Chapter 17: Shadow Wolves Attack

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Shadow Wolves AttackOn the other side of the camp, Sera watched the scene unfold with utter disbelief. "Impossible! That peasant has such talent?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, her shock mirroring Patrick’s. The other two tents had opened, their occupants drawn by the commotion. The Knights had seen Lian unleash three fireballs under Patrick’s guidance, each burst of flame illuminating the darkened camp. The Knights of Grimreach, noting Patrick’s intense reaction, quickly retreated to their tent. Whatever had transpired was none of their concern, their duty bound to obedience rather than curiosity. Dax and the other two Dustwall Knights, however, observed with puzzled expressions. "Why those faces?" they wondered, unable to grasp the issue at hand. Meanwhile, Lian himself was clueless. "What is happening?" he asked himself, searching for the root of the confusion. After a few seconds— "Damn it, I understand!" he exclaimed in his mind, a spark of realization igniting within him. It was obvious when he thought about it. The problem was clear-he had cast three fireballs in rapid succession without chanting any incantations. "Boy—" Patrick’s grave voice only confirmed his fears. "How did you use magic without a formula?" Lian was at a loss for words. He could not reveal the System. Suddenly, his father’s words echoed in his mind. Torren always had one piece of advice when caught doing something wrong: "Play dead!" And so, like a dutiful son, Lian closed his eyes and collapsed to the ground. The dull thud made Patrick blink repeatedly, while Sera rushed over in a flash. "Mage Patrick, it seems this boy has a hidden talent!" she said, staring at Lian’s exposed face. "Indeed, it appears so. But now is not the time to discuss it," Patrick replied, turning his head toward the surrounding forest. "They are finally here. They chose this moment to attack..." he murmured, his gaze fixed on a specific point in the woods. Though not certain, Patrick sensed something distinct there, different from the other monsters lurking nearby. "Prepare yourselves! We are under attack!" he shouted, his voice heavy as a mountain. The Dustwall Knights, already outside their tents, drew their weapons and closed ranks around the fallen boy, ready to defend him. The Grimreach Knights burst from their tent, eager to join the two Mages—after all, their mission was to protect them. "Sera, wake the boy and prepare yourselves. This fight will not be easy," Patrick said, his tone grave. Then, a sly grin spread across his face as he added under his breath, "I only hope this monster can entertain me!" The moment everyone took their positions, with Sera crouched beside a feigning Lian, trying to rouse him, the howls of dozens of wolves pierced the air, signaling the start of their assault! The Shadow Wolves had been lurking in the forest, poised for a surprise attack, but somehow, the humans had detected their presence. The credit belonged to Patrick, though it was Lian’s three fireballs that had convinced the beasts they had been discovered. Following the howls, the sound of claws scraping against stone echoed all around. No one could pinpoint where the wolves were coming from. The mist, once light, had grown thicker, obscuring everything except the glowing red eyes of the beasts. They encircled the humans with expert precision. This was not their first hunt; such tactics were ingrained in the instincts of the Shadow Wolves. The human formation was simple: the six Knights surrounded the two Mages, while Patrick stood apart, untouched by the wolves. None dared to attack him, sensing his overwhelming strength. Besides, their pack leader had claimed him as its own. After a tense moment of waiting, swords clashed against fangs and claws. Metallic clangs rang out as black blood sprayed like fountains from the monsters’ bodies. The pack was large, roughly thirty Shadow Wolves strong. Only four were Iron 5, six were Iron 4, ten were Iron 3, six were Iron 2, and four were Iron 1. "Brace yourselves!" The four Iron 5 and six Iron 4 wolves charged at the humans, but the Grimreach Knights reacted first. "Do not let them near the Mages!" The three moved as a single unit, intercepting three Iron 5 and three Iron 4 wolves that had lunged toward them. Their blades sliced through the air with precision, striking flanks and legs, forcing the beasts to retreat. Each strike was calculated, each movement synchronized. Two Iron 4 wolves fell within seconds, their black blood pooling on the stone, a testament to the Knights’ lethal skill. Amidst it all, Lian lay on the ground. He was not truly unconscious, but he had to keep up the act for his own sake! "Hey, boy, wake up already!" Sera’s voice was furious as she slapped Lian’s face. Despite the pain, Lian held his facade—for the first five seconds. Then, fed up with being struck, he "awoke." "Huh?" he said, glancing around. The Knights were already battling the monsters, keeping them at bay from the two Mages. They were holding their own remarkably well, despite the numerical disadvantage. After all, only a few wolves were truly formidable; the rest were mere cannon fodder, at least to the Knights. For the two Mages, the situation was different. "You are finally awake, Lian," Dax said as he finished off an Iron 4 wolf with a pair of well-placed strikes, parrying the jaws of an Iron 5. He moved with greater finesse than before. Seeing this, Lian wasted no time. Rising to his feet, he decided it was his turn to slay some beasts. Sera, noticing how the boy had just ignored her, pouted and turned away. "Tch, is this the thanks I get for waking you? Pathetic peasant, I will not let you kill a single monster!" she muttered, visibly annoyed, her pride stinging like a fresh wound. Lian, oblivious to Sera’s grievances, surveyed the scene. The situation had stabilized, with the wolves now dodging and attacking more cautiously, no longer charging like rabid dogs. This gave the humans time to regroup—and Lian time to pick his target. "There!" he exclaimed, locking onto an Iron 3 wolf. "Wait... it is too close to the Knights. I cannot cast my fireball; I might hit them," he murmured thoughtfully. He drew his sword, ready for close combat, but at that moment— "Huh?" A wave of heat surged past him, weaving through the Knights and striking the muzzle of the wolf he had targeted. A small, satisfied laugh followed the explosion of flames and blood that engulfed the beast. Turning at the sound, Lian saw Sera, her face radiating smug satisfaction. Her hand, shaped like a gun, still smoked from the spell she had cast. "What are you staring at?" Sera blew on her still-smoking finger before brushing her silky red hair behind her ear. "Uh, nothing..." Lian turned away, searching for another target. But just as he locked onto another wolf and began to charge, another wave of heat, followed by a small explosion, consumed his prey. Once again, he turned to Sera. The scene was the same, except this time she said nothing, merely smiling and staring at him, arms crossed, her posture relaxed. "Damn her, she is doing it on purpose!" Lian thought, scowling. "Fine, no more holding back. I will show you!" --- Author’s Note! Umh... who are you trying to fool, Lian? No more holding back? And what exactly do you plan to do, incinerate the entire Gate? Wait a minute...