Chapter 16: The Clash of Fangs and Will

Elias’s chest heaved with exhaustion. Blood soaked his shoulder where the wolf had bitten him, and he was keenly aware of the deep gashes along his arms from the earlier fight. He had no time to rest. The wolf leader had healed itself, its wounds closing up unnaturally fast, and it was ready for another round.

The forest around him was quiet, but he could sense the wolf’s eyes on him, tracking his every move. Elias wiped the sweat off his brow and gripped his bow, but the battle wasn’t going to be won from a distance. The wolf was far too clever for that.

Suddenly, the wolf lunged. Its massive form barreled toward Elias, and vines shot up from the ground, trying to entangle him. Elias dodged, diving to the side, but the wolf was already upon him. Its jaws snapped at his throat, and he barely managed to throw his arm up in time to block the attack.

The wolf’s teeth sank into his shoulder instead. Pain surged through him, but Elias didn’t hesitate. With his free hand, he pulled out an arrow and jammed it into the side of the wolf. The creature let out a low growl, jerking back, and Elias shoved the arrow deeper into its side before it retreated.

The wolf circled him, the fight shifting. It seemed to be studying Elias now, calculating its next move. Elias knew this wouldn’t be over quickly. The wolf was fast, agile, and intelligent—its previous attacks had been coordinated, and it wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

With a deep breath, Elias took up a defensive stance, his body weary but his mind sharp. The wolf darted forward again, this time zigzagging through the trees, trying to confuse him. Elias kept his focus, weaving in and out of the forest as the wolf’s claws barely missed him.

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Suddenly, the wolf leapt from behind a tree, its claws swiping toward Elias’s face. He reacted just in time, ducking and rolling to the side. He could feel the rush of wind as the wolf’s paw narrowly missed his eye. The wolf was getting smarter, more

Elias knew he couldn’t keep dodging forever. The dense forest was making it hard to see the wolf’s movements, and the trees blocked his path whenever he tried to use the bow. His best chance was to force the battle into a more open area.

He sprinted, luring the wolf out of the forest and into the clearing. The wolf followed, sensing an opportunity to strike.

As they entered the clearing, Elias turned and faced the wolf directly, drawing another arrow. He didn’t have the luxury of time to line up a perfect shot; the wolf was already charging. But he had something else in mind. With a shout, Elias hurled himself at the wolf.

The wolf swiped at him with its claws, and Elias ducked, grabbing a nearby rock and throwing it into the wolf’s eyes. The creature recoiled, momentarily blinded. Elias didn’t waste a second. He grabbed his arrow, nocking it into the bow with practiced speed, and let it fly.

The arrow buried itself into the wolf’s side, but the creature wasn’t done yet. With a furious growl, it surged forward, tackling Elias to the ground. But Elias was ready. He shoved the wolf off, scrambling to his feet, and drew another arrow, aiming for the wolf’s heart. The shot was quick, decisive.

The wolf’s growl turned into a whimper as the arrow pierced through its chest. It stumbled, faltered, and collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Elias stood over the fallen beast, his body trembling with adrenaline. His shoulder was bleeding, his breathing shallow, but he was victorious. The leader was dead.

Elias staggered back, wiping blood from his face. He couldn’t believe it. The battle was over, but something unexpected happened. As he caught his breath, he noticed the wolf’s body slowly began to heal. The plant magic from before had kicked in again, but this time, it was healing him.

For a moment, Elias was puzzled. He’d expected the wolf to retreat or die, but instead, it was healing him—an act that seemed so… chivalrous. The wolf wasn’t showing hostility anymore. Instead, it simply stood and watched Elias, a silent acknowledgment of the fair fight.

Elias, still panting, looked at the wolf and gave a small nod of respect. There was something about the way the creature had fought, its almost noble behavior, that impressed him. Maybe the wolf was more than just a beast. It had acted with honor, just like Elias had hoped for in every fight. It wasn’t just about winning—it was about the struggle, the fight itself.

And with that, the forest fell silent again.

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