Chapter 14 : Challenge of the Iron Wolf
787 Words
The Iron Wolf charged.
The sound of its claws scraping against the stone floor echoed throughout the dungeon.
BOOM.
Each step carried terrifying power.
Ethan immediately understood.
The goblins were only an introduction.
This was the real test.
A D-rank monster.
A creature far above his current rank.
The Iron Wolf opened its jaws and attacked.
Ethan moved at the last second.
The monster's fangs missed him by a few centimeters, but the wind pressure alone pushed him backward.
He landed on his feet, his expression serious.
"Fast..."
The wolf turned around instantly.
"No recovery time either."
The Iron Wolf was not like the goblins.
The goblins attacked with instinct.
This creature hunted.
It watched.
It calculated.
It waited for mistakes.
And Ethan knew one mistake could end everything.
The wolf charged again.
Ethan activated his ability.
[Energy Reinforcement.]
A familiar strength spread through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened.
He moved forward instead of retreating.
The dagger in his hand struck toward the wolf's side.
CLANG!
The attack landed against the metallic fur.
A spark appeared.
But the dagger barely penetrated.
Ethan's eyes widened.
"So that's why it's called an Iron Wolf."
The monster's body was like armor.
The wolf swung its tail.
Ethan barely blocked.
The impact sent him sliding across the ground.
His arms shook.
Even after his improvements...
The difference between E-rank and D-rank was still massive.
The battle became a struggle.
Ethan used everything he had.
His experience.
His training.
His understanding of movement.
But the Iron Wolf continued pushing him back.
The creature's strength was overwhelming.
Every attack forced him to react.
Every mistake brought him closer to defeat.
Minutes passed.
Ethan's breathing became heavier.
His clothes were damaged.
His body was exhausted.
The system appeared.
[Warning.]
[Host stamina decreasing.]
[Recommended action: Retreat.]
Ethan ignored it.
Retreat?
He had spent his entire life retreating.
Running from impossible challenges.
Accepting that he was weaker.
Not anymore.
"I didn't get this chance just to run."
The Iron Wolf attacked again.
This time Ethan did not dodge immediately.
He watched.
The movement.
The timing.
The pattern.
The wolf always lowered its head before charging.
A small opening.
A tiny weakness.
But it was enough.
Ethan waited.
The monster rushed forward.
At the final moment...
Ethan moved.
He stepped aside.
The Iron Wolf passed him.
Ethan turned.
Using all the strength remaining in his body, he struck.
The dagger found the only vulnerable point.
For a moment...
Everything stopped.
The Iron Wolf froze.
Blood sprayed down from the insured area.
Then its body collapsed.
Silence filled the dungeon.
Ethan stood there, frozen.
He couldn't believe it.
He had actually defeated a D-rank monster.
A notification appeared.
[D-Rank Monster Defeated.]
[Experience gained.]
[Level increased.]
[Congratulations, Host.]
[Level: 2]
A wave of energy spread through Ethan's body.
The exhaustion disappeared slightly.
His senses became sharper.
His body felt lighter.
He looked at the notification.
A small smile appeared.
"I leveled up..."
For years, his progress had been almost nonexistent.
Every improvement required endless effort.
But now...
Every battle could make him stronger.
Another notification appeared.
[Monster Resource Extraction Available.]
Ethan looked confused.
[The host can extract valuable resources from defeated monsters.]
[Extractable materials: Iron Wolf Core, Iron Fur, Monster Essence.]
[Resources can be sold through the System Shop.]
Ethan looked at the fallen monster.
"So I can collect materials?"
The system responded.
[Correct.]
[Higher ranked monsters contain more valuable resources.]
Ethan looked interested.
This could become another way for him to grow.
But before he could do anything...
A sound interrupted him.
Growl.
Ethan froze.
That wasn't the Iron Wolf.
The dead monster was already silent.
Slowly...
He turned his head.
From the darkness ahead...
Two glowing eyes appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Three more creatures stepped forward.
His expression changed.
More Iron Wolves.
[Monster Detected.]
[Iron Wolf.]
[Rank: D.]
[Quantity: 3]
Ethan stared.
One D-rank monster had nearly pushed him to his limit.
Now there were three.
The system displayed another message.
[Resource extraction temporarily unavailable during combat.]
Ethan sighed.
"So I don't even get time to collect the rewards."
The three wolves spread out.
They weren't attacking randomly.
They were surrounding him.
Ethan tightened his grip on his dagger.
His body was already tired.
But his eyes remained focused.
A few days ago...
He would have been terrified.
A few days ago...
He would have waited for someone stronger to save him.
But now?
He was alone.
And he had survived alone before.
The wolves lowered their bodies.
Ethan entered his stance.
"Fine."
A faint smile appeared.
"Come one at a time, or all together."
The dungeon shook as the three Iron Wolves charged.
And Ethan faced his first real battle of evolution.
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