Magnus here, I will never admit that I'm a good being, because good or bad doesn't apply to gods. Is it bad, if a kid starts throwing their toys around? It's only bad if it starts to inconvenience their parents but in the grand scheme of things, it's not. So, am I evil? I've admitted that I've killed thousands, if not millions of innocent mortals and I will not apologize for it. I will not feel bad for it either but after seeing what mortals are capable of and after experiencing being a mortal... Do I really have the right to step on all the efforts of these beings. The question still lingers. Anyway, back to the story.
In the middle of a road, in between a forest and a cliff, is a caravan surrounded by a dozen dire wolves.
The caravan has 3 men wearing light leather vests while wielding short swords. One of the 3 men was named Carson and he was a hired guard by the caravan's owner.
"Don't let them come close!" I hear the voice of my employer but it barely registers as I see the horse-sized wolves slowly approach us. Dire wolves aren't supposed to come this far down the forest, usually Dire wolves hunt bigger game. They wouldn't waste their time hunting humans, especially since humans don't really give a lot of meat and it could risk a hunting party, endangering the pack.
Why! It was supposed to be a simple caravan trip! We were supposed to accompany this small refugee group, get paid and go home!
I feel my legs shaking.
I can't die here....
"Carson! Calm down!" I suddenly snap out of trance and take a quick look at my leader. His name is Jordan, he's my boss and my friend. He took me in when no one else would.
Once calm, I remember the time we spent at town and I start to feel better. We went to the guild and checked our statuses. We also purchased basic information from the guild. One of the monsters in the pamphlet was the dire wolf, a common enemy of low level adventurers.
I start remembering the information about Dire Wolves.
Dire wolves are apex predators and even the smallest dire wolf is at least larger than a horse, this is the result of magic slowly permeating through nature. Dire wolves do not develop special skills, unless they live long enough and they're enemies for Iron level parties.
I'm currently level 2...
I'm not even a Bronze rank adventurer.
My heart starts to sink but I shake my head and cling to the last hope I have.
Jordan was once a Steel rank adventurer but he was injured and he lost some of his strength.
I look at Jordan and smile, maybe we can make it out of this alive.
"Ahhhhh"
Suddenly, I hear an agonizing scream as I see one of my fellow adventurers being mauled on by the wolves.
How?! We didn't even hear anything!
Then I see it. A giant wolf, bigger than any of the dire wolves here, with fur as white as snow and eyes that glow with a reddish hue, like the blood on my companion's broken neck.
My jaw was probably hanging. I immediately look at the caravan and see the people in the caravan. I can see my fear mirrored on their faces.
"AAHHHHHH" Suddenly all the people riding the caravan and the ensuing screams signals the wolves' charge.
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Why does it have to be like this?
I quickly run back, as I hear the screams of a dozen people.
"AAHHHHHH" The new scream forces me to run faster.
I don't understand.
As a God, I was so used to ignoring the screams of the masses, yet... I can't stand it now that I'm here
I immediately pull out a small mask made out of fur, from one of my pouches. I put it over my head and manage to cover it.
I just hope this will be enough to shield my eyes.
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Why! Why! Why!
Does the gods hate us!
Jordan is fighting the white wolf and 4 more dire wolves. He's managing but he's becoming so tired and the wolves are taking advantage. How did a bunch of beasts become so smart!
"Carson stop prancing around and protect those people!" Jordan shouts at me and I realize the wolves are slowly approaching the caravan. Jordan ordered me to protect the Caravan while he deals with the wolves.
I'm shaking, my legs feel weak.
I grip my sword, in the vain hope that I'll somehow survive.
"Hey! Protect us already!" A stupid refugee behind me suddenly shouts at me.
Stupid refugee! If you hadn't exist, if you just died from whatever you survived from, I wouldn't be here!
I glare at that noisy refugee and they shut up.
*Grrrrr* I turn around and see the dire wolves slowly closing in. They're a few feet away and I'm sure they'll kill me.
Why gods! Please! I'll do anything.
I stare at the wolves with fear as I feel something wet slide down my cheeks.
"Arghhh"
Suddenly, I hear a pained scream as I see Jordan tumble down and the white wolf lunge towards his neck.
*Snap*
*clink*
I dropped my sword... It's over, Jordan is dead.
The white wolf stops and stares at me with hatred practically leaping out of its eyes.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Please Gods Help me.
The white wolf lunges forward and I tumble back and cover my face with my hands in complete fear but I don't feel any pain.
I slowly remove my hands from my face and I see the white wolf staring at me a few meters away.
It's not moving.
Has the gods saved me?
In between me and the wolf, I see a sharp object protruding from the ground.
It's a dagger made from a bone?
From the side of my eye, I see a figure standing above a tree overlooking us and the wolves.
The Gods have saved me!
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I made it just in time! I study the situation while above the tree. I see two dead bodies and give them a small apology.
Despite the two deaths, I can't allow their deaths discourage me, there are other people to save.
I see the white wolf glare at me with unbrindled rage.
*Sigh* I finally managed to avoid it, yet I'm here seeking trouble from it.
I look down from the top of a huge tree. The wolves stare at me and I see the people hopefully looking at me.
Wait, is that guy crying?
I guess I seem to be a savior to them...
I immediately jump down and catch a branch then swing down with finesse.
While midair, I open a pouch and immediately pull out my bone knives.
Time seems to slow down, as my mind starts to process information a thousand times faster than a normal person can.
I start to take in every opponent and calculate every move.
When I finish, I quickly move my hand and fling three objects.
"Awooo" Suddenly a dire wolf whines in pain as the three objects hit its body. After taking a quick long, the dire wolf has three sharp bone knives protruding from its back.
The white wolf growls at me.
The moment I land on the ground, the wolves immediately rush forward.
I rush forward and I momentarily activate a skill, then immediately turn it off.
The wolves suddenly stop in their tracks for a single moment.
That moment is all I need and I reach the first paralyzed wolf.
I quickly pull out a bone knife and enter the wolf's reach. It manages to react but...
"Too slow!"
While there may be a large difference between me and the dire wolves, knowledge is still the sharpest blade.
The wolf tries to dodge but i quickly move my knife and pierce its eye, jamming the knife as deep as I can.
It whines in pain but I immediately silence it once I turn the knife quickly.
That's one dire wolf down.
I take a look at my work and check the surroundings.
The other wolves are now encircling the edge of my reach, cautious of my weapons.
I see the white wolf staring at me, its eyes shine with intelligence.
I slowly circle around, holding a bone knife in my right hand, careful not to let my guard down.
I take notice of the caravan and they're watching me intently.
Why aren't you running?
Then I see the reason why, the white wolf has been carefully guarding them and no matter how fast they run, they'll be hunted down.
I shake my head and focus on the situation.
I breath slow and feel the tenseness that lingers in the air.
The wolves are not attacking, I need to break their circle.
"If you won't attack, I'll go first!" My shout catches the wolves off guard and I charge straight to the white wolf.
As expected, a dire wolf runs to block my path.
They're protecting their leader.
"You're in my way!" I untie my weighted spear from behind and throw it with all of my strength above the wolf blocking my path.
The wolf looks shocked as it turns its head to see where the spear will go. The spear lands behind it and doesn't hit anything but I already achieved my goal.
It turns to look at me but I've already reached it.
It growls and immediately claws at me.
I see its giant and bone-rending claw approach me with quick velocity. I use my skill earlier again and the wolf momentarily stops.
I take advantage of the pause and charge forward. The wolf tries to back away but I pull out an object from one of my pouches and throw it on the wolf's face.
The wolf closes its eyes and starts to sputter, as the object I threw was sand.
The wolf blindly attacks its front but I've already managed to go to its side. I reach behind it and grab the spear, then spin around and stab the wolf in the back with all of my strength.
A painful yelp fills the area, as the increased weight of the spear and my extra strength pierces the wolf's tough hide. It goes limp as I skillfully hit its spine, breaking it.
I mutter a quick apology because I couldn't kill the wolf painlessly.
2 down.
I immediately turn around and see 3 wolves already charging towards me.
I take a quick look at my mana.
A spell forms at my mouth and I instantly raise my hand.
[Blinding Flash]!
Golden light explodes from the palm of my hand, temporarily blinding every creature near me.
I charge towards one of the blinded wolves and pull out my sharpened rock. I stab it in the eye and start wrenching it, killing the poor beast.
3 down... 9 more to go.
The two blinded wolves recover and all the other dire wolves manage to surround me.
Shit... this is exhausting...
I take a quick look at my magic power.
Magic Power: 20/30
Damn it! I haven't even killed half of them and I'm almost spent.
*Growl*
The wolves start to growl with anger after seeing their fallen family.
I start to weigh my options.
If I run, they will die.
If I don't run, I might die.
If I keep fighting, we both might die.
I take a quick check of my items.
I've got 3 more bone knives, a half-empty pouch of sand, and a stupid noisy coin.
Absolution has been talking to me through telepathy but I forcefully blocked her off, so I could concentrate.
Maybe I can lure the wolves away.
No, that's stupid. I take a quick look and the white wolf is still watching over the fighting.
With that leader, I doubt they'll chase me, they'll kill the people first, then chase me.
*Sigh*
I guess there's no other way.
I steel my resolve and charge towards the wolves.
The wolves prepare their formation and attack me.
I quickly dodge their attacks based on advanced predictions but if I'm late by even a second, I will die.
I strike the closest wolf at their weak spot with a bone dagger but I hear a large growl from behind me and the wolf properly dodges.
I take a quick look and notice the white wolf staring at me.
... It's ordering them?
This thing is far more dangerous than I thought.
I continue evading the coordinated attack of the wolves and try my best to find opportune moments.
*thud*
"Tch"
I managed to attack a wolf but it moved its body quick, so I hit its thick fur, instead of its weak spot.
"... I need a better weapon." I mutter. These knives are not cutting it for me.
I remember the two dead guards and their... weapons!
I turn my head and see the dead body of a guard.
They have a sword!
Well, I'm guessing had, instead of have.
The white wolf notices that I'm staring at dead guard and it immediately orders the wolves.
I start running and do a perfect dodge, avoiding the pincer attack of the wolves and rush straight towards the dead guard.
Suddenly, I feel a hot feeling invade my back as a wolf suddenly lunges from behind.
I wince in pain and roll forward. A wolf managed to wound me but I continue running.
The wolves start to make a formation in front of me without any space.
They're planning on blocking me!
[Equilibrium]
I immediately cast a familiar spell and my measly magic power halves and transforms into body power.
Magic Power: 5/30 (15↓)
Body Power: 30 (9+21) (15↑)
I jump with enhanced force and somersault towards the dead guard. The wolves couldn't predict my jump and they try to reach me but failed to jump with any momentum.
I land gracefully near the dead guard and immediately dodge, as a wolf lunges towards me.
Thankfully, the spell that's strengthening me is increasing my stamina as well and I manage to dodge the incoming attack.
I see the sword!
I do a quick roll and easily grab the sword.
I immediately stand up and take a stance.
*Growl*
Suddenly I hear the white wolf growl with anger.
I notice it's starting to move. The other wolves almost avoid it, fearing its anger.
"I guess, it's back to you and me."
The other dire wolves encircle the both of us, to ensure that I don't run away.
I've been ignoring it for a while now, but I've been hearing the people in the caravan mutter prayers to different gods but there is one voice that shouts differently.
It was a young child.
"You can do it!"
Instead of praying to the gods, a child, somewhere around the age of 8, was cheering me on.
Inconceivable, relying on other beings instead of the gods.
For a moment, I ignore the wolf and look towards the other people.
They're all praying... yet... they're not doing it for a miracle, they're doing it because it's the only thing that can comfort them at times like this.
I close my eyes for a moment and I remember cold dark feel of the void.
Is this what those poor people felt when they're at death's door?
Only the cold and none of the warmth we should be giving.
Are we really that unreliable?