Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 2 – Wolf

Choosing to stay close to the bus, I carefully observe the folks around me. We total 24 in number. Or 23 excluding myself. Among them, 15 men and 9 women of various ages. The tiniest is a young girl beside the one who seems constantly irritated.

"Does it resemble Earth at all!?" I catch from the group as a man around 50 jabs at the second, dubious sun. Spit sprays from his lips, veins bulging on his brow. "We can't simply sit idle waiting for cops." His yells draw no soothing words, and some nod in agreement. "Let's scout the area first, perhaps scale a few trees or such."

I roll my eyes involuntarily, tuning him out.

Trees encircle us on every side. They appear normal. Just like Earth's typical trees…

My thoughts halt.

Earth.

I mull it over.

Have I concluded we're no longer on Earth?

Seems that way.

After some more reflection, several wild ideas pop into my head, growing ever more absurd:

, we got abducted. Drugged into slumber, maybe via gas pumped into the bus. Then they held off till dawn, dumping us in this woodland while mimicking that extra sun.

This seems far-fetched since I don't recall dozing off. I felt drowsy, yes, but stayed awake. All I remember is a blinding flash, the bus plummeting with us, and suddenly arriving here. No memory gaps, nothing feels absent.

, I perished. That flash marked a crash, explosion perhaps. Or a bullet through the glass. Making this a bizarre afterlife.

This theory feels unlikely too, plus downright gloomy.

, sleep overtook me; it's all a dream.

I dig my nails deep into my arm until blood trickles from the gash. The agony hits too vividly, leaving me a bit peeved at myself.

, an elaborate hoax.

I ponder a moment, failing to imagine how or why anyone would orchestrate it, nearly discarding the notion. Yet it clings, given today's crazy antics. I scan the passengers anew. They're still "debating." I eye each slowly, spotting no VIPs, big shots, or tycoons worth such extravagance.

I don't fully rule it out, though it ranks low on plausibility.

, we've truly landed on alien soil.

Blame that cursed orange blob overhead.

The likely-sun.

Nothing about it screams illusion. Zero clues.

Sure, you'd anticipate scorching heat, but the primary sun seems a tad dimmer, the secondary fainter, possibly offsetting it. Truthfully, I'm no expert; my grasp is basic at best.

I let out a sigh.

Suddenly, a schoolgirl shrieks, jabbing at the woods.

I trace her gesture and spot a wolf at the treeline.

Well…

Dried blood mats the creature's shaggy brown coat. One ear gone, a hideous gash across its muzzle.

Its creepy stare locks on the frightened girl, eyes aglow with unearthly sheen.

This hulking brute stands eye-level with me.

It snarls, advancing threateningly. A colossal, car-sized wolf, odd text floating over its head.

[Wolf - lvl 2]

Yeah, no thanks. I'm gone.

Thanks a lot and screw you, whoever spawned this nightmare.

I'm bolting back into the bus before it even stirs.

The wolf prowls closer, unleashing a prolonged, guttural rumble. It vibrates through my chest. Every instinct urges flight from the ominous tremor.

Definitely run time.

Folks scramble into the bus amid chaos and yells. Some tumble, clawing and dashing inside. I witness men shoving children aside to claim spots first.

The level two wolf advances deliberately, warily, as if sniffing traps, with uncanny smarts in its gaze.

Without turning away, I reach the bus and slip in. All others are aboard.

Sobs and quivering murmurs fill the air.

"What the hell is that..."

"...at least two meters tall."

"...level..."

As they gawk at the wolf, I scour for any potential weapon against...I peek out at...that abomination.

No luck; nothing weapon-like around. Hell, I'd take an RPG now.

Luckily, I spot a somewhat crooked iron bar designed for passengers to grasp while dangling, and with a fierce pull using every ounce of my strength, I wrench it loose. Regrettably, it measures only about 1 meter in length and lacks a sharp edge. Moments later, I seize a larger shard of glass from the floor, clutching it in my left hand and the pole in my right.

Perhaps from my anxiety or unsteady grip, blood from my injured hand already smears the glass piece, yet I dismiss it without delay.

The wolf lingers roughly 10 meters from the bus, appearing even more menacing than earlier. Sniffing and snarling, it bares its enormous fangs. Having crouched low to the earth, it prepares to charge or flee. Its pace slows further as it begins circling the bus, emitting terrifying growls.

"Hey Google, what's the opposite of 'pspspsp' but for wolves instead of cats?"

The boy with the irritating chuckle utters, his tone quivering and complexion ashen like snow.

He draws several stunned glances but elicits no amusement.

All aboard appear utterly petrified, and I'm certain tears blur the wolf from some people's sight.

"Mommy..."

"Oh my god, please let me..."

"G-get away from the windows..."

The wolf's orbits shrink tighter and tighter, growing ever bolder as if ceasing to view us as any danger.

My gaze fixes on the text hovering above the wolf's head.

[Wolf - lvl 2]

I scan the surroundings, yet spot no such label above anyone else.

Concentrating hard, I block out the screams, sobs, and wolf's snarls.

A wild idea races through my thoughts.

No way, could it be?

"Profile," I murmur. No response.

"Character window," I utter.

Nothing.

"Window," I declare.

Nothing.

"Level," I state.

Nothing.

"Inspect," I command.

Nothing.

"Appraise," I try.

Nothing.

"Shut the fuck up with your mumbling!" a man bellows at me.

"Shut the..." I begin, but notice several staring at me as if I've lost my mind.

For an instant, I survey the group. Certain passengers clutch improvised "weapons" now, such as glass bottles, window shards, purses, messenger bags, or more iron pipes from the bus.

The wolf draws within two meters of us. Its sniffing echoes clearly, and drool drips from its gigantic jaws into view.

I resume my efforts, tuning out the others.

"Skill window," I say.

Nothing.

"Skill," I say.

Nothing.

"Skills," I say.

Nothing.

"Status window," I say.

Nothing.

Screams erupt as the wolf's huge head appears at an intact window. Passengers scramble away in panic, trembling, wailing, and brandishing their crude arms while striving to seem intimidating.

"Status," I say.

Before another syllable escapes, a translucent golden panel materializes before my eyes.

[Name: Nathaniel Gwyn]

Difficulty:Hell

Floor: 1

Time left until forced return: 4y 364d 23h 36m 12s

Lvl 0

Strength: 6

Dexterity: 7

Constitution: 3

Mana: 1

[Primary Class: Unavailable]

[Sub-class: Unavailable]

Skills:

Focus - lvl 1

Mana manipulation - lvl 1

[Skill Points: 0]

[Stat Points: 0]

Fascinating, yet pointless right now.

The panel fades away at its leisure, just as the glass shatters and the wolf thrusts its head through, disregarding the shards while snapping at a nearby elderly woman. Luckily, it merely tears a chunk from her sweater, the cloth ripping as it yanks to drag her out. She tumbles to the floor amid shrieks.