The wolf noticed Lionel. Its red eyes shifted away from the nobles and locked onto him. It let out a deep snarl and changed its direction, claws digging into the dirt as it charged straight at him.

"Lionel!" someone shouted.

Lionel felt his heart slam against his chest, but he did not stop. He tightened his grip on the sword and raised it slightly.

"Rufus!" Lionel shouted without looking back. "Shoot your arrows! I’ll draw its attention!"

Rufus froze for a split second, then nodded hard. "Alright!"

The wolf roared and leaped.

Lionel pulled his reins sharply, turning his horse just enough to avoid the bite. The wolf’s jaws snapped shut where his leg had been moments ago. Hot breath brushed past him.

"Too close," Lionel muttered.

The wolf landed heavily and spun around fast. It was not limping now. It moved like it had forgotten its wound.

An arrow flew past Lionel’s shoulder.

Thud.

It struck the wolf’s side. The beast howled and stumbled, but it did not fall. Instead, it turned its rage toward Lionel even more.

"Good," Lionel said under his breath. "Look at me."

He kicked his horse again and rushed forward. The wolf charged back, meeting him halfway. Lionel leaned down and slashed.

His blade cut across the wolf’s shoulder. Dark blood spilled onto the ground.

The wolf screamed and slammed into the horse’s side. The impact sent Lionel flying off that he hit the ground really hard.

Pain shot through his back, but he rolled away just as the wolf snapped at him again. Its teeth bit into dirt instead.

"Lionel!" Rufus shouted.

"I’m fine!" Lionel yelled back, even though his chest burned with pain.

Another arrow flew. This one hit the wolf’s neck, but not deep enough.

The wolf lunged again.

Lionel raised his sword and blocked its claws. The force nearly knocked the weapon from his hand. He gritted his teeth and pushed back, then stabbed forward with all his strength.

The sword pierced deep into the wolf’s chest that it made him froe.

"..."

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then the wolf let out a weak growl and collapsed onto the ground, its body twitching before going still.

Lionel stood there, breathing heavily. His hands shook as he pulled his sword free.

"It’s dead..." someone whispered.

[Ding!]

[New Mission Alert!]

[Objective: Eliminate corrupted monsters.]

[Progress: 1/5]

[Reward: +1 stat point | Light of Purification]

[Light of Purification: A sacred ability that allows the user to cleanse darkness from beasts to turn them back into normal.]

"A mission...?" Lionel frowned.

His eyes moved from the wolf in front of him, whose body had turned to ash now. Just then, he tightened his grip on his sword. He still has to kill more for this mission.

"Lionel!" Rufus shouted again. "More are coming!"

"I know," Lionel’s eyes quickly rose to the other wolves, launching to them. The 4 seemed to become more vicious with the death of the first wolf.

He turned his horse and looked at the nobles nearby. They were still pale and shaking.

"You can’t just stay there." Lionel looked at them firmly.

"Right... we can’t just hide," one noble said through clenched teeth. "The knights are bleeding out there. We have to help them like Lionel."

"Yes!" Another nodded. "We can help them. Even if it’s just for our arrows like Rufus!"

"Yep, that’s right!"

"Cover the knights!" someone yelled.

"Back them up!"

Because of it, the nobles had grown more courageous. They picked up their bows and arrows. They calmed their hands, and with steadier breathing now, they were able to shoot arrows.

The knight’s eyes widened because of it. A small smile appeared on everyone’s faces. They finally have a better chance of succeeding!

Arrows flew once more in the air. At the same time, knights pushed forward.

"Good," Lionel muttered. He leaned forward and kicked his horse into motion again.

"One down," he said under his breath. "Four more to go to complete this mission." He whisphered to himself.

When Rufus saw that Lionel was about to run, he quickly kicked his horse too. "I’ll go after you, Lionel!" Rufus muttered.

"Alright," With his sword raised and eyes locked on the next monster, Lionel charged back into the chaos, more determined than ever.

The wind rushed past his ears as the sounds of battle grew louder. The knights and the wolves continued to clash. Each side had its own wounds.

"Stay close," Lionel said quickly.

"I’m right behind you," Rufus answered. He lowered his bow and drew his sword instead.

One of the wolves turned toward them. Its mouth was stained black with blood, and its chest rose and fell rapidly. The monster had already killed a knight, making it more bloodthirsty.

When it saw Lionel, it bared its teeth and charged.

"Here it comes," Rufus warned, but Lionel did not slow down.

At the last second, he pulled his reins and swung his sword sideways. The blade sliced across the wolf’s snout. The beast screamed and veered off, crashing into the dirt.

Rufus rushed in right after him. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Attack it now!" Lionel shouted.

Rufus also swung his sword. He slashed down, cutting deep into the wolf’s side. The wolf thrashed and tried to bite him, but Lionel was already there to save him. He stabbed downward, pinning the wolf to the ground.

Arrows rained on them, hitting the wolf’s body.

*Thud

*Thud

*Thud

The wolf’s body twitched, then went still. After a second, its body turned to ash.

[Progress: 2/5]

"Next one," he said with a smile on his face.

Lionel turned to the side and saw that there was another wolf fighting three knights nearby. One knight was on the ground, barely holding up his shield as the monster clawed at him.

"Rufus, help the knights!" Lionel ordered.

"I will," Rufus ran without hesitation.

Lionel also went in the other direction. His eyes were locked onto another wolf that had slipped past the knights. It was heading straight for the nobles who were shooting arrows from behind.

"Hey!" Lionel shouted. "Over here!"

The wolf’s ears twitched. It stopped for a brief moment, then slowly turned its head toward him. Its red eyes narrowed.

Good. He has the wolf’s attention now.

The wolf growled and changed direction. It lowered its body and ran straight at Lionel, faster than the others.

Lionel urged his horse forward. The distance between them was closed in seconds.

The wolf leaped, and Lionel ducked low and swung upward. His sword cut into the wolf’s belly. Blood splashed onto the grass, raining on everything. The wolf crashed down and rolled, but it did not die. It twisted its body and snapped at Lionel’s leg.

"Shit," Lionel muttered.

He kicked his horse away just in time. The wolf’s teeth missed him just by inches.

Behind him, nobles screamed as they watched.

"Lionel!"

"Shoot it!" someone cried.

"Help Lionel!"

Just like that, arrows flew in his direction once again. One struck the wolf’s back. Another hit its shoulder. A few knights also rushed to help him. The wolf howled in pain and rage, its movements becoming wild and messy from all the attacks.

Despite it, Lionel saw an opening.

He made his horse run faster and drove his sword down with all his strength.

The blade pierced the wolf’s neck.

The wolf let out a final, broken sound before collapsing on the ground. Its body twitched, then slowly crumbled into ash.

Lionel breathed out hard.

That’s already three.

He lifted his head and looked back at the nobles. They were staring at him in shock.