We set out.
Heading toward the Wolf King's territory.
Sunlight filtered through leaves.
But the farther we walked.
The darker the light became.
Trees grew denser.
A sense of oppression filled the air.
"Spread out," I said quietly.
"Remember, keep more than ten meters apart."
All members nodded.
Dispersed according to plan.
Shadow flew on the left side.
Horn on the right.
Venom followed behind.
Shell, Spike, Waspy, Brownie.
All maintained distance.
I was in the center.
Using spatial perception to probe ahead.
Within 50 meters.
Many trees.
But few magic beasts.
Occasionally sensed one or two.
But all very weak.
And fleeing quickly.
"The magic beasts all fled," Waspy said.
"The Wolf King's aura is too strong."
"They don't dare approach."
I nodded.
Continued forward.
Walked for about another ten minutes.
I stopped.
"Shadow."
Shadow flew over.
"Go scout."
"Find the Wolf King's position."
"Observe the surroundings."
"Don't get discovered."
Shadow nodded.
"Understood."
It merged into shadow.
Form gradually vanishing.
Completely invisible.
We waited in place.
Stayed alert.
Used spatial perception to monitor surroundings.
Time passed second by second.
About five minutes later.
Shadow emerged from shadow.
"Found it," it said.
"In a clearing 300 meters ahead."
"The Wolf King is there."
"It's resting."
I nodded.
"Any other magic beasts around?"
Shadow paused.
"Yes."
"Five Forest Wolves."
"At the clearing's edge."
"Like guards."
I frowned.
"There are guards?"
"Then we eliminate the guards first."
"Can't let them interfere with the battle."
"And can't let them sound the alarm."
Spike: "How do we do it?"
"Rapid assault," I said.
"Shadow, Spike, you're the fastest."
"Handle killing the guards."
"Fast and silent."
Both nodded.
"Understood."
We continued forward.
Even more carefully.
Footsteps almost soundless.
Through the forest.
Finally—
I saw it with spatial perception.
300 meters ahead.
A clearing.
Five Forest Wolves at the edges.
Two on the left.
Two on the right.
One straight ahead.
All very alert.
Constantly scanning the surroundings.
And in the clearing's center.
Lay an enormous wolf.
Silver-gray fur.
Size three times that of a normal wolf.
Even lying down.
Gave off massive oppressive force.
The Wolf King.
I looked at Shadow and Spike.
"Ready?"
Both nodded.
"Anytime."
"Then begin."
Shadow merged into shadow.
Spike lowered its body.
Slowly approached.
I tracked them with spatial perception.
Shadow traversed through shadows.
Approaching the two wolves on the left.
Spike crept along the ground.
Approaching the two on the right.
Closer and closer.
50 meters.
30 meters.
20 meters.
10 meters.
"Now!" I thought.
Shadow suddenly emerged from shadow.
Behind one of the wolves.
"Shadow Claw!"
Claws slashed across the wolf's throat.
Blood spurted.
That wolf didn't even make a sound.
Just collapsed.
The other wolf reacted.
Wanted to howl.
But Shadow was faster.
"Shadow Escape!"
Instantly appeared before it.
Claws slashed again.
The second wolf also fell.
[Killed Forest Wolf] ×2
Right side.
Spike's speed was extreme.
"Gale Pierce!"
Pierced the first wolf's abdomen.
Then quickly withdrew.
Turned.
"Chain Strike!"
Three consecutive piercing strikes.
The second wolf hadn't even reacted.
Already struck in vital points.
[Killed Forest Wolf] ×2
The wolf ahead sensed something.
Turned to look at its companions.
Saw the four fallen wolves.
It opened its mouth.
Wanted to howl.
I immediately acted.
"Spatial Teleport!"
Instantly appeared before it.
Before it could cry out.
"Dimensional Rift!"
The rift swept across its neck.
The wolf's howl cut off abruptly.
Collapsed to the ground.
[Killed Forest Wolf]
Five guards.
All eliminated.
From start to finish.
Less than ten seconds.
But—
The Wolf King in the clearing's center.
Opened its eyes.
It stood up.
Massive body.
Silver-gray fur gleaming in sunlight.
Eyes ice-cold.
Staring at me.
"So you've come."
The Wolf King spoke.
Voice deep.
Full of authority.
I stood before it.
Distance about fifty meters.
Other members also emerged from the forest.
Maintaining over ten meters distance.
Dispersed positions.
The Wolf King surveyed us.
"You again."
"Escaped by luck last time."
"Actually dare to come back."
I looked at it.
"Last time we were weak."
"Now it's different."
The Wolf King's gaze swept over us.
Paused for a few seconds.
"All evolved."
"Interesting."
"But still not enough."
It took a step forward.
"Before me."
"You're still weaklings."
Spike couldn't help saying: "Not necessarily!"
The Wolf King looked at it.
"That little weasel?"
"Also evolved."
"But still too weak."
Spike gritted its teeth.
Wanted to charge forward.
I stopped it.
"Don't be rash."
"Follow the plan."
The Wolf King sneered.
"Plan?"
"You think spreading out."
"Can resist my King's Pressure?"
"Naive."
It let out a low growl.
"Grrowl—"
King's Pressure descended.
An invisible force.
Emanated from the Wolf King.
Blanketing the entire clearing.
All members felt it.
Bodies becoming heavy.
Breathing difficult.
But—
Much better than last time.
Because we'd dispersed.
The pressure was distributed.
"It's working!" Waspy said.
"Though still very strong."
"But we can move!"
Surprise flashed in the Wolf King's eyes.
"Oh?"
"Can actually move under my pressure?"
"Seems you really did get stronger."
"Then let me see."
"How much stronger you've become!"
It suddenly charged.
Incredibly fast.
Target was—
Shell!
"Shell!" I shouted.
Shell immediately reacted.
Curled into a ball.
"Iron Ball Charge!"
Rolled at high speed toward the Wolf King.
Simultaneously.
Horn charged from the side.
"Iron Horn Charge!"
Horn gleaming with metallic luster.
Both from different directions.
Charging at the Wolf King simultaneously.
The Wolf King didn't even look.
Suddenly leaped backward.
Jumped three meters high.
Shell rolled past its original position.
Missed completely.
The Wolf King in mid-air.
Body twisted.
Dodged Horn's charge.
Then landed.
"Too slow."
After speaking.
Swatted a claw at Shell.
"Bang!"
Massive force.
Shell was sent flying over ten meters.
Crashed heavily to the ground.
Rolled several times before stopping.
[Shell HP: 380/450]
But—
On the Wolf King's claw.
Three wounds appeared.
Blood flowing.
Counter damage trait triggered.
The Wolf King looked at its claw.
"This armor..."
"Reflects damage?"
It licked its claw.
"Interesting ability."
Horn seized the opportunity to pierce from the side.
The Wolf King turned.
Opened its jaws toward Horn.
"Horn Shield!"
Horn's horn glowed.
Forming a protective shield.
"Clang—!"
Wolf fangs bit the horn shield.
Sparks flew.
Massive sound.
Horn was shaken back by the bite force.
"Such strong bite force!"
It gritted its teeth holding on.
But the Wolf King's strength was too great.
Violently shook its head.
Horn was flung away.
Crashed into a tree.
"Ah!"
Slid to the ground.
[Horn HP: 340/400]
"Venom!" I shouted.
"Poison Mist Release!"
Venom immediately opened its mouth.
Purple-green mist sprayed out.
Rapidly spreading.
Covered over half the clearing.
The Wolf King was surrounded by poison mist.
"This trick again."
Its voice came from within the mist.
"Useless."
Then—
The Wolf King took a deep breath.
I felt magic gathering.
"Not good!"
The Wolf King suddenly exhaled.
"Wind Breath!"
Powerful airflow.
Like a gale.
Blew toward the poison mist.
The mist was mostly dispersed.
Only a thin layer remained.
"What?!" Venom was shocked.
"Keep releasing!" I said.
"It's also consuming magic!"
"War of attrition favors us!"
Venom nodded.
Continuously sprayed poison mist.
The Wolf King also continuously dispersed it.
"Mind Control!"
Waspy's voice rang out.
Invisible psychic force.
Rushed toward the Wolf King.
The Wolf King's movements paused.
"Mental attack?"
It shook its head.
"Too weak."
But it definitely had an effect.
"Forest Bind!"
Brownie seized the opportunity.
Ground vines grew wildly.
Wrapping toward the Wolf King's limbs.
The Wolf King was bound.
"This trick!"
It struggled forcefully.
Vines were breaking.
But still growing.
"Now!" I shouted.
"Spike, let's go!"
I used Spatial Teleport.
Appeared behind the Wolf King.
"Dimensional Rift!"
Rift aimed at the hind leg.
Spike charged from the front.
"Gale Pierce!"
Incredibly fast.
Target was the abdomen.
But just then—
The Wolf King suddenly exerted force.
"Roar!"
All vines completely shattered.
It suddenly turned.
Speed shockingly fast.
Swatted a claw toward me.
I couldn't react in time.
The claw was about to hit.
At that very instant—
Shadow emerged from shadow.
"Shadow Escape: Switch!"
My position swapped with Shadow's.
The Wolf King's claw struck Shadow.
But Shadow became shadow.
Dissipated.
Re-condensed from another side.
"What?!" The Wolf King was surprised.
And Spike's attack—
Succeeded.
"Gale Pierce!"
Hit the Wolf King's abdomen.
Blood splattered.
"Ah!"
The Wolf King cried out in pain for the first time.
This was the first time truly injured.
It stepped back several paces.
Looked at the wound on its abdomen.
Then looked at us.
"You..."
"Very good."
"Very good!"
Its eyes turned red.
Magic throughout its body began surging.
Fur standing on end.
Aura completely different.
"You've angered me!"
The Wolf King let out a furious roar.
"Aowooo—!"
Magic exploded.
Forming shockwaves.
Surrounding trees all shook.
"Not good!" Waspy said.
"It's entered berserk state!"
The Wolf King's speed suddenly exploded.
Instantly before Horn.
Horn couldn't react in time.
Was bitten.
"Horn!"
The Wolf King violently shook its head.
Flung Horn into the air.
Then—
It leaped.
Chasing Horn in mid-air.
Preparing to tear apart in the air.
"Damn it!"
I immediately teleported.
Appeared beside Horn.
Grabbed it.
"Into the space!"
Horn vanished into the Dimensional Cheek Pouch.
The Wolf King bit empty air.
It landed.
"Crash!"
Smashed a huge crater.
Turned to look at me.
"Spatial ability..."
"Interesting."
It licked its lips.
"But how many times can you save them?"