The Demon emperor logged into a Divine Game

Chapter 7 — Temporary Arrangement

The group had not gone far past the Thornback Lizard when a howl tore through the forest.

Deep. Rough. Loud enough to cut through the trees.

Tobin stopped first. “What was that?”

Another sound came before anyone answered.

CRASH—

Steel hitting something solid. Then a voice from deeper in the trees.

“Back! Don’t take that headon!”

A scream followed.

Garrick’s face shifted. “Boss.”

He moved toward the sound without waiting. Tobin went right after him. Tessa clicked her tongue and followed. Ravan came last.

The trees opened into a clearing.

A fight was already happening inside.

Four players. One was on the ground crawling backward, his HP bar almost empty. Another was trying to pull him clear. A tall player with a shield and axe stood between them and the monster, taking the hits directly. Behind him a girl with a staff moved constantly, healing only after damage landed.

Then the monster turned and Ravan saw it fully.

Dark fur. Long limbs. A black mane thick around its neck. Its claws dragged lines through the dirt every time it shifted weight. Its mouth was wet with blood.

A red name floated above it.

[World Boss]

Shadowfang Wolf King

Level: 5

HP: 2,140/2,800

The crawling player tried to stand.

The wolf crossed the clearing in one burst.

BOOM—

“Move!” the shield player shouted.

The Shadowfang Wolf King drove into the wounded player and slammed him into the ground before anyone could reach him.

CRUNCH—

His HP bar emptied.

His body dissolved.

Tobin stared. “It killed him.”

Garrick looked at the boss, then at the two players still standing. “We can take it.”

Tessa turned toward him. “It just killed someone.”

“Because they were already falling apart.”

The shield player glanced toward them without dropping his guard. “You joining or watching?”

“Joining,” Garrick said.

The girl with the staff looked over. “Party limit is five.”

Garrick did not pause. “We’ll adjust.”

The shield player stepped back as the wolf circled the clearing.

“Do it fast.”

His name appeared above him.

Hale

The healer’s name appeared behind him.

Lyra

A party request appeared on Garrick’s side a moment later.

Hale. Lyra. Garrick. Tobin. Tessa.

Five slots.

Garrick opened the party menu.

A moment later the alert appeared in Ravan’s interface.

Ding! You have been removed from Garrick’s party.

Garrick looked back with the same smile. “Temporary. Fiveplayer limit. We’ll sort the drops after.”

Tobin said nothing. Tessa looked at Ravan once, then back at the boss.

Hale frowned. “You cut him out?”

“He can still fight,” Garrick said. “We just need clean party slots.”

Lyra looked from Garrick to Ravan. “Did he agree to that?”

Ravan looked at the removal message.

Then at Garrick.

Then at Tobin, whose eyes had already moved to the sword.

The party limit was the excuse. The sword was the reason.

Ravan closed the message. “Continue.”

The Shadowfang Wolf King stopped circling and lowered its body.

Lyra’s voice cut across the clearing. “Pounce skill—incoming!”

Hale braced and raised his shield.

Garrick stepped back.

Tobin moved with him.

Tessa pulled left.

Ravan was standing closest to the open line.

The wolf launched.

They called it temporary.

The Shadowfang Wolf King was already in the air.