"You don’t have to worry about me. I’m in this fight just as much as the rest of you are," Eren said.
"Now, let’s focus on the incoming threat and forget about my weapon."
He gave the utility knife one final glance before turning his attention to the approaching monsters.
Everyone nodded and proceeded to their assigned positions.
Darius and Roland took their places at the opening in the stakes wall, positioning themselves to prevent the monsters from entering. Kael stood beside them, his sword ready for battle. Nearby, Hela remained still, her hand already gripping the hilt of her sword.
Elias and Lyra positioned themselves at opposite ends of the stakes wall facing the entrance, giving them clear views of the direction from which the monsters were expected to approach.
Rowan had stepped beyond the defensive perimeter to observe the approaching danger from a distance. Fortunately, the markings around their traps had helped him avoid triggering any of them himself.
Eren stood between the archers. Although they were some distance apart, all three were positioned along roughly the same horizontal line.
Not far behind him stood Vaelzara and Elena. Elena wore a cold expression, while Vaelzara stood with her arms folded across her chest.
They maintained a considerable distance from each other, making their mutual hostility obvious.
However, that was the least of their Master’s concerns at the moment. His attention was entirely focused on whatever was coming their way.
"My Lord! Over there!"
Rowan’s voice rang out as he pointed into the distance.
From where they stood, they could see gray dust rising into the air as the approaching creatures disturbed the ash-covered ground. A moment later, the monsters themselves came into view, charging toward their small territory.
"All right, everyone!" Eren began. "The enemies are here, and we all know what we have to do."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"We fight! We defend our home against anything that threatens it. We face them head-on without fear and do whatever it takes to live another day."
His expression turned serious.
"No matter what happens, follow my commands and make sure you don’t get yourselves killed."
"Understood, my Lord!" they all responded.
Eren turned toward Hela, who remained calm as she waited for the monsters to approach. He could already see her tightening her grip on her sword, a clear indication that she was preparing to make her move.
Whether she would follow his commands once the fighting began was another matter entirely.
After considering the situation for a moment, Eren made his decision.
"Hela!" he called.
"Master." She immediately turned toward him.
"Change of plans. I want you to step back and join Vaelzara and Elena."
"Master..." Hela frowned. "I need to stay here with them. I need to defend this place. I’m the only one who can do it better than anyone else here."
"I know, but I’ve already made my decision. I need you to join them immediately."
Hela’s expression grew even more displeased, but Eren remained firm.
Despite her objections, she eventually obeyed and stepped away from the entrance.
Eren then turned toward the three Calamities.
"I want all three of you to stay back. No matter what happens, don’t interfere in this fight."
He barely had time to acknowledge their displeased expressions before adding firmly, "That’s an order."
Rowan returned behind the defensive barrier, and everyone waited for the monsters to reach them.
Unfortunately, they didn’t have much time to prepare themselves before the pack arrived.
Eren watched the wolves charge toward the trapped areas, a confident smirk appearing on his face as he waited for their preparations to pay off.
But then...
Just as the first few wolves reached the traps, they suddenly leaped into the air, clearing the concealed pits with ease.
The second wolf did the same.
Then the third.
One after another, the creatures jumped over the traps, leaving everyone staring in disbelief.
"What the...?" Eren’s eyes widened.
Before he could process what had happened, the interface appeared before him.
[SETTLEMENT ALERT!]
[A pack of monsters is attacking the settlement’s shelter zone.]
[Monster Name: Ashfang Wolves.]
[Rank: Tier 1–3.]
[Quantity: 11.]
Eren barely paid attention to the notification. He was already looking at the eleven monsters charging toward his territory. There was little point in reading information about an attack when the attackers were practically standing before him.
"Since they’re smart enough to identify our traps, we’ll have to deal with them directly!" he shouted. "There are still eleven of them approaching us. That doesn’t mean we’re going to lose! Let’s fight and slaughter them!"
The Ashfang Wolves reached the stakes wall and immediately attempted to leap over it.
That was when the battle began.
Several wolves rushed toward the entrance, but Darius and Roland held their positions, preventing them from breaking through.
Kael wasted no time joining the fight.
SLASH!
SLASH!
With two swift strikes, he brought down an Ashfang Wolf.
SLASH!
SLASH!
SLASH!
Within seconds, another wolf lay lifeless on the ground, its neck nearly severed.
[Tier 1 Ashfang Wolf killed. +10 EXP gained.]
Eren’s attention was fixed on the other approaching monsters when the notifications appeared in his mind.
"Err...?"
His first thought was to wonder how he had suddenly received kill notifications when he was still standing there with his utility knife.
He turned toward the entrance and saw Kael standing beside two lifeless Ashfang Wolves.
Does that mean I’m receiving the experience from their kills?
Before he could think further, the remaining wolves reached the stakes wall.
Eren immediately turned toward the archers.
"Archers!"
Elias and Lyra sprang into action, releasing their arrows at the approaching monsters.
Their aim wasn’t particularly precise, and their attacks weren’t always lethal. However, their continued shots forced the wolves to slow down, and a few well-placed arrows eventually brought one of the creatures down.
As F-Rank spirits, they weren’t particularly powerful, but Eren hadn’t expected them to be perfect fighters. What mattered was that they were contributing to the battle.
Their survival depended on it.
[Tier 1 Ashfang Wolf killed. +10 EXP gained.]
[Tier 2 Ashfang Wolf killed. +15 EXP gained.]
[Tier 1 Ashfang Wolf killed. +10 EXP gained.]
[Tier 2 Ashfang Wolf killed. +15 EXP gained.]
As the Ashfang Wolves fell, Eren received one notification after another. He watched his experience points increase with every kill.
[Tier 1 Ashfang Wolf killed. +10 EXP gained.]
[Tier 2 Ashfang Wolf killed. +15 EXP gained.]
[Tier 2 Ashfang Wolf killed. +15 EXP gained.]
[Tier 1 Ashfang Wolf killed. +10 EXP gained.]
’It’s actually true... I’m getting the EXP!’ Eren shouted inwardly, completely dazed.
Who would have thought that he could steal his spirits’ EXPs???
By the time the archers had finished their work, ten Ashfang Wolves had been killed.
Only one remained.
Throughout the battle, that final wolf had stayed behind the others, watching from a distance rather than rushing toward the defensive wall.
Now that the rest of its pack had fallen, it finally decided to make its move.
THUD!
The creature charged forward and launched itself over the stakes wall, landing inside the territory with tremendous force.
Unlike the other wolves, this one was enormous.
Its muscular body was covered in thick, charcoal-black fur, with glowing crimson markings running along its shoulders and flanks. Its broad head was lined with sharp, yellowed fangs, while its burning red eyes carried a ferocity that made the other wolves seem insignificant by comparison.
Its claws dug into the ash-covered ground as it slowly raised its head.
A deep growl escaped its throat.
Eren immediately realized that this creature was different from the others.
Before anyone could react, the wolf lunged toward the nearest defender.
Darius hurried forward, raising his shield to block the attack.
BANG!
The impact sent him stumbling backward.
Roland rushed to support him, but the wolf struck again, forcing both shield fighters to struggle just to keep it from breaking through.
Kael moved in from the side, swinging his sword at the creature’s flank.
CLANG!
His blade struck the wolf but failed to penetrate its thick hide.
The creature turned toward him with a furious growl, forcing Kael to retreat before its jaws could reach him.
Eren stared at the scene in disbelief.
What the hell is this thing?
The wolf was clearly stronger than the others. Its movements were faster, its body more powerful, and even Kael’s sword had barely managed to hurt it.
"Everyone, be careful!" Eren shouted.
The creature suddenly changed direction and charged straight toward him.
Eren barely had time to react before throwing himself aside.
The wolf rushed past him, its claws tearing through the ground. It immediately turned around and lunged again.
Eren tried to retreat, but the creature was too fast.
Its massive body slammed into him, sending him crashing to the ground.
His utility knife slipped from his hand and landed several feet away.
At that point, Vaelzara and the rest of the summons immediately tried to intervene, but Eren raised his hand and stopped them.
It was a gesture signifying "I’ve got this."
And with hesitation, they did step back and watched their Master do it alone, their hearts on their hands.
Before Eren could recover, the wolf turned toward him, its jaws opening wide.
Eren’s heart nearly stopped.
He scrambled backward, barely avoiding its snapping jaws. The creature lunged again, forcing him to roll across the ash-covered ground.
His body ached from the impact, and he could feel his strength slipping away.
’Damn it!’ New chapters come out on g.com first.
He had known the Dominion Expanse was dangerous, but facing a monster like this with nothing but a utility knife was a different matter entirely.
The wolf advanced toward him, its red eyes fixed on its prey.
Eren quickly got to his feet and ran toward the fallen knife.
He reached it just as the wolf charged again.
Turning around, he raised the small blade instinctively. The wolf struck him before he could move out of the way.
Eren staggered backward, barely maintaining his balance. The impact nearly forced the knife from his hand, but he tightened his grip and refused to let go.
He couldn’t afford to lose his only weapon.
The creature circled him, watching his every movement.
Eren swallowed hard.
He knew he couldn’t win a contest of strength. The wolf was larger, faster, and far more powerful than he was.
If he wanted to survive, he would have to find another way.
The wolf lunged.
Eren dodged at the last possible moment, feeling its claws brush against his clothes.
He stumbled, but before the creature could turn around, he slashed at its side with the utility knife.
The blade left a shallow wound.
The wolf roared and swung its head toward him.
Eren barely managed to retreat before its jaws snapped shut.
He was breathing heavily now. His arms trembled, and his grip on the knife was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, he refused to give up.
The wolf charged once more.
This time, Eren noticed that one of its legs was slightly slower than the others. It had sustained an injury while breaking through the stakes wall, and although the wound hadn’t stopped it, the creature was struggling to change direction as quickly as before.
That’s it!
Eren waited until the wolf was close before moving aside.
The creature attempted to turn toward him, but its injured leg faltered.
Taking advantage of the opening, Eren lunged forward and drove the utility knife into the wound.
The wolf howled in pain.
Its body twisted violently, sending Eren stumbling backward. He nearly lost his grip on the knife but managed to hold on.
The creature was furious now.
It charged at him again, moving with enough force to shake the ground beneath its feet.
Eren dodged, but the wolf’s shoulder struck him and sent him crashing onto the ash-covered ground.
Pain spread through his body.
For a moment, he couldn’t move.
The wolf approached, preparing to deliver the final blow.
Eren looked at the small knife in his hand.
He was exhausted, injured, and terrified.
But he wasn’t ready to die.
As the wolf lunged, Eren rolled aside and narrowly escaped its jaws. The creature’s momentum carried it forward, exposing its injured side once more.
Eren seized the opportunity.
With the last of his strength, he rushed forward and drove the utility knife into the vulnerable area beneath the wolf’s jaw.
The creature roared, thrashing violently as Eren struggled to maintain his grip.
He pushed the blade deeper.
The wolf staggered, its movements becoming increasingly unsteady. It tried to turn toward him, but its strength was failing.
Eren gritted his teeth and forced the knife farther into the wound.
Finally, the enormous creature collapsed onto the ground.
Its body twitched once before becoming completely still.
For several seconds, Eren remained frozen, staring at the fallen monster.
Then a notification appeared before his eyes.
[Tier 3 Ashfang Wolf killed. +20 EXP gained.]
[You have leveled up!]
[Level: 2.]
Eren stared at the notification before slowly looking down at the bloodstained knife in his hand.
His entire body was aching, and his breathing was still heavy. He could hardly believe that he was alive, much less that he had actually managed to kill the creature.
He turned toward the others.
Every one of his summons was staring at him.
Darius, Roland, and Kael stood in stunned silence. Elias and Lyra had lowered their bows, while Rowan looked at Eren as though he had just witnessed something impossible.
Even Vaelzara, Elena, and Hela appeared amazed by what they had seen.
None of them had expected their Master to defeat such a powerful monster with a mere utility knife.
Eren looked at the fallen Ashfang Wolf, then at his exhausted companions.
A tired smile spread across his face.
"We won."