I activated Battle Cry, the new skill I had just unlocked. The roar that erupted from my throat echoed through the chamber, the force of it sending a shockwave through the air. The alpha wolf flinched, its red eyes narrowing as it absorbed the impact of my Battle Cry. The power of the skill surged through me, bolstering my confidence and sharpening my focus. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I knew this was it—my last chance to gain the strength I needed before being pulled back into the siege at Eldoria.

The alpha wolf growled low and deep, the sound vibrating through the cavern like a distant earthquake. It lowered its massive head, baring rows of razor-sharp teeth, and then, with a sudden burst of speed, it lunged at me. The sheer size and power of the beast were overwhelming, but I stood my ground, gripping my sword tightly as I prepared to meet its attack.

Time seemed to slow as the wolf charged. I sidestepped at the last possible moment, feeling the rush of air as the beast's massive jaws snapped shut where I had been standing. I swung my sword in a wide arc, aiming for the wolf's exposed flank. The blade connected with a satisfying crunch, cutting through fur and muscle, but the wound wasn't deep enough to bring it down.

The alpha wolf howled in pain, its blood splattering across the cave floor, but it quickly recovered, turning to face me again with renewed fury. I had drawn first blood, but this fight was far from over. I needed to be faster, stronger, and more precise if I was going to win.

The wolf lunged at me again, and this time, I dropped into a low crouch, using my smaller size and agility to my advantage. As the beast soared over me, I thrust my sword upward, driving the blade into its belly. The wolf yelped, twisting in midair as it tried to escape the pain. I yanked my sword free and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being crushed as the wolf crashed to the ground.

The beast staggered to its feet, blood pouring from its wounds, but it was far from defeated. It shook its massive head, its glowing eyes locking onto me with a murderous intensity. I could see the intelligence in those eyes, the cunning that had made this wolf the alpha of its pack. It wasn't just a mindless beast—it was a predator, and it was hunting me.

I couldn't afford to let up. I activated Berserker Rage again, feeling the familiar rush of power flood through me. My muscles bulged, my vision sharpened, and the world around me seemed to slow as my reflexes and speed increased. The cost to my defense was steep, but I was counting on ending this quickly.

The wolf charged once more, and this time I met its attack head-on. My sword clashed against its teeth, sparks flying as metal met bone. The force of the impact sent a shockwave up my arm, but I held firm, pushing back with all my strength. The wolf snarled, trying to overpower me with sheer brute force, but I refused to give an inch.

With a roar, I twisted my sword, using the momentum to drive the blade deeper into the wolf's mouth. The creature howled in agony, thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge the weapon. I used its distraction to my advantage, releasing the hilt of my sword and grabbing my shield instead. With a powerful shove, I slammed the shield into the wolf's muzzle, forcing it to stagger back.

The wolf coughed, blood pouring from its mouth, but it was still on its feet. I could see the desperation in its eyes, the realization that it was losing this fight. But instead of retreating, the alpha wolf gathered all its remaining strength and launched one final, desperate attack.

It was faster than I expected, closing the distance between us in the blink of an eye. Its massive jaws snapped at my throat, and I barely had time to raise my shield in defense. The force of the attack sent me sprawling backward, the wolf's teeth clamping down on the edge of my shield. I could feel the creature's hot breath on my face, its eyes burning with rage.

I was pinned, the wolf's weight pressing down on me, its teeth gnawing at the metal of my shield. My sword was still embedded in the wolf's mouth, out of reach, and I knew I had only seconds to act before the beast tore through my defenses.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I twisted my body, using the wolf's own momentum against it. The sudden movement caused the wolf to lose its balance, and as it stumbled, I reached for the dagger at my belt—a last resort. With a swift motion, I drove the dagger into the wolf's exposed throat, feeling the blade sink deep into its flesh.

The wolf let out a choked howl, its body convulsing as it tried to pull away. Blood spurted from the wound, coating my hands and face, but I didn't let go. I drove the dagger deeper, twisting the blade until I felt the life drain out of the beast.

Finally, with a shuddering gasp, the alpha wolf collapsed on top of me, its massive body going limp. I lay there for a moment, panting, my heart racing as the adrenaline slowly faded. The weight of the wolf pressed down on me, but I barely noticed it. All I could think about was the fact that I had won. I had defeated the alpha.

The system interface flickered into view, displaying my rewards.

Experience Gained: 1500 EXP

Level Up!

Darius Caelum – Warrior – Level 4

HP: 130/130

MP: 65/65

Strength: 18

Agility: 14

Endurance: 16

Intelligence: 8

Luck: 7

**New Skill Unlocked: **

Adrenaline Surge (Passive) – Temporarily increases strength and speed when HP falls below 30%.

I felt a surge of satisfaction as I leveled up again. The new skill was a welcome addition, one that would prove useful in desperate situations. My stats had increased, making me stronger and more resilient, and I could feel the difference in my body—my muscles felt more powerful, my movements more fluid.

But before I could fully appreciate my progress, the system message flashed again.

[You're leaving the world in 5 minutes.]

Panic surged through me as I realized how little time I had left. The battle with the alpha wolf had taken longer than I'd expected, and I had only five minutes before I was pulled back to the real world—back to Eldoria, where the battle against the barbarians was still raging.

I shoved the wolf's body off of me and scrambled to my feet, wiping the blood from my face. I had to think quickly. I needed to level up at least one more time before my time ran out, but with the alpha wolf defeated, there were no more enemies in sight. The cave was eerily silent, the only sound the dripping of water from the stalactites overhead.

I scanned the chamber, searching for anything that might give me the experience I needed. My eyes landed on a narrow passage at the back of the cave, partially hidden by the shadows. It was the only unexplored area left, and I knew I had to take the chance.

I sprinted toward the passage, ignoring the pain in my muscles and the exhaustion that weighed on me. The passage was tight and winding, forcing me to duck and weave as I made my way through. The air grew colder, and the walls closer together, but I didn't slow down. Time was running out.

Finally, the passage opened up into a small chamber, and my heart leaped at what I saw. A chest, old and covered in dust, sat in the center of the room, surrounded by faintly glowing runes. The chest was clearly trapped, but I didn't care. Trapped chests in the game often contained powerful items and the experience points that came with them.

I approached the chest cautiously, scanning it for any signs of danger. The runes were unfamiliar, but I could sense the magic within them. I had no time to waste, so I reached out and placed my hand on the chest, willing the system to help me disarm the trap.

The runes flared to life, a bright light filling the chamber. I felt a surge of energy, the magic trying to repel me, but I focused on the system, tapping into the skills I had unlocked. My intelligence stat wasn't high, but I had to try. I concentrated, visualizing the mechanics of the trap, the way the runes were woven together.

Slowly, the light began to fade, the runes dimming as I worked to disarm the trap. It was a delicate process, one wrong move and the chest would explode, taking me with it. But I couldn't afford to fail. Not now.

Finally, with a final burst of concentration, I felt the runes give way, the magic dissipating into the air. The chest unlocked with a soft click, the lid popping open slightly. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and lifted the lid fully.

Inside the chest was a gleaming sword, its blade etched with intricate designs that seemed to pulse with a faint blue light. Beside it was a small pouch of gold coins and a scroll, tied with a red ribbon.

Item Acquired: Blade of the Fallen King

Type: Weapon

Rarity: Rare

Effect: Increases attack power by +10 and grants a 5% chance to inflict a bleed effect on enemies, causing additional damage over time.