Chapter 55: The Battle with the Blood Wolf King

It was the dead of night, and the moon hung high in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the forest. Instead of sitting down to rest, we found ourselves in a precarious situation. Bloodthirsty Blood Wolves surrounded us, their eyes gleaming with malice and hunger.

With my sword, Darkmoon, in my right hand and my shield in my left, I unleashed a furious assault against the onslaught of Blood Wolves. Swinging my sword with precision, I fought back against their relentless attacks. Behind me, Sarah provided support, occasionally firing her magic gun at the wolves, further elevating our defense.

Together, we managed to temporarily halt the advance of the Blood Wolf pack, but my worry lingered. The pack was vast, and if the battle continued like this, we would be in serious trouble. Not only that, I noticed the presence of a unique blood wolf in the pack. With its overwhelmingly strong presence, all the other blood wolves cowered beside it, obeying its every command. It was none other than the infamous Blood Wolf King.

The Blood Wolf King was a rare 4-star beast. While its individual strength might not seem extraordinary compared to other beasts of similar rank, its ability to command the entire blood wolf pack made it a formidable adversary. Facing a group of 2-star beasts while being watched by a 4-star beast was a daunting prospect, even for a mid-tier mage.

Sarah noticed my concern and reminded me from behind, "We can't go on like this."

I nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "I know, but the pack is too huge. The only way to turn this around is by defeating the Blood Wolf King. But if I rush towards it and leave you alone, it will be dangerous."

"Don't worry about me," Sarah reassured me. "I can hold my ground for a few minutes. Just make sure you finish off the Blood Wolf King fast."

Her words ignited a newfound determination within me. There was no time to hesitate. Gathering all my strength into my legs, I stomped the ground hard and propelled myself forward. With the momentum of a mad beast, I charged toward the Blood Wolf King, my shield held protectively in front of me.

As I closed in on the Blood Wolf King, I raised my hand, gripping Darkmoon tightly, and performed a swift vertical slash. The simplicity of the strike was intentional, allowing me to react swiftly to the Blood Wolf King's movements. Time was of the essence, as prolonging the fight would only increase the danger for Sarah.

However, just as my strike was about to hit its mark, the Blood Wolf King surprised me. Instead of evading, it raised its head and let out a powerful howl. The sound reverberated through the air, momentarily distracting me and causing my strike to veer off course. The Blood Wolf King swiftly evaded, escaping the full force of my attack.

I quickly reassessed the Blood Wolf King's power. Not only did it possess formidable strength, but it also possessed an unexpected ability—a mutant monster capable of petrifying its opponents. The howling had only momentarily stunned me, but it revealed the Blood Wolf King's unique power. Underestimating it would be a grave mistake.

After evading me, the Blood Wolf King immediately commanded the blood wolf pack to attack me while it made its escape. It seemed determined to eliminate me while ensuring its own survival.

Undeterred by the setback, I charged at the Blood Wolf King once again, now more vigilant against its abilities and evading the normal blood wolf attacks. With my current situation, our only chance of survival was by slaying the Blood Wolf King. I could only hope that Sarah would do something to help me distract the normal blood wolves.

I swung my sword with determination, but the Blood Wolf King proved to be a formidable opponent. Its agility allowed it to evade most of my attacks while inflicting minor injuries upon me. With each passing minute, the accumulated damage threatened to weaken me and turn the tide of the battle.

After exchanging blows with the Blood Wolf King for several minutes, I decided to take a risk. Calming my mind, I focused all my spirit, mana, and aura into a single strike—a technique known as the Ultimate Vertical Slash. It was the only special technique my master had imparted to me before the test.

With unwavering focus, I unleashed the Ultimate Vertical Slash, directing all my energy into the strike. The Blood Wolf King instinctively tried to use Petrified Howling once again, but this time it failed to affect me. I pressed forward, unaffected by its abilities, and delivered the devastating blow. My sword connected, cleaving the wolf in half and ending its life.

"Hah!" I exclaimed, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins as I lifted the corpse of the Blood Wolf King. Witnessing the death of their leader and sensing my imposing presence, the remaining wolves scattered, retreating into the night.

Exhausted but relieved, I glanced at Sarah from across the battlefield. Despite her injuries, she was safe. It had been an arduous fight, but both of us had emerged victorious. The threat of the Blood Wolf pack had been eliminated, thanks to our unwavering determination and teamwork.