102: Nightmare Anatolis

A magical beast, panicked and directionless, fled for its life through the dense forest. Its natural sense of danger told it that the fatal threat behind was drawing closer and closer.

Just as it was about to continue its flight, a sharp arrow pierced through its body.

"Hahahaha!"

"Reck, I'm in the lead this time!"

Seeing the prey struck, Alistair was extremely happy.

Reck smiled and shook his head. He hadn't expected the seemingly frail Alistair to have first-class mounted archery skills. Originally, he had thought Alistair was a Silver Mid-rank who had relied on magic potions to advance, but now it seemed he had judged the man by his appearance.

"Alistair, your mounted archery is top-tier even within the Knight Academy. You've truly impressed me!"

"Hahahahaha!"

Alistair rode Dorok through the dense forest; he hadn't been this happy in a long time.

Although there were no poems or theaters here, enjoying the breeze in the mountain forests and riding a handsome magic wolf made him feel as if he were inside a poem of nature itself.

Alistair was thoroughly enjoying this moment!

"Hmm?"

Alistair suddenly stopped and looked toward the north.

"Alistair, what's wrong?"

Alistair stared north for a moment, then said:

"There's some decent prey over there. Let's go take a look!"

Without waiting for Reck's response, Alistair headed straight into the depths of the Black Forest.

Reck didn't even have time to react. Wilson and the other Black Blade Knights following behind them certainly hadn't expected their Lord to suddenly head deep into the Black Forest.

"Alistair?"

Reck only hesitated for a second, and Alistair's figure vanished into the dense woods.

Wilson and the Black Blade Knights hurriedly rushed forward, chasing after Alistair.

"What is this all about?"

Reck looked helplessly at the departing Black Blade Knights. Wayne, who was accompanying Reck, stepped forward and asked:

"Lord, what should we do?"

Reck looked at the Black Blade Knights, who had all entered the deep Black Forest, and then said:

"Follow me closely!"

Reck then led his team to follow.

They advanced rapidly along the way, crossing several hilltops. Reck never managed to catch up to Alistair, though he did find a few stray Black Blade Knights.

"This shouldn't be right."

"Is Alistair really this fast?"

After chasing for a long distance, Reck stopped.

He had already chased for over a hundred miles; this distance was becoming somewhat dangerous. Reck looked at the unfamiliar mountain forest around him, where increasingly tall ancient trees blocked his vision.

Just as Reck was hesitating whether to continue searching for Alistair's tracks, a wolf's howl echoed from a peak ahead of him.

"This is?"

In that wolf's howl, Reck heard a familiar message.

"Derrick!"

While Reck was looking toward the peak the howl came from in confusion, a Black Magic Wolf lunged out from the dense forest, growling continuously at Reck.

"The King wants to see you!"

"Follow!"

The Black Magic Wolf's strength had reached the Silver Rank. After it appeared, Reck realized he was surrounded by a pack of black wolves; dozens of black magic wolves unique to the Black Forest had encircled him.

With a single glance, Reck discovered that all these dozens of black magic wolves possessed Silver Rank strength.

"Lord!"

Wayne and the ten Magic Wolf Knights crowded closely around Reck. The magic wolves they rode crouched low, letting out threatening growls at the surrounding black magic wolves.

However, their threats had no effect on the black magic wolves, who casually hemmed Reck in without taking any further action.

"Don't panic, stay behind me."

Reck patted Reck beneath him, soothing its restless heart.

"Go, follow them!"

Keeping the Gold Rank magic scroll in his spatial ring ready at any moment, Reck followed behind the Black Magic Wolf and continued forward.

Before long, Reck arrived at the mountain peak from which the howl had originated.

He was then led by the Black Magic Wolf into a vast cavern. After walking for a short while, a light shone ahead, and Reck's vision suddenly became bright and expansive.

"This mountain peak is actually hollow?"

Seeing the scene before him, Reck was somewhat stunned.

At the end of the cave was a massive grotto, but this grotto was not enclosed. Reck looked up at the opening at the top of the grotto, several hundred meters wide. Sunlight streamed through the opening to the bottom, illuminating the space within the grotto.

Some very unique plants grew near the bottom of the cave, and the closer one got to the center of the grotto, the more plants there were.

In the very center was a patch of green lawn. On the lawn stood a strange object that looked like both a plant and a stone, and beside this wonder lay a massive magic wolf.

This magic wolf was four or five times larger than Reck; even while lying down, it was two or three meters high.

"This aura... it's definitely a Gold Rank magic wolf, maybe even stronger!"

Reck, who originally had some confidence, now felt a bit uncertain. The Gold Rank magic scroll in his spatial ring might not be enough to deal with the magic wolf before him.

Just as Reck was considering how to respond, the magic wolf spoke first.

"Descendant of Derrick, have you come to me because your family has encountered a crisis they cannot handle and you need to ask for my help?"

The magic wolf did not speak in the wolf tongue but directly in human speech. However, that wasn't what shocked Reck; what shocked him was the content of what the wolf said.

"Hmm?"

"Ask for help?"

As if seeing the confusion in Reck's eyes, the magic wolf gently shook its head.

"It seems you do not know of me, nor have you come to seek help!"

"My name is Anatolis, once a brother to your ancestor, Derrick."

Hearing the familiar name of Anatolis, Reck cried out in surprise.

"You are Black Nightmare Anatolis?"

"How could you be here?"

Black Nightmare Anatolis was recorded with great prominence in the history of the Derrick Family. He was once the combat partner—the mount magic wolf—of Derrick, the founder of the Derrick Family.

However, Derrick never treated him as a mount but as a brother, because they were indeed raised by the same mother and drank the same mother's milk.

Anatolis was brought out by Derrick from the Wolf Pack that had nurtured him.

"Did no one tell you of my existence?"

"With your current strength and talent, you are already qualified to know of my existence. Why would no one have told you?"

"Did the current head of the Derrick Family not tell you?"

Anatolis was equally curious; the young man before him seemed to have absolutely no idea of his existence.

"Senior Anatolis, I am the only one left in the Derrick Family now. My father died in battle very suddenly and did not have the chance to tell me of your existence."

"You are the only person left in the Derrick Family?"

Anatolis, who had been somewhat lazy, stood up abruptly. His tall frame looked down upon Reck, and the powerful fluctuations from his body made it difficult for Reck to breathe.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?"

Facing Anatolis's inquiry, Reck recounted the story of the Fel Orcs attacking the family. After listening to Reck's narration, Anatolis sighed deeply and lay back down.

"Damned Fel Orcs. I didn't expect there would still be underground caverns leading north, allowing those filthy creatures to come to the Northern Borders."

"Back then, I promised Derrick I would protect his family. As long as the Derrick Family was in danger, they could come to this Magic Wolf Peak to find me. For over a hundred years, you descendants of Derrick never sought me out."

"I didn't expect such a crisis to occur just a few months ago. The timing is too coincidental."

"It's also my fault; I didn't notify you before I left."

Anatolis covered his head with his front paws in some frustration.

"Senior?"