Chapter 136 - Wolf Pack

"Someone from the Ignius Family will also come to lead you all for this mission. Some of you might even know her..." Princess Michelle had a mysterious smile on her face as he looked at the mercenaries.

All of the hired mercenaries were shocked after they heard the princess' words. How could they not know the Ignius Family? Their patriarch, Shutra Ignius was one of the four dukes of the empire. 

He was one of the empire's strongest experts and his strength had long since reached an unfathomable level. Even outside the empire, his name was known by many.

Everyone then heard calm and steady footsteps from behind them. They turned around and instinctively glance at the woman who was coming towards them. After seeing her face, everyone except Cale sucked in a deep breath of cold air. Even the arrogant Ciprus had a look of disbelief after seeing her. 

She was a woman with long blonde hair that reached her waist. She was wearing a white and gold knight's armor which glistened with elegance and beauty. Her facial features were peerless beyond comparison, and she looked heroic with the knight armor she wore.

She bowed her head at Princess Michelle as a sign of respect before reverting back to her usual cold look.

The mercenaries were speechlessly looking at the woman. They did not even dare look at her for more than a second before looking elsewhere.

Cale was surprised at this since the arrogant Ciprus also did the same. Just who was this woman and how come she brought this kind of reaction from the mercenaries? Cale curiously stared at her and unconsciously nodded his head in admiration.

'She is indeed beautiful, and her beauty is on the same level as Nocturna's and Zarinvienne's.' Cale thought after getting a much clearer look at the newcomer.

Cale did not need to wait for long to know her identity. Princess Michelle rushed towards the valiant woman with a sweet smile on her face. The veil she was wearing swayed gently as she ran towards the woman excitedly.

"This is Seira Ignius, the fourth rank mercenary in the Adamantine leaderboard." Princess Michelle calmed herself down as she introduced the woman to everyone.

As a fourth rank mercenary, she was also an Immortal-Class level fighter. She was on the verge of breaking through towards the mid stage of the Immortal-Class level. She was known as the strongest genius of the Ignius Family.

You don't need to introduce her to us, your highness. How could we not know her? Everyone in the Mercenary Guild knows her. 

That was everyone's thoughts after hearing Princess Michelle's introduction. 

Princess Michelle then discussed with everyone about the details of the mission and also the reward after they come back with the Holy Nourishing Crystal. After telling them that, she then left with her other subordinates.

An awkward silence followed after the princess' disappearance. Cale furrowed his brows at the sudden quietness. He was not here to waste his time, and his goal for coming here was to set off for the mission.

"Young miss Seira, we should leave now and not waste our time standing here. Every moment that passes also means the worsening of the emperor's condition..." Cale solemnly looked at the silent Seira. 

The latter's eyes flashed for a brief moment before she nodded her head at Cale in affirmation. She then gazed at Ciprus who was the strongest in the party after her. 

"You, lead the way." Her enchanting voice was like a calm wind that caressed everyone's ears. They did not dare show any discontent at her command. 

This woman was very strong. She was also the only daughter of Shutra Ignius, thus he cared much about her.

There was even one noble that took liberties with her, but the noble suddenly disappeared out of thin air. And it was not the first time that it happened. Thus, all of them were very afraid of this woman.

Ciprus smiled unknowingly after being chosen by Seira. He was also looking at the others with a smugly. He was very honored for being chosen by Seira to lead the party. The disdainful look in his eyes was evident, making everyone else wish to beat him up.

The group started their journey, albeit with a strange and awkward atmosphere.

* * *

Three days later, a group of mercenaries was surrounded by a pack of savage wolves. There were several hundred wolves in total and some of them were even at the Saint-Class level. 

The mercenaries glanced solemnly at the wolf pack while holding their weapons tightly in their hands.

The wolves bared their fangs while glaring at the mercenaries with their savage eyes.

One wolf suddenly pounced on a mercenary, but it was swiftly taken out by Ciprus. The mercenary thanked Ciprus for saving him.

The wolves were enraged after seeing one of their own died. They then charged towards the mercenaries and attacked them from all sides.

Cale took out his huge heavy sword and brandished it towards the incoming wolves. His casual strike killed five wolves, slashing their bodies in half.  

Ciprus swung his gigantic hammer and pounded one savage wolf into meat paste. His actions caused the surrounding wolves to be even angrier. The wolves' eyes were bloodshot and their attacks became even crazier. Some of the mercenaries were scratched, but luckily none of them received fatal injuries.

Ciprus swung his giant hammer around like a battle god. All the wolves that came near him wear smashed into meat paste. Even the mercenaries did dare come closer to him, lest they might be killed accidentally.

Seira confronted the high-level wolves among the pack. She wielded her short sword gracefully. Every slash of her sword meant the death of multiple wolves.

She suddenly felt a sharp killing intent at her side. She unconsciously swung her short sword at the side which was met by a menacing sharp claw. 

An enraged alpha wolf slashed its sharp claws towards the beautiful face of Seira at breakneck speed.

She calmly evaded the alpha wolf's attack while slashing it her shortsword. 

The wolf retreated agilely while glaring at Seira. The human was actually strong enough to fight on equal terms with it. This surprised the wolf greatly.

On the other hand, Seira was also surprised at the alpha wolf's strength. She became even more careful about her actions.

This was truly one of Shura's forbidden regions. They haven't even reached the entrance of the cave yet, but they have already encountered a wolf pack with an Immortal-Class level alpha wolf.

Cale glanced at his party. All of them were having a hard time facing countless wolves in every direction.

"Everyone, stick together! Don't divide yourselves or you will be easy opponents for these wolves!" 

Everyone heard the loud and commanding tone which made them unconsciously follow the order.

The mercenaries clustered together with their backs against each other. 

"Ranged fighters, stay inside the formation! Melee fighters, protect them!" Cale issued another command. 

With the new formation, the mercenaries were able to preserve their strength since they only needed to guard their front, while their backs were being guarded by their comrades and vice versa.

Ciprus refused to follow the command after seeing that it was Cale who shouted the order. He remained on his spot while wildly swinging his giant hammer.

His elemental essence was hurriedly depleting, but he refused to follow Cale's commands.

"Who do you think you are to command me, Ciprus?! Die you shitty wolves!" Ciprus shouted a battle cry. A huge amount of elemental essence surged out of his body. 

Every step from him left a deep footprint on the ground. 

The wolves snarled at him, but they did not dare attack. They have seen the strength of this human who looked like an uncouth barbarian. 

Ciprus was breathing heavily while glaring at the wolves who dared not come near him. 

"If you won't attack me, then let me do the attacking!"

He jumped and lifted his giant hammer in midair. He then smashed it towards a group of wolves.

The attack caused a loud booming sound. Spiderweb-like cracks emerged on the ground. The epicenter of the attack also had a huge crater, while the wolves that Ciprus attacked were nowhere to be seen. They were thoroughly decimated by his giant hammer. 

Cale smirked at this high-profile display of strength. It was very reckless and wasteful to use this kind of tactic. If it was a one on one fight, then it might effectively scare the opponent, but against hundreds of hungry savage wolves, that kind of action was plainly stupid.

His giant hammer was already very exhausting to wield, plus with his wasteful usage of elemental essence. It won't be long before his elemental essence to be depleted. 

'Don't blame me for not warning you. How did a foolish man like you even become an Adamantine-Rank mercenary?' Cale laughed coldly in his heart. 

Asteria has already told him about the killing intent that this man secretly held for him. After knowing that, Cale became more hostile towards Ciprus.