"We'll reach him soon," Raya spoke, leading through the dense forest, "He's the weakest of the four generals, excluding Raeren, but he's still a general. His strength in particular is well known throughout our kind."
"Thanks for the heads up, but..." I trailed off, trying not to sound too cocky, "I'm not all that worried."
I was never a very cocky or arrogant type of person, but it was hard to not feel confident. I had beaten down Raeren like it was nothing, and I'd only grown stronger since then.
But, I shouldn't get too comfortable. This is still the world of Highschool DxD after all - a world where supernatural beings strong enough to kill with the snap of their fingers existed, and, more importantly, where magic was prevalent.
I doubted that this dire wolf, who was practically a starter mob, knew any crazy magic, but I should still be at least a little bit cautious. It wouldn't be good if I went in confidently and then had so crazy ass spell used on .
"This is where he and his subordinates live," Raya finally said, and the large forest trees suddenly beca filled with even more branches and leaves. A huge shadow appeared, darkening the ground under .
"A cave," I muttered, staring at the shadow-covered enclosure in front of .
A small amount of doubt crept into as I looked into the dark cave, the corner of my eye looked analytically at Raya.
I had been the one to suggest taking down the generals first, and that was only partially because they would be an obstacle in my conquest.
The other reason was to ensure Raya wasn't trying to lead into a trap - if I chose the objective, then I wouldn't be blindly following her.
Granted, I still had kinda been blindly following her. She could've led anywhere - I had no way of knowing if we were really heading towards a general. If she wanted to betray , this would be where she would do it.
I was confident I could take her down, and any army she might've had lying in wait, but I wasn't sure if I could survive a cave being collapsed on top of . Going in here was risky, but...
"Lead the way," I gestured forward, my eyes carefully watching Raya's face for even a hint of hesitation. If they really were planning to collapse the cave on top of sohow, they wouldn't want to do it with Raya inside.
And, even if Raya had decided to sacrifice herself to take down with her, she would still have so hesitation. No one could confidently walk towards their death.
However, Raya simply nodded at my words. She didn't miss a beat and gave no sign of nervousness. No stumbling, or walking slowly, or looking around cautiously.
She simply led into the cave.
So, this probably wasn't a trap. My thoughts were confird as I quickly realized just how small the cave was. After only a minute or two of walking, passing by splitting tunnels in the sides, we entered into a huge opening.
We walked into the room, which was huge, open, and more lit up than the previously dark tunnel. Small fires and torches sat haphazardly around, and in the middle of the room were various dire wolves.
A couple looked a bit more human than the average dire wolf, but most of them were the typical four-legged wolves.
[Dire Wolf] - Level 6
[Dire Wolf] - Level 7
[Dire Wolf] - Level 5
[Dire Wolf] - Level 9
[Dire Wolf] - Level 7
[Dire Wolf] - Level 9
[Dire Wolf] - Level 4
[Dire Wolf] - Level 9
[Dire Wolf] - Level 8
[Dire Wolf] - Level 7
[Dire Wolf] - Level 7
[Dire Wolf] - Level 1
[Jutra] [Dire Wolf Pack Leader] - Level 18
[Jan] [Dire Wolf Pack Leader] - Level 17
This group was spread out throughout the cave but was noticeably a fair bit in front of the other group.
I glanced at the more human-like ones, who looked like a horrific mixture of wolf and human. Whereas Raeren had looked like a hairy human with a wolf head, and Raya looked nearly identical to a normal human, these ones were noticeably less evolved.
[Jayna] [Dire Wolf Commander] - Level 25
[Joppa] [Dire Wolf Commander] - Level 27
Two other wolves stood next to a larger one, and I felt uncomfortable. It seed like I walked in at a bad ti, as they were practically fawning over him.
Poor general - he was about to go from getting lucky to having the unluckiest day of his life.
As I looked at the commanders, I guessed it wasn't the level that determined how human-like they were. One of the commanders was the sa level as Raeren had been, but was noticeably more wolf-like.
Joppa stood like a human would, on two legs, but had a hunched back, pawed hands, huge fangs, and an entire wolf head.
Jayna was much the sa.
The actual general amongst them was pretty easy to spot, as it was the huge man-wolf they were pressed into and fawning over.
[Jaxor] [Dire Wolf General] - Level 37
His level was a huge step up from Raeren, being a higher level than even Raya.
He was huge, looking like the world's hairiest bodybuilder. His muscles bulged through the fur covering his body as he stood on two legs, with human-like hands and feet, but with claws where his fingernails should've been.
His head was also more human than Raeren's had been, as he looked more like an ugly man with a disproportionate face and huge nose as opposed to a wolf.
Also - what's up with all these J nas? I thought the dire wolves loved the letter R or sothing, judging by how pretty much every nad one I had seen so far had a na that started with R.
Raya cleared her throat next to , opening her mouth to say sothing to Jaxor, who hadn't even noticed our arrival. I quickly raised my hand, stopping her in her tracks as she looked at questioningly.
I wasn't big on having honorable fights - there was no honor to be had in this forest full of beasts. So, I wasn't above a sneak attack.
Not that I needed one - after seeing their levels, I was pretty confident I could still take on the whole group, but it would speed things up a bit.
Might as well get rid of the cannon fodder first. They're cannon fodder for a reason, right?
I tensed my legs and shot forward, my hand shifting into the shape of a knife. Before anyone had a chance to react, I burst through the room, my arm slashing from side to side.
Most of the wolves didn't even realize what was happening, dying or becoming fatally injured as my hand blade cut through them in an instant.
Of the front group, only one wolf even managed to react before they died. The Wolf Pack Leader, Jutra, lunged at in an attempt to stop my slaughter.
Unfortunately for them, that was the worst direction they could've chosen.
I didn't stop for even a second, rely side-stepping them as my arm flashed upwards and cut through their stomach. They flew past , landing in a bloody pile behind .
Jutra's attack gave the other Wolf Pack Leader, Jan, a mont to try and get out of my path, but they were far too slow. I slashed past them, my blade easily slicing through their side.
That was where my sneak attack ended, as the few seconds it had taken to obliterate the cannon fodder gave the three remaining wolves the chance to understand what was happening.
"Who the hell are you?!" Jaxor yelled, pushing away his two commanders as he stood tall, glaring forward at threateningly.
"You don't know already?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. I figured my presence had already spread around this whole part of the forest already, considering that both Raeren and Raya knew about .
And, the Great Wolf King as well, considering he kept throwing dire wolves at .
"He's... not the brightest," Raya supplied behind , trying to sound nice about it but also bluntly calling the general stupid.
Fair enough. This guy looks like a bit of a athead.
"You dare co to Jaxor's cave?! The great general Jaxor's domain?!" Jaxor roared, glaring forward at with huge red eyes.
Is this guy talking in third person?
"Fuck yeah I did," I replied bluntly, holding my bladed hand toward him, "Gonna do sothin' about it?"
"I'll make you regret ever being born, bastard!" Jaxor growled out, stomping towards threateningly.
The whole 'regret you were ever born' line. How cliche.
"Give it a shot," I rely humd in response, tensing my legs. I shot forward, dashing at Jaxor with a high speed that clearly surprised him.
However, it was a testant to him being a step above any dire wolf I'd encountered so far, as he managed to fling his arm up and block my slash in ti.
Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to stop soone like . My other, non-bladed, hand ford into a fist and swung upwards. I slamd it into his stomach, causing the wolf general to hunch over as spit flew from his maw.
Despite the force of my punch, Jaxor managed to simply shake it off. He only stuttered for a second or two and then lunged forward at in a counter-attack.
I quickly pushed my feet backward, barely dashing out of his grapple attempt from close range.
Judging by how he managed to tank that punch so easily, I figured that his muscular fra wasn't just for show. This guy was a strength and endurance-based fighter.
But, that wouldn't matter.
"You little weasel!" Jaxor roared, glaring hatefully at as I evaded his attack. He flung himself at again, but I rely avoided it again, my speed far surpassing his.
"Fight like a man!" Jaxor scread out, clearly angered as he was too slow to even touch . Unfortunately for the general, that was the wrong thing to say to .
"Sure," I replied simply, letting a grin shift onto my face.
Jaxor blinked in surprise, not expecting to agree so readily. Then, he smirked widely and lunged at again. The claws of his hand lashed out, slamming directly into my chest, and...
-10 HP! (15,270/15,280)
...doing nothing as I didn't budge, staring at the wolf with an unimpressed gaze.
"Did you think I was weak just because I was fast?" I asked, smirking up at him as the wolf's eyes filled with a hint of fear.
It didn't matter if Jaxor had put everything into building his strength and endurance. This wasn't a situation where I'd have to run around, dodging and slowly wearing him down.
No, I wasn't just faster than Jaxor. I was stronger too.
My non-bladed fist swung up abruptly, catching Jaxor off guard as it slamd into his face and sent him stumbling backward.
"I'm not just faster than you," I humd, verbalizing my thoughts as I dashed forward at Jaxor, "I'm stronger too!"
I slamd a follow-up fist into his head, and he stumbled back again. I didn't give him a chance to stabilize himself, as my bladed hand slashed upwards, cutting across his face.
"Grah! You..." Jaxor roared, his hand coming up to grab his head as he winced, a line of blood dripping down his face.
"You shouldn't talk during a fight," I said simply, betraying my own advice as I mocked him. I took advantage of him being stunned and stepped forward at him again.
This ti, my fist ca from above, as he hunched over and cradled his bleeding head. My fist slamd into the top of his head, and he fell onto all fours as he let out a pained grunt.
I didn't mock him anymore, rely raising my bladed hand again as I towered over the downed wolf, ready to finish him off.
However, I didn't get the chance, as I was forced to step backward and hastily swing my blade upwards. One of the Wolf Commanders, Jayna, ca to their general's aid.
My blade smacked into her claws, my strength far surpassing hers even with the surprise attack. She was sent stumbling backward, and I took a step back to create space between us.
It seems the commanders finally decided to join in. Now, it was a three versus one.
"How unfair," I muttered, and Jaxor let out a pained laugh at my words. He stumbled onto his feet, blood dripping down his face and into his fur.
"Unfair?! If you wanted a fair fight, then you shouldn't have dared to co into the great Jaxor's domain!" Jaxor roared again, apparently more confident now that he had backup.
I rely stared down the trio, who were all tense as they glared at , and grinned.
"Nah, I wasn't complaining," I said, grinning at them, "Just feeling a bit bad for you guys. It's a three-on-one, and yet..."
I shot forward, Jayna's eyes widening for a split second before my blade tore directly through her neck. She let out a pained gurgled, and then fell to the floor in a heap.
"It's still so unfair," I finished, ducking under Jaxor's fist as he tried to help his comrade. I stepped forward into his guard, my blade flashing up and slashing across his chest.
"GRAHHH!" Jaxor yelled, stumbling back again as he clutched at the huge wound across his chest. As he did, I took the opportunity to take care of the other commander.
Jutra did better than Jayna, as they at least tried to attack . They slashed their clawed hand at , but I rely side-stepped it and returned her attack with a slash of my own.
She was definitely on the faster side, as she managed to barely avoid my slash, but was unprepared for my other fist. It slamd into her stomach, and she hunched over in pain.
As she did, I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around her in a grapple as my teeth tore into her neck.
"Die, you bastard!" Jaxor scread from behind , and I stopped just before I ripped Jutra's flesh out. I spun around, throwing the commander forward at Jaxor as he lunged at from behind.
Jaxor was stunned for a second, stopping to catch the body and look down at it. Then, he chucked it to the side, but wasn't prepared for my next attack.
I stepped forward, using the mont that Jutra's body blocked his vision to thrust my hand forward. As Jaxor tossed her body away, he was greeted with a blade re inches from his face.
His eyes widened, but he couldn't stop as my blade tore directly into his neck. He stared down, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and fear as he saw the blade poking directly through his neck.
He raised his hands slowly, trying to grab the blade and protect himself, but he never got there. His arms stopped mid-way, slumping over on his side as the life drained from his eyes.
"You... did it," Raya said from behind , her eyes wide as she stared at the carnage in the room.
"You doubted ?" I asked jokingly, trying to relax the mood as I saw a hint of fear in her eyes. She didn't answer, rely staring at with a mixture of fear and awe.
Well, I did just kill a general and an entire room full of wolves in less than five minutes. I guess she didn't expect to be this strong.
I opened my mouth, staring down at the corpses around . Ti to get to work.
Quietly, I heard Raya move behind , but I ignored her as I tore into the pile of dire wolf flesh.
Most of the dire wolves were nothing special, just giving the typical couple stats. The only large gains ca from the commanders and Jaxor himself.
[Devour] has been used on [Jayna] [Dire Wolf Commander] - Level 25
You have gained:
400HP (15,280/15,280)
40 MAX HP (15,320/15,320)
60 STR
75 END
80 AGI
8 INT
175 XP
40 [Harden] Skill XP!
10 [Devour] Skill XP!
20 [Global Communication] skill XP!
[Devour] has been used on [Jutra] [Dire Wolf Commander] - Level 27
You have gained:
500HP (15,320/15,320))
50 MAX HP (15,370/15,370)
65 STR
85 END
95 AGI
10 INT
225 XP
45 [Harden] Skill XP!
10 [Devour] Skill XP!
25 [Global Communication] skill XP!
The two commanders gave about as many stats and XP as Raeren had given.
Considering they had both died in pretty much one hit, I was pretty happy with the 'effort to gains' ratio.
However, the biggest boon ca from Jaxor himself.
[Devour] has been used on [Jaxor] [Dire Wolf General] - Level 37
You have gained:
750HP (15,370/15,370)
80 MAX HP (15,450/15,450)
125 STR
140 END
90 AGI
20 INT
400 XP
70 [Harden] Skill XP!
15 [Devour] Skill XP!
40 [Global Communication] skill XP!
10 [General's Command] skill XP!
And, of course, I made progress towards the quest.
[Quest Update!]
Defeat the Four Dire Wolf Generals
[2 / 4]
Rewards:
The next step to taking down the Great Wolf King
100 STR
100 END
100 AGI
[Harden] will be evolved!
Failure:
Eventual Death.
The stat gains were starting to look a bit disappointing, as I would end up getting roughly 4x that from taking down the generals themselves, but the real reward was the final reward.
[Harden]'s evolution.
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AN: Thank you for reading! I will be updating this story more often again, probably twice a week, but I also have one Chapter ahead available on Patreon/Koyon ! I'll also be adding more in the near future.
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