Lucas swung his axe down, cleaving straight into the head of a Direwolf lunging at him.
The Direwolf howled in agony, crashing to the ground and rolling several times before collapsing behind the wagon, unable to get up for quite a while.
“Damn it…”
Lucas could distinctly feel the handle of his axe threatening to snap at any moment.
A weapon in this condition was incapable of inflicting any fatal damage on the Direwolves.
If he didn’t find a way to shake off this pack, becoming their prey was only a matter of time.
There was nothing else on the wagon.
Before Lucas and Relia fled, they hadn’t had time to bring anything with them — not even money.
There was simply nothing left to use.
“Can we go any faster?”
Lucas asked as he swung his axe again, chopping aside another Direwolf that lunged at the horses.
“It’s already fast! The horses are exhausted from all the traveling,” the wagon driver said nervously, sweat dripping from his brow as he cracked his whip, trying to urge the horses onward.
But the Direwolves were just faster.
One suddenly leapt at a horse, biting at its neck.
With just a slight tear, a large chunk of flesh was ripped from the horse’s neck.
The horse let out a pained whinny and staggered.
If Lucas hadn’t swiftly raised his axe and severed the reins, detaching the horse from the wagon—
The unbalanced horse would have been overwhelmed by the swarm of Direwolves instantly.
The desperate howls soon turned into the gruesome sound of flesh being torn apart.
The wagon slowed, but some of the Direwolves were distracted by the wounded horse, reducing their numbers in the chase.
By rough count, there were five left.
It was troublesome, but better than being hunted by dozens at once.
One Direwolf placed its claw on the edge of the wagon, trying to climb inside.
Lucas reacted quickly, stepping forward and swinging his axe at the creature’s paw.
With a sharp crack, the long-neglected axe finally broke under the strain, shattering completely amid the Direwolf’s agonized cries.
Luckily, the pain forced the Direwolf to release its grip and fall to the ground.
Now weaponless, the three people on the wagon were like lambs awaiting slaughter.
The other four Direwolves shifted tactics, flanking the wagon from both sides.
One larger wolf, likely the Alpha Direwolf, let out a roar.
The other three attacked the remaining horse pulling the wagon.
The three Direwolves overwhelmed the horse, forcing Lucas to pick up the broken axe blade and cut the reins again to prevent the wagon from tipping over.
Several Direwolves immediately took the horse’s life, but their target wasn’t satisfied with just the prey before them.
Lucas and the others were still their intended quarry.
The wagon came to a complete stop.
Lucas grabbed Relia and shouted to the driver, “Jump off!”
The three of them tumbled to the ground in disarray.
To survive, they had only their legs now.
Run as far as they could—maybe, just maybe, they’d encounter reinforcements.
“What are you waiting for? Run!”
Lucas shouted at the driver, pulling Relia forward.
The driver hesitated for a moment, then followed Lucas’s lead, but his old age left him unable to keep pace.
The Direwolves caught up to the driver within a few strides.
Lucas reached out to grab him, but the pack had already knocked the man down, tearing into his flesh.
“Run…!”
Lucas withdrew his hand and pulled Relia along.
There was no time to mourn now; survival was the priority.
Lucas sprinted down the road, constantly scanning their surroundings.
Please, someone—anyone—help us…
Behind them, the Direwolves’ howls grew louder and closer.
Lucas glanced back and saw the Alpha Direwolf still in pursuit.
Closing the distance, Lucas turned and threw his broken axe blade at the Alpha.
Whether it hit or not didn’t matter—anything to delay it.
The Alpha swiftly dodged the thrown blade and leapt high, lunging at the fleeing pair.
This time, there was no escape.
Watching the Direwolf close in, Lucas thought bitterly to himself.
What a cruel fate.
My life has been full of suffering already.
Since childhood, Relia and I lost our parents to the plague and have relied on each other ever since.
I endured every hardship just to give her a better life.
Finally grown, only to have our homeland invaded, forcing us into this desperate flight.
I had promised to live out the rest of our days peacefully with Relia.
Fate always loves to toy with people.
Lucas smiled bitterly, preparing to accept his destiny.
But at the last moment, he pushed Relia aside with all his strength, taking the full force of the Alpha Direwolf’s attack himself.
The stench of saliva dripped onto his face.
Lucas fought to keep the wolf’s jaws from crushing his throat.
But the claws had already sunk into his shoulder.
He had no strength left to resist.
The fangs drew closer to his throat, about to sever it.
“Run, Relia!”
At least now, he could buy her some time.
“Lucas!”
Relia collapsed where she was, frozen by the horrific sight.
“No, Lucas!”
She stretched out her hand, trying desperately to save him from the wolf’s grip.
“Relia, I…”
The words “I love you” would never be said.
The Direwolf’s fangs were nearly at his throat.
Just as the fangs were about to pierce his windpipe, a flash of swordlight appeared, and the Direwolf’s head flew off.
Lucas suddenly felt the weight on his shoulder lift.
Warm blood splattered across his face, the coppery smell filling his nostrils.
The Alpha Direwolf’s head had been cleanly severed with one stroke.
Lucas easily tossed the carcass aside.
“Are you alright?”
A gloved hand reached out to him.
“Can you stand?”
Lucas grasped the hand and looked up.
Before him stood a gallant female knight with silver-black hair. Her blue-and-white uniform bore the Kingdom’s insignia.
Thank goodness.
Someone had arrived just in time.
“I’m fine, thank you…”
Lucas staggered to his feet, grateful to the knight who had come to their rescue.
“I…”
Before he could finish, his vision blurred.
The Direwolf attack had taken a heavy toll.
The world spun wildly, and then everything went black.
With a soft thud, Lucas collapsed to the ground.