It seems that even though the Plague Wolves are named after the Plague Prairie, they are not so easily found. Even now after an hour passed after we arrived here, we have not even found a single pack.

"Lyka, what's going on? I can't seem to see even a cub here!"

"Hmmm, this is weird, normally, the Plague Prairie is swarming with Plague Wolves and I don't think anyone would clear them out because the only part that will sell is the Plague Wolf's heart and that is for alchemy. Otherwise since everything in their body is riddled with disease, they are not worth any money!"

"Is there a special monster nearby?"

"I don't know, but whatever it is it's scaring off the Plague Wolves,"

After a couple of minutes more of searching, we find a pack of around 20 Plague Wolves that looked extremely skinny and just lethargic in general. We hide and I looked into their stats and every single adult looked like this.

Plague Wolf: Level 35 (Starving)

HP: 600/1200

Attack: 100 (Decreased due to hunger)

Defense: 150 (Decreased due to hunger)

Speed: 150 (Decreased due to hunger)

Skills: Swipe, Intimidating Howl, Infectious Bite

EXP given: 600*30= 18000

Due to a mysterious beast within the Plague Prairie eating all the prey, the Plague wolves have nothing left to eat thus leaving many to starve.

When I looked in the center, it seemed that there were cubs as well.

Plague Wolf Cub: Level 20 (Semi-Starving)

HP: 600/1000

Attack: 50 (Decreased due to hunger)

Defense: 100 (Decreased due to hunger)

Speed: 150 (Decreased due to hunger)

Skills: Swipe, Infectious Bite

EXP given when defeated: 300*30=9000

As their parents give most of their catches to them, the cubs are only semi starving and have a bit more energy.

"Lyka, these wolves, they look like they are starving,"

"What happened?! Plague Wolves should be one of the top predators in the Plague Prairie! No one dares eat them due to their meat being riddled of diseases. Furthermore, since they are in a pack, a group of platinum adventurers would only be able to defeat them with quite a bit of effort. All in all, other predators would leave the wolves' prey alone and go for something else.

"It seems that a formidable predator came in to the prairie though. There's not other reasons for the wolves to be this starved,"

"*Sigh* I do not want to kill them, but for the sake of the mission..."

Lyka and I immediately went moving. As the wolves saw us, their eyes turned red and except the cubs and a few wolves, the rest started to charge towards us, but since they were starving, their speed was a lot slower than mine.

AWOOOOOOO!

The wolves started to howl and even though I was excited at the same time, I was shivering. As the wolves finished their howling, a system notification popped out.

Adventurer has now been intimidated by the howls. Your attack and defense is reduced by 10 and your speed has now reduced by 20.

"Holy shit, even when they are starving, that's a lot of stats, they took out!"

Luckily for me, the effects did not stack so even if 13 wolves howled at me, it did not decrease my stats by that much.

"Lyka, I'm depending on you to support me!"

"Alright, go wild!"

I immediately used Draw II and the wind blade caught out 1 Plague Wolf.

Puchi!

-600

Awoooo!

The Plague Wolf that got caught out immediately died and the rest of the wolves that saw this became even angrier than before.

Adventurer has killed a Plague Wolf. However, since adventurer is still in the middle of battle, further notification and EXP will be given after battle is over.

I got back into concentration and immediately used Fiery Blade on my sword. My sword was engulfed by fire once again and unlike Mr. Cado, who looked at my sword like it was child play, the wolves were actually afraid and started to look at it cautiously.

From behind, it seemed that Lyka was starting to use her magic as well.

"Ring of Fire!"

Around me and the 12 wolves, a circle of fire showed and the Plague Wolves seeing this tried to jump out, but whenever the wolves tried to jump out, flame rose right in front of it preventing it from escaping. Seeing that they were distracted, I immediately go and slash 3 wolves who could not react in time.

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

-600

-600

-600

AWOOOOOOOO!

All three Plague Wolves immediately fell and seeing this, all the other 9 Plague wolves immediately became desperate and all jumped towards me in all directions attempting to bite me. However, before their teeth could touch me, I immediately used Sansurrashu to cut through all 9 Plague Wolves.

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

All 9 Plague Wolves let out a final howl and fell with a large slash wounds on their bodies. As they all died, the circle of fire that Lyka put disappeared and she looked at me with surprise.

"I did not expect you to be able to defeat all 13 of them,"

"They were weakened with hunger. If I lost to that, I might as well quit being an swordsman,"

"Tch, so arrogant. So what are you going to do about the rest of the wolves,"

"*Sigh* I don't want to, but for our mission and for their sake, it's better for me to kill them,"

"Alright if that is your decision, then so be it," Lyka walked towards the 13 dead wolves and started to carefully dissect them to take out the hearts.

I also started to walk towards the other 7 Plague Wolves and cubs who were huddled up together in fear. I started to feel pity for them, but in the end, I sent out my tornado.

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

Puchi!

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

-600

The rest of the wolves were torn apart and they did not let out a sound before they laid down with their guts leaking out.

I looked away and after a couple of minutes, Lyka came to my side and started to dissect the wolves I killed with my tornado.

After she was done, we left to find a new pack to kill.

"So, cub hearts are ok as well?"

"Yeah, since it's only the size, people don't really care so as long as it doesn't say that there is no cub heart allowed, then it's valid to bring those in,"

"*Sigh*," We started to walk gloomily to find the next pack.