Chapter 217: The Alpha’s Decision

The standoff between the Alpha and the members of the cohort was surprising and amusing, to say the least.

It was surprising because the group was actually facing a single wolf with the same seriousness they would use when confronting an overwhelming adversary. And it was amusing because, despite their seriousness, the wolf in question simply continued watching them as though they were some sort of curiosity.

The battlefield between them was a wreck.

What had once been a stretch of forest ground was now barely recognizable. The earth had been churned into a chaotic mixture of soil, roots, shattered branches, and countless footprints, with deep furrows carved into the ground wherever claws had dragged across the earth or bodies had been thrown against it. Patches of grass that had once covered the forest floor had been trampled into the mud, while several sections of the ground had been completely stripped bare.

Furthermore, blood was everywhere.

It stained the soil in dark, irregular patches and soaked into the earth wherever the fighting had been most intense. Some places were almost black from the sheer amount of blood that had accumulated there, while other areas were marked by long crimson streaks left behind by wounded wolves as they had struggled, lunged, and fallen.

Moreover, fur was also scattered across the battlefield in clumps.

Some of it belonged to the wolves that had been torn apart by the group’s attacks, while other patches remained caught beneath broken branches or embedded in the churned soil. Pieces of flesh were likewise scattered throughout the area, some partially buried beneath the dirt while others remained exposed upon the surface.

The metallic scent of blood lingered heavily in the air.

There were also countless signs of the Impulses and Essence Runes that had been unleashed throughout the battle. Trees had been scarred by claws, their bark ripped apart in long strips. Several branches had been shattered completely, while others hung loosely from their trunks. Portions of the forest floor had been scorched by Vaelorin’s attacks, leaving behind blackened patches of earth and remnants of ash.

There were places where the ground had been smashed inward by the impact of powerful attacks, while other sections were littered with broken weapons of nature—splintered branches, uprooted roots, and pieces of bark torn from trees.

It was, in every sense of the word, a battlefield; a place where countless creatures had fought, bled, and died.

Clearly, if anyone were to witness the place at that moment, they would immediately recognize it as the site where a horrific battle had once taken place.

Meanwhile, as the group continued their face-off with a wolf that had single-handedly outclassed the rest of its pack, Aelric was still eating fruits where he sat on the branch of a tree.

The green-eyed youth had been following the battle from the beginning, and honestly, the rate at which the group fought was enough to tell him everything he needed to know about their progress.

Since he had decided to use this battle as a criterion for evaluating their readiness for the perilous journey to the Sanctuary, Aelric was able to evaluate their combat ability, adaptability, coordination, and survival instincts.

And because of that, had the group messed up, even slightly, then there would be no Sanctuary for them.

Fortunately, it seemed that he had nothing to worry about.

Despite still having no incentives to motivate them—at least none that they knowingly knew about—the group had fought against the pack as though they were possessed.

They had adapted to the wolves’ abilities, compensated for one another’s weaknesses, and continued fighting even when the battle became increasingly dangerous.

Because of this tenacity and resilience, the group didn’t know it, but they had already passed Aelric’s secret evaluation and were now eligible for the journey toward the Sanctuary.

However, that matter was for another time.

For now, Aelric actually wanted to see how they would deal with the Alpha. Would they fight it? Or would they simply allow it to walk away if it chose to do so?

While Aelric was still ruminating over what their decision would be, Sylveris suddenly turned toward him.

"Can’t you intervene now? I mean, they are probably exhausted from fighting. Fighting that now would put a lot of stress and strain upon them, so shouldn’t you at least fight off the wolf and give them a chance to breathe?"

Clearly, judging by the urgency of the words the fourteen-year-old spoke, she was trying to convince Aelric to take action.

During the earlier battle, Sylveris couldn’t deny that her heart had been in her throat throughout the entire ordeal. It had been such an unnerving feeling that she wouldn’t want to experience anything like it again for the rest of her life.

Although she knew how capable the group was, that still didn’t conceal the subconscious apprehension she had felt when they first clashed with the pack.

As a matter of fact, there had been several instances during the course of the battle when she had almost urged Aelric to take action.

But she simply suppressed that impulse.

After all, Aelric had already promised her that if things went south, he would undoubtedly intervene.

It wasn’t until she saw Caelestra’s Coin Legion released into the fray that the tension which had gripped her like a vice suddenly began to loosen.

And because of that, she had finally been able to watch the battle without constantly fearing that one of them would be killed.

However, now that the battle with the pack was over and they had emerged victorious, she knew that the group would be exhausted and asking them to fight the Alpha at this point was something that bordered on recklessness.

However, despite the serious concern in her eyes, Aelric still maintained his languid composure and lackadaisical expression.

When he replied, his words came out slurrily, almost as though he were drunk on some sort of alcohol.

"You don’t have to worry about that. Just continue watching, and you’ll realize that you’re worrying for nothing."

Aelric spoke those words casually, and the moment he finished, he didn’t even bother waiting for Sylveris’s reply.

He simply turned back to watching the group.

Meanwhile, with a reluctant sigh, Sylveris also turned to look at them.

In the meantime, down on the forest floor, after Regaleon made his decision, the group immediately went into battle mode.

Although they weren’t sure whether the Alpha itself would choose to attack, they weren’t about to take that risk.

For that reason, with a seriousness that bordered on solemnity, they continued observing the wolf, which remained completely motionless in its spot.

Although they knew there was a lesser chance of defeating the wolf considering its supposedly high strength and rank, that still wasn’t enough reason for them to become cowardly or afraid.

After all, as a group, they had managed to bring down creatures stronger than themselves in the past and could not afford to allow the difference in strength to intimidate them.

The standoff continued for quite some time with neither side moving. The group remained vigilant, their attention fixed entirely upon the Alpha. And then, suddenly... The Alpha moved.

It merely stood more upright. Yet the moment it did, it suddenly felt as though a predator had set its gaze upon them.

The group reacted instinctively, each gripping their Soul Essences with grasps that bordered on desperation.

However, while the group reacted instantly, the wolf merely shifted its weight. Then, it looked deeply at the group with its crimson eyes.

For a moment, those eyes passed over each member of the cohort; then, without hesitation, it suddenly turned around and began walking into the trees.

Its walk was slow and deliberate, yet carried an unmistakable sense of authority, as though it had no reason to fear being pursued.

Meanwhile, Veyrath watched it walk away before asking,

"Regaleon, are you absolutely sure that we’re supposed to let it go? I mean, considering the fact that it could rally even more potential threats against us in the future, why don’t we just eliminate it now?"

Though Veyrath had a point, there was actually a reason Regaleon had decided not to fight the wolf.

The group was already exhausted after their battle against the pack.

And while their ranks as Flesh Artificers had made them more enhanced, both physiologically and psychologically, that still wasn’t enough for them to ignore the limitations of exhaustion.

After all, physical and mental enhancements alone didn’t magically wipe away fatigue, accumulated injuries, or depleted stamina.

They were stronger now and while their bodies could recover from injuries far more efficiently than before, it didn’t mean that they inexhaustible.

They had just fought an entire pack of wolves, and the battle had pushed every one of them to exert themselves considerably.

Engaging an unknown Alpha immediately afterward would be nothing more than gambling their lives on the assumption that their opponent wasn’t as strong as they believed.

And that was a gamble Regaleon wasn’t willing to make.

After explaining his reasons to the rest of the group, the members were quick to agree with him.

They immediately realized that had they attacked the wolf instead of allowing it to leave, they would merely have been inviting trouble upon themselves.

Had it been the other way around and the Alpha decided to attack them, then it was only Aelric who would be able to resolve the situation.

Because, despite their enhanced physiques, they simply didn’t believe they possessed the capability to fight against something of that level.

At least, not after everything they had already endured. So they watched as the Alpha continued walking away until it disappeared into the forest...