Two of the four were large, bulky, and with a sword and a shield. Scars littered their heads like a messy drawing, leaving their faces disfigured and oddly shaped. The third was a spear-bearer, and though he was thin, his height and long arms gave him extra range. All of them were Wolves.

The fourth was a familiar swordsman with a bow strapped to his shoulder. A quiver with half a dozen arrows was loaded. It was Shon, the fire swordsman. He did not wear his black leather armor nor wielded his magical sword. Instead, he wore a white quilted jacket and had a plain, though finely made sword scabbard on his side.

“We’re supposed to believe you?” Moon said in a mocking tone, “With that bow strapped to your back? And without you being branded? Who the fuck ar-“

“Quiet!” the Lan hissed. “Ignoring his tone, the idiot does bring a good point. How can we trust you? Where did you come from?”

“You have no alternative,” Shon said, shrugging. “Be glad that you’re not worth the points as we recover our resources from the last fools.” He pointed at the corpses around him, as if the smell didn’t draw enough attention. “If you want to inconvenience us by running into your deaths, then go ahead. Be my guest. You’ll save me the STM of coming to get you.”

“Like hell we’ll-” Moon began, but was stifled with an elbow to the left by Lan.

Both Cijo and Gale were missing. Even with his injury, though, Nilbog trusted Cijo to survive one way or another.

“Fine,” the Lan said. He held his spear in one hand while the other grabbed Moon by the back of his shirt, dragging him along as they went towards a different direction.

From what Nilbog already knew about the Lan, retreating was what he would have done regardless. It seemed he wanted to put on face.

“Hold it,” Sai said, folding his arms. He tapped his foot against the ground as he shook his head.

“What is it?” the Lan replied, tensing.

“Won’t you take the sneak hiding behind the tree roots?” Sai said, looking in Nilbog’s direction.

Sentient Killer Activated.

The difference in Danger Ranks has increased Sentient Killer’s effects by 25%.

Nilbog’s legs and arms pushed up in a panic, but his upper body remained attached to the ground. Panic almost gave him a heart attack before he glanced around to find Iris standing behind him with one knee pressed against his shoulders and a hand against his mouth. Her face turned red as she muffled her giggles.

Iris The Furious: Wolf

She had a dagger against Nilbog’s neck, freezing him in place. It was an uncomfortably familiar series of events. “Quite,” she said, chuckling. “Let’s make a fool of the idiot.”

Well, when she put it that way…

“Nice try, but both of them have died,” he said, laughing as he walked away. They didn’t turn back as they walked out of the area.

Shon stood awkwardly, his mouth agape. He balled his hands into fists and shook them at Nilbog’s direction. “Iris! That was the cue to bring him out!” he yelled, his face red.

“Serves you right! Acting so haughty!” she said, finally letting the laughter explode. He felt it quiver through her body.

Nilbog couldn’t do anything. His arms could not reach around to knock her off, nor did he have the strength to even bulge. The best he could do was not provoke her.

“Fine. Do what you will with the kid and come along,” he said, stopping once he saw Nilbog. “On second thought, I’ll take care of this. You go ahead.”

Iris tilted her head. “Why?” she said, looking from Nilbog to Shon. “Do you know him?”

Nilbog flinched. Even the panic and dread he was feeling stopped to comprehend what he just heard. I mean, really? He didn’t expect her to remember his name, but was he not even worth a pause from her? Maybe a hey this individual looks familiar at the very least?

“Don’t worry about it, dear Iris. Time is ticking, points are running.”

“Alrighty,” she said, shrugging. She jumped over Nilbog and joined the rest of her teammates. They walked away, leaving Nilbog and Sai behind.

“How were you going to do it?” He asked, rubbing his hand. His voice lacked the humor he used with Iris. Each syllable was uttered slowly and with purpose. He didn’t have the same emotional tone he had when he was about to burn Nilbog’s face off at the café. He was enraged but in a silent, calculated way.

That did not bode well for Nilbog. Nilbog’s was already weaker than Shon at the café, but now he was a Danger Rank higher. Strength, Agility, Armor, Soul. He was outclassed in all of them. Was there anything he had?

If not me then… Nilbog’s eyes surveyed the area around them, looking for the Sloth Ents. Using their chaos was the only way out of this. He needed to get there once Shon lets his guard down.

“Lady Olivia told me,” he said, walking towards him. “That I was seconds from losing my arm.” He unsheathed his sword, the flames from his hand immediately coating it. A blue shell covered the rest of his body. “For all her faults, Lady Olivia does not lie. I misjudged you for a weakling, and thus I became the fool. I concede the loss then, and I now challenge you to regain my pride.”

“How would I, a Cub then and a Cub now, be capable of cutting your arm?” Nilbog instantly replied. Lady Olivia didn’t order Shon—she manipulated him to get rid of Nilbog. That gave Nilbog the chance of doing the same. “If Lady Olivia is known for not lying, then she only told you a part of the truth –you would have truly lost his arm, as in Lady Olivia herself would have cut it off had you not let go of me.”

“One—That’s a possibility, but the possibility that she told the full truth also remains. Two, regardless of one, I will inflict punishment upon you for daring to disrespect me.” He walked forward, using a 3rd Rank Kinetic Shield. Blue mana spread across his body. It behind a blue tint as he moved.

“Ugh, over-sensitive much?” Nilbog said casually with a roll of his eyes, though beneath the facade he was despondent. Things just kept getting worse. Fighting was near impossible now. He couldn’t block the flames, couldn’t dodge his precise attacks, and had only a single telegraphed attack that could penetrate his Shield. Shon wasn’t blind like The Defier—the red aura covering his weapons was an obvious sign.

Nilbog rummaged his head for solutions. The only thing that came out was that Shon used the word punishment, not kill. He might just beat Nilbog to a pulp, burn him here and there, and maybe take a single limb. It wasn’t the best news, but it was something. Dying wouldn’t end him completely, but with Kara The Defier likely waiting at the end of the Dungeon’s gates, and with no points to buy All Or Nothing Defense, he would be pretty much at her mercy.

And that... thing is not something Nilbog wanted to be at the mercy of.

Shon sprinted at him with a fast but controlled speed—it wasn’t a reckless charge as Nilbog hoped. He could change directions without a pause.

Sentient Killer activated. It’s fifty-fifty, then, Nilbog realized as Shon came close to striking range. His daggers lit up in red aura as he prepared Lethal Strike. The Agile Hunter Enhancer activated alongside it, adding 25% Strength and Agility to the attack. He took a deep breath, focused in, and charged forward to meet Shon head on. Shon’s eyes widened but did not stop.

At the last step, just the sword began to swing down, Nilbog dashed towards Shon’s side, swinging his dagger to the left as he did so.

With Lethal Strike’s increased effects Nilbog’s attack connected. It struck the side of Shon’s sword, causing flames to fly on the other side. The sword itself flew out of Shon’s hands, which was beyond what Nilbog was hoping for.

Lethal Strike coated both of his weapons for a single attack—that meant each dagger was its own Lethal Strike. That’s what Nilbog hoped for, at least, and his gamble ended up paying off. His other dagger retained its red hue. With Lethal Strike still active, Nilbog went for the head.

You have taken 24 damage blunt Damage!

You have taken 12 Fire Damage!

You have taken internal damage!

Your Shapeshifter trait has negated internal damage.

You have resisted a stun status effect.

When Shon’s fist connected with his stomach. As Nilog bent over as Shon’s fist drove itself to his spine, Nilbog realized what happened. He didn’t knock the sword out of Shon’s hands—Shon let go of it. His punch sent Nilbog scraping back against the ground with a mouthful of blood falling behind him. Mid tumble Nilbog found his feet just in time to see Shon sprinting at him. He swung as his sword flew into his hands.

Nilbog scrambled down, letting the wave of flames streak above him, then rolled to the side as Shon’s sword plunged itself into the ground. Nilbog kept rolling, escaping Shon’s sword as it scraped against the ground in its chase, but could not avoid the flames that extended from it. He took 8 fire damage before he rolled some more, stuffing out the flames. He got to his feet before Shon was able to charge him again.

Shon stood in his spot, staring at him with frowned brows. It gave Nilbog enough seconds to gasp for a few breaths. “Why are you not using Life Force?”

Nilbog’s insides were mashed up. His Shapeshifter’s trait prevented internal damage but it didn’t take away the pain. His short-range meant he had to go in, not out. Without Lethal Strike active he had to prepare for his daggers to bounce instead of entering. The eyes or neck were his only options.

“You’re no mage,” he said, dragging his sword against the ground as he walked towards Nilbog. Flames spread behind him. “Are you mocking me?”

Nilbog thought about running again, but didn’t see it working out. His opponent was a mage—Shon wanted distance, not Nilbog.

“Whatever it is,” he said, pointing his free hand at Nilbog. “Use it before you die. 2rd rank Fire Bolt”

The moment he saw flames gather at Shon’s palms Nilbog sprinted to the side, making himself a harder target. Running straight at him was suicide. At least this angle made it more difficult.

Shon pointed down at the last moment. Nilbog changed direction too late—the bolt struck the ground below him before he could react in time. The explosion took him off his feet, sending him sprawling forward half aflame.

You have taken 12 fire damage!

You have taken 6 fire damage!

You have taken 5 fire damage!

You have taken 3 fire damage!

The pain blocked out everything. The lower half of his body got cooked in a few seconds. Nilbog rolled on the ground, trying to put the fire out. The glass leaves that pricked him were an after-thought. He didn’t even notice Shon’s footsteps until his foot connected with Nilbog’s chest. It threw him sprawling across the ground again.

Nilbog stood up, then fell straight down as Shon’s fist connected with the side of his face. He crawled away, spat a few teeth, and stood up again. His daggers were missing, so he just brought his hands up.

“Show it. Why won’t you show it!” he yelled, tossing his sword aside. He sprinted at Nilbog with his fists. When he swung Nilbog ducked and stepped forward, punching Shon for 4 shield damage and bruising his fists. In return Shon’s elbow struck the top of Nilbog’s head, taking 7 damage. Nilbog resisted the stun effect and punched Shon’s groin for 5 more shield damage, broke his own fingers and took 3 damage from the impact.

Shon took a clump of Nilbog’s hair in his grasps and lifted him off his feet. Nilbog threw punch after punch at Shon’s face, who just stared back unblinkingly. He waited until Nilbog’s STM ran out.

“Is that it?” he said with horror. “This punching bag is what was about to harm me? Me?”

“Told you, idiot,” Nilbog said, spitting a tooth and a mouthful of blood at him, but he dodged that one. Shon tossed Nilbog back and grasped his face. He smashed it against the ground, landing on top of Nilbog. Flames began to creep down his arm towards his hand. “Do it. Do whatever you were about to do. My honor demands it!”

Nilbog clawed at Shon’s arm as it squeezed his face, the flames nearing slowly.

“I will burn you, I swear it,” he said, tightening his grasp.

When the flames reached his wrists, Nilbog let his hands drop beside him. He focused every part of himself to do precisely the opposite of what Shon wanted, whatever it was. The pain swallowing his entire body pushed him but Nilbog just stared back at Shon. He wasn’t going to make a squeak.

“DO IT!” he screamed as his entire body turning aflame.

Nilbog bit him. Whatever was left of his teeth grinded against the flames and the solid shield covering Shon’s hand. Nilbog glared back, not breaking contact.

It froze Shon. Nilbog felt him shake as the flames that covered him began to disperse. It left him drained and with a shallow breath. “I hate this. All of you freaks have a special power but none of you know how to use it. Not Iris, not filthy you dog, not even Don. Why? Why won’t you?”

“Jealous?” Nilbog said, smiling. “Lady Olivia…was right, you are a chi—” Shon released his grasps as his other fist crashed into Nilbog’s nose, flattening it against his face. It knocked his vision and began to take at his consciousness. He couldn’t see Shon stand up, but he did hear him pick up his sword and the sound of his footsteps going away.

“C-Child,” Nilbog croaked, moments before a kick finally turned the lights off.