Chapter 19 : Iron-Blade Wolf

Transcendent beasts were exponentially deadlier than ordinary ones—regular adventurers couldn’t handle them.

Thus, upon learning of the Ironblade Wolf’s rampage, the Saint Ro Empire’s army joined the Holy Land’s Holy Knights for the subjugation.

The plan: infiltrate the lair, observe, wait for it to leave, set traps, ambush.

But en route to the lair—the wolf struck first.

“Awooo—!!”

A chilling howl shook the earth; trees trembled. Sophie felt it in her bones.

A colossal beast leaped from the forest, landing before the expedition.

A wolf larger than an elephant—gray fur glinting like blades under sunlight.

“Mages—attack!” the commander bellowed.

Mages raised staves, chanting rapidly. Fireballs, wind blades, lightning spears fired in unison—first strike.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The wolf staggered back.

All thought the barrage wounded it—until smoke cleared: only a few hairs broken.

Worse—the attacks enraged it. Dark purple aura seeped from its body, turning sinister.

Spines chilled.

“Abyss taint!”

The Holy Knight captain raised shield and greatsword, pointing at the wolf.

A transcendent beast was already nightmarish—abyss-corrupted?

No holding back—or everyone died.

“Holy Knights—formation!”

Under the captain, knights formed an ironclad wall, shields locked before the wolf.

“ROAR!!”

The frenzied wolf charged, slamming the shield line.

Knights held—no collapse. But abyss aura corroded armor and shields.

Some knights buckled under the taint—faces twisted in agony, vision blood-red, madness rising: urges to swing at comrades…

“Lady Sophie—purify the abyss!” the commander pleaded.

“On it!”

Sophie clasped her golden crucifix, praying fervently.

Golden holy power surged from her, arcing skyward into a massive light pillar, bathing the front line.

Holy force clashed with abyss—purple writhed in gold, sizzling like water on hot oil, slowly dissolving.

“It’s working—Lady Sophie purged it!” the captain rejoiced.

Tainted knights cleared eyes, regained sanity.

Morale soared.

“Lady Sophie—hold a little longer!!”

“Urgh…”

Sweat beaded on Sophie’s brow.

This abyss aura was wrong—willful, resisting, even counter-corroding.

Draining her holy power and spirit fast.

But she had to hold—if it spread, all was lost.

Battle raged.

Knights tanked frontally, mages supported from rear, empire soldiers flanked under orders—wolf caught in crossfire.

Relentless assaults wore it down—fur cracked, wounds multiplied, collapse near.

“All units—final push! We’re almost there!!” the commander ordered.

Knights and soldiers surged.

“AWOOO!!!”

The wolf’s eyes blazed crimson. It roared, air quaking—fur exploded like shrapnel.

“AAAAH!!”

Blade-like hairs pierced armor and shields—screams everywhere.

The frenzied wolf shattered the shield wall, tearing a gap.

“Damn it—so close!!” the captain roared, legs crushed, helpless as the beast charged the rear.

“Can’t… hold…”

Sophie hit her limit—golden aura flickered out. She dropped to one knee, drenched in sweat.

A foul, bloody wind hit—abyss cage trapped her.

Empire soldiers tried to shield the saintess candidate—all swatted aside.

Sophie looked up—heart nearly stopping.

The giant wolf loomed, claw raised high, eclipsing the sun.

I’m… dead?

Despair surged.

Always rear support—no direct combat means.

Melee range—certain death.

Swish.

Just before the fatal claw— a flung sword landed beside her.

She glanced at the empire soldier’s weapon—red pupils constricted.

Sword?

Fear ebbed like tide. Her rigid body moved on instinct—fluid, practiced.

She seized the blade.

The instant steel touched skin—familiarity flooded. Every cell boiled, cheered, awakening from long slumber.

The red-haired girl, who’d never held a sword, swung with arm and body as if rehearsed a million times—perfect arc, hurled at the beast inches away.

The wolf froze—sword buried in its chest. It toppled like a statue, pierced through, blood pooling.

Battle over.

No cheers—eerie silence.

All stared, breathless, at the red-haired girl.

Her lethal sword-throw clashed violently with the gentle saintess image—unacceptable contrast.

“Lady… Sophie?” the captain murmured, disbelief thick.

“Huh?”

Sophie blinked, snapping back. She stared at the corpse, red eyes blank.

“I… killed it… with a sword?”