The blood moon's crimson glow spilled over Lone Peak, draping the White Wolf warriors in a scarlet veil of armor.

One hundred White Wolf warriors removed their wolf blades and battle helmets, arranging them neatly on the ground. They bowed to the young white wolf, as if performing a final farewell rite.

Some rose and walked straight to the cliff edge. Others headed for the rocky ground to the side, picking up the dragonfly-wing-like *Wing Harnesses* scattered there and strapping them on.

Will watched as five white wolves reached the cliff first. They clasped their paws together, closed their eyes, and chanted softly. After a moment, a faint purple-gold aura flickered around their bodies.

"Rise!"

The five wolves snapped their eyes open, leaping into the air almost simultaneously. They traced five graceful arcs, hurtling toward the Frostwall on the opposite side of the peak—straight for the Shield Fort!

"Self-destruct!"

A deafening roar split the sky. The five white wolves exploded mid-air, their bodies engulfed in searing flames. They transformed into five brilliant fireballs, crashing toward the Frostwall with the force of thunder.

The fireballs trailed long tails of fire, their scorching heat so intense that Will, standing on Lone Peak, could almost feel it on his skin.

That's terrifying! Will stared, dumbfounded.

Truly, on the Blood Moon night, a white wolf's self-destruct power is tenfold stronger than usual!

The five fireballs struck the same spot on the wall one after another. Five dull booms echoed as the ice covering the wall shattered, sending shards flying. A thick cloud of snow dust and smoke billowed up, swallowing the Frostwall in an instant.

Wait, that sound isn't right.

Obscured by the smoke, Will couldn't see the aftermath, but the impact sound was less earth-shaking than he'd expected.

Is the effect not ideal? His heart sank.

"Keep going! Charge!"

The young white wolf's roar came from behind. Five more white wolves stepped to the cliff, leaped into the air, and flew toward the wall.

"Detonate!"

The five wolves exploded mid-air, turning into a shower of meteors that slammed into the wall again. Snow dust filled the sky, blotted out the moon.

A third group of white wolves shot off Lone Peak—Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

"Don't stop! Keep going!" The young white wolf screamed, his voice hoarse, as if driven mad.

Another group took flight, some wearing wing harnesses. At the peak of their arc, they too burst into brilliant light.

Wolf God protect us! Will prayed silently.

One by one, white wolves leaped off the cliff. Under the blood moon, they detonated their demonic essence, blooming into flowers of disaster—bright as fireworks, roaring like the Wolf God himself.

Fireballs battered the wall in waves. The ancient ramparts seemed to tremble under the suicide attacks.

This is too brutal!

Will stood at the cliff edge, watching wave after wave of white wolves charge. For the first time, he felt a twinge of pity.

Is this sacrifice really worth it?

Though he wasn't a White Wolf, they were still kin. Watching his fellow wolves give their lives for the war, he couldn't maintain his usual cold indifference. His heart raced with every explosion.

This is a huge gamble!

Will knew this battle wasn't just about his honor as Wolf King—it was about the fate of the entire wolf race. He burned with desire for victory, but he didn't want the White Wolves to suffer too great a loss. The shadow of failure also filled him with fear. This mix of conflicting emotions squeezed at his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Finally, the self-destruct attacks stopped.

The flames and explosions faded, and Lone Peak, once crowded, was now nearly empty.

Did we succeed…?

As the snow fog cleared, Will saw the result—the Frostwall still stood tall over the tundra.

No!

This wasn't what he'd hoped for.

A few plumes of black smoke curled from the wall, like the lingering breath of a dragon.

Wait!

Will suddenly spotted visible cracks on the wall's surface. They weren't deep, but his heart leaped with excitement.

"Did we do it? Did we do it?" The young white wolf rushed to the cliff, anxious. "I see the human legion counterattacking!"

You have no Wolf King's dignity at all. Will snorted.

He'd already noticed the defenders' counterattack. After the third wave of fireballs, arrows began flying from the wall—but they were few, scattered, and had barely enough range to reach the tundra, posing no threat to the wolf army.

The Frostwall Legion must be in chaos after that blow! Will was certain. He wasn't afraid of a human charge.

Things are totally different from half a year ago!

Of the legion's three Holy Light Mages, two are dead and one is useless. Even the Golden Knights are gone!

And I have three hundred Wild Wolf Cavalry, plus the White Wolf warriors. If we fight head-on, we have absolute victory!

But if the humans hide behind the walls and hold out, that's a problem!

Will frowned. The self-destruct attacks hadn't collapsed the wall, but they'd created cracks. He needed to figure out if the cracks were enough for werewolves to climb up.

Should we attack? He wasn't fully confident.

"Hey, why aren't you answering me?" The young white wolf pressed.

Will's train of thought was broken, and he felt a surge of irritation.

Dammit, after this battle, I'll kill you!

"Hey!"

"Stop yelling! The humans' weak counterattack is nothing to fear!" Will snapped. "With the Flight Leap Curse, we might be able to climb the cracks, but the chance of success is only fifty-fifty!"

"That's too low!" The young white wolf shouted. "And not all werewolves know the Flight Leap Curse!"

You finally said something useful!

Will frowned: "Not only that—we have to watch out for arrows raining down from the wall."

The arrows couldn't hit targets far away, but they'd be a deadly threat to werewolves climbing the wall.

He shook his head: "No. Only a few of us could make it up. The odds of winning are too low!"

"Then keep blowing yourselves up!" The young white wolf snarled. "Keep going until the wall collapses!"

Will stared at the young wolf's resolute face, stunned.

Even though he'd harbored resentment and schemes toward the White Wolves, in that moment, he didn't want them to sacrifice more.

They've already lost half their clan. If they keep self-destructing, they'll be wiped out…

We can't let the White Wolves go extinct.

In an instant, perhaps stirred by their shared wolf blood, Will's reason snapped back. He blurted: "No! That's enough!"

The young white wolf's eyes widened: "Why? This is a once-in-a-millennium chance! Why stop now?"

Will said firmly: "Don't get carried away! Your father would never agree to this…"

"Fine! I'll let Father give the order!" The young white wolf turned and shouted: "Father! We've made huge progress! The wall has cracks! We need to keep blowing it up!"

Old Watt was leaning against the boulder, his eyes closed, motionless—as if he hadn't heard a word.

What's going on!

Will's heart skipped a beat. He and Xue both sensed something was wrong, and they leaped to Old Watt's side at the same time.

"Father! Father!" The young white wolf's voice trembled with panic.

Will leaned in to check his breath. There was none.

Old Watt was dead…

Right at this moment.