Reincarnated as a Haunted House - Part 1 - The Serpent Forest

The Dilemma

The mysterious monster of the Serpent Forest stood before Finn as the house burned. It was a massive wolf, its ebony fur glistening under the flickering flames. The well-defined muscles in its limbs and body hinted at its formidable strength. Its eyes, as dark as the abyss, held a chilling depth, while its legs sported obsidian claws, razor-sharp and ready for action. Two enormous canines, reminiscent of a sabretooth tiger, protruded menacingly from its maw.

Adding to its aura of intimidation, a pair of fiery red bull horns adorned its forehead. Strangely, the creature appeared eerily calm, in stark contrast to the frenzied nature of other creatures Finn had encountered.

Finn instantly used appraisal on the creature, and the transparent screen displayed,

"Midnight Flamehowler

Threat Level – B

Description – Flamehowlers are the rarest creatures in the world, and Midnight Flamehowlers are the rarest flamehowlers of them all. They are solitary nocturnal creatures and practically the alpha predators in their habitat. They are known to breathe fire like a dragon and are very agile and intelligent creatures. They can also light their body in flames. The flames don't hurt them, but it gives them a tremendous advantage in close-quarter combat. Even though they are threat level B, they are on the verge of becoming level A.

Length X Width X Height – 20 feet X 5 feet X 8 feet

Weight – 2,500 kg"

"A fire-breathing wolf, huh? That's new," Finn remarked, raising an eyebrow. To capture the Flamehowler's attention, he boldly shouted, "I'M RIGHT HERE, YOU WANNABE DRAGON! Gripping his sword tightly, he prepared for a confrontation.

Finn's tactic worked, but unlike his previous encounters, the Flamehowler remained strangely composed. It approached Finn slowly, its menacing presence undeniable, until it halted a few feet away. Finn, perplexed by the sudden pause, watched in bewilderment as the creature inhaled a vast volume of air. Simultaneously, a fiery sphere began forming in its gaping maw. Before Finn could fully grasp the situation, the Flamehowler exhaled a torrent of flames in his direction.

For several tense moments, the Flamehowler unleashed its fiery assault upon Finn. However, when the flames finally subsided, Finn remained unscathed. However, the intense heat had caused the section of the frozen lake behind him to melt and steam.

With a triumphant smirk, Finn locked eyes with the Flamehowler and declared, "Many have tried to harm me, but they've all fallen short. And now, so will you."

Meanwhile, Moonlight was using her ice magic to control the fire spreading on the house, and within a few minutes, she was able to control all the fire. With the immediate danger averted, Moonlight and Creambell retreated to the safety of the hall. They shared a mutual assumption that Finn would confront and handle the mysterious creature just as he had done with the previous threats they had encountered.

The showdown between Finn and the Flamehowler raged on. Finn, displaying his teleportation prowess, materialized just in front of the Flamehowler, thrusting his sword into one of its massive legs. In response, the Flamehowler ignited its body, flames billowing around it as it leaped backward.

Finn, undaunted by the creature's fiery defenses, attempted another teleportation attack, only to be astounded as the Flamehowler anticipated his movements, swiftly relocating itself to avoid his strike. This pattern repeated when Finn made a second attempt, leading him to believe that the Flamehowler's evasions were far from mere flukes.

Realizing that a change in strategy was necessary, Finn abandoned his teleportation-based attacks. Instead, he unleashed a barrage of sticky threads and deadly slime upon the creature. To his dismay, every thread and drop of slime disintegrated upon contact with the Flamehowler's searing flames.