Reincarnated into my favorite videogame

As Nari walked with the group, her mind wandered back to her old group. At least they hadn't been so hostile. Sure, there had been tension after the fireball incident, but she had hoped to get past that, to prove she wasn't a danger. Now she wasn't even sure if she would be able to show her new group any of her true magic without them exploiting it even further.

The group marched through the town toward the mission's starting point, the air tense and uncomfortable. The woman—whose name Nari still didn't know—glanced back at her occasionally, her scowl deepening each time.

"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to keep up with us," the woman snapped, her voice sharp. "We're not babysitting you out here."

Nari bit back a retort, keeping her eyes on the ground as they walked. She would keep her head down, do her job, and get paid. That was all that mattered right now. She didn't have to like them; she just had to survive the mission.

By the time they reached the mission location—a forest clearing on the outskirts of town—Nari's nerves were frayed. She could feel the group's hostility toward her, the way they kept glancing at her like she was a liability, not an asset.

"Alright, mage," the lanky one said, turning to face her. "Here's how it's going to go. You're going to stay in the back and use your magic to shield us from whatever comes our way. Got it?"

Nari nodded, gripping her staff tightly. She had no choice but to follow their orders, no matter how much she hated it.

The mission itself wasn't anything out of the ordinary—a standard monster hunt. But Nari quickly realized that her new group had no intention of sharing the burden. Every time a creature appeared, they shoved her to the front, forcing her to use her magic to protect them while they stayed safely behind.

Nari's unease grew as they ventured deeper into the forest, the towering trees blotting out most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered beams to light their way. Her senses were on high alert, but her new group seemed oblivious, chatting and laughing like they were on a casual stroll.

They didn't take anything seriously. Not even her.

"Keep up, mage!" the woman barked over her shoulder, her irritation growing every time Nari lagged a few steps behind. "We don't have time to babysit."

Nari clenched her teeth, ignoring the comment as she scanned the underbrush for any signs of danger. Her staff hummed softly in her grip, its magic responding to her heightened anxiety. She knew something was off. The forest was too quiet. No birds, no rustling leaves, nothing but the sound of their footsteps crunching through the dirt.

It was unnatural.

She was about to voice her concerns when a low growl echoed through the trees.

The group stopped abruptly, their laughter dying in their throats as they turned toward the source of the sound. Nari's heart pounded in her chest as her eyes darted around the darkened woods. Something was out there, watching them.

"Everyone, stay close," the lanky man whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "Mage, get ready with a shield. You're up."

Nari's grip tightened on her staff. She knew they were going to throw her in front like a disposable shield, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

The growl grew louder, more menacing, and then—without warning—a massive black wolf emerged from the shadows. Its fur was sleek and dark as night, its eyes glowing a deep, unnatural red. It towered over them, easily twice the size of a normal wolf, its sharp teeth glistening in the dim light.

Nari's breath caught in her throat. She'd heard stories about these creatures—night wolves, feared for their strength and cunning. But this one was different. There was something more dangerous about it, something primal.

"Oh crap," the muscular man muttered, stepping back in fear. "That thing is huge."

The woman was quick to shove Nari forward, practically pushing her toward the wolf. "Shield us, mage! Do your job!"

Nari stumbled forward, barely keeping her balance as she raised her staff. Her heart raced as she tried to focus on casting a barrier spell, her magic flaring to life around her. She felt the familiar warmth of the protective shield forming, but her mind was a mess of panic and fear.

The wolf let out a bone-chilling snarl, its eyes locked on Nari.

She stood frozen, expecting the worst. The beast was going to charge at her, tear her apart, and her group was ready to let it happen. She was nothing more than a tool to them, and now, a sacrifice.

"Do something, mage!" the lanky one hissed, his voice rising in panic. "Distract it or we are all going to die!"

But the wolf didn't lunge at her.

Instead, it let out another growl and turned its head toward the rest of the group. Nari blinked in confusion as the beast ignored her entirely and its eyes locked onto the others. The wolf crouched low, muscles tensing as it prepared to strike.

Before anyone could react, it leaped toward the group.

The lanky man screamed as the black wolf barreled into him, its massive jaws closing around his torso with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed into the air as the man was lifted off his feet and violently shaken like a rag doll.

The woman let out a shriek of terror, backing away as fast as she could, but the wolf was too fast. It dropped the lifeless body of the lanky man and lunged at her next. She barely had time to raise her sword before the wolf knocked her to the ground, its teeth sinking into her neck. Her scream was cut short, replaced by a wet gurgle as her body went limp.

The muscular man tried to run, but the wolf was relentless. It chased him down with terrifying speed, pouncing on him before he could make it more than a few steps. His cries for help echoed through the forest, but they were quickly silenced as the wolf tore into him with brutal efficiency.

Nari stood there, wide-eyed and paralyzed, unable to comprehend what was happening. Her group—people who had wanted to sacrifice her—were being slaughtered one by one, and the wolf hadn't even looked in her direction.

She felt sick, her stomach twisting in knots as the scene played out before her. Blood soaked the ground, the air thick with the metallic scent of death. The once-lively group was now nothing more than mangled bodies scattered across the forest floor

Nari's heart raced, panic clawing at her throat as the wolf padded silently toward her. Its glowing red eyes bore into her, but there was no malice in them, no sign that it intended to attack. Still, Nari couldn't shake the overwhelming fear that gripped her as the massive creature closed the distance.

As the wolf padded closer, Nari gripped her staff, half expecting it to lunge at her. Instead, it came to a halt just a few feet away and lowered its head, almost as if… submitting.

The wolf's eyes met hers, and for the first time since their encounter, Nari didn't feel fear. She felt… understanding.

"What… what do you want?" she whispered, barely daring to breathe as she took a cautious step back.

The wolf tilted its head slightly, as though it understood her question. It didn't snarl or growl. It simply sat on its haunches and observed her, its massive frame looming over the quiet clearing.

Nari's mind was racing. Was this some kind of test? Did the creature sense her level, her magic, or something else? It didn't seem interested in attacking her anymore. In fact, it seemed to be waiting.

A few moments passed in tense silence, until the wolf finally broke it. Not with words—wolves didn't speak, of course—but with a low, rumbling sound that was almost… communicative. There was something in its eyes, a depth that Nari hadn't noticed before.

She felt a strange pull toward the creature. It wasn't threatening her, not anymore. In fact, it seemed to be offering something else entirely.