Our Family Has Fallen

Because part of the backlash from the ritual had also affected him.

Warwolf picked up the arrow with the eyeball on it and, astonishingly, bit off the eyeball directly. Juice even oozed out as he chewed, while his attention remained fixed on the arrow in his hand.

”These are the Eagle Flock’s arrows. It seems we haven’t completely killed those guys, or there’s another team...”

Warwolf swallowed the eyeball and then turned to look at the others.

He knew that those warriors were waiting for an explanation. They needed to understand why they had let the enemy who desecrated the sacred ritual go.

”Even if we catch up and kill them, what does it matter? What’s really important is the Cavalry behind them. They want you to pursue them, to hold us up, waiting for those Cavalry to arrive.”

Saying this, Warwolf looked up in the direction Wang Cai had fled. The previously indistinct shapes of the wolves also fled with him.

”Moreover, our primary task now is to complete the remaining ritual. That white wolf is our target. For now, let’s conserve some strength and prepare to move.”

Previously, Warwolf wouldn’t have cared so much. Anyone daring to desecrate the sacred ritual would be taken down, regardless of the cost.

Now, he had to weigh the pros and cons to make the best choice.

Killing one or two members of the Eagle Flock wouldn’t change the current dire situation. Lingering would mean losing precious time and incurring greater costs.

”Let’s get ready to leave. That white wolf is so badly injured; it won’t get far.”

Warwolf reached into the pouch at his waist, pulled out a Potion, and administered it to the Wolf King beside him. The Potion took effect, and the once-weakened Wolf King gradually recovered.

The Potion healed the wound instantly!

Such an effect could only come from the Potions produced by the Deerhead Tribe.

Unfortunately for Warwolf, these Potions were irreplaceable. His supply was dwindling, making each bottle incredibly precious.

Holding the empty Potion bottle, his thoughts involuntarily turned to Grendel.

If she were by his side, those injured warriors wouldn’t have died.

Why did you reject me...

Why did you leave me...

My love, where are you...

But soon he dismissed these thoughts and personally began treating the wounds of the injured warriors. Apparently, they were quite skilled at treating these external injuries.

They had intended to camp here to rest and recover, but an unexpected night attack had left the team in even worse condition.

Fortunately, the Wolf God’s favor had granted them a glimpse of victory’s dawn.

But the subsequent surprise turned into shock, and all their hopes turned to naught.

There’s an old saying in the Mountains: even the mightiest oak can be felled by the wind.

It means that even the strongest will can be shattered by relentless setbacks.

This was how everyone felt now, Warwolf included.

With pain and exhaustion, they departed...

Just a short distance away, hidden in the canopy, a Night Owl spread its wings and took off, letting out a HOOT.

Soon, several bird calls echoed through the quiet night sky. Then, the Night Owl landed on a low branch. The next moment, the branch moved, revealing it to be an outstretched arm.

This person was undoubtedly the sole remaining member of the Eagle Flock. Wrapped in a dark green cloak that allowed her to blend seamlessly into the wilderness, it was no wonder she had chosen such a color.

The woman took a rat from her pocket and handed it over. This was a species of rodent bred by the Eagle Flock organization back in their tribal days, specifically for training birds.

They were characteristically quiet and docile, making them useful for feeding birds or testing for danger. Eagle Flock members typically carried a few.

Hawks were active during the day and rested at night, so their night vision was poor. Warwolf had once used this fact to escape pursuit.

Night Owls, on the other hand, rested during the day and were active at night, possessing strong night vision.

But this Night Owl wasn’t one she had personally trained. Instead, she had recruited it on the spot in the wilderness, using an artifact given to her by the Baron.

The artifact in question was an oddly-shaped bone whistle, made from bird bones, which she now held in her mouth.

Bird bones are hollow, producing sound when air passes through them. Processing the bones can even change their timbre.

Most Eagle Flock members had played with such whistles since childhood, but the one she held was an Extraordinary item imbued with mystical power.

Blowing it could summon nearby raptors. It was with this device that she could emit bird calls and control the Night Owl.

The battle between Warwolf and the Heretics had been too loud, startling not only Wang Cai but also the Night Owls hidden deep in the wilderness.

That’s why she had appeared here.

Her interruption of the ritual had been pure coincidence. She had been rushing over to assess the situation when she happened upon them.

She could have chosen to stand by, but Warwolf’s slaughter of the Eagle Flock had fueled her hatred, leading her to release that arrow.

She chose the Wolf King simply because he was already injured and thus the easiest target to hit.

Her initial intent was merely to vex them; interrupting the ritual was an unexpected bonus.

It’s fair to say that if Warwolf hadn’t slaughtered the Eagle Flock, the woman probably wouldn’t have dared to shoot. Instead, she would have carefully retreated to report back and await her superior’s opinion.

Now, however, she acted on her own initiative. Geniuses often have unique ideas, and she was confident in her ability to escape.

Obviously, she had succeeded.

The Night Owl grabbed the rat and flew to a nearby tree. Pinning it with a claw, its hooked beak tore at the rat’s flesh. Amid faint squeaks, the rat was ripped into pieces and swallowed.

HOOT~. The woman blew the whistle again. The Night Owl took to the sky once more. After an initial slight rustle of feathers, it flew as if merging with the air, utterly silent.

Different bird species possess unique characteristics due to variations in their physical structures.

The most outstanding feature of Hawks is their speed. When diving, they can be faster than an arrow, and their talons can instantly decapitate prey like rabbits.

Silent flight was the Night Owl’s talent, coupled with its exceptional night vision, making it a formidable nocturnal predator. Mice, foxes, snakes, and even other raptors like eagles became its prey in the darkness.

And the Night Owl flew in the direction Warwolf and his group had taken.

The woman didn’t linger. She returned to the Cavalry’s encampment, located in the same village that had been previously slaughtered and abandoned. Upon her return, however, she sensed something was amiss. Knights patrolled outside with torches. Though dismounted, they were fully armored, their drawn Longswords clearly not just for show.

Moreover, she could see bloodstains on some of them.

After her identity was confirmed, the woman quickened her pace towards the flickering firelight.

The Cavalry had encamped on the village’s central threshing ground. But now, several oddly-shaped corpses lay there, fresh blood pooling on the already blood-soaked earth.

The woman had been out scouting with her Bird Whistle and was unaware of what had transpired. Seeing this scene, however, she understood that a battle had just ended here.

What surprised her even more was these bizarre enemies... They seemed familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.

”How dare they attack us with just a few men!”

The voice immediately drew the woman’s attention. She saw Alvin standing among the Knights, not in armor but in casual attire, sword in hand. Unabated anger showed on his face as he looked at the corpses and voiced his indignant question.

One might question his political acumen, but his prowess in battle was beyond doubt.

When facing enemies, he truly dared to lead the charge. He would even face a night raid with sword in hand, forgoing armor.

Blood stained his clothes and his Longsword, clear evidence of his victory over his enemies.

His noble upbringing had always lent him an air of distinction, but now, standing bloodied with sword in hand, he appeared even more imposing, exuding a powerful aura.