Chapter 119: All-Out Assault

[China — Leo Garcia——]

On the fourth morning since arriving at the headquarters of "Suzaku," the news came out of nowhere.

A crow-sized summon creature had burst into the communications lodge, and a "Suzaku" member rushed in, flustered.

"Sir Wang! We found it! The Leader!!"

The room instantly tightened with tension.

"Are you sure?"

"According to the one who examined it, the level difference is off the charts."

Wang seemed unsure, but immediately ordered the members to prepare for extermination.

"Sir, if Greys is there, he should be able to confirm whether that thing is really the Leader."

"Understood."

Twenty "Suzaku" members and all the Sanctuary Knights set off toward the mountainous region of Sichuan, where the Leader had been sighted.

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Leo and the others were heading deeper into the mountains of Sichuan. It was a five-hour drive.

Chinese monsters emerged from mountainous and forested regions, then moved toward populated city centers.

In that sense, it was convenient that our "Suzaku" base was right in the middle between mountainous terrain and densely populated urban areas.

"Sir! Send Freyja ahead. Carlo, I'm counting on you."

Carlo, seated in the back seat, raised his right hand awkwardly, cramped in the car.

"Here we go, Freyja."

"Got it! Leave it to me!"

"Summon——"

A light magic circle unfolded in the sky, and from within it emerged a single flying dragon. Freyja leapt from the car window onto the roof, then launched herself onto the gliding dragon.

Carlo opened another magic circle.

Out of it, a white bird appeared—then flew off with the dragon Freyja was riding.

"This should report back the situation on the ground."

Leo looked confident he’d win this battle. But I don’t…

Memories of fighting the “Leader” in China resurfaced. That enemy—so fast even Gojo struggled.

Can we really beat this alone?

Uneasy, the car drew closer to the destination.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

Scanning the ground from above. The “Leader” was reported around here… then, a clear anomaly in the forest.

A swarm moving, kicking up dust.

"Rinto, get closer!"

I’d named the dragon. Haven’t called out its name since leaving the Sanctuary Knights—didn’t expect to ride it again. But it felt good to have my old partner back.

Rinto descended toward the dust-raising swarm—

"Wait… wolves?"

A massive wolf led hundreds more, moving as a pack. Is that the “Leader”? Wang said it was lion-like…

‘Found it?’

A voice came from the white bird flying just beside me. Carlo’s summon—our link to the others.

"Found it. They’re heading toward where everyone’s coming from. I’ll guide them—set up an ambush, get ready to fight."

‘Got it. I’ll tell everyone.’

Alright then. If we don’t mess up, the odds are in our favor.

"Let’s go! Rinto!"

Rinto responded to my call, gliding straight toward the “Leader” wolf at the front of the pack.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

We took position in the open space between the mountains. If Freyja brings back the "Leader" we found, we’ve got the advantage of our prepared setup.

I thought we had a little time… turns out, that wasn’t the case.

"Sir! They're already here. Faster than expected!"

Freyja’s silhouette is visible in the sky. Huh… this could be trouble. Before I can think it through, Wang gives orders to the squad.

"Everyone, take your positions! No slack now!!"

Hundreds of wolves, but only one matters—the one at the front, the "Leader." I signal to Rinto.

Rinto responds with a magic arrow aimed straight at the lead wolf.

The arrow flies true—just as it seems to hit—

the wolf dodges by a hair’s breadth and charges straight at us.

"Radiant Meteor (Radious Meitia)!!"

Freyja’s beam of light pierces dozens of wolves, but the rest evade. Evading an attack at light speed…? Guess we’re just gonna have to brace for chaos.

I slash the "Leader" wolf aside with a gust of wind.

Freyja lands beside me from the flying dragon. We face the "Leader" wolf together.

Just like the plan—me, Wang, and Freyja take on the "Leader." The rest of the hundreds of wolves will be handled by the "Suzaku" members and Carlo’s crew…

"Greys! How’s it look?"

"Yep, no mistake, Sir! Level 2962. The 'Leader.' Species: Hunger Wolf 'Fenrir.' Fast. Unnaturally fast."

The "Leader," Fenrir, the Hunger Wolf, slowly stepped forward, beginning to walk. In the instant I thought it was approaching—there it was, right beside me.

"Kukk!"

I slashed upward with my sword from below, but it was already gone.

One moment near Wang, the next dodging Wang’s attack with ease, raking its claws across the back, then calmly walking away as if nothing had happened.

"Kuuhh—!"

Freyja closed the distance in a flash with her light-step technique, lunging in with a slash—again, barely dodged by a hair’s breadth.

No matter how fast it was, it couldn’t possibly dodge Freyja’s light-speed slash *after* seeing it. It was already moving, already dodging—before she even started.

"Wang, this guy’s tougher than I thought. Did Gojo really beat something like this?"

"Gojo defeated a 'Leader' faster than this. I couldn’t even perceive its existence... So compared to that, this one’s still manageable."

Gojo really took down something like that... Yeah, I’m seeing it now—Gojo’s absurd strength all over again.

Carlo’s crew are fighting the wolf pack, but there are too many. The wolf creatures aren’t strong in attack or stamina, but their speed is insane.

The Suzaku members can’t land a single hit—just getting more and more wounded.

This isn’t gonna work. The only one keeping up with Fenrir’s speed is Freyja... but she’s already breathing hard.

Fenrir instantly closed the gap and lunged. I poured magic into my blade, unleashing multiple wind slashes.

One struck—cutting clean off its right front paw.

"Got it! Now it can’t move fast anymore."

I thought that, but Fenrir slowly approached the dead wolf’s corpse. What’s it doing? The corpse dissolved into meat chunks, being absorbed into Fenrir’s right leg.

In just a few seconds, the severed right leg was whole again.

"Wait… no way…?"

This was hopeless. Did it really have a recovery method like that…? I can’t turn the tide unless I take this thing down.

Retreating now? Impossible. What do I do…?

When Freyja stepped back, a wolf lunged from her blind spot and sank its teeth into her right leg.

Caught completely off guard, Freyja flinched for a split second—and Fenrir pounced.

"Shit!"

I instinctively stepped in front of her.

Fenrir’s claw tore deep into my left shoulder. I’d rushed in without thinking—got hit harder than I expected.

Freyja slashed the wolf biting her leg with her sword and dashed toward me.

"Are you okay, Leo?!"

"Yeah… I’m fine… but…"

I looked around. Surrounded by wolves. More were coming from all directions.

Wang and the other “Suzaku” members were exhausted.

I’d underestimated Chinese monsters… we’re done for if we keep going like this. I stared at my left hand, barely moving.

I could use Healing Magic—but I’m not good at it. It’ll take time to heal this wound.

Freyja can’t dodge Fenrir’s attacks with that injured leg.

Wang’s pinned down by multiple wolves, unable to move. Fenrir crept closer, inch by inch.

I gripped my sword, ready for the next strike.

I’m ready to counterattack the moment he lunges—just waiting there—then Fenrir doesn’t charge straight at me. Instead, he feints, leaps sideways, and comes at me from the flank.

I couldn’t keep up with the motion… bracing for a fatal blow.

"Gaah!?"

Fenrir suddenly jerked backward, as if he’d noticed something. What the—?...Then I notice the blood dripping from Fenrir’s feet.

Hurt? Why? We didn’t do anything!

The moment I thought that—

The explosion echoes. I glance around, stunned—those wolves who’d been dominating the fight are now one after another detonating, flying apart in bursts of fire.

"Yowch!"

"Gugaa!?"

Dozens of wolves howled, writhing in agony before finally dying. Before I even understood what was happening, the tide had turned.

What’s wrong?

Wang looked at me, puzzled. But I don’t know either… I was just thinking why when I felt a presence and looked up at the sky.

Five dragonflies circled in the sky above, tracing perfect loops.

"Like I said, right? If we're coming from Bangkok, there's nowhere else this could be."

...yeah, it was real... unbelievable...

When I looked up, two children were standing in front of Fenrir.

A boy with two silver guns in his hands.

The other was a girl holding a staff as tall as she was. Why was a kid here? Didn’t make sense at all.

I'll handle the guidance—just leave the rest to you, Emily.

Noah Schmidt

Sage Lv99

[Profession Skill]

Forbidden Library Rank SSS Title: Master of Knowledge

...Yeah, I'll do my best... Noah.

Emily Simon

Demon King Lv99

[Occupational Skill]

Dark Blessing Rank SSS Title: Caller of the Abyss