Chapter 15: The First Signs of Strength

The rapid increase in magical power made Komer realize that his entire body was filled with endless magical energy that needed a way to be released—like a dam holding back water that required an outlet. Only by continuously casting various spells could he discharge this surging magical energy. Unfortunately, aside from dark magic and necromancy, spells like white magic and offensive magic were not his strengths. But under such circumstances, how could he dare to use dark magic and necromancy? Wouldn’t that be inviting trouble for himself?

Even several Masked Knights and Rema Knights felt the surge of magical power behind them. The first to benefit was Pik, the Masked Knight defending the north. Although there were few gray wolves in his area, the wolves further back became increasingly powerful. Especially when a group of red-mane wolves appeared, Pik, already severely exhausted, found it difficult to withstand the attacks of three of them.

With each exhale, a blast of cold air was released, cold enough to freeze an ordinary person instantly. Frost could even be clearly seen on Pik’s shiny mask. The red-mane wolves were completely different from the earlier ones—they didn’t attack recklessly but worked in groups of two or three, covering each other while forming an attack force. They even used tactics to distract the enemy and try to break through their defenses. Such large-scale attacks further drained Pik’s stamina.

He had used restoration spells twice in a row to recover his strength, but after just a short while, he found himself gasping for breath again. Despair began to take hold in his mind. He knew that if the wolves broke through his defenses, the entire defense line would collapse, and everyone would perish at their hands. He couldn’t fall—yet the cruel reality had exhausted his strength; he simply couldn’t hold on any longer. His knight’s spear also became unbearably heavy, and even his movements seemed slower. The cunning wolves immediately noticed this change, and another red-mane wolf joined the attack from the north.

Just as Pick could clearly hear the panting sound like that of a broken bellows, he swiftly drew his knight’s spear. The red-mantled wolf that pounced from the air had its left side torn apart in a spray of blood and flesh, but it agilely rolled in mid-air to avoid the fatal strike. Meanwhile, another wolf silently crept up to Pick’s feet as he focused on defending against the other wolf. The moment the wolf raised its dark claws to launch a sneak attack, with a crisp sound, an arrow pierced deep into its head. Only then did the masked knight realize what was happening. Sweating profusely, he glanced back and saw Puber, shivering violently, jumping on top of the carriage while retracting a crossbow into his sleeve.

At the same time, Komer quietly formed a symbol with his fingers on his chest and muttered something. A massive surge of energy rushed into Pick’s already struggling body. Faced with this crisis, Pick, energized by the situation, didn’t have time to think. His Lu Chen spear, which had once been dim, suddenly emitted a dark glow, even seeming to possess more power than at its peak. A warm energy flowed throughout his body as the spear sliced through the air with a shrill scream, unleashing dark shadows. The two red-mantled wolves attacking from either side were struck by the spear’s shadow and torn apart before they could even scream—so powerful was the strike that even Pick was amazed at his own sudden strength.

Behind him, Komer didn’t hesitate. The wolves from the east had also broken through the line of defense of the two masked knights. With the help of six or seven red-mantled wolves and over a dozen ordinary wolves, they finally breached the defenses. Morsen’s right arm was exposed, revealing bone, while his dark gray knight’s armor was stained with bright red blood. Jacques’s situation wasn’t much better. Although his powerful ultimate skill, “Phantom Sky Lure,” had dealt heavy losses to the red-mantled wolves, it also drained his internal energy rapidly. As he kept using enhancement techniques to strengthen his body, he was nearing exhaustion. His beautiful knight’s cloak was torn to shreds by the wolves’ claws, and the bloodstains on his back caused excruciating pain with every movement, along with a chilling sensation seeping into his core.

A massive warm current surged into the bodies of the two masked knights almost simultaneously. Both were shocked at the same time, and their knightly lances instantly emitted intense dark flames. The seventeen red-mantled wolves that had lunged from the sky were torn to pieces by the swirling beams of light from the lances. The icy cold that followed also froze the two masked knights on the spot as their bodies exploded. This was the magical explosion of a high-level ice magic beast—a special form of release that occurred when the beast sensed death. Naturally, the beast was reduced to ashes, and those exposed to such magical impact were inevitably struck by it as well, resulting in a mutual destruction.

At that moment, Komer saw the crisis arise—the two masked knights had suddenly frozen, and the eastern defense gate was wide open. Although all the red-mantled wolves were dead, the remaining dozen or so ordinary wolves saw their chance and charged forward with roars. In panic, Komer couldn’t think further. If the two masked knights were to perish, his group would also be doomed. He muttered an unskilled spell: “Fire of the Blue Lotus, my heart burns; the sky hangs in peril—grant me the heart of heaven! Rise!”

To everyone’s astonishment, a huge wall of fire quickly formed as Komer waved his hand. Streams of blue flames, accompanied by eerie howls like those of hellish demons, rose from the ground, engulfing the entire area in a sea of fire. The blue flames made the wolves in the fire screech in pain, and their agonized howls echoed throughout the forest. A strong smell of burning filled the air, and even the wolves attacking from other directions felt a hint of fear.

Meanwhile, the Lemura knights on the other side were also at their wits’ end. Countless red-mantled wolves rushed in from all directions, while countless sheets of snow-white ice mist turned the air into solid ice. The howling winds caused by the wolves’ claws were terrifying. Komer gritted his teeth, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his face turning pale. He pointed again and muttered the spell, “Snake Dance in the Netherworld, my heart remains unchanged; Fire Phantom, without distinction of front or back! Transform!”

A massive fire serpent materialized in the air, circling above the defense circle before suddenly descending to the periphery. The fierce fire serpent moved with incredible agility, resembling a real snake as it swirled rapidly around the defense circle. Its sky-blue flames occasionally flashed with purplish-black sparks, scorching the red-mantled wolves that tried to pounce. Sensing the power of these flames, the wolves breathed out icy mist in an attempt to extinguish them.

With the help of the fire serpent, the two Thunderhorse knights also fought with all their might. Their crystal-clear knightly spears instantly transformed into a huge halo that expanded outward, shining brilliantly like divine light from the heavens. This was a supreme technique combining Holy Light magic with the initial stage of combat energy. Though still at the most basic level, it was already astonishing. When the massive halo reached its maximum size, it suddenly shattered into countless fragments that sprayed outward, illuminating the entire forest. The red-mantled wolves, who were trying to evade the fire serpent’s scorching heat, were caught off guard by these flying fragments. The combined power of Holy Light magic and the force of the spears pierced deep into their bodies with ease, slicing them into pieces like cutting vegetables. Grayish blood rain soared into the air, turning into a vast mist of blood.

The wolves finally retreated. On one hand, the majority of the wolf pack had already crossed the road and rushed into the other side of the forest. The few wolves that were attacking Kemmer and his group also felt fear at the unexpected difficulty posed by what they thought would be easy prey. Although they lacked consciousness, the innate fear in their bones was universal among all living beings. Faced with the opponent’s strength, they had no choice but to retreat and flee in disarray behind the seemingly endless wolf pack.