Chapter 38 : Fenrir Subjugation Battle , Part 2

“Hmm…”

I let out a groan as I looked around the meeting place.

There were supposed to be ten clans who had promised to join in hunting the Fenrir.

But on the promised day, no more than five clans showed up.

It was a situation I had somewhat anticipated, but still, seeing it in reality left me feeling quite displeased.

“Lady Charlotte. Everyone is waiting!”

All of them.

I nodded at Aurelle’s words and walked toward the vampires who were waiting for me.

The number of vampires gathered here was 125.

When I added my own 42 subordinates, the total number came to 167.

It was an extremely rare situation, as vampires usually didn’t gather in such large numbers due to the rule of not infringing on each other’s territories.

The expressions of the clan leaders were grim.

It was probably because of the vampires who hadn’t shown up on the promised date.

I felt the same way as they did.

“This isn’t what we agreed on, is it?”

As I approached, the clan leaders began to speak.

Some clicked their tongues, and there was even a clan leader who seemed ready to get up and leave. If this continued, the few who had shown up might even decide to leave as well.

I had to stall as much as possible.

Until Huanggu arrived, that is.

I took a deep breath and spoke up.

“It’s something I expected.”

“You expected this?”

Frix frowned at my answer and asked, his expression doubtful.

Frix, who had been hesitant but ultimately decided to show up at the meeting place, must have made a big decision before coming here.

Clearly, he was very disappointed by this situation.

He had a crumpled expression that looked like he could return to his hideout at any moment. His face revealed his emotions without any attempt to hide them.

“What’s the problem?”
“Problem? There’s plenty. Didn’t you say there’d be 300 people when we made the promise?”
“I didn’t lie. If everyone had shown up, it would have been over 300.”
“Where are the werewolves? They also said they’d join, but…”
“I guess they didn’t keep their promise.”

As Frix started venting his complaints, the other clan leaders joined in as well.

Of course, there were also clan leaders who kept silent, choosing to say nothing.

Among them was a small vampire girl, Peirin.

Peirin, with long red hair, tightly hugged a bear-shaped stuffed animal in her arms.

When our eyes met, she gave me a shy smile.

I returned her smile with one of my own.

“Anyway, we’re leaving.”
“Leaving? After we’ve gathered here? You won’t even try?”
“Try?”

At my words, Frix let out a dry laugh and stood up.

He scowled and looked toward the place where the Fenrir was.

“You don’t know unless you fight it yourself, but Fenrir is not something we can deal with with this small group.”
“I think we can manage.”

Frix chose to remain silent at my answer.

As he did, someone unexpected spoke up.

“Charlotte is strong.”

It was Peirin, who had remained silent up until now.

Shyly, she covered her face with the bear stuffed animal, as if embarrassed by the attention.

“I won’t deny that Charlotte is strong… but…”

Frix admitted my strength without resistance.

Not only him, but the other clan leaders also nodded, albeit faintly.

Their acknowledgment was to be expected. After all, it was I who had decimated half of the human clans in Seoul.

Knowing that, they couldn’t refuse to acknowledge it.

“Anyway, we’re leaving.”

As Frix said that and turned his body, it happened.

Chirp chirp!

A sudden chirping of a sparrow rang out.

Looking up, I saw a small sparrow flying circles above my head.

It was Aurelle’s signal, meaning Huanggu had reached the vicinity.

I stretched out my hand, and the shadows began to move.

Following my will, a dark curtain spread out wide.

Immediately after, girls who resembled me began to emerge from the shadows.

Ssshhh—

The vampires were startled by the sudden summoning of my subordinates.

Some of them, nervous, even showed signs of hostility toward me and my subordinates, but I didn’t react.

My goal wasn’t to fight the vampires.

While others might have thought it was impossible, I was certain.

With the current numbers, we could definitely take down the Fenrir.

I had thought about it when I first saw the battle between the 10 human users and the Fenrir.

It looked doable, right?

If there were around 100 vampires over level 10, and they helped out, we could definitely capture it.

That was the judgment my instincts had made.

Of course, safety was the priority, so I had gathered as many vampires as possible.

In total, I had gathered 167 vampires.

With this many, victory was guaranteed.

We could capture it.

This meant we could defeat the boss of Episode 1 and move on to the next stage.

Tap, tap, tap—

From a great distance.

Faint footsteps echoed from beyond the ruined city.

Tap, tap, tap—

The footsteps grew louder, and on the wind, the distinct scent of werewolves began to drift toward us.

The vampires gathered here must have recognized the sound and the smell as well.

Their gazes all shifted to one place at once.

Tap, thud! Tap—thud!

The soft footsteps began to be accompanied by heavier ones.

And not only that, following the heavy footsteps, there was an increasingly chaotic sound of movement.

“Lady Charlotte!!!”

Tap, tap, tap—

As the footsteps grew closer, a cheerful voice of a young girl echoed.

Emerging from the ruins was a small werewolf girl, Huanggu.

With a desperate expression, Huanggu stuck out her tongue and eagerly ran toward me.

At that moment, a massive sense of pressure hit me.

It felt as if the gravity had suddenly increased, causing my body to feel heavier in an instant.

“Could it be…?”

A voice from behind me, coming from one of the vampires.

As the voice, full of intense tremors, scattered,

Boom!

[Kwaaahhh!]

A massive building collapsed, and from beyond the rubble, a gigantic furry creature sprang out.

The enormous body, easily over 2 meters tall.

The massive muscles that fit the size of its body.

The stiff, bristling fur matted with dark red blood, growing out like thorns.

The boss of Episode 1.

The Fenrir had arrived.

“This is insane…!”

As the Fenrir appeared, the vampires quickly fell into battle formation, preparing for combat.

I hugged Huanggu as she approached me and enveloped her in shadow.

Blocking Huanggu’s scent, I erased her from Fenrir’s sight.

With the aggro target now gone, the Fenrir began to scan its surroundings.

Enemies were everywhere. Without hesitation, the Fenrir charged toward the other vampires.

[Kwaaaahhh!]

“Ughh!”

With a loud scream, the vampires were thrown into panic.

The clan leaders’ faces were overtaken by sheer terror.

I watched them, then drew my katana.

Swoosh—

If I left it like this, they would all flee.

Now was the time to show them that it was possible, that it could be done.

If it were me, if it were Charlotte, I could show them that possibility.

I gathered all my strength.

As a hot flame surged in my left eye, black wings unfurled behind me.

The shadows beneath my feet rippled like fire, and black bats shot into the sky.

With everything in place, I charged forward without hesitation.

Tap—

A small, light step.

As the massive wings on my back began to flap, my body was propelled forward and landed right in front of Fenrir.

In that instant, I swung my katana with all my might.

Swish—!

The blade of the katana extended, cutting through the air as a black blade formed from shadows.

The shadowy blade slashed deeply across Fenrir’s back.

Skrak-!

The wound is not deep. However, the fact that it pierced through thick leather and caused damage remains unchanged.

[Graaar!]

Fenrir lets out a roar in sudden pain. The deafening sound causes my ears to ache painfully.

After roaring once, Fenrir begins to retaliate against me.

Its enormous arm, stretched long, swings like a whip.

A very fast attack comes flying towards me.

I use the wings on my back to block the strike.

Thud!

“Ugh…”

The massive shock transmitted through the shadow causes my body to stagger, and a groan escapes through my teeth.

It’s tough, but I can endure it.

I turn my gaze and observe the expressions of the vampires.

They are all watching Fenrir and me.

A sense of surprise spreads across their faces.

Everyone here saw that I withstood Fenrir’s blow.

“Haah!”

With a loud shout, I swing my katana again.

There’s no need for a defensive stance.

Because the shadow, like my own limbs, will automatically protect my body.

Whoosh-

The katana, swung in a wide arc, cuts deeply into Fenrir’s chest.

A faint trickle of blood rises, following the thin, shallow line.

Immediately after, Fenrir retaliates.

Thud!

Once again, the massive shock is transmitted through the shadow.

I take a step back to absorb the impact.

But I do not get pushed back any further.

With the body of a small girl, I withstand the attack of the giant beast.

“Everyone!!!”

I take a step forward.

I show that, for every step I am pushed back, I will move forward.

“Attack!!!”

A scream, spat out with the feeling of vomiting blood.

The clear voice of a young girl, emerging from my mouth, spreads widely.

Thud-

Immediately after, Fenrir attacks again.

The shock reverberates through my body, and the metallic taste of blood rises in my mouth.

My insides are unsettled. Blood trickles into my mouth, but I use superhuman endurance to swallow it down.

Whoosh-

In that moment, a massive flame falls from the sky.

It is the support of Peirin, the vampire, that shakes the minds of the vampires.

Peirin’s build is one that boosts mental power, allowing for the use of psychic abilities as a long-range mage.

That means she is specialized in support.

[Graaar!]

Fenrir screams in agony from Peirin’s attack.

His gaze shifts toward Peirin.

It seems the aggro has shifted, but would I stay still?

Shh-

Shadows begin to stir beneath my feet.

In that moment, a massive beast made of shadows rises up and engulfs Fenrir.

Crack-

Fenrir is caught in the jaws of the massive beast.

However, the beast’s teeth fail to pierce Fenrir’s thick hide.

[Growwwwl…]

But my goal has been successful.

Fenrir’s gaze returns to me.

Pat, pat, pat~!

At that moment, light footsteps are heard.

Coming closer is the Golden Dog.

With incredible speed, the Golden Dog approaches and swings its claws at Fenrir, who is trapped by the shadows.

Slash! Swish—! Scratch!

It looks like a dog digging through hard ground.

[Graaar!]

The Golden Dog’s claw attack stains Fenrir’s thigh with crimson blood.

Immediately after, Fenrir begins to twist its body.

The Golden Dog quickly retreats from the spot.

Despite the Golden Dog’s attack, Fenrir cannot tear its gaze away from me.

Its bloodshot eyes are locked on me.

Perhaps it was because they saw hope in that scene?

Finally, the vampires began to move.