*Contract: Survive

A beast of legend has sensed your presence and deemed you a threat. Choose to stand your ground, facing a monster of the likes you've never seen, or flee and desperately try to preserve your life.

Fear grips me, only now realizing the gravity of the situation. We already lost a member, even the system thinks it's useless. Will I really die so soon after coming here? Why did I have to come here? Why couldn't I refuse?

I see pairs of hungry eyes glare at me through the darkness, only visible because of my enhanced Dexterity stat. I look to my party and see them frozen, petrified at the sight of their dead companion. I hear a growl coming from the creature in front of me, the gravelly sound sends shivers down my spine, as if someone or something, was breathing down my neck.

"You..." A single word spoken, eyes that see straight through me, an aura of blood lust that put Rorik's to shame. An impossibility... it was sentient, it could be communicated with. I feel a glimmer of hope watching the beast hesitate as it watches us.

My hopes shatter as my party, consumed by fear, recklessly throw themselves towards the monster. It lets out a roar and moves so fast it almost teleports and slashes at Mark, who surprisingly blocks it, barely. I see him get knocked back several meters, his sword with gashes in the blade.

Seeing that they can at least hold off the creature, I turn tail and try to run. My best bet is to try and make it out of the forest. I sprint as fast as I can away from the battlefield, I still hear the sounds of fighting coming from the four as they struggle to survive.

Eventually even that fades, all I can hear is the sound of my heartbeat as I run, keep running, go faster. I see the light of day at the end of the forest, the canopy opening up, the mist dispersing. I only have a few dozen more meters, only a little more and I'll have survived.

A black shadow enters my vision, blocking my path. The fog returns as a growl echoes through the area. My body goes cold, looking forward is like looking towards my own death. There lies the body of Mark, the rude pseudo captain, the D rank mercenary. His body was thrown from behind me, turning around I see those cruel eyes staring back at me once again.

I run towards the opening, trying to get back, as close to town as possible. Almost as if it was toying with me, it reappearing in front of me just... watching. As I sit frozen, my heartbeat and breathing the only sounds, it speaks again.

"I... see. You... aren't one... yet...you are?"

I look towards the monster confused. Not understanding what it means, what its saying. Though I did know I wasn't leaving here alive. I took a deep breath and sharpened my senses for the battle to come. I draw my sword, the runes glowing a molten red, as if excited. I see the wolves eyes dilate as it lets out a roar once again.

*Mushin Activated

Time slows as I try to remember, how did it attack? It rushed forwards and slashed with its right hand. I saw it disappear from my sight and I duck low to my left, only to feel a breeze pass over me and see the beasts hand where my head just was. I steel my gaze and reverse my grip, slashing at its arm, trying to remove it, at least land a blow.

I manage to scratch it, just barely drawing blood before it jumps backwards, howling in what I assume to be pain. I see the wound bleeding far more than it looked like it was supposed to, the blood was even turning black. My sword starts to glow, almost like it enjoyed the taste of blood.

Distracted by the glow, I failed to notice the enemy in front of me. Looking forward I lock eyes with the beast, seeing only hatred in those bloodshot eyes. I feel by ribs crack as I fly backwards from the blow, a tree stopping my flight as I collapse to the ground.

Coughing up blood, I plant my sword into the ground, trying to get to my feet. My bones creak as I slowly stand, black spots fill my vision as I look up, expecting to see death coming towards me, but I don't.

I see the back of someone who I was never happier to see. He turned to me, trademark grin lost, a look of calm, a glint in his eye the only thing betraying his rage, something that scared me more than the wolf in front of me. As the tension left my body and I collapsed back onto the ground, I was left with little but a sentence.

"Well fought, but its my turn. I'll take care of everything."