SLASH!
A dark blur flashed between them.
Oswald moved before Vivianne could even react.
His sword swept across the attacking beastman’s shoulder, knocking him sideways and sending him crashing into the dirt.
The beastman rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.
He snarled and tried to push himself up, but one arm hung uselessly at his side.
Oswald stepped between him and Vivianne as he raised his sword.
“Stay down.”
The beastman bared his fangs but made no attempt to attack again.
Oswald recognized the markings on his armor.
Balto Pack.
They were a rival pack from the neighboring village.
His grip tightened around the sword.
He could kill him, but that wasn’t what Oswald needed.
Several other Balto warriors had already been captured, and this one could be questioned later.
“Take him alive.”
Two Canavar warriors rushed forward.
The injured wolf resisted, but with one arm useless, he was quickly pinned down and dragged away to be restrained.
Only then did Oswald turn around and freeze.
“Vivianne.”
She stood several steps away, still clutching the little pup against her chest.
Blood soaked through the back of her clothes and dripped onto the ground beneath her.
Oswald’s gaze dropped to the blood soaking through Vivianne’s clothes, his expression hardening.
His eyes flicked from the wound to the trembling pup in her arms.
“Are you hurt badly?”
“I’m fine,” Vivianne replied quickly.
“Check the little girl first.”
Oswald’s gaze shifted to the pup.
The little girl was frightened but unharmed, and Vivianne finally loosened her hold.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she ran straight back to her mother and baby brother.
“Mommy!”
The beastwoman immediately pulled her daughter into her arms, holding both children tightly.
Her eyes then fell on the blood staining Vivianne’s clothes, and her expression filled with guilt.
“Lady Phoenix, I’m so sorry. You protected my daughter because of me.”
Vivianne shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad she’s safe.”
The beastwoman hugged her children tightly, tears still clinging to her lashes.
“Lady Phoenix… I don’t know how to repay you. You saved my children and brought me out of that wreckage. I can never thank you enough.”
She quickly gathered both children and hurried toward the evacuation route.
Oswald watched them leave before turning back to Vivianne.
His gaze dropped to the blood still running down her back, and his expression darkened.
“You threw yourself in front of a sword.”
Vivianne shrugged.
“She was going to get hurt.”
“You could have been killed.”
His jaw tightened.
Oswald was clearly annoyed by Vivianne’s reckless decision, but beneath it, he was relieved that she was still standing.
“Let me see your wound.”
Vivianne sighed and turned around.
Oswald carefully examined the deep cut across her back, his expression tightening.
The adrenaline was fading, and the pain was catching up with her.
Vivianne hovered her hand on her bleeding back and tried to use [Heal Lv. 1] but it barely did anything.
For one brief second, the pain eased.
But it didn’t stop the bleeding.
Apparently, her Healing was on the same level as her Fire.
Barely useful.
She sighed and reached into her inventory.
Apparently, she had to resort to the good old-fashioned method.
Vivianne reached into her inventory and pulled out three potion bottles.
“See? I’ll be fine.”
She drank them one after another.
The bleeding had slowed considerably.
It still hurt like hell, but at least Vivianne could breathe without feeling like someone had driven a knife into her back.
Oswald’s expression remained unconvinced.
“You’re staying here. Things are getting dangerous. You don’t need to help.”
His eyes narrowed.
Vivianne pointed toward the battlefield.
“I can’t just stand here when people are still in danger. It became my problem when that wolf from your rival pack tried to hurt a child in front of me.”
Before he could argue, a shout came from the eastern side of the village.
“Alpha! Three more!”
Oswald turned.
Three Balto warriors had broken through the line and were trying to escape toward the forest.
He cursed under his breath.
“Stay behind me.”
“I’ll help.”
“Vivianne—”
She was already moving.
Oswald was ready to argue, but instead tightened his grip on his sword.
“Fine. Stay close.”
They moved together.
Oswald blocked the first warrior’s swing and knocked his weapon away, allowing a Canavar warrior to capture him.
The second warrior suddenly broke away and sprinted toward the forest.
Vivianne raised her hand.
“Fire!”
A pathetic little flame flickered above her fingertip.
The warrior glanced back and scoffed.
He was clearly unimpressed.
“Hey!”
That was enough.
Oswald was already behind him.
THUD! Find the original chapter at g.com.
One powerful kick sent the second Balto warrior sprawling into the dirt.
Before he could recover, Oswald planted a foot between his shoulder blades and twisted his arm behind his back.
“Don’t move.”
The warrior struggled, but he couldn’t budge Oswald an inch.
Vivianne blinked.
So the Alpha title wasn’t just for decoration.
Oswald might be dumb as a brick sometimes, but he could actually get the job done.
“That was easier than expected.”
“Feel free to praise me.” He nodded toward the defeated warrior.
Vivianne stared at him.
“You’re ridiculous.”
A faint smirk crossed Oswald’s face before he turned back toward the battlefield.
“Still handled it.”
The third warrior lunged.
Vivianne stepped back, but Oswald was faster.
He caught the man’s wrist, twisted it behind his back, and forced him to his knees.
The remaining Balto warriors were restrained one after another.
Soon, the fighting around the village began to slow.
The captured attackers were dragged together near the village square.
Oswald stood before them, sword still in hand.
“Who ordered this attack?”
One of the captured wolves spat blood onto the ground.
“Your cowardly people attacked our Alpha last night.”
Oswald’s expression hardened.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know!”
The beastman struggled against the warriors holding him down.
“Our Alpha was ambushed by wolves wearing Canavar markings. They attacked him without warning!”
Oswald’s jaw tightened.
No one in Canavar would have dared attack Balto’s Alpha without his knowledge.
If such an order had been given, Oswald would have known.
“Your Alpha was attacked? Julian?”
“Yes! And your Alpha’s sister was with him,” the beastman snarled.
Oswald went completely still.
“Ophelia?”
“So she is your sister.”
“I haven’t seen her since last night.”
The Balto warrior gave a bitter laugh.
“You expect us to believe that? You used your own sister as a bait, didn’t you? I never thought the Canavar Alpha would sink so low.”
Another warrior stepped forward.
“Alpha Julian was ambushed by Canavar wolves last night. Your sister was there when it happened.”
Oswald’s expression turned frighteningly still.
“Where is my sister?”
The Balto warrior met his gaze without flinching.
“Balto pack took her. She is being held hostage for what your wolves did to Alpha Julian.”