Building A Carnal Empire In The Fantasy World-Chapter 44: Attack!

The largest wolves, clearly the leaders, stood in the center. Their massive frames radiated the power of high-level Earth Rank cultivation. Smaller pack members flanked them on both sides, though even the "smaller" ones were bigger than any normal wolf.

The weakest wolves, positioned at the edges, still pulsed with high-level Mortal Rank energy. Any one of them could tear a normal human apart without effort.

"Don’t move," Lady Leya whispered. Her Level 7 Earth Rank senses were screaming warnings about the sheer number of predators facing them.

The pack leader stepped forward. This beast was enormous even by Sabertooth standards, easily three meters long and built like a living mountain of muscle and fangs.

Scars crisscrossed its muzzle, telling the story of countless battles. When it opened its mouth, steam rose from between those massive teeth.

Its cultivation aura pressed down on the group like a physical weight. Peak Earth Rank, maybe even touching the threshold of Spirit Circle Realm.

"We’re in their territory," Madam Vex said quietly, her hand slowly moving toward the dagger at her belt. "This is their hunting ground."

The pack leader tilted its massive head, studying them with intelligent eyes. These weren’t mindless beasts, Sabertooth Wolves were known for their cunning and pack tactics. They were evaluating their prey, looking for weaknesses.

Sara took a small step backward and immediately regretted it. Every wolf in the pack tensed, their heads swiveling toward her movement. Low growls rumbled from dozens of throats, creating a sound like distant thunder.

"Stay still," Kael ordered, his hand moving to his sword hilt. He could feel the lightning energy stirring within him, responding to the threat. But fifty Earth Rank beasts... even with his enhanced abilities, those were terrible odds.

The pack leader padded closer, its massive paws making no sound on the stone road. It stopped just twenty feet away and sniffed the air, analyzing their scents. Its nostrils flared as it picked up something interesting.

Lady Morwen’s breathing was quick and shallow. "They can smell fear," she whispered. "And blood. Some of us are still wounded from the earlier fights."

It was true. Despite the healing pills, several members of their group still carried the scent of recent injuries. To predators like these wolves, they probably smelled like easy prey.

The pack leader’s lips pulled back in what might have been a smile, revealing even more of those deadly fangs. It let out a low whine that somehow managed to sound almost... amused.

Other wolves began to move. Not attacking yet, but positioning themselves. Some slipped around behind the group, cutting off any retreat. Others spread wider to the sides, making sure no one could escape off the road.

"They’re herding us," Velara observed, her earth magic beginning to gather around her hands.

Lila pressed close to Sara, both girls trying to make themselves look as small and unthreatening as possible. Their Mortal Rank cultivation was nothing compared to what they were facing.

The pack leader took another step forward. This close, they could see the intelligence burning in its yellow eyes. It understood exactly what it was looking at—tired travelers, wounded and far from home. Easy meat.

The pack leader’s yellow eyes locked onto Kael with predatory intensity. For a heartbeat, the world held its breath. Then the massive wolf’s lips curled back, revealing fangs like ivory daggers.

It happened in an instant.

The pack leader lunged forward with impossible speed, its jaws snapping toward Kael’s throat. But Kael was already moving, his enhanced reflexes kicking in as lightning crackled around his fingers.

"Heaven’s Judgment!"

A bolt of electrical energy lanced out, striking the massive wolf in the chest. The beast yelped in pain and stumbled sideways, smoke rising from its singed fur. But it didn’t fall. Peak Earth Rank cultivation made it tough enough to take a direct lightning hit and keep fighting.

The attack was a signal. Every other wolf in the pack exploded into motion.

"Form up!" Lady Leya shouted, her Level 7 Earth Rank aura flaring as she drew a curved sword. "Back to back! Don’t let them separate us!"

Chaos erupted on the ancient dwarven road.

Three wolves charged from the left flank, their massive forms moving like black shadows.

Madam Vex stepped forward to meet them, her enchanted dagger blazing with blue light. The first wolf leaped at her, claws extended, but she rolled beneath its attack and slashed upward.

Her blade found the gap between armored fur and drew a line of blood across the beast’s belly. The wolf howled and crashed to the stone road, but two more took its place immediately.

On the right side, Lady Morwen was facing down a pair of high-level Mortal Rank wolves. Despite her recent emotional trauma, her combat training kicked in. Her hands moved in complex patterns, weaving earth magic into deadly spikes that erupted from the road surface.

One wolf impaled itself trying to dodge around the stone spears. The other was more clever, using its pack mate’s body as a springboard to leap over the magical trap entirely.

"Morwen, above you!" Velara called out.

The warning came just in time. Lady Morwen threw herself sideways as massive jaws snapped shut where her head had been. She rolled and came up with a handful of stone fragments, each one glowing with earth energy.

"Stone Bullet!"

The projectiles shot out like cannon balls, striking the wolf in the face and chest. The beast staggered but didn’t go down. These weren’t ordinary animals - their cultivation made them incredibly resilient.

Behind the main group, Sara and Lila were pressed back to back, facing four smaller wolves that had circled around to attack from the rear. Both girls were terrified but holding their ground.

"I can’t do this," Sara whispered, her hands shaking as she tried to gather what little Mortal Rank energy she possessed.

"Yes, you can," Lila replied firmly. Her own cultivation was slightly higher, and she’d had more combat training at the Leisure Wand. "Just stay with me. We protect each other."

A wolf lunged at Sara, its fangs dripping with saliva. She screamed and threw up her hands defensively.

To her surprise, a small barrier of condensed air formed in front of her palms. The wolf’s charge slammed into the invisible wall and bounced back, dazed.