Chapter 9: Moonlit Shadow

I sensed something wrong in the dead of night and woke up.

I put on a coat and pants—the village boy’s clothes, too big for me, so I tightly knotted the belt.

The younger sibling, the sister, slept beside me—since I still didn’t know their names, I could only think of her that way.

To avoid waking her, I crept off the bed, gently pushed the door ajar, and peered into the cabin’s backyard.

The frozen bear corpse still lay sprawled there.

It wasn’t something two young siblings could handle alone.

I overheard them saying they’d ask the village for help during the day.

The heart tainted by the Seed of the Evil God thudded in my chest.

In the darkness, a ghostly green glow flickered, like will-o’-wisps.

I stood by the door crack, silently watching.

Without a doubt, the source of the eerie green light was jackals.

About a dozen of them.

They were drawn by the bear’s corpse—jackals, as everyone knows, are scavengers, so it seemed natural they’d come for the scent.

But was that really all?

I held my breath, studying the beasts emerging from the dark.

Their earthy fur glinted with a faint, metallic gray sheen, their bloated forms nearly as large as wolves.

They were forest gray jackals, a subspecies born from demonic corruption…

They were indeed after the bear’s corpse—but not just for its rotting flesh.

They sought the traces of black magic lingering on it.

I wasn’t sure if they were a naturally formed pack, tainted by wild magic and drawn here for food, or if they were controlled by a black sorcerer, searching for their master’s lost target.

Among the jackals, a particularly large leader sniffed the bear’s massive corpse.

It paused, as if thinking, then lowered its head, baring sharp teeth to tear off a chunk of meat.

The others, seeing this, swarmed forward, devouring the bear greedily.

From start to finish, the jackals were eerily silent, not making a single sound.

I hid behind the door, watching as the bear’s body was hollowed out bit by bit, the faint crunch of teeth gnawing echoing softly.

Gulp—I swallowed hard.

If these beasts finished the bear and left quietly, that’d be ideal.

But things rarely go as hoped.

Soon, the jackals, as if sated, raised their heads and slowly approached the cabin.

Pairs of glowing green eyes surrounded the house.

I stared silently at their hungry gazes, lifting a hand to touch my heart, feeling the ominous presence of the evil god.

Should I act?

Thud!

As I thought this, a dull sound rang out—a stone arced through the air, striking the lead jackal’s head.

I followed the sound, hearing rustling from the woods by the backyard, then saw a figure emerge.

“Come on, chase me!”

The figure taunted the jackals, hurling stones and clumps of dirt.

His aim was uncanny, nearly every throw hitting a jackal.

Though it didn’t hurt them, it drew their attention.

I saw clearly—it was the older sibling, the brother.

Seeing the jackals turn toward him, he bolted toward the woods.

The jackals let out low, staggered growls, abandoned the bear, and chased after the boy.

Why was he out here?

Wasn’t he supposed to be sleeping?

I found it absurd.

These weren’t ordinary beasts—though not full-fledged magical beasts, they were far beyond what a kid could handle.

“Tch!”

Under the back eaves was a wood-chopping axe.

I stepped outside, picked up the dull iron axe, feeling its weight in my hands.

“They went deep into the woods?”

I steadied the axe, crossed the yard, and stepped into the shadowy forest.

***

I have to lure them away!

I can’t let these beasts reach the house!

Nolan forced air through his lungs, running hard, the night breeze carrying the beasts’ foul stench.

He’d been careless.

He should’ve known leaving the bear unburied would attract scavengers!

“They’re just jackals, not fast… circle around… lead them away—then warn the village.”

No time for regret.

Thoughts flashed through Nolan’s mind.

He glanced back, but the sight made his pupils shrink.

A dozen jackals charged like mad, their bared fangs glinting, almost at his heels.

Nolan’s heart sank.

As their teeth closed in, he lunged forward two steps, but a jackal’s jaws still snapped at him.

“No—gotta move!”

Whoosh!

At that critical moment, a hemp rope snare snapped up from the grass, catching the lead jackal’s front legs and neck.

It tripped, blocking the others, who nearly crashed into it, snarling in frustration.

Yes—the snares Nolan had set in the woods for small game.

He’d deliberately run toward them.

The crisis was briefly averted, but he knew the snares, meant for small animals, wouldn’t hold jackals long.

He had to get to the village fast!

Gasping, he sucked in cold air, feeling his taut leg muscles regain strength.

He sprinted forward.

“Awoo—”

A foul gust flashed by.

Nolan’s heart jolted, and he skidded to a stop.

A massive jackal had somehow gotten ahead of him.

Unlike the others, its eyes glowed faintly red, its arched back bristling with iron-gray fur like a needle mat.

Meeting its scarlet gaze, Nolan felt a vicious, almost emotional malice—freezing him for a moment.

“No! What am I doing?”

Nolan gritted his teeth, trying to veer and run, but the jackal leader pounced instantly.

On instinct, he raised his arm to shield his neck.

Crack!

The jackal aimed for his throat but bit his forearm, blood gushing.

A heavy pressure hit him.

The massive beast lunged like a falling stone.

This is bad!

The world spun as Nolan hit the ground, realizing he’d been knocked down.

He recalled the old hunter’s warning: against pack hunters, getting pinned meant no chance to struggle—you’d be swarmed and torn apart.

“No—how could this happen!”

Nolan clenched his jaw, jamming his arm’s bone against the jackal’s teeth, using his other hand to grip its head, barely holding back its weight.

He drove his knee into the beast’s side, hoping pain would loosen its grip, but the saw-like teeth only bit deeper, grinding his bones with a sickening crunch.

Hold on, hold on—

With all his strength, he kept the struggle even.

Finally, he felt the beast’s pressure ease for a moment.

No time to wonder why the other jackals hadn’t caught up.

Nolan summoned his last strength, pushing upward to shove the leader off.

But it wasn’t helpless prey—it adjusted its stance instantly.

In the clash, boy and beast rolled down a slope for dozens of meters, until Nolan’s back slammed into a pine tree!

“Ugh!”

The impact nearly knocked him out, his head spinning, limbs going limp.

The jackal leader opened its jaws again, aiming for his throat!

Thud!

A strange sound rang out, like an overripe pumpkin smashing.

Nolan felt warm blood splash on his face.

Blood?

My blood?

He thought dazedly, his vision clearing through a haze of red.

His gaze passed the jackal’s split skull, landing on a silver-gray-haired girl drenched in blood.

Under the moonlight, the girl’s linen clothes were speckled with dark red spots.

Her right hand was behind her back, her bloodied left hand extended toward Nolan.

“Well, you’re braver than I thought.”

The girl blinked her green eyes and said so.