015 The Otherworldly Version of a Husky

For Karen, subduing these five werewolves was not particularly difficult. If they had been proper werewolves, they would have been unyielding to the core—better dead than serving as Karen’s lackeys. But these five werewolves were far from conventional; each was a peculiar anomaly among their kind.

This was evident from the obsequious attitude they displayed toward Karen, making it rather easy for him to bring them under his control. Had Karen asked them then whether they wanted to work for him, they probably would have nodded eagerly, their tails wagging like helicopter blades.

However, Karen was in no rush—not least because his strength was insufficient to fully assert control. He had only one remaining slot for subordinates. Even if they agreed, he could at most dominate only one of them.

Therefore, Karen decided to wait, intending to increase the number or level of his fourth-tier undead before attempting to subdue them properly. After gathering all the intelligence he wanted, he locked up the five werewolves along with Dorn and the three goblin merchants in the tower.

Though not a specialized prison, the Tower of Bones was incredibly sturdy, impervious to attacks below third-tier. Even a full assault from a fourth-tier warrior wielding weapons would struggle to breach it within half an hour. Coupled with additional precautions and the undead legion stationed outside, as well as magical wards inside as a last resort, the fortress was virtually impregnable.

...

After imprisoning the five werewolf brothers, Karen began preparations to deal with the beast that had invaded the mine. From the werewolves’ information, the intruder was a recently tamed wolf-type magical beast under their control. Its power was roughly that of a fourth-tier elite, wielding some degree of fire magic and possessing formidable combat abilities.

Before his advancement, Karen might have found this troublesome, but now he barely considered a fourth-tier elite beast a challenge. He had no intention of facing it himself, instead deploying Phantom Shadow Leopard and Little Green to handle the matter.

Both were undead: one a fourth-tier extraordinary being, the other wielding unique powers—each capable of overpowering a fourth-tier elite. Moreover, they held wolf fang necklaces from the five werewolf brothers, granting command over the wolf-type beast.

The preparation was thorough, and barring unforeseen circumstances, Phantom Shadow Leopard and Little Green should easily bring back the beast.

However, what seemed a sure victory took an unexpected turn.

Almost simultaneously with Little Green and Phantom Shadow Leopard’s departure toward the ravaged mine, a two-meter-long, three-meter-tall wolf-like creature appeared at Karen’s territory. Though strikingly handsome, its eyes held a foolish innocence as it sniffed the air and entered.

The beast’s arrival was immediately noticed by the "Deathwing" circling overhead. With a sharp cry, Karen’s undead legion sprang into action.

Leading the charge were three hundred undead cavalry, swirling around the beast to encircle it. Behind them followed five hundred second-tier melee undead, with ranged undead mages prepared in formation, ready to unleash spells.

Though the undead legion stumbled somewhat during deployment—mages running ahead, melee formations disorderly, and even cavalry losing mounts—the overall display was impressively coordinated.

Any creature or person with a functioning brain faced with such a legion would, even if a fourth-tier elite or extraordinary, flee without hesitation.

Yet this particular wolf was different. The big, dumb-looking giant wagged its tail excitedly, barking happily as it leapt about upon seeing the encircling undead.

Karen furrowed his brow at the familiar scene. “Why does this look so familiar? Have I seen this wolf somewhere before?”

Before he could ponder further, the giant wolf excitedly leapt forward.

“Over a thousand second-tier undead? It just charged straight in?” Karen was momentarily stunned. Were fourth-tier beasts this powerful now?

But events quickly shifted beyond Karen’s expectations. As the wolf pounced, Karen’s undead legion launched their counterattack. The undead mages struck first, bombarding the beast with a barrage of spells.

...

Within moments, nearly two hundred spells rained down on the giant wolf, while the undead cavalry charged in.

“Aw... awooo...” The wolf, once exuberant, was stunned by the onslaught. Whimpering, it tucked its tail and fled.

Watching this, Karen finally understood his déjà vu. This wasn’t a wolf at all—it was a giant version of a husky!

Its earlier enthusiasm was likely because it mistook the undead legion’s encirclement for playful antics.

“Forget it, it’s just an interdimensional husky. Even if it raided two of my mines, killed a couple hundred first-tier undead, and caused Ironbone to disappear, I should be lenient.”

Karen smirked. “Well, I’ll just kill it then.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Deathwing swooped down again, raking ten savage claws across the wolf’s back.

An ordinary beast would have turned to fight at this point; the Deathwing was prepared to vanish into thin air.

But the giant wolf was unusually cowardly, showing no inclination to retaliate—only to flee with its tail between its legs.

However, it took the wrong path. Instead of running out of Karen’s territory, it ran deeper inside, sealing its fate.

It was first blocked by Karen’s remaining fourth-tier undead steward, then encircled by the undead legion.

Within minutes, the interdimensional husky was surrounded and slain...