Chapter 50: Testing the Wolves

'Tame? You have got to be kidding me,' Elan responded, glancing at the wolves. 'Do you know how many of them are out there?'

Arion's suggestion was tempting; the idea of having such powerful creatures as allies was appealing. However, Elan was acutely aware of his own inexperience with taming even normal wild beasts, let alone spiritual beasts of this magnitude. The task seemed daunting, if not outright impossible.

'You have your clansmen with you; you outnumber those spiritual beasts,' Arion pointed out.

Arion had a valid point; their group was indeed larger in number than the pack of wolves. But the problem was that his clansmen, like Elan, had no experience with taming spiritual beasts. The process of taming such creatures required knowledge and skills they simply didn't possess.

'Okay, let's just say I agree with your suggestion,' Elan continued. 'The problem is, how can we tame them in such a short period of time? We don't even know where to start.'

'Beat them to a pulp until they submit, just like Batman did to his enemies,' Arion suggested, chuckling a little.

Arion's suggestion left Elan speechless as he imagined the absurdity of trying to subdue these massive wolves with brute force. He felt a surge of frustration and half-wished he could strangle Arion for even suggesting such an outlandish idea.

'This isn't a comic book,' Elan muttered, shaking his head. 'And you do realize Batman was dealing with ordinary people, not spiritual beasts.'

Arion's voice chimed in again, undeterred. 'Maybe you've forgotten, you're a cultivator now; you're not just an ordinary human being anymore.'

Elan opened his mouth to refute Arion's point, but the words wouldn't come. He couldn't find a good counterargument. Finally, he conceded, 'Touché.'

Elan knew Arion was right. The clan's numbers were limited, and they needed all the help they could get to build their future infrastructure. The assistance of spiritual beasts like these wolves could significantly speed up their construction efforts and provide much-needed manpower, or rather, beastpower. The idea of taming these creatures was intimidating, but the potential benefits were too significant to ignore. It was a risk, but one that could yield great rewards if they could manage to tame even a few of the wolves. But there's one problem.

'But there's still one problem, we don't know the strength of these spiritual beasts,' Elan said, his voice thoughtful. 'We need to assess their power before we make any moves.'

'You're right, tell your clansmen my suggestion first and have them retreat for now. Let's see the wolves' strength and behavior before deciding on our next steps,' Arion agreed.

Elan turned to his clansmen, who were watching him intently, waiting for his instructions. They knew from the previous day's events that Elan had a plan, just as he had with the Chameleor Serpent.

Jarek, trying to gauge the situation, spoke up. "Do you think we can take on all those wolves?"

Aiden chimed in confidently, "I think so. There are only about 40 of them and 200 of us."

Lian nodded in agreement. "You're right. It should be easy for us to overpower the wolves and then check what's inside the cave."

Lyra, however, had a more cautious perspective. "You guys are full of shit. We don't even know how powerful these wolves are. What if they're one or two stages stronger than us? Then what?"

Her words struck a chord, and the three fell silent, realizing the truth in her caution. They knew that underestimating the wolves could lead to disastrous consequences.

Daren stepped forward, addressing the group. "Lyra is right. We can't rush into this without understanding the danger we're facing. The best thing we can do now is wait for Elan's decision."

Elan walked towards the group and gestured for them to retreat. They moved back about two hundred meters, creating a safe distance from the clearing. Once they were settled, Elan shared his plan. "I know this might sound crazy, but I think we should try to tame the wolves rather than fight them. If possible, I'd like to see if we can tame all of them."

The group stared at Elan as if he had lost his mind. They had expected him to propose a strategy for slaying the wolves, not suggest that they tame them. The idea seemed absurd, given the formidable appearance of the spiritual beasts.

Seeing the shocked expressions on his clansmen's faces, Elan chuckled. "I know it sounds crazy, but think about it," he said, raising his hands to quiet any protests. "If we can tame these spiritual beasts, they could be invaluable allies. They could help us build infrastructure and defend our community. These wolves could be more than just adversaries; they could become powerful partners."

The realization dawned on the clansmen, their initial incredulity giving way to understanding and excitement. The thought of working alongside spiritual beasts and potentially riding them sparked their imaginations. They could see the advantages, these wolves could significantly enhance their strength and capabilities as a community. But first, they needed to figure out how to tame the wolves and ensure their cooperation. 

Elder Aric then voiced the question on everyone's mind. "Elan, how do you plan to tame these wolves? They look very formidable and ferocious. I doubt they would be easy to tame just by offering them food."

The group murmured in agreement with Elder Aric's assessment. The wolves were clearly not ordinary beasts, and the idea of taming them seemed daunting.

Elan hesitated, unsure how to explain Arion's unconventional suggestion. He cursed Arion silently in his head before speaking. "Well, the idea is to beat the wolves into submission or wound them until they can't fight back. Then, we can help them heal afterward," Elan explained, wincing as he heard Arion's laughter echoing in his mind.

The clansmen stared at Elan in disbelief once more. They had expected him to propose a more insightful and sophisticated method for taming the wolves, not something so straightforward and brutal.

Seeing their incredulous looks, Elan felt compelled to reassure them. "Come on, guys, I know this will work. I mean, no one wants to die, right? That includes the spiritual beasts too. Once they realize we're not trying to kill them and that we can help them, they might be more cooperative."

The clansmen sighed and, after some consideration, agreed to go along with Elan's plan. They knew that their numbers gave them an advantage; if they were fewer, Elan's plan would have seemed impossible. The sheer size of their group made the prospect of subduing the wolves more feasible, even if it was still a risky endeavor.

"Elan, it's quite a daring plan. Our numbers do give us a shot, but we need to be ready for anything. These spiritual beasts aren't something to take lightly." Elder Aric spoke up, his tone contemplative. 

Daren chuckled softly, adding with a hint of amusement, "Son, if this is your call, we stand by it.

Jarek tapped Elan on the shoulder, grinning. "Don't worry, dude, we'll do whatever you need us to do."

The rest of the clan nodded in agreement, showing their support for Jarek's sentiment. There was a shared sense of camaraderie and trust in Elan's leadership, despite the unusual circumstances.

Daren then turned to Elan with a more serious expression. "So, what's your plan of attack?"

Elan addressed his father and the clansmen, explaining, "For now, I want all of you to stay here. I need to test the wolves' strength first to see if we can manage to tame them or not."

Daren looked concerned, clearly hesitant about Elan's plan. The number of wolves was intimidating, and he worried about the danger his son might face. However, he knew that Elan was the most powerful among them and their best chance at success. With a sigh, Daren finally said, "Just be careful, son. If it gets too much, retreat immediately."

Elan reassured his father, "Don't worry, Dad. I know what I'm doing. Those wolves won't even touch me."

"Alright, just be careful," Daren replied, still wary but trusting Elan's judgment.

The rest of the clansmen echoed Daren's sentiments, urging Elan to be cautious. They expressed their concerns, reminding him to prioritize his safety above all.

Elan nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and headed back towards the clearing where the wolves were gathered. His goal wasn't to engage them in battle but to gauge their strength, particularly the large wolf near the entrance of the cave, which appeared to be the pack leader.

As Elan reached the edge of the clearing, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. He carefully scanned the surroundings, looking for possible escape routes in case the situation became dangerous. He noted four potential exits: two to the right side of the clearing, one to the left, and one directly behind him, where he had entered. Satisfied with his mental map of the area, he felt slightly more prepared for whatever might happen.

Elan inhaled deeply and then slowly exhaled, steeling himself for what lay ahead. He drew his sword, its blade gleaming in the light, and stepped into the clearing with determination. His plan was simple: allow Arion to scan the wolves and assess their strength, then retreat swiftly before things could escalate.

As soon as Elan stepped into the clearing, the wolves sensed his presence. They quickly stood up, turning to face the intruder who dared to trespass on their territory. Their eyes glinted with a mixture of hostility and curiosity, and a low growl resonated through the pack. The wolves began to circle him, their movements cautious yet predatory, as they assessed this unfamiliar human.

The large wolf, however, remained unimpressed. It didn't even bother to stand, its piercing eyes locked onto Elan with a look of disdain. The wolf could sense that Elan was two stages lower in cultivation than itself. Being a spiritual beast, the wolf knew that its own power far surpassed that of a human cultivator at the same level. It regarded Elan as nothing more than a dead man walking, confident that the human posed no real threat. The wolf's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tension among the other wolves, as if it had already dismissed Elan as an insignificant challenge.

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Fully aware of the gravity of the situation, Elan asked Arion, 'Did you scan all of them?' His eyes flicked around, watching the thirty-nine red-colored, horse-sized wolves circling him.

'Yes, but I'll project the detailed information to you later. First, you need to get closer to that large wolf near the cave,' Arion calmly replied. 

Hearing Arion's calm voice, Elan guessed that the wolves surrounding him must be weaker than he was. A smile formed on his lips as a plan took shape in his mind. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the large wolf that matched the size of the Sabreclaw he had previously defeated. His sudden burst of speed caught the circling wolves off guard. In an instant, Elan had broken free from their encirclement, leaving the wolves bewildered and snarling in frustration as they watched him sprint towards their Alpha.

The alpha wolf watched with a mix of amusement and curiosity as the human chose to target him so boldly. The Alpha waited patiently, intending to teach Elan a lesson as soon as he entered within five meters—a distance at which the wolf could easily overpower him.

As Elan closed the gap, reaching just nine meters away, he smiled and suddenly veered off course, sprinting towards the right side of the clearing. The sudden change in direction left the wolves momentarily stunned. They had expected the human to confront their Alpha, only to see him divert and escape instead.

For a moment, the wolves simply stood there, their fur ruffled by the wind, processing what had just happened. Then, as if realizing they'd been fooled, they erupted into growls and barks, seemingly cursing the human for his trickery. They were ready to give chase, but the Alpha stopped them with a low, commanding growl. The Alpha wolf's eyes followed Elan's retreating form, a flicker of intrigue in its gaze. It seemed to recognize that this human was not as foolish as it initially thought, and the encounter had become far more interesting.