The Stage 2 Wolf had finally shown itself. It was smaller than even normal wolves and its fur was a darker grey.

It was a variant.

Seeing Aeron still alive, the beast growled and pounced once more, turning into a blur that streaked towards him.

Even with agility being his highest stat, Aeron stood no chance against the creature's speed.

Claws slammed against hastily raised blades, the strength behind them not overpowering but the Stage 2 power easily pushing Aeron backwards.

His arms felt numb from resisting that strike. He truly was outclassed in almost every way by this beast.

So, he had three advantages against this animal. He begun to use the first, technique.

The two duelled at the open gates, the shear intensity of the battle allowing no interference.

The elites each finished up their battles against the Stage 1 wolves before moving to assist those on the walls as they knew they would be no help in their liege's battle.

Aeron barely hung on, relying on his newly acquired sword skills and the occasional illusion to protect his vitals. Cuts gradually appeared over his body and various muscles around the injuries wouldn't respond properly under the influence of the wolf's cultivation.

As he was nearing his limit, he muttered a chant under his breath.

"Cure Light Wounds."

Dipping into his nearly exhausted pool of magic, he utilised his second advantage.

A faint green light washed over him, relieving his fatigue and healing some of his injuries though not the effects the cultivation power had on him.

Like this, he continued to hold on, teetering on the edge of life and death but managing to keep a firm grasp on the mortal realm.

When his magic was running low, his final advantage began to show itself, equipment.

Every time the two clashed, since Aeron's swords would make contact with some part of the beast's body, frost began to spread.

The paws were worst off, being almost completely stiff, whilst its joints that had been targeted since the start began to lock up and slow it down.

The wolf had to spread its cultivation power throughout its body in order to maintain its speed, but that meant its attacks continuously got weaker as the battle drew on.

Eventually, the two became evenly matched, Aeron having run out of magic and the beast having spread its power thin by focusing it all over its body.

Both drew back, panting from exertion.

Aeron took this chance to check on the main battle.

A few of his soldiers had been dragged off the wall by pouncing wolves, but they otherwise held firm.

The knights, berserkers and spearmen were battered and bloody from repelling waves of assaulting beasts whilst the skirmishers sent a small but steady bombardment of spears over the walls.

The dead wolves had formed a pile of corpses which the remaining ones used to climb up the wall easier, stepping on their comrades to reach the enemy.

The wolf he was facing surveyed the battle also, noting how its side was losing.

It was about to howl a retreat when Aeron, noticing his achievement points rising, dragged his tired body to attack once again.

Taking the initiative this time, Aeron utilised his [Illusionary Second Strike] skill to the maximum, forcing it to block vital areas whilst instead inflicting superficial wounds to spread the cold effect.

Seeing their leader losing, the last few Stage 1 wolves threw themselves into the duel.

They stabilised the situation, letting the leader strike back and taking hits for it. They fell one by one until it was just the two of them again but they once again fought on equal grounds.

They were both driven to the braking point again and again, but managed to come back every time.

After a long and hard fought battle, the wolf managed to break away. It didn't even howl a retreat as it ran, using the lives of its army in exchange for not being followed.

Aeron tiredly climbed the walls, gesturing for Henry to hand him a throwing spear. He turned to the battlefield, noticing the wolf leader nearing the tree line.

He strained his mind, managing to use the [Illusionary Second Strike] skill on the throwing spear as he spent the last of his energy to hurl it out. He then immediately collapsed to the floor, completely spent physically, mentally, and magically.

The wolf neared the forest, swearing vengeance as it glanced towards the village that almost killed it. Its eyes widened as it saw a spear travelling ridiculously fast in an arc towards it.

It slammed all four legs into the ground, skidding to a halt. The spear hit the ground a few feet in front of it, but made no impact.

Before the surprise could even register in its mind, a second spear pierced through its skull from above.

Wanting to flee as quickly as possible, it had moved all its cultivation power to its legs and frozen joints. Its head, whilst still tough, was at its weakest, allowing the wooden throwing spear to stab into its brain.

The battlefield froze for a moment as the wolf leader managed to let out one last, unresigned howl before it perished.

The silence passed and the wolves retreated like a grey tide going out. They left behind hundreds of corpses of their friends and pack mates, but they did not care since their primal instincts told them to get out of their as quickly as possible so they did, running back with their tails between their legs.

The defending soldiers let out a cheer and hugged each other. This had been their first truly trying battle in which they had been pushed to the brink of exhaustion and death.

Henry took over the post battle matters of collecting the fallen soldiers' bodies and getting the villagers to drag the wolf bodies into a large pile inside the outer wall away from scavengers.

Meanwhile, Aeron faded from the wall, falling into a deep sleep after returning to Earth.