Demonization

As more and more black smoke drifted from its wounds, Death's Howl let out pained howls, its massive body shaking violently.

"Aka, Batila, let's go together and finish it off!"

Although Wells did not understand what had happened to the white giant wolf before them, this was an exceedingly rare opportunity. If they could take down the giant wolf now, the leaderless pack would naturally collapse, and the caravan's crisis would be resolved.

The men exchanged glances and began gathering their battle aura for charged attacks. With several furious shouts, thick streams of sword aura shot toward the giant wolf. The remaining low-rank mercenaries could not project battle aura or form sword aura, so they simply charged up and struck the giant wolf with all their strength.

The attacks landed on the giant wolf, bursting into clouds of blood mist. Its massive body swayed several times, yet it still did not fall.

With another pained howl from Death's Howl, a sudden change occurred. Billowing black smoke poured from the wounds across its body, quickly shrouding the entire wolf.

The mercenaries surrounding Death's Howl watched the scene in confusion. The smoke spread toward them, and anyone who accidentally inhaled it began coughing violently.

"Fall back! Everyone, fall back! Spread out! This smoke is poisonous!"

Seeing the mercenaries on the ground clutching their throats and rolling about, Batila hurriedly shouted a warning.

However, the smoke stopped expanding after drifting only a few meters. Everyone stared at the sight before them in shock.

"What happened? What should we do now?"

Aka held his two-handed sword before his chest and asked the other two with a tense expression.

Wells shook his head. In all his decades as a mercenary, he had never seen anything like this. To be honest, he did not know what to do either.

"Let's watch for now. We need to find out what happened."

At the Gale Mercenary Group's defensive line, after Havent struck the Wind Wolves from behind several times, the group finally finished off the remaining two Wind Wolves.

Baki, standing at the very front, was pale-faced. The chainmail on his upper body had been torn open by a Wind Wolf, but fortunately, he had not suffered any serious wounds. Exhausted, Baki leaned against a wooden crate and panted heavily, his heart full of relief.

Thank goodness the captain had recruited this kid. He had just watched the kid kill a Wind Wolf by himself. What a capable fighter.

"Captain Baki, how are you? Are you all right? You're not hurt, are you?"

After resting against the crate for a while, Baki had caught his breath. He gave Havent a thumbs-up.

"Well done, Will. We really had you to thank just now."

Havent smiled and nodded without any false modesty. After checking Baki's condition, he reached into his waist pouch, pulled out a bottle of potion, and tossed it over.

"Captain Baki, rest for a while. Drink this. I'll hold the front for now."

Baki caught the bottle and opened his palm to examine it.

"Will, Will, there's no need. I'll be fine after resting a bit. This is too expensive."

Havent ignored Captain Baki's calls and walked toward the defensive line with his longsword in hand.

Baki watched Havent's retreating back and shook his head with a sigh. He then pulled out the stopper, took a small sip, replaced it, and carefully tucked the bottle into the small pouch at the back of his waist.

"The captain was right. He really is generous. He just gave away a Marigold Potion worth ten Silver Grol. He really is some wealthy young master out on a trial, but he's genuinely a good person."

When Havent reached the defensive line, he assessed the situation. Only around a hundred wild wolves had attacked their side from the start. After a rough count, fewer than half remained. There should not be much of a problem holding the line now.

"Brothers, hold the formation! We're almost done wearing down the wild wolves on this side!"

Hearing Havent's words, the dozen or so men guarding the line were immediately reinvigorated. Strength returned to their aching arms. After encouraging them, Havent climbed back onto the roof of the cargo wagon with his elm longbow, guarding against Wind Wolves leaping in from above while using arrows to suppress the wolf pack from afar.

Just as Havent stood atop the wagon, leisurely shooting at the wild wolves that slipped through the gaps, believing this wolf attack was nearly over, screams suddenly rang out from the central camp dozens of meters away. Havent swiftly turned to look and saw that more than a dozen wolves had already broken into the center of the camp.

By the light of the burning flames, he could vaguely see what seemed to be black smoke rising from the wolves that had entered the camp. Before Havent could examine them more closely, a shrill scream came from behind him.

When Havent turned back around, two Wind Wolves wreathed in black smoke had somehow broken through to the center of their own defensive line. They immediately attacked the mercenaries resting between shifts. Just as he was about to draw an arrow to support them, he felt a fierce gust of wind from beside him.

Havent instinctively raised his elm longbow to block it. With a sharp crack, the longbow in his hands snapped in two. Borrowing the force, he leaped onto the roof of another wagon. Only then did Havent get a clear look at what had attacked him.

Looking at the Wind Wolf several meters away, black smoke pouring from its body as it bared its fangs at him, Havent frowned and slowly drew the longsword from his waist. He pointed its tip at the Wind Wolf. From this smoke-wreathed beast, he sensed danger.

In the camp below, Baki, who had been sitting on the ground recovering his strength, was startled by the sudden appearance of the two black-smoke Wind Wolves. He hurriedly grabbed his double-headed axe and charged forward.

"Be careful! Everyone, come with me! Don't let these two beasts attack our defensive line from behind!"

The mercenaries resting between shifts grabbed their weapons and rushed forward together, but these two black-smoke Wind Wolves were far harder to deal with than the earlier ones. In a single exchange, two careless mercenaries were bitten directly in the throat. The mercenaries caught in the wolves' jaws struggled a few times before the light vanished from their eyes.

"Paimon! Don't!"

Before Baki could finish shouting, Paimon had already rushed in. Left with no choice, Baki gritted his teeth and charged after him with his double-headed axe. He knew exactly what Paimon was capable of.

Just as expected, facing the charging Paimon, the black-smoke Wind Wolf did not dodge at all. It opened its maw and bit straight at him.

Paimon slammed his hammer down on the black-smoke Wind Wolf's head with all his strength, yet it did not cause any damage. Instinctively, he raised the small round shield in his left hand. With a teeth-grinding screech of metal, Paimon was sent sprawling to the ground.

Just as the black-smoke Wind Wolf was about to continue attacking Paimon on the ground, Baki arrived in time, swinging his double-headed axe and chopping it hard into the Wind Wolf's back.

The pained Wind Wolf released Paimon, twisted swiftly, and turned to bite Baki. Baki had not even had time to pull out his axe and had no way to resist. Watching the wolf's gaping maw draw closer and closer, Baki opened his eyes wide and faced his death.

"Little Jamie, it looks like Dad won't be able to get you the toy he promised."