Fierce fighting

"Old man, do you have confidence?" Haotian asked, smiling as he approached.

Following closely behind him was the pretty maid Sally, her delicate face showing no sign of fear towards the impending wolf disaster. She had immense faith in her master, the emissary of the gods.

Horden, the elderly steward, responded with a solemn expression, "Master, although the wolf pack is substantial, it will be difficult for them to overrun us."

Haotian nodded, his gaze shifting to the approaching wolf pack in the distance. "These gray wolves are generally low-level, mostly around levels two to three. Only a few exceed level three and are considered mid-tier beasts. As long as the Royal Knights maintain their formation, these wolves will fall like leaves."

He sighed, "It's a pity the Royal Knights lack mounts. Otherwise, we could take the offensive instead of being on the defensive. Knights with mounts unleash their full potential."

Just then, a deafening wolf howl erupted. Instantly, all the desert gray wolves fell silent. Haotian and the others turned to see a massive gray wolf appear on a distant dune.

Normal gray wolves were nearly two meters long, and elite ones about two and a half meters. This giant gray wolf, however, was at least three meters long, like a beast standing in the moonlight. It leaped from the dune, charging directly toward the village hall. Wolves scurried out of its way; those that didn't were sent flying.

"Level seven high-tier beast, the gray wolf leader!" Horden gripped his magic staff tightly, uncertain if his old bones could handle this formidable opponent. In a duel, he'd be outmatched. As a mage, close combat meant certain death, and his magic shield wouldn't hold for long. He needed someone to keep the wolf leader at bay while he cast spells to take it down.

Thinking quickly, Horden shared his plan with Haotian. "I'll dispatch ten Royal Knights to engage the wolf leader. You must kill it swiftly to prevent complications," Haotian instructed, retrieving a fire-attribute magic staff from his space bag. This staff, enhancing fire magic and equipped with Fireball and Fire Sea spells, was a prized artifact from his time with the Tulip family.

"Don't worry, Master," Horden assured him, "I'll kill that wolf leader even if it costs me my life!"

Haotian smiled, "No need to sacrifice yourself, old man. Just hold out until after midnight; our chances will then be much greater."

"Yes, Master!" Though puzzled, Horden nodded.

Haotian turned to Sally, "Go to the village hall and stay there until the battle is over."

"Master, be safe!" Sally retreated into the village hall, wishing she could fight alongside him, but knowing she would only be a burden.

In no time, hundreds of desert gray wolves had encircled Haotian and his men. The wolves' green eyes glowed menacingly, their snarls suggesting they wanted to tear the intruders to pieces. The presence of these wolves had likely deterred other intelligent beings from claiming the Golden Oasis, making Haotian's actions a violation of their territory.

Forty Royal Knights, fully armed, surrounded Haotian and Horden in a protective circle. Each knight wielded a sharp sword and a round shield, showing no fear despite the overwhelming odds.

Suddenly, a massive fireball soared over the knights' heads, exploding amidst the wolves with a thunderous roar. Several wolves were incinerated, and many more were ignited, their howls filling the air.

This fireball ignited the battle. The wolf leader's enraged howl sent hundreds of wolves charging from all directions.

"Loyalty is faith!" the Royal Knights shouted, raising their swords. Brilliant sword lights slashed through the air, cleaving the front wolves in half, spilling blood and entrails.

Simultaneously, countless wind blades sliced towards the knights—magic attacks from the wolves, strong enough to sever half-meter-thick trees. The knights raised their shields in unison.

With a heavy thud, one knight was sent flying, struck by the wolf leader's wind blade, crashing to the ground, unmoving. The other knights successfully blocked the incoming blades. Their equipment, all magical, provided formidable defense.

"Great Fireball! Fire Sea! Fire Wall! Starfall!" Haotian and Horden cast powerful spells from behind, transforming the battlefield into a scene of blazing chaos. The scent of roasted and burnt flesh filled the air. As an eight-level high-tier mage, Horden's spells were devastating, killing many wolves and enraging the wolf leader.

Dodging Horden's spells with agility, the wolf leader charged the knights' formation, followed by dozens of wolves. Its massive impact scattered several knights, breaking through their line.

"Perfect timing!" Horden, ready, unleashed a torrent of fire serpents, enveloping the wolf leader. Each serpent's strike left charred wounds on the beast's body.

Seeing the danger, the wolf leader tried to escape, but a group of Royal Knights intercepted, forcing it back into the fiery trap. Behind it, the following wolves were consumed by the expanding sea of fire.