They were surrounded by a pack of wolves.
The wolves approached them silently, stopping five meters away. If not for those eerie green eyes, Serena and Prince Nolan wouldn’t have noticed them.
That’s the worst thing about the Miasma Forest: you can’t see people or things at a distance. Unless danger comes right up to you, you won’t notice it at all.
"Come here," Prince Nolan beckoned to Serena.
Facing the wolf pack, it was safer for them to stick together—especially since Serena’s combat ability was, frankly, weak.
Even Doudou stopped joking at this point, his face mottled red and blue as he watched the wolves warily, his little arms covered in goosebumps. "Isn’t this the Miasma Forest? Why are there wolves here?"
"Why wouldn’t there be wolves? The miasma is just toxic gas produced by decaying plants and animals. Getting poisoned by it doesn’t kill you instantly. These wolves have probably lived here long enough to get used to it," Serena said, tossing her backpack to the ground and pulling out a small tranquilizer gun.
She’d tweaked the tranquilizer gun for longer range and higher dosage. It should work pretty well on animals.
As someone whose combat value was basically zero, Serena had to arm herself as best she could. No firearms, so cold weapons would have to do. Swords and knives were practical, but she could barely use them—she was just glad not to hurt herself.
Awooo... The wolf pack grew impatient. Before the trio could get into position, the wolves started advancing.
Their paws landed noiselessly on the soft ground, and with the dim light and their gray fur, they seemed to blend right into the miasma.
All the trio could see were those eerie green eyes flickering—like ghostly flames drifting through the gloom.
Huff... huff... The wolves looked famished, spitting and drooling as they eyed the trio from a distance.
To these wolves, the three of them were the perfect meal.
"Doudou, protect Serena," Prince Nolan said, gripping his sword, his fingers twitching in anticipation.
That gesture meant he was about to strike!
"Got it." Doudou had barely answered when Prince Nolan flashed forward like lightning, lunging straight at the biggest head wolf.
At the same moment, the head wolf spotted Prince Nolan’s move. With a howl, it raised its hind legs and pounced.
Awooo—
Man and wolf collided mid-air, sharp claws clashing with a gleaming sword, sparks flying. The head wolf let out a low growl, and the others, seeing this, charged at Prince Nolan and Serena.
"Awoo!"
It was the signal to attack. The head wolf missed its first strike, landed hard, and instantly five tall, gaunt wolves lunged at Prince Nolan.
At the same time, the rest of the wolves charged at Doudou and Serena.
These wolves seemed almost intelligent—the strongest head wolf led five big wolves against Prince Nolan, while the remaining ten split up: six surrounded Doudou, four went for Serena.
"Serena, get behind me!" Doudou’s sword tangled with three wolves in front, while three more attacked from the sides and behind—he was beset on all fronts.
"No need—I can protect myself. Watch out!" As the wolves lunged at her, Serena calmly pressed the trigger of her tranquilizer gun.
Thwip—The tranquilizer dart hit the wolf right between the eyes. The beast flinched, its attack slowing.
"Now’s my chance." Serena didn’t have time to be afraid. She raised her dagger and lunged, stabbing the wolf in the throat.
Hit by the tranquilizer, the wolf didn’t collapse right away, but its movements slowed. As it opened its jaws to bite, Serena finished it off.
Serena didn’t pause. She yanked her dagger free, spun around, and braced herself against the dead wolf’s body, firing the tranquilizer gun again. She spotted another wolf, using its companion’s help to leap at her.
Serena bent backward in a flash, her whole back pressed against the dead wolf.
The wolf launched itself too high and too hard to stop. As Serena dropped backward, it soared right over her, its claws snagging her clothes.
As the wolf flew past her face, Serena’s heart pounded wildly.
Holy hell... That was terrifying. Wolf drool even dripped on her—its jaws nearly swallowed her whole.
"Good thing I’m still young and flexible, or my poor waist would’ve snapped." Serena twisted upright, nearly wrenching her back, and before she could steady herself, two more wolves attacked from left and right.
"Are you kidding me, Heaven?" Serena cursed, her survival instincts kicking in. She gripped her dagger in her right hand, tranquilizer gun in her left, and backpedaled, trying to press against the wolf behind her while firing at the one in front.
Thwip—As the dart hit the wolf in front, Serena’s dagger slashed another. She barely caught her breath before the wolf she’d knocked back lunged at her again.
Damn it, this is just torture. Serena truly wanted to cry—she was alone and couldn’t handle all the wolves. Another lunged for her, and she had no way out.
What do I do? What do I do? Serena wanted to run, but the two wolves beside her gave her no chance, trapping her in a dead end.
Am I really going to die in a wolf’s jaws?
This is just too cruel.
Serena truly wanted to cry. Just as she was at a loss, a dark figure suddenly rushed over, hooked her waist, and flung her upward.
"Out."
Serena was thrown into the air, landing outside the battle circle.
Crack... Prince Nolan’s sword blocked the wolf’s fangs, but he could hold off one, not two or five.
As Prince Nolan saved Serena, the wolves attacking him also pounced.
"Careful!" Serena fell, only to see a wolf successfully leap onto Prince Nolan’s back.
"No—" Tears welled in Serena’s eyes. Not thinking, she scrambled up, grabbed the fallen tranquilizer gun, and rushed back into the fight.
Ugh... The wolf bit deep into Prince Nolan’s shoulder, refusing to let go.
Prince Nolan grunted, spun around, grabbed the wolf’s head, and slammed it to the ground. With a thud, he killed it outright.
"Don’t come closer." Prince Nolan had no time to treat his own wound and hurriedly stopped Serena from approaching.
"I won’t." Seeing that Prince Nolan was only bitten, Serena quickly stopped.
The wolves charged at Prince Nolan again, and he had no choice but to plunge back into battle.
Prince Nolan and Doudou were skilled fighters, but these wolves were relentless. More than ten wolves attacked from all sides—no matter how strong you were, you’d suffer. And these wolves, starving, were even fiercer.
Prince Nolan was wounded, and with several wolves dead, the thick smell of blood drove the pack into a frenzy—their fighting power surged again.