We weren’t outnumbered anymore.

  The werewolves were now two short from our fourteen-strong formation. I could see their bracelets shining against the moonlight. There were a couple of healers, a good number of mages, but the majority were warriors like Mila herself.

  A part of my brain wanted to be shocked; the other part knew the Alpha had its eyes dead set on me.

  I looked back at my companions and repeated Mila’s words.

  “Attack!”

  The Alpha struck first. The beast came at me frantically, dropping to all fours to cover the distance faster.

  I didn’t even try to use a spell—it wouldn’t hit in time to halt its attack or do enough damage. I’d need to leverage my aura and my critical strikes if I wanted to kill this enemy.

  One strike with the dagger, a point-blank lightning bolt, and hope for the best—that was my plan.

  But plans die when you’re tackled by a beast bigger than you. I had my dagger ready to attack, but the monster got a boost in speed, one I hadn’t seen before.

  My lungs emptied with the impact, but we didn’t roll.

  The creature was ahead of me, its yellow eyes staring into my soul, its mouth open, its breath foul. The mixture of blood and rot intoxicated my nostrils. It had me pinned to the ground, but instead of biting my face off, I saw light forming inside its throat.

  It wanted to obliterate my head.

  I took the opportunity as its ability charged up, planting one foot on the ground and using [Lightning Momentum]. With only one foot in the right position, the spell didn’t come as intended. I wanted to get away from its grip and the magic it was gathering, but instead, I threw both of us up and to the side.

  The creature didn’t seem able to stop its spell as we fought for control. My two feet were now on the ground, and I managed to shove the monster away just as the light burst exited its mouth.

  I looked in its direction and saw it heading straight for Mary. Thankfully, she had her shield raised. It was slightly angled toward me, but when the magic hit, it deflected diagonally.

  The burst struck a charging Vorrak right in the chest, and it fell dead.

  “Call it divine retribution or whatever,” I hissed between my gritted teeth. It was my time to attack.

  The monster’s fur bristled under my aura, and I’d make it bleed to amplify my power.

  All around me, swords clashed against flesh. Claws tore through limbs, and flashes of light illuminated our surroundings.

  Each Vorrak spell lit up the forest, making the monster before me look even more maddening.

  It was my time to rush in, and I wouldn’t be caught by surprise this time.

  It saw me coming, took a step back, and swung its long arm toward my throat. But I was ready. I raised my left hand as if to block—at least, that’s what I made it think.

  A second later, my dagger pierced its pale palm.

  Shock crossed the monster’s face, but it was nothing compared to what came next. My wand appeared in my free hand, already channeling a lightning burst.

  The creature took the hit right at the center of its body. It tried to step back, but I held firm, letting go of my dagger and grabbing onto its wrist, I used every bit of strength I had to pull it closer.

  A blade cut through the air beside me, slashing across the Alpha’s chest. The wound was deep, and the impact sent the creature stumbling back wrenching its wrist from my grasp.

  I glanced to the side and saw Mila. She stood at my side, her blade raised, her eyes locked on the monster. She didn’t look at me.

  The creature’s mouth foamed with anger, its wounded hand hanging limp and its chest pouring blood as its heart raced.

  We couldn’t let it breathe. We’d been surprised by their numbers—maybe they had another card up their sleeve.

  So we dashed as if our minds were one. The battle against the Alpha became a dance between it, me, and Mila.

  I stepped back to let her strike with her longer reach, only to use [Lightning Momentum] to close the gap when the monster finished its attack and left its guard open.

  The creature was more resilient than I’d thought. It had a wound on its thigh, a cross-shaped slash on its chest, and a mangled hand, yet it kept coming.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  I felt something shift in the air.

  I prepared another [Lightning Momentum] and charged toward the creature—its neck was open for me.

  With my hand outstretched, it’d be dead before I even pulled my blade free.

  Midair, a howl echoed through the woods.

  Uncountable voices answered, filling the night. Vorrak howled from near and far, but they weren’t what sent a shiver down my spine.

  It was the damn beast stiffening as I flew right into it.

  My blade pierced its neck just as I intended. My weight should’ve brought the creature down, my dagger as well—yet I hung there for a second, my weapon buried in its body as it stiffened.

  Its hand moved faster than I could react, closing around my throat the next second.

  It heaved me up, my neck tightening in an instant. A few more moments, and it’d snap.

  I dismissed and summoned my dagger, stabbing its forearm—once, twice, three times. But its mangled hand held my throat like I was a child scratching at it.

  Then, the blade came again.

  I fell to the ground with the monster’s hand between my feet. Mila had just severed the creature’s limb, but it didn’t seem to care.

  It rushed at her—fast and violent. She met its attack with her blade, but it kept coming. She cut three deep gashes into its chest, but it never stopped.

  I finally caught my breath and dashed back into the fight just as the monster punched Mila in the face with its stump.

  I released three lightning bolts one after the other, trying to apply a poisoning effect, but they had no effect. The world around me blurred, but I pressed forward. The other Vorrak seemed stronger as well. The battle that had seemed nearly over was now a struggle, and I suspected this creature was the reason.

  They had empowered it, and it was empowering them back.

  Steps approached me, and I nearly turned, ready to throw my dagger.

  “It’s me!” Tress cried, and two arrows flew past me, striking the creature’s cranium deep—but nothing happened.

  Mila was on the ground, and the monster kept pounding her with its stump. She’d die if we didn’t act. I tackled the creature with [Lightning Momentum].

  We rolled across the ground, and I landed on top, my knuckles descending in furious blows.

  I could feel it growing.

  I was about to lose control.

  I raised my dagger.

  I wanted to lose control.

  The monster seemed to grin as if saying, We’re one and the same. But I wasn’t like it. I couldn’t be.

  I slashed its throat, but the monster found the strength to knock me off with a backhand. The bastard’s long arms making room for it.

  It growled—almost as if trying to speak—as it stood while I remained close.

  Mila was already on her feet, someone healing her. I saw her wounds closing as she shook her head.

  It didn’t matter.

  The only thing that mattered was me and it.

  It could survive a slash to the throat in its berserker mode, but it wouldn’t survive once its head was on the ground.

  “Get out!” I snapped as I caught Tress approaching, sword raised. “They’re mine!” I hissed, my heart pounding, a hatred I’d never felt before consuming my soul.

  I wanted to reap its soul.

  I wanted its essence to fade.

  I wanted to offer the creature to the gods.

  One [Lightning Momentum] later, I was tackling the creature again. I put so much energy into it that we flew several feet, only stopping when we crashed against the safe zone’s wall.

  I stepped back. The creature had its back to the invisible wall, slightly crouched. Its murderous gaze remained, but it looked exhausted.

  Someone was screaming behind me. I didn’t care.

  The monster punched me in the face. Blood filled my mouth. I laughed.

  “It doesn’t hurt,” I said between gritted teeth as I threw the next punch.

  For every one it gave me, I gave two back.

  I shoved it against the wall, which wasn’t burning the creature anymore—probably because there was no one inside—but it was enough to corner it.

  I punched the werewolf again, summoning my dagger to slash its mouth too.

  The creature didn’t even process it. It started to slide down the wall, struggling to keep fighting.

  But the fight was mine now.

  I punched it one more time, and the monster kneeled, head hanging low.

  It wasn’t going to end like that. I had to make sure it was dead. I had to make sure I was satisfied. They wouldn’t expect anything less.

  I dashed forward, dagger in hand, and slashed its throat again—grabbing its head with my left hand and cutting with my right.

  A minute and several slashes later, its head was in my hand, and I stood there, panting.

  You saved her. You’re merciful. A soothing voice whispered in my left ear, as if a silk sheet had fallen over it. There was love in that voice.

  You slaughtered it. You’re perfect. A second voice murmured in my right ear—deep and violent, like a drunkard one step away from making a mistake. And somehow, that made me grin.

  You’re worthy of this boon. They spoke at the same time, and I felt something being slotted into my inventory.

  I took a deep, satisfied breath.

  “Zach?” Tress’s voice reached me, snapping me back to reality.

  I let the head drop to the ground and looked at her, suddenly aware of my surroundings.

  Everyone was staring at me.

  No more werewolves alive. A semicircle of people had watched me slaughter the Alpha, with Tress a few steps ahead of them.

  The strangers stood in shocked awe. A mix of disgust and fear.

  Elk looked at me with pride. Mary looked determined, but there was a shadow of fear in her eyes.

  Tress was simply worried. Her eyes searched mine for a trace of humanity, and I caught the exact moment she found it.

  “I’m fine,” I finally said as someone else stepped past Tress.

  It was Mila.

  She looked determined.

  I tensed, dagger and wand in hand.

  Then she collapsed.

  And as she spoke, my heart sank into my stomach.