CHAPTER 65: INTO THE 9TH FLOOR PART II

The final Howlback — the one that had remained motionless until now — stepped forward.

It didn’t howl like the others.

No, this one simply exhaled, its nostrils flaring with thick steam as it tapped its massive, rune-carved knuckles together — and suddenly, the remaining five Howlbacks responded.

They straightened and moved in sync.

Their footfalls, once chaotic, now had rhythm. Purpose.

"...A choreographed pack?" I muttered, my breath heavy from the last round. "They never moved like this before."

The leader raised its hand — a single, thick-fingered gesture — and the others fanned out, three forming a pincer and two taking the flanks. I was being herded.

And fast.

’They’ve adapted beyond basic aggression. This isn’t random. This is military behavior. Coordinated strikes. Pack sequencing. Real-time response.’

The lead Howlback opened its jaw and let out a short, guttural bellow — a low-frequency sound that rattled my ribs. Not an attack.

A command and then they all charged.

"Shit."

I flicked mana into my legs and bolted to the right — just in time to avoid a three-pronged hammer strike that cratered the earth where I stood a heartbeat ago.

But the second I moved, the two flankers leapt at my new location. Pre-emptive anticipation.

One landed behind me, swinging low — a spinning sweep. The other dove from above with a flying elbow drop.

I blocked the sweep with my forearm, sliding back, but the airborne one was fast — faster than any Howlback had a right to be. It landed on me, smashing me into the ground.

CRACK!

Pain exploded in my back as the force drove us into a crater. My durability held — barely.

I retaliated with a rising flame burst, forcing it off me, and rolled to the side — just as a third Howlback’s stomp missed my head by inches.

I kicked upward, planting both feet into its gut and flipping backward to my feet.

But even as I recovered, the others were already repositioning.

"They’re reading my rhythm," I said under my breath.

My breathing was tight now — sweat stung my eyes. Their movements weren’t just synced, they were layered — setting traps, baiting my evasions, tightening the kill zone like trained hunters.

And the leader? It still hadn’t attacked.

It watched from behind, like a battlefield general, only stepping in to issue orders through those guttural pulses. Every time I landed a hit, it redirected the formation.

"These aren’t ogres anymore," I hissed. "These are living war machines."

One rushed in low.

I countered — ducked, spun, drove a flaming elbow into its temple — but before I could capitalize—

BOOM!

Another slammed its fist into my side, launching me into the air. And before I could even land—

WHAM!

A third leapt up and hammer-fisted me down from above like a living meteor.

CRACK!

My body slammed into the earth.

The dust cloud burst around me. My ribs burned. My mana pulsed erratically. I gritted my teeth and spat blood.

’If I wasn’t me, If I didn’t remember their formations, I’d be dead ten times already.’

I forced myself up, swaying slightly. Emberfang Style hissed through my limbs — heat surged up my spine, setting my veins alight.

I muttered to myself, "Fine. You want choreography? Let me show you a solo performance."

I twisted my stance, slipping into Explosive Ember Form, then into Precision Flame for feints — shifting between them mid-motion.

[Burn Stack: 3]

[Burn Stack: 5]

They countered.

I shifted again.

[Burn Stack: 7]

They split formation.

[Burn Stack: 10]

I was dancing now — ducking, striking, feinting, drawing them in — striking the exposed ones and vanishing before they could box me in again.

Still... I was burning stamina. Mana. Every second this dragged out, I lost more ground.

And the leader hadn’t lifted a fist yet, like he was waiting for his turn.

I gritted my teeth and tightened my fists.

The five Howlbacks circled me like wolves—crimson runes still glowing, breath ragged, but none faltering. They had discipline now. Coordination. And a clear intent to wear me down.

But I wasn’t just surviving anymore. I was reading them. Every twitch. Every shift in weight. Every flicker of their runes.

Predict. Evade. Punish. Repeat.

One rushed in from the right — sloppy step. I weaved under its swing, twisting low, and drove my knee into its gut. A pulse of fire surged up my leg, igniting contact.

[Burn Stack: 12]

Another lunged with both fists raised. I ducked, spun behind him — palm strike to the lower back. Flame rippled through the spinal rune.

[Burn Stack: 13]

The third tried to grab me — massive hands closing in.

’Too slow.’

I dropped beneath its grasp, shot forward between its legs, and turned to deliver a rising flaming uppercut.

[Burn Stack: 14]

I felt the core shift in my chest.

One more. Let’s finish this.

The closest one snarled and lunged, reckless.

’Bad move.’

I stepped into its charge and slammed my fist into its sternum with a roar.

[Burn Stack: 15 Reached]

[Target: Defense and Healing -30% for 3 seconds]

I jumped into the air and twisted, a spiraling flame following my body —

then came crashing down like a comet into its chest.

BOOM.

The explosion rocked the canyon, consuming the Howlback in crimson flame. The others hesitated just long enough for me to capitalize.

One tried to retreat, but I blurred forward in a mana-fueled dash, closing the distance and striking twice — ribs, neck.

[Burn Stack: 15]

[Target Eliminated]

The fourth and fifth both came at me in desperation, swinging wildly.

I caught one’s fist with my arm, redirected it into its companion, then spun behind them and delivered dual flaming strikes to their backs.

[Burn Stack: 13] → [15]

[Burn Stack: 14] → [15]

With the final strike, I stomped down, unleashing an eruption of heat beneath them — a burst that tore up stone and engulfed them both.

When the smoke cleared, they weren’t moving.

Silence.

I stood alone again in the cracked battlefield, chest rising and falling, the glowing runes of Emberfang dimming on my arms.

Then, the slow, deliberate footfalls approaching from the shadowed cliff.

Thud.

Thud.

THUD.

The Leader had moved.

He was coming down the slope, calm, unhurried, cracking his knuckles.

His body was larger than the others — close to five meters. Crimson runes coiled across his chest like a branding ritual, glowing deep violet now instead of red. His bone-armored fists dripped with pulsing mana, and around his neck hung a massive beast’s fang carved with arcane sigils.

He looked at me.

He raised his hand and slammed his own chest — a deafening BOOM that echoed across the canyon. Runes across his body lit up violently. The very ground trembled.

I stepped back once.

This wasn’t just an ogre anymore.

This was the Alpha.

This... was the Juggernaut Howlback.

I clenched my fists, lowering my stance again and I smirked because I could feel it in my blood.

This wasn’t over.

This was just the final act.

’Come at me, damn creature’