The group continued through the cave system. Far larger than what anyone else would have expected for a wolf den. After the fifth chamber that had both an Alpha and three Infernal Wolves the group was looking worn down.

“I say we do one more, and call it.” Holly suggested. “We have around half of our reserves. Samuel, how's your mana?”

“I’m doing decently, thanks to the pills.” She said as she swallowed one. “Once we get out of here, we all need proper medical treatment. Those things are great, but I don't trust them.”

Mathew frowned. “I’m doing good myself.”

Samuel snorted. “Yea, because I had to save your ass once that Alpha got past Tank and headed right for you. Damn beasts are smart, too smart.”

Mathew did not want to think about the mental image of his guts spewing out from the giant bite the wolf did. Healing magic did wonders, but he still felt physically weak. His mana was around 60% full.

“Okay, well let’s put it to a vote. All who want to do one more raise their hand.” Holly asked as she raised her hand.

Mathew, Lucas and Tank raised their hands, while Washington and Samuel did not.

“That's the majority. Lock and load everyone.” Holly said.

Mathew glanced at his menu, and grumbled. At this point he was used to the feeling of being near a Level up, and he could feel it now. A single Alpha wolf would push him over the edge to Level 13.

As they walked, Mathew noticed the air getting warmer, to the point he was sweating. Tank was the first to call it out. “Getting warm, does anyone know why?”

“I have a reason, but nobody here will like it.” Samuel called out.

Everyone stopped and looked at her. She sighed, “Lava. Infernal Dungeon. Demons and Devils. Hell. Fire. Kinda obvious even if you don’t play video games.”

Mathew hated to admit she was right, and mad at himself for not thinking the same. If the wolf den was tainted by the Dungeon, then it would probably have a similar environment.

“Alrighty, so what can we expect?” Mathew asked.

“Probably the final chamber if it’s this hot. Which means whatever wolves are left are down there. Be ready for a slaughter. Everyone will have to fight to their best, or we can leave now and bring more people.”

“Which I agree with.” Washington said.

“What’s the worst case if we leave now?” Holly asked.

“More wolves, probably even stronger. We risk missing the time window from resting and gathering a group. Plus a number of unknowns.” Samuel said. “Add in the fact we lose out on experience or have more people die as weaker members are brought to the fight.”

Mathew spoke up first. “Let’s do it. We end the wolves here, that is what General Payne asked of us right?” He had no intentions of doing what he was told, he simply wants credit for defeating the wolf den along with the rewards.

Everyone else hesitated, but nodded. “Let’s do it.” Holly said.

The tunnel opened up into an enormous room that had a red glow. Bones were scattered across the floor, mostly of smaller animals. Mathew did note a couple wolf shaped skulls.

On the other side of the room, a pack of wolves started to stand and growl at them. Each of them had red fur and was slightly larger than their normal counterparts. Just being on all four legs they were half a head taller than Mathew was.

The largest one had a single horn sticking out of its forehead, and was the size of a large truck. Mathew could see himself fitting into its mouth in two bites.

Less than a dozen wolves were in the den, one of which was behind the entire pack. An orange tinted glow came from two holes in the ground, which if Mathew was a betting man, would guess had lava or magma inside. He forgot which one was which in the moment.

The horned wolf raised its head and let out a howl that reverberated around the room. Mathew put his hands around his head to try and dampen the sound. “Fuck, that’s loud!”

After the howl, the entire pack charged forward. Tank gave out one of his classic battle cries and charged forward himself with his own sword held high.

Holly started to bark out orders. “Stick together! Protect Samuel and Mathew as a priority, they are the weakest in a melee. Washington, cover Tanks back! Lucas, you are on distraction duty, that big guy better not even be close enough to smell Tanks body odor!” She started to fire pot shots at the wolves. Arrow after arrow was released from her bow.

“We should just leave!” Samuel shouted, after casting a healing spell onto Tank. “This is madness!”

At that moment, a pair of wolves circled around them to cut off their only exit. “Fuck!” Holly shouted, realizing they were stuck.

Mathew turned his back toward the center of the group, focusing his attacks on any wolf out and alone. He couldn’t risk accidently attacking anyone in the group. He had one wisp to help him, while the second was hovering above Holly, firing at the same wolves as she did.

His staff was constantly firing shot after shot. He aimed for limbs and heads, maximizing injuries when he could. Occasionally if a wolf was getting too close, he would charge up a [Mana Bolt] to dissuade it from getting close.

The horned wolf was trying to join the fight, but Lucas’s lightning enhanced blades forced it to make a choice. Either attack the annoying mosquito or join it’s pack and help them. It chose the former, and was running around the room after Lucas.

“Any bright ideas?” Washington called out. He had just narrowly dodged a pair of claws only to get his left arm nicked by the maw of another wolf.

“Kill them faster!” Tank suggested. A wolf got behind him and bit down on his thigh. His shout alerting Samuel to heal, and Holly to attack the wolf to make it back away. It didn’t leave without taking a chunk of flesh with it.

It didn’t take long before a wolf risked getting close to Mathew. He was forced to use his staff as a baseball club. Luckily, Washington was right next to him and helped fight it off at that moment, even with an injured arm.

Mathew’s swing knocked it’s head to the side, opening a moment for Washington to stab at it’s exposed side. Somehow the blood was easily visable along it’s fur.

Mathew gave him a simple “Thanks,” and the fight continued.

One wolf fell dead from a lucky attack from Holly. Followed by a quick second from Mathew’s own attacks against the wolf Washington slashed at.

“I think we got these guys!” Tank shouted in joy.

“No you idiot, you never jinx it!” Washington shouted.

As if hearing Tanks boasting, the horned wolf gave up on attempting to kill Lucas and charged over to the fight. It lowered it’s head down to charge at the group, attempting to impale them.

“Look out!” Lucas shouted.

Everyone jumped out of the way, breaking the group appart. The wolves lunged at the now open party and soon it was a free for all. Lucas joined in, attempting to help Samuel out. Mathew pulled his knife out, and abandoned his staff. He swiped back and forth leaving shallow cuts that were bleeding heavily thanks to its special properties. With his off hand, he fired bolts of mana.

Mathew didn’t even realize one of his wisps was dead, courtesy of the charge attack from the horned wolf. Worry took hold of Mathew’s mind, “I have to get out of here. We bit off way more than we can chew.”

He rarely admitted he was wrong. In most cases Mathew would suffer through a situation to say he was right in the end, or prove himself to take the bite of when things went wrong. This time, he was deathly afraid he was going to be bit in the worst case of the metaphor. For once, his pride might be the death of him.

Mathew was soon standing, and saw the way out of the cave. Before he took a step away his mind went back to the time he almost abandoned Captain Henderson. He survived that fight, became stronger, and it helped cascade his public image in a positive light.

If he left everyone here, then all he worked for this far would be lost. If he died here, the results would be the same. Mathew didn’t need to think about it anymore and turned to fight.

First he went to help Tank get on his feet. He mentally ordered his sole wisp to fire at the wolves and he blasted away with his [Mana Bolt] until he was close enough to attack with his own weapon.

“Get up! Come on, we can’t die here.” Tank was soon up on his feat and started to help Holly out. Mathew saw the others were all up and everyone regrouped.

“We need to get out, now!” Lucas said, taking a glance at the exit.

The giant wolf lowered his head and rocketed toward the group in a charge. Tank held his shield out to take the hit and hopefully stop the charge.

“No, don't!” Samuel shouted, but it was too late.

The sound of metal splintering echoed followed by a gurgled gasp as Tank was impaled on the wolves horn.

He turned to the group as he was lifted in the air. “Run”

His body was thrown off the horn to the side of the den, where two wolves ran to finish him off. Washington was the first to start running away. Followed by everyone else.

Wolves chased after them. Holly turned and continued firing, while Lucas stabbed at wolves who got too close. Washington was knocked down by another wolf.

Mathew kept running away as he heard a howl once again. His eyes widened as he heard the giant wolf charged at them again. He passed Holly and Lucas as he ran, thanks to his robes.

However, it was not enough. He was too focused running away and didn’t think to look back and dodge the attack. He felt the horn impale him, and was no longer running. Looking down, he saw the black ivory stick out of his right chest covered in his blood.

“Shit!” Someone shouted, either Holly or Samuel. Mathew was lifted off his feet and thrown to the side. He heard someone cast a spell, and collided with the wall, sliding down, and blacking out.

Holly, Lucas, and Samuel were the only three to make it out.

Holly was pacing back and forth cursing up a storm. Lucas was watching the cave, to see if any wolves chased them out. While Samuel just stared at the ground in defeat. “We lost.” Was the only thing she said.

“We have to go back for them.” Holly said, starting to march back into the cave. Fear was easily seen on her face.

Lucas put a hand up and stopped her. “Hey, no we can’t. Not just us three. We need to go back to base and get help.”

“That’s hours away!” Holly screamed. “You want to let them die like that? It’s our job to protect that blue blooded bastard! Payne is going to kill us if we return and he is dead.”

“They are already dead!” Lucas shouted. “They are gone Holly. Just like everyone else who have died in battle with us. Magic can’t bring back the dead, nobody has that power. If we go back there, we will die with them.”

Holly stared at Lucas before slapping him. “Fuck you!”

Sameul put a hand on Holly’s shoulder. “He’s right. We need to get more people. The sooner we leave now, the sooner we can come back.”

Holly took a shuddering deep breath. “Fine, but I’m coming back. No matter what Payne says. I’m not going to leave Tanks’ body behind like that, nor Washington. Not even Mat deserves to be eaten.”

The walk back was long and quiet. Holly completely blamed herself for what happened. When they arrived, they were quickly taken to General Payne to report on what happened, and get an entire force back to finish the wolves off once and for all.