The Beast Hunter System is Flawed!

5: The Wolf's Mystery (V)

"The battle between Adam and Chloe against the werewolf continued, but now, things started to get complicated.

With Adam as the only one on the front line, Chloe had to alternate between attacking on her own and providing cover. In addition, fatigue and exhaustion were taking their toll on both of them, even more so when facing a rabid beast of that size.

On the other hand, the werewolf's momentum made him tireless, unstoppable. Every dodged attack, every hit taken, all of it made the lycanthrope go crazy with rage. Little by little, the beast began to stand out, until, in a single movement, it became clearer.

Adam prepares to land a decisive move on the werewolf's chest, a direct, fast and extremely hard punch. But when he does, to his surprise, his opponent absorbs the blow, taking the damage to launch a counterattack.

Its claws attach to its opponent's neck, and the lycanthrope lifts Adam high, as if he were a trophy, taking the young boy hostage.

Adam tries to react, moving his arm to try an attack.

However, the wolf strangles his neck even harder, making him give up attacking. His murderous rage paralyzed both youths. The monster's red eyes scanned the entire battlefield, any movement would be noticed by it, even the most sudden of attacks. And even the expressions of his opponents did not escape him.

The fear in his eyes, that's exactly what he'll use to win. He was unpredictable, and at any moment, he could end everything there. It was a high tension situation.

However, a strange noise, like a discharge of sparks, draws Charlotte Chloe's attention, making her turn to the side to understand what was happening. This makes her regain hope after understanding what was coming, transgressing her expression of despair to one of confidence.

The wolf also notices a strange noise, and the sudden change in emotion only makes him more and more curious.

A withering blow is delivered. Leonard Flint uses a nearby tree as a support to launch himself towards the werewolf and lands a powerful kick in his face, making him turn his head.

Adam takes advantage of the momentum to break free, slashing at the wrist of the hand that was strangling him to make it open, and move away from them.

Wolf's rage flares, and he strikes back to sink his claws into the boy's head. Leonard, however, dodges the blow and leans on the wolf's arm, following in search of climbing his body.

"What's up? Our battle is not over yet!"

With sparks coming out of his body, after climbing the monster quickly, Wander fits a lion choke. But the opponent does not give up, and desperately tries to remove it from his neck, letting out howls of rage! However, the young man perseveres, holding on tight as he says:

"I have no idea what your name is, or how many victims you've claimed, but whatever now, because the only thing that matters…"

The sparks grow stronger and stronger, and before his final blow, Leonard Flint ends his speech with a towering shout:

"IT'S OVER FOR YOU!!!"

In the next few moments, an intense discharge of electrical energy is delivered to the werewolf's body, with such an absurd voltage that it focuses on a flash strong enough to be seen from the village. At the end of the act, the lycanthrope falls to the ground unconscious. And, standing on the body of his defeated foe and aligning his raised fist with the moon, the victorious Leonard, panting from his onslaught, emits a shout of victory and runs to join his friends in celebration.

While the three celebrated, in the distance, a figure watches them. With a look of the proud, despite having gone through suffocation and concern, Miss Margareth reflected:

"Looking at them from here, I remember… I still remember, a long time ago. I saw each one of them enter the orphanage, while I was still just a caregiver, and closely followed their phases and growth. From a trio of children who didn't want to be adopted, to a trio of adventurers. At the end of the day, I can say with certainty… That my children have finally grown up!

The sound of running water is suddenly interrupted. After the long and intense battle, Leonard separated from his companions and went to take a shower to clean himself of the dirt and the odor of blood. Drying his body and hair with his towel, he puts on his clothes and heads downstairs, but with one detail. Before putting on his shirt, he admires the wounds resulting from the battle, running his finger over them, and says:

"These will be the first of many."

Leonard stepped out of the room and gazed down at the lively celebration below. The sounds of laughter and music filled the air, but he couldn't shake the strange emptiness he felt inside. He should have been rejoicing, celebrating their recent victory, and yet he found himself drawn to solitude. The party's allure was undeniable, but something pulled him away, urging him to seek solace in a different place.

Leonard sat on the rooftop, his mind still reeling from the day's events. He should have been feeling a sense of triumph after successfully facing the werewolf and rescuing the hostages. But instead, he couldn't shake off this strange and unsettling feeling that lingered within him.

"I should be feeling powerful right now." He muttered to himself, his eyes fixed on the distant stars. "I did it, I saved he and they. So why do I feel like this?"

His mind was still racing with the events of the day, and he couldn't shake off the lingering tension from the encounter with the werewolf. As he contemplated the vast expanse above, he was soon joined by Chloe and Adam, who found their way to the rooftop.

Chloe approached Leonard with a gentle smile, understanding the weight on his shoulders.

"Hey, Leonard." She said softly. "Mind if we join you?"

He shook his head, gesturing for them to sit beside him.

"Not at all. It's good to have some company up here."

Chloe looked concernedly at Leonard as they sat on the rooftop.

"Are you okay? You haven't come down to eat, and the food is delicious."

"Yeah, I think I am. Just feeling a bit strange. Needed some fresh air, so I came up here." Leonard nodded.

Adam joined the conversation, curious about Leonard's feelings.

"What's bothering you?"

"I don't know. It's like something is incomplete. I should be angry, relieved, or feeling powerful, but I just feel… empty, to some extent."

Adam offered his perspective.

"Well, not everything in the world is a fantasy or a fairy tale. Sometimes we just stumble and fall."

"Yeah, you're right." Leonard acknowledged.

He gazed up at the stars, finding solace in their serene beauty.

"Looking at the stars gives me a sense of tranquility. It reminds me of those nights under the full moon when we used to do this. Remember, we'd form a circle and raise our fists, shouting 'together forever'?"

The trio shared a laugh, basking in the warmth of their memories.

"Do you think we'll become real hunters? Things are pretty tough out there, and I'm afraid we might get into serious trouble." Leonard confessed his worries.

Chloe spoke with determination.

"Nothing in this world

 comes easy, to be honest. But together, we are stronger than we could ever be alone."

She suggested with a smile.

"Wanna do the gesture one more time? For old times' sake?"

They all raised their fists and cheered together once more. Feeling more at ease, Leonard finally exclaimed.

"Alright, time to head back down. I'm starving!"

As they descended from the rooftop, the trio felt a renewed sense of camaraderie and determination. Despite the challenges that lay ahead for aspiring hunters, they knew that together, they could face anything. The night sky seemed to hold a glimmer of hope, guiding them on their path as they navigated the mysteries of the magical world they now embraced. The adventure had just begun, and they were eager to discover what the future held for them."