The Demon emperor logged into a Divine Game

Chapter 8 — Blood Step

The Shadowfang Wolf King lowered its body.

Lyra saw it first. “Pounce!”

The wolf launched.

Ravan stood in the open line but Hale moved before anyone else could.

“Sun Shield!”

Gold light flashed across the shield as Hale cut in front of Ravan and braced.

BOOM—

The wolf crashed into the shield and drove Hale back across the dirt. His boots dragged two lines through the ground before he stopped.

96 HP

Lyra lifted her staff. “Light Mend.”

+74 HP

Hale rolled his shoulder. “Still hits like a damn cart.”

“Then stop taking it straight,” Lyra said.

“I had a shield up.”

“Barely.”

The wolf landed and turned. Its claws scraped the ground as it reset.

Garrick looked at Hale, then at Ravan. “Hale, make me party leader.”

Hale kept his shield raised. “Why?”

“I want to put Ravan back in. His damage is higher.”

Tobin clicked his tongue. “So I’m out?”

“For now. You can still shoot.”

Lyra looked from Garrick to Ravan. “If he’s taking the risk, put him in.”

Hale was not happy about it, but the wolf was already circling again.

“Fast.”

Ding! Hale has made Garrick the party leader.

Ravan watched Garrick open the party menu.

No invite came.

Hale snapped, “Add him.”

Garrick kept his eyes on the boss. “After we shave it down a bit.”

The wolf rushed.

Hale cursed under his breath and turned back. “Sun Shield!”

Gold light flashed over the shield again as the wolf hit.

BANG—

81 HP

Lyra raised her staff. “Light Mend.”

+68 HP

Hale grunted. “Garrick.”

Garrick moved in from the side. “War Slash!”

48

Tobin fired from behind Hale.

Twang—

52

Tessa stayed close to Garrick and kept her staff ready.

The fight settled into a pattern.

Hale held the front. Lyra kept him standing. Garrick attacked from the side when the wolf’s attention locked on Hale. Tobin fired from a safe angle. Tessa watched Garrick’s HP.

Ravan stood outside it all.

No invite had come.

Ravan did not move in. If they wanted him outside the party, then he would stay outside it.

He watched instead.

The Shadowfang Wolf King did not move the way the boars and lizards did. It adjusted after every block. When Hale blocked high it went low. When Tobin fired too early it shifted before the arrow arrived. When Garrick stepped in late it snapped at him and drove him back.

The HP kept dropping.

[World Boss]

Shadowfang Wolf King

Level: 5

HP: 560/2,800

Tobin breathed out. “Twenty percent.”

Garrick looked at the HP bar.

Then he opened the party menu.

Lyra noticed. “Garrick.”

Hale kept his shield up. “What?”

“Loot settings changed.”

Garrick did not look back. “Leader’s selection.”

Hale’s voice went flat. “Change it back.”

“After the kill.”

Lyra’s grip tightened on her staff. “No. Now.”

The wolf turned.

Not toward Hale.

Toward Ravan.

It crossed the clearing low and fast.

Lyra shouted, “Move!”

Ding! Blood Step activated.

Movement Speed +50% — Duration: 15 seconds

Energy: 105/120

Ravan’s body sped up.

He stepped aside as the wolf tore past him. The wind from the charge pulled at his sleeve.

The wolf overshot and skidded against the dirt.

Skrrrrch—

Hale turned toward the shift in pressure.

That was the moment Tobin needed.

He drew and fired into Hale’s exposed side.

Twang—

87 HP

Hale staggered. “What—”

Lyra’s voice came sharp. “Tobin!”

Her staff lifted toward Hale, but Tobin turned toward her with cold eyes.

Tessa’s staff stayed lowered.

Garrick stepped away from the boss line and turned toward Ravan. The smile was gone.

“Drop the sword.”

Ravan looked at him.

Tobin already had another arrow raised.

Garrick lifted his blade. “Drop it, or die here.”

Behind them, the Shadowfang Wolf King turned.

Still alive.