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Jin-hyu and Min-seok, shocked, tried to say something, but Seojun disappeared again. Before they knew it, a sharp pain hit their necks. Their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed, unconscious beside Jae-hyun.

Hannah, still desperately trying to cast buffs, shouted out, her voice laced with panic.

"My mana… It\'s—it\'s running out—!" She turned her head, searching for Jae-hyun amd the others for help but before she could look, she felt a sudden impact on her neck. Her words cut off as she too fell to the ground, unconscious.

Kaeri glanced around, eyes wide with terror, and her heart sank when she saw Hannah lying on the ground.

"Hannah?!" she gasped, her concentration wavering as the barrier trembled again. She barely had time to react before Seojun appeared next to her. A quick hit to her neck, and she, too, fell asleep.

As the last of them dropped,

[System Notification: Initiating Barrier...]

The moment the system\'s voice cut off, Kaeri\'s barrier shattered into a million shards of light, exploding outward with a deafening crash. The monstrous creatures roared in triumph, lunging forward, eager to attack now that the barrier was down.

But just as their claws and teeth were about to tear through the group, they slammed against an invisible force, a powerful shockwave rippling outward and knocking them back. A new barrier appeared, shimmering with a blinding blue light. This one was far stronger, more solid, pulsating with an energy that made the air hum.

Seojun stood there, calm, not even breaking a sweat. He glanced at the creatures outside, watching them claw and slam against the barrier, unable to break through.

[System Notification: Barrier Reinforced. Defensive Protocol Active.]

He looked at the creatures, still trying in vain to break the barrier, and then glanced at his status. Something caught his eye—a sign that Echidna\'s child was nearby. He muttered to himself, "At least they made this easy."

Seojun reappeared on a high branch of a tall tree outside the barrier. From his spot, he looked down at the scene below. The ground was covered in thick dust, and all sorts of creatures were crowded around the barrier he had made. The barrier shimmered like a bubble, and the creatures were pressing against it, desperate to break through.

He could see all kinds of mythical creatures and familiars. Some looked like they had once been cute pets—small with soft fur or friendly eyes—but now, they were different. Their fur was bristled, fangs bared, and claws out. They were angry, their faces twisted in rage. Others were more powerful and strange, having evolved into something fiercer.

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They slammed against the barrier, growling, hissing, and scratching, trying to break it.

Silla spoke in Seojun\'s mind, his voice annoyed. "Why are they so aggressive? It seems like that whistle had side effects, making them like that."

"Probably," Seojun replied calmly. His eyes moved over the crowd of creatures. He knew he needed to find the child of Echidna among them, but he wasn\'t sure which one it was. He opened his status and checked the map. There, he noticed a red dot hidden just behind a blue dot representing him.

Suddenly, he sensed danger—a sharp shift in the air. Seojun instantly teleported to another tree. Just as he vanished, a huge paw smashed into the tree he had been standing on, breaking it apart with a loud crash. The tree fell to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

From his new spot, Seojun looked at the creature that attacked. It was massive, with the body of a giant wolf—Fenrir—with white fur and nine long, flowing tails. It had the sleek features of a fox, but its eyes were wild with anger. It growled deeply, its sharp teeth bared, saliva dripping from its mouth.

[Appraisal Activated]

Name: ???

Type: Fox-Fenrir Hybrid

Rank: SS

Title: Mother of Familiars

Status: Angry

Reason: The whistle is hurting its head, causing intense pain and aggression. The creature and others are tired of hearing the Dreadwhistle\'s endless noise.

The hybrid creature growled, its nine tails whipping behind it like angry flames. Its fur was pure white, but its eyes were filled with fury. The noise from the whistle seemed to be driving it mad, making it claw at the ground where Seojun had been standing.

"It\'s her Master" Silla spoke, Seojun observed from his new position, staying calm and relaxed. "So, this is the one,"

The massive Fenrir, with its white fur and nine tails, lifted its head and let out a howl so loud it reverberated through the forest. The sound cut through the chaotic noise of the creatures clawing at the barrier, and for a moment, everything went still. The familiars and mythical beasts paused, turning their heads to face the Fenrir.

The Fenrir howled again, its voice echoing like thunder through the trees. The creatures below seemed to be in awe, their aggressive movements halting as they listened to the powerful call. Fear and confusion flashed in their eyes as the howl filled the air.

Suddenly, the once-angry familiars started to retreat. They turned and began running away from the barrier, disappearing into the dense forest. The dust they kicked up as they fled made the scene look even more chaotic.

Seojun watched the stampede from his perch in the tree. His gaze was steady as he observed the creatures running off into the distance. He frowned slightly, realizing the scale of what he was witnessing.

"This is too many to fit in this sanctuary," he thought, scanning the area. "It looks like there\'s something else going on here."

The Fenrir, sensing Seojun\'s presence, launched itself from the ground with an explosive burst of power.