Chapter 7

Cries of fear and despair from a young girl, a mother calling in plea, begging for someone to rescue them, siblings coddled together, thinking they were safe if they held on to each other.

Havoc had taken over the entire caravan.

Merchants continued to vex the guards to help them secure their cargo, while some men took it upon themselves to fight, as they had families to protect.

Those who had nothing to lose were lucky enough to escape on their own, running as their life depended on it.

Of course, this was what the monsters were aiming for: divide and conquer, a basic instinctive tactic of animals who hunt in groups to catch prey.

But through all this state of disorder and confusion, there was one person who remained stagnant, standing steadily like a sentry on the lookout.

As dangerous as it was, this has been Clifford's normal defense mechanism.

By removing himself out of the picture, he got a good grasp of the situation from a different perspective.

With no emotional attachment to the outside world, he can sort things out in order, piecing it together from a logical point of view.

This unusual method stuck to him, becoming a means of escape from all the nagging and berating of his bosses before. It became so repetitive in his life that he'd develop an involuntary reaction whenever a stressing matter arises.

Yet this only happens when more people are involved, as he needed to consider those affected.

The sounds of horses galloping, whinnying as they run off to escape, jaws and claws tearing up animal flesh. Women and children screaming aloud. All of this got drowned out for a moment, as Clifford took every single detail of the situation.

"Life points is at fifty thousand. Base attack is around three hundred. If we take into consideration its other stats, we can increase the survivability rate of everyone."

These were a few of the things he'd been murmuring for the past few minutes, as he already had an experience with the beasts before.

Also, he now had a clear view of the enemy's information, along with his allies, as he pulled out several boxes all at once.

One minute, this was the time wasted throughout his pondering. A flaw and skill he develop through all those years of working under pressure.

Though he looked like he'd become stupefied, in his mind he was already thinking of numerous things to make up for the mistake or produce a good excuse.

On this occasion, there was but one option which kept popping into his mind.

"Oh please god, somebody save us!"

A woman's cry for help became the signal to act.

As the soldiers continued to scuffle, trying to fend off the other beasts who appeared, few had the sense to take notice of the poor mother and child at the mercy of the alpha.

As the young girl hugged her parent, whimpering at their demise, all the elder could do was cover her child's eyes, as the dire wolf approach them with a single step.

Saliva dripping, the beast licked its snout, letting out a wide grin while looking down at its next meal.

As it opened its jaws filled with sharp teeth, time slowed down for the individuals who were in the way of its mouth.

With one fell swoop, the monster took a munch, gobbling up everything, including the dirt in which his prey stood.

The shriek of a deep, harrowing agony and shock rippled through the chaos, causing both soldiers and monsters into a halt.

"Sir Clifford!"

Arty scream aloud, gaping at the sight of the man inside the beast's mouth.

It happened so fast that he barely saw anything up to that point.

Both the mother and her child remained safe, pushed back at the last minute before those large fangs could touch them.

Everyone's attention shifted at the scene, as the guy struggled to grab hold on to the alpha's tonsils by use of a blade, hardly avoiding those sharp, enormous teeth wishing to take a chunk at him.

"A little assistance would be good!"

Clifford yelp.

Though he'd done a lot of thinking, the lack of time didn't help at all, considering he needed to step up in order to save the mother and child.

Also, this was the only thing he can come up with, calculating all the scenarios.

After comparing his life points and the beast, he had three times more. The only issue is he had no means of damage, which left him with no other choice but to rely on the kid and the soldiers there.

"I'll hit you!"

A terrifying chill crawled into Arty's backside at the idea of attacking, his insides twisting, brought by the claws of self doubt and guilt of harming someone.

His hands kept shaking uncontrollably, twitching every time he'd raise his staff. His voice seemed to have left him, as not a single sound came out whenever he would open his mouth.

"I'm basically built as a tank!"

A lie Clifford fabricated in the heat of the moment. Though part of it was true, he was already prepared to take in as much damage as possible in order to defeat the monster.

After having measured their difference, he was certain he'd have about a seventy-five percent chance of survival. That was if his hp stayed in half.

Yet that still didn't seem enough to persuade the lad, as the boy remained stunned, unable to move a muscle, becoming paler with each passing minute.

This did not bode well for him, having every bit of his strength drained from just holding on, since the wolf kept trying to gnaw at him.

The long, slimy tongue lashing and slithering throughout his body prove to be an entirely new experience. As it slid from his legs up to his torso, sending both odd and familiar sensations, creating conflicting thoughts.

"This is becoming awkward."

He groans, trembling from the jolt of delectable sensitivity creeping within.

Thankfully, the sting from the prickling fangs, twisting of his limbs, and the pungent clawing scent of rot and iron kept him composed and sane.

"Archers and mages, release!"

Malver's deep, earthly voice boomed through the darkness.

It was a blessing in disguise for Clifford that he can't help but thank the guy for his quick thinking. Together with the sound of his order, which put him at ease.

In seconds, a rain of different colored lights, followed by arrows, came raining down on them.

Eyes remaining on the beast's status bar, he groaned in frustration at seeing the attacks barely graze the alpha wolf.

It was enough to make the creature stop from chewing on him, yet it shifted to running amok, thrashing about in every direction in retaliation.

It began rolling and jumping about, destroying more carriages in its wake. The onlookers ended up scattering once more out of fear of being squished.

With the wolf's size and the multitude of individuals attacking all at once, evading was not much of an option.

This was a common tactic used in the games he played before, overpowering a hero type unit with sheer numbers.

Of course, this didn't seal a sure victory if the enemy's level was too high and the troops' damage was too low. So once again, their survival right now rests at the hands of the flabbergasted youth.

"Arty, snap out of it! We need you!"

Clifford shouts.

He can feel his arms giving in from hanging too long. Also, their allies' attack amounted to nothing. As his points were nearing the same as that of the alpha.

If this continued on, they'd end up in a pinch, with them becoming the losing side.

All he got was an empty and darkened look from the lad. As if he was staring straight into a lifeless statue with a gaping mouth.

It was not looking good for any of them, with the soldiers struggling to defend and fight. It was only a matter of time before things turn for the worst.

Once more, Clifford's mind went into another state of absolution, delving deep down into his subconscious.

But the sudden vibration from outside put him to a halt, disrupting his retraction from reality. Senses on alert, he caught the loud noises of cheers and shouts of glee from the men.

"Meteor strike!"

Bloodied and panting from the hit he'd receive a while ago, Jack still landed a solid kick, having directed his attack on the monster's back side.

He will not let the beast continue with its rampage, seeing the number of casualties and destruction it has done.

His bar remained in the yellow, so he was confident to fight, though his legs were becoming numb.

This was definitely no game, and it did not help that they got put into reserve this entire time, making their levels and experience lower than the others.

They were already behind their companions, and if it wasn't for this mission, he and Arty would have remained ignorant of the new world around them.

"Just a few more, and we win."

Though he kept whispering this to himself, his body and spirit weren't going along with it.

He could barely use one of his legs because his knees seem to have gotten locked, receiving a jolt of pain when he'd try to bend it.

A part of his arm was having difficulty moving because of having the sensation of a twisted vein being pulled whenever he does.

"Arty! Heal Jack, now!"

Clifford made sure his tone remained calm, In order to wake the lad up from the sudden daze. Though he put enough authority in it.

His plan is to induce him with fear, jolting him back to his senses, yet not cause another shock. Also, he needed to avoid leaving a poor impression later on.

From the looks of it, he was the only person who can do that there. None of the soldiers seemed brave enough to give an order, and their leader didn't have the slightest interest to include the youngsters in the fight.

And he was not expecting anything from the other kid, seeing how he was forcing everything on his shoulder to make up for the lacking of his partner.

This was causing him a headache, since he now had to take so many things into account. As the longer he stayed in that place, the more complications showed up.

With the soldiers giving all they've got, Jack pushing himself to his limits, and Clifford being stuck in the monster's mouth. All seems nearly hopeless, as they ended at a standstill.

Until a green glow started manifesting within the earth, sending a vibrant lifting sensation towards all of them there.

It didn't take long before all of them became energized, along with the civilians, who had become fatigue to the brink of collapse.

"Now's our chance! Give it all you've got!"

Jack's battle-cry gave everybody the boost they needed, revitalizing their lost morale. In minutes, everyone was giving it their all, throwing in the last remaining power each of them had.

Dust scattered upon the alpha's fall, shaking the earth as it writhe in pain. Its legs flinched the minute it fell, clawing at the air several times.

The soldiers were quick to back away, as the beast let out a deafening howl before its head laid flat on the ground. Tongue sliding out of its mouth as its eyes began turning white upon losing the remaining bar on its life points.

Cheers of glee and relief cut through the darkness of the night, sending ripples of joy and hope among the others. As the once proud monster now lay unmoving, having taken its last breath.

"We did it!"

Jack throws a punch into the air, running straight for his friend, who remained kneeling. He immediately gave him a tight hug, lifting him up before jumping around in celebration.

"We actually made it."

Arty, though sobbing and filled with tears, now had this smile on his face, letting out chuckles. Unable to control the mix of happiness and anxiety still lingering within his heart.

"Come on! We still need to get mister Clifford out of that monster's mouth."

Jack gives his friend a good tap, encouraging him to move since he can hear the man letting out muffled shouts inside the beats.

None of them could make out what the guy was trying to say, but they deduced it was because of being stuck in there.

After wiping his tears and taking in a deep breath, Arty throws a quick nod, putting on a heartfelt smile as they made their way to the giant carcass.

Both ended up stopping upon sensing an eery energy emanating from the thing, along with the sudden change in the corpses' color.

The others remained unaware of this, still drunk in their triumph that they hardly notice the foreboding atmosphere until the last minute.

A gust of wind blasted from the monster, rippling into the surrounding, which cause everyone to become aware.

The floor on which it laid shattered as the alpha wolf began moving once more.

"What's happening?"

Jack hissed in frustration, seeing the glow in the eyes of the beast return as it stood up once more.

Its body was now consumed by a dark flame, dancing with each motion it made. All of them fell to the ground, stunned by the blast of energy released from its howl.

There was not a single person there who had enough strength to fight, having exhausted themselves during the last confrontation.

Again, they were at the mercy of the enemy. Vulnerable, all they could do was gape in sheer horror, as the dire wolf stood up in its full glory.

The black hell flame consumed the surrounding forest, enclosing them in a cage of pyre.

Eyes glowing red, the alpha released a glare which cause many of them to faint, leaving only Malver and the two youth conscious.

All three were barely awake, struggling to succumb to the immense weight of the suffocating aura the monster was releasing.

As all seemed lost, with nobody having any strength left to fight. But then the dire wolf's head falls, separating from its body, blood gushing out of the severed neck, rendering them all in a state of shock.

None of them saw what happened, nor can they explain the sudden death of their enemy.

All they know was they were now safe from the danger, which prompted them to laugh out in confusion from being saved for a second time.