Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 69: Royal Hunting grounds (Part-9)

Meanwhile, the wolf howls had drawn countless other competitors.

Thinking a gale wolf might have appeared, they raced over.

But when they arrived and saw only a wolf pack, their excitement turned instantly to dread.

The Nether Wolf pack was the last thing anyone wanted to encounter.

Many instinctively backed away.

Until someone shouted— "Someone’s in there!"

Everyone froze.

Surrounded by wolves?

That meant certain death.

"Quick—look! It’s Zora!"

Gasps exploded like sparks.

People scrambled up trees, branches rustling as dozens of figures climbed for a better view.

Nigel and Rose also rushed over, stopping being dead when they heard the name.

"Zora is surrounded?" Rose’s voice trembled.

"That’s... that’s the Nether Wolf pack. She’s finished." Someone whispered in a tone of grim certainty.

After all, who could survive being ringed by dozens of late-stage Earth realm beasts?

But then they looked.

And what they saw drove the breath from their bodies.

Not a girl being hunted.

A girl hunting them.

Hundreds of eyes widened.

A sea of jaws dropped.

Even the wind seemed to freeze as disbelief rippled through the forest.

Within the ring of gleaming fangs, Zora moved like lightning wrapped in moonlight.

Her blade flashed, her footwork glided, and another Nether Wolf crumpled at her feet.

Red blood splattered across her skin, the contrast rendering her beauty almost unreal—an ethereal figure painted in blood, equal parts allure and danger.

"She... she’s cutting them down alone?"

"Wasn’t Zora a waste? How can she slaughter Nether Wolves?"

"You’re the waste! At minimum, she’s Sky realm early-stage—and terrifyingly skilled!"

A chorus of stunned gulps followed.

The same people who once mocked her now felt their faces burn as though slapped raw.

If this was "trash," then what were they?

Far above, Nigel and Rose exchanged a long, silent look.

"As I thought," Nigel murmured, awe and relief mingling in his voice, "she’s incredibly strong."

"This... this will shake the entire capital," Rose whispered.

But Nigel had already straightened, resolve hardening in his eyes.

"When we were helpless, she saved us," he said. "Now she’s surrounded. Even if I can’t do much, I can’t just sit here."

Rose’s eyes widened. "Nigel, are you insane? Even at late-stage Earth realm, entering that pack is suicide!"

But Nigel’s decision had already crystallized.

"If death comes, I’ll accept it. But I won’t watch from a tree."

He tore free from Zhao Yunxi’s grip and strode toward the sea of wolves.

Zhao Yunxi stared after him, speechless. "Madman."

Down below, another wolf fell beneath Zora’s blade—

But exhaustion was coiling through her limbs.

Even with perfect precision, fighting a pack of this size drained her strength at an alarming rate.

This pace can’t continue, she thought, eyes narrowing. I need a shift... a disruption...

Just then, a figure stepped out between the trees.

For the first time in this battle, surprise flickered in Zora’s gaze.

"Nigel?"

Sweat streaked his face, but his smile was steady and warm. Without hesitation, he leapt between her and the next wolf.

"I’ll help."

A ripple stirred in Zora’s eyes.

Last night, saving him had been nothing more than a passing choice.

But this—

This boy was walking willingly into a pack of death to stand beside her.

In a world where betrayal was common and gratitude was rare...

This meant something.

"Be careful!" she warned sharply.

Though Nigel had broken through to late Xuan, a Nether Wolf pack was no joke.

Still—

For a brief heartbeat, amidst blood and chaos, Zora acknowledged him with something rare: Respect.

And the battle raged on.

*

The onlookers were already stunned by the slaughter Zora had delivered.

But when Nigel suddenly leapt into the encirclement to fight back-to-back with her, a new wave of disbelief exploded among the crowd.

"Is that Nigel insane? He just volunteered to die!"

"Heroic, my foot—this is looking for death!"

"If he wants to play savior for the beauty, he’ll be corpses alongside her!"

Yet inside the ring of wolves, none of that noise mattered.

Zora and Nigel stood back to back, movements synchronized by pure instinct. With his help, the crushing pressure eased slightly—but only slightly.

As the fight raged on, Nigel was completely covered in gashes. His breathing was ragged, his stance unstable. He was no match for this many wolves; he had only survived this long because Zora was absorbing the brunt of the assault.

Zora’s eyes narrowed, locking onto the Nether Wolf King lurking amidst the snarling pack.

As long as the king lived, the wolves would never retreat.

If they kept fighting like this, she and Nigel would eventually be torn apart.

Her voice dropped into a low whisper. "When I count to three, break out of the pack. Run, and protect yourself."

Nigel stiffened. "What about you?"

"I’ll draw their attention. Focus on living."

He looked at her for a long moment—at her unwavering calm, her steady grip on her torn sword. Then he nodded once.

"You... be careful."

A bright, fearless smile flashed across her face. Under the cold moon, it was dazzling.

"No worries. I’m not easy to kill."

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

The instant her voice fell, Nigel darted toward the narrowest gap—and Zora hurled herself in the opposite direction, straight toward the Wolf King.

The wolves who were about to pounce on Nigel halted abruptly, rage redirecting as they sensed Zora charging their leader.

Blood-red fury flickered across their glowing blue eyes.

She had killed too many of them.

Their hatred was woven into their howls.

Zora blurred, her figure weaving through lunging shadows. Every dodge was razor-thin; every slash precise and ruthless. But there were too many wolves, forcing her to cut her way through again and again.

The Nether Wolf King finally bared its fangs and lunged, recognizing her intention. A violent roar shook the forest.

White’s tense voice echoed in her mind. "Master, its strength is at the early stage Sky realm—equal to yours!"

Zora didn’t blink. "I know."

She met the charge head-on, sword slicing toward the weak point beneath its ribs.

The Wolf King’s jaws snapped open—and the steel in her hands met the fangs.

DING!

A crisp crack split the air.

Zora’s sword shuddered violently.

A visible chip opened along the blade.

The Nether Wolf King, meanwhile, stood unharmed.

Before she could shift her stance, it lunged again—faster and fiercer than before.

Up in the trees, several spectators flinched and turned away, unable to bear the expected ending.

"She’s finished... she doesn’t even have a proper weapon now."

"What was she thinking, challenging a Nether Wolf King?"

"Blind courage. This is where it ends."

Nigel finally burst out of the encirclement and collapsed against a tree, breathless.

Relief washed through him—until he realized he no longer heard Zora’s footsteps behind him.

His stomach dropped.

"Zora...!"