avel.”

Takju now had the appearance of a forty-year-old man with short black hair. His body was no longer a towering three meters of muscle but a normal person’s.

Without Viers’ urging, Takju used his own method of disguise. They would be traveling in human lands. Takju’s original height would be too eye-catching. Since he was a Level 4, his disguise was quite powerful.

“I gained nothing from that battle. What a waste of Victa...” Viers grumbled and returned to the camp, tending his wounds.

While Viers was thinking furiously about his next course of action, Takju managed to confirm his suspicions.

A soul Arte… he truly is a dual attribute Pathseeker. His soul affinity should be even higher than his water. Who is he? What is his background? Why is a talented young man like him traveling alone in the wilderness like a vagabond? Any tribe or organization would be glad to have him. And earlier, from what I’ve seen, even when battling a formidable foe he didn't rely on me despite being relatively nearby.

With his suspicion confirmed, Takju applied another defensive measure on his soul. Just in case.

At least we aren't at odds. He saved me from slavery and he wants his privacy. It’s good enough.

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Takju helped Boram put out the fires. Using earth manipulation to smother the flames.

A few hours later, at dusk.

I have used Insignificant Fate on another rock and I’ve made up my mind.

“We are going separately. I’ll go after the wolf, you two keep working on the landslide or whatever, then we’ll rendezvous at Regidana.”

Boram looked surprised, he’d dropped the spoon on his hand. Takju slurped the rabbit stew and put the bowl down before talking.

“It will be dangerous, young one,” he cautioned.

“I’m not going to fight it. My main objective is scouting. It is going east, the same way we’re going. If it wanders too far then I’ll let it be before continuing to Regidana.”

Viers took out a bowl from his Thousand Treasure Casket and gave it to Boram.

“A scrying bowl. I have the other pair,” Viers pulled another bowl and showed it to the other two. “Fill it with water and inject some Victa then we can communicate from afar.”

“Whoah...” Boram observed the bowl as if it was a heavenly artifact. Viers snickered under the helmet.

We can video chat in a medieval world. Magic is so cheating.

“We can go together,” Takju said. “It’ll be safer that way.”

From his expression, Boram was of the same mind but Viers shook his head.

“This is just my whim. Perhaps It’ll be a wild goose chase. You two go straight ahead to the city. Takju, can I ask you to keep Boram safe?”

“Of course. Be careful, young Avel.”

Viers finished eating and drank some water before rebinding the lower part of his face wrappings. He put on his metal helmet and rode on the mare.

“Regidana is only two days away. We’ll meet again soon.”

Viers left with Brownie, in the direction of the fleeing wolf a few hours past.

For the next two days, Viers was riding in pursuit of the wolf. Despite not having any skills in tracking, Viers managed to stay on the wolf’s tail without fail.

The reason was simple, Viers’ Fatal Soulframe Arte.

Despite not being able to kill the wolf outright, Viers managed to tear a part of its soul and confine that part to a photo. Using the photo, Viers could sense the direction of the monster’s main body.

Fatal Soulframe has many functions other than attacking the soul. It can capture, curse, track, and kill… very versatile. How could my first soul Arte be weak? And this is only the first form, hehe.

Viers pulled out the photo now and then, sensing the wolf’s location. The traces he’d found was proof he was going in the right direction.

The wolf only had one-tenth of its soul inside the photo. Its soul was injured but not fatal. The wolf acted like normal, leaving traces of destruction in its trail. Viers didn't follow it too close. He knew wolves had a good sense of smell. He’d applied Deodorant Arte on him and Brownie for precaution.

The reason he’d followed the wolf was mainly because of curiosity at first, and then as his investigation proceeded, he had a gut feeling this wasn't a simple monster case.

Irene, the archer adventurer that he met in Mokash town was seeking the three-eyed wolf. If this was indeed the same monster, it had roamed very far, unusual. The monster’s behavior was also strange, it was very aggressive. The wolf monster fought and killed every living being in its vicinity, from animals or other monsters. Viers found the trail of bodies of the wolf's victims. The wolf didn't eat them, which was strange. There were monster parts that could be sold for a little sum, which Viers put inside the Casket.

It also kept going east, to the Regidana city. Coincidence? The fact that the little village from earlier didn't have complaints about a monster as dangerous and aggressive as this means the wolf only arrived here recently.

Viers suspected it was intelligent, not to a human mind degree but it was not a being of mere instinct. When they fought, the wolf could change strategy and make feints. It realized Takju was dangerous and the monsters it killed were always weaker than itself. But if it was intelligent, the aggressive behavior was a paradox.

When Viers was riding on a simple road in a forest a few hours away from Regidana, when the sun was shining bright on the sky, Viers heard something.

“Aaaah! Save me!”

“Uwaahhh!”

“No no no! Stay away!”

The cries for help entered his ears. The voice sounded young and it was coming straight at him.

Viers used Euryale Sight immediately, and what he saw blew his mind.

It was three kids about twelve to fourteen, two boys and one girl, chased by a monstrous black wolf with three eyes.

Impossible! The wolf should be much farther than this, unless!

The realization hit Viers, there was more than one three-eyed wolf.

Viers had no intention of fighting a fight where he had no guarantee to win to save three little children. Viers turned Brownie around, ready to run away. It was what he saw with Eurylae Sight that gave him pause.

There were actually four three-eyed wolves in his vicinity. These ones were like chameleons, blending in the surroundings and giving no aura. Viers wouldn't know about them without Euryale Sight.

All of them were Rank 3!

What the fuck!

Unknowingly, Viers had walked into a death trap.

Viers could not move recklessly, it was at this moment the three kids stumbled upon Viers. One of the boys saw Viers wearing the helmet of a knight and his eyes shone like a star.

“A Knight! We’re saved. Mister Knight, save us!”

The children gathered near Viers. It didn't take long until a wolf as big as a horse came out from the bushes with a bestial gnarl. Unlike the chameleon ones, this wolf was ready to sink its teeth on something.

If this one attacks, the other wolves will definitely join in!

Viers made a decisive decision like lightning. He dismounted from the panicking mare and blared his Victa full force.

The kids looked at his visible blue aura tinged with green motes of light.

Viers was ready to burn his life force and use Raging River Steps Arte in Hyper Mode, leaving the mare and the kids behind!

He dismounted because he could run faster than Brownie. He also thought that if the wolves eat Brownie, he would have a great chance of getting away. As for the kids, Viers was ready to abandon them to their fate.

But in the next moment, when the wolf was about to pounce, it suddenly perked and calmly turned away. So too did the other hidden wolves. Viers was perplexed.

What happened now? Viers‘ green eyes darted to his surroundings and he saw a visage of two people far from his location before disappearing.

Did someone intervene?

The wolves went away, Viers was in deep thoughts but he was jolted awake by the hugs he received.

“Thank you, thank you, Mister Knight! I know that wolf is no match for you!” The starry-eyed boy looked at Viers as if he was a figure larger than life.

“Uwahhh… We’re alive! I thought we were gonna die, uwwehhh,” the boy cried.

“We… We’re saved...'' the girl flopped on the ground, weak on the knees.

To the kids, Viers’ grand display had scared the wolf away and saved them, completely oblivious Viers was about to let them become wolves’ dinner.

“...Un,” Viers nodded. “The most important thing is you’re all okay.”

He made his voice as heroic as possible. As if he was a real knight who had just slain a dragon.