Chapter 22: The Steppe Wolf King’s Vengeance

Previously, Safiya would have been skeptical, but after numerous encounters where magic turned the impossible into reality, she began to embrace these mystical ideas. Nonetheless, she needed to see it for herself to truly believe.

To her astonishment, a towering, sturdy watchtower indeed stood within the village, built entirely of stone. And behind the village chief’s house lay an expansive training ground, encircled by wooden fences and dotted with wooden swords and spears.

A smile spread across Safiya’s face, her modest dream of contributing to her hometown now fulfilled.

“Wow, Count, you’re incredible! How about using your magic to teleport us straight to Uxkhal? It would save us the journey.”

“Safiya, this magic… it can’t be used all the time. But I’ll use it whenever possible.”

Noticing Safiya’s look of confusion, Draxel gently took her hand and led her out of the village chief’s house. 

“Let’s prepare for our journey. The road might hold some interesting surprises.”

“Okay, we’ll follow your lead. But first, I need to have a word with Awang. He almost…”

Draxel showed little interest in the minor secret between Safiya and Awang, considering it a trivial issue. However, just as they were about to depart, the village chief of Nomar rushed towards them.

“Noble Count Draxel, I urgently request your assistance.”

“Tell me.”

“Our village is dangerously close to the Khergit Khanate, and we’ve recently been plagued by numerous steppe wolves.”

“Got it. I’ll take care of the wolves before we leave.”

“Thank you so much, your help is greatly appreciated.”

[Nomar Village Favorability +5.]

Draxel, Safiya, and the rest of his group embarked on a meticulous search around the outskirts of Nomar Village for any sign of the steppe wolves. They moved with determination, scanning the grasslands and the nearby wooded areas. 

They examined every broken twig, every disturbed patch of earth, and every unusual pattern in the dust. It was Awang, with his keen eye for detail, who first noticed the faint paw prints, partially obscured by a layer of fallen leaves. The tracks, fresh and well-defined, indicated that the wolves were not far. 

As Draxel took out his Germanic war sword in hand, Safiya asked, “Do you need our help? We could go together.”

“No, it’s unnecessary. I’ve already dealt with these steppe wolves in Xiko Village. They’re not much of a challenge, I can handle them on my own.”

Draxel also was curious about the changes his body suffered after the level-up. He quickly located several steppe wolves.

[Steppe Wolf]

[Level 5, Strength 10, Agility 12, Wisdom 3, Charm 3.]

“Piece of cake, just as weak as the last time. I’ll dispatch them with a few swift strikes.”

However, as Draxel was relishing his confidence, a massive creature emerged behind the wolves. Its fierce, menacing appearance was undeniable!

[King of the Steppe Wolves]

[Level 25, Strength 25, Agility 27, Wisdom 10, Charm 10.]

‘Whoa! Its stats are higher than mine,’ he lamented in his mind.

“Safiya, Safiya!” Overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the Wolf King, Draxel’s call for Safiya was filled with desperation.

It was an unexpectedly swift reversal of fortune.

Safiya, an archer of exceptional skill with acute hearing, heard Draxel’s cries for help.

“Oh, showing off again, and now you need me,” she quipped, swiftly riding toward the battle.

Awang, witnessing this, was also eager to assist but was held back by Owens.

“Awang, you underestimate Safiya’s abilities. She alone is more than capable.”

“But Owens, really? She seems like such a delicate girl. And that shot at the bandit leader, could it have been just luck?”

Owens, with a light chuckle, shook his head and decided not to elaborate.

The Wolf King was here on a mission of revenge against Draxel. Just a brief glance was enough to ignite an unbearable flame of furious vengeance within it. It vividly remembered the scene from a few days prior. The lifeless, decaying corpses of its young emitted a foul stench, its heart heavy with grief.

As Draxel slowly came into view, a fire seemed to ignite before the Wolf King’s eyes. Although it had never seen him before, its hatred was now palpable and intense.

The Wolf King transformed all its accumulated resentment into infinite power, concentrating it into its sharply pointed claws as it charged toward Draxel.

Draxel, feeling the strong wave of hatred, surmised it was likely because he had killed the other wolves. In a flash, the Wolf King was upon him, its claws ferociously aiming for his chest.

“Clang!”

Draxel quickly drew his Germanic war sword, holding it across his chest to fend off the blow. However, the Wolf King was no ordinary adversary. The immense power behind its claw strike broke the sword in half.

[System Notification: Item Lost – Ordinary Germanic War Sword.]

“How is this possible? Our strength only differs by a single point. Why is there such a vast disparity in our power?”

Draxel was utterly perplexed. Just then, the dragon egg on his back responded.

“Aow. Your Germanic war sword was weakened when it absorbed too much of the dragon’s fiery power last time; it had already been damaged,” the dragon egg provided an insight.

“That makes sense now…”

Draxel inspected his Germanic war sword more closely. He realized that to effectively wield the dragon’s power, he needed a sturdier weapon. As this thought crossed his mind, the Wolf King, driven by a burning desire for revenge for its offspring, attacked with ferocity.

Taking advantage of Draxel’s momentary lack of a weapon, the Wolf King pounced again, its claws targeting his neck and chin, areas critical for a fatal blow. The attack was swift, catching Draxel by surprise and forcing him to endure the assault.

He caught the Wolf King’s incoming claws with his hands, but the creature’s superior strength was gradually overpowering him. Its claws ripped through Draxel’s palms, deeply embedding their nails and causing blood to pour out.

At this dire moment, a saving arrow whizzed through the air. “Whoosh!” 

Safiya’s arrow found its mark, piercing the Wolf King’s left eye, which exploded in pain. Despite its agonizing howl, the beast’s claws didn’t relent.

“Damn, this creature is resilient! Safiya, another arrow, quickly! I’m losing my grip,” Draxel cried out, astounded by the Wolf King’s endurance despite the severe wound.

In that instant, Draxel’s fear of the Wolf King deepened. Just as Safiya was lining up her second shot, the other wolves, seeing their leader injured, joined the fray. Safiya was forced to divert her attention to these new threats, or they would have swiftly overwhelmed Draxel.

But Draxel was at his breaking point. His hands, bleeding profusely, trembled under the strain. His legs, pushed to their limits, were on the verge of giving way, threatening to collapse under the Wolf King’s assault. It was the first time Draxel truly felt his life hanging by a thread.

Desperate, he silently pleaded for assistance from the dragon egg and the system.

Thankfully, his silent plea was answered by one of them…