The Wolf Knights moved at his command. Like a single machine forged of steel, they charged the beast‑men. Most of the bandits no longer dared to fight back. A few tried to flee, but there was nowhere to run: armored knights blocked every path.
The clash was swift and bloody. The knights' blades cut down the beastfolk one after another, leaving them no chance. Of the twenty bandits, only one remained: Ironclaw, the pack leader, lying helpless on the ground, consumed by the shame of her own weakness.
Ironclaw cried out from the ground, her voice filled with rage and despair.
"Finish me! Kill me too! To hell with it all!"
The Young Wolf stepped closer, his eyes flashing cold.
"Why the rush? My experiment has only just begun. There are still many things I want to try on you. You'll have plenty of time to die afterward."
Ironclaw panted, staring at him in disbelief.
"This… this is your doing? But you're just a child!"
Andras smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile.
"You're not much older than me. I'm eleven. You're thirteen."
"How do you know how old I am?" Ironclaw asked, her voice trembling.
Andras slowly raised his hand, as if writing in the air.
"Because my magical eye displayed it."
He paused for a moment, then continued coldly:
"…I can smell it on you."
The female earth‑wolf's eyes widened as Andras's words struck her like lightning. The Young Wolf's voice rang clear in the cave:
"Because I looked with my magical eye. Ironclaw, thirteen years old, female, earth‑element beastfolk—earth‑wolf half‑breed, bandit leader."
Ironclaw's eyes filled with fear.
"Are you going to kill me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Andras slowly circled the female lying on the ground, his eyes flashing cold.
"You are strong and young. And beautiful, too. I like strong and beautiful females. What a waste… If we had met under different circumstances, you could have been my warrior."
Ironclaw panted, lifting her head.
"So I'm going to die."
The Young Wolf smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile.
"You know what? Let's play a game! After all, we're both still practically children."
"What?" Ironclaw growled in confusion.
"A simple game," Andras continued. "If you endure and survive the testing of my magical technique, then you may live. Don't worry, my goal isn't to kill you. I simply want to test my magic as thoroughly as possible. I'll try to hold back enough so you don't die."
Ironclaw's eyes narrowed.
"You mean that tingling lightning trick?"
"Yes," Andras nodded. "I've named this magical technique Electroshock. By combining lightning and water elements, I can paralyze even earth‑element creatures. And you happen to be an earth‑wolf half‑breed, one of the stronger kind. I couldn't have found a better test subject."
"I don't really understand…" Ironclaw muttered. "But if I endure this tingling, then I won't die?"
"In simple terms, yes," Andras replied calmly.
Ironclaw drew a deep breath, then slowly, gathering all her strength, rose with difficulty from the ground. Her eyes flashed wildly, her body trembled, but she stood.
"I'm in!" she said, her voice a mix of fear and determination.
Andras watched the female earth‑wolf carefully as she slowly forced her limbs back into motion.
"Hmm… after about ten minutes, the subject can move again," he remarked calmly.
Ironclaw panted, but lifted her head with determination.
"Your attack—bring it on!"
The Young Wolf's eyes flashed.
"Put everything you have into surviving. Here I come… Electroshock!"
The combination of lightning and water surged once more through Ironclaw's body. The beast‑woman screamed, her cry filling the cave. Her body was paralyzed again, collapsing to the ground, stripped of control. Yet her consciousness barely clung on—she remained awake, though at the edge of pain and shame.
"See?" Ironclaw rasped. "I endured it! I'm still alive, not dead. Are you satisfied?"
Andras stepped closer, his voice cold.
"You'll take one more."
"One more?!" the female cried, her eyes wide.
"Relax," Andras replied evenly. "You have ten minutes to rest. Gather all your magic. Focus the earth element within your body entirely on defense. You're an earth‑wolf type: your defense is at least as strong as your attack."
Ironclaw panted and nodded.
"But if I endure this one too, then it truly will be the last?"
"You have my word," Andras answered, his eyes flashing cold.
"Fine… come then!" Ironclaw growled through clenched teeth.
"Don't rush," Andras warned. "You still have ten minutes."
A tense silence settled over the cave. The knights watched, none daring to move. All knew: after the next ten minutes, it would be decided whether the female earth‑wolf survived the final trial—or perished in the Young Wolf's magical experiment.
The Young Wolf patiently waited out the ten minutes. The cave was filled with tense silence, broken only by the roar of the waterfall outside. The Wolf Knights stood motionless, their armored ranks like a wall that enclosed the world.
Noelle's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She herself loved learning magic and always delighted in experimenting with Andras. Now she focused every nerve on watching how the new technique worked. Anita stood indifferent, unconcerned with the fate of the bandit leader—this was simply another enemy to be defeated. Andrea, however, felt pity deep in her heart for the beast‑girl: she was the same age, and though a bandit, she still carried a human destiny.
When the ten minutes had passed, Andras raised his hand. His eyes flashed like lightning, and he spoke the word:
"Electroshock!"
The combination of lightning and water surged through Ironclaw's body for the third time. The female earth‑wolf screamed, her cry filling the cave, then suddenly fell silent. Her body collapsed, unconscious, lying motionless on the stone. Shame struck her again: for the third time she had lost control over her own body.
The knights watched in silence as the pack leader—who only minutes before had tried to rally her comrades with a wild howl—now lay helpless on the ground. The Young Wolf's experiment was complete, and all knew the trial had been successful.
The Young Wolf gazed with satisfaction at the female lying on the ground.
"Hmm… this technique worked even better than I expected. Once my magical capacity grows, I may even be able to paralyze a dragon with it. The combination of water and lightning will be especially effective against fire‑dragons."
Anita's eyes widened.
"You could defeat a dragon with it?!"
"In theory," Andras replied calmly. "Though I cannot say exactly how strong a dragon might be."
Andrea frowned.
"If possible, let's hope we never meet one."
Noelle, however, spoke with a smile.
"But if we do, we won't have to fear it."
Anita pointed at the female.
"What about her? Do we leave her here?"