Chapter 18: The Wolf is Coming

“They’re coming!”

“Help us! The wolves!”

Cries after cries resounded in Blackwater Valley.

An extremely thin mountain wolf crept around the sheep pens behind a house.

And these gentle, harmless animals were absolutely no match for a vicious, hungry beast.

“Charge!”

The military soon stomped into battle, holding long swords and donning simple armour woven with rattan and wooden shields. They charged straight into battle to defend the townspeople’s livestock, but some found themselves stuck to a single spot.

Sam, who had just joined the military this year, trembled on the spot. Although his performance was the best among the military, he found himself unable to move.

Facing the terrifying mountain wolf that seemed to stare straight into his soul, the sense of oppression overpowered him.

“Sam! Get yourself together!” a man shouted.

“Captain, I… my legs don’t work!” Sam cried out, his crotch already wet from fear.

Fear washed over him: fear that was passed down from generation to generation, from civilization to civilization.

The wolf eyed him down and licked its snout; it had not eaten for a month, and it no longer feared the iron tools nor the raging fires created by man. It could only think of eating and…

“Mom…” Sam cried out as he closed his eyes.

Thwack!

A sharp arrow pierced through the sky, nailing the mountain wolf on the head with lightning speed.

The mountain wolf whimpered and simply fell to the ground, not even knowing what had happened.

Sam was still in a daze, wondering if he was still alive.

A powerful hand grabbed Sam’s shoulders, giving him a firm, reassuring grip.

“Do not give up; stand up and hold the sword proudly in your hands! Fight with me!” Levi encouraged.

Levi leapt away from Sam, and his arm seemed to distort the surroundings.

Slash!

With a single slash, the head of the mountain wolf was cut off, and blood splattered on Levi’s face.

[Golden Cross Proficiency +3]

Levi licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and shot his bow and arrow, killing a wolf who was devouring the stomach of a cow fifty metres away.

“Sam,” Knight Fred comforted. “No matter how sharp the wolves’ teeth are, they are no match for the sword in your hand. Fight for your land!”

Sam wiped away his tears as he looked at his Lord, slashing away at wolves without fear.

And Levi was five years younger than him.

Sam trembled and dashed forward onto the battlefield.

Knight Fred could see that Levi was drowning in bloodlust and quickly followed behind him.

A large-scale pack like this must have a wolf king in its midst.

Knight Fred believes that the wolf king was lurking, watching.

Sure enough, there was a deep howl that sounded from the mountains.

A wolf the size of a polar bear glared coldly at Levi and Knight Fred.

It could be felt that these two men were incredibly strong.

If those two were not dealt with, the losses of his pack might be much more serious than the time he fought the Great Northern Bear.

And he could smell the scent of bears on the younger man’s body.

The Wolf King made up his mind: get rid of these two humans, no matter the cost.

It darted down the mountain, enough to put a cheetah to shame.

At the foot of the mountain, the corpses of many mountain wolves were piling up, but none of them backed down from trying to kill Levi.

However, Knight Fred guarded his side diligently.

Facing these wolves, Knight Fred unleashed his terrifying strength; the sword in his hand was like an impenetrable wall. Any wolf that crosses it is beheaded.

Levi could tell Knight Fred was using a breathing technique as well; in the cold winter, his body emitted white smoke, and his eyes burned with a fierce flame.

“Master, something big is coming. I will face it, and you… you must protect yourself.” Knight Fred ordered coldly and called upon five men to guard Levi.

Levi nodded, and he could see a white blur rushing in the distance. The white figure dashed through three military men, knocking two of them into the air and crushing one of them into bits and pieces.

“The Wolf King…” Levi muttered.

He drew his bow and arrows and shot at the Wolf King immediately.

Levi was confident in his archery but was shocked to see the Wolf King swipe his arrows away without even looking at them.

“Knight Fred!” Levi yelled. “Do not underestimate it!”