A strange feeling

I decided to start leveling up!

For Ranni, I'd turn into a werewolf~ For Ranni...

All right, all right, enough joking around.

Though most of my motivation really was to see Ranni again, Kale had been right: I shouldn't wait until I needed strength to discover I was powerless.

Besides, I had promised Melina that I would take her to the foot of the Erdtree.

I couldn't keep dragging my feet and hanging around the starting area forever.

And the closest place to explore near the Church of Elleh had to be Groveside Cave, out in the woods.

If I remembered correctly, defeating the boss inside would drop a fire-resistance item. That would give me something to prepare with if I really did fight a dragon later.

Besides, even a level-one player could handle that cave... That's right, I was still level one! I hadn't improved at all!

What's more, I already had a cheat item like the Spirit Calling Bell. Taking care of a few little wolf pups inside would be a breeze~

Watch me clear it without dying!

Following my memories of the game, I soon found the cave at the foot of a cliff in the woods.

After activating the Site of Grace at the entrance, I held my shield in my left hand and gripped the torch I had bought from Kale for two hundred in my right, then stepped into the deep, dark cave.

The air was damp and thick, like a sewer full of corrosive waste.

I swallowed involuntarily and bent low, making my footsteps as quiet as I could. After all, the main enemies in the cave were wild wolves. If I alerted them and they swarmed me, they would still be difficult to handle.

Gradually, a faint glow of fire appeared farther into the cave.

I cautiously continued forward and passed through the tunnel into a vast cavern. Below a low stone ledge that hugged the wall like a corridor, several wild wolves lay around a campfire.

They seemed to be asleep and hadn't noticed me... Huh? A chewing sound came from below.

I couldn't help looking down. Two or three wild wolves were gnawing on a Godrick Soldier.

In an instant, the smell of blood that had mingled with the air became overpowering. Its intensity suffocated me, as though a hand were frantically churning my throat and stomach, making me retch uncontrollably. "Urgh! Urgh-"

Oh no! Wolves have incredibly sharp hearing!

By the time that basic fact occurred to me, it was already too late.

The white wolf beside the campfire abruptly stood and turned its head. Its eerie green eyes met mine in an instant.

"Awooo-"

I've been spotted! I need to retreat!

"Grr!"

Hearing the Wolf King's command, the wolves feeding below the low ledge suddenly sprang up and lunged at me, their bloody jaws wide open.

Startled, I fell backward onto my butt.

Only then did I realize they couldn't jump up to where I was.

But in that brief moment of hesitation and panic, the White Wolf King nimbly stepped onto a stone pillar beside the rocky path and launched itself straight at me with two consecutive leaps.

That was nothing like the baffling AI in the game, where it just kept jumping up and down!

With no time to stand, I instinctively raised my shield. As I blocked the Wolf King, I kicked its belly and shoved it backward... Crap, why did I just block my own escape route?!

"Awooo! Awooo! Awooo!"

One howl after another rang through the cave.

The other wolves followed the Wolf King's route onto the rocky path, but their smaller bodies couldn't manage the double leap.

Taking advantage of that opening, I scrambled up, ran to the far end of the path, and jumped down.

"Awooo!"

Shit, there are wolves down here too!

I swept the wolf aside with the torch in my right hand, then hurried deeper into the cavern.

Since these creatures gathered around a campfire for warmth, they clearly didn't fear flames like ordinary wild animals. I couldn't stand around hesitating just because I had a torch. I had to stake everything on charging into the boss chamber in the deepest part of the cave!

After all, ordinary enemies generally couldn't enter a boss's territory in the game...

"Awooo!"

Two or three wolves charged straight in without hesitation and kept lunging at me.

Tch, I knew I was being too optimistic!

The real world of Elden Ring didn't have a mechanic that raised a fog wall to separate the boss chamber from the outside once I entered. Naturally, these creatures wouldn't let prey right in front of them escape.

But I still have a trump card-come on, my Lone Wolves!

Jingle!

As the Spirit Calling Bell rang, three blue-white wolf silhouettes instantly materialized beside me. Fierce and snarling, they charged forward and brought the pursuing wolves down in just a few exchanges.

Even the White Wolf King stopped at the entrance, baring its teeth warily and viciously. Yet it blocked the wolves behind it and didn't dare take another step forward.

"Hahaha, now you know how strong I am~" I couldn't help feeling smug. "Ganging up is justice! The three wolves are the best helpers for the early game in Elden Ring! Nothing else even comes close!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded behind me.

I turned to see an enormous cleaver coming straight down at my face.

I instinctively raised the Large Leather Shield to block, but the sheer force of the impact still sent me flying.

I quickly flipped backward and scrambled to my feet. Only then did I get a clear look at my opponent-the Beastman of Farum Azula!

The creature held a strange, axe-shaped, double-edged cleaver and wore a thick suit of armor. Specks of blood stained the gray-black fur on its enormous, draconic beast head, and it panted incessantly.

Did this creature go through a fierce battle and come here to recover?

I glanced around the cavern. Scattered bones and the sprawled bodies of Godrick Soldiers all sounded a warning-injured or not, this creature would leave me just like them if I wasn't careful.

"Grrr-"

Here it comes!

The Beastman growled, raised its cleaver with both hands, and drove off its hind legs to pounce. It was like a lion's gaping maw, ready to tear its enemy apart.

But don't underestimate me!

As I rolled diagonally backward to dodge, I put away my torch, drew my straight sword, and leaped up to bring it down viciously on my opponent.

That's right. The strongest move against this creature was a jumping slash. It could stagger the Beastman badly, interrupt its attacks, and deal even more damage!

Clang!

The straight sword struck its armor, throwing off sparks.

The Beastman staggered back a step, then let out an angry, deafening roar that left my ears ringing.

Then its blade slashed toward me in quick succession.

I rolled backward repeatedly to create distance, baiting the Beastman into another attack-it wound up with one hand, then charged into a thrust!

Good, everything's going just as I expected!

I leaped up again, dodging the Beastman's follow-up spinning slash as I brought my straight sword down. This time, I aimed straight for its head!

"Grr!"

The Beastman immediately clutched its head and retreated.

I had sliced off half its scalp, and vivid red blood gushed out.

All I felt was an uncontrollable tremble of excitement throughout my body. The air tasted of rust, and my fingers were sticky. It almost felt as though the straight sword had seized my hand in its grip instead.

Looking down, I saw that the Beastman's blood had splashed onto me and was dripping steadily down the edge of my straight sword.

Faintly, a strange feeling rose from deep within my heart, like a greasy stain clinging to clothing. Scrubbing did nothing; instead, it kept spreading on its own.

It was like something lodged in my throat, impossible to put into words.