Chapter 77: The Mutant Wolf King

“Brother Luo, we have at most one day’s journey left before we reach Hope Base,” Wang Ji said, checking the map on his tablet, his mood noticeably brightened.

Long Qianwen broke into a smile as well; returning to the base meant she could finally focus on treating her younger brother, Long Shanhao’s injuries.

Even Luo Ji, who had been traveling tirelessly for months, allowed himself a rare smile, feeling for the first time a yearning to settle down.

“Chief Wang, thanks to you, we’ll make it back to the base safely this time. I’ll bring Xiao Yuan and start working on the research materials you gave me as soon as possible,” Luo Ji said, now fully aware of Wang Ji’s status and influence and no longer daring to treat him as a peer. He quietly memorized Wang Ji’s generosity and kindness.

“Good. When the time comes, I’ll arrange people to help you get everything ready,” Wang Ji replied, when suddenly he received an urgent communication from headquarters.

Without hesitation, Wang Ji pressed the communicator and said, “This is Wang Ji. What’s the matter?”

“Boss, it’s me, Li Chengming! Twenty kilometers northeast, our reconnaissance squad has encountered a powerful enemy and is requesting reinforcements. Armored transports and tanks are already on their way,”

“But the situation is critical. I hope you can rush ahead to support them!” Li Chengming’s voice was laden with urgency.

Wang Ji’s expression turned serious as he glanced towards the northeast. “Understood. I’ll be there in two minutes!”

“Qianwen, you and Brother Luo keep going. My men are in trouble—I need to check on them,” Wang Ji called out, then swiftly darted off in that direction.

“Hey! Brother Wang Ji… wait!” Long Qianwen stamped her foot in frustration, watching Wang Ji’s figure disappear.

Meanwhile, in a northeastern forest, a five-man reconnaissance squad was besieged by a pack of giant wolves, using rocks for cover as they fought desperately.

“Calling headquarters! Wild Wolf Four is facing an A-level situation, requesting support!” the communications officer shouted, sweat pouring down his face.

The squad leader glanced at the wolves outside, feeling the weight of the situation. “Hold your ground, everyone! Crossfire defense. Throw all your grenades, and set up the directional mines, trigger mode—get them out there!”

Explosions boomed continuously, sowing chaos among the giant wolves and briefly halting their assault. Yet the squad leader’s face grew even graver, knowing the real crisis would hit once the grenades were gone.

“Xiao Wu! Call for artillery support from the base!”

Comms officer Xiao Wu fired a few shots, forcing back a wolf, then quickly checked his tablet and pressed the communicator.

“Calling headquarters! Wild Wolf Four requesting artillery support, coordinates XX,XXX! Requesting artillery support, coordinates XX,XXX!”

Beep beep beep~

Inside the base communications center, Li Qing and Li Chengming stared grimly at the map on the screen, where five green dots represented Wild Wolf Four, surrounded by a dense cluster of fifty red dots—giant wolves.

“Captain Li, the coordinates are too close to our squad. If we use artillery…” Li Qing said sternly.

Li Chengming clenched his fist, staring at the screen. After a few seconds, he pressed the communicator. “Wild Wolf Four! Hold on, Chief Wang will arrive in two minutes!”

The squad leader, hearing Li Chengming’s words, looked at the wolves just meters away and replied bitterly, “Captain, we probably can’t hold out even one minute, let alone two.”

Li Chengming’s eyes narrowed. He issued a decisive order, “Artillery unit, three consecutive explosive shells at coordinates XX,XXX! Fire!”

Several self-propelled guns at the base, already on standby, quickly received the coordinates and began their preparations.

“Coordinates XX,XXX! Explosive shells ready!”

“Fire!”

With a thunderous roar, dust billowed beside the artillery as shells soared skyward, crossing dozens of kilometers before whistling down onto the forest.

Wild Wolf Four’s squad leader, struggling against the giant wolves, heard the whistling from above and shouted, “Artillery incoming!”

He was the first to dive behind the rocks, and the others followed suit.

The giant wolves, sensing danger, howled and surged forward with renewed ferocity.

Boom…

Explosive shells ravaged the forest, flipping most of the giant wolves onto the ground. The second barrage tore flesh and bone, flames and thunder dominating the battlefield.

Within a minute, three rounds of bombardment left less than one in ten wolves alive. Wild Wolf Four’s team sat dazed, waiting for the shockwaves to subside.

“Aah!” Suddenly, a team member screamed. The squad leader, barely lifting his head, saw a horrifying sight and, eyes blazing, raised his rifle and cursed as he fired.

A giant wolf had burst through, its jaws clamping onto the team member’s gun arm, biting down hard and tearing it off, blood spraying everywhere. The red light in its eyes intensified.

Ignoring the squad leader’s attack, it lunged forward and bit off half the team member’s body.

“Damn it! Ah!” The squad leader and the others, recovering from the shock, raised their rifles in rage. In that moment, fear vanished from their hearts.

Suddenly, from the distant forest, a tremendous wolf howl echoed. A figure, obviously twice the size of the giant wolves, appeared: its limbs were covered in black, armor-like material, and its claws gleamed ominously.

The howl carried a terrifying psychic force across the battlefield. The wounded but mobile wolves immediately struggled to their feet and bowed to their king.

This was a mutant Wolf King, majestic and fierce, striding to the center of the battlefield and unleashing another furious roar, making the surviving wolves tremble in fear.

Wild Wolf Four’s squad leader looked at the Wolf King in despair, struggling under the immense psychic pressure as he pressed the communicator. “Headquarters, S-level threat detected… Please tell Chief Wang not to come…”

Li Chengming slammed his fist onto the desk in anger. “Confirm: is it an S-level threat?!”

This was the threat classification established after the independent company fought the giant spider—a threat equal to the spider itself.

At this moment, Wang Ji’s true strength was still unknown in the base. Encountering an S-level threat required careful planning; Li Chengming dared not let Wang Ji risk himself alone.

The squad leader took a ragged breath, surveyed his team, and replied, “Confirmed! S-level threat!”

The giant wolf was now within ten meters of them, its presence already hampering their movements.

“Brothers, it’s do or die!” The squad leader gritted his teeth, ignoring headquarters, and stood up, raising his rifle to fire at the Wolf King.

Scattered rifle shots rang out in the forest, echoing their resolve to the sky.

The Wolf King hadn’t expected these weak insects to provoke it. Its fur bristled, and it charged through the hail of bullets.

Watching its claws swing towards him, the squad leader smiled bitterly, closed his eyes, and waited for the end.

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes in astonishment, witnessing a scene he would never forget.

Wang Ji, half-crouched, raised his chainsaw sword and blocked the Wolf King’s attack. The force of the claws whipped his coat, making him appear like a war god.

Wang Ji saw the fallen team member’s body and his expression darkened. “Sorry, I came as quickly as I could.”

The four surviving scouts, saved from certain death, wept in gratitude. “Chief!”

Wang Ji nodded slightly. “Leave it to me.”

With a powerful surge, he pressed the chainsaw sword against the Wolf King’s claws, sending it staggering backward.

The Wolf King’s eyes widened in shock at the pain radiating from its claws. It howled in fury, its pride wounded by this new challenge.

Having just awakened a measure of intelligence, it failed to sense that Wang Ji’s aura was growing stronger, overwhelming its own psychic dominance. Roaring, it forced the surviving wolves to attack Wang Ji.

Wang Ji, burning with anger, faced them head-on.

“Cyclone Slash!”

With a flash of sword-light and fury, more than ten giant wolves fell in moments.

The Wolf King, unable to react, watched its minions slaughtered and finally showed fear. It howled and charged at Wang Ji with all its might.

Lacking full intelligence, the Wolf King’s tactics remained those of a beast—biting, clawing, and pouncing. The black armored material on its limbs made Wang Ji frown as he fought.

Quickly, Wang Ji’s agility allowed him to dominate the Wolf King, leaving wounds on its back and belly.

The gash on its belly especially hindered the Wolf King’s movements.

“Awroo!” The Wolf King roared, a red glow enveloping its body, and the wounds visibly healed before Wang Ji’s eyes.

If not for the sudden drain in its aura, Wang Ji would have been troubled.

“So, your skill is regeneration, huh?”

Wang Ji sneered, sword raised, and attacked again.

Seeing this, the Wolf King spun and fled in terror.

Wang Ji smiled wryly, turning to Wild Wolf Four’s members. “Stay on guard here. Reinforcements are almost here.”

With that, he gave chase. The Wolf King was slower, but its desperation lent it speed; after more than ten kilometers, Wang Ji finally struck with a heavy blow, breaking its spine.

The Wolf King howled, collapsed, and lashed out with its claws in a final act of defiance.

Wang Ji dodged, his face grave, raised the chainsaw sword, and unleashed another Cyclone Slash on its neck, nearly severing its head.

The Wolf King shuddered, its gaze fading as it twitched and lay still.

[Elite mutant leader slain. Grade 3 crystal core detected. Absorb?]

Wang Ji accepted, gaining nearly ten thousand energy points and feeling his spirits lift.

He approached the Wolf King’s body, intrigued by the black armored material on its limbs.

“X-System, scan the Wolf King’s claw material.”

[…Scan complete! The Wolf King’s claws are an initial mutation towards advanced leader status, strength equal to an advanced leader’s body.]

Wang Ji stared at the Wolf King in surprise. “So it has the potential to evolve into an advanced leader? Same level as the gorilla?” He was puzzled.

Suddenly, the X-System chimed again.

[Ding! Crystal core fragments detected!]