Chapter 011: Astonishment

“The three of you form a triangle and surround the priest in the center—defend by attacking, and don’t let yourselves get distracted!”

As soon as Li Zhan saw the five direwolves leading a dozen gray wolves charging at their group, he immediately issued battle orders.

Li Zhan, Ruoyan, and Zhao Ming took up positions in an equilateral triangle. Li Zhan and Zhao Ming faced the oncoming wolf pack, while Ruoyan stood behind them. The priest, without needing any instruction, quickly ducked and squeezed into the middle of the three, nimble as though he had shed decades from his age. Each of the three gripped their clubs firmly, while the priest clutched his thick tome, ready for battle.

In the distance, though the young man was still in danger, the number of gray wolves besieging him had dropped by over ten, making his situation relatively safer—at least, after slaying those twenty-odd wolves, his health wouldn’t be completely depleted.

The direwolves, with their gray wolf followers, reached them in the blink of an eye. Seeing the formation Li Zhan and the others had adopted, the five direwolves hesitated, slowed their charge, and abandoned the idea of leaping at them in a full sprint. Instead, they circled, observing from just in front of the trio.

The dozen or so gray wolves behind them were far less cautious. When they were three meters away, they suddenly leapt, jaws gaping, lunging straight at the group.

Li Zhan, Ruoyan, and Zhao Ming had already activated their martial skills. As the wolves pounced, Li Zhan thrust his staff forward with all his might, driving it straight through the open jaws of a gray wolf and into its throat. Instantly, the words “Critical Strike: 127 HP” appeared above the wolf, which died without even a chance to howl. Li Zhan quickly pulled his staff back and swept it sideways, striking two more gray wolves mid-leap. The numbers “12” and “13” floated above them as they crashed to the ground, blood gushing from their mouths and noses.

Zhao Ming was even fiercer. His martial skill had reached intermediate level, and though his massive club had limited attack power, it was more than enough against gray wolves. Almost every blow felled a wolf instantly; in mere moments, he had slain five.

After one round, nine wolf corpses lay before the trio—three before Li Zhan, five before Zhao Ming, and one before Ruoyan. Zhao Ming and Ruoyan hadn’t suffered a scratch, but because Li Zhan stood directly in the path of the wolf charge, his arm was clawed in the chaos, costing him two HP—which the priest quickly healed.

The five direwolves continued to circle the four, trailed by six gray wolves. All four kept their eyes fixed on the prowling wolf pack, especially the direwolves, wary of their unknown level and potential damage. The priest’s thick tome trembled in his hands, while the three gripped their staffs, not daring to relax for even a second.

Moments later, the alpha wolf led the pack to a spot three meters before Ruoyan and stopped, scrutinizing her from head to toe. At the same time, Li Zhan and Zhao Ming sensed the alpha’s intent; exchanging glances, Li Zhan gestured behind him, and Zhao Ming nodded. Both shifted, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

As expected, after sizing up Ruoyan, the alpha suddenly bared its teeth in a snarl, and the wolves behind it instantly lunged at her. Startled, Ruoyan was just about to swing her staff when Li Zhan grabbed her left arm and yanked her aside, then instantly took her place and swept his staff, knocking down four gray wolves at once.

The four direwolves mingling with the gray wolves were wounded by Li Zhan’s staff but pressed their attack, pouncing at Li Zhan undeterred—their weakest defense was already superior to that of the gray wolves. As they closed in and Li Zhan’s staff became useless at such close range, Zhao Ming darted forward, clubbing and sweeping two direwolves to the ground. The other two direwolves raked deep gashes into Zhao Ming’s and Li Zhan’s chests with their claws.

“27!” “29!”

Such terrifying attack power. Li Zhan was shocked to see his health—140/169 HP—after just a scratch. If he’d taken a real bite, the damage would likely be double, if not more. Although they had a priest to heal them, his recovery speed couldn’t keep up; at this rate, it was impossible for them to go blow for blow with the direwolves. If the fight turned into a war of attrition, their side would almost certainly be slaughtered.

The direwolves’ attacks showed tactical awareness. After clawing Li Zhan and Zhao Ming, the two immediately retreated, while the previous two wounded direwolves also returned to the alpha’s side, awaiting its next command. The mortally wounded gray wolves, less intelligent, leapt up again only to be easily dispatched by Zhao Ming and Li Zhan.

Behind them, the priest quickly restored their health, ensuring they were fully healed before the direwolves launched another attack.

Li Zhan gripped his staff tightly, staring at the alpha, which seemed to sense his leadership role among the group. Its amber eyes bore into his. Man and wolf locked gazes, their respective followers gathered close, awaiting the command to strike.

Staring at the blue-furred alpha, Li Zhan thought: This standoff can’t go on. I’ve heard the saying, “A wolf pack is never a scattered mob.” If we can focus our strength on killing the alpha, maybe we can turn the tide.

On the other side, the alpha was thinking, “This one seems to be their leader. If we bring him down, then… hmm, what comes after? Never mind, I’ll know soon enough!” (After all, it’s remarkable for a beast to have such thoughts.)

Both man and wolf reached the same conclusion, intent on concentrating their efforts on the other. But Li Zhan was a split-second faster. After a glance exchanged among the three, they suddenly charged the alpha, staffs and clubs raining down in unison.

Startled, the alpha hadn’t expected them to target it so directly. It leapt back, dodging Ruoyan’s staff and Zhao Ming’s club, but couldn’t avoid Li Zhan’s thrust, which struck its snout. The number “4” floated above its head.

Li Zhan was shocked at the alpha’s formidable defense. At the same time, the enraged alpha bared its teeth, ready to lead its four direwolves in mauling the human who dared injure it. Suddenly, a sharp whistling split the air. The alpha instinctively dodged aside as an arrow embedded itself where it had just stood, the fletching still trembling from the impact.