Cristian raised the flaming blade, aiming for the wolf's neck, and swung it down. Flames followed its path, but the wolf released the soldier, leaping back just in time.
Using his momentum, Cristian executed a swift vertical slash, creating a deep gash on the wolf's chest. Awoo! The wolf howled in pain, alerting its companions who rushed towards Cristian's position.
A ruthless glint flashed in the wolf's eyes as it lunged forward. Cristian attempted to parry, but his effort wasn't enough, causing him to stumble.
Graa! The beast pounced on him, its weight knocking him down. He braced against the razor-sharp fangs with his great sword, preventing them from tearing into his face.
Saliva splattered on his face, prompting Cristian to frown. His green brows knitted together, eyes flashing with disgust and annoyance.
"GET OFF ME!" he barked, using his legs to strike the wolf's soft belly. The weakened beast whimpered, and Cristian channeled his strength, pushing the weakened creature away with a force of 122.
As he rose to his feet, a growl echoed nearby. Swiftly turning, he slashed with his flaming blade, cleaving the head of a wolf planning a sneak attack from behind.
[You have killed a level 18 dire wolf. Agility + 2]
[You have reached level 9 and gained two free stat points…]
[You have reached level 10 and gained two free stat points…]
Before he could celebrate, the first wolf recovered and lunged at him again. Cristian swiftly ducked, gripping the hilt with both hands and raising it.
A deep gash tore from the wolf's chest to its abdomen, spluttering sounds ringing out as its bloodied internal organs spilled onto the wooden floor.
[You have killed a level 20 dire wolf. Agility+2]
"Put every free stat point into vitality," Cristian ordered, swiftly moving to aid a wounded soldier among the remains and the retching smell that filled the scene.
The soldier held a rake, his movements significantly inferior to Cristian's, who managed to conceal his superior abilities due to his extraordinary stats.
"Hey!" Cristian bellowed, grabbing the attention of the wolf. It turned to him, growling. Two other wolves lunged, but he skillfully evaded their claws, swiftly positioning himself behind them. He coiled his fingers around the thick, fluffy tail of the first wolf.
Balancing his weight on his left leg, he exerted slight force, causing the wolf, perched on the edge of the three-meter embrasures of the five-meter wall, to tumble. The surrounding troops swiftly surrounded and pierced it to death.
Just as he prepared to dispatch the second wolf, a sudden realization struck him. Some wolves were known as wind wolves for a reason.
With no alternative, Cristian positioned Burning Fury behind him, using the broad part to shield a good portion of his back—the exact spot the wind blast from the head wolf's mouth was aimed.
Bam! The impact launched Cristian into the air. Mid-air, he swiftly slashed, cleanly beheading the second wolf, a pitiful level 13 creature that died instantly upon losing its head.
Bam! He crashed roughly onto the hard wooden floor, his entire body aching. The wind blast had almost felt like it was tearing his skin apart.
But with the bolstered vitality, his health and physique had strengthened, improving muscle strength, regeneration speed, and organ health.
*Ding!*
The sound of his blade and sharp claws colliding echoed loudly. Cristian grunted, seized the wolf's lower jaw, and impaled Burning Fury right through the heart of the creature.
The flaming sword pierced through the beast, its blood boiling and drying as he pushed it away from his body.
[You have killed a level 24 wind wolf, Agility +4]
[You have reached level 11 and gained two free stat points…]
[You have reached level 12 and gained two free stat points…]
[You have reached level 13 and gained two free stat points…]
"Fighting is the way. Level 13 already!" he exclaimed internally. His immediate goal was to raise his vitality to level ten and then push his strength to 100!
Pouring all his stat points into vitality, it reached ten, granting him a health pool of 150 points. However, screams, yells, and growls quickly snapped him back to the grim reality of the battlefield, reminding him of the need to stay focused.
More wolves had breached the defenses, wreaking havoc among the soldiers. Those without armor were easy prey.
Surveying the blood-soaked scene, Cristian frowned as he witnessed the soldiers around Sheila falling. It was evident that the Dark Lord had ordered his wolves to target her.
"Stubborn," he scoffed, immediately dashing toward her position. His massive blade swept, sending wolves flying away from the wall.
"Thanks, sir," a young warrior, barely in his late teens, acknowledged Cristian's aid. "Go!" he ordered sharply, pivoting to stab another wolf attempting a sneak attack. The blade pierced through the wolf's skull before he kicked it off the wall.
Controlling the air with erratic precision, Cristian leaped high, disorienting two wolves with a head jamming technique. As he landed, their heads were swiftly severed. Blood splattered, staining the wooden surface crimson.
Their low levels didn't offer any significant increase in experience or additional stats.
With relentless speed, he bolted towards Sheila, who was encircled, defending against the relentless assault of the wolves. The defending soldiers were succumbing to the fangs and claws of the ruthless beasts.
Despite the gruesome scene, Sheila remained composed. Her focus was on halting the wolves from breaking the defense line, and she was determined to do so to the best of her abilities.
However, the cries and agonizing screams of the dying soldiers broke her resolve. Sheila clasped her hands together and murmured, "Mirage swords." Another diagram formed in her eyes, and the one conjuring fireballs slowly became translucent.
Sheila struggled, unable to maintain two Mortal tier skills simultaneously. Her mana pool drained rapidly, her face paling as a circular diagram materialized on both sides. Two transparent swords shot out, their sharp edges glistening under the moon's silvery glow. The wolves' thick fur proved futile against the split-second onslaught; none remained around her, only their divided parts glimmering from the deadly skill Sheila unleashed.
Cheers erupted. "Yes! Kill them all!" Her remarkable display served as a catalyst, rousing the troop. The cacophony of spears, swords, and farming tools piercing the beasts filled the air, mingling with the dying howls of the wolves.
"Are you okay?" The voice of the handsome warrior, known for his deceit, but exhibiting genuine concern, reached her ears. Doubt lingered in her mind about his sincerity.
Cristian surveyed Sheila, who knelt on the ground, offering no reply to his inquiry. Yet, her well-being was secondary to the critical issue: if Sheila was exhausted, how could he handle the looming threat of the Dark Wolf Lord?
The defense on the walls looked precarious. The wolves used their fallen comrades as steps, making it easier to ascend. "Sorry," he murmured, eliciting a frown from Sheila, who felt perplexed before Cristian's muscular arms enveloped her waist.
"What are y—" She couldn't finish as he spun her around, raising Burning Fury to pierce the throat of a wolf. Her blue eyes flickered, a strange and uncomfortable sensation flooding her.
"Can you still fight or are you useless?" Cristian's question hung in the air, mere inches away from her face. Their eyes locked, and an indescribable unease gripped her. 'It can't be possible!' Her mind screamed, branding him as despicable, yet her body responded differently, betraying her inner turmoil.
Sheila swiftly retrieved a vial from a small pouch nestled at her elegant dark blue belt, cinched tightly around her slender waist. She uncorked it and gulped down the contents. "I'm not useless, you brute!"
"You should have mentioned that earlier. These people won't hold out much longer, so we need to locate this Dark Lord," Cristian remarked, massaging his aching right arm.
Wielding a great sword like Burning Fury with one hand was less than ideal, but it was the only viable option at the moment, so he silently endured the discomfort.
"There's no need to find him; he's right there," she pointed, prompting Cristian's emerald eyes to flash in response.