The forest held its breath—and then the shadow moved.
"Move!" Ren shouted.
Kai twisted instinctively, but the wolf was already on him, faster than his eyes could track.
BAM!
The impact sent him staggering backward, dirt and leaves flying. He hit the ground hard, ribs jolting, breath caught. Pain flared with every movement.
Before he could fully rise, the wolf struck again. Kai forced his gauntlet up to absorb the blow. His arm shook violently. Every muscle burned.
Ren leapt in, flames licking his sword. He blocked a strike, sparks flying. "You really think you can scare us?" he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowed. "…Not today."
Kai gritted his teeth. "This is… tougher than I thought."
Another lunge. Faster. The wolf pressed, unpredictable, relentless. Kai blocked and countered, gauntlet connecting with its shoulder. Pain flared—but he stayed on his feet.
Ren moved with precision, striking with his blade. Flames coiled around him, reinforcing his stance. "…Come on, show me your best," he shouted, shamelessly taunting. "I've fought scarier squirrels!"
Kai blinked, half-amused, half-exasperated. "…Ren… are you serious?"
Ren smirked, unbothered. "…Someone has to enjoy this."
The wolf staggered under the pressure but surged again, muscles coiling, movements sharper, faster, angrier.
Kai's arm trembled, every movement harder. Breathing ragged, he forced himself forward. "…Not done yet."
Ren's blade struck simultaneously, flames trailing, forcing the wolf back. Its growl shook the forest, eyes flaring with fury.
Kai staggered, legs aching, muscles screaming—but he refused to fall.
The wolf lunged again. Faster. Angrier. Every dodge and block pushed Kai and Ren to their limits.
"…You think you can scare us?" Ren shouted again, smirking despite fatigue. "…Cute, but try harder!"
The wolf responded with a surge of speed, snapping at them both. Its frustration palpable. Every strike forced them to dodge, block, and counter strategically.
Kai gritted his teeth, arm shaking. "…We're not done. Not yet."
Ren's flames surged higher, sword ready, stance unbroken. "…Then let's survive this—or at least make it regret trying," he said calmly.
Step by step, strike by strike, they forced the wolf back. Its growls grew louder, its movements increasingly reckless.
Kai felt his strength waning, yet he drove the gauntlet forward once more. Ren's blade cut across simultaneously. The wolf staggered, finally showing a flicker of fatigue.
Its eyes glowed with rage. No calm remained. Only fury.
Kai and Ren, panting, bodies straining, stood firm.
Ren smirked faintly, deadly and teasing. "…Try not to die."
Kai laughed weakly through the pain. "…Same to you."
The wolf crouched, tensed, then vanished in a blur, returning even faster, angrier, ready to escalate.
Kai's jaw clenched. "…We pushed it too far."
Ren's eyes narrowed, flames flickering. "…Now it's dangerous. Stay focused."
They braced themselves. Survival wasn't optional anymore.
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