"Everyone, not far ahead lies a Wolf Valley. There's a large pack of wolves inside, and their king is a top-tier magical beast. If we don't go directly through the valley, we'll have to climb over several mountains to detour. What do you all think? The last time I passed through here, I flew over under the cover of night."
After several days of travel, Fars led the group to a valley surrounded by small hills. He had indeed been here before and was familiar with the magical beasts within—a large pack of blue wolves. These creatures were typically found in groups deep within the Qihar region, with scattered packs on the outskirts of the Qihar Mountains. In his early hunting days, Fars had often hunted these medium-sized beasts.
Ordinary adult blue wolves possessed the strength of intermediate magical beasts, while the leaders of the pack were often advanced magical beasts. It was only in vast territories that a single top-tier blue wolf king could emerge. The pack ahead was the largest within a thousand miles, boasting nearly five hundred adult blue wolves—equivalent to a large detachment of human soldiers. Among them, there were about a dozen leader-level blue wolves, but Fars, having only passed through once, couldn't determine their exact number. With a true top-tier magical beast leading them, Fars didn't dare to get too close.
After hearing Fars's inquiry, Master Perugino wore a serious expression. Top-tier magical beasts were not to be trifled with, especially in a pack. If they attempted to force their way through, they would undoubtedly be attacked. Thus, choosing to climb over the mountains and detour was the safest option. However, the issue was that they had already been out for quite some time, and the longer they delayed, the more disadvantageous it would be for them. Each major family was closely monitoring the movements of their important figures. They had set out under the pretense of accompanying a few young nobles for training. Sending a mage and a high knight along? That would certainly raise suspicions. Once a secret was under scrutiny, it could no longer remain hidden. If they continued to delay, they might soon find themselves pursued or followed by opportunists.
After much discussion, they finally decided to traverse the Wolf Valley directly.
This choice was made with confidence. Among them, aside from a mage and a high knight, Miss Joanna was a level seven assassin, and her brother was also formidable, being a level seven swordsman. The weakest among them was Panasus, who was only a level five swordsman. Bringing someone of his limited strength was likely meant to mislead the prominent figures of the Mirio Empire. With Fars's strength combined with Denise's, they should be able to handle any magical beast below the top tier.
The Wolf Valley was not just a small gorge; it was quite expansive. According to their planned route, the distance from one end of the valley to the other was about twenty miles. There were six entrances to the valley, but all were heavily guarded by blue wolves. It would be difficult to pass without being noticed, so they had to choose to climb over the small hills that were only about a hundred meters high.
Initially, Fars suggested flying over, as Master Perugino could certainly use a flight spell, and with his strength, he could carry someone along. Fars could also fly with one person. However, this suggestion was dismissed. In Durl's words, it was too dangerous. If the blue wolves spotted them, the advanced magical beasts and their king would have enough strength to attack using their innate abilities. In the air, aside from Fars and Master Perugino, the others wouldn't be able to exert much power. If they were shot down from a height of a hundred meters, even Durl would sustain serious injuries and be torn apart by the pack.
This was one aspect; the more critical concern was Fars himself. Their group would have to fly over in batches, with either the old mage or Durl remaining behind. Without their oversight, Fars could easily toss someone aside mid-air and fly away. By the time they crossed the valley or climbed over the mountains, Fars could be long gone. He typically refrained from fleeing because he couldn't escape far enough without being detected. If he had the chance to slip from their grasp, why not take it?
Under the cover of night, several figures quietly climbed the surrounding hills of the Wolf Valley. Occasionally, a blue wolf would wander nearby, but Durl, who was on guard, dealt with them silently. For Durl, eliminating these subpar blue wolves was a trivial task. His keen perception allowed him to detect their movements early and take them down swiftly.
Fars led the way, scouting the distribution of the wolf pack. Although wolves were social creatures, the presence of many blue wolf leaders indicated that they weren't a single clan but rather several smaller groups under the command of the blue wolf king. They wouldn't all gather in one place; the valley was vast, and each small group of wolves had its territory.
The decision to sneak through the Wolf Valley at night was based on the fact that most wolves would be out hunting with their leaders. Only a few adult wolves and their king would remain behind. The wolf king rarely left its territory unless a powerful magical beast threatened it; its primary duty was to protect the valley from invasion. As for food, the many blue wolves under its command would bring back the best prey of the night.
Initially, their journey went smoothly. Fars and the others made an effort to avoid the central area where the wolf king resided, encountering few blue wolves. The occasional ones they did come across were swiftly dealt with. However, no matter how deftly they executed their plan, it was difficult to ensure that every blue wolf would be taken down without a sound. Eventually, two blue wolves fell victim to Fars and Durl's lethal strikes, but one managed to let out a mournful howl before it died.
The sound, though not loud, resonated throughout the valley, triggering a chorus of howls in response. Fars and his companions were exposed. The wolf king, located at the center of the valley, quickly took notice of the intruders. As the wolves began to react, Fars and his group advanced several miles into the valley. Soon, they found themselves confronted by a formidable blue wolf blocking their path.
Fortunately, the wolf king was intelligent and recognized that the group before it included a dark creature, making them not to be trifled with. It didn't attack directly but began to emit a series of howls that echoed throughout the valley, likely summoning its subordinates.
Its inaction didn't mean Durl and the others were easy prey. The high knight immediately charged forward to engage the wolf king, providing cover for the others to retreat. In this situation, the safest option—Fars, who could fly away—also stepped up, demonstrating his determination to protect the group at all costs.
Joanna and the others, seasoned individuals who had witnessed countless grand scenes, quickly positioned themselves behind Durl and Fars, shielding Master Perugino as they rushed toward the exit, which was still over ten miles away.
The pack of wolves had already begun to gather after the howl, surrounding Fars and his companions. Especially after the wolf king issued the call, over a hundred adult wolves and several hundred pups rushed to join the fray, including four advanced blue wolves. Thankfully, the wolf king was temporarily distracted by Fars and Durl, unable to fully command the pack's assault. Master Perugino and the others should be able to break through.
Like the wolf king, Fars and Durl were fully focused on the formidable enemy before them. A well-equipped high knight could barely hold his ground against a top-tier blue wolf king, leveraging his weaponry to offset the disadvantage in strength. A peak level nine human knight could likely slay the seemingly unremarkable blue wolf king in no time. Only top-tier magical beasts with ancient bloodlines could contend with those at level nine.
This was Fars's first time cooperating with Durl. Usually, the magical beasts they encountered wouldn't present an opportunity that would require an eighth-level knight to seek assistance. Durl, fully aware that he had no advantage against a top-tier magical beast, didn't refuse Fars's offer. Although knightly principles discouraged overwhelming the few with many, the wolf king had plenty of subordinates, and Durl didn't believe he could single-handedly take on a pack of wolves. Fars's involvement significantly alleviated his pressure.
Of course, Durl remained the main force. Fars's role was to distract the wolf king and provide Durl with some beneficial spells. Through their time together, they had gained a general understanding of Fars's abilities. He was a high-level mage but had yet to master any advanced spells. In terms of combat prowess, Fars could even bully the level five Panasus.
While Denise piqued their curiosity, Fars remained tight-lipped, leaving them with no means to pry further. As for Denise's beast bloodline, Fars would never reveal such a sensitive matter. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't use that trump card.
The wolf king's magical defenses were indeed formidable. It didn't flinch or dodge Fars's mid to low-level attack spells; its gleaming fur acted like an invincible armor, leaving no trace from fire blasts or magic arrows. Frustrated, Fars had no choice but to focus on using various control and support spells.
The blood control spell opened Durl's eyes; although there were no visible effects, the wolf king's attacks occasionally faltered, weakening its strikes against Durl. He understood this was Fars's doing. It was impossible for the enemy to attack with such erratic intensity without reason. Each time the wolf king's state was affected, it became an opportunity for Durl to counterattack. The high knight's relentless assault allowed Fars to witness the true power of a knight. Unlike swordsmen, whose techniques were unpredictable, or assassins, who employed cunning tactics, Durl's every move was straightforward and earnest, leaving visible wounds on the wolf king. One shouldn't underestimate a top-tier magical beast simply because it appeared to have less impressive abilities.
The clever wolf king had already deduced that Fars was the one disrupting its actions from behind Durl. Fars's interference had thwarted many of its attempts. While Fars might not know advanced spells, the wolf king certainly did. The advanced wind spell, Dance of the Furious Winds, unleashed a massive wind column filled with swirling blades, targeting Fars as Durl's assault slowed.
Caught off guard by this sudden attack, Fars, whose agility could only be compared to Panasus, clearly couldn't evade it. He could only brace himself and activate a magical shield to withstand the blow.