The Priestess’s Fury and the Blood-Bone Wolves

“Watch out, Priestess!”

Just as everyone cried out in alarm, witnessing the monster suddenly charge at Elise, and its terrifying maw was about to clamp down on her, a flash of fire erupted.

“Get back!”

Snatching a greatsword from a bewildered man, Elise swung it upward. The blade, now inexplicably wreathed in fierce flames, struck the bone wolf’s skull with a searing hiss. The creature, reacting with astonishing speed, had twisted its head aside just before impact; otherwise, that single blow would surely have been fatal.

The flames, now embedded within its flesh, mercilessly seared the bone wolf’s body. The monster, which moments ago had been a fearsome terror, now thrashed on the ground, emitting pained wails.

“That’s incredible… Priestess Elise possesses such formidable power! We can win, we can defeat these accursed monsters!”

Seizing the moment, Reed quickly shouted, galvanizing their morale. Instantly, the men roared with renewed fighting spirit.

“Down with these abominations!”

“Let’s show them who the true hunters are!”

“They’ll soon learn the might of our greatswords!”

The men immediately surged forward. Some brandished shields, originally meant for fending off wild beasts, now forming a defensive line. Others gripped their greatswords, confronting the bone wolves directly, while the remainder drew their bows, aiming at the enemy from safer positions.

The power of unity and cooperation proved formidable. Even though the monsters possessed strength and speed far superior to humans, they could not breach the villagers’ encirclement. Instead, they were isolated one by one, systematically picked off.

“Roar! Roar! Roar—”

Soon, under the villagers’ concerted assault, the bone wolves began to accumulate wounds of varying sizes. Growling in fury, they periodically lunged at the encirclement, attempting to break their formation. Yet, each time they neared success, an unexpected spell would strike them, driving them back.

“We owe you a great debt, Priestess Elise. Without you, we would surely have been in dire straits.”

As he directed the villagers in battle, Reed expressed his thanks to Elise, his eyes glistening with tears of excitement. He had never imagined that they, mere country folk, would one day defeat monsters.

“It’s nothing, really. I merely did what any priestess should. These monsters are far less terrifying than you imagine; united, they are not unconquerable.”

Smiling, Elise waved a dismissive hand. Standing at the heart of the battle, she observed the bone wolves’ movements. Whenever they threatened to breach the encirclement, she would precisely cast a spell, forcing them back.

Yet, at this very moment, Elise’s focus lay less on defeating these monsters and more on a crucial question: How had these creatures appeared here?

This region was a considerable distance from the nearest known monster habitat. If their presence were merely a coincidence, it was far too opportune. Coupled with recent rumors she had heard from the front lines, Elise felt a growing sense of unease.

“There’s no need for such modesty. To have a priestess as dedicated as yourself is the pride of our entire village.”

“You flatter me, Village Chief.”

Even with the villagers having isolated the monsters and formed a robust encirclement, supplemented by Elise’s support, they still struggled to truly slay these tenacious bone wolves. As their wounds multiplied, the creatures grew increasingly frenzied, unleashing bursts of power that nearly sent a burly man flying.

“Hold fast, everyone! These accursed monsters are on their last legs!”

And indeed it was so. As time wore on, more and more blood flowed from the bone wolves’ wounds. Before long, they would inevitably succumb to blood loss.

“Oh—!”

With victory seemingly within grasp, the villagers’ fighting spirit soared, momentarily eclipsing their fear of the monsters. They seized their weapons, preparing to launch their final assault.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!—!”

But at that very instant, the already battered bone wolves suddenly let out a piercing howl. More bone spurs began to sprout from their bodies, and eerie crimson markings appeared on their skin; their wounds, too, ceased to bleed. With a powerful thrust of their hind legs, they leapt several meters into the air, soaring over the villagers’ encirclement to gather together.

“What’s happening? Why are they suddenly—!”

Terror seized everyone. Facing the three converged monsters, they attempted to reform their ranks and encircle them once more. But unlike their previous individual attacks, the three wolves now launched a coordinated assault on a single point, instantly sending a defending man flying several meters.

“Everyone, fall back!”

Elise’s pupils constricted sharply. She had not anticipated that these three bone wolves were of the rare Blood-Bone variant. This special subspecies could unleash far greater power at specific times, characterized by the proliferation of bone spurs and a crimson coloration across their bodies.

Monsters of this caliber were utterly beyond the capabilities of ordinary folk. If she did not intervene now, casualties were almost certain.

“Ah, help, help me!”

A scream tore through the crowd. Barry couldn’t fathom how he had become the first target of these terrifying monsters. He had merely been one of those safely shooting arrows from the rear, but after the monsters breached their encirclement, one had inexplicably charged directly at him. His burly body now trembled uncontrollably; let alone drawing his knife to fight back, even the strength to flee had suddenly abandoned him.

“No, don’t, don’t eat me!”

His face contorted in terror, Barry desperately tried to move his legs, but they felt as heavy as lead, utterly immobile. He could only watch, helpless, as the monsters slowly advanced upon him.

“Hah!”

Suddenly, a long blade came hurtling towards one of the bone wolves. With a swift dodge, it easily evaded the weapon. The bone wolf snarled furiously in the direction from which the knife had been thrown—it was Wede. Though his face was equally etched with fear, his right hand, still suspended mid-air, confirmed the blade’s origin.

“—!”

Reed’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected Wede to intervene and save Barry at such a moment. He had heard whispers of the animosity between the two, but now, the underlying reasons seemed remarkably clear.

“Disperse! Keep your distance from these monsters!”

Though the flying knife failed to wound the bone wolf, it bought a crucial moment. With a furious shout, Elise directly placed herself between Barry and the monsters.

“What are you doing here? Get out of the way, now!”

In such a perilous situation, even Elise cast aside all pretense of decorum, letting slip a rare expletive. Her eyes held an ineffable solemnity.

“Alright, alright…”

Still shaken to his core, Barry gazed at the woman who had shielded him from the monsters, unable to utter a single word of thanks. He quickly scrambled away on all fours.

“Allow me to contend with you… it’s been too long.”

“Roar…”

As if sensing the dangerous aura emanating from Elise, the bone wolves did not rush to attack. Instead, they fanned out, encircling her, searching for an opening.

Everyone’s hearts pounded in their throats. Facing such formidable monsters, could Elise truly emerge victorious?