Free Web NovelChapter 25: Chapter 25: The Wolf King’s Den
The plan depended on patience.
That was the difference between hunting and suicide.
The Black Stone Wolf King’s den sat in a natural hollow surrounded by dense trees and jagged stones. Several broken stone pillars lay half-buried in the ground, forming natural barriers. The wolves moved between them lazily, but their ears remained alert.
Qin Yuheng observed for nearly ten minutes before giving orders.
"Qin Lian, mark the patrol routes."
She nodded and disappeared.
"Qin Mo, find a place for a temporary trap formation."
Qin Mo looked around reluctantly. "Something simple?"
"Something effective."
"That is always more work."
"Use the formation crystals."
Qin Mo’s eyes brightened slightly. "Then effective is possible."
Qin Yuchen stood beside Qin Yuheng, watching the den.
"The Wolf King stays near the center."
"Yes," Qin Yuheng said. "It will not move unless enough wolves die or we enter its territory too deeply."
"Then we target outer patrols first."
"Exactly."
They selected a narrow path between two fallen stone pillars about two hundred meters from the den. Qin Mo used three D Grade Black Iron Formation Crystals, beast blood, and carved marks to create a temporary binding formation. It would not hold strong beasts for long, but it could slow them at the right moment.
Qin Lian returned with patrol information.
"Groups of three to five wolves. The east side has the weakest patrol. One Level 7 wolf, three Level 5 hounds."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"We start there."
The first lure was clean.
Qin Lian injured one hound with a thrown dagger, then retreated along the prepared path. The patrol chased immediately. When they entered the stone-pillar trap zone, Qin Mo activated the formation.
Black iron lines rose from the ground.
The wolves slowed.
Qin Yuheng and Qin Yuchen struck from both sides.
Four beasts died quickly.
No howl escaped.
They dragged the corpses away and collected cores.
The second patrol was harder.
One wolf managed to howl before dying. The den stirred, and several wolves became alert. Qin Yuheng immediately ordered the team to retreat and wait. They hid in a shallow ravine while two wolf groups searched nearby.
For half an hour, they did nothing.
Qin Mo sat in silence, surprisingly not complaining.
Qin Yuchen looked calm, but his grip on his sword never loosened.
Qin Lian’s breathing was nearly inaudible.
Qin Yuheng watched the wolf movements and waited.
A reckless climber would grow impatient.
But Qin Yuheng understood that the Tower rewarded survival and judgment, not merely courage.
When the wolves relaxed again, they resumed.
Third patrol.
Fourth.
Fifth.
By the time two hours passed, they had killed thirteen wolves and hounds around the den. Their EXP increased steadily, and Qin Yuchen reached Level 2. Qin Lian also leveled soon after. Qin Mo, despite lower kill contribution, gained enough support EXP to approach Level 2.
The den was visibly thinner.
But the Black Stone Wolf King had noticed.
It stood at the center of the hollow, head raised, black stone crown spikes glowing faintly. Its eyes swept through the forest.
A pressure spread outward.
Qin Yuheng knew the time for stealth was ending.
"We prepare for the boss."
Qin Mo’s face turned pale. "We do?"
"Yes."
"Just confirming."
They moved to the trap zone and reinforced it with the remaining formation crystals Qin Yuheng was willing to expose. Qin Mo created three layers: a slowing mark, a flash disruption, and a weak binding circle. None could decide the battle alone, but together they could create openings.
Qin Yuheng checked their supplies.
Defensive talismans: enough.
Recovery pills: enough.
Mana pills: enough.
A Grade Spatial Retreat Talisman: unused, marked to Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo.
That final card gave him confidence.
If things collapsed, he could escape with the team.
He would not gamble their lives blindly.
Qin Lian took the role of luring the Wolf King.
This was dangerous, but she was the best scout.
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
"If it moves faster than expected, use a talisman immediately."
"I know."
"Do not save resources."
"I know."
She disappeared into the forest.
Several tense minutes passed.
Then a howl erupted.
Not from ordinary wolves.
The Wolf King.
Trees shook.
Qin Lian burst from the shadows, moving at full speed. Behind her, the Black Stone Wolf King charged like a dark storm. Six remaining wolves followed it.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
"Ready!"
Qin Lian crossed the first trap mark.
Qin Mo activated it the moment the Wolf King entered.
Black iron light wrapped around the boss’s legs.
The Wolf King tore through the first layer almost instantly, but its speed dropped.
Qin Yuheng moved.
Thunder Shadow Flash.
His body blurred, appearing at the Wolf King’s side.
The Black Thunder Pattern Sword struck its shoulder.
Clang!
The armor was harder than expected.
Only a shallow cut.
The Wolf King turned with terrifying speed.
Its claws slashed toward Qin Yuheng.
A Defensive Talisman flashed, blocking the hit, but the force still threw Qin Yuheng back several steps.
Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian handled the smaller wolves.
Qin Mo activated the flash disruption.
A burst of black-white light exploded under the Wolf King’s face.
The beast’s eyes narrowed.
Qin Yuheng used that moment to strike again, this time aiming beneath the crown-like spikes.
The sword cut deeper.
Black blood flowed.
The Wolf King roared.
Its remaining wolves became frenzied.
Two broke past Qin Yuchen and rushed toward Qin Mo.
Qin Lian intercepted one.
The other leaped.
Qin Mo activated three Defensive Talismans at once.
The wolf crashed into the shields and bounced back.
Qin Mo stabbed it with a short blade, looking both terrified and offended.
"Stay away!"
Qin Yuchen finished the wolf.
The boss fight continued.
The Wolf King was faster than the Guardian Wolf but had weaker regeneration. Its greatest advantage was explosive movement and command pressure. With its pack nearly gone, that advantage decreased.
But it was still deadly.
Qin Yuheng exchanged several blows with it, using Thunder Shadow Flash carefully. Each burst created an opening but consumed mana. If he overused it, he would exhaust himself before the boss fell.
He needed a decisive wound.
The Wolf King suddenly lowered its body.
Qin Yuheng felt danger.
[Warning: Boss skill detected.]
The crown spikes on the Wolf King’s head glowed.
Black stone shards rose from the ground around it and shot outward.
"Defend!"
Talismans flashed across the battlefield.
Qin Yuchen blocked two shards but was forced back.
Qin Lian dodged one and was grazed by another.
Qin Mo hid behind a stone and his talisman barrier. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Qin Yuheng cut through three shards, then saw the Wolf King rushing through the storm straight toward him.
A killing charge.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes became calm.
He did not retreat.
He activated Thunder Shadow Flash, but not to move backward.
He moved forward.
At the moment the Wolf King lunged, Qin Yuheng shifted diagonally beneath its attack line. His sword rose from below, carrying controlled violet-gold thunder.
The blade pierced the softer armor beneath the wolf’s chest.
The impact nearly tore the sword from his hands.
The Wolf King crashed past him and slammed into a stone pillar.
Qin Yuheng turned.
"Now!"
Qin Yuchen struck its wounded side.
Qin Lian drove both daggers into its rear leg.
Qin Mo activated the final binding circle.
Black iron lines wrapped around the Wolf King for one breath.
Qin Yuheng used the last strong burst of Thunder Shadow Flash.
He appeared before the Wolf King.
His sword pierced through the wound beneath its throat.
Thunder erupted.
The Black Stone Wolf King froze.
Then its body collapsed heavily to the ground.
A Tower message appeared.
[Floor Boss defeated.]
[Black Stone Wolf King killed.]
[EXP +180]
[Black Stone Wolf King Core acquired.]
[Wolf King Crown Spike acquired.]
[Black Stone Boss Chest acquired.]
Qin Yuheng’s EXP surged.
[EXP threshold reached.]
[Level 2 → Level 3]
[Strength +6]
[Constitution +6]
[Agility +5]
[Spirit +5]
[Mana +5]
[Perception +5]
Power flowed into him again.
He closed his eyes for one breath, absorbing the change.
When he opened them, the mission panel changed.
[Special Achievement Unlocked]
First Floor Boss defeated before main mission completion.
Evaluation increased significantly.
Qin Mo lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
"We are done now. Even you cannot find something worse."
Qin Yuheng looked at the remaining mission time.
One hour and twenty minutes.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Yes. Now we return to camp."
Qin Mo stared at him.
"Really?"
"Really."
Qin Mo closed his eyes.
"The Tower has mercy after all."
Qin Yuheng did not say anything.
Inside his inventory, the Black Stone Boss Chest waited.
Another true Tower chest.
Another evolution opportunity.
The first floor had already given him more than he had expected.
And it was not over until settlement.
