The night was like a curtain, and Flaming Stone Village was immersed in the embrace of darkness. The light of the campfire was like a dying star, flickering with a faint but unquenchable glow. The wolf pack surrounded the village, their eyes as sharp as knives, guarding the remaining living beings. Kale stood at the entrance of the village, gazing into the depths of the night. The hostility lurking in the darkness was gradually approaching.
Azure Claw let out a low growl, and the wolves around immediately tensed their muscles, all looking towards the forest boundary in the distance. The shadows of the withered trees were stretched long under the moonlight, like lurking monsters waiting for the right moment.
"They're coming..." Kale squinted his eyes slightly, and the long knife in his hand reflected a cold light. He felt the oppressive feeling in the air, and an ominous aura swept over like a tide.
These were not ordinary wolves, but beings eroded by darkness. They had lost their reason and only obeyed the call of darkness. Like messengers of death, wherever they went, there was only destruction.
Kale took a deep breath to calm the turmoil in his heart. He looked back at the village behind him. The surviving villagers had already taken refuge in the south under the leadership of Alan and the woman. Here, only he and the wolf pack remained to defend it.
"We won't back down."
Azure Claw raised its head and let out a long howl. A fierce wolf howl pierced the sky and echoed through the valley. The wolf pack quickly dispersed and crouched silently around, waiting for the prey to approach like statues.
Kale stroked the back of Azure Claw and felt the surging power in its body. "If we can hold our ground here tonight, there may still be hope for Flaming Stone Village."
——
In the depths of the forest, there were more and more eyes in the darkness, and the low growls intertwined, as if countless pairs of eyes were spying on the village.
Suddenly, a figure quietly flashed across the night. A beast larger than an ordinary black wolf appeared among the tree shadows and slowly stepped out of the darkness.
Kale's eyes froze. That black wolf was clearly different from the others. Its fur flowed like black flames, and its red eyes seemed to be able to pierce through the soul.
"The Black Wolf King..." Kale murmured in a low voice and tightened his grip on the long knife.
The Black Wolf King walked forward slowly, followed by a group of huge black wolves. They growled in a low voice, exuding an irresistible murderous intent, and approached the village silently.
Azure Claw let out a warning roar, and Kale's wolf pack quickly gathered, forming a semi-circular formation to block the entrance of the village. The two sides confronted each other, and the air seemed to freeze.
Kale didn't act rashly. He locked his gaze on the Black Wolf King and slowly said, "You don't
belong to the darkness. Leave here. We don't want to be your enemy."
The Black Wolf King let out a low growl, and its sharp fangs glinted coldly in the moonlight, as if responding to Kale: The darkness has swallowed everything, and there is no way back.
Kale frowned. He knew that words could no longer quell this inevitable battle.
"If that's the case..." Kale slowly raised the long knife, and the blade reflected the light in the eyes of the wolf pack. "Then let's decide with our strength."
——
The battle erupted in an instant.
With a wild howl from the Black Wolf King, the black wolves surged forward like a tide. The wolf pack immediately charged forward to meet them. The two sides fought and bit each other at the entrance of the village. The light of knives and the claws intertwined, and sparks flew.
Kale held the long knife and fought side by side with Azure Claw. Every swing of the knife took the life of a black wolf. The black wolves were extremely fast and their attacks were fierce, but Kale's reaction was even better. His movements were as swift as the wind, and every strike was accurate.
However, there were too many black wolves. Despite the fierce resistance of the wolf pack, the tide-like offensive of the black wolves still gradually pressed forward.
Kale panted, and the long knife was stained with blood. He raised his eyes and saw that Azure Claw had several wounds on its body, and the number of the wolf pack was also decreasing sharply.
The Black Wolf King stood in the distance and watched the battle coldly, as if waiting for the moment when Kale was exhausted to defeat him in one fell swoop.
Kale tightened his grip on the handle of the knife, but there was no trace of retreat in his heart.
He knew very well that this battle was not only related to Flaming Stone Village but also to the survival of the entire southern region.
"Even if I burn out my life, I won't take a step back."
Kale took a deep breath, and his blood seemed to be burning. A strange and powerful force quietly awakened. A faint golden light slightly appeared in his pupils, and the bloodline of the wolf clan in his body was reviving.
Azure Claw noticed the change in Kale, raised its head and let out a long howl. The morale of the wolf pack was greatly boosted, and they launched a counterattack against the black wolves again.
Kale held the long knife tightly and walked slowly towards the Black Wolf King.
The eyes of the Black Wolf King changed slightly, and it let out a low growl and charged forward. The two sides collided in the center of the village, setting off a cloud of dust and firelight.
At the moment when the blade and the claws crossed, the entire Flaming Stone Village seemed to be shrouded in moonlight, and time stood still at this moment.
——
The morning sunlight spilled on Flaming Stone Village. The wolf pack was scattered among the ruins, and the bodies of the black wolves lay on the ground. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and blood.
Kale leaned against a tree, holding the unconscious Azure Claw in his arms. His face was full of fatigue and scars. The body of the Black Wolf King lay not far away, and its red eyes had long lost their luster.
Flaming Stone Village had been defended.
Kale looked down at Azure Claw in his arms, gently stroked its fur, and said in a low voice, "You did a great job."
The wolf pack surrounded him and let out low whimpers, as if celebrating the victory and mourning the lost companions.
The sun rose, the darkness dissipated, and Flaming Stone Village welcomed the light again.
Kale slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
At this moment, he knew that the real battle had just begun.