Chapter 19

  Another Dreadwolf was reduced to a twitching heap. Danny let out a sigh that carried the sound of repeated failure. He could not figure out how to repeat what he had done with Ash. That first time had been different somehow. It was reassuring that, with each purified monster, his cultivation was getting easier and easier. That reinforced the feeling that he was on the right path after all, if Karma said it was a good thing then it had to be, right? Danny figured it was as good a guide as any. Indy and Ash were rapidly improving as well.

  The two were becoming a well-oiled machine. Indy had this natural knack for finding opportunities to annoy and throw the Dreadwolves off-balance and then slink away into the brush like an orange ghost. Ash was practically just as devastating as any of the monsters they faced. The System appeared to agree as they had both risen to Level 10. Danny had yet to try his new Lupine Ferocity skill. It was the first skill that he had to “activate.” All the others were more similar to passive boosts that empowered a certain technique, but this one was different. The closest thing was his Purify skill, however that one was more like something he just did, a new application of his Qi rather than some video game power-up. Danny figured he would be forced to put it to the test soon.

  For the past few days, Danny and the dogs (trademark pending) had been luring out Dreadwolves so that Danny could try to refine his purification technique. They would coax one at a time out into the open, but the wolves wisened up shortly after they had lost two of their pack. Now, they would have to take on three or more at once. There weren’t any injuries yet, but it was only a matter of time before something went wrong. The constant failure to replicate his past results was weighing on Danny as well.

  A little bit over half a month of Tutorial remained. The decision had been made to go ahead and clear out the nest, regardless of whether or not Danny had mastered purification. Letting the monsters remain at large would result in them slowly increasing in strength until it would be impossible to stop them. That was how all monsters were, but these Dreadwolves seemed to grow at a rate that surprised Aspen. They were definitely the strongest foes that Danny had faced. Tomorrow would be the day that they cleared the nest, and Danny had been making a final push to get things figured out. Once again, it eluded him.

  The next day was a cold morning. Fog hung low on the ground and prevented Danny from seeing his feet. Pine trees rustled with a biting wind that made Danny wish for a jacket. While his temple robes allowed free movement, they did little to protect against the elements. They were beginning to show signs of wear as well. Frankly, it was miraculous that they had lasted this long. Danny chalked it up to superior Multiverse craftsmanship. The sun hid behind a veil of clouds, adding to the ominous atmosphere. Danny looked to his right and saw Ash's steadfast figure, ready to take on the world. To his left, Indy kept nervously glancing to the sides. Guess there can only be one brave one.

  At that moment, Danny was transported somewhere else. The familiar pine trees and forest floor were gone, replaced by an ominous mist that made it seem like he was standing on clouds. Sunlight flickered overhead as it passed through windblown branches. Maybe this was still Earth in a literal sense, but just how drastic the change had been dawned on Danny yet again. Wolves, a color so dark that calling it black was an understatement, formed before them like ghosts made from the mist. Red embers glowered at them in place of eyes. A larger Dreadwolf sauntered to the front. The vanguard made a path for them. They even bowed their heads as he passed, paying reverence to their leader. Soon, he was close enough for Danny to Identify. [Level 40 Dreadwolf Alpha].

  Danny counted only nine Dreadwolves including the Alpha. It would be a stretch, but Danny was certain that he and his Bonds could handle it without anything life-threatening. A commanding bark rang out and echoed off the trees. The play at intimidation was a good one, but Danny was too seasoned to be set atremble by something so mundane. Then the flankers arrived. When Ash started to swing her head around, Danny knew something was wrong. A dozen Dreadwolves had snuck around them, using the dense morning fog as cover. They were surrounded, trapped, like a rabbit in a snare. Danny readied himself.

  Expecting the ambushers to pounce on their opportunity, Danny was twitching in anticipation. No attack came. The wolves watched. The Dreadwolf Alpha began to walk along the perimeter. Danny had to hand it to them, they were clever and patient. No wonder they had been able to take out the other monster nest with ease. He was unnerved at the calculated way the Alpha scanned them as if they were a puzzle to be solved, not threatening in the least. Ash seemed to feel a similar way. The fur between her shoulders bristled and the corners of her mouth pulled back into a subtle snarl. When he looked for Indy’s reaction, the fox had already melted into the mist. Indy never truly abandoned the fight, but the fox knew its strengths well, and direct contests of strength were not among them. Danny wondered what the best course of action was. Should I just attack now, or wait for them to make the first move? Either way, he knew it was an uphill battle. As he tried to figure out his next move, the decision was made for him.

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  Howling a battle cry, the Alpha directed his troops to attack. The pack struck, but the rank and file lacked their leader’s discipline. A few of them rushed forward excitedly while some lagged behind. Ash was the first to catch the mistake and pounced on the over-ambitious Dreadwolves in front of them. She tackled one to the ground, her jaws clamped around its throat. Danny quickly followed. A swift strike to the snout sent one reeling, and another received a jab to the eye. With a Falling Thunder, Danny left an unconscious heap of fur. The other fell shortly after. Their saving grace was the lacking communication of the pack; as long as they only had to face a few at a time, Danny was confident they could come out of this.

  Danny forced himself not to flinch as Ash tore apart the monster she had engaged with. This is a fight, he told himself, us or them. Danny shot a blast of Qi at an incoming Dreadwolf. It rolled in the dirt. A hole leaked in its head. A flurry of strikes dispatched another pair. Ashe wrestled with another challenger. A sudden force sent Danny to the ground where a mouthful of soil greeted him. Heavy paws pinned him there. The Alpha had joined the assault.

  He tried to push himself up, but the monster was too strong. Despite not being able to see what it was doing, Danny just knew that the teeth would soon pierce the back of his neck. A shrill Yelp! accompanied a lessening of the restricting force. Shoving hard, Danny raised himself to his knees, bucking off the Alpha Dreadwolf. He whirled around to see Indy with his small maw around one of the Alpha’s hind legs. Somehow, the little guy had managed to distract the monster enough for Danny to get up. Danny wanted to shout a “Thank you!” or a “You really saved my bacon!” but the words died in his throat when, in one motion, the Alpha turned on Indy, wrapped its mouth around his midsection, and shook him like a dollar store chew toy. Indy was sent flying into a tree where he tumbled to the ground unresponsive.

  “Indy!” Danny wanted to rush over to the fox. He wanted to hold it and tell it that everything would be okay. The Alpha put himself between Danny and his Bond. A challenge. Rage bubbled inside as Danny looked at that superior look in the Dreadwolf’s eyes. You’re going to pay. Blood dripped from its mouth. I’m going to hurt you. Indy’s blood. I’m going to fucking kill you! Like he had said the magic words, Danny began to transform. His pupils turned to slits, his irises became golden. Danny’s mouth became too wide for a human’s and the teeth grew abnormally long and sharp. His fingernails were replaced by pointed claws. Everything was sharper, clearer like his vision was in HD. He could hear every grunt, bark, and footstep around him. He could smell the coppery blood all around. One thing was in the center of it all: the Alpha.

  Danny wished he could say that the first use of Lupine Ferocity was an effective one, but that would be a lie. One might expect Danny to target vitals like the eyes, throat, stomach, or chest, but that was not the case. No, Danny drank deeply from that well of wrath that had been overflowing within him. He lashed out. He carved chunks of flesh and fur from the monster. With his teeth, Danny ripped strips of hide and exposed the pulsing red underneath. The Alpha fought back, but its struggles were drowned in the typhoon of violence Danny had become. By the time his gruesome work was finished, the ground was metallic-scented mud, and even the trees were stained scarlet. Danny regained his senses. He found himself covered in blood, tasted it, like a coyote let loose in a hen house. He couldn’t— didn’t want to— remember what happened. His mind was focused on one thing.

  “Indy!” Danny ran to his first friend in this unfamiliar, barbaric place, the one who always found time to goof around. It felt a little stupid to care so much for an animal, but Danny had never felt so deep a despair as he did when he saw the limp fox that lay like a discarded orange scarf. No… Danny could feel the moisture welling up in his eyes, yearning to fall. No, he can’t be… There was a wheezing sound as the fox sucked in a shallow breath. Danny looked around for someone to help. He saw Ashe, bruised and bloodied, but he was the one responsible for them. He was the adult here, the only adult. That was an uncomfortable weight.

  “Ash, uh, go get the Pillar things, you know where they are, right?”

  The wolf nodded and turned, limping toward where the Dreadwolves had come from.

  “Shit.” The fox’s coat was more red than orange. Danny tore at the loose sections of his robe and wrapped makeshift bandages on the pitiful Indy’s wounds. He picked up the fox and cradled it in his arms. For a moment, he thought the exertion had been too much, but a sigh of relief escaped him when he saw the fox inhale weakly. Danny applied pressure as evenly as he could to the wounds. Like a mother desperately clinging to an injured infant, Danny hurriedly carried the fox back to their camp.

  For me, Danny thought as he worked his way through the fading fog, Indy sacrificed himself for me. Because I was weak. Being hurt after these fights like he had been with the Horror swarm, with Rob, never felt good, but the burden of carrying someone who bore those wounds because of you, instead of you, that was worse. That was a pain Danny quietly vowed he would never feel again. That solemn promise, that singular purpose kept Danny’s legs pumping through the fatigue and his arms holding strong despite the numbness. I will never let this happen again.