The past few days of training had allowed Colin to fully absorb his body's original combat experience. His Casting Skill Level had also risen to 494 points. In terms of fighting ability, he was at least a much better fighter than when he had first arrived.
As the Wolf Pack hesitated.
Kase, holding the high ground, had no such hesitation.
With a sharp WHIZ through the air, another wolf fell to a Stone Bullet. This one was closer, and Colin could even hear the CRACK of its skull shattering.
Seeing this, the hesitant Wolf Pack surged forward once more.
Colin locked his eyes on the one leading the charge.
The Wild Wolf's panting filled his ears, its sharp claws and teeth clearly visible.
Just as his opponent was about to enter attack range, Colin's eyes narrowed and he quickly recited the Spell.
As he chanted the Spell, fierce Flames erupted from the rough blade.
Colin swung the blade violently, and the fire exploded against the attacking Wild Wolf. A moment later, Flames shot from the blade again, striking the next wolf.
[Emerald Flame Sword]!
Without a moment's hesitation, Colin wrenched his Short Sword back and swung it fiercely around him.
The sparks flying from its tip forced back the enemies that were trying to charge.
The Wolf Pack retreated slightly, continuing to prowl the perimeter.
Most of the enemies' attention was focused on Colin and Kase, greatly reducing the pressure on the rest of the caravan.
'Things should be stable now.'
He forced his trembling hands steady. Colin was terrified, but the adrenaline from his fear left him no time to actually feel it.
He thought to himself, 'No matter what, animals like wolves hunt to eat. After taking such heavy casualties, they should be thinking about retreating now.'
However, the opposite happened.
The Wolf Pack became even more frantic, only this frenzy wasn't aimed at the two of them, who were proving to be tough targets.
The Wild Wolves near Colin, unable to make any headway, quickly scattered to attack other parts of the caravan.
The air was filled with the snarls of beasts and the shouts of Adventurers. Out of the corner of his eye, Colin even saw a poor wretch fall to the ground and get mauled.
He forced himself to stay calm.
'As long as I can protect Kase and his perfect aim, his Catapult is enough to make this pack of Wild Wolves pay dearly.'
As he faced off against the Wolf Pack, Colin suddenly noticed a shadow appear at his feet.
Looking up, he saw a giant White Wolf pouncing toward him from over ten meters away.
「In that instant.」
Colin could clearly see the cold mist seeping from its massive maw, which was filled with ghastly white fangs, and the cold light emanating from the back of its throat.
'What kind of animal has cold mist coming from its mouth?'
'—The Giant Dragons in movies, just before they unleash their breath attack.'
The instant his mind supplied the answer, a jolt shot through Colin and he dove to the side.
The moment he hit the ground, a blast of cold wind pierced his linen clothes and seeped into his bones, making Colin shudder uncontrollably.
He looked back.
The spot where he had just been standing was now covered in a thick layer of ice.
And the White Wolf, which was about the size of a small horse, stood upon the ice, with remnants of white, frosty mist still clinging to its mouth.
A faint blue mist emanated from the beast's body, and its eyes shone with a sapphire light. One look was enough to tell that this creature was completely different from an Ordinary beast.
'What is this thing?'
Colin's heart sank.
The monster looked over at him.
It let out a low whine, baring its teeth and looking as if it would pounce at any second.
Standing behind the wagon, Kase dropped his Catapult, picked up a Javelin, and hurled it.
The Sharp spearhead pierced the White Wolf's flank, making the enormous beast cry out in pain.
"Come on! Bring it on!" Kase grabbed another Javelin and charged the White Wolf, and the two began to tussle.
'It's time for the torches,' Colin thought as he quickly pulled a burlap sack off the wagon and shoved it underneath.
"Bob, quick, help me light the Torches inside."
"Okay, man…"
A hand reached out from under the wagon and pulled the sack in, followed immediately by the scraping sound of a Fire Scythe.
Colin carefully watched his surroundings.
Perhaps because their leader was here, most of the other Wild Wolves had gone to attack other parts of the caravan. An odd lull had appeared in the fighting on their side of the chaotic battlefield… He didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Hang in there, man!"
The voices of other Adventurers in the caravan carried from the distance.
Colin glanced to the side. The Adventurers from the front and back of the caravan had freed their hands and were now closing in on their position. The Wild Wolves along the way could only barely manage to hinder the menacing humans.
Anyone with eyes could see that the giant White Wolf was the heart of the Wolf Pack.
Kill it, and they could break the Wolf Pack's confidence and force it to retreat!
"The monster has a breath attack! Spread out when you get here, spread out!" Colin shouted, but in the chaotic battle, he didn't know if anyone had heard him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Kase was completely on the defensive.
Colin quickly lifted his sword and charged in.
Using the momentum of his charge, he viciously thrust his Short Sword at the massive beast.
The White Wolf's fur was incredibly strange. Colin felt as if he were stabbing a piece of rubber covered in slick, sticky grease. Before he could even break the skin, the tip of his sword slid aside.
The wolf bent its four legs slightly, then slammed its body to the side.
Colin, who had been watching the wolf's mouth, was knocked off balance. The beast's strength was beyond imagination, and he struggled to keep his footing.
Kase, at his side, saw an opening and thrust with his spear.
It should have been a decisive blow.
However, the Half-Orc's performance was a world away from when he'd sparred with Colin a few days prior. His movements were puppet-like and stiff, and his spear thrust grazed the White Wolf's back, hitting empty air.
And the White Wolf took notice of this new opponent.
It opened its maw, an attack clearly imminent.
'Kase is in trouble!'
Just as Colin despaired, a loud roar came from nearby.
The Adventurers from the front and back of the caravan had torn an opening through the Wolf Pack. They swarmed forward, weapons brandished, intending to finish off the giant White Wolf directly.
Hearing the roars, the White Wolf turned its head.
Azure mist once again condensed in its mouth, and a cold aura washed over them.
Colin looked at the approaching Adventurers and shouted, "Don't get too clo—"
The White Wolf slammed its body into him, knocking the rest of Colin's words back down his throat.
Colin felt his body go airborne before his back slammed into the wagon with a THUD.
In the next instant, a visible gale of white wind howled past.
When he looked up again, a large swathe of the Adventurers who had just charged past him were down.
Sheets of ice had formed on their tattered Cotton Armor and linen clothes, shattering into large pieces the moment they hit the ground. The flesh exposed through the tears in their clothing had turned a necrotic blackish-purple.
That one breath attack had taken down eight Adventurers!
"Look at me, you damned beast!" Kase roared, preparing to charge the enemy again with his Wooden Spear.
However, the White Wolf once again knocked the thrusting Wooden Spear aside with a flick of its tail.
Then it leaped, pinning Kase to the ground and beginning to tear at him viciously.
Leaning against the wagon, Colin tried to get up, but a sharp pain in his back left him without any strength.
He watched Kase, feeling more and more that something was strange about his condition. Even if the White Wolf was that big and strong, there was no way it could take down a two-meter-tall Half-Orc so quickly, right?
"The t-torches… are ready."
A trembling voice came from under the wagon as Bob pushed out two lit Torches.
Colin quickly grabbed the Torches.
'Good,' he thought. 'At least now we have a chance!'