The forest seemed endless, its dense canopy breaking the moonlight into scattered beams that danced faintly on the ground. Sounds of distant creatures and the faint rustle of leaves painted a vivid tapestry of life. Damp moss and rich soil cushioned each step, a subtle reminder of how unforgiving this place could be. Every detail sharpened my senses, yet the forest carried an eerie stillness, a disquiet that warned of unseen threats.

Claw marks raked across a nearby tree, their size hinting at a predator that prowled these woods. The gouges, deep and purposeful, sent a ripple of unease through me. Hunger stirred, not for food, but for growth. This forest was not just a battleground—it was an opportunity.

A faint murmur of water caught my attention. Following the sound, I came upon a small creek winding through the undergrowth. Kneeling beside it, the cool liquid soothed my throat, but my focus remained on the surroundings. Broken branches and shallow tracks pressed into the mud painted a story: something large and nimble had passed through. The sharp musk lingering in the air confirmed it was recent.

The trail led deeper into the forest, where shadows grew heavier, and smaller creatures fell silent. Broken twigs and claw marks revealed the path of a shadow wolf. Memories from the mage tower surfaced—shadow wolves were not apex predators but as strong as knights. Agile, intelligent, and often hunting in packs, they were formidable adversaries. If this one was alone, it was either injured or separated. Either way, it was an opportunity.

The forest seemed to hold its breath as I pressed forward. The trail led to a clearing where exposed roots and jagged rocks lay scattered, a perfect stage for an ambush. A faint crack of branches broke the stillness. Muscles coiled, instincts sharpened—the wolf was close.

A blur of motion erupted from the shadows, a black figure streaking toward my throat. Leaping aside, the strike narrowly missed as I braced, mustering every ounce of strength to evade its relentless follow-up swipe. The creature stood revealed beneath the fragmented light: a beast standing half my size but twice as long, its scarred body dripping blood, yet its movements showed no weakness. Its claws gleamed like knives, and its dark fur blended seamlessly with the forest's shadows.

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The wolf lunged again, its jaws snapping at my neck. Dodging to the side, I countered with a punch aimed at its ribs, but the creature twisted its body, avoiding the blow. Its claws raked my chest, shallow but sharp, a painful reminder of my body's limitations without mana reinforcement. The wolf retreated, circling, its yellow eyes calculating every move.

While we were deadlocked with each other, the terrain started to become clear. The ground was uneven, with exposed roots and jagged rocks covering the floor—perfect obstacles to exploit. Feinting left, I baited the wolf into lunging. As it leapt, my foot hooked under a thick root and with all my strenght the root was ripped from the ground allowing me to catch it by surprise mid-charge thus tripping it. It crashed to the ground, before it could regain its footing, I drove forward, locking my arm around its neck.

The wolf thrashed violently, claws scraping my skin, the awkward angle sparing me from deeper wounds. This moment felt like an eternety as it thrashed about in my arms almost breaking free, but with every ounce of strength, I twisted. A sharp crack signaled the end. The wolf fell limp, its lifeless body collapsing beneath me.

Panting, blood dripping from my wounds, I sat back, adrenaline still coursing. The wolf's body lay motionless, its eyes devoid of life. A wave of relife spread throughout my body, my first fight since entering this body was over.

Kneeling beside the wolf, I used the jagged rocks to cut it open. The flesh was tough, the taste metallic, and the energy it offered was lacking. The only thing that improved was my vision. Yet, it wasn’t anything significant given the damage taken from the wolves claws. The wolf held no mana, offering only meager gains—a stark reminder of how essential the blood rune enchantment would be for surviving this forest.

Scanning the area, a cluster of rocks caught my eye in the distance. They would serve as decent shelter for the night. Heading toward them, the forest's quiet began to shift. The ground trembled faintly, followed by rhythmic vibrations that grew stronger. Something massive was approaching.

Climbing a nearby tree for a better vantage point, the clearing below revealed signs that something had just traveled through here. Deep gouges marred the ground, trees were crushed, feathers scattered among the dirt, and massive tracks led deeper into the forest. The air carried a heavy, oppressive weight. Whatever had passed through here was engaged in some life or death struggle.

A distant roar shattered the silence, followed by a screech that reverberated through the trees. The sounds grew closer, a harbinger of chaos. The forest seemed to hold its breath, anticipation thick in the air.

Survival demanded evolution, and evolution required risk. Leaping from branch to branch, I chased after the noise.