I Reincarnated as the Bastard Prince? Well, At least I'm OP!
Chapter 56: The mutated wolves
CHAPTER 56: THE MUTATED WOLVES
The journey to the old mines took us along a winding path that branched off from the main road.
This path was a well-trodden shortcut favored by merchants and travelers for its efficiency.
The shortcut cut through the hills which saved hours off the usual route, but recent wolf attacks had made it too dangerous for people to travel pass without an escort.
Garron led the way, his greatsword resting easily over one shoulder as he explained the situation.
"This shortcut is vital," he said, his voice steady. "Without it, merchants have to take the long way around the mountains, adding days to their trips. More time on the road means more risk—bandits, monsters and spoiled goods. If wolves claim this area, trade suffers, and so do the towns that depend on it."
Jessa nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the tree line. "Wolves are territorial. If we don’t drive them out now, the pack will grow bolder. Next thing you know, they’re attacking caravans instead of just harassing stragglers."
Zeek adjusted his glasses, his tone thoughtful. "And if travelers avoid the route entirely, the mines will be abandoned for good. No patrols, no maintenance—perfect for stronger monsters to move in. We’re stopping the problem before it gets worse."
I listened carefully, understanding the stakes.
As we approached the mines, the trees thinned, revealing the gaping entrance of an old tunnel.
The wooden support beams were weathered but still sturdy.
Garron stopped just outside, turning to address the party.
"Alright, listen up," he said. "We’re going deeper in. The wolves have made their den somewhere inside, and we need to clear them out—completely. If we leave even a few, they’ll just regroup."
He looked at each of us in turn.
"Jessa, you’re on range support. Stay behind me and pick off any wolves that try to flank us. Zeek, you handle crowd control—slow them down, blind them, whatever you’ve got. Nia—"
Nia stepped forward, her fingers weaving through the air as she murmured an incantation.
Shadows pooled at her feet, swirling until they solidified into the form of a majestic black panther.
This caught me off guard as I remembered the cat she was petting on her laps the other day at the guild.
So, this was her summoned beast in it’s true form. How interesting.
The beast was massive, its fur gleaming like polished obsidian, and a single, spiraled horn jutted from its forehead.
It let out a low growl, it’s golden eyes sharp and alert.
Garron gestured into the tunnels. "Right. Your panther takes point with me. We’ll hold the front line."
Then his gaze shifted to me. "Archer, what’s your play?"
I considered for a moment. "I can reinforce Zeek’s defensive magic—barriers, shields, anything to keep the wolves from overwhelming us. And if anyone gets hurt, I’ve got basic healing spells."
Zeek gave me an approving nod. "Extra defense is always welcome. Just don’t overextend yourself."
Garron clapped his hands together. "Good. Then we move in formation—me and the panther up front, Jessa and Zeek in the middle, Archer covering the rear with Nia. Stay sharp, stay together, and we’ll be fine."
With that, we ventured into the mines.
The tunnel swallowed us whole, the sunlight fading quickly as we moved deeper.
The air grew cool and damp.
The only sounds were the echo of our footsteps and the distant drip of water.
Zeek and I summoned orbs of light, illuminating the darkness deep in the mines.
The deeper we went, the more signs we found—clawed walls, dried blood, gnawed bones.
But there was also something strange. The further in we walked, the quieter it became.
Too quiet. Not even rats or insects.
I felt a faint shiver at the base of my neck as I felt a powerful dark magic hanging in the air.
Something wasn’t right.
Then, from the darkness ahead, a low, guttural growl reverberated through the tunnel.
Garron tightened his grip on his sword. "Here they come."
The pack emerged from the shadows. I reared back in shock. These were not ordinary cave wolves.
Their bodies were massive, muscles bulging unnaturally beneath thick, matted fur.
Each stood almost as tall as a man at the shoulder, bearing two snarling heads.
Both sets of jaws were lined with curved saber teeth. Jagged horns jutted from their skulls, and their eyes were as black as coal.
Garron stiffened, his grip on his greatsword tightening until his knuckles turned white.
Everyone else had gone still too, as if held in place by some invisible weight.
Nia’s voice trembled. "Garron... do wolves normally look like that?"
He couldn’t answer. The truth was obvious. No. This wasn’t what wolves were supposed to be like.
Jessa’s jaw dropped. "What the hell happened to them?" Her fingers tightened around her bow. "This mission is way out of our league. This is at least A-Rank. Maybe worse!"
But there was no time to retreat.
The mutated wolves charged without warning, their movements terrifyingly fast for their size.
Nia’s black panther lunged forward, its horn gleaming as it aimed for the lead wolf’s throat.
But the wolf was too fast.
One of its heads caught the panther in midair while the other head sank its saber fangs into its neck.
CRUNCH!
Blood sprayed across the stone.
"Kuro!" Nia shrieked, her voice cracking in horror. "No—!"
The panther let out a pained snarl before going limp, its form dissolving into shadows as the wolf shook it like a ragdoll.
I couldn’t believe it. It killed Kuro in one single bite. The horror.
"You bastards!" Garron roared, surging forward with his greatsword.
Jessa nocked an arrow in a flash, and Zeek’s stave began gathering magic.
But the other wolves were already charging, snarling as their claws raked against the ground, their massive bodies thundering toward us.
These fools. They’re good to get themselves killed.
I moved faster.
My hands shot up, mana surging through my veins as I shouted, "Barrier!"
A golden dome of light burst around us just as the monsters leapt in the air. The lead wolf smashed against the shield with enough force to shake the ground beneath us.
It bounced back, snarling in frustration.
The others circled us, their twin heads snapping at the air, saliva dripping from their fangs.
Inside the barrier, we were safe. I’ve made this barrier impenetrable even against monsters like these.
My party, however, were frozen in shock.
Garron’s face was pale, his sword trembling slightly. Jessa’s arrow remained undrawn, her hands unsteady. Zeek’s magic flickered, his confidence shattered.
Nia stood in shock, her eyes locked on the fading blood where her familiar had fallen.
The wolves prowled outside, their growls vibrating through the barrier.
They were hungry for blood and flesh.
Garron took a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain steady despite the fear clawing at his chest.
"Listen up!" he barked. "We’re not fighting these things. We’re getting out of here—alive. This is far beyond our level!"
Jessa whipped her head toward him, panic edging her words. "And how are we supposed to do that? We’re trapped. There’s no way past them. They’ve surrounded us!"
Zeek adjusted his glasses, his hands trembling slightly. "I—I can blind them with a flash of light. It won’t hold them for long, but it might buy us enough time to—"
Before he could finish, Nia’s voice cut through the air, cold and filled with venom.
"I’m not going anywhere."
We all turned. Her face was shadowed, her eyes burning with something far darker than grief.
In her hand, she gripped a knife so tightly her knuckles had turned white.
"They killed Kuro," she said, her voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "It took me months to tame him. He was family." Her lips curled into a snarl. "I’m going to kill them. Every last one of them. I won’t let them get away with this."
Garron reached for her, his tone pleading. "Nia, I get it—but we can’t win this fight. We have to—"
"I don’t care!" she screamed, her voice raw. "They die. Don’t try to stop me. I’ll kill them all."
"This is bad. We’re wasting time," Zeek swallowed hard, then turned to me. "Archer—how long can your barrier hold?"
I hesitated. The truth was, it would last far longer than I wanted.
The wolves were already testing its limits, their claws scraping against the golden surface.
"Another ten minutes at best," I lied. "But we need to move now."
Zeek nodded. "Then we have to get everyone to safety. I’ll need your help."
I met his gaze, then glanced at Nia, still trembling with rage.
There was no reasoning with her now.
"Of course," I said softly. Then, before anyone could react, I raised my hand and whispered, "Sleep."
Instantly, their eyes fluttered shut.
Garron slumped forward, Jessa’s bow slipped from her fingers, Zeek collapsed, and Nia crumpled to the ground.
I walked over and gently lifted her from the floor, straightening her body against the cold stone.
"Don’t worry, Nia," I murmured. "I’ll avenge Kuro."
Then I stood, turning to face the mutated wolves.
They snarled, their twin heads snapping at the barrier, their horns scraping against its surface.
"Alright, boys," I narrowed my eyes. "Come forth."
Five swirling portals tore open in a semicircle behind me.
From each one, massive figures emerged—my orcs. Their tusks gleamed in the dim light, their eyes burning with the thrill of a fight.
Dwayne cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Lord Ghorath. What are your orders?"
I didn’t take my eyes off the wolves.
"Kill them all."
The orcs roared, charging forward as I opened my barrier.