"How are there so few?" Anna asked strangely. Indeed, everyone found it odd; Silver Wolves usually hunted in packs, yet there were fewer than ten before them, and they showed no panic, merely observing from a nearby hillock with an air of leisure.

Mo Han remarked, "Something is amiss. Normally, when a magical beast spots humans, it either flees or attacks—especially a warlike beast like the Silver Wolf. But these dozen or so aren't attacking, nor are they retreating."

Kylie added from the side, "Yes, I feel it too. Their behavior is extremely unusual, yet I can't quite pinpoint what feels wrong."

While they were still harboring doubts, Mo Han let out a wry smile: "It seems we're surrounded. I didn't expect these low-level beasts to understand tactics."

Though the others didn't grasp why Mo Han said that, they never doubted his words; hadn't he been the first to uncover the Vicious Wolf Mercenary Group's conspiracy just two days prior? Hearing him, everyone immediately drew their weapons and adopted cautious stances.

Just then, a piercing wolf howl ripped through the sky.

Suddenly, countless Silver Wolves materialized atop the earthen mound beside them, encircling the group in a ring. Seeing the sheer number, they couldn't help but gasp—even the largest known Silver Wolf packs never approached this density. It seemed every Silver Wolf from the entire Adventuring Plain had gathered here, a dense, suffocating mass numbering at least ten thousand.

Jack exclaimed involuntarily, "Heavens, how many Silver Wolves are there?" The others quickly formed a tight circle, protecting the mages, priests, and archers in the center.

Anna, being a young woman, was pale with fright. Kylie fared better, but even her complexion was slightly bleached, betraying her own tension.

A long howl echoed from the hills ahead. They watched as figures the size of three ordinary Silver Wolves slowly appeared on the ridge before them—undoubtedly the Wolf Kings. Upon their appearance, these monarchs did not charge but instead retreated to either side, making way for two towering, blood-red spectral wolves to emerge.

Kylie cried out, "My God, Blood Shadow Phantom Wolves!"

Hearing Kylie's shriek, the group was stunned. Blood Shadow Phantom Wolves were Tier 8 Mid-rank magical beasts, capable of wielding both Fire and Wind elemental magic, possessing lightning speed, and their claws were laced with potent poison; those struck would die without immediate treatment. And there were two of them.

Latin managed a bitter smile, "We have such incredible luck." Jack’s face was ashen, "Which scoundrel claimed this Adventuring Plain only held Tier 5 beasts? Everything we’ve seen these past few days has been Tier 6 or higher—first the Earth Bear, now these Blood Shadow Phantom Wolves. And these two are certainly the leaders of this pack. It looks like we're all going to die here."

Two full S-rank mercenary groups would likely perish against a pack like this.

Yet, Mo Han felt Anna trembling beside him, even more terrified than before. He patted her shoulder gently. "Don't be afraid."

Internally, he was also in dire straits. This Silver Wolf horde combined with the Blood Shadow Phantom Wolves—if handled poorly, death was a real possibility.

Why is my luck so terrible? Mo Han thought helplessly.

He briefly squeezed Kylie's small hand; her palm was slick with sweat. He comforted her, "It’s fine. I will definitely lead everyone out of here."

Hearing Mo Han, Kylie immediately calmed. For her, Mo Han was her anchor, her pillar of strength.

At this moment, Xiao Mo sensed the danger. It let out a fierce roar, a yellow aura flaring around its body as it swelled back to its true, massive size. Observing the sudden transformation of the Great Earth Bear, the surrounding wolves began to stir uneasily.

Sensing the wolves' panic, one of the Blood Shadow Phantom Wolves let out a piercing cry. The agitated pack gradually quieted under its terrifying dominance. Then, the other Blood Shadow Phantom Wolf howled as well.

Mo Han warned, "Be careful, they’re about to attack." Immediately turning to his comrades, he shouted, "Protect me! Give me some time!" The moment the words left his mouth, the entire wolf horde surged forward, swarming toward the group in the center.

Kylie waved her hand, and a wolf lunging at her split instantly into two sections, showering a rain of blood. Anna's arrows found their mark with every shot, taking a wolf life apiece, while Jack's Fireball spells rained down upon the pack—aiming was unnecessary when monsters filled the space.

Yan Shi swung his massive axe.

Instantly, a wolf was hurled backward by the sheer force, knocking over several others behind it. Latin too brought his sword down, slashing at the encroaching wolves.

Xiao Mo’s display was even more spectacular; each sweep of its gigantic paw crushed several wolves into pulp, while the wolves' attacks against it were little more than pinpricks.

Their armor, shrouded in a layer of Earth Elemental energy, absorbed the blows, and in the blink of an eye, Xiao Mo had pulverized dozens of wolves.

But the wolves behind them pressed on fearlessly. The scent of their fallen comrades’ blood only fueled their savagery; each one lunged forward desperately toward the group.

Meanwhile, Mo Han unleashed his most powerful Fire spell without reservation. He began a low chant: "Spirits of Fire dancing in the air! Hear my summons! In the name of Hephaestus, God of Fire, I call you to gather around me, to cleanse all evil before me..." Jack, standing nearby, stared at him in disbelief upon hearing Mo Han’s murmur. As a mage, he knew that invoking a deity during a spell sequence meant a Tier 10 or higher enchantment, requiring the cultivation of at least a Grand Magus. Any ordinary mage attempting such a spell would suffer a catastrophic magical backlash.

He could not believe Mo Han possessed the cultivation of a Grand Magus.

The magical elements in the air churned with increasing violence, and the sky above the wolf pack turned a deep crimson. Even the warriors like Kylie noticed the anomaly. The wolf pack hesitantly halted its assault. Mo Han’s face grew increasingly pale, sweat streaming down his brow, and his chanting accelerated, jumping to...