Both the Beasts and the Monster were showing their fangs, yet, for some reason, something didn't feel right.
With its murky yellow eyes, the front-runner approached.
Not without fear though.
Perhaps it was simply the difference in size. No. That difference should have been balanced out by the difference in numbers.
Was it, perhaps, the Monster's unmoving aspect? It was standing with its arms spread wide open, welcoming the attacker. That, certainly, was part of it.
High above them, a ray of moonlight, that used to be blocked by a branch, escaped its prison.
The next instant, in the middle of their race towards the Monster, it became clear.
It was those scales.
In the middle of the night, the Beasts and Monsters are wide awake, craving for a taste.
All night long, until morning comes, they roam the forest, hidden by the darkness, looking for prey and adversaries.
Hidden by the darkness.
The darkness was a friend to all inhabitants of the forest.
An ally.
It allowed them to hide and escape.
It allowed them to hide and attack.
But in front of them, stood a Monster who seemed not to need the company of darkness.
A Creature who seemed to completely refuse its aid. More than that, it seemed to antagonize it.
That fact couldn't be clearer, as the Monster's white scales reflected the moonlight brightly.
In front of the Wolves, nothing shone brighter, nothing was more visible or easier to see, than the Monster's body.
This, of course, would make the Monster's movements easier to see and notice.
But at the same time, it was a frightening thing.
A Monster who didn't need to hide.
To the Wolves, their brown pelt was barely enough to keep them safe and hidden from the stronger Predators.
In front of them, stood a Monster who, seemingly, didn't need to hide in front of such Predators.
A Monster who had, probably, survived or even vanquished such Predators.
At least, that is what the Wolves instinctively feared.
They couldn't know that those white scales were a random addition the Monster did not develop naturally.
They couldn't know that the Monster had complained about those white scales being detrimental to stealthier movements.
They couldn't know that the Monster had barely spent a couple of hours inside the Forest Of Yarnha.
GROWL-
The first Wolf to arrive into range took a courageous leap.
With its jaw open wide, it approached the Monster's body.
But seconds earlier,
[Your Skill "Combative Eyes[D]" is activating!]
'Way more obstacles now...'
Slowly but surely, the trees and the ground started fading away.
'Ignore them...'
Only the six approaching Beasts remained in the Monster's field of vision.
'Focus on staying here.'
The Monster remained with its feet planted on the ground as the fangs approached him.
'Don't forget about...'
A hand moved upwards, shutting the leaping Wolf's jaws shut.
'The Leader hiding somewhere.'
A second hand took hold of its hide.
The next second, the Wolf was launched away.
One by one, the Common Forest Wolves were thrown behind Mark.
And once none remained in front of him, he swiftly turned around.
Once again, he could see the ground and trees.
'Amazing... Once my field of vision changes, I need to ignore the rest again. Or rather, to let it disappear.'
The Wolves stood back up.
They stared at the Monster, before exchanging glances.
All had been thrown.
None had been injured.
Luck?
A coincidence?
Clap-
"Again."
The Wolves ran forward.
Leap-
Without moving his feet, Mark pushed his knees forward and bent his body backwards, leaving enough place for the enemy to miss.
With both hands, he grabbed its sides. Or rather, its hide.
The Wolf was thrown backwards.
Its back hit the ground and its body rolled. The slight feeling of dizziness only took a couple of seconds to disappear.
It quickly stood up, only to find the rest of the Pack by its side once more.
They shook their heads, stood up, and stared.
'Let's-'
Just when Mark's hands were moving closer to one another again,
Howl-
Howl-
Howl-
A smirk appeared on his face.
"Calling him already, huh?" He whispered.
The next second, Mark took a leap backwards.
And right where he had been standing, it landed.
With bam, its paws hit the ground.
[Elite Forest Wolf: [D-] Ranked Monster.]
"Haha... Not bad."
It was a Wolf, but had the size of a large Tiger.
The sight brought a smile to Mark's face.
Though it's not like he had not been smiling for a while now.
...
It only took a couple of minutes for the area to change.
Well, the area hadn't changed much except for a couple of fallen trees and broken branches on the ground.
Weak whimpers resonated.
From seven different Beasts, weak whimpers resonated.
Standing over the Forest Wolf Leader that, some time earlier, was standing so proudly, Mark extended his claws.
Around him, six Common Forest Wolves lay on the ground.
Trembling and twitching.
None had received a lethal injury.
Not yet anyways.
On the large Beast that lay on its side, Mark set his right knee.
His left one was on the ground, slightly in contact with the whimpering Leader's stomach.
The trembling Beast opened its mouth, but it was quickly grabbed by Mark's left hand.
His hand and grip strength were enough to keep the fatigued Leader's mouth shut.
The whimpers that emanated from the Beast became even weaker, as his claws approached its neck.
Its eye stared at him.
And he stared at that eye.
Mark's claws stopped approaching.
He stared into the Leader's sole visible eye.
Frozen, Mark stared.
For a couple of seconds, or perhaps, a couple of minutes.
What brought him out of it was,
"M..." A hesitant voice called out.
Mark felt a chill run down his spine.
Pierce-
Steaming blood went down his hand, before powerfully flowing out after he pulled his claws out.
"You're... Okay?" A timid Elisa asked, with Krista between her arms.
"Yeah, I'm..."
[Your Skill "Purgatory's Undead Troup[B+]" has failed to Revive the Marked Monster.]
"I'm okay."
