Serena was moved by Summer and Spring's loyalty, but frustrated by their reckless bravery. Did they think they were Left Shore, able to charge through wind and rain? Rushing in now was only making things worse.
Serena shouted, "I said, forget about me and Feng Jin! Run for your lives, or none of us will make it out!" Survival comes first now.
"Miss..." Summer and Spring refused to leave, charging through the flames. Seeing them disobey, Serena exploded: "What good are you two here? Can you put out the fire or carry me and Feng Jin out? What are you doing by rushing in?"
Serena, furious and standing amid the flames, radiated authority. Summer and Spring were stunned, frozen in place.
"Idiots," Serena cursed, kicking the two as she rushed out. "If you don't leave, do you expect me to save you next?"
"We wouldn't dare," Summer and Spring quickly snapped out of it and followed Serena, just as Left Shore and his master charged into the fire: "Hurry, save them!" Left Shore grabbed Serena: "Hold onto the Snow Wolf, we're leaving."
"Snow Wolf, come here." In the fire, the Snow Wolf's fur was almost entirely singed. Its furious howl made it clear: once it got out, it would tear the arsonists apart.
Crack—just as Serena grabbed the Snow Wolf, Left Shore threw out his Tiger Claw Grappling Hook. Using its weight, he channeled his inner force and hauled Serena and the Snow Wolf upward.
Three people and a wolf flew out of the inferno, but before they could land safely, the arsonists spotted them: "They've escaped—fire arrows!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—flaming arrows shot toward Left Shore, the Snow Wolf, and Serena, but Serena bore the brunt of the assault.
"Serena!" Left Shore called out in worry, flicking his wrist to try and pull Serena and the Snow Wolf closer. But the wolf was just too heavy—Left Shore couldn't budge it at all.
"I'm not dying—don't worry about me." Another volley of arrows whistled overhead as Serena gritted her teeth, twisting painfully to shield Feng Jin behind her, making sure no stray arrow could hit him.
"Awoo... awoo..." The Snow Wolf, struck by an arrow, went wild with pain. Before Serena could say a word, it yanked the long shaft from its chest.
The arrowhead was barbed. When the Snow Wolf tore it out, it ripped open a blood vessel—blood sprayed everywhere.
"Awoo... awoo..." The Snow Wolf howled in agony, thrashing so hard it shook off Serena's grip and dropped straight down.
"Snow Wolf!" Serena shouted, but she and Left Shore were about to hit the ground. Even with all his skill, Left Shore couldn't turn back to rescue the wolf now.
"Awoo... awoo..." The Snow Wolf's panicked cries echoed through the night, drowning out the battle noise. Nolan arrived just in time to see the wolf falling.
"Stupid wolf," Nolan muttered, leaping through the air and landing on a flying arrow. In one smooth motion, he drew his flexible sword and whipped it toward the Snow Wolf, hooking its leg just as it was about to crash.
"At least it won't end up wolf paste," Serena gasped, collapsing to the ground and clutching her wound.
Tonight, they were all a mess—beaten and battered.
Thud—the Snow Wolf landed face-first in the dirt, mouth full of mud. Thanks to Nolan's quick move, the impact wasn't too bad, but its wound kept bleeding.
The Snow Wolf struggled up and licked its wound...
After Nolan saved the Snow Wolf, he barely had time to catch his breath before the black-clad attackers charged in. Archers kept firing cold arrows from the shadows, pinning Nolan down in brutal combat.
In the firelight, Nolan's silhouette darted up and down, flickering between light and shadow—impossible to see clearly. But wherever he flashed by, blood sprayed.
At that moment, Master Graves and Left Shore rushed out with Summer and Spring. With Serena acting as a shield, Summer and Spring avoided most of the attacks—only Spring's foot was grazed by an arrow, but she could still walk.
"Miss, you're hurt?" Spring and Summer scrambled over, half crawling, to reach Serena. Seeing her covered in blood, both felt a wave of guilt.
"Yeah—help me get Feng Jin down." The wound was on her chest, so Serena didn't dare move. Summer and Spring quickly circled behind her and lifted Feng Jin out.
Feng Jin's little face was flushed from smoke, his eyes red from crying. As soon as he saw Serena, he opened his mouth and croaked, "Sister, I'm scared... Hold me, please..."
He was just a little kid—even if clever, something like this would terrify him. Serena wanted to comfort Feng Jin, but with her injury, she really couldn't hold him.
"Feng Jin, be good and let Spring hold you for now. I'm bleeding—I'll hug you later." Serena pointed to her wound, and Feng Jin immediately stopped crying, staring anxiously at her. "Does it hurt? I'll blow on it for you."
"I'm fine, Feng Jin—be good and don't cry." Serena stroked his face, then pointed to a dead-angle corner. "Help me over there."
Sitting out in the open made them easy targets. It was smarter to hide in a blind spot and just watch the front.
Serena drew her gun, and with Summer's help, moved toward the corner. Any enemy who dared approach was dropped with a single bullet.
With Master Graves and Left Shore joining the fight, Nolan's pressure eased, and the black-clad attackers started to falter, unable to match Nolan's group.
"Retreat!" Seeing things go south, the black-clad men pulled back, but not before shooting a murderous glare at Serena's position, clearly itching to launch one last attack before leaving.
That alone proved these attackers weren't after Feng Jin—they were here for Serena.
Hmph... In the darkness, Serena let out a cold laugh, raising her gun and taking aim. The moment they stepped into range, she'd fire without hesitation.