The air at the village gate felt frozen.
Lin Ye stood where he was, breathing heavily.
That last attack had already drained a large portion of his strength.
And now—
The real threat had finally appeared.
Not far away, the massive demon wolf slowly rose to its full height.
It was nearly three meters tall.
Black scales covered its entire body, reflecting the firelight with a cold metallic sheen.
Two crimson eyes locked onto Lin Ye.
That gaze didn't feel like the gaze of a beast.
It felt calculating.
Like a predator carefully studying its prey.
Su Li tightened her grip on her short sword and whispered,
"That's the Alpha Demon Wolf."
"The Shadow Wolves are just its followers."
Lin Ye swallowed.
The pack of Shadow Wolves alone had already been difficult enough.
But the creature standing before them was clearly far stronger.
The Alpha Demon Wolf stepped forward slowly.
Each step caused the ground to tremble faintly.
Then it let out a deep growl.
The remaining Shadow Wolves immediately scattered, backing away.
It was as if they were clearing a battlefield.
Reg stood in front of Lin Ye.
His silver longsword slowly lifted.
His cloak moved gently in the night wind.
His voice was calm.
"Step back."
Lin Ye blinked.
"What?"
Reg didn't turn around.
"This isn't a monster you can fight."
Lin Ye fell silent.
But he didn't move.
Reg sensed his hesitation and finally glanced back at him.
His eyes were sharp.
"If you don't want to die," Reg said coldly,
"get behind the wall."
Lin Ye clenched his fists.
He knew Reg was right.
But before he could move—
The Alpha Wolf suddenly moved.
It leapt forward.
Its massive body shot through the air like a bolt of black lightning.
Its target—
Reg.
Reg reacted instantly.
His sword flashed upward.
CLANG!
The blade sliced through the air as the wolf's claw slammed into it.
Sparks burst outward.
The impact forced Reg back one step.
But the wolf was knocked aside as well.
Both landed on the ground.
For a brief moment—
Silence filled the battlefield.
Then the Alpha Wolf charged again.
Even faster this time.
Reg shouted sharply and swung his sword three times in quick succession.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Three arcs of silver light struck the wolf's body.
But they only left shallow marks across the scales.
Lin Ye's pupils shrank.
"Even his sword can't cut through it?"
Su Li whispered,
"The scales are too hard."
"We have to hit a weak point."
Just then—
The Alpha Wolf suddenly turned its head.
Its red eyes locked onto Lin Ye.
That gaze sent a chill through his spine.
Lin Ye's heart sank.
It seemed to sense something about him.
Something different.
The next moment—
The wolf suddenly abandoned Reg.
And charged directly at Lin Ye.
Its speed was terrifying.
Su Li's face changed.
"Watch out!"
Lin Ye didn't have time to think.
His shadow burst outward.
Dark spikes shot up from the ground.
THUD!
The shadow struck the wolf's chest—
But the sound was dull.
Like stabbing metal.
The attack bounced off.
The wolf barely slowed.
Its massive claw slammed down.
BOOM!
Lin Ye rolled desperately to the side.
The ground exploded into a crater.
Stones and dirt scattered everywhere.
Su Li rushed forward.
Her silver blade flashed.
CLANG!
The sword struck the wolf's neck.
But again, it left only a shallow scratch.
The Alpha Wolf roared in anger.
Its tail swung violently.
Su Li was forced several steps backward.
Lin Ye had barely gotten to his feet—
When the wolf lunged again.
This time its jaws opened wide.
Its blade-like fangs gleamed in the firelight.
Lin Ye's heart dropped.
For a split second—
He thought he was dead.
Then—
A flash of silver light cut through the air from the side.
BOOM!
Reg's sword slammed into the wolf's flank.
The sheer force finally cracked through the scales.
A thin line of blood appeared.
The Alpha Wolf let out a furious howl.
It spun around instantly, swinging a claw toward Reg.
The two figures clashed again.
Sword and claws collided again and again.
Lin Ye stood nearby, breathing hard.
His heart was still racing.
That moment earlier—
He had almost died.
Su Li stepped beside him.
"Are you alright?"
Lin Ye nodded.
But his eyes never left the battlefield.
Reg's swordsmanship was incredible.
Every strike was precise and powerful.
But the wolf's strength and defense were equally terrifying.
The battle reached a stalemate.
Then—
Lin Ye suddenly noticed something.
Every time the wolf attacked Reg—
The scales on its chest shifted slightly.
For a brief instant—
A small patch beneath them was exposed.
Softer.
Unprotected.
Lin Ye's eyes widened.
"A weak point…" he murmured.
Su Li looked at him.
"What?"
Lin Ye pointed at the wolf's chest.
"There."
Su Li watched carefully.
Within seconds she noticed it too.
"You're right," she whispered.
"But Reg alone might not get the chance."
Lin Ye stayed silent for a moment.
Then he took a deep breath.
His shadow spread across the ground again.
Su Li frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Lin Ye kept his eyes on the battle.
"Helping him."
Su Li froze.
At that moment—
Reg was forced backward again by the wolf's attack.
The Alpha Wolf prepared to charge once more.
Lin Ye suddenly moved.
His shadow surged forward.
Like a pair of black chains.
They wrapped around the wolf's hind legs.
For just a fraction of a second—
The monster's movement slowed.
Reg's eyes sharpened instantly.
He seized the opening.
His body lunged forward.
The sword thrust straight ahead.
THRUST!
The blade drove deep into the wolf's chest.
Directly into the exposed weak point.
The Alpha Wolf screamed in agony.
Its massive body thrashed violently.
The shadow chains shattered.
But Reg didn't stop.
He twisted the blade hard.
BOOM!
The Alpha Demon Wolf collapsed.
The ground shook as its enormous body hit the earth.
Around them, the remaining Shadow Wolves howled.
Then they began retreating.
One by one, they disappeared into the forest.
Silence slowly returned to the village gate.
Everyone stood frozen.
Reg slowly pulled his sword free.
Dark blood dripped from the blade.
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he turned around.
His eyes landed on Lin Ye.
Cold.
Sharp.
"That shadow just now," Reg said quietly.
"I saw it."
The air immediately grew tense.
Su Li's expression changed slightly.
Lin Ye felt his heart sink.
Reg walked slowly toward him.
His footsteps echoed clearly in the silent village entrance.
Finally, he stopped in front of Lin Ye.
His gaze lowered to the shadow at Lin Ye's feet.
He studied it for a few seconds.
Then he spoke.
"That isn't an ordinary ability."
"It's forbidden magic."