Chapter Fifty-Two: The Invasion of the Wolf Cavalry

As soon as Han Shuo, who was speaking with Vannie, heard the commotion outside, he cried out in alarm, “Miss Vannie, let’s hurry and join the others!” Vannie didn’t waste any words. The moment Han Shuo finished speaking, she turned and hurried out of his room. Once she’d left, Han Shuo tossed aside the bathrobe wrapped around him, quickly dressed himself piece by piece, and gathered up the steel needles, daggers, crossbow bolts, and various bottles of potions he’d purchased over the past few days. Only then did he leave his room.

Outside, the streets were teeming with adventurers darting about and merchants shouting loudly. Some of these people had been drinking in taverns, others indulging themselves in places of pleasure, but at the news of the wolf riders’ arrival, all of them immediately left their rooms and surged onto the street.

Both adventurers and mercenaries led lives stained with blood, always walking the razor’s edge of danger; news like this was nothing new to them. Once outside, they began methodically readying their weapons and armor, gathering toward South Street as directed by the sound.

When Han Shuo exited the inn and reached its entrance, he was surprised to find even the innkeeper standing fiercely at the door, gripping a longsword with an indignant expression. It seemed the people of Doro Town truly were bold and unyielding.

Vannie and the others were already assembled at the inn’s entrance. The students, having just set down their belongings, hurried out again. After their adventure in the Dark Forest, these once-naive young mages had learned composure and did not panic or shriek.

“Bryan, come on, quickly! We’re heading to South Street too. Those orc wolf riders dare to invade Doro Town in the empire? We absolutely can’t let them succeed!” Lisa, seeing Han Shuo appear, raised her hand high and called out, as if afraid he wouldn’t notice her.

Gathered at the inn’s entrance, aside from Vannie’s group, were several clusters of adventurers and mercenaries. The necromancy students emerged one after another, fully armed. When Han Shuo had barely reached Lisa’s side, Vannie counted heads, and seeing all the students present, she called out crisply, “Follow me to South Street—don’t get separated!”

On the bustling street, Han Shuo followed behind Vannie, and before long they arrived at South Street. There, he saw nearly a hundred adventurers and mercenaries. Felix, the old mage Han Shuo had met once before, and the female elf Blanche were both present. Judging by their postures, they were acting as leaders—Felix was floating high above the ground, shouting commands.

“Oh, that old mage can actually use Levitation. That means he’s at least at the level of a Magus Master,” Gene exclaimed. Then he explained to the students, “A mage who reaches a certain level can use Levitation. But only those who’ve attained the Magus Master rank can truly master the spell. So, any mage who can fly like that is without exception a person of high status and great power.”

“Warriors of the Empire, the orcish wolf riders are marching toward Doro Town. From my observations, their force numbers five hundred. Doro Town is an imperial stronghold—we cannot allow these barbaric orcs to trample us! Take up your weapons, and let them taste the fury of imperial warriors!” Felix hovered in the air, gripping a finely crafted sapphire-tipped staff, loudly rallying everyone’s spirits.

“Well, isn’t this the necromancy group? Ha, you’ve come as well?” At that moment, Bechel’s voice sounded nearby. Han Shuo glanced over and saw the light element students moving toward them.

“Hello, Professor Bechel. I didn’t expect to meet you here again. I suppose your students have gained much from this journey?” Gene nodded with a smile, greeting him politely.

“Oh, not so much—no huge gains, but the students have indeed made progress,” Bechel replied with a faint, amiable smile.

A dull, marching thud came from the south, growing closer. Under the commands of Felix and Blanche, the warriors were already arrayed at the front, fully armored and armed. Mages, archers, and priests stood five or six meters behind, staffs in hand, expressions calm and solemn as they gazed southward.

Bechel and Gene, seeing everyone in position, said nothing more and joined the group of mages. Although Han Shuo’s abilities had improved greatly, he had no intention of rushing to the front lines and instead stayed with Vannie and the other mages.

Once everyone had settled into their roles, the heavy drum-like pounding of hooves reverberated through their chests, and a dense, oppressive aura spread among them. In their line of sight, the orcish wolf riders appeared, astride wolves, brandishing long sabers aloft. Amid swirling dust, their forms gradually emerged.

A murderous tension instantly enveloped Doro Town. As the wolf riders appeared, they let out shrill, piercing howls and charged fiercely, their sabers gleaming coldly. The combined might of five hundred wolf riders surging forward pressed down on everyone with a suffocating force.

“Mages, prepare yourselves. Begin casting on my signal!” Felix remained composed, floating in the air and watching the wolf riders. Only when they truly charged did he speak calmly.

“Everyone, be careful. Don’t let anything happen,” Vannie, a little anxious herself, reminded the students around her. As she was about to caution Han Shuo specifically, she suddenly noticed that his face was perfectly calm. In his eyes was a numb, icy ruthlessness, utterly devoid of panic. He gripped a sharp dagger in his hand, from which a chilling aura emanated.

Sensing Vannie’s gaze, Han Shuo relaxed his mind. Having activated the Frostflame Demonic Arts, the magical energy in his left hand flowed into his dagger, creating that biting cold, but in an instant, the aura vanished as he reined in his power.

“Miss Vannie, is there something wrong?” Han Shuo’s honest smile returned as he looked at her.

“No, nothing. Just… be careful,” Vannie replied, her tone a little odd as she watched him.

At this moment, Vannie finally realized that Han Shuo’s perpetually honest smile was merely a facade. The calm and cold resolve he’d just displayed in the face of crisis was his true nature.

Damn, you’ve fooled everyone, but sooner or later I’ll make you show your true colors, Vannie thought resentfully, stealing a glance at Han Shuo. Yet, as she watched him composed and focused, she found that this new side of him possessed a strange and compelling charisma.