C27 Chapter 26 – The Wolf in the Mist
Three days passed peacefully.
The potato plants pushed through the soil.
The second wheat crop continued growing.
Aiden repaired his tools, gathered wood, and explored only the safer parts of Hope Island.
But something had changed.
The Forest Hopper no longer visited every day.
The birds sang less often.
Even the rabbits had become harder to find.
Nature itself seemed... nervous.
---
Early that morning, Aiden woke to a strange sound.
Crunch...
Crunch...
Something heavy was walking outside his camp.
He remained perfectly still.
The sound came closer.
Then stopped.
Aiden slowly picked up his Bone Spear.
His breathing became calm.
Without making a sound, he moved toward the small window of his wooden hut.
He looked outside.
Nothing.
Only thick white mist covered the camp.
The visibility was barely ten meters.
Then...
A shadow moved.
Large.
Four-legged.
It slowly walked between the trees.
Its body disappeared into the fog before Aiden could see it clearly.
"So it finally came..."
He didn't rush outside.
Instead, he quietly climbed onto the roof using the ladder he had built for watching the surroundings.
From above, the fog looked like a white ocean.
The shadow appeared again.
This time...
Two golden eyes stared directly at him.
Aiden froze.
The creature did not roar.
It did not charge.
It simply watched.
After several seconds...
It turned around and disappeared into the forest.
---
Only after the sun climbed higher did the fog begin to fade.
Aiden carefully followed the tracks.
Fresh footprints.
Deep.
Heavy.
They led toward the northern cliffs instead of the eastern forest.
"That's new..."
The predator had changed its territory.
Or...
It wanted him to follow.
He refused.
Not yet.
Instead, he inspected the ground around the tracks.
Near one footprint, he found several black hairs.
The System appeared.
---
Unknown Monster Material
Shadow Wolf Fur
Rank: Uncommon
Description:
The fur of a powerful wolf that hunts with patience instead of speed.
Collection Book Updated.
---
"Shadow Wolf..."
"So that's what you are."
Before Aiden could continue, the Forest Hopper suddenly burst from a nearby bush.
It was bleeding.
A deep claw wound covered its left side.
"Chi... Chi..."
The little creature stumbled before collapsing beside Aiden's feet.
His expression changed instantly.
"No..."
He quickly picked it up.
The wound wasn't deep enough to kill it.
But it had lost a lot of blood.
Aiden carried it back to camp as fast as he could.
---
Inside the hut, he laid the Forest Hopper on a clean cloth.
He washed the wound with fresh water.
Then he crushed several Green Vitality Mushrooms into a rough paste.
"I hope this works..."
He gently applied the mixture.
The little creature trembled but didn't resist.
Next, he wrapped the wound with clean plant fiber cloth.
Minutes passed.
Nothing happened.
Then...
The Forest Hopper slowly opened its eyes.
"Chi..."
It weakly rubbed its head against Aiden's hand.
A soft notification appeared.
---
Hidden Relationship Event Completed
You protected a peaceful creature without expecting a reward.
Forest Hopper Trust
12 → 28
Relationship Status:
Trusted Friend
---
Aiden smiled with relief.
"You'll be alright."
For the rest of the afternoon, the Forest Hopper slept peacefully inside the hut.
Aiden stayed nearby, repairing his Bone Spear while keeping watch outside.
He couldn't shake one thought.
"If the Shadow Wolf attacked the Forest Hopper..."
"Why didn't it finish the hunt?"
That wasn't normal behavior.
As evening approached, the answer came on its own.
A long howl echoed across Hope Island.
Awooooo...
One howl became two.
Two became three.
Then...
The System suddenly appeared.
The blue screen trembled as if responding to an ancient force.
---
World Warning
The First Blood Moon approaches.
Time Remaining:
50 Days
Effects During the Blood Moon:
- Monsters become stronger.
- Monster attacks increase dramatically.
- Hidden creatures awaken.
- Special rewards become available.
Preparation is strongly advised.
---
Aiden read every word twice.
"So that's the first World Event..."
Fifty days.
It sounded like a long time.
But he knew how quickly days passed.
He looked around his camp.
The fence.
The hut.
The furnace.
The farm.
It still wasn't enough.
Not for something called the Blood Moon.
That night, after the Forest Hopper had fallen asleep beside the warm furnace, Aiden climbed onto the roof once more.
The stars filled the sky.
Everything looked peaceful.
Then...
Far beyond the northern cliffs...
A pair of golden eyes slowly opened in the darkness.
Unlike before...
This time, they weren't alone.
Another pair appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Aiden couldn't see them.
But deep inside the forest...
A pack was gathering.
And standing at its center...
Was a wolf nearly twice the size of the others.
A scar crossed its left eye.
Its fur was as black as midnight.
The Shadow Wolf King had finally awakened.
And somehow...
Its single remaining eye was fixed on one place.
Hope Island's owner.
