The Language of Wolves
The southern wasteland of the Silfia Continent had no name worth remembering.
Few adventurers or merchant caravans ever walked its barren ground. So the existence of ruins here came as a surprise.
Even Shanette, who had lived her entire life in Kellin territory, had never heard of them.
“Aren’t ruins usually monster breeding grounds found in noble regions? If there were ruins in the wasteland, surely crowds of people would have rushed here long ago.”
The true meaning behind these ruins was difficult to find in any historical record.
Two traits defined the ruins that had appeared across the continent since ancient times.
First, an overwhelming number of monsters.
Each ruin housed at least several hundred of them. The ruins’ magical power prevented the monsters from leaving the structure. They lived inside without eating or drinking, but after being trapped for so long, their fury had reached an extreme. Any intruder would be torn to shreds.
Second, rare rewards.
Seizing the treasure at the ruin’s heart meant conquering it. Those treasures were often rare items impossible to obtain through normal means. A powerful boss monster always guarded the heart.
Even now, countless clans raced across the land, desperate to explore ruins before anyone else and claim their prizes.
“Ruins don’t choose their location.”
Kang Yoonsoo walked forward without bothering to look around. “They’re simply hard to find.”
After walking a long time, the two were greeted by a dense thicket of thorns. This mysterious barrier had played a major role in turning the wasteland into forsaken land.
“I had no idea a place like this existed in the wasteland.”
Thorn vines that had stubbornly survived in the harsh soil were piled into an impenetrable wall. The bushes were so thick that simply approaching them risked tearing one’s skin to ribbons.
Shanette asked with a fearful expression, “You want us to push through here?”
The machete Kang Yoonsoo carried was a jungle blade—serviceable in combat, but truly specialized for slicing vines and branches. Yet he shook his head.
He stretched out his right arm.
“Salamander Sally, summon.”
A delicate flame bloomed in the air. It swirled into a small vortex of fire, and from within it emerged a lovely young girl.
“Papa—!”
Sally scampered over and clung tightly to the hem of his pants. “Papa, papa, why did you call?”
Kang Yoonsoo pointed at the thorn field. “Burn it.”
“What will you give me if I do?”
“What do you want.”
“Um… a hug?”
He pulled her into his arms.
“Kyaa!”
Sally rubbed her flushed cheeks against his face. Shanette found the sight unexpectedly touching. She had assumed a man like him would never do such a thing. Perhaps he wasn’t entirely made of ice after all.
Sally thrust both arms into the air. Then she shouted toward the thornbush.
“Fury of the Flames!”
A swirling inferno burst from the salamander’s hands. The spirit’s brilliant, scorching fire spread rapidly. Because the wasteland was so dry and devoid of moisture, the flames burned with terrifying intensity.
In moments the entire thorn field had been reduced to ash.
The girl ran back to Kang Yoonsoo, looking up at him expectantly. “Papa, papa, did Sally do well?”
“You did well. Return.”
“Hiiing. Praise me more.”
“Not in the mood.”
Sally puffed out her cheeks in displeasure. Then she toddled over and wrapped her arms tightly around Shanette’s waist.
“Sally likes Mama too. I’m going now, Mama!”
“All right. Take care, Sally.”
After sending the fire spirit back to the summoning realm, Kang Yoonsoo quickened his pace. While Shanette stared dazedly at the ground still radiating heat from the flames, he glanced back.
“Come quickly.”
The burned thorn vines were already beginning to regenerate. Their recovery was both rapid and horrifying. Fresh vines surged up fiercely, reclaiming the area.
Shanette let out a gasp and hurried after him.
Slash! Rustle!
The thorn vines lashed out, trying to ensnare them. They could not possibly be ordinary plants. Any hesitation might leave them trapped inside the thicket forever.
“At this rate we’ll be wrapped up and never get out!”
“So come quickly.”
Kang Yoonsoo spoke without emotion. The pair ran until their lungs burned.
As if guided by some invisible map, Kang Yoonsoo suddenly leaped into a sunken earthen tunnel ahead.
“This way.”
The thorn vines covered the ground like grasping tentacles. Shanette sprinted and jumped with all her strength. The instant she landed inside the tunnel, the vines sealed the entrance behind her.
Rattle!
“That… that was too close.”
Shanette swallowed hard. But Kang Yoonsoo was already walking deeper into the passage. She let out a small sigh and followed.
It had been the same during the dragon soldier’s trial—this man showed no trace of emotion. Hermia’s words rose in her mind.
He seems like he has lived for a very long time. Something about him… is different from the rest of us.
Just who was this man?
After walking through the tunnel for some time, a bright shaft of light poured down from above. An exit.
Stepping outside revealed a vast, open space completely unlike the wasteland. The ground was covered in grass still heavy with dew. Towering ancient trees rustled their leaves.
“Where… are we?”
“A space created by magic.”
Kang Yoonsoo picked up a pebble from the ground and hurled it. The stone struck something invisible in midair and dropped straight down with a clack.
Even after seeing it, Shanette could hardly believe her eyes. She walked forward and reached out. Sure enough, her hand met a solid wall where nothing should be.
“Magic that creates space has its limits. Break the right spot and the illusion collapses.”
Though it appeared to be a lush forest, it was merely a magical façade. Kang Yoonsoo drew a dark iron dagger from his coat. After scanning the area, he selected the largest tree and threw the blade.
Thud!
The dagger sank deep into the massive trunk. In that instant the tree and everything around it shattered like glass. The scenery changed in the blink of an eye.
They were back in the wasteland. Before them stood a colossal structure—tall stone walls carved with strange, intricate patterns.
It was a ruin.
The Ultika Ruins.
Among all existing ruins on the continent, its conquest difficulty was the lowest. The rewards matched that level. Yet with hundreds of monsters swarming inside, letting one’s guard down would be fatal.
The ruin ahead radiated overwhelming presence. Dozens of stone pillars stood in formation, and the interior seemed to stretch on forever.
“So they hid the ruin with magic?”
“If you mistook it for a forest and walked past, the hallucination would make you lower your guard.”
“But besides us, would anyone else actually make it through those thorns?”
“There are.”
Kang Yoonsoo answered indifferently. Shanette had grown used to his manner by now and didn’t press further.
Regardless, the ruin’s majesty was undeniable. Shanette had never seen a building so enormous in her life. Nothing could be sensed from outside, but inside, savage monsters were surely waiting.
“What now?”
“We go in.”
Kang Yoonsoo started forward. Though worry gnawed at her, Shanette gripped her scythe tightly. He was a man of few words and icy demeanor, but he was also capable of almost anything. His low level and lack of a class were concerning, yet he clearly had a plan.
The pair stepped into the ruin. Glowing stones embedded in each pillar kept the interior well lit. As they moved cautiously through the vast space, a howl echoed from somewhere deep within.
“Awooooo—!”
Goosebumps erupted across Shanette’s skin. It was the cry of a predator. Soon a massive wolf emerged from the shadows—silver mane covering its body, crimson eyes gleaming. Its huge frame and long, razor-sharp fangs were enough to freeze anyone in place.
A werewolf.
Fierce and tenacious, they were notoriously difficult opponents. Unlike ordinary wolves, they could communicate with one another and lived in organized packs. A werewolf was typically a level-70 monster—far more dangerous than the landworm they had faced before.
Shanette bared her teeth and raised her scythe. But the next howls plunged her into despair.
“Awooooo—!”
“Awooooo—!”
“Awooooo—!”
There was not just one. Werewolves that had been hiding throughout the ruin revealed themselves by the hundreds. The chamber filled with silver light as seven hundred of the beasts surrounded them in an instant.
“Bark! Bark!”
“Grrrrrrr…!”
The werewolves snarled viciously.
“What do we do now?” Shanette asked urgently.
Yet Kang Yoonsoo showed no sign of panic. He strode forward with the same calm gait as always. The sight left Shanette momentarily awed.
The werewolves bared their fangs, ready to pounce. Kang Yoonsoo raised both arms wide.
In that life-or-death moment, he shouted in a clear, loud voice.
“Bark. Grrrr. Grrrrrr… Krr. Bark. Kwooong. Bark. Krr.”
…They were dog sounds.
The werewolves instantly bristled, then answered in kind.
“Bark? Bark bark! Grrrr!”
“Grrrrrrr…? Bark! Krr? Bark!”
“Whine… Whiiiine!”
The swarm parted, opening a path. The werewolves lowered their fangs like obedient puppies and bowed their heads. Some even whimpered with tears in their eyes.
Monsters openly clearing the way—it was an unbelievable sight. Flustered, Shanette hurried to his side.
“Did you… just speak with the monsters?”
“Yeah.”
For a moment she didn’t know what expression to wear. “What did you say that made them drop their guard so fast?”
Kang Yoonsoo answered flatly.
“I told them I’d free them from the ruins.”
“Will you really do it?”
“No.”
The two continued toward the heart of the ruins.