Chapter 129: Out-of-Control Beast Tide

Outside the eastern gate of the Royal City, Wang Yu and Edward stood among a crowd of "hunters" who were rubbing their hands in anticipation, eager to make a fortune from the first wave of the late-winter frost wolf migration. They watched as an unnatural blizzard formed above the distant forest.

"No matter how long I stay in this world, I am still amazed by its wonders," Wang Yu mused to himself. Who could have imagined that the magical beasts of this world would trigger such a meteorological spectacle through the resonance of their mana crystals during migration?

"The frost wolves will soon pour out in full force. Guided by their alpha, they will disperse evenly in all directions to ensure the population finds suitable habitats across a wider territory."

Edward explained the nature of the frost wolf tide. He had traded his heavy, formidable armor from his family’s estate for a set of fine leather gear similar to Wang Yu’s—sufficient for dealing with a beast tide that was not inherently destructive.

This allowed Wang Yu, who already looked like a passerby, to stand alongside the dashing Edward and blend seamlessly into the ranks of hunters preparing for the winter harvest, without appearing the least bit out of place.

"Are you very familiar with these frost wolves?" Wang Yu noticed that Edward seemed well-versed in their habits, clearly pointing out their weaknesses and characteristics.

"After all, frost wolves are native to the North. The wolves in this forest outside the Royal City must have migrated from the North long ago, taking many years to grow to their current scale."

"In the North, there is truly nothing but barbarians on the snowfields. Every adult, even every child, is a natural hunter. Frost wolves are among our most basic prey; they aren't particularly formidable creatures there, and they are one of the few beasts least likely to turn the tables on a hunter."

As if struck by a thought, Edward added, "It is the same for both lords and commoners."

Wang Yu observed Edward’s expression with his ripple-sense; there was a hint of nostalgia. Clearly, he was very familiar with this form of hunting, whether as a lord or a commoner.

After being fleeced by the merchants who had brought supplies in by carriage, the hunters scattered. The frost wolves would spread in all directions, and gathering in one spot would only lead to infighting over the spoils.

The strength of Wang Yu and Edward was well above average among this motley crew of hunters. Even standing apart, they could easily handle a frost wolf pack larger than the typical size.

Edward glanced at the forest’s orientation, his past memories aligning with the terrain. With a mental map formed, he led Wang Yu toward one side of the woods.

The snow was deep, but it posed no obstacle to them. A simple coating of battle aura prevented the snow from collapsing under their weight, leaving barely a trace of footprints as they stopped at what appeared to be a cliff.

Approaching it, Wang Yu realized that what looked like a cliff was actually a narrow, gorge-like passage formed by two stone walls, extending deep into the forest. It was, indeed, an excellent spot for a hunt.

"The pack is heading in all directions, but this narrow path is the only exit nearby. They will come through here, which will be a great help to us." Edward smiled and drew a bow from behind his back. Wang Yu had assumed it was part of his gear, never expecting Edward to actually know how to use it.

Seeing Wang Yu staring at the bow, Edward maintained his smile. "I was a decent hunter back in the North. Shooting a few arrows is no problem. This passage only allows two wolves to pass side-by-side; shoot one, and the other will struggle to maneuver. Remember not to use too much force—these pelts are quite valuable."

Edward acted like an expert, and Wang Yu could only nod. If he didn't know something, he didn't know it; he would leave the guidance to a master like Edward.

"Awoo!" The howl of the alpha wolf rang out, followed by the echoing cries of pack leaders from all directions. The blizzard above the forest split into multiple currents, beginning to disperse.

Edward nocked an arrow, crouching in the snow to aim at the narrow gap between the stone walls. Wang Yu didn't draw a blade, standing slightly ahead of Edward. Since they wanted to keep the pelts intact, he would use his bare hands. His combat effectiveness was essentially the same regardless.

One of the smaller blizzards drifted toward their position. As it entered the narrow gorge, the swirling winds were obstructed by the stone walls and dissipated before Wang Yu could even see the wolves.

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. Had Edward accounted for this too? A professional indeed. This allowed Edward to use his bow freely without worrying about the wind deflecting his arrows.

Soon, a mass of white wolf shadows entered Wang Yu’s field of vision, sprinting toward them through the narrow passage.

Wide, glowing eyes, snarling maws filled with sharp teeth, and saliva spraying from their jaws—they looked incredibly ferocious.

"This is what Edward called the 'not-so-dangerous' frost wolves of the North? This seems excessively savage. Are the people of the North really that tough?"

Wang Yu was surprised to see that these wolves were a size larger than the black wolves that had attacked him when he first arrived. Their presence was not something to be taken lightly.

"Something is wrong..." Wang Yu heard Edward whisper with a hint of confusion, though his movements remained swift. "Twang!" The bowstring hummed with immense power, and a standard iron-tipped arrow whistled past Wang Yu, flying toward the pack at high speed.

"Thwack!" With a sharp, dull sound, the arrow easily pierced the skull of the lead wolf.

The next moment, the frost wolf collapsed, spraying blood. Its falling body tripped the wolf behind it, sending it tumbling into the stone walls.

"Nice shot." Wang Yu gave Edward a mental thumbs-up. His marksmanship was indeed impressive, landing a precise headshot through the narrow gap from such a distance.

"Hm?" Before Wang Yu could step forward to intercept the pack—intending to kill a few himself so Edward could finish off more—the scene before him made him frown.

"What is going on...?" The corpse of the first wolf and the second one, which had slammed into the wall with a bloody head, did nothing to hinder the pack.

The wolves behind ran frantically, leaping over their fallen companions. Because the path was so narrow and the wolves behind were so desperate, they collided in the air and on the ground, struggling madly to push forward.

Before the front of the pack could emerge, the rear was already pressing in, using the wolves trapped in front as stepping stones to climb over.

In the chaos, wolves fell from the high pile, crashing to the ground and breaking bones. Yet, even with shattered limbs, they refused to stop, writhing as they tried to crawl forward.

"Thud!" Before the crippled wolf could crawl far, a second wolf fell from the pile above, slamming into it. The second wolf, cushioned by the first, suffered no injury and immediately leaped up to charge out of the passage.

The wolf that had been crushed died instantly, but its purpose was not yet served. More wolves fell from the pile, using its corpse as a cushion to continue their mad dash, their bloodshot eyes locked onto Wang Yu and Edward.

"Wang Yu, something is wrong. These frost wolves shouldn't be like this. Their primary goal is migration, not combat. They are targeting us. I don't know what's happening, but be careful!"

Edward’s tone was grave. The scene before them was far too different from what he knew of frost wolves. Could these crazed, bloodthirsty creatures really be frost wolves?

"Yeah, these guys have gone insane." Wang Yu looked at the wolves that had first blocked the path, forming a pile; they were already suffocating and dying under the weight of those climbing over them.

Yet the others ignored them, stepping on their bodies to charge at Wang Yu and Edward.

They were not in a normal state. Wang Yu could tell at a glance that such madness could not exist in the natural world. A race that self-destructed with such disregard for their own survival would be extinct without the reproductive capacity of demons—and frost wolves possessed no such ability.

The leading wolves burst out of the passage, jaws wide, charging at Wang Yu. Their sharp teeth and claws were stained with the crimson blood of their kin, looking hideous and fierce.

"Swish!" An arrow pierced the air, drilling through the forehead of an approaching wolf. It died instantly, its body tumbling across the snow and hitting a nearby tree trunk.

Edward narrowed his eyes, drawing his bow rapidly. He displayed precise marksmanship, firing steady, powerful shots that sent wolf after wolf into the embrace of death.

But it did little to hinder them; it only reduced their numbers. These wolves, which should have realized their opponents were a lethal threat, showed no fear at the death of their companions, digging their claws into the snow and rushing toward Wang Yu at top speed.

"Bang!" Wang Yu’s iron fist met the first wolf. His armored gauntlet smashed into the skull of the creature as it lunged, shattering its crown instantly. Even without using his blood-burning technique, Wang Yu’s physical strength was formidable.

The wolf was sent flying back with as much force as it had charged. These wolves were much stronger than the goblins Wang Yu had encountered on his way to the city, and their numbers were overwhelming, but Wang Yu was no longer the man he had been then.

He threw a punch, striking a wolf mid-leap as it aimed for his throat. A heavy right hook shattered one of its eyes, sending it flying from the socket.

With a swift kick, he connected with the throat of another wolf, turning its windpipe into something as soft as a noodle, sending the carcass soaring into the sky.

The frenzied pack roared, closing in on Wang Yu. Their numbers were growing. Edward’s rapid-fire shots cleared the pack, but he struggled to keep Wang Yu from being swarmed.

Three wolves launched a coordinated assault from three directions. Their madness had not erased their cunning hunting instincts; the methods to kill powerful prey were etched into the bloodline of these snowfield hunters.

Edward did not provide support, focusing instead on thinning the distant pack.

"Clang!" The teeth of two wolves biting down on Wang Yu’s arm-guards rang out like metal on metal. They refused to let go, trying to pin his arms.

The third wolf leaped, biting firmly onto Wang Yu’s neck. The pincer attack was lethal, but an invisible barrier had already manifested around his throat, conforming to the shape of the fangs and trapping the wolf in place.

"Bang!" With a burst of strength, Wang Yu slammed the wolves biting his arms into the ground. With the sound of crunching bones, they died instantly upon impact.

He then grabbed the head of the wolf pinned to his barrier and twisted sharply, snapping its neck 360 degrees before dropping the carcass.

Looking toward the passage, a massive number of wolves were still pouring out. Edward had cleared the immediate area, so...

"Dealing with large numbers really requires a mage." Wang Yu channeled his mental energy into the Weaver’s Grimoire, activating an overload and consuming half his mana crystals to empower his next two spells.

Spirit of the Rolling Stone! Earth-Vein Avalanche!

Massive saw-wheels of earth and stone tore through the passage, turning all biological matter into pulp, while the stone walls on either side began to vibrate and collapse inward under the weight of his second spell.

...

Watching the collapsing walls bury the remaining wolves, Wang Yu turned his attention to the surroundings.

Explosions and screams echoed from all directions. There was no doubt that they were not facing an isolated incident; the entire beast tide had spiraled out of control.

"Wang Yu, are you there? There is a major problem with the beast tide. Many have died. Please, go and check it out."

The communication crystal carried Shugin’s voice, sounding grave.

"Coincidentally, Edward and I are outside the city. These frost wolves have gone mad. I don't know what happened, but at this time..."

"Yes, investigate as much as you can. The Professor is heading out of the city. Be careful. And that wretched Charles—I can't reach him no matter how I try. Is he with you?"

"No."

"Very well, take care."

"Mm."

Wang Yu could not fathom why this beast tide had undergone such a drastic shift, yet the timing of this occurrence compelled a state of heightened vigilance.

And then there was Xia Er; where on earth had that fellow vanished to? It was inconceivable that even Shugyin could not track him down.

"Wang Yu... look out, it is the pack leader." Edward’s voice severed the thread of Wang Yu’s thoughts.

Atop the rubble of the collapsed cliff face, a winter wolf of immense proportions, wreathed in frost and as massive as a bull, charged toward them at breakneck speed, its eyes burning with a bloodlust indistinguishable from that of the common pack.