Chương 36: Cold Shadows, Sharp Blades

Four wolves tore across the snow, growling low as they raced through the storm. Pale mist streamed from their fur, blurring their outlines against the endless white. Luke activated [Identify]. [Mist Wolf – Lvl 8] [Mist Wolf – Lvl 7] [Mist Wolf – Lvl 7] [Mist Wolf – Lvl 7]"Monsters," he muttered, tightening his grip on one of the kukris. Princess Charlie stood beside him, holding the other blade. Her stance showed no fear, only anticipation. Luke didn't hesitate.

He threw the kukri, and the weapon split in midair, two blades from a single attack. The lead wolf twisted away at the last second. One blade grazed its flank, while the other disappeared into the storm. It was too fast, and the rest of the pack kept coming. One lunged at Luke. He activated [Dark Dash] and shot sideways in a blur of darkness. The instant his feet hit the ground, he twisted and hurled a throwing knife. The blade caught another wolf in midair and buried itself deep in its side.

The beast yelped and skidded across the snow, leaving a bright trail of blood behind it. Bleeding? That had to be from the upgraded [Profane Knife Throwing]. The wolves spread out and began circling them. Mist curled around their legs, and every time one changed direction, its outline seemed to dissolve into the storm. The lead wolf stared at Luke, not at where he stood, but at where his dash had ended.

Princess Charlie came at one from behind and slashed with the kukri, but the wolf blurred out of the way with unnatural speed. Then the pack rushed them from different angles. One wolf charged Charlie, trying to knock her down, while the others threw themselves at Luke. He raised his kukri and drew another throwing knife, hurling it as he activated [Dark Dash] in the same motion. The blade struck the nearest wolf midstride and sent it tumbling through the snow.

Charlie grabbed another by the tail and used her new weight to wrench it backward as two more closed in, trying to flank her. Luke leaped onto one wolf's back before it could attack, but the creature thrashed violently and flung him off. He hit the ground hard. Before he could get back up, a pale shape vanished into the snow. Luke caught only a flicker of movement before the lead wolf burst from the storm at his side. It had been waiting for him to reappear. Luke jerked away, but its claws tore through his clothes.

The impact sent him rolling through the snow, and freezing air bit into the exposed skin. Charlie was already moving. She caught a charging wolf, slammed it into the cave wall, and dragged it across the stone before smashing its head against the rock again and again. Another wolf jumped onto her back and raked its claws across her bones. Charlie staggered, then activated [Charge], exploding forward and crushing the wolf against the wall with the full weight of her body. Luke pushed himself up.

His mana was running lower than he liked, and the cold was already biting through the tear in his clothes. His fingertips had started to go numb. He spotted Charlie's kukri buried between the ribs of one of the fallen creatures. Without it, she was beating another wolf down with her bare fists, and one punch snapped its head sideways. The kukri had never suited her. Luke rolled across the ground, sprang to his feet, and summoned both blades back into his hands.

When the wolf facing Charlie recovered and lunged again, Luke threw one kukri wide. The creature twisted aside to avoid it, exactly where he wanted it. Charlie was waiting, and her fist crashed into the wolf's skull, sending it straight into the cave wall. Luke closed the distance and drove his kukri into its chest, pinning it to the ground. The wolf went still. He ripped the blade free as the other kukri snapped back into his hand. The last two attacked at once.

Luke threw both blades, and the weapons split again, sending four kukris flashing through the air. One wolf went down with a strangled growl, but the level-eight leader slipped between the other blades and vanished into the mist. Luke turned too late. The wolf slammed into him and carried him out of the cave, and he landed hard on his back, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The wolf came down on top of him, jaws wide. Luke raised a kukri at the last second and drove it into the creature's mouth.

It thrashed, fighting to close its jaws around the blade, while Luke's arm shook under its weight. A skeletal hand seized the wolf by the neck. Princess Charlie tore it off him, but the beast twisted in her grip and raked its claws across her ribs. A hairline crack spread across one of the bones. Luke caught sight of it and pushed the thought aside. He would deal with it later, assuming they survived. Charlie didn't let go. She activated [Charge], and her body shot forward.

The wolf twisted in her grip, driving its claws deeper between her ribs, but Charlie didn't slow down. Its head struck the cave wall with a thunderous crack. [Princess Charlie has slain a Mist Wolf – Lvl 8] [Princess Charlie's [Warrior] class has reached Level 5!] (+2 Strength, +1 Agility, +1 Endurance, +1 Vitality, +1 Free Point.) Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

[Princess Charlie has unlocked a new Class Skill] Luke pushed himself to his feet, breathing hard, both blades still raised. Nothing else came through the storm. He edged toward the cave entrance. The blizzard had finally arrived in full force, and outside, a solid wall of white swallowed everything as snow twisted through the freezing wind. There were no more wolves, but Luke still couldn't shake one question. Were they already here... or did they track me down? The cave showed no signs of recent use.

There were no bones, no fur, and no animal scent, nothing to suggest the wolves lived there.

"Good work." Luke let out a slow breath. Princess Charlie raised one bony hand and held it there.

"Fine. Just this once." He slapped his palm against hers, and Charlie answered with a satisfied rattle. Luke pulled the branches from Charlie's rib cage and tossed them beside the fire pit. Then he dragged the dead wolves inside one by one, arranging them in a rough circle around it. The blood hardly mattered in that cold, especially now that his fingers were almost completely numb. Luke dropped to the ground and leaned against one of the corpses, its thick fur shielding him from the worst of the wind.

Then he channeled mana into the ring, igniting the fire. The warmth came immediately, and it was glorious. Feeling returned to his hands in sharp, painful pulses, and for a moment, he almost let himself relax. Almost. The notification still hovered at the edge of his vision. [Princess Charlie has unlocked a new Class Skill]"Keep watch." Charlie was already standing at the cave entrance, kukri in hand, staring out at the endless white. The cold meant nothing to her, and neither did exhaustion.

Luke looked back at the wolves. Their outer fur was thick and coarse, but the layer underneath was incredibly dense, perfect insulation.

"I need gear," he muttered. He ran his fingers through the nearest wolf's coat. The underlayer was soft and warm. I could make my own coat. The idea would have to wait. Right now, getting warm came first. Luke pulled the bodies closer, turning the circle of corpses into a makeshift heated nest. Blood coated his arms, but he didn't care. Once he could feel his fingers again, he looked at Charlie. A hairline crack ran across one of her ribs, but she stood as if nothing had happened.

Her fighting style still didn't suit the kukris. Charlie fought with strength, not precision. The weapons were short and fast, designed for agile fighters, while her skeletal frame was built for something heavier. She had looked far more natural fighting with her fists. Luke opened his companion's system window. [New Class Skill available – Select one] There were five options. He checked the first. [Quick Dodge (Common)]: The warrior uses her agility to evade attacks with a rapid sidestep.

Effectiveness depends on the user's ability to read an opponent's movements. May fail against unpredictable or high-speed attacks. Luke paused. It could be useful. Charlie was strong, but that didn't make her durable, and a good evasion skill might save her when brute force wasn't enough. He kept reading. [Quick Slash (Common)]: The warrior performs a swift attack, using rapid movement to pressure the enemy.

Though less powerful than a [Heavy Strike], it is ideal for maintaining mobility and controlling the pace of battle. Luke shook his head.

"Not yet. You don't even have the right weapon for it." The kukri looked almost ridiculous against Charlie's massive skeletal frame. A longsword would make a much bigger difference, and a greatsword would be even better. He checked the third skill. [Double Strike (Uncommon)]: A fluid combination of two rapid attacks, each aimed at a vulnerable point. Though each strike deals reduced damage, the sequence increases pressure on the enemy and makes defending more difficult.

It was a better skill, but it had the same problem: Charlie didn't have the right weapon. Luke remembered getting higher-rarity options when his [Assassin] class reached level 5, including [Assassin's Dash], then moved on. [Weak Taunt (Uncommon)]: The warrior releases a loud, intimidating shout that draws nearby enemies, forcing them to focus their attacks on the user. Effective for protecting allies, but may fail against higher-level opponents. Luke tilted his head and tried to imagine Princess Charlie shouting.

He couldn't. Still, it was useful. In a fight like this, she could draw the enemies' attention and keep them away from everyone else.

"She's still too fragile," Luke muttered. The skill was only useful if Charlie could survive being the focus of every enemy nearby. Even with her new body, she wasn't ready for that yet, and the crack in her rib made that clear enough. They needed damage or survivability, not a faster way to put her in danger. Rejected. Luke opened the final option. [Iron Fist (Uncommon)]: The warrior channels vigor into her fists and delivers devastating blows of brute force.

A single charged strike can split wood or crack stone, making it especially destructive against unprepared enemies. Luke read the description again, then looked at Charlie. It was perfect. One punch had sent a wolf into the wall, and the fight had already proven that the skill suited her.

"What do you think, Charlie? Iron Fist?" Charlie looked down at her hands, then punched one fist into her palm. Luke snorted.

"Yeah. Thought so." [Princess Charlie has acquired the Class Skill: Iron Fist (Uncommon)] Charlie stared at her hands for a few seconds before clenching them. A dull silver glow wrapped around the bones, hardening until her fists gleamed like steel.

"Literal iron fists," Luke muttered.

"Can't argue with the name." Charlie turned toward the cave wall, and Luke narrowed his eyes.

"Don't." She gave the wall a light tap. Stone cracked beneath her fist, and Luke stared at the thin fracture spreading from the point of impact. That had been a tap. Charlie looked back at him.

"Fine," he said.

"That'll work." The glow faded, and her hands returned to bone, but the power remained. Charlie pointed at Luke's skeletal metal gloves, then at her own fists, and finally back at him. Luke let out a quiet laugh.

"Yeah. Now we match." For some reason, Princess Charlie seemed far happier about that than she had any reason to be. She gave a pleased rattle. Then the wind stopped. There was no warning or gradual fading. One moment, the storm was roaring. The next, there was only silence. Luke rose and crept toward the cave entrance, then peered out at the clearing. Moonlight spilled across the frozen ground, turning the landscape silver and white. Moments ago, it had looked like frozen hell.

Now it was beautiful, and completely still. The forest should have been groaning beneath the weight of the ice, but it wasn't. Not a branch moved, and not a shard of ice fell from the leaves. Luke looked toward the Whitewood Forest and froze. The enormous trees stood beneath the moonlight like silent sentinels, their pale trunks rising through the blue-white leaves. But one of those trunks wasn't clean. A dark shape stood out against the bark. Luke's breath caught, and his body locked in place.

Whatever it was, he knew one thing. He was in trouble.