VALERIA

Waiting for me right in front of the open clearing of some old stone ruins, with a blue flag fluttering at the top.

“So, the team captain managed to make it to the end,” he said mockingly, standing up casually from the stone he had been sitting on.

The faint rays of sunlight illuminated his irises, alternating between reddish and gray tones.

His wolf was close to the surface, baring its canines, snarling at me. I didn’t need a wolf spirit to see it.

I moved forward slowly. This was an enemy I would never defeat by brute force, so I had to use the best strategy.

For now, I growled threateningly, testing if there was any chance I could slip past him between his legs.

“Keep growling, kitten. You have no idea how hot it makes me to see you acting tough,” he said, his voice husky and challenging as he adopted a combat stance, legs bent and arms ready for me.

“Come on, Captain, let’s finish this. The ‘valuable’ members of your team sacrificed themselves to get you here!” he spat, dr