"This is bad. They're about to attack!" the mercenary at the front shouted. Instantly, the restless wolf pack surged forward like a tidal wave.
Felicia shouted, "Carry Monkey on your back! We're retreating!" The mercenaries bared their teeth and lunged at the approaching wolves. Monkey was placed on another mercenary's back, but as they prepared to leave, more wolves kept coming, some from directly in front of them. One mercenary was sliced by a wolf's knife-like claws and let out a pained howl.
Scarlet guarded Felicia, skillfully retreating as she moved her blade. She slashed through the air with fierce precision. Despite her powerful attacks, the wolves relentlessly pressed closer.
From all directions, the wolves attacked with cunning ferocity, their sharp fangs and claws their only weapons. The group was surrounded, and the situation worsened by the second. Felicia had no choice but to fire a shot. The bullet hit a leading wolf, causing it to collapse to the ground, twitching.
This display of force momentarily stalled the other wolves, clearly intimidating them. Seizing the opportunity, Felicia began to lead the group out. Suddenly, a wolf howled, and the entire pack answered, the valley echoing with their reverberating cries.
Felicia and Scarlet exchanged a glance and, without a word, ran. The other three mercenaries followed swiftly. All the wolves gave chase.
Scarlet, protecting Felicia, was scratched on her thigh by a wolf; fresh blood seeped from the gruesome wound. Felicia threw a stone, knocking a wolf back. "Can you keep going?" she asked.
Scarlet, unfazed, said, "It's just a minor injury. Don't worry." But continuing like this wasn't sustainable.
Felicia hesitated, considering using her torch to drive back the wolves. However, fearing the scattered flames might ignite the mountain, she abandoned the idea.
In this moment of distraction, a scrawny wolf lunged at Felicia's face, so close she smelled its foul breath.
"Watch out!" Scarlet yelled, but more wolves attacked her, preventing her from helping. Felicia was about to fire her pistol when she looked up and saw a team of people approaching, Michael leading them.
He smoothly replaced an arrow, shooting another wolf down with one swift motion. Michael gestured, and his subordinates immediately drew their weapons. With this powerful support, the pressure on Felicia and Scarlet lessened considerably.
Soon, realizing they couldn't win, the wolves' leader retreated, followed by the rest of the pack. Silence descended, broken only by the group's ragged breathing.
Felicia bandaged Scarlet's wound. Fortunately, the injury wasn't deep and hadn't damaged any bones. With Scarlet's constitution and her Panax pseudo-ginseng, the wound would heal in a few days without leaving a scar.
After tending to the wound, Felicia turned to Michael. "Thanks. But how did you all end up here?"
"We heard the gunshot and came, fearing you might be in danger," Michael said, glancing at Felicia before quickly averting his gaze. He said calmly, "Since everyone is safe, let's head down the mountain together."