Tenebrous Wolf
Chapter 85: Launching Attack Operation

Chapter 85: Launching Attack Operation

Hearing the signal, Adrian immediately sprang into action.

With a sound reminiscent of a church bell and a fierce gust of wind, he manipulated the air currents around his body and propelled himself forward like a bullet. It was an incredible sight. The blonde moved like a rock skipping across a stormy sea, with each burst of wind carrying him faster, blurring the space between him and his target.

In a fraction of a second, Adrian had already reached the nearest Nightmare Carapace. Before the unsuspecting creature could respond, he angled his spear and drove it forward with the force of his momentum. The impact sent a deafening crack through the labyrinth as his weapon collided with the creature’s armored hide, pushing it back several paces.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t enough to pierce through.

Clicked his tongue, Adrian flipped backward, using the recoil of his failed strike to land on his feet. The Nightmare Carapace screeched and it swiped at him with a scythe-like claw.

He barely dodged and let the blade whistled past his head, carving deep into the stone wall behind him. Splinters and debris exploded outward, but Adrian had no time to acknowledge them as he was already on the move again.

The moment the assailant began retreating, the Nightmare Carapaces became enraged. Without wasting even a single second, they lunged after him.

This was the opening they had been waiting for.

"Now!"

At Klaus’s command, he, Seraphim, and the Blackmane Stalker burst from their hiding spots. The only one who remained concealed was Briar, still lurking in the shadows.

Her mysticism ability, [Mind Control], allowed her to manipulate minds, but beyond that, she lacked any significant physical prowess. In a direct fight, she would be nearly useless. However, when it came to indirect combat and strategic support, the situation was entirely different.

Simultaneously, the three leaped out from their hiding spot and cut off the remaining Nightmare Carapaces, maneuvering around them while allowing only two to break away and pursue the blonde Strider down a solitary path.

Within the small clearing, the Nightmare Carapaces glared at them. The Striders along with Stalker addressed the gaze with a glare of their own.

And then, it happened.

Perhaps growing impatient, one of the Nightmare Carapaces screeched. With an evil glint in its bioluminescent slits, it rushed forward to attack.

At that moment, the other two Nightmare Carapaces screeched and joined the assault.

The first one charged directly at Seraphim, while the second locked onto Klaus. Of course, he was already prepared for this inevitable clash.

Entering a stance with his readied obsidian gaunlets, he waited for the creature to enter his range.

Finally, the wretched creature lunged forward, slicing its scythe-like limb through the air with terrifying speed.

Klaus swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc, then leaned back just in time to evade the rushing monster. Seizing the opening, he surged forward and confidently closed the distance in a few steps before delivering a devastating blow into its abdomen.

A tremendous impact echoed.

He felt the satisfying crunch beneath his gauntlets as the Nightmare Carapace recoiled, screeching in pain. Its spindly limbs scraped against the stone floor as it staggered backward.

But it wasn’t done.

With unnatural agility, the creature twisted its body mid-fall, regaining its balance faster than expected. A second later, its other scythe-like limb lashed out, a wicked counterstrike aimed straight for Klaus’s torso.

His instincts screamed at him to move. He ducked low, feeling the blade whistle past his head, cutting the air so close that a few strands of his hair were severed. In a single breath, he spun on his heel, using the momentum to drive another punch into the beast’s side. The strike landed with a sickening thud, sending the creature skidding sideways.

Before he could press the attack, a shriek from behind caught his attention.

Seraphim.

She was locked in combat with her own opponent, the beast’s bladed limbs slashing relentlessly. Seraphim danced between the strikes with fluid grace as she used her elegant, longsword to parry and counter. Seizing an opportunity created by evading a bone-crushing blow, her silver blade flashed across the air.

With a squelch, the sword carved into a weak point in the creature’s cracked abdomen, drawing blackish blood.

Of course, the small wound was too insignificant to slow the monster down. Twisting with surprising agility, it delivered a crushing downward swipe. Seraphim barely managed to deflect the blow with her sword, dispersing most of the impact. But even so, the force was enough to throw her off balance.

At that moment, the second scythe came in a vicious sideways slash.

With no time to dodge completely, Seraphim dragged her body low, rolling out of the way and putting distance between herself and the monster before regaining her stance. Then, she pounced again.

A few clashes was enough to let Klaus know that this wouldn’t end soon at this rate. They had planned for this separate and overwhelm strategy to give them an advantage but the Nightmare Carapaces were proving more resilient than they expected.

Shifting his gaze, he noticed the Blackmane Stalker had already finished off one of the creatures. Judging by the gruesome wounds and exposed entrails, it had been beaten to death.

Klaus wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or horrified.

The hammering of fists continued, further crushing the already slain creature.

’Huh? Why is it still beating it when it’s already dead?

Slightly puzzled, he managed to regain his composure, then shouted:

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Stop punching that damn thing and go over there!"

Hearing the barked order, the humanoid Stalker ceased its assault on the crushed carcass and sprinted toward Seraphim’s opponent. With a thunderous impact, the humanoid ghoul slammed its muscular fist into the creature’s exoskeleton. The impact staggered the beast, giving Seraphim just enough time to disengage and reposition herself.

Meanwhile, Klaus’s opponent had recovered, its slits glowing with renewed rage. With a screech, it lunged at him again, scythes raised for a downward strike.

Klaus didn’t move.

Instead, he braced himself with his arms raised. The instant the creature’s blades descended, he crossed his gauntlets, catching the blow in a shower of sparks. The force sent tremors through his arms, but he held firm, gritting his teeth against the pressure.

Then, with a roar, he gathered his strength and wrenched the creature’s arms apart, creating an opening. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he surged forth and slammed his fists into the beast’s thorax. The Carapace shrieked and convulsed from the impact.

This time, Klaus didn’t let up.

He drove his fists into the creature over and over again, targeting its ribs, joints, vulnerable underbelly, with each blow reverberating through the small clearing. The Nightmare Carapace thrashed wildly, but the force of his strikes kept it staggered, unable to retaliate.

Finally, with one last, earth-shaking punch, Klaus crushed the creature’s abdomen, sending it crashing into the stone wall. Its exoskeleton shattered and ichor gushed out from fresh fractures. It twitched before going limp.

’Is it finally dead?’

As though to answer his question, the Chaos voice echoed inside his ear:

[You have slain an awakened ghoul, Nightmarish Carapace.]

[... Your treachery knows no bounds.]

Was that late part really needed? He wondered. In any case,

"Hah... hah... That’s one down..."

Breathing heavily, Klaus turned, scanning the battlefield.

While the Stalker kept the Carapace’s attention, Seraphim circled around and leaped onto its back. Then, using her full body weight, she thrusted downward.

A breath later, the silver blade penetrated into the back of the creature’s head, piercing through the chitin and allowing the tip of the sword to stabbed further until the brain was crushed.

The monster shuddered, and then heavily fell to the ground.

At the same time, Seraphim was thrown off its back and landed on the mud with a calculated roll.

With that, the last monstrosity had fallen.

The battlefield immediately fell silent with the only sounds left being the ragged breathing of the Striders and the occasional drip of ichor pooling beneath the fallen Carapaces.

Seraphim pushed herself up, wiping a streak of black blood from her cheek as she took in the carnage. She flicked her blade to rid it of the remaining filth before dismissing the sword.

Klaus let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders to shake off the lingering ache in his arms.

Then, he approached Seraphim.

"Wassup. Any injuries?"

She shook her head.

"I’m fine. What about you?"

Klaus scratched his head.

"I’m fine apart from my hand throbbing a little. Those guys are really one tough bastards. I had to punch one multiple times before it stopped moving."

Seraphim glanced at Klaus, then at the fallen Carapace he had slain.

"I see. You took one down on your own."

He shrugged.

"It was already injured. I just aimed for the weak spots, that’s all."

Even so, it was impressive, no matter how much he tried to downplay it. Unlike his battle with the Demonic Purgatory, this time, he had managed to defeat an Awakened Hollow by himself.

Granted, this one was far weaker than the Demonic Purgatory.

But still... it was an Awakened creature.

"..."

Seraphim offered a faint smile so subtle that Klaus almost thought he had imagined it. Seeing that rare expression, he awkwardly scratched his cheek.

What was he even supposed to say in a situation like this? And why did her vibe feel so... off?

Shaking off the thought, he turned his attention to the Blackmane Stalker, which stood over the corpse of Seraphim’s kill. It tilted its head slightly, as if debating whether to continue pummeling the monster which had already descended into Hell.

"Don’t you dare."

Klaus warned, and the creature huffed before backing away.

At that moment, Briar finally came out from her hiding spot and glanced around. Then, she said:

"Is it finally over?"

Klaus glanced at her with a breath.

"Yeah. It’s over."

Briar sighed in relief and tucked a loose strand of brunette (false) hair behind her ear.

"Good. I was getting sick of hiding anyways."

She surveyed the battlefield, her nose scrunching slightly at the ichor pooling around the fallen Carapaces.

"Gross."

Klaus snorted.

"Could’ve been worse. You could’ve been the one punching them to death like our friend here."

He gestured toward the Blackmane Stalker, which now stood idly, its glowing eyes flicking between them as if waiting for further orders.

Briar frowned as though looking at some strange cat.

"Yeah, no thanks. I’ll stick to messing with their minds."

A few seconds later, she suddenly wore the expression of someone who had remembered something. Looking around, her brows furrowed as she asked:

"Where is Adrian?"

Ah, right?

Klaus’s eyes widened.

"He lured two Nightmarish Carapaces away into some lonely pathway. Actually, that is concerning. We should go and check up on him."

The moment he said that, a familiar voice answered.

"No. That wouldn’t be necessary."