Chapter 84: Fallen Angel

The number of shadow wolves far exceeded expectations; they surrounded the party from all directions, and the situation was extremely perilous.

Robin swung his sword at a charging shadow wolf, the blade slicing its fur but failing to inflict a fatal wound.

The shadow wolves' fur was unusually tough, making ordinary attacks hard to work.

"Their weak points are the eyes and the abdomen!" Lina shouted.

Robin immediately adjusted his tactics, targeting the shadow wolves' eyes and bellies.

His swordsmanship was already superb, and with his nascent control of Magic Power, his attacks became more precise and powerful.

Soon, he succeeded in killing a shadow wolf.

The sheer number of shadow wolves was overwhelming, and the party gradually fell into a hard fight.

Just as a shadow wolf lunged at Robin from the side, Lina suddenly unleashed a powerful ice spell, freezing the wolf into a block of ice.

"Thanks!" Robin said, panting.

Lina gave him a cold look: "Don't get distracted; the battle isn't over yet."

Robin nodded and kept fighting. After a fierce melee, the party finally repelled the shadow wolves' assault.

Everyone suffered injuries of varying severity; Karl's arm bore a deep wound from a shadow wolf's claw, blood gushing out.

"Damn, these guys are really hard to deal with," Karl gritted his teeth, his complexion turning pale.

Lina walked over and used a pre‑prepared potion to staunch Karl's bleeding and treat his wound.

Robin helped clear the battlefield and checked the others' injuries.

"We need to leave here as soon as possible," Lina said, "Shadow wolves are pack beasts; their companions may arrive quickly."

Karl nodded, forcing himself to stand: "Everyone pack up; we'll push through the night and get out of this wasteland as fast as we can."

The party quickly packed their gear and continued northward. Robin walked at the rear, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

His heart was full of unease, feeling that this shadow wolf attack was no coincidence.

"Do you think there's something wrong with this attack?" Robin asked Lina softly.

Lina frowned, seeming to ponder the same question: "Shadow wolves rarely attack large parties unless... someone deliberately lured them here."

Robin felt a chill: "You mean someone wants to deal with us?"

Lina nodded, her tone grave: "We can't rule that out. We must be cautious."

Robin said nothing more, but his vigilance grew.

The party hurried through the night, each person on edge, fearing another shadow wolf pack attack.

Robin walked at the rear, his gaze repeatedly scanning the darkness, his Sword never leaving his hand.

"Luo Yi, who do you think is behind this attack?" Karl asked, leaning close to Robin.

His arm, though treated by Lina, still ached faintly, and his complexion remained pale.

Robin shook his head, answering softly: "I don't know, but the shadow wolves wouldn't attack us without cause. It could be someone luring them, or we might be targeted."

Karl frowned, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes: "If it's the latter, our trouble will be greater."

Robin gave no reply, but his mind already formed a suspicion.

Those Gold Coins, Lao Mao's warning, Lina's prejudice against the Black Wizard, and this sudden attack all seemed to point to a larger mystery.

He vaguely sensed that he was being drawn into a complex power struggle.

The party kept moving until the horizon turned a pale dawn, then stopped to rest on a relatively safe hillside.

Everyone was exhausted, yet no one dared to let their guard down.

Lina sat on a rock, eyes closed in meditation, seemingly restoring Magic Power. Aiwen took watch, his gaze sharply scanning the surroundings.

Robin walked to Lina and asked softly, "Do you think this attack is related to the Black Wizard?"

Lina opened her eyes, giving him a cold stare: "Why do you ask?"

Robin shrugged, feigning nonchalance: "Just a guess. After all, you mentioned before that the Black Wizard is a disruptor of order; they might use beasts to sow chaos."

Lina was silent for a moment, then nodded: "We can't rule that out. The Black Wizard does excel at controlling magical beasts, especially cunning ones like shadow wolves."

Robin felt a stir and asked tentatively, "If we really are being targeted by the Black Wizard, what should we do?"

Lina's tone grew serious: "If the Black Wizard is indeed behind this, we must hurry to Black Stone Town and report to the Wizard Council. Only they can deal with the Black Wizard."

Robin nodded, but his mind harbored more doubt about the Wizard Council's "justice."

He sensed that the opposition between the Wizard Council and the Black Wizard might not be as simple as Lina suggested.

After a brief rest, the party set out again.

After a day's trek, they finally arrived at Black Stone Town.

The town was small, yet bustling because it lay on a major thoroughfare.

People streamed through the streets, and vendors' cries rose and fell.

Karl led the party to a familiar inn and arranged lodging for everyone.

Robin, using an excuse to explore the town, left the inn alone. His goal was clear—to find the contact Lao Mao mentioned and learn more about the Gold Coins and the Black Wizard.

Following Lao Mao's clue, Robin arrived at a Blacksmith Shop on the town's edge.

The Blacksmith Shop's door was half‑open, and the sound of hammering rang from inside.

Robin pushed the door in and saw a burly blacksmith forging a long Sword.

"Excuse me, is this the place Lao Mao mentioned?" Robin asked softly.

The blacksmith looked up, sized Robin up, then nodded: "You are Luo Yi?"

Robin felt relieved and nodded: "Yes, Lao Mao sent me to find you."

The blacksmith set down his hammer, stepped to the doorway to glance outside, confirmed no one was following, then whispered: "Lao Mao has already informed me. What do you want to know?"

Robin pulled a Gold Coin from his pocket and handed it to the blacksmith: "Do you know where these Gold Coins come from?"

The blacksmith took the Gold Coin, examined the symbols carefully, and his expression suddenly grew grave: "This is the Fallen Angel mark of the Black Wizard Organization. Where did you get it?"

Robin felt a tightening in his heart and whispered, "I found it in a lord's secret chamber. Back then he colluded with the Black Wizard and caused the deaths of many people in the domain."

The blacksmith nodded gravely, "These Gold Coins are special currency the Fallen Heavens use for transactions, bearing their magical symbols. If you have these Gold Coins in your hand, it means you have already become entangled in their plan."

(End of Chapter)