Demon Wolf

Mister? Really? Wolf blinked at the title. “I’m twenty-one.”

The youth nodded, smiling. “I knew it! You waited until you were certain you would pass the exam before trying. Right?”

You’re missing the point. He burned to say he was not old, but recalled how twenty-year-olds seemed ancient back when he was a kid.

“I’m pretty confident I can pass—” Screams interrupted Wolf’s answer.

Bloodied boys and girls scampered for the earthworks, desperate to climb ashore. They pulled themselves out of the water, their clothes torn and chunks of their flesh missing.

“I’m Jakob Silentear,” Wolf’s conversation partner introduced himself, ignoring the wailing crowd. “Are you planning to take the straight route? If you are, I would like to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement. Even if you brought a boat, mine is better equipped for the task. Most of these people will sink halfway across.”

While Jakob spoke, the boaters jeered, whistled and catcalled at the bare-assed fools who sought to reach the other shore by swimming across the ten kilometer wide body of water full of unknown dangers. The richer ones rode large barges paddled by their Sprinting Peacocks; the poorer ones rowed their small rowboats.

However, not all boat owners had relaxed, jeering faces. Some paled at the piranhas gnawing at their vessels, while elves and dwarves disdained commenting on human foolishness, doing so purely through their eyes and facial expressions.

Wolf kept gazing silently, but Jakob continued his spiel. “Those better informed know about the Bonegnasher Piranhas. They rubbed their boats with feces and urine of stronger Monster Beasts, or they directly brought their birds to scare off attackers. However, that’s not the only obstacle; in the deepest trench, around the artificial lake’s middle section, Earth Pavilion Elders deployed River Krakens, while Lightning Eels swim in the rocky shallows on the far side.”

Jakob gazed at Wolf’s face, which remained impassive at the mention of such powerful aquatic monsters so he continued.

“Sprinting Peacocks and Monster Beast odors will attract the late Blood Saturating realm krakens, while Lightning Eels are fiercely territorial and will shock any intruders. My boat is small, but my family prepared it explicitly for this scenario. I can help a lot.”

Finally, Wolf examined Jakob again, glancing away from a girl who fled the water with a thrashing piranha flapping from her butt. “So, you’re proposing a partnership?”

“No, no.” Jakob shook his head. “Not at all. I will help you pass to the best of my ability, but I will be your underling and follow your orders. My mother told me I’m weak and that I should use my brains to get by in life. However, brains alone aren’t enough. I come from a small house and we’re a large clan’s intelligence service. I can only contribute information. Even the techniques we practice are just to enhance our senses, memory and speed, so that we can get away.”

I’ve been burned by friends and allies already. Wolf’s first instinct was to say no; however, then he recalled his father’s words. ‘No man is a lone star. Human is a pack animal.’ Dad was right. I got betrayed once and profited countless times. I should have faith in people.

“But what makes you think I’m strong?” Wolf asked, even though he had made his decision.

“Plenty of things,” Jakob replied. “Some of the large clan’s young mistresses shied away from you, either in fear or embarrassment. Several girls looked towards you in terror when they arrived. You refused alliances and decided to go on your own, despite so many people offering to partner up. You ate and drank like you’re on a picnic. But most importantly, you’re old. That means you took your time to prepare for the exam, missing one or two chances for the sake of making sure you’re admitted.”

Well, most of his reasoning is sound. But I’m not old! 

“Kid, don’t call me old anymore,” Wolf said, admitting he was old; twice in one sentence. “But you’re right, for the most part. We can team up, as long as you don’t slow me down and as long as you can take care of yourself enough not to get eaten. I’m Wolf, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you.” Jakob nodded. “Do you want us to take my boat now, Wolf? The swimmers have left the lake.”

Wolf shook his head, surprising Jakob. “I’ll probably sink it. I’ll swim, and we can meet on the other shore.”

The response caught Jakob by surprise, and Wolf was gone before he could react. He stared with disbelief for a moment, then beamed a smile and rushed towards the water. Even after hearing about the Monster Beasts in the water, Wolf still chose to swim. The fact confirmed Jakob’s choice.

Wolf dove in, hardly making a splash, and sank like a rock. He shuddered at the tingling icy sensation and started stroking freestyle without surfacing.

The examiner, who held a disdainful smirk while observing naive children jump into the lake, cocked her eyebrow. She observed with interest while the crowd jeered at the idiot who dared jump into the water after so many had failed.

Moments later, Jakob reached the waterline, summoned his two person canoe and started rowing.

Wolf swam under the clear water’s surface. Blood and splashes attract piranhas, so he decided to minimize the disturbances he caused.

The water is cold, meaning the fish should be less active. I don’t think they’ll attack me unless I disturb a shoal or their nests. Wolf coated himself in Qi and propelled himself through the water faster than an adult man could sprint; swimming ever upward to counter the sinking pull of his weight.

At this rate, I ought to cross the lake in fifteen minutes. Wolf looked around the water, spotting underwater nests of woven aquatic weeds and branches. Those are piranha hives. Approaching within ten meters is a challenge to the shoal.

Wolf’s lips drew into a one-sided smirk, recalling headmaster Smith’s lessons on preparation and knowledge from half a decade ago. I wonder how that old kook’s doing? Did he arrange a funeral for me, or does he believe I will return?

Wolf zoomed by a patrolling shoal, but the fish were slow to react and missed their chance to catch up. As he passed lethargic disinterested swarms of underwater vultures, rumble and snapping entered Wolf’s ear. Despite the water’s clearness, the visibility was less than ninety meters; however, sound carried much better, and Wolf heard the cracks as if someone snapped wood next to his ear.

Jakob was right. This should be the River Krakens sinking ships. Distorted screams entered Wolf’s ears, yet none of those panicked yells were cut off. Krakens are letting them escape? There’s no way Monster Beasts would let Qi-filled manling meals escape. Are they tame?

Wolf considered the thought for a moment. It’s quite possible. They are scaring these kids, making them push through their panic to join their organization. And the River Krakens get to eat chicken.

He realized that while manling screams persisted, the giant squids strangled bird shrieks in mere moments.

Wolf kept piercing the water like a harpoon, surfacing for the first time to draw air and see the aftermath of the River Kraken attack. Speeding across the lake’s surface, he filled his lungs with air. A moment before diving, Wolf took in the scene before him.

Giant tentacles, thick as a grown man’s thigh, weaved about, squeezing wooden vessels into splinters. Krakens snatched anything edible and pulled it under water while throwing manlings about. It was a dramatic sight, however, the Monster Beasts did little damage.

Wolf estimated most people suffered light bruising, maybe minor fractures. The giant squids were certainly more merciful than he was when dealing with road-ragers. He noticed that elves and dwarves had passed without casualties, as did Atlanta Franklin and several others.

It seems Jakob wasn’t the only one with extra information, and that Atlanta didn’t really tell me everything she knew. She passed the River Krakens despite having a Sprinting Peacock aboard her paddle barge.

Wolf dived as he entered the krakens’ territory, and moments later, a giant gray tentacle came whirling at him from the left. If he was in real danger, Wolf would have drawn Book to sever the limb, or kill the creature outright, but since it was a sham, he felt bad about using lethal ordinance against a performer bluffing to scare him.

The rubbery appendage covered with suction pads smacked towards him, and Wolf met the blow with his Qi-wrapped fist. The impact sent him tumbling through the water. In turn, the Monster Beast let out a pained squeal.

After a moment, a giant pitch black eye rose from the depths, and Wolf saw the cephalopod’s main body. The kraken had a wicked curved beak and eight eyes like a spider. Two large ones were over four meters across, while the smaller ones were roughly Wolf’s size.

The Monster Beast seethed with bloodlust and desire to fight. Wolf summoned Book into his hand, ready for a confrontation. However, the appearance of the weapon, combined with its master’s instructions, reined in the River Kraken’s fury.

The vengeful, giant squid shot a cloud of sticky ink at Wolf and unleashed a sound which eerily matched human jeer.