The Lycans emerged from the shadows into the moonlight, their silver fur gleaming like polished steel. In an instant, every ogre in the clearing jolted awake, terror seizing their hearts like icy claws. They scrambled backward, pressing themselves against the rough bark of ancient trees, their eyes wide with primal fear. During their time under Grimjaw and Venna's tutelage, they had been taken on supervised hunting expeditions, but never against beasts so far beyond their capabilities. The memory of those safer hunts felt like a distant dream now.
All the ogres in the forest, save for a brave few, trembled at what stood before them. Sera turned to his companions, his jaw set with grim determination, and gave a subtle nod. His group had weathered countless storms together, and though their hearts hammered against their ribs, they held faith in Sera's ability to find a path through impossible odds.
Grimbold's acknowledgment came with a thunderous rumble as the earth itself seemed to obey his will. Seven massive boulders tore themselves from the ground, soil cascading from their surfaces like waterfalls of dirt. The sight was both magnificent and terrifying—twenty-eight ogres stood ready to face five lycans, a task that should have been manageable unless these creatures were something more monstrous than anticipated.
The first boulder launched through the air like a catapult's payload, whistling toward the lead lycan. The beast regarded the projectile with almost casual disdain, its razor-sharp claws slicing through solid stone as if it were mere parchment. Rock fragments exploded in all directions, yet the ogres' resolve never wavered.
Grimbold hurled boulder after boulder, each one meeting the same fate—shredded by claws that gleamed like silver daggers in the moonlight. But as the lycan continued its relentless destruction, confusion flickered across its predatory features. Where once stood four ogres, now one figures stood. Grimbold's strategy unfolded like a master chess move—the decoy had served its purpose, allowing the others to assume their positions.
Hidden among the cluster of trembling ogres, Nokka raised her obsidian dagger toward the beast. Her voice cut through the night air like a blade through silk as she chanted, "Morketh Neth Vulkan!" Dark mist poured from her weapon like smoke from a funeral pyre, snaking through the air with malevolent purpose. The shadows invaded the lycan's body, seeping into its very essence until its eyes clouded over with impenetrable darkness. The creature had been rendered blind—the signal for their next move.
Sera, who had been crouched behind the gnarled trunk of an oak tree, activated his Mirage Blitz. His form blurred as he appeared beside the disoriented lycan, his fist drawn back to deliver a killing blow to the creature's skull.
But death came seeking him instead. A massive claw descended upon his fist with bone-crushing force. Blood erupted like a crimson fountain, painting the forest floor in vivid scarlet. The lycan wasn't finished—its massive head swung down, jaws snapping toward Sera's throat. Only his Apex Instinct saved him as he threw himself backward, landing hard beside Grimbold.
"Ahhh!" Sera's cry of agony pierced the night. The lycan's claws had been coated with venom that burned through his veins like liquid fire. "Gia, he needs help!" Grimbold's desperate call sent both Gia and Nokka rushing toward their fallen leader.
"Sera, are you okay?" Gia's voice trembled as tears welled in her eyes. Her hands glowed with healing magic as she chanted, "Thenlum Vorlash Mes." Golden light enveloped Sera's wounds, washing away the poison and torn flesh until his arm appeared untouched by violence. Sera managed a grateful smile for both Nokka and Gia before turning his attention back to Grimbold.
"This beast possesses heightened senses beyond our experience. We cannot win unless we unite our strength." As Sera spoke these words, his gaze found Ragna, who had been studying him intently since the failed attack. Ragna wondered if he could have escaped death in such circumstances, marveling at the display of skill and survival instinct Sera had demonstrated. With newfound resolve, Ragna gave Sera a decisive nod and approached the group.
"What can I do, young master?" Ragna's voice carried newfound respect. Sera's face broke into a wide grin as he extended his hand. Ragna grasped it firmly, their alliance sealed with that simple gesture. Of the twenty-eight ogres scattered throughout the forest, these five would determine whether they all lived to see another dawn.
Their huddle broke as their strategy crystallized. Recognizing that a lycan's strength rivaled that of an oni, they designated Ragna as their shield. Several ogres with support abilities layered him with defensive enchantments and bleeding resistance. Since the lycan now relied on its other senses due to blindness, stealth was no longer an option—they would overwhelm the beast with everything they possessed.
Ragna stepped forward, his transformation into oni form rippling across his massive frame like waves of raw power. With a fierce grin splitting his features, he charged the lycan, his heavy fists cutting through the air. Like Sera before him, the beast's claws met his attack, but unlike his leader, Ragna's iron-hard oni skin deflected the razor-sharp talons. Shock registered on his face—he had underestimated his own capabilities ever since his defeat by Sera.
The lycan, equally surprised by this development, unleashed a flurry of attacks. Ragna danced between the strikes—jumping, spinning, stepping backward—each movement taking him closer to his limits. Sweat beaded on his brow as exhaustion began to claim him.
Grimbold seized the moment, hurling two massive boulders at the lycan before diving through the earth like a swimmer through water. He surfaced directly in front of Ragna and drove his feet deep into the ground, triggering an explosive eruption of earth and stone that created the perfect diversion.
Every movement had led to this crucial moment. Sera, now wreathed in golden flames that danced around him like living spirits, activated his Mirage Blitz. He materialized before the lycan, his skills layered upon one another in deadly combination. His katana's obsidian blade burned crimson in the firelight as flames exploded around his form. The lycan found itself overwhelmed as Sera's voice rang out like death's own proclamation:
"Starpiercer!"
Sera's airborne form drove the blade deep into the creature's skull. Steam hissed from the wound as the lycan's death cry echoed through the forest before its massive body crashed to the ground, carrying Sera with it. The watching ogres erupted in celebration—they had witnessed what seemed impossible.
But their triumph was short-lived. As Sera's companions, including Ragna, rushed to help him to his feet, four more growls rumbled from the darkness beyond the trees. Four additional lycans emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing like hellish embers.
Without hesitation, Sera's voice boomed across the clearing: "RUN!"
Every ogre in the area exploded into motion, sprinting in the same direction as terror gave wings to their feet. Sera's group was no exception to this desperate flight. Despite his near-complete exhaustion, Sera forced his legs to carry him forward, his eyes fixed on Gia and Nokka's retreating forms while Grimbold ran beside him. The forest's most fundamental law now governed their fate: only the fittest would survive this night.