Chapter 5 Hunted

Kael's POV

The beast growled again.

The sound vibrated through the cave.

I stumbled backward instinctively, my breathing turning uneven as the giant wolf stepped further into the firelight.

Its black fur glistened with blood while smoke curled around its massive body. The creature looked larger than a horse, its claws scraping against stone as glowing crimson eyes fixed onto me.

The system screen still hovered before my face.

[Predator Detected]

[Threat Level: High]

[Survival Probability: 3%]

Three percent?!

My throat tightened.

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

I muttered weakly. The wolf tilted its head slightly. Then it sniffed the air. Its gaze dropped toward the dead mercenary beside me Toward the blood covering me.

My pulse spiked violently.

The smell. That was what attracted it.

The beast took a slow step forward.

It looked completely certain that I couldn’t escape. A horrible memory surfaced suddenly. The subway. The helplessness.

My chest tightened painfully.

No. Not again.

I clenched the broken spear tighter.

“I’m not dying here.”

The wolf lunged. I threw myself sideways barely in time as massive claws smashed into the ground where I had stood seconds earlier.

Stone exploded apart. My eyes widened.

That thing would have torn me in half.

I scrambled to my feet immediately and ran deeper into the tunnels while the beast’s roar echoed behind me.

Heavy footsteps thundered after me instantly. I sprinted through smoke-filled tunnels, my lungs burning painfully.

The wolf was gaining. Fast.

Its claws scraped against stone only a few feet behind me.

Running blindly wouldn’t work. That thing was faster.

If I kept fleeing like prey… I’d die like prey.

I turned sharply into a narrow tunnel just as the wolf snapped its jaws behind me.

Hot breath brushed against my back.

I nearly screamed.

The tunnel became tighter ahead, forcing me to squeeze through jagged rocks while the wolf slammed violently into the walls trying to follow. It was a small advantage.

The beast snarled furiously before backing away slightly. Then its claws smashed through the stone instead.

CRACK!

Rock fragments burst toward me.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

I dove away as another strike shattered part of the tunnel. Dust filled the air instantly.

The wolf pushed through the broken stone with terrifying force. My heartbeat pounded harder. Monsters weren’t supposed to be this intelligent.

Or maybe… Maybe I was still underestimating this world.

I sprinted again, turning into another tunnel while trying to steady my breathing.

The earlier fight with the mercenary had drained what little strength I had left.

And the hunger… It was getting worse.

The dead mercenary’s blood scent lingered in my nose like temptation. I shoved the thought away violently.

Focus. Survive first. Lose your mind later.

Another deafening roar echoed behind me.

I glanced back briefly and noticed something strange. The wolf limped slightly.

Its rear leg dragged awkwardly for half a second before correcting itself. My eyes narrowed.

Injured?

I nearly missed it because the creature moved so aggressively. But now that I looked carefully… Yes.

There was an old wound near its hind leg.

Not fresh. Partially healed.

The realization slowed my panic slightly.

The tunnel ahead suddenly split into two paths. I stopped for half a second. Left smelled damp. Right smelled like smoke.

The wolf’s footsteps thundered closer.

I rushed toward the left tunnel immediately.

Cold air hit my face.

Water.

An underground stream appeared ahead, cutting through the tunnel floor.

Without hesitation, I jumped inside.

The freezing water nearly stole my breath as the current dragged me forward violently. I slammed against rocks repeatedly while fighting to stay above the surface.

Behind me, the wolf reached the stream.

It growled angrily.

I forced myself deeper into the freezing water while the current carried me through darkness.

For several seconds, I heard nothing except rushing water and my own breathing. Then silence.

Did I escaped?

Hope flickered briefly inside me. A loud splash echoed behind me. My face drained of color. The wolf jumped in after me.

“You stubborn bastard!”

The beast swam through the water terrifyingly fast despite its size.

I clawed desperately toward the riverbank ahead and dragged myself onto wet stone just as snapping jaws missed my leg by inches.

I rolled away instantly. The wolf climbed onto the bank after me, water dripping from its fur.

Its crimson eyes looked even more furious now. Why was it so obsessed with killing me?

The answer came quickly. Blood.

The mercenary’s blood still covered me.

To the wolf, I probably smelled like food wrapped in meat sauce.

Fantastic.

I backed away slowly while scanning the tunnel desperately. Then I noticed cracks.

Large ones.

The cave ceiling above this section looked unstable. Pieces of rock hung dangerously overhead. An idea formed immediately.

Risky. But better than waiting to die.

The wolf lowered itself slightly before charging again.

I ran directly beneath the cracked ceiling.

The beast followed.

At the last second, I grabbed a loose stone from the ground and hurled it toward one of the larger cracks.

CRACK!

The ceiling trembled. The wolf lunged toward me. I dove aside. Then the tunnel collapsed.

BOOOOM!!

Massive rocks crashed downward between us. Dust exploded everywhere.

The wolf roared violently beneath the rubble while stones slammed into its body.

I stared in disbelief.

Did that actually work?

The cave rumbled dangerously around me as dust filled the air. For several seconds, nothing moved. Then silence returned.

I slowly backed away, breathing heavily.

Relief washed through my body so suddenly my legs nearly gave out.

“It’s dead…”

A low growl interrupted me. My stomach dropped. A massive claw burst through the rubble.

The wolf dragged itself out slowly, blood running down its head and shoulder. But now I saw it clearly. Its rear leg was badly injured. Not just wounded. Broken.

The beast glared at me with pure fury.

And suddenly… I realized something terrifying. It wasn’t hunting me for food anymore. Now it wanted revenge.

The wolf roared and charged again.

I cursed and ran deeper into the tunnels once more.

Suddenly, wind brushed against my face faintly.

An exit?

Hope surged briefly. I sprinted faster toward the opening ahead.

Then froze. It wasn’t an exit. It was a cliff.

A massive underground drop stretched before me, disappearing into darkness below. Far beneath, I heard rushing water echoing endlessly.

My breathing turned ragged. Behind me, the wolf’s footsteps slowed.

I turned slowly.

The beast emerged from the shadows bleeding heavily, its broken leg dragging across stone. But despite the injuries…

it still looked terrifying.

The wolf growled deeply while blocking the only path backward. My fingers tightened around the broken spear.

The creature lowered its body slightly.

Preparing to pounce. I glanced behind me at the endless drop. Then back at the monster. No escape.

My heart pounded violently inside my chest

. But strangely… the fear felt different now. Less helpless. More furious.

I stared directly into the wolf’s glowing eyes and slowly raised the spear.

“Fine,” I muttered hoarsely.

“If I’m dying anyway…”

The beast snarled.

Then charged straight at me.