The inside of the storage building was dark.

  Dusty shelves lined the walls. Old cardboard boxes and broken plastic crates were scattered across the floor. The pale morning light filtering through the windows barely illuminated the room.

  The sounds coming from outside made the tension even worse.

  THUD

  SCRR

  SHRAAK

  The scraping of Crawlers and the strikes of claws echoed through the street.

  Every now and then, a deep growl could be heard.

  The Werewolf.

  Lucas leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath.

  “Please tell me…” he said,

  “…we’re not actually planning to fight a werewolf right now.”

  Ethan rested his axe on his shoulder.

  “Personally, I don’t see another option.”

  Kaelion remained silent.

  Aria stood by the window.

  Her body leaned slightly forward as she watched outside through the gap in the curtains.

  Her knife was still ready in her hand.

  A sharp screech echoed outside.

  Another Crawler had been torn apart.

  Lucas slowly shook his head.

  “That thing is absolutely destroying them.”

  Aria spoke without taking her eyes off the street.

  “Too fast.”

  Ethan frowned.

  “How many are left?”

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  Aria watched for a few seconds.

  “Four… no… three.”

  Another growl echoed.

  SHRAAK

  Then a heavy impact.

  THUD

  Aria spoke again.

  “Two.”

  Lucas sighed.

  “I’m not sure if that’s good news or bad news.”

  Kaelion finally spoke.

  “We have to fight.”

  Lucas immediately looked at him.

  “I want to say that’s a terrible plan, but…”

  He shrugged.

  “…you’re probably right.”

  Ethan nodded.

  “We can’t run.”

  “That thing could track us by scent.”

  Aria was still watching outside.

  Kaelion thought carefully.

  The Werewolf was strong.

  But it was alone.

  The Crawler swarm had slowed it down.

  If they attacked correctly…

  they might have a chance.

  Kaelion finally explained the plan.

  “Ethan.”

  Ethan looked up.

  “You’ll take the front.”

  Ethan smiled slightly.

  “That was already the plan.”

  Kaelion continued.

  “You’ll keep its attention.”

  Ethan lifted his axe.

  “I can do that.”

  Kaelion turned to Lucas.

  “You support Ethan.”

  Lucas raised an eyebrow.

  “Me?”

  “Yes.”

  Lucas tightened his grip on the pipe.

  “Alright… I’ll try.”

  Kaelion turned to Aria.

  “Aria.”

  Aria was still watching outside.

  “I’m listening.”

  “You’re fast.”

  Aria nodded slightly.

  “Attack from behind.”

  Her answer was simple.

  “Got it.”

  Lucas looked at Kaelion.

  “What about you?”

  Kaelion checked his knife.

  “I finish it.”

  Lucas paused for a moment.

  Then chuckled quietly.

  “Of course you do.”

  At that moment the sounds outside began to fade.

  The scraping noises stopped.

  For a moment, there was silence.

  Aria leaned closer to the window.

  She looked outside carefully.

  Then spoke slowly.

  “…It’s over.”

  Lucas straightened.

  “The Crawlers?”

  Aria nodded.

  “Yes.”

  Ethan stepped closer to the window.

  “The Werewolf?”

  Aria stayed silent for a few seconds.

  Then answered.

  “Still standing.”

  Lucas grimaced.

  “Not surprising.”

  Aria began describing what she saw.

  “It’s injured.”

  Kaelion listened carefully.

  “There’s a deep cut on its left shoulder.”

  Aria continued.

  “One of the Crawlers managed to slash its back.”

  Ethan smiled.

  “So it’s not invincible.”

  Aria nodded slightly.

  “But it still looks very strong.”

  Lucas slowly approached the window.

  Aria stepped aside.

  Lucas looked outside.

  The street had turned into a battlefield.

  Crawler corpses were scattered across the asphalt.

  Some of them were torn apart.

  Others had been split in half.

  Black blood stained the road.

  In the middle of the street stood the Werewolf.

  Its gray fur was soaked with blood.

  Its chest rose and fell heavily.

  But it was still standing tall.

  Lucas whispered slowly.

  “…That thing is terrifying.”

  The Werewolf lifted its head.

  It sniffed the air.

  Aria immediately spoke.

  “It’s looking for us.”

  Kaelion stepped toward the window.

  He observed the creature’s movements.

  It was injured.

  But still dangerous.

  Kaelion tightened his grip on his knife.

  “Get ready.”

  A system screen appeared in Kaelion’s vision.

  [Special Quest Triggered]

  Hunter’s Revenge

  Target: Werewolf

  Rank: E

  Objective:

  Kill the Werewolf

  Reward:

  300 EXP

  Skill Card

  Ethan raised his axe.

  Lucas tightened his grip on the pipe.

  Aria reversed her knife grip.

  Kaelion walked toward the door.

  Then he spoke quietly.

  “Now it’s our turn.”