Chapter 26: Duel of Blood and Moonlight
The moon hung high above, pale and silent, casting a silvery sheen across the battered battlefield.
Lei Feng didn't move.
Neither did Scar Fang.
The world shrank to a heartbeat—just the two of them, predator and prey.
But who was who?
The wind shifted. A single leaf drifted down, spinning lazily through the cold night air.
The instant it touched the ground—
Scar Fang charged.
Fast.
Not just fast—absurdly fast. Its hulking frame blurred, claws dragging through the earth like blades. Dirt and shattered roots flew in its wake as it surged forward.
Lei Feng reacted purely on instinct. His body moved before his mind caught up—dodging left, twisting sharply.
The Alpha's claws missed his neck by a hair's breadth.
But the wind pressure alone drew blood.
---
–5 HP
HP: 145/150
---
"Tch—!" Lei Feng gritted his teeth and lashed out with his blade.
Clang!
Sparks danced as metal met claw.
The impact jolted through his arms. His sword vibrated violently, threatening to fly from his grip. Scar Fang's strength was monstrous—each blow like a battering ram.
The Alpha didn't retreat.
It pressed forward relentlessly, jaws snapping inches from his throat, claws striking in a brutal rhythm.
Lei Feng was forced back—step by step, blow by blow.
He ducked under another swipe and slashed upward. The blade carved across Scar Fang's shoulder, cutting through muscle and fur. Blood spurted—
But the beast didn't even flinch.
Instead, it grinned.
A chill ran down Lei Feng's spine.
Its eyes glowed with eerie crimson light.
Not feral. Not wild.
Focused. Intelligent.
This wasn't just a beast. This was a commander—a king among monsters.
Lei Feng's breath quickened—not from fear, but from tension. Excitement. The fever of battle.
"Fine," he growled, planting his feet. "You want a real fight?"
He surged forward, sword slicing in a brutal arc.
Scar Fang raised a paw to block—but Lei Feng twisted mid-swing, faking the strike.
He dropped low, rolled past the Alpha's side, and slashed across its hind leg.
Scar Fang snarled in pain and spun, its tail whipping toward Lei Feng like a spiked flail.
Lei Feng crossed his arms in defense.
Wham!
The hit sent him flying into a tree.
CRACK!
Bark exploded as his back hit the trunk. He dropped to one knee, coughing, vision swimming.
---
–25 HP
HP: 120/150
---
"Damn... it's like fighting a walking siege weapon," he muttered.
Scar Fang didn't give him time to recover. It leapt—fangs bared, claws gleaming.
But Lei Feng was ready.
He bolted to the side with keen perception and agility.
His body blinked sideways, reappearing just behind the Alpha. A flash of light trailed in his wake.
He twisted and drove his sword toward Scar Fang's exposed flank—
Critical Hit!
The blade sank deep.
Scar Fang roared and staggered.
But instead of retreating, it spun toward him, jaws snapping.
Lei Feng ripped the sword free and flipped back, narrowly avoiding another lunge.
He landed hard, rolled once, then came up on one knee, panting.
The forest around them looked like a battlefield.
Trees gouged. Soil churned. Blood soaking the ground in thick puddles.
The other wolves circled at a distance, watching—but not daring to interfere.
This was their Alpha's fight now.
Scar Fang paced now, slow and deliberate, its breath a guttural rasp echoing through the clearing. Silver-flecked blood oozed from the deep gash on its flank where Lei Feng's blade had struck true, matting the dark fur and glistening under the pale moonlight.
It was no longer the beast that charged with blind fury.
It had learned.
And so had Lei Feng.
He rose to full height, chest heaving. Blood stained his clothes, and every breath stung like fire in his ribs.
His muscles screamed—a tapestry of bruises flowering beneath his skin.
Yet his eyes—cold, sharp, unyielding—remained locked on the predator before him.
In. Out. Calm. Cold.
This wasn't about dominance anymore.
This was about survival.
Scar Fang lunged—but this time, not straight. It twisted in mid-air and vanished into the treeline.
"Huh?" Lei Feng's brows furrowed in confusion.
Around him, the surrounding wolves tensed. Even they seemed unsure, a ripple of doubt running through the pack.
Was their Alpha abandoning them?
Lei Feng's eyes narrowed. "No," he muttered, tightening his grip on his sword. "It's not running. It's hiding."
He scanned the forest, instincts prickling.
Zzzhh—
A chill clawed down his spine.
Too late.
Scar Fang erupted from behind him, a blur of silver and shadow, pouncing with the force of a landslide.
Its dark grey fur now shimmered with a silver aura—lunar energy, thick and alive, coursing like wildfire through its veins.
Lei Feng spun, raising his sword at the last possible moment. He gripped the hilt with his right hand—and the blade with his left.
Steel bit into his palm. Blood ran down in a thin crimson stream.
Smash!
Sparks exploded as claw met steel.
Scar Fang's talons crashed down like thunder, forcing Lei Feng back. He held firm, muscles straining.
But the wolf didn't relent.
It growled, its silver aura intensifying.
Its entire frame bulked up—fur rippling, veins bulging, muscles flexing with divine strength.
With a final, monstrous roar, Scar Fang slammed Lei Feng into the ground.
Boom!
The earth cratered beneath the impact.
Lei Feng coughed blood, his body screaming in protest.
---
Ding!
–20 HP
HP: 100/150
---
His arms trembled as he held the sword aloft, keeping the beast's claws from piercing his chest.
The weight of the Alpha pressed down on him, its crimson eyes gleaming with triumph.
Scar Fang stood tall, growling low, its hot breath washing over Lei Feng's face like death's whisper.
"I… I have to do something…" Lei Feng grunted. "If this keeps up… I'll be crushed."
He clenched his jaw.
"AAARGH!!"
Veins bulged across his neck and arms as he roared, summoning the last reserves of strength.
With a surge of raw power, he pushed Scar Fang off him, sending the beast skidding back a few paces.
He rolled to his feet, panting. His back soaked in sweat. His chest rising and falling in heavy gasps.
The Alpha paced slowly, eyes locked onto him. Its tongue lolled out from its blood-streaked maw.
Lei Feng's eyes narrowed.
"This wolf... it's stronger than me," he muttered. "But we're both Level Six... I should be stronger. My foundation is solid!"
He cursed under his breath, frustrated.
Then—
---
Ding!
A blue translucent screen blinked before his eyes.
> [Due to the Lunar Moon, the Lunar Moon Wolf's power is doubled.
Unlike ordinary Black Wolves, Lunar Wolves draw immense strength from the moonlight.
Under a Lunar Moon, they become deadlier—faster, stronger, and more aggressive.]
---
Lei Feng's knuckles whitened around his sword as the notification faded.
> Under the Lunar Moon, they become deadlier—faster, stronger, more aggressive.
The truth settled like ice in his gut.
"This... was never a fair fight," he whispered.
Above, the moon loomed—brilliant, merciless, and ancient.
Its silver light bathed Scar Fang like a blessing from some forgotten god. Power pulsed from the beast in waves, primal and pure.
Lei Feng staggered, breath shallow. His blood warmed the soil beneath him.
But his gaze never wavered.
"If the moon gives you strength..." he said, eyes narrowing, "...then I'll carve victory from its light."
The wind howled.
Scar Fang bared its fangs, and the final round began—with silence.
"Heh... Let's go for a second round, shall we?"
Lei Feng's voice echoed like a decree.