Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode
Chapter 530: The Dog

Chapter 530: The Dog

Clyde felt it again.

That subtle magnetic pull in his chest. The exact same sensation he’d felt the day he found the Silvercoil Spear.

It wasn’t strong, but it was undeniable. Like something hidden nearby was humming for him alone.

His gaze swept the surroundings. The old picnic area was completely deserted. No hikers, no joggers, no kids screaming in the distance. Just wind, leaves, and silence.

Mina noticed the way his expression changed and the way his eyes sharpened. She leaned in slightly.

"You feel it again, don’t you?" she asked, almost whispering.

He gave a short nod, eyes scanning around. "Yeah. It’s here. I think its close."

Mina blinked. "Already? You found it that fast?"

Clyde didn’t respond directly. Instead, he looked toward the trees, his instincts pulling him toward the denser part of the forest.

"We better move," he said. "If there’s something here, I don’t want to waste time. We still need to make it back before dark."

Mina nodded, quickly adjusting her backpack straps. "Got it."

Without another word, Clyde turned and headed into the trees, deeper into the woods beyond the clearing.

The world around them grew quieter and cooler. Shadows thickened beneath the canopy. The path became wild and uneven.

Mina walked behind him close. Close enough to grab his jacket if she needed to but not touching. She thought about reaching out, just to hold his hand for a bit.

Her fingers twitched with the urge, but she quickly stopped herself.

It’d be weird. Embarrassing.

So she stayed silent ans just following closely with careful steps.

A few minutes passed. The pull grew stronger, tugging at Clyde’s chest like a magnet tightening its grip.

His pace quickened.

"It’s close," he called back to her, glancing over his shoulder.

Mina nodded while biting her lip. Anxiety creeping into her chest.

She didn’t ask questions this time. She could see it in his eyes that Clyde was certain so she just have to follow.

Then something shifted.

Clyde’s steps slowed. The thrill in his chest twisted into unease.

A subtle but undeniable wrongness touched his senses. His brows furrowed as the pull started to feel tainted.

Something was off.

He stopped and turned halfway to Mina.

"Hey. Listen. If something happens up ahead I want you to run. Don’t argue, just go. And hide."

Mina froze. "What? Why? What’s up there?"

"I don’t know," Clyde muttered, eyes darting around the trees. "I just... got a bad feeling. It might be nothing. But I’ve learned to trust my gut."

Mina’s face tightened, but she nodded. "Okay. Just don’t do anything stupid."

He gave a brief smile. Then nodded.

They moved again, slower now. More careful.

Then they stepped into a small clearing at the forest’s heart and stopped.

There, standing in the middle of the grass, was a dog.

A lone silent creature with thick gray fur. Its back was arched and it didn’t move. Just stood there.

Clyde blinked in confusion. "What the hell..."

"That a stray?" Mina asked. "Looks like it’s lost."

But Clyde wasn’t looking at it like a lost animal. He was still and focused.

"I feel the pull," he said slowly. "It’s coming from that thing."

Mina’s eyes widened. "What? Are you saying the dog has the artifact?"

"No." His tone was flat and cold. "I’m saying that thing is the source of my sense."

She stared, confused. "Wait. What do you mean?"

"Stay here for now," he said.

Mina didn’t argue this time. She stepped back behind a tree, her hands curled tight around the straps of her bag.

Clyde stepped forward, carefully.

Each step closer made his instincts scream louder. His eyes never left the animal. When he was about ten feet away, the dog slowly turned its head at him.

Its eyes were glowing red. Burning with magic power. Not like a reflection of light but alive, like embers in a furnace.

Then it opened its mouth.

Rows of jagged ans uneven teeth jutted out in unnatural angles. Too many for a normal jaw. Some spilled out of the side. Its tongue was black and split. The fur around its muzzle was stained with dried blood.

Clyde’s lip curled as he recognized what he was looking at.

It was a mutated beast. A failed creature twisted and corrupted by the power of foreign magic.

He scoffed, half amused, half annoyed.

"That damn World Master’s already releasing it and make monsters this early? Crazy bastard."

The dog crouched. His muscles tensing. A low growl rumbled in its throat, deeper than it should’ve been.

Then it took one slow step toward him.

Clyde didn’t flinch. He slipped the Silvercoil Spear from its place with a smooth practiced motion. The handle locked in his palm, the metal cool and ready.

"I guess this is our first warm-up." He muttered.

The creature growled again. Then it pounced.

The dog lunged at Clyde.

Clyde reacted instantly. With a quick flick of his wrist he channeled just enough mana into the slender white tube in his hand. The metal shimmered, pulsing with his energy.

In a flash of light and motion the Silvercoil Spear extended and snapping into its full form. A gleaming shaft of pale steel with a single sharp blade at the tip.

He planted his foot and swung the spear upward, forcing the beast to veer in the middle of its leap.

The dog twisted in the air unnaturally. Its body stretching and swelling. Muscles bulked beneath its matted fur. Bones cracked and reshaped. Its body ballooned to the size of a bear in a matter of seconds then crashing down onto the earth with a heavy thud.

Its red eyes now burned brighter and more intelligent. More hateful.

Mina, hidden behind the trees, clamped her hands over her mouth. Her breath caught in her throat and her eyes were wide as saucers. Her knees nearly buckled at the sight of the creature.

Clyde kept his gaze locked on the monster. His grip tightened on the spear.

The beast growled low and deep, then charged faster this time.

Clyde dodge to the side, and slashed upward. The spear blade caught the creature across the ribs. A line of black blood splattered across the grass, hissing on contact.

But the dog didn’t slow. It spun around and swiped with one massive claw.

Clyde raised his spear to block but the attack struck hard. The force rattled his arms and sent him skidding backwards across the dirt. His shoulder throbbed from the impact.

He cursed under his breath. With his stats right now he actually can kill this thing quikc. But it will make the World Master supicious.

"I need to make it look real."

The dog roared and lunged again. This time Clyde took the hit on purpose.

The claw raked across his side, tearing through his jacket and biting into flesh. Blood soaked his shirt instantly. Pain flared up his ribs.

Mina gasped behind the trees but didn’t make a sound.

Clyde gritted his teeth and used the momentum to spin with the creature. He planted one foot, twisted around, and drove his spear forward.

The tip punched into the beast’s shoulder deep.

It howled and thrashed then knocking Clyde to the ground.

He rolled quick while ignoring the pain. He kicked up dirt then sprang back to his feet just as the creature lunged again.

They clashed. The spear clashed agiants the fang and its claw. Bur Clyde managed to dodge most of it.

Clyde moved with a dancer’s rhythm now, letting his weapon flow rather than brute force it.

He kept his strength limited. He pulling his swings just enough to seem like a normal human. His breathing grew heavy. His wound was paindul. His clothes dirtied.

But he was still in control.

When the creature lunged for the final time, Clyde sidestepped and let the momentum carry it past him.

In a single smooth motion he twisted around and drove the Silvercoil Spear deep into its back. Straight through its heart.

The beast froze.

A low whimper escaped its throat.

Then it collapsed. The corrupted magic in its body crackled, then fizzled out.

Clyde stood over the corpse, breathing hard. Blood trickled from his body. He pulled the spear free with a grunt and wiped the blade on the grass.

The clearing was silent again.

He looked toward Mina.

She stepped out from behind the tree, pale and shaken, but her eyes locked on him.

"You’re hurt," she whispered.

"I’ll live. Don’t worry," he muttered. "But that thing wasn’t normal. It wasn’t just wild dog. It was planted here."

Mina stared at the carcass. "You mean... someone sent it?"

Clyde narrowed his eyes at the horizon.

"Yeah. I believe its the man last night. I think it’s only the beginning."

Mina looked at the dog. If thats creature was just the beginning then what else will come out when the real apocalypse happened? She can’t even imagined it at all.