Chapter 71 ~Level Up: Survive the Hunt~
(Fiona's POV)
“Loki?” I nearly screamed. “What the fuck is Loki doing here?”
He looked even more dangerous in this realm. Dark stripes crawled all over his skin, giving him a demon-like appearance.
‘Rhia? What's happening?’ I mindlinked my wolf.
‘This is the werewolf test.’ Rhia's voice echoed in my chest. ‘Werewolves are ruled by primal instincts. Rage, dominance, the hunt.’
‘Wait, so I have to fight him? I can't fight him.’
You've got to be kidding me!
Combat?
I was going to fail so badly.
Loki ran his fingers along the blade of his sword. ‘Today, you die, Fiona Hepburn.’
With no warning, he charged at me.
‘Gosh, Do I at least get a weapon!’ I mindlinked Rhia.
‘Look down.’
I looked down and spotted a stick. ‘Seriously? A stick? Did you see him take down three Eldritch horrors?’
He almost slashed off my head. I ducked at the last minute, and my life flashed before my eyes.
I fell hard unto the snow. But he was at me again, charging with the sword.
I jumped up, and as he got close to me, I whacked him on the head with the stick as hard as I could, while I avoided the sharp end of the sword.
He staggered backwards and blood oozed from the spot I'd hit.
I winced at the sight of the blood.
He recovered quickly and walked up to me, this time, his stride was slow and precise. “You think you can escape me? I'll make sure you're trapped in this realm forever.”
A cold chill went down my spine. His words sounded like a promise.
When he struck again, the blade slashed through my upper arm.
I cried out at the sharp pain that tore through. It began bleeding profusely.
Angrily, I raised the stick in an attempt to whack him across the head again, but this time, he ducked. And his sword slashed through my left leg.
He knocked the stick from my right hand, causing it to fall down to the ground.
With no other weapon and two bleeding wounds, I had no other choice but to run.
I began running as fast as my legs could carry me away from him, but with the loss of blood, I was getting exhausted.
He sauntered after me, not bothering to run. “You can run, Fi Fi. But you can't hide.”
My legs were sinking into the snow as I ran. The entire scene was an endless stream of ice.
I spotted a small depression where I could hide for a while.
I ran there and hid. The pain in my arms and legs from the cut was growing rapidly.
I could feel him approaching. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” He said in a singsong voice and chuckled darkly.
I tried to control my shaky breathing and quiet my whimpers. Fear was clawing through me.
“There you are!” His voice startled me as he appeared at my back. “You're not so dumb not to know that werewolves have a scent instinct.”
“Please, please… just let me go.” I begged him, knowing it was impossible.
A scowl formed on his face. He bent down and began dragging me across the snow.
I kicked and thrashed in protest but he roughly jerked me along the way. He was whistling an eerie tone.
The smell of blood and ice filled my nostrils. I was slipping in and out of consciousness.
Finally, he dragged me to where he left his sword. He retrieved it and came back to me with the sword in hand. He raised it up in attack to slash my head off. “Goodbye, Fiona.”
All I could think was, ‘Have I lose this level?’ ‘Would I die in the real world?’
I was weak.
So weak.
But I could see the sword coming down at me, it was so fast… yet, so slow.
‘Use your powers!’ Rhia echoed in my mind.
Wait… I can use my powers here? ‘I thought you said this level was combat?’
Suddenly, I felt hopeful.
I closed my eyes and focused. A thin strand of light came from my hands. It was so small… but, it managed to sweep the sword away from Loki's hands.
He chuckled, looking back at his sword in the distance.
“Oh, I'm scared.” He mocked me. “You know I can just strangle you. You know that, right?”
“Thanks for the brilliant idea.” This time, I used all my energy to summon my powers. A bright burst of sparks emanated from my hands.
I held onto Loki's neck in a tight grip and never let go. He coughed and choked.
The sparks shot through him like electricity,searing through him from the inside out. He was frozen in place, his mouth still open, his eyes still widened. He looked pretty much alive.
The only reason I knew he was not alive was because he'd stopped protesting.
A loud thunder and lightning struck across the sky. Then the ground reverberated.
Loki dissolved into smoke.
And there was silence.
Suddenly I heard the messenger's voice. “Werewolf Test, Passed.”
Relief washed over me.
–----------
Two passed. One more to go.
I willed my body to be strong.
“Lycan Test.” The moon goddess messenger spoke. “You must deliver the elixir to the well of life. If you do this successfully, you shall pass this Level and be granted your reward. If you lose, all other levels have been forfeited.”
And, I would also lose my Tribrid powers… forever. A sudden feeling of urgency enveloped me.
I didn't just pass two levels to fail the most important one. I must pass, and by the gods, I will.
The messenger handed me an elixir in a delicate-looking vial. “The rules of this level are one, do not use powers in this level. Two, do not give the Elixir to anybody. If you do, you lose.”
I nodded in understanding, trying to control the dread that overcame me.
I walked towards the Lycan mirror. So this was it?
I climbed in, but this time, it wasn't a spiral tub.
I was faced with a large wall clock. It's hands went back in time rapidly.
I was growing dizzy, overwhelmed and confused.
Suddenly the clock stopped and exploded.
I felt myself land on the ground with a hard thud.
The first thing I checked was the elixir. It was intact. The container was surprisingly sturdy for how delicate it looked.
I quickly dusted myself up and looked around.
The woods?
But these woods looked familiar… too familiar.
And how was I supposed to find this ‘Well of Life’?
I walked deeper into the woods in search. There was a gloomy feel to this realm. Something just didn't feel right.
Wait… hold up a minute. Were these the woods in my neighborhood?
No way!
It looked like it but was way different. Almost ancient.
‘Rhia, can you believe it?’ I mindlinked my wolf.
No response.
‘Rhia?’ There was nothing.
With dread, I began to realise why she wasn't responding.
Because she wasn't here.
In this realm, it was me… alone.
Fear gripped me at the thought.