Shadow Abyss Wolves of the Imperial Clan were legendary figures among the Abyss Wolf race.
From the moment of their birth, Imperial bloodlines were destined to stand above all their kin. They were invincible among those of the same rank and capable of fighting those above them.
It was said that the Shadow Abyss Wolf King himself possessed the Imperial bloodline.
Although this particular Imperial Shadow Abyss Wolf was only at Tier 2, Level 6, its sheer presence caused the three Tier 2, Level 5 Royal Clan members surrounding it to lower their heads in a respectful posture.
The Tier 5, Level 3 Shadow Abyss Wolf guarding the entrance of the Magic Cave bowed its head slightly as the four wolves emerged. It raised its right front paw to its left chest—a gesture of respect among the Abyss Wolf race.
Its gaze lingered for a moment on the dark purple young wolf leading the group, a trace of complexity flashing through its eerie green pupils.
“Imperial Prince.”
The dark purple young wolf, addressed as the Imperial Prince, came to a halt.
Its voice was deeper than that of an ordinary Shadow Abyss Wolf, yet it still carried the clear tone of youth. Its voice was flat, as if it were speaking of something utterly trivial.
“Dispense with the formalities. The Great King has ordered me to retrieve an item and gain some experience.”
The Tier 5 Abyss Wolf nodded slightly.
“The Great King has already sent word. The item you require is within Hangzhou, but the humans have established a temporary defensive line in the city. Our forces are currently assaulting it. The humans of the Blood Eye Cult say they can assist us.”
The Imperial Prince turned its golden pupils to the side.
On the other side of the clearing stood several Blood Eye Cultists dressed in red robes.
At their head was a Cardinal, who was currently sizing up these four unique Abyss Wolves with great interest.
“Imperial Prince,” the Cardinal said, bowing slightly. His tone was respectful, but a certain sense of scrutiny was hidden deep within his eyes.
“Though Hangzhou is in chaos, human reinforcements are already on the way. Time is of the essence. You might as well tell us what it is you need. The Blood Eye Cult still has several secret channels within the city; we can retrieve it for you. It would be faster and safer.”
The Imperial Prince stared at him with golden pupils.
It wasn't a glare or an intentional display of pressure, but merely a calm gaze.
Yet, under the gaze of those golden eyes, the Cardinal's smile slowly stiffened.
It didn't feel like a threat; rather, it was a deeper tremor originating from the depths of his bloodline instincts.
It was the feeling of a low-tier monster encountering a high-tier beast, like a creature at the bottom of the food chain suddenly realizing what it was standing before.
“You are not worthy of knowing what it is.”
The Imperial Prince’s voice remained level, devoid of anger or arrogance, as if it were simply stating a fact.
The Cardinal’s mouth twitched.
He was a Cardinal of the Blood Eye Cult, a Tier 5 powerhouse and a figure of some importance within the organization.
To be spoken to in such a manner by a Tier 2 pup... even if it was of the Imperial Clan... he would have normally lashed out immediately.
However, remembering that the Blood Eye Cult still needed the Shadow Abyss Wolf race to continue assaulting Hangzhou’s defenses, he took a deep breath and suppressed his rage.
“If that is the case,” he said, straightening his back as his tone returned to indifference. “The Blood Eye Cult will send a squad to lead you through the humans' temporary defensive line. There is a secret passage on the west side of Hangzhou that leads to the trading market in the city center. The defenses there are the weakest.”
The Imperial Prince did not offer any thanks, only giving a slight nod.
It turned around, its dark purple figure leading the way toward Hangzhou with composed strides.
The three dark silver Royal Clan Shadow Abyss Wolves followed closely behind, forming a wedge-shaped formation to protect the prince.
Their claws left deep marks in the ruins, and golden patterns flickered in and out of sight within the shadows.
The Tier 5 Shadow Abyss Wolf watched the four young wolves disappear into the darkness, an inscrutable emotion flashing in its green eyes.
The Great King had sent the Imperial Prince himself to retrieve an item.
As for what that item was, even the Tier 5 wolf did not know.
But for the Great King to divert four Royal Clan members and even send his own child during the most critical moment of the siege, the object was certainly not simple.
In the clearing, the Cardinal leaned over and whispered to his aide, “Have the squad at the western secret passage lead the way. The rest of you, continue repairing the formation.”
The aide nodded and quickly retreated into the shadows.
In the darkness, the Imperial Prince's golden pupils glowed faintly.
Walking through the ruins with the three Royal Clan wolves following closely, it looked up toward the city center where the fires burned brightest.
That was the direction of Hangzhou’s largest trading market—the Hexagon Building.
...
Not long after the Shadow Abyss Imperial Clan members had departed...
A cultist wearing a red hood stepped out from the shadows of the Magic Cave entrance and hurried to the Cardinal's side.
His steps were extremely light, making almost no sound as he stepped on the shattered floor, moving like a scurrying rat.
He leaned in and whispered a few words into the Cardinal's ear.
His voice was very soft and his speech rapid; even the aide standing a few meters away couldn't hear what was said.
Upon hearing the words, the Cardinal’s eyes instantly lit up.
It wasn't the dark red glow that appeared when the Blood Eye was activated, but a more primal excitement belonging to humans themselves.
The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward. He turned to look at the aide beside him, his voice carrying an irrepressible lightness. “Prepare to evacuate.”
For a moment, the aide was stunned, thinking he had misheard.
Evacuate? He quickly calculated the timeline in his head.
According to the plan, only the last few layers of the sealing formation remained before it would be completely destroyed. Reinforcements were on the way, thirty thousand monsters were still besieging the city, and the Shadow Abyss Wolves were still pouring out of the Magic Cave.
All the pieces were moving according to plan, and they were on the verge of turning Hangzhou into a fallen city. They were evacuating now?
“Lord Cardinal,” the aide said, trying his best not to sound like he was questioning him, but rather like a diligent subordinate requesting clarification. “The seal on the Magic Cave hasn't been fully opened yet. We've only reached the peak of Tier 5; Shadow Abyss Wolves at Tier 6 or higher still can't come out. If we evacuate now, the previous sacrifices...”
“Sacrifices?” the Cardinal interrupted with an air of indifference.
His tone was so flat it was as if the deaths of so many people in Hangzhou had nothing to do with him.
He turned around, his back to the eerie green light pouring from the Magic Cave. The firelight cast flickering shadows across his face as he slowly spoke.
“Breaking the sealing formation to anything below Tier 7 is already the limit. Going any further requires time, not magical power, and time is exactly what we lack most right now.”
“Our mission here is already complete.”
His tone remained calm throughout, but the cold light in his eyes made the aide’s skin crawl.
The aide fell silent.
He wasn't a fool. For the Cardinal to order a full evacuation, it had to be a direct command from the highest levels of the cult.
Whatever that red-hooded cultist had whispered was likely a secret order from headquarters.
He lowered his head slightly and stopped questioning, turning to convey the orders.
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