017: The Big Bad Wolf I

*YAWN*

"Took you long enough."

The wolf said.

After I traversed further into the forest, I reached a large open field.

The red string led me through this field, but standing before the entrance to the inner part of the forest was a giant wolf.

Its fur was as black as a starless night sky, and its eyes were a deep blue like the sea.

I had seen this wolf before in my dream.

"Sorry if I kept you waiting."

I replied.

"Yeah, you better be sorry. I was told to come to devour you, so I've been waiting all day meaning I haven't had breakfast yet. I can't wait to feast on your lifeless body."

"What a coincidence, I also have not had any food yet today. You have it backward, after this, I'll be the one devouring you."

"You? Eat me? And where exactly do you intend to put all of me? I'm many times your size, where will I go because there's no way your stomach is fitting all of me?"

"I don't have to eat all of you at once, I can save some for later."

"And you intend to carry my excess meat around? Sounds like a hassle if you ask me. Speaking of which, how much of me do you think you can eat in one sitting?"

"And why exactly is that important."

"I'm just curious."

"Just curious?"

"Yeah, do you not have an answer?"

"Well, I haven't really thought of it."

"So you don't have an answer? Pity. I was hoping I could get an answer. Maybe think things through more next time."

He's curious?

He's a lot like me in a sense.

He has a curious mind and he seeks knowledge, but there is something that sets us apart.

He wants the answers to be given to him rather than finding out the answers himself.

I refuse to be given all of the answers.

I want to discover it all and process it in a way only I can.

"You know, I feel like you and I would get along really well."

I said to him.

"You do? That's a bit random. I mean we literally just met."

"We're both curious about the world around us. I'd say that's quite similar."

"You think so?"

"I do. Although, I feel there is something that sets the two of us apart regarding our curiosity. Unlike you, I don't ask for answers, I find them. You asked me how much of you I could eat in one sitting, and frankly, I don't know the answer, but rather than have someone tell me, I want to find out, and I'll do that right after I win this battle."

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You know you're quite the good trash talker."

*CLANG*

Fast.

I barely noticed in time.

He swiped his claws down at me, and I just narrowly had enough time to block with my knife.

He's strong too.

Too strong.

I can't even hold up his foot.

He's just simply too big.

I jumped backward as his foot slammed into the ground.

That was close.

This wolf is strong.

His fire is just like the butterfly's, but unlike hers and the birdman's, this fire was a dark black rather than a bright white.

What exactly does that mean?

I don't know, but there's a chance I find out in this battle.

He's stronger than I thought.

The wolf thought.

Normal humans would have crumbled under my foot, but he was able to hold me off for a little bit.

However, there's no way that's enough to defeat me.

If he's not a normal human, is he with the Dark family?

There's a great possibility that this is true.

No wonder my lady wanted us to be wary of him.

If this wolf is as strong as that butterfly, then I'm in for some trouble.

The butterfly knocked away one of my strongest attacks with ease just by flapping its wings.

If this wolf is similar in strength, then I don't stand a chance.

But there's no way I can give up.

He has to have a weak point somewhere, I just have to find it.

You won't take me down, wolf.

I can use my raw strength to overpower him, but maybe I shouldn't.

The wolf thought.

After all, a few hours ago, the plant came to me.

The God of Plants.

The Ruler of Light and Life's right hand man.

He told me that I should test this human.

If he is worthy then I should send him to the center of the forest.

He wants to make him a warrior for our side of the war, but our lady would never approve of humans helping us.

So now I'm torn between two options, sparing the human or killing him.

Maybe I should kill him.

My stomach is empty after all.

But I guess time will tell.

Let's see how he does.

Either way, this goes down, he won't defeat me.

Our battle became less of a war of power and more of a war of information.

It all depended on who discovered what first.

He's attacking again.

A frontal assault.

Right claw.

Dodge to my left so that he can't immediately follow it up with his left paw unless he wants to trip over his own feet.

Wait.

Is he attacking me with his left claw anyway?

Shit.

My only option is to go under.

If I'm under him, he can't possibly attack me.

You can't be serious.

He's trying to lie down on top of me.

*chuckle*

"Not bad, but…"

I said to him.

I reinforced my legs and arms with red energy to make them stronger.

Using them, I held him up from under him.

It was still extremely difficult, even with my enhancements.

I managed to push him into that and just narrowly escaped.

We were back where we started, a stare down.

Again.

This time I went on the offensive.

I slashed open his right leg using my knife coated in red energy.

His blood on my blade strengthened my attack power.

If I can stop him from being mobile, maybe I can…

UGH!

WHAT IS THAT RANCID STENCH?!

Is this…

What is it?

I turned and was met with fangs.

No time to dodge.

I tried to block it with my knife, and it was sent flying out of my hands.

It landed quite a ways behind me.

I was able to hold off his fangs, but his head was still heading straight for me.

A head butt.

I reinforced my arms with red energy and tried to block, but I was sent flying backward

My blade was still behind me, and I had no time to pick it back up.

He came again with another frontal assault.

I tried to dodge his claw, but it nailed me right in the eye.

His claw scraped down the right side of my face, and a large wound opened up in front of my eye.

I was unable to open it much less use it.

This is hopeless.

I'm getting nowhere.

Every time I move forward, I get sent back twice as much.

No, maybe even more than that.

DAMN IT!

And I thought I could win too.

I gained this tremendous new power but I can't even use it to defeat my enemies.

The red string is trying to pull me forward, but how is it supposed to pull me through the wall standing before me?

If there's anyone out there that can give me a way to get past this, I'm waiting.

Please.

I'll do anything.

Just don't let it end here.

"Come on, is that all you got?"

The wolf patronized me.

Easy for you to say.

You're strong.

Unlike anything I've ever seen.

Must be nice.

I was weak my whole life, and now I thought I had gotten a little bit stronger just because I was gifted a power I don't even fully understand.

If there's anyone out there watching this, clue me in.

How can I defeat him?

Please let me know.

I'm running out of hope here.