Stranger: Back Home

January 11, 3038

The wolf region was quiet, shrouded in mist and the faint glow of dawn. Aerum had been lying low since the chaos she caused last night, hoping Agent M's fury would push him to charge recklessly into the region. But to her dismay, he had done nothing of the sort. He waited—silent and unmoving, as though his patience was infinite.

Aerum stretched as she stood, brushing off the dirt from her clothes. Her thoughts churned, planning her next move, when an eerie sound pierced the stillness.

Howl!

The haunting cry sent shivers down her spine. She turned toward the source, her breath catching as her eyes widened.

Emerging from the shadows was a wolf unlike any she'd ever seen. Towering at over six feet, it was a monstrous beast. Its massive body rippled with muscle, its coarse fur covered in scars that spoke of countless battles. Its yellow eyes burned with rage, scanning the forest for the intruder that dared trespass on its territory.

Aerum froze, her heart pounding in her chest. The wolf's teeth gleamed as it snarled, pacing with frustration. Its instincts told it someone was near, but it couldn't pinpoint her exact location.

Suddenly, the wolf leapt with terrifying speed, claws slashing through the air toward an unseen target.

"Dodge! Roll forward!" Renhuang's voice screamed in Aerum's head.

Without hesitation, Aerum obeyed, rolling across the ground just as the wolf's claws shredded the earth where she had stood.

Aerum scrambled to her feet, adrenaline surging through her veins. "Big sis, what's going on?!"

Renhuang's tone was half amused, half serious. "Looks like your luck's run out, Aerum."

"What do you mean?" she demanded, dodging another swipe from the massive creature.

Renhuang sighed. "We used a low-tier concealment formation to hide you. It works fine against humans and their tech, but this wolf? It's no ordinary beast. This is an alpha—a leader of its pack. Its instincts are sharper than any sensor. It can't see you, but it feels you."

Aerum ducked under a feral lunge, her eyes wide with panic. "Great! So what do I do now?"

Renhuang's voice turned calculating. "Agent M isn't coming inside the region. It's time to take the fight to him."

Aerum barely evaded the wolf's snapping jaws, her frustration mounting. "What are you even talking about?! I'm dealing with a wolf the size of a bear!"

Renhuang's laugh was infuriatingly calm. "Simple. Piss the wolf off even more and lead it straight to Agent M. He's just sitting there, after all. Isn't making people mad your specialty?"

Aerum dove to the side, feeling the rush of air as the wolf's claws narrowly missed her again. "Big sis, this thing is already furious! I don't think it needs my help to get angrier!"

"Perfect," Renhuang said smoothly. "Push it over the edge. Lead it out of the region and make it think you're its real target. Once you're close to Agent M, let the wolf do the rest."

Aerum paused just long enough to dodge another strike, sweat dripping down her face. "You want me to what?!"

"And," Renhuang added with a mischievous tone, "while you're at it, make it look like you're the alpha of Agent M's pack. That'll really get under his skin."

Aerum groaned, darting away as the wolf charged again. Its claws carved deep gashes into the tree trunk behind her. "Fine! But this better work. Looks like it's going to be a long day."

She steeled herself, firing a few well-aimed shots near the wolf's paws to annoy it further. The beast roared, shaking the forest with its anger, and began chasing her with single-minded fury.

"Alright, big guy," Aerum muttered under her breath as she sprinted toward the edge of the wolf region. "Let's pay Agent M a little visit."

Outside the wolf region, Agent M stood rigid, his arms crossed as he observed the forest in silence. His subordinates kept a wary watch, though their nerves were starting to fray from the hours of waiting.

Then, from deep within the forest, a thunderous roar shattered the quiet.

Agent MA stiffened. "Sir, something's coming."

Agent M's eyes narrowed. The ground began to tremble slightly, the rhythmic pounding of heavy footsteps growing louder.

From the shadows, the rhythmic pounding of heavy footsteps grew louder, each step sending faint vibrations through the ground. The agents froze, hearts pounding as an oppressive aura swept over them, heavy and suffocating. It was the unmistakable presence of a monster—something primal, something deadly.

Agent MA whispered hoarsely, "It's coming… it's huge."

As they braced for what was to emerge, something even more unexpected happened. Out of the darkness, a figure appeared. Aerum stepped forward, her movements deliberate, and with a wave of her hand, the concealment formation that had kept her hidden dissolved into the air.

She stood before the agents, her back to them as she faced the monstrous wolf that had been stalking her. With a bold and almost reckless gesture, Aerum spread her arms wide and declared, "These humans behind me—they are my subordinates. Together, we will hunt you, Alpha. Your reign ends here!"

The wolf, seeing her clearly for the first time without concealment, paused, its glowing eyes narrowing in confusion before quickly flaring with unrestrained rage. Its massive body tensed, muscles rippling as it let out a piercing howl.

Howl!

The sound was like an explosion, reverberating through the air. It wasn't just a cry; it was a challenge, a declaration of dominance. The agents, despite their training, felt a shiver run down their spines. Some staggered back, trembling as they instinctively clutched their weapons.

Before the echoes of the howl faded, more howls answered it from the depths of the forest. The sound multiplied, each one adding to the growing dread that filled the air.

Agent M's sharp gaze shifted to Aerum, who stood defiantly even as the alpha wolf's pack began to rally. His teeth clenched in anger. "She's baiting us!" he hissed.

Aerum, however, didn't seem concerned. She smirked, her confidence unshaken, and with a flicker, she vanished once again into the shadows, her concealment reforming around her like a cloak.

"Fall back!" Agent M barked, his voice cutting through the rising chaos.

The agents didn't need to be told twice. They turned and began retreating swiftly, moving with the precision of a disciplined unit.

The alpha wolf, watching the humans flee, snarled in fury. Its instincts roared that this was humiliation—a challenge to its authority, a mockery of its power. It let out another bone-chilling howl, commanding its pack to pursue.

Howl!

The pack answered in unison, their collective voices a bloodthirsty symphony that filled the forest. The alpha charged forward, but it didn't attack immediately. Instead, it maintained a calculated distance, ensuring its pack would catch up and surround its prey before it delivered the killing blow.

One by one, the pack appeared from the shadows, their glowing eyes and snarling jaws creating an encircling storm of predators. When they reached the alpha, it stopped, raising its massive head to let out a commanding roar.

Howl!

The pack obeyed instantly, scattering into formation as they began the hunt in earnest. Their prey—the humans who dared challenge their alpha—was within reach.

Agent M glanced back as they ran, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. "Aerum…" he growled under his breath. "You've really done it this time."

The hunt had begun.

The pack of wolves moved with ruthless efficiency, their powerful legs propelling them forward like a tide of fury. Their first targets were the eight injured agents left behind from the earlier chaos. The wolves attacked mercilessly.

Teeth tore through flesh as one wolf bit down on an agent's neck, ending his cries abruptly. Another wolf sank its fangs into an arm and ripped it away with horrifying ease. The injured struggled, clawing at the dirt in a desperate attempt to crawl to safety, but it was futile. Their screams echoed in the forest, a haunting plea for help.

"Help us! Commander! Anyone!" one cried, his voice breaking in terror.

But the surviving agents kept running. The mission had shifted from attack to survival, and Agent M's order to abandon the injured was clear. The pack pursued relentlessly, their snarls growing louder as they began to close in, attempting to encircle the retreating group.

Aerum sat high in a tree, her legs crossed as she observed the carnage below. Her expression was impassive, but her sharp eyes tracked every movement. The hunters were becoming the hunted.

Agent M, sensing the inevitability of the confrontation, finally gave the order. "Enough running! Prepare to fight!"

The agents halted, weapons drawn, their breaths coming in sharp gasps. They formed a loose defensive circle, knowing the odds were not in their favor.

"I'll handle the alpha," Agent M said, his tone cold and resolute. "The rest of you—stay alive. That's an order."

Before anyone could respond, Agent M vanished into the shadows, his Shadow Traverse Technique making him a blur of motion. He reappeared near the towering alpha wolf, his hand cloaked in dark energy as he unleashed the Shadow Blade Technique, aiming for a swift kill.

The alpha wolf's instincts flared. Its massive body twisted with unnatural speed, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. A guttural growl escaped its throat, filled with primal fury.

With a deafening howl, the wolf lashed out with its claws, swiping at Agent M. He dodged effortlessly, countering with a sharp burst of energy using the Shadow Puch Technique. The impact sent the wolf skidding back, but it barely flinched, shaking off the blow like it was nothing more than an annoyance.

As Agent M readied his next strike, a gunshot rang out in the distance.

Bang!

One of the agents dropped to the ground, lifeless, a bullet hole through his chest. The pack was thinning their numbers, and the urgency of the situation intensified.

Agent M cursed under his breath. "Damn it!" He decided to up the ante, blending deeper into the darkness to attempt a surprise attack. He used the shadows to mask his presence, striking when least expected. But the alpha wolf's instincts once again saved it, and though Agent M managed to leave a shallow gash on its flank, it wasn't enough to turn the tide.

The battle raged on for thirty grueling minutes. The wolves lost several members of their pack, their cries of pain echoing in the night. The agents, too, suffered devastating losses—of the original 28, only seven remained. These five were all squad leaders, experts in the shadow technique, but even they were battered and exhausted.

The alpha wolf, hearing the anguished cries of its pack, bared its teeth in rage. It snarled at Agent M before letting out a commanding howl.

Howl!

The remaining wolves immediately heeded the call, retreating into the forest. The agents, though wary, didn't give chase. They were too drained, and their numbers too few to risk another confrontation.

Agent M watched the retreating wolves with a grim expression. Once the forest had gone silent again, he turned his rage elsewhere.

"Aerum!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the stillness. "Had your fun, didn't you? This is how you survive—hiding in the shadows, just like you did when your father and mother were slaughtered before your eyes!"

The words sliced through the air like a blade. Hidden in the trees, Aerum froze, her eyes widening in shock before narrowing with fury. Memories she had buried deep began to resurface, clawing their way to the forefront of her mind. Her lips trembled before she bit down on them, hard enough to draw blood, as she fought to suppress the rising anger.

Her cold, glowing eyes locked onto Agent M. With deliberate calm, she deactivated her concealment and jumped down from the branch, landing softly in front of him.

Agent M turned at the sound, his mouth opening to say something, but Aerum cut him off.

"It seems," she said, her voice icy and controlled, "that you're truly eager to die."