DIVINE BANE-Chapter 72: full moon

It was a full moon night, bright and unforgiving.

The entire village lay blanketed in an eerie silence. Not a soul stirred. Doors were bolted. Windows shuttered. Even the usual chirps of nocturnal animals were quiet, as if the entire forest was holding its breath.

The wind whispered through the trees, rustling leaves like distant murmurs of ghosts.

Perched atop a tall tree just outside the village, Alex stood silently cloaked in moonlight and shadows. His red Asura mask was back on, hiding his expression, but his eyes scanned every corner of the dark woods with sharp focus.

His right arm, marked by the coiled tattoo of Vasuki, shimmered faintly as blue lines of light pulsed through it, subtle, but active. Ready.

Further down, near the village's eastern watch post, Rina stood still.

She clutched her staff with one hand, the other held over her heart as she prayed silently, eyes closed.

The wind gently brushed her blonde hair, and her green eyes, once filled with curiosity were now shut tight, concealing the fear that tugged at her chest.

She whispered under her breath,

"Please... don't let anyone die tonight..."

The staff in her hand vibrated slightly, sensing the tension in its wielder.

Back in the trees, Alex crouched on a sturdy branch. The forest below seemed endless, dark tendrils of mist curling up from the undergrowth. He could feel it, something was close. Something that didn't belong.

He activated a small pulse of mana through his fingers. The air shimmered slightly.

Still no movement... but it's watching.

He narrowed his gaze toward a particular section of the woods where the shadows didn't seem to move with the wind , unnatural. Still.

Behind his mask, Alex muttered quietly,

"Come out, beast. The moon is full... and I know you're hungry."

A piercing howl shattered the silence.

It came from the east, long, shrill, and hungry.

Alex's eyes snapped in that direction. From his perch in the tree, he saw movement. Fast. Blurred. Whatever it was, it wasn't just prowling anymore, it was charging.

And its target was clear.

"Rina!"

He leaped from the branch, descending like a comet through the canopy.

Down on the eastern guard post, Rina still stood, hands together, eyes closed in prayer. Her soft lips whispered a plea into the night. She hadn't sensed its approaching.

From the undergrowth, padded feet tore through soil and leaf, each step barely making a sound. The werewolf was unbelievably fast, a black blur sprinting low and deadly.

Its eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

It burst from the tree line just as Rina opened her eyes only to be met with a monstrous figure mid-leap, fangs bared and claws extended. Her green eyes widened in horror.

Her body refused to move.

"Dodge!" her mind screamed.

But her legs were frozen. Her fingers trembled on her staff. Time seemed to slow as death loomed inches away.

The werewolf lunged.

Its arm lashed out, claw slicing through the air, aiming for her throat.

Then—

Boom!

From the right, a crimson flash.

Alex, mask gleaming in the moonlight, flew in like a bullet and landed a spinning kick to the creature's ribs. The force of the blow sent the beast skidding through the dirt and crashing into the tree line, shattering a few smaller trees on impact.

Dust exploded. Leaves scattered.

Rina blinked. Her breath caught in her chest.

Alex stood between her and where the creature had been, his posture low, his right leg still in the air from the follow-through.

"You're okay," he said, not turning to look at her. His voice calm, but edged with focus.

Rina's knees gave out and she collapsed to the ground, gasping.

"I... I froze..."

Alex didn't scold her. He didn't blame her.

He simply lowered his leg and stared into the trees where the werewolf had disappeared.

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The silence was back.

But this time, it was thicker.

As the dust settled from the werewolf's abrupt departure, Alex turned sharply toward Rina.

"Rina, this isn't up for debate," he said firmly.

"Find shelter or stay back. I'll handle this."

Without waiting for a response, he dashed into the dense forest, his silhouette quickly swallowed by the shadows.

Rina stood there, gripping her staff tightly, her knuckles whitening. Her emerald eyes burned with a mix of fear, frustration, and something deeper, pride.

Who does he think he is? she thought, her heart pounding in her chest.

Charging off like he's the only one capable. I'm not some damsel in distress.

She took a step forward, then hesitated, the weight of her earlier paralysis still fresh in her mind.

But... I froze. I let fear control me.

Her gaze dropped to the ground, shame washing over her. But as the distant sounds of the forest echoed, the rustling leaves, the distant growls, her resolve hardened.

No more.

She straightened her posture, eyes narrowing with determination.

I may have faltered once, but I won't again. Alex might be strong, but he's still just a boy. And I'm not just anyone. I'm Rina, a high awakened tier mage.

Clutching her staff, she whispered an incantation, and a soft blue light enveloped her. The fear that had once paralyzed her began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound courage.

If he fights, I fight. If he stands, I stand.

With that, she took a deep breath and stepped into the forest, following the path Alex had taken, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Alex skidded to a halt in a small clearing deep within the woods, moonlight barely piercing through the thick canopy. His crimson Asura skull mask glinted faintly under the silvery light, his breathing calm but alert.

It should've landed around here...

His senses were sharp, but the forest was sharper.

Suddenly, a rustle.

Before he could turn, a blur lunged from behind.

SLASH!

Alex twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding a direct hit, but not entirely. The werewolf's claws grazed his side. He gritted his teeth and flipped backward to regain his footing.

Fast... and it's smart. It's using the darkness like it's part of it.

He barely had time to react before—SWOOSH—another sudden strike from behind. This time, he raised his arm just in time to shield his neck, but the claws raked across his forearm, drawing blood.

"Tch... Damn it," he muttered, staggering a bit.

The creature had vanished again.

Alex could feel it circling him, taunting him. Its deep growls rumbled through the trees, echoing from every direction. The scent of iron from his own blood began to fill the air.

His back stung, three fresh claw marks now dripping crimson beneath his tattered cloak. His left arm, bleeding slowly, still held strong, but the pain was real.

It's not just a beast, it's hunting me.

He exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the shadows.

"If you want a fight... then stop hiding!" he shouted, his voice ringing through the forest.

A chilling silence answered him.

Then, a whisper of wind.

He turned instinctively—too slow.

Another ambush. Claws grazed his leg this time.

He dropped to a knee, panting, the reality settling in. At this rate, it's going to wear me down. I need to switch tactics.

Alex pressed his hand to the ground, summoning a small flare of fire to light the surrounding area. Shadows fled from the sudden burst, revealing nothing—but forcing the darkness back for a few seconds.

His golden eyes narrowed behind the mask.

Come on... I just need to see you once, clearly. Then you're mine.

But even as he lit the area, the feeling persisted—

The forest was its home... and Alex was the intruder.

Alex dropped to one knee, blood trickling down his arm and side. His breaths were steady, not from fatigue but from focus.

The wind brushed past, and the rustling leaves whispered secrets only the calm could hear.

He closed his eyes.

Silence.

Then a shift.

A faint rustle... the subtle bend of a branch... the sharp crunch of dirt under padded claws.

Alex's lips barely moved as he whispered,"...Right."

The very next second, his eyes shot open, glowing with resolve.

"Heed my command... Vasuki. I summon you!"

The tattoo coiled around his right arm lit up with a soft blue shimmer, and in an instant, it unraveled, forming into a sleek, serpent-shaped blade, pulsing faintly with arcane energy.

CLANG!

Just as the werewolf lunged its fangs bared, claws outstretched Alex twisted, ducked, and slashed in one fluid motion.

A wet THWACK echoed through the trees.

The beast howled in pain as its right arm was cleaved clean off, blood spraying across the moonlit forest.

It staggered back, eyes wide with rage and confusion.

Alex stood up slowly, sword in hand, firelight reflecting in his mask's hollow eyes. The shadows clung to the edges of his frame, but his presence now felt far from prey.

"Your tricks don't work on me anymore," Alex muttered coldly, twirling the blade and pointing it at the creature.

"Now it's my turn."

The werewolf snarled, backing up a step for the first time.