The first light of dawn crept quietly across the forest clearing, brushing the edge of the tent in soft gold.

  Inside, Kaito stirred.

  For a moment, he lay still, listening. The fire outside had died down to faint embers. The air felt cooler than before.

  He sat up slowly and glanced toward the tent entrance.

  Serena and Renna were still awake.

  Kaito pushed himself up and stepped outside, stretching lightly.

  “Good morning, both of you.”

  Renna turned first. “Ohh, good morning. You’re awake.”

  Serena looked at him with a gentle smile. “Good morning, Kaito. You slept so well last night.”

  Kaito blinked. “Eh?”

  Renna smirked mischievously. “Serena was watching your sleeping face last night—”

  Before she could finish, Serena quickly covered Renna’s mouth.

  “Stop saying nonsense!”

  Renna’s muffled laughter escaped through Serena’s fingers.

  Kaito scratched his cheek awkwardly. “I… see.”

  The faint pink on Serena’s cheeks was very real.

  Kaito decided not to tease her.

  Instead, he clapped his hands lightly. “Let’s prepare breakfast.”

  He pulled out a flat iron pan and placed it over the newly lit fire. Oil sizzled softly as he added chopped pork and rice. The savory aroma soon filled the air again.

  Renna walked over to the horse with carrots and apples in hand. “Good morning to you too,” she said warmly, feeding it.

  Kael emerged from the tent moments later, hair messy, eyes half closed.

  “…Food?” he asked in a sleepy tone.

  Kaito chuckled. “You wake up exactly when it’s ready.”

  Kael sat down without another word.

  They ate fried rice and pork together while the morning mist slowly faded away.

  No one mentioned Renna’s earlier comment again.

  But Serena avoided looking directly at Kaito for a while.

  After breakfast, they packed everything efficiently. The tent was folded, embers extinguished, supplies secured.

  Soon, they were back on the road.

  Kaito held the reins, guiding the horse steadily.

  “We should arrive at the next town in about a week,” he said. “Maybe eight days at most. So let’s take it easy.”

  Serena nodded. “Okay.”

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  Renna leaned back slightly. “No need to rush.”

  The forest road stretched endlessly ahead.

  Three days passed peacefully.

  They encountered only minor monsters, nothing threatening. The weather stayed calm. The journey felt almost too smooth.

  Then, in the afternoon of the fourth day, everything changed.

  The trees grew denser.

  Taller.

  Older.

  The air turned heavier.

  A thick mist rolled in suddenly, swallowing the road ahead.

  Within minutes, visibility dropped to almost nothing.

  Renna tightened her grip on the seat. “This doesn’t feel normal.”

  Kael, who had been quietly observing, suddenly stood up straight.

  His sleepy demeanor vanished instantly.

  “This is troublesome,” he said calmly but firmly. “Sprint the carriage at once.”

  Kaito didn’t question him.

  He snapped the reins. “Hyah!”

  The horse surged forward at full speed.

  Serena stepped toward the back and raised her staff.

  “Wind Storm!”

  A powerful gust erupted around the carriage, temporarily clearing the mist in a circular radius.

  Through the thinning fog—

  They saw them.

  Dozens of glowing yellow eyes.

  Black shapes moving swiftly between trees.

  Then they emerged.

  Black Direwolves.

  Large. Muscular. Their fur darker than night.

  Serena’s expression tightened. “Those are B-rank Direwolves… but there are too many!”

  Kael’s voice remained calm. “We’ve entered their territory. If we stop and fight, we’ll be surrounded.”

  The wolves began chasing at terrifying speed.

  Kaito gritted his teeth. “No choice.”

  He turned to Renna. “Take the reins!”

  Renna slid into position instantly. “Got it!”

  Kaito leapt upward from the carriage, crimson mana gathering in his hand.

  “Crimson Lance!”

  A blazing spear formed and shot forward, piercing through one of the charging wolves. It collapsed mid-run.

  Kaito landed lightly on the roof of the moving carriage.

  Another lance formed.

  He threw.

  Another wolf fell.

  But more replaced them.

  They came from the left.

  From the right.

  From behind.

  Serena remained below the carriage roof, staff raised.

  “Wind Cutter!”

  Blades of compressed wind sliced backward, striking wolves that got too close to the wheels.

  The forest blurred past them as Renna pushed the horse harder.

  The chase intensified.

  Wolves leaped onto rocks, using terrain to gain speed.

  Kaito launched lance after lance, but the pack seemed endless.

  After several intense minutes—

  The mist began to thin.

  The forest changed.

  The density lessened.

  The wolves suddenly slowed.

  One by one, they stopped chasing.

  They stood at the invisible boundary line, growling but refusing to cross.

  Renna didn’t stop until they were far beyond.

  Only then did she slow the carriage.

  Everyone breathed heavily.

  “That was too close,” Serena said.

  Kaito exhaled slowly. “We made it.”

  The horse suddenly halted.

  Its body trembled violently.

  Renna frowned. “Why did it stop?”

  Kael stood up immediately.

  His expression changed completely.

  Cold.

  Sharp.

  His eyes focused forward.

  “…We arrive the deadliest place.”

  Kaito followed his gaze.

  At first, he saw nothing.

  Then A massive shadow shifted between the trees ahead.

  Slowly.

  Deliberately.

  The forest seemed to shrink around it.

  Then it stepped into view.

  A colossal wolf.

  Its fur was pitch black, darker than the Direwolves before. Shadows clung to its body unnaturally, as if it carried night with it.

  Its eyes burned deep crimson.

  Its size almost three meters.

  Kael whispered in disbelief. “That’s… the Colossal Shadow Direwolf.”

  Renna’s gaze sharpened. “High A-rank.”

  The massive wolf stepped forward, its paws crushing roots beneath it effortlessly.

  “Almost as large as me in my beast form,” Kael muttered. “This is peak A-rank. It could rival some lower S-rank monsters.”

  The air grew suffocating.

  Kaito pulled out his map with steady hands.

  His heart sank.

  “…We came the wrong way.”

  Serena looked over his shoulder.

  Kaito pointed. “The safe road curves east. We took the deeper forest path.”

  Renna swallowed. “How far are we from the city if we go back?”

  “Three more days.”

  Silence fell.

  Behind them was the Direwolf pack’s territory.

  Ahead stood the Colossal Shadow Direwolf.

  Renna tightened her grip on her sword.

  “So we have to take this monster down.”

  The massive wolf’s lips curled back, revealing enormous fangs.

  Its golden eyes locked onto them.

  The pressure it released felt overwhelming.

  Even the wind seemed afraid to move.

  Kael’s expression remained calm.

  But there was something different in his eyes now.

  Interest.

  Kaito slowly stepped down from the carriage.

  His hand reached for his blade.

  “Looks like,” he said quietly, “we don’t have a choice.”

  The Colossal Shadow Direwolf lowered its body into a hunting stance.

  The forest fell silent.

  A confrontation between peak A-rank power and Crimson Blade was about to begin.

  And this time running was no longer an option.