As they traveled, Chris noticed a carriage within the caravan, its interior concealed by heavy curtains. Ever since he had joined the group, he had never seen anyone emerge from that carriage. What stood out even more was the driver-a Pinnacle-level Aetherbinding practitioner. It wasn’t hard for Chris to deduce that whoever was inside the carriage must be someone important to the Tomczak caravan.
After everyone ate and drank their fill, they began setting up tents to rest. That was when danger struck.
“Awooo!”
“Awooo!”
“Awooo!”
Suddenly, a series of wolf howls echoed in the night.
“Not good! Dark Wolves!” someone shouted, and the camp erupted into chaos.
Dark Wolves were merely Second Grade beasts in Aethelgard. A single one posed little threat, but they never traveled alone. Dark Wolves always hunted in packs, numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Such a massive swarm would be overwhelming-even for a Pinnacle-level Aetherbinding master.
From all directions, countless green eyes glimmered menacingly in the dark as the wolves surrounded the caravan. The sight made everyone tense up.
Lee, the captain of the guards, drew his long blade and shouted, “Don’t panic! There aren’t too many of them. Grab your weapons and light the torches! Dark Wolves are afraid of fire!”
Hearing Lee’s command, the group calmed down. Lee’s leadership carried significant weight among the caravan. Following his orders, they armed themselves and lit their torches.
Lee handed a torch to Chris and said, “Brother, take this. The flames will keep the wolves at bay.”
Chris accepted the torch, though he didn’t actually fear the wolves. Still, to avoid revealing his true identity, he chose to keep a low profile.
Flames illuminated the area, casting long shadows as the pack of Dark Wolves circled the caravan, their glowing eyes fixated on the group. They showed no signs of retreating.
“Lee,” Chris asked curiously, “why are these wolves not leaving?”
Lee’s expression grew serious. “Normally, a group of our size, armed with fire, would be enough to drive them away. If they’re not leaving, it means something in our caravan is attracting them.”
Chris froze for a moment, glancing at the curtained carriage. A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
“Awooo!”
The wolves charged.
“Brother,” Lee said to Chris, “when the fight starts, stay on the sidelines.”
Lee had no idea who Chris really was. With no visible signs of spiritual energy, Lee assumed Chris was just an ordinary traveler. Chris couldn’t help but feel a bit touched by Lee’s concern. Lee, it seemed, was a good man.
“Attack!”
“Kill them!”
“Defend yourselves!”
The guards clashed with the wolves, their blades flashing in the firelight. Blood sprayed as the two sides fought fiercely. Lee’s long blade slashed through one wolf, splitting it in half. Within ten minutes, over a hundred Dark Wolves had been slain. But the cost was high-several guards had fallen to the wolves’ claws.
“Awooo!”
A piercing howl shattered the brief moment of relief. From all directions, more wolves emerged, their ranks swelling. Then, a massive figure stepped forward.
It was a Dark Wolf three times the size of the others, towering over five meters tall.
“It’s Nightfang!” Lee exclaimed, his face pale.
“Be careful!” he shouted. “This is Nightfang, a mid-Pinnacle beast!”
The appearance of Nightfang sent a wave of dread through the caravan. The massive wolf wasted no time, leading another charge. Its first target was Lee.
Nightfang moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance in an instant. Its razor-sharp claws slashed down toward Lee, aiming to tear him apart. Lee froze, his mind blank with fear. He closed his eyes, bracing for death.
Suddenly, a tremendous force struck.
With a deafening crash, Nightfang was sent flying.
Lee opened his eyes and turned to see who had saved him. It was Chris, wielding a massive blade-Dragon Slayer.
Lee stared in disbelief. “Chris… Thank you!”
The battle raged on, with more guards falling. Chris gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t thank me yet. Let’s kill Nightfang together!”
If they could slay Nightfang, the rest of the wolves would scatter. But Nightfang was a Fourth Grade beast, and killing it would not be easy. Its claws were vicious, capable of tearing through anything they touched.
Lee nodded, knowing this was no time for words. Together, he and Chris launched an assault on Nightfang.
With a powerful swing of his blade, Chris decapitated Nightfang in one final, thunderous strike. The massive wolf collapsed, lifeless.
As Nightfang’s body fell, the remaining wolves scattered like a retreating tide. The battle was over, but the caravan had suffered heavy losses. Out of the thirty guards, at least ten had perished. The survivors stood in somber silence, mourning their fallen comrades.
The caravan’s steward approached the group. “The young master has instructed me to thank you all for your hard work. Once we reach our destination, everyone’s pay will be doubled.”
The promise of increased rewards lifted the group’s spirits slightly. In Aethelgard, nothing was more valuable than Essence Stones.
Lee sighed deeply. “This world is one where the strong prey on the weak. For Aetherbinding practitioners like us, with no backing, we have no choice but to gamble our lives for Essence Stones. Few of us ever make it out alive.”
Chris remained silent, his heart heavy with emotion. The path of Aetherbinding was one that defied fate itself. Only a rare few reached the summit, while most fell along the way.
After the attack, the caravan tightened its security. Lee approached Chris again, his expression filled with awe.
“Chris, I never would’ve guessed you were a Pinnacle-level practitioner,” he said.
Chris smiled faintly, saying nothing. Instead, he glanced toward the curtained carriage and asked, “Lee, who’s inside that carriage?”