Outside the rocky area.
Six Forest Wolves surrounded the crevice.
They'd been standing guard all night.
The leader, the largest Forest Wolf, raised its head.
"Go back and report." It growled.
One wolf nodded and turned to leave.
The other five continued their vigil.
Deep in the forest, a hidden valley.
This was the wolf pack's den.
At the valley's center stood a massive cave.
Deep within the cave lay a beast far larger than any ordinary Forest Wolf.
Its fur was deep gray, gleaming with a metallic luster in the moonlight.
An old scar ran across its chest, stretching from left shoulder to abdomen.
This was the Wolf King.
The reporting wolf entered the cave.
Head lowered, not daring to meet the Wolf King's eyes.
"My lord." It said respectfully.
"The prey was critically wounded but escaped into a crevice in the rocky area."
"We cannot enter."
The Wolf King opened its eyes.
Deep eyes, full of overwhelming pressure.
"Confirm it was that squirrel?" The Wolf King's voice was low.
"Yes." The wolf answered.
"It used a spatial ability, could make other magic beasts appear from nowhere."
"And could make things vanish instantly."
"Just as those two beasts described."
The Wolf King stood.
Its massive shadow fell across the cave.
It walked to the entrance, gazing toward the distant forest.
"That golden plant..." The Wolf King said quietly.
"Anyone who touches what's mine must die."
Its voice was calm but filled with unquestionable killing intent.
Three days ago.
While patrolling their territory, the pack discovered signs of battle by the stream.
The ground was devastated.
Trees toppled, blood spattered everywhere.
The lead wolf carefully investigated.
Soon, they found a Steel-Bristle Boar nearby.
The boar lay on the ground, covered in wounds, barely alive.
Seeing the pack, it tried to stand.
But its injuries were too severe—it couldn't move at all.
The pack immediately surrounded it.
"What are you doing here?" The lead wolf asked.
The boar looked at it weakly.
"Golden plant..."
"The Shadow Cat and I... fought over that plant..."
The lead wolf's eyes turned cold.
"Golden plant? The one by the stream?"
The boar nodded weakly.
The lead wolf's gaze hardened.
"Kill it."
Several wolves immediately pounced.
The boar had no strength left to resist.
Soon it breathed its last.
"Find that Shadow Cat it mentioned." The lead wolf immediately ordered.
The pack dispersed, searching the area.
Heavily wounded, the Shadow Cat couldn't have gone far.
Soon, a wolf howled, signaling it had found the target.
The others rushed over.
Under a thick tree, they discovered the hollow where the Shadow Cat was hiding.
The Shadow Cat was curled inside, covered in blood, breathing weakly.
Hearing movement, it raised its head and saw the pack surrounding the entrance.
Fear flashed in its eyes.
It tried to flee, struggling to stand.
The pack dragged it out.
"The golden plant by the stream." The lead wolf said.
"Did you take it?"
The Shadow Cat weakly shook its head.
"Not me..."
"A squirrel..."
"The boar and I fought over the plant..."
"Both critically wounded..."
"That squirrel seized the chance and dug up the plant..."
"The plant just vanished..."
"I tried to chase..."
"But too injured... couldn't catch up..."
"There was also a wasp and a mouse with it..."
The lead wolf stared coldly at it.
"Anyone who touches what belongs to the King must die."
It immediately pounced.
The Shadow Cat screamed once, then fell silent.
"Bring the corpses back." The lead wolf said.
Several wolves grabbed the Steel-Bristle Boar and Shadow Cat's bodies, dragging them toward the den.
The lead wolf walked ahead.
It had to report the golden plant matter to the Wolf King.
After returning to the den, the lead wolf entered the cave's depths.
The Wolf King was resting there.
Hearing footsteps, it opened its eyes.
"My lord." The lead wolf said, head lowered.
"The golden plant by the stream... was taken by a squirrel."
The cave fell instantly silent.
Surrounding wolves kept their heads down, not daring to make a sound.
The Wolf King slowly raised its head.
"Taken?"
Its voice was low, full of oppressive weight.
"Yes." The lead wolf said.
"The Steel-Bristle Boar and Shadow Cat fought over the plant until both were critically wounded."
"A squirrel seized the opportunity and dug it up."
"There's also a wasp and a mouse with it."
"According to those two beasts' description, the squirrel used a spatial ability."
"Could make other magic beasts suddenly appear and make things vanish instantly."
The Wolf King stood.
Its massive form cast shadows throughout the cave.
The air pressure instantly became oppressive.
All Forest Wolves felt the Wolf King's fury.
"A squirrel..." The Wolf King slowly walked toward the entrance.
"Dares to touch what's mine."
Its voice was calm but filled with unquestionable killing intent.
"I kept that plant for three years."
"Waiting for it to fully mature."
"Now taken by a squirrel."
The Wolf King turned, looking at the lead wolf.
"All precious resources at this forest's edge are mine."
"I allow other magic beasts to be active here."
"But what's mine, no one can touch."
"Anyone who touches it must die."
"Find that squirrel."
"And the wasp and mouse with it."
"Kill them."
"Leave none alive."
The lead wolf lowered its head.
"Yes, Wolf King."
The Wolf King's eyes were ice cold.
"Summon the six most elite."
"Track their scent."
"No matter where they hide, find them."
"What's mine, anyone who dares touch it dies."
Back to the present.
The Wolf King stood at the cave entrance.
Looking toward the distant rocky area.
The reporting wolf waited respectfully nearby.
"Keep watch." The Wolf King said.
"It will come out eventually."
"When it does, kill it immediately."
"Yes, Wolf King."
The wolf nodded and left.
The Wolf King continued gazing into the distance.
"That plant... should already be eaten by now."
"Since it can't be recovered."
"Then let it be buried with it."
It turned back into the cave's depths.
"This forest edge is my territory."
"What's mine, no one can touch."
---
Deep in the rock crevice.
I was still unconscious.
Brownie and Waspy also lay weakly nearby.
Outside, six Forest Wolves still stood guard.
Their eyes determined—they wouldn't leave until achieving their goal.
Time slowly passed.
The sky gradually brightened.
I still hadn't woken.
Waspy looked at Brownie and me.
Both of us were severely injured.
The three wounds on Brownie's back still seeped blood, eyes weakly closed.
My breathing was faint, covered in blood.
"Gray... Brownie..." Waspy's voice trembled.
Its own wings were damaged—couldn't fly.
Could only barely crawl to our sides.
Outside, the Forest Wolves remained.
Not one less.
Waspy looked outside, eyes full of despair.
"Can we... not get out..."
It looked at Brownie and me again.
"Why... do they have to kill us?"
But no one could answer.
Waspy lay on the ground, weakly waiting.
Don't know how much time passed.
My consciousness slowly returned.
Pain everywhere.
Like being torn apart.
I struggled to open my eyes.
Vision blurry, slowly clearing.
Saw Waspy lying nearby.
"Gray... you're awake..." Waspy's voice filled with relief.
I tried to stand but my body wouldn't move at all.
Felt like every bone was broken.
"Don't move." Waspy said. "You're badly hurt..."
I looked to the side.
Brownie was still unconscious.
The three wounds on its back were horrifying, almost exposing bone.
Blood had congealed, but injuries were even worse than mine.
"Brownie..." I said hoarsely.
"It's still alive." Waspy said. "But hasn't woken up."
"Too badly injured..."
I looked outside.
The Forest Wolves remained—not one less.
"How long... have they been waiting?" I asked.
"A day and a night." Waspy said.
I gritted my teeth, trying to move.
But intense pain nearly made me pass out again.
"Don't move!" Waspy quickly said. "Many of your bones are broken..."
I stopped, breathing heavily.
Looking at the Forest Wolves outside.
Their eyes still cold, full of killing intent.
"Why... do they want to kill us?"
Waspy shook its head. "Don't know..."
"But they won't let us go."
I looked at unconscious Brownie.
Its breathing was very faint.
Without treatment, might not last much longer.
But we had no magic power now.
Brownie itself was unconscious, couldn't use "Vitality Bestowal."
"We have to find a way..." I said.
"Can't keep hiding here."
"Brownie needs treatment, but it's unconscious..."
"And we don't have enough food or water."
"Hide a few more days, and even if they don't kill us, we'll starve or die of thirst."
Waspy nodded. "But in our current state..."
"We can't beat them at all."
I fell silent.
Indeed, in our current state, forget six wolves—even just one, we couldn't beat.
And Brownie was still unconscious.
"Wait for Brownie to wake first." I said.
"After it wakes, it can heal us."
"At least to where we can move..."
"Then find a way to escape."
Waspy nodded.
I closed my eyes, sensing my injuries.
Severe, very severe.
Hind leg nearly useless, front paw bone broken, back also fractured.
Not a single spot that didn't hurt.
And Brownie was even worse.
Its back wounds were too deep.
"Brownie... you have to wake up..." I thought.
"We still have to survive together."