Kael turned instantly.
No hesitation.
He lunged back in.
Claws first.
They raked across the beast's muzzle, tearing flesh open again where he'd already injured it before. Blood splashed hot across his face.
The creature snapped.
Kael ducked under its jaws and drove his shoulder into its chest.
It was like hitting a wall with a piece of bread. Pain shot through him, but he pressed on.
He twisted, dragging his claws down its injured forelimb, digging deep into torn muscle.
The beast roared.
Its other paw came down like a hammer.
He barely got out of the way.
"Fuck!"
The impact cratered the ground where he'd been.
Instead of creating distance this time, he stayed close.
Too close for it to swing cleanly.
But the beast tried anyway.
Claws tore into his side, ripping fur and skin open in a hot, wet line.
Kael gritted through it and bit down hard
His jaws clamped onto the wounded leg.
The taste was worse now—thick, rotting and sickening, but he held on and shook his head violently, tearing deeper.
The creature howled and slammed its body sideways.
Kael was thrown off.
He hit the ground and rolled, vision flashing white.
[Health -34]
He pushed himself up immediately.
He didn't have time to feel or process pain right now. Any mistake would cost him greatly.
The beast came again, faster this time despite its injury.
Instead of running, Kael stepped forward.
At the last second—
[Feral Sprint]
He slipped inside its charge.
Its massive body rushed past him, unable to stop in time.
Kael spun and leapt onto its back.
Claws sank in.
He climbed.
The creature bucked violently, trying to throw him off, but Kael held tight, digging deeper with every movement.
He reached its neck.
Bit down as hard as his jaws allowed him.
The beast roared and threw itself backward.
Kael saw it coming, but not fast enough.
They hit the ground together.
The air blasted out of his lungs as the impact forced his jaws open.
The creature twisted and slammed him again.
And again.
Kael felt something give in his ribs.
[Health -21]
He let go.
He had to.
He rolled away just before its jaws snapped shut where his head had been.
The ground shook as it rose again.
But it wasn't as steady now.
Its injured leg dragged slightly behind it.
Its breathing was heavier.
Kael staggered to his feet, chest heaving.
"You're slowing," he muttered, voice rough even in his beast form.
The creature answered with a snarl and charged again.
This time, Kael ran straight at it.
The distance collapsed as he inched closer
At the last second—
He dropped.
Slid under it.
Dug his claws into its belly as he passed beneath, ripping a long, ugly gash across its underside.
Hot blood poured over him, painting him to resemble a wolf of slaughter.
The creature screamed—screeched, he couldn't determine which of the two was more prominent amongst the sounds.
It stumbled forward, its momentum carrying it several steps before it could turn.
Kael was already moving again.
He quickly circled around it.
Keeping just out of reach.
Forcing it to pivot again and again.
Each turn cost it. Each step with that leg dragged slower than the last. Its attacks became wilder, less precise, more desperate.
Kael waited.
Watched.
He needed an opening...
Not yet.
Not yet.
Its fury gave in and the creature lunged at him again, trying to end the fight as soon as possible.
Kael saw the opening.
This was it. The last chance he could ever have.
[Feral Sprint]
[Energy: 2/50]
He shot forward like a bolt.
Straight for its head.
The beast tried to react but it was too slow now, its body couldn't keep up.
Kael leapt.
His claws hit first, digging into its skull for leverage—
And then his jaws closed around its throat.
He bit down with everything he had left.
No hesitation.
No restraint.
Its bones resisted him for a split second.
Then—
CRACK! Warm and hot blood flowed into his throat.
The creature convulsed.
Its body thrashed violently, slamming Kael against the ground, against stone, against anything it could hit.
But he didn't let go.
He couldn't.
Not now.
Not after all this. There would be no more chances.
He tightened his grip.
Deeper.
Harder.
The thrashing slowed.
Then weakened.
Then—
Stopped.
Kael stayed there for a few seconds longer, jaws still locked, breath ragged and uneven.
Just to be sure.
Only when the body beneath him went completely still did he finally let go.
He staggered back.
The world tilted as his vision swam.
His legs nearly gave out.
The valley was quiet again.
Completely.
No wind.
No movement.
Just the sound of his breathing and the slow drip of blood into the snow.
Then it appeared boldly across his sight.
[Boss Defeated]
The words didn't come with sound.
They just… appeared.
Kael let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
A laugh tried to come out but it died halfway.
He dropped to one knee.
His body felt like it had been torn apart and barely stitched back together.
But he was alive.
And the thing wasn't.
That was enough.
For now.
Then the rest came.
[XP Gained]
[LEVEL UP]
[LEVEL UP]
[LEVEL UP]
The notifications stacked one after another.
Warmth spread through his body, not healing everything, but enough to take the edge off. Enough to keep him conscious.
[Condition Met]
[Class Advancement Available]
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Finally. Let's get to the good stuff"
Then
[Select Your Path]
Three options began to form.
Not fully clear yet.
Just outlines.
Kael exhaled slowly, staring at them.
Blood still dripping from his claws.
"…Let's see what you've got."
The first option sharpened slightly.
Then the second.
Then the third—