Chapter 37 – Hunting Or Being Hunted?

Maximus ran, keeping his speed fast enough not to lose track of the wolf, but controlled enough so the others could follow without losing sight of him.

Quest Created: Resolve the crisis.

Kill the mad beast and end its suffering.

Rewards: 4 Talent Points + 1 Extra Level

Or

Tame the mad beast and help it regain reason. Only when the beast acknowledges you as the pack leader will the quest be deemed finished.

Rewards: Class Trait Unlocked + 2 Extra Levels

After twenty or so minutes, the wolf suddenly stopped and turned, firing a cone-shaped attack that released shards of crystallized blood.

Maximus shifted course, darting to the left before lunging forward and sprinting at full speed toward the wolf, then leaping at it, his claws glowing crimson as he slashed down.

The wolf growled and jumped backward, leaving behind a small red crystal where it had stood. It detonated just as Maximus struck, blasting him backward with a painful snarl.

Maximus shifted back into his human form and summoned his staff before casting Entangle.

Thick roots burst from the ground beneath the wolf, grasping and twisting toward it, but the beast leapt high into the air, avoiding the trap before swiping downward with its claws, sending arcs of crimson energy that shredded the roots into splinters.

As it landed, it lunged straight at Maximus, who used Gale Step to dodge, twisting aside while unleashing Nature’s Wrath into its flank. The attack burned even more strongly with Embi floating just behind him, amplifying the spell.

The emerald beam of green flames collided with the wolf, sending it crashing dozens of meters away as the explosion forced it to spit blood and carve a trench into the ground with its body, snarling in fury.

As the attack landed, Felix, Oscar, and Maria finally arrived, gasping for breath but preparing to fight without hesitation.

“Good job, crazy boy!” Maria called with a nod as she charged forward, Felix rushing beside her.

She unleashed cross-shaped arcs of light that tore toward the dazed wolf, while Felix followed up with a barrage of freezing icicles, layering ice on impact.

Oscar grabbed Maximus, who looked paler than usual. “Bloody hell, mate, are you sound?”

“I’m good… just slightly spent. Let us end this,” Maximus replied, his voice steady despite the strain as he shifted his legs back into their lupine form and lunged forward again.

Oscar nodded once and followed without hesitation.

***

Seeing that he was outnumbered, the King turned to flee, only to be slowed down by Maria and Felix with a relentless rain of attacks. Seeing that he couldn’t escape, his eyes shone a deeper bloody red as he turned and lunged.

Attacks shattered against his fur, drawing blood as they struck, but he powered through, snapping at Felix and grabbing onto his ice-covered arm. He lifted him overhead before slamming him violently into the ground.

Then he turned almost instantly to Maria and slashed with his claws. She crossed her blades in defense, but the wolf was stronger. The force of the strike tore the weapons from her hands and sent her flying back into Maximus, her cuirass caved in, her chest dripping with blood.

Maximus frowned and cast Focused Treatment on her wound before summoning Static Vines, lashing out at the blood-soaked wolf just as it prepared to bite down on Felix once more.

“No chance, you muppet!” Oscar roared as he hurled his burning spear, striking the wolf square in the chest and igniting its fur just as three Wind Spears descended one after another, caving in the beast’s chest and driving the spear even deeper.

Oscar dashed forward, grabbed his weapon, and ripped it free in a spray of blood before helping Felix retreat to safety.

Maximus, seeing that his spirit needed time to recover, swallowed a couple of Cinder Seeds before drawing his now-burning blade, enhanced with Embi’s power, and charging at the battered wolf, which could barely remain standing.

“Give up already! What is driving you to go to these lengths? You already devoured everything alive in this area!” Maximus shouted as he leapt onto the beast’s back and drove his blade down. It barely pierced through the thick fur before the wolf shook violently, throwing him back to the ground.

Maximus landed on his feet, staring into the blood-filled eyes of the beast that, somehow, still stood firm, staring him down. “Just give up. Maybe I can help you cure this madness that’s consuming you… If you join me, I might be able to save you.” Maximus tried to reason with it, hoping to tame the creature. Seeing the wolf’s power, he wanted it for himself.

But just as the wolf prepared to lunge again, a rain of transparent daggers fell over both Maximus and the beast, forcing them to the ground. Luckily, strengthened Barkskin held, mitigating most of the damage inflicted on Maximus.

The wolf remained lying, unmoving, while Maximus staggered back to his feet, only to see four humans standing further behind, their weapons raised at Felix, Oscar, and Maria, who had somehow recovered enough to stand again.

“Look at you, cousin, trying to reason with the beast. Though you were always a weirdo with that damn violent ginger cat of yours.” Toby mocked as he approached slowly, his hands resting casually in his pockets.

“What are you doing? Don’t you know what will happen to you for attacking fellow participants?!” Maria shouted.

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“Oh, shut up, bitch. Spare me the drama,” Amy spat as she lowered her cowl. “Did you miss me, Red?” She added with a mocking wink.

Maximus frowned as he recognized the woman. This is what happens when you leave your enemies alive, he muttered inwardly. “I guess the big fellow is the other scum?” Maximus asked coldly as he walked over, handing Maria a potion. “Drink,” he whispered.

Brock lowered his cowl and stabbed his falchion into the ground. “You cost me an eye. I’ll take both of yours!” He growled.

“Did you kill my men?!” Andre suddenly spoke up, revealing a shadowy figure.

“Oh, it’s you. Small world,” Maximus replied coldly.

“I see… You will pay for ruining my plans,” Andre growled.

“My, my… this is more like you, making enemies wherever you go,” Toby laughed.

“What do you want, cousin? I doubt things will go well for you if you try to kill me here,” Maximus bluffed, trying to recover as much spirit as he could. He focused most of his will on forcefully drawing in the ambient spirit, leaving only a sliver of his mind to handle the conversation.

The air slowly started to twist, to hum with faint, invisible pressure, as his dry seed swallowed spirit energy like mad.

“Don’t act as if you know what would happen,” Toby smirked. “But yes, for some reason, I’m not allowed to act personally.” His expression darkened into a resentful frown.

“Why do you hate me, cousin? We are of the same blood,” Maximus said, his tone turning almost pleading, trying to buy time.