Chapter 30: Direwolves

Chapter 30: Direwolves

I looked around, both confused and wary.

What the hell is this...?

One by one, the creatures stepped out from the treeline and into the clearing.

I squinted to get a better look.

Wolves. At least, they looked like wolves.

But there were clear differences.

Their fur was darker—almost sooty black with a strange metallic sheen. Their claws and fangs glinted like steel under the moonlight, unnatural and sharp-edged. But most disturbing were their eyes—each of them had six, arranged in a triangular pattern across their heads like something out of a nightmare.

It was the kind of sight that made your gut clench.

Demonic wolves? No... something else.

I activated [Analyze] to see what they were.

[Direwolf – Level 9]

[Direwolf – Level 10]

[Direwolf – Level 9]

Direwolves, huh? The name matched the intimidation factor.

I watched as several began to circle me slowly, growling low and baring those metal-like fangs.

They must’ve been drawn here by the sounds of battle—or more likely, the scent of blood, which still hung heavy in the air. The Mooncat’s corpse still steamed faintly in the cool night air.

This part of the forest hadn’t exactly been safe before, but the Mooncat had been the apex predator here. The reason these things stayed back was because this was the mooncat territory.

But now... the mooncat was dead.

So they’d come crawling out from the dark corners of the forest to claim its territory.

Or maybe... to test the one who killed it.

I grinned. Not the smartest move.

I was about to say something when I felt it.

A shift.

Then, a much larger figure emerged from between the trees. Its heavy footsteps pressed into the mossy earth like drumbeats. Its fur was thicker than the others, matted and striped with scars. Unlike the others, it had just one eye—a single, gleaming red orb in the center of its forehead.

[Direwolf Alpha – Level 15]

It was taller than I was by at least two heads. Its claws were like curved blades, and even the other direwolves gave it space as it approached.

It stepped forward, eye locked on me, its voice deep and gravelly.

"The Mooncat is finally dead. Now it’s time to claim this territory."

The other direwolves howled in response, their cries splitting the night air.

I didn’t flinch.

This time, I wasn’t even surprised that the Alpha could speak. After what I’d seen in this forest, it barely registered.

The Alpha took another step forward, lowering its head just slightly. Its eye flicked to the Mooncat’s corpse behind me.

"I don’t know what managed to kill it... that creature tormented the forest for years. But what matters is that it’s dead now. And its territory is mine." It paused, voice dripping with disdain. "But I see a lone goblin standing over its corpse. As if he owns it. Explain yourself, runt."

The rest of the pack growled low, their snarls syncing like a rising drumroll.

I grinned.

They’re trying to intimidate me? Cute.

The Alpha clearly didn’t know I was the one who killed the Mooncat. It probably assumed the beast died from some other battle with a more powerful creature, and now, a lucky scavenger, my humble self, just happened to be near the kill.

Wrong.

Dead wrong.

I tilted my head slightly, voice calm.

"The corpse does belong to me. I’m the one who killed it. So I’ll be leaving with it."

The Alpha narrowed its single eye.

"You killed it? Impossible. Even I couldn’t face it and survive. And yet, a goblin claims victory?"

Its growl deepened, and I saw its front claws dig into the earth.

"Are you saying you’re stronger than me... goblin?"

I shrugged.

"Indeed."

A tense pause.

Then I exhaled, resting Gravefang against my shoulder.

"Believe what you want, puppy, but I ain’t handing over my kill."

"If you want it, you’ll have to take it from me."

Now, I could blink out of here. The smart thing would’ve been to warp away and end the day while I was still ahead.

But there was another way to see this.

An opportunity.

These weren’t just enemies.

They were walking EXP.

And the Alpha? An elite monster, just like the Mooncat. If I were lucky, defeating it might even reward me with another skill.

I cracked my neck.

Yes, I was outnumbered. But no—I didn’t feel disadvantaged.

Not with my new skill [Stealth], my SSS-tier innate ability, and nine unspent stat points.

Speaking of stat point.

I whispered to the system:

"Distribute: 4 points to Stamina, 4 to Agility, 1 to Intelligence."

[Stat Increase Confirmed]

Stamina: 16 → 20

Agility: 16 → 20

Intelligence: 16 → 17

A wave of power surged through me. My muscles felt lighter, my breath steadier. Focus sharpened like a blade.

The Direwolf Alpha snorted, unimpressed. Then it gave a short nod.

One of the smaller ones—Level 11—stepped forward, growling before lunging straight at me.

Same level as me... but numbers didn’t tell the full story.

Just as it neared, I activated [Stealth].

In an instant, my presence vanished. I melted into the shadows—silent, invisible.

The wolf slowed mid-charge, confused.

Then Gravefang flashed.

...Its neck split cleanly, and I reappeared behind it in a flicker as blood sprayed in a crimson arc.

The direwolf’s head hit the ground with a dull thud, and what was left of its body collapsed.

The pack went silent.

They were shocked and confused by what they had just seen.

Some growled low, others stepped back, uncertain.

The scent of blood, fear, and something unnatural hung thick in the air.

The Alpha’s eye widened in something that almost looked like fear.

"You..." it growled. "You possess the same power... as the Mooncat."

I smirked, stepping forward slowly, blade dripping with blood.

"It seems so."

"But... you’re just a goblin."

I raised my weapon, locking eyes with it.

"Yeah. And this goblin is about to erase you and every last one of your pack."

I shifted my stance, ready to attack.

"Be honored."