Chapter Twenty-Three

 

Terricus Bloodcrow slammed his fist on the table. “Do you know what a wendigo is, mage?! A wendigo is a Grade B monster.” The Second General of the Iocus Kingdom stood and walked out of the tent and towards the stone wall. He jumps on top of the wall and the mage follows. “Found only in the Frozen Mountains, wendigos are territorial creatures.

 

Though they are only a Grade B monster, when one is pushed off the mountains, Platinum Adventurers are often dispatched to deal with it, for a simple, simple fact. It is a dual elemental wielder of ice and,” He shudders, “Storm.” He looks towards the Ancient Forest. “Storm elemental wielders are extremely rare. And extremely powerful. The fact that a small silver wolf-like creature pulled a piece of wendigo out of thin air and started eating it casually is… Bad. It's either a shape-shifter, or an illusionist, I would guess.”

 

The mage’s eyes keep widening. He begins to speak hesitantly. “And sir?” “Speak.” “I believe it kept dispeling our magic. And arrows only broke on its fur.” Terricus slammed his fist on the wall. “Not an illusion, then. It's a shapeshifter. Which makes this more complicated.”

 

The mage looked towards the forest and froze. Raising a shaking hand, he pointed at the forest. Green eyes shown. Then a small wolf stepped out. “Sound the alarms! All men to the wall!” Terricus grabbed a nearby soldier. “Send a messenger back to the king. Tell him that we are under attack by a shapeshifter.” The mage saluted, then ran towards a tent. “To arms!” He grabbed his mithril sword.

I [Blink] towards the arrayed soldiers, appearing in front of them with my paws tucked neatly underneath me. The scent of fear and sweat wafted towards me, filling my senses with the anticipation of the hunt. The commander stood before me, his gaze defiant but tinged with a hint of dread. I could see the pulse in his neck quickening as I spoke, relishing in the power I held over them.

 

"So, Commander. It seems you didn't flee. Too bad. It's more enjoyable when my prey tries to escape." I drawled lazily, a smirk playing at the corners of my fanged mouth. A yawn escaped me, showcasing the rows of sharp teeth that lined my jaw. "Mother has a special interest in you. You're fortunate that I returned so soon. Mother Tree is not as forgiving as I am. She would have inflicted unimaginable torment upon you for an eternity. Possibly even longer."

 

A hunger stirred within me, a primal urge that demanded satisfaction. "I will strike you with lightning, set everything ablaze, and let you be consumed by wolves. Or perhaps by me. I am still hungry. The wendigo I consumed earlier was not enough to sate my hunger." My voice rumbled with a deep, guttural growl as I surveyed the soldiers before me, my eyes gleaming with feral hunger.

 

"As for you all," I continued, my gaze flickering over the trembling soldiers, "I believe it is time for me to bring your demise. However, I will spare the sword. It will be a nice addition to my hoard." The commander, clad in crimson armor, stood his ground beside the mage in the peculiar hat, his jaw clenched in defiance.

 

"Ah, I remember you. The one with the ridiculous hat. It was quite entertaining to watch. Your head looked as though it might explode! Hahahahaha! So amusing!" I chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent shivers down their spines. The commander's expression darkened as he attempted to deliver a speech, but I cut him off with a dismissive wave of my paw.

 

"I find speeches tedious and unnecessary. You’re just like that lich, Morrick the Immortal, or whatever his name was. Annoying. Now, I am hungry and you appear to be a suitable meal." With a deep growl, I shifted into my larger, more powerful war-form, my fur darkening and muscles rippling with power, ready to unleash my wrath upon them.

 

As I stood there, my keen senses picking up on the fear and anticipation emanating from my enemies, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement course through me. I could practically taste their trepidation in the air, and it only fueled my determination further. They saw me as a fearsome enemy, a monstrous creature to be vanquished at all costs. But little did they know, I welcomed their challenge with open arms.

 

I appeared as a formidable foe in their eyes, but I was anything but a foe to be vanquished. I was a warrior through and through, hardened by countless battles and always emerging victorious. With a confident grin, I let out a fierce snarl, sending a shiver down their spines.

 

As I launched myself into the fray, the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I reveled in the feeling of my sharp claws tearing through flesh and bone with ease. Each strike was met with a satisfying crunch, each opponent falling before me like dominoes. I moved with a grace and precision that left them reeling, unable to keep up with my ferocity.

 

In that moment, as the chaos of battle raged around me, I knew that I was in my element. This was where I belonged, where I thrived. And as I stood victorious amidst the fallen, a triumphant roar sounded from me, echoing through the battlefield. I was Aella, and I was unstoppable.

I gritted my teeth as I watched the True Fenrir tear through my soldiers with ease, her massive claws slicing through their armor like butter. The sight of my brothers-in-arms falling before me filled me with a burning rage, fueling my determination to bring this beast down.

 

The ground shook with the force of our battle, the air filled with the metallic tang of blood and the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart. Aella's roars echoed in my ears, a constant reminder of the danger we faced. But I refused to back down. I had faced countless enemies on the battlefield, and I would not be defeated by this monstrosity.

 

I raised my sword high, the blade gleaming in the harsh light of the battlefield. "Focus your attacks on her vulnerable spots!" I shouted to my soldiers, my voice cutting through the chaos of battle. My Platinum-ranked warriors nodded in understanding, their faces set in grim determination as they followed my orders.

 

As the True Fenrir roared in pain from our coordinated assault, I saw a glimmer of hope flare within me. This beast may be powerful, but together, we could defeat her. I would not let my soldiers' sacrifices be in vain. With a fierce battle cry, I plunged back into the fray, ready to lead my troops to victory.

As the Platinum-ranked soldiers' attacks landed, I could feel the sting of their blows, but I knew I had to remain focused. My eyes locked onto the General, the mastermind behind the human army's strategy. With a low growl, I charged towards him, knowing that taking him out would give us a significant advantage in the fight.

 

Terricus Bloodcrow, the General, stood his ground as I approached, his eyes filled with determination. Adrenaline surged through me as we clashed, our bodies moving in a blur of motion. Claws slashed, fangs gnashed, and steel clashed as we fought with a relentless intensity. Each of us was determined to emerge victorious in this brutal battle, and I refused to let anything stand in my way.

The clash between Aella and myself, General Terricus Bloodcrow, was nothing short of a battle for the ages. The ground trembled beneath us as we exchanged blow after blow, each one fuelled by a fierce determination to emerge victorious. I could feel my muscles straining with the effort as I tried to match the sheer strength and speed of the True Fenrir before me. Aella's bone spikes sliced through the air with deadly precision, forcing me to dodge and weave to avoid being impaled.

 

The adrenaline coursed through my veins as I fought to keep up with the relentless onslaught of the fenrir. With every strike, I could feel the weight of the battle bearing down upon me, pushing me to my limits. Aella's blue eyes glowed with a mix of rage and determination, her ferocity unmatched as she unleashed wave after wave of energy, sending my soldiers flying in all directions.

 

Despite the chaos unfolding around me, I refused to waver. With a steely resolve, I rallied my troops and led a counterattack against the formidable foe before us. The clash of metal against bone filled the air, a symphony of war that resonated with the cries and roars of those fighting for their lives.

 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of fiery red and orange, the battle continued unabated. My soldiers fought with every fiber of their being, their weapons striking true against Aella's formidable defenses. I saw an opening and seized it, aiming for her heart with my sword. But the fenrir was too quick, dodging my strike with ease and delivering a punishing blow in return. The pain shot through me, but I gritted my teeth and pressed on, unwilling to give up the fight.

 

In a final, decisive moment, Aella unleashed her full power, a deafening roar that reverberated through the battlefield. The shockwaves rippled through our ranks, sending my soldiers tumbling like leaves in a storm. I watched in despair as the tide turned against us, realizing that we were no match for the sheer power of the True Fenrir in her war form.

 

As the dust settled and the cries of the fallen faded into the distance, I knelt before Aella, battered and bruised but filled with a deep respect for the creature before me. The battlefield lay in ruins, the human army defeated and broken. Aella stood victorious, her fur stained with blood and sweat, a testament to the ferocity of the battle we had just endured. Despite the outcome, I knew that we had faced a foe unlike any other, a creature of unmatched power and strength. And though we may have been defeated, I was proud to have fought alongside my soldiers until the bitter end.

With a single bite I devoured the General, and with my heartbeat pounding in my ears and the taste of victory sweet on my tongue, I let out a roar that echoed across the battlefield. My blue eyes gleamed with power and confidence as I surveyed the aftermath of the battle I had just emerged from unscathed. The humans had underestimated me once again, but I had proven them wrong with every swipe of my claws and every breath of my fire.

 

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with a golden hue, I stood tall and proud, my fur shimmering in the fading light. The fallen soldiers lay at my feet, a testament to my unmatched strength and ferocity in battle. With a final triumphant howl, I turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving only destruction and awe in my wake.

 

The True Fenrir had once again proven her dominance, a living legend feared and respected by all who dared to challenge me. I knew that my legend would only grow stronger with each victory I claimed. For I was Aella, a force to be reckoned with, a warrior unmatched in power and prowess.

 

I pulled my profile up, humming in satisfaction.