Jack watched as the wolf padded forward. Meanwhile, his mind was racing, trying to think of a way out of this mess.

The wolf was obviously a lot stronger than him. Even if the animal hadn’t been 4 times his level, Jack didn’t think he could take on a wolf as big as a pony.

So, fighting was out. Running was an option, but that would require him to leave his food behind. He still might have done it if it weren’t for something he had read about wolves. Namely, that running from them could trigger their prey instinct.

If this had been a normal-sized wolf (and if its level had been closer to his own) he might have tried scaring it off. As it was, he didn’t think he could intimidate the Alpha Greatwolf. There was another option however.

Cautiously, Jack tore off a chunk of the succulent, cooked meat and tossed it towards the approaching predator. He aimed for a balance between appeasement and distraction, hoping the food would divert the wolfs attention.

The aroma of the roasted meat filled the air, and the Alpha Greatwolf sniffed the cooked meat for a moment before devouring it with apparent relish.

“That’s right” Jack said in as calm a voice as he could manage under the circumstances. It was important not to show weakness in front of a predator. “I’m willing to share my food. There’s no need for us to fight”.

He had no idea if the wolf could understand anything he was saying(not that a wolf that could understand speech would be that weird considering everything else he had been through so far), but he hoped his tone would convey his intent regardless.

He tossed another chunk of meat to the wolf. Just as it began to devour the roasted pork, a rustling sound drew both its and Jacks attention to the woods behind it.

Out of the trees came a boar that made the Waterborne Tuskbeast look small in comparison. Jack gaped at the size of the thing. It was as big as a horse, with tusks the length of a man’s arm. Its fur was deep russet brown, and its eyes held a degree of intelligence that surprised Jack.

He Identified the monstrous boar.

[Tuskbeast Patriarch

Rarity: Rare

Level: 14

Health: ???

Mana: ???

Skills: ????

Abilities: ???

Description: ????

]

Patriarch? Does that mean it’s the father of…?

The Tuskbeast Patriarch looked first at the body of the Waterborne Tuskbeast, then at the wolf that still held a piece of its meat in its jaws.

Jack thought that the wolf looked remarkably like a guilty child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He had the bizarre urge to giggle.

Slowly, the wolf lowered the piece of meat to the ground. It started backing away. The Patriarch however, was not so easily appeased.

With an angry snort, the Tuskbeast Patriarch charged towards the Alpha Greatwolf. Jack's eyes widened as the two massive creatures collided in a ferocious clash of fur, tusks, and fangs.

Jack had never seen two higher level beasts fight like this before. It was as fascinating to watch as it was terrifying.

The Tuskbeast Patriarch activated some kind of offensive Skill, a deep red aura surrounding its tusks as it turned its head in a slashing motion.

Right before impact, the Alpha Greatwolf skillfully dodged the attack, showcasing incredible agility. The wolf retaliated with lightning-fast bites, aiming for vulnerable areas on the Tuskbeast Patriarch's massive body. Despite the assault, the Tuskbeast Patriarch's hide seemed to absorb much of the wolf's attacks.

The dance continued, the creatures circling each other in a primal display of dominance. The Tuskbeast Patriarch unleashed a series of sweeping attacks, tusks slashing through the air with a lethal elegance. The Alpha Greatwolf, activated a Skill of its own, sinking into its own shadow and vanishing from sight, only to leap out of its opponents shadow, raking the boars flank with claws that seemed to glow with dark energy.

Jack remained hidden, watching the intense battle unfold. The clash between the Tuskbeast Patriarch and the Alpha Greatwolf was a spectacle of raw power and agility. Each beast showcased its unique abilities, creating a dance of danger that held Jack in a strange mix of fear and awe.

As the battle waged on, Jack considered his options. The distraction provided by the conflict gave him a chance to escape unnoticed. He debated whether to seize the opportunity and make a run for it, leaving the beasts to their territorial dispute.

However, something made him hesitate. He was the one who had slain the Waterborne Tuskbeast. He was the one who had fed its meat to the Alpha Greatwolf. In a strange way, he felt a connection to the unfolding drama before him. His presence seemed to have inadvertently triggered this confrontation, and now he found himself torn between the instinct to flee and the strange sense of responsibility he felt.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

As the battle raged on, both creatures started showing signs of wear. The Tuskbeast Patriarch's russet fur bore the scars of the Alpha Greatwolf's bites, while the wolf’s black fur was stained with streaks of red. The firelit clearing became a canvas for their struggle, illuminated by the pulsating energy of the Tuskbeast Patriarch's attacks and the swift movements of the Alpha Greatwolf.

However, it soon became clear that the wolf was losing. Its nimble and precise movements began to slow, its dodges less calculated, and its bites less forceful. The dark fur on its flank bore the marks of the Tuskbeast's relentless attacks, and the wolf's energy seemed to be waning.

Jack made his decision. Picking up his walking stick in one hand and one of the tusks in the other he completed the work he had started while waiting for his dinner to be ready. Sliding the tusk into the socket he had carved into the walking stick was a bit difficult. He had tried his best to match the size of tusks base when carving but the tusk itself was a crude instrument.

It was a tight fit, but he managed to slide the tusk into the socket, ignoring the notifications that popped up when he did so. Lifting his improvised spear in both hands, he strode over to where the two beasts were still fighting.

The Tuskbeast Patriarch had its back to him, still focused on the faltering Alpha Greatwolf. Jack took a deep breath, gathering his nerve. Gripping his makeshift weapon tightly, he approached the massive boar.

With a burst of determination, Jack plunged the icy tusk into the Tuskbeast Patriarch's right back leg. The weapon pierced through the tough hide, eliciting a guttural snarl from the wounded creature. It reared up, then staggered, its wounded leg collapsing underneath it.

[You have dealt 32 Piercing damage to Tuskbeast Patriarch]

[You have dealt 12 Freezing damage to Tuskbeast Patriarch]

[You have inflicted Wounded Leg on Tuskbeast Patriarch]

As Jack withdrew his spear, the tusk sliding free from the meat of the beasts leg, the Alpha Greatwolf saw his opportunity.

During the fight it had kept one Skill in reserve. It was its most powerful attack and the wolf had been waiting for the perfect moment to unleash it. It only lasted for a couple of seconds, but those seconds determined the fate of the Tuskbeast Patriarch.

As the wolfs jaws opened wide, Jack saw something strange. It looked like a transparent wolfs head superimposed over the actual wolfs head.

As the wolfs jaws opened, the transparent head mirrored the action. And when those jaws snapped shut , the transparent head did the same. It was like a phantom echo of the wolf's bite.

The Alpha Greatwolf lunged at the Tuskbeast Patriarch, its jaws clamping down on the boar's throat with incredible force. The transparent wolf head mirrored the action, biting down simultaneously. It was a synchronized assault that seemed to combine the physical and spectral aspects of the attack.

[Alpha Greatwolf has used Spectral Bite]

[Tuskbeast Patriarch has suffered 78 Crushing damage]

[Tuskbeast Patriarch has been inflicted with Spiritual Weakness]

Jack was surprised to receive those notifications. Apparently, the system informed him when his enemy was damaged even if he hadn’t been the one to actually inflict the damage.

The Tuskbeast Patriarch let out a deafening roar, its massive form shuddering under the combined assault of Jack's icy tusk and the Alpha Greatwolf's spectral bite. The boar thrashed violently, its tusks slashing through the air in a final display of defiance.

After a few more moments of thrashing the beast lay still, blood still pouring from the massive wound in its neck.

[Congratulations! You have participated in the defeat of Tuskbeast Patriarch]

[You have gained rewards proportionate to your contribution]

[You have gained 600 experience points]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up]

[You have gained + 4 Strength]

[You have gained + 4 Agility]

[You have 4 free points to distribute]

The wolf sat back on its haunches panting heavily, its fur still streaked red from its wounds. As it rested Jack wondered what it would do next. If it wanted to kill him, it could still probably have accomplished that task without too much trouble despite its injuries.

Jack readied himself for a fight, but the wolf didn’t seem interested in fighting. Instead, it looked at him with something like…what? Acknowledgement?

[Alpha Greatwolf acknowledges you as a participant in the battle. You have gained the Title: Favored of the Alpha.]

[Favored of the Alpha: You have been acknowledged by an Alpha predator.

Effects: + 2 Strength, + 2 Constitution. You now have a greater chance of forming a relationship with creatures that have the Alpha Title in the future.]

Jack was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. He hadn’t expected to gain a Title out of this situation. He hadn’t even known what Titles were or what they did. Based on the description it seemed they provided bonuses to stats as well as other things.

Jack looked at the wolf again, at the blood still running from its wounds. Motioning for it to follow him, he turned towards the pool. Walking a few steps forward, he stopped when heard no sound of the wolf following.

Turning, he saw the wolf staring at him, something like hesitancy in its gaze. Jack sighed and rolled his eyes” Come on. If I wanted you dead I’d have let the Big Pig finish you.”

The wolf still looked hesitant but started after Jack. When they reached the pool Jack picked up his improvised bark cup, which he had left lying near the pool for situations like this and made one of his Improvised Healing Solutions.

It took a bit of coaxing, but Jack finally got the wolf to lap up the concoction. Once the wolf realized it was actually healing its wounds it couldn’t get enough. Jack made healing solution after healing solution. He lost track of how many he made after the 12th or so. Eventually the wolfs wounds were fully healed and it looked at Jack with something gratitude in its eyes. Jack would have done it for that alone but the notification that followed certainly didn’t hurt.

[Congratulations! For crafting over 20 Alchemical creations within one hour, you have acquired the Skill Alchemy]

[Alchemy

Rarity: Scarce

Type: Passive

Level: 1

Description: Increases effect of all potions, pills, powders and compounds created. Adds chance to improve potion rarity and quality based on Skill level.

Note: Skill level can be increased through use]

The wolf, seemingly satisfied with its healing, turned its attention away from Jack. It approached the fallen Tuskbeast Patriarch, its gaze shifting between the massive boar and Jack. As the wolf began to feed on the carcass, Jack cautiously approached, keeping a respectful distance.

He watched as the Alpha Greatwolf tore into the flesh of the Tuskbeast Patriarch, its powerful jaws effortlessly breaking through bone and sinew. The sight was both mesmerizing and somewhat horrifying. Jack couldn't help but marvel at the raw power of the Alpha Greatwolf, even as he felt a twinge of envy. He wanted that kind of strength for himself.

Once the Alpha Greatwolf had its fill, it lifted its head and locked eyes with Jack. The intensity of the gaze sent a shiver down Jack's spine, but he felt a strange connection, a mutual understanding that went beyond the primal nature of their encounter.

The wolf, with a nod of its head, signaled its departure. It vanished into the darkness of the surrounding woods, leaving Jack alone with the aftermath of the fierce battle.