LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 5: A dangerous decision
Chapter 5: A Dangerous Decision
The forest clearing stretched out before Reiji, the trees standing like silent sentinels watching over the gathering of wolves. Their glowing eyes flickered in the fading twilight, an unsettling gleam that spoke of hunger and aggression. The pack was large—more than a dozen in number—and their sheer size hinted at something far more dangerous than the average forest wolf. These creatures were stronger, their muscles rippling beneath thick fur, their teeth sharp and gleaming in the dim light.
Reiji's heart thudded in his chest. This was no ordinary encounter. He could sense the power emanating from the wolves, an unnatural aura surrounding them. Something had changed, something that made them more than just simple predators.
Aeris, floating beside him in her small humanoid form, observed the scene with a calm demeanor. Her dragon wings, delicate and ethereal in size, fluttered slightly as she spoke in a soft voice. "This is the moment you've been waiting for, Reiji. Your power is not just for creation—it is also a tool for destruction, if used with precision."
Reiji turned to her, his mind racing with possibilities. If I use my Fateweaver ability, I could empower them—but to what end? The consequences of empowering these wolves were uncertain. Would they become a greater threat? Would they start attacking villagers or even other players? He had no idea, and that uncertainty weighed heavily on him.
"I don't know if I should," Reiji murmured, his voice uncertain. "What if I make the wrong choice?"
Aeris tilted her head, her golden eyes gleaming with an understanding that only an ancient being like her could possess. "There are no perfect choices, Reiji. You must learn to accept the consequences of your actions. But remember, the Fate Points you possess are not just to be hoarded. They are meant to shape the world. You must decide if these wolves should be empowered or not."
Reiji clenched his fists, his mind working through the options. Empowering the wolves could mean turning them into an unstoppable force. On the other hand, weakening them could be seen as an act of mercy, but it could also make them desperate—possibly even more dangerous.
He couldn't afford to make the wrong move.
"Alright," Reiji said, determination settling over him. "I'll try to weaken them first."
Aeris didn't speak, but her gaze seemed to intensify. The decision had been made, and Reiji's actions would set the course for the next stage of his journey. He stepped forward, his heart pounding with the weight of his power.
Reiji focused his attention on the wolves, trying to reach out with his Fateweaver ability. His hands tingled with energy, and he could feel the pull of the Fate Points inside him, ready to be used. The wolves snarled and shifted, their movements aggressive as they sensed the presence of a new force. Reiji's instincts told him they were not just angry—they were terrified. Something had made them this way, and it wasn't just hunger.
With a deep breath, Reiji extended his will and funneled the Fate Points into the pack. He didn't want to simply kill them or make them stronger; he wanted to strip away whatever had twisted them into such hostile creatures.
He pushed his power outward, weaving it into the fabric of the pack's being. Slowly, he felt the Fate Points sink into the wolves, their bodies quivering with the influx of energy. Reiji's vision blurred, and he could sense the wolves' thoughts—not as individual minds, but as a collective force of fear and rage, something primal and broken.
The leader of the pack, a massive black wolf with glowing yellow eyes, let out a low growl and lunged forward, snapping its jaws. The others followed suit, but this time, they didn't seem entirely in control of their actions. Their aggression was raw, uncontrolled.
"Reiji!" Aeris called out sharply. "You've altered them—be careful!"
But it was too late. The wolves were now more desperate, their senses heightened by the Fate Points that Reiji had used. Their once-organized pack mentality was now fractured. They were acting on instinct, hunting anything that moved.
Reiji took a step back, heart racing. What have I done? The wolves, now in a frenzy, charged toward him. Their eyes were wide with fear and anger, and they seemed to see him as both a threat and a target.
The leader wolf snarled again, its massive jaws snapping just inches from Reiji's face. In that moment, the world seemed to slow. He could see the teeth, the raw power in the creature's muscles, and the chaos in its mind.
But then, something unexpected happened. The leader wolf stopped mid-attack, its body trembling. The rest of the pack paused, looking at each other in confusion.
"What—what is this?" the leader growled, its voice rough and strained.
Aeris floated closer to Reiji, her expression unreadable. "You've altered their state, Reiji. You've not just empowered them; you've given them clarity. They no longer act solely on instinct—they have started to question their actions."
Reiji's eyes widened. "I didn't mean to do that."
"It was an unintended effect of your influence," Aeris said. "By altering their aggression, you've also unlocked their reasoning. Now, they must confront their own nature."
The leader wolf's eyes locked onto Reiji's, and for a long moment, there was silence. Then, the creature spoke again.
"What have you done to us?" the leader growled, its voice filled with both confusion and awe. "We are not the beasts we once were. We can think. We can… feel."
Reiji's heart raced. This was a dangerous development—these wolves were no longer simple beasts, but beings capable of independent thought. What had been a test of his power was now spiraling into something he couldn't control.
He stepped forward cautiously, his voice firm. "I didn't want this. I only wanted to weaken you, to stop the violence."
The leader snarled, but it wasn't an attack. It was a frustrated cry, as if it didn't know what to do with the newfound awareness that had been thrust upon it.
"This is not our nature," it muttered. "We were made for hunting, for survival. We were never meant to think like this."
Aeris, hovering nearby, spoke softly. "This is the consequence of your actions, Reiji. You've unlocked their intelligence, but you've also made them more self-aware. They are no longer simple monsters, but creatures torn between their instincts and newfound reasoning."
Reiji glanced at the wolves. They were no longer a mindless pack, but a group of individuals, each one conflicted, struggling with their instincts and their new awareness.
"I never wanted this," Reiji whispered to himself. "I just wanted to stop the violence."
The leader wolf looked at him one last time, its eyes now filled with something else—perhaps gratitude, or maybe sorrow.
"We will leave," it said, its voice filled with quiet dignity. "We were once beasts, but now… we are something else. We do not wish to harm the village anymore."
And with that, the wolves turned, vanishing into the forest, their forms disappearing into the shadows.
Reiji stood still for a moment, his mind reeling from what had just happened. He had altered the course of these creatures' existence, and in doing so, he had created something neither human nor animal. They had become something entirely different.
Aeris hovered beside him, her expression thoughtful. "The world is now a little different, Reiji. Your actions have had a ripple effect. What happens next… is up to you."
Reiji nodded, his thoughts a whirlwind. This was only the beginning.
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End of Chapter 5
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