Chapter 2, Werewolf

Just as Mari Mancini and the king believed they must join the battle, a resounding blast of a trombone sounded from a distance. Mari immediately hid her hands in her skirt, while the king sent all his projectiles into the mouth of a werewolf, its snout instantly blown apart, hanging limply from its face

These werewolves are undoubtedly enemies of the king and sent by his political rivals or the cardinal

Upon hearing this response, the Queen Mother cried out and fainted. However, at that moment, her fainting was rather a fortunate occurrence, for almost simultaneously, a massive shadow leaped directly from the crown of a tree that leaned toward the road onto the top of the carriage. Its two hind claws firmly gripped the luggage rack encircling the top of the carriage, producing creaking sounds from the iron bars, while one claw was used to stabilize its body and the other claw reached for the roof of the carriage. A massive shadow leaped directly from the crown of a tree that leaned toward the road onto the top of the carriage. Its two hind claws firmly gripped the luggage rack encircling the top of the carriage, producing creaking sounds from the iron bars, while one claw was used to stabilize its body and the other claw reached for the roof of the carriage

The people present may find it difficult to forget this peculiar sight— the night sky a deep blue, the full moon hanging high, the filthy blood of the werewolf pulsating with a strong heartbeat, surging into the air, followed by a torrential downpour filled with a stench, hot and viscous.

Approximately ten minutes later, as the fuel was consumed, the blinding light that deterred the werewolves finally dimmed. There was one fatal flaw: they were in the wilderness, the situation had arisen abruptly, and there were no fortifications or trenches. These enemies from hell were numerous and could launch attacks from all directions. As the previous royal guard had said, once they exhausted their ammunition, they began to wield their swords. They knew that all their efforts were in vain; perhaps by the time they all perished in battle, the king would still meet his end in the wolves' belly. Yet, not a single person was willing to retreat. These enemies from hell were numerous and could launch attacks from all directions. As the previous royal guard had said, once they exhausted their ammunition, they began to wield their swords. They knew that all their efforts were in vain; perhaps by the time they all perished in battle, the king would still meet his end in the wolves' belly. Yet, not a single person was willing to retreat.

When the Queen Mother slowly awoke, the clerics had already completed their final tasks. They had carefully used conical or triangular steel silver needles to pierce the eye sockets of the werewolves, thereby destroying their brains, or to open their chests and extract their hearts, which was one of the only two methods capable of completely killing a werewolf. They also examined the bodies of the survivors one by one to ensure that they bore no marks or bites left by the werewolves

The people in the carriage looked up to see the ceiling bulging downwards, cracking, with wood chips flying everywhere. A claw, covered in black fur and the size of a human head, reached in, scratching wildly in the air. Mari immediately lifted her left skirt, reached into her underskirt, and after finding her small pouch, grabbed a handful of sulfur. She clearly pronounced a Latin word, and with a puff of smoke erupting from her tiny fist, a burst of searing light akin to lightning filled the entire carriage, pushing everyone against the walls with an invisible, immense force, while the werewolf on the ceiling was violently thrown out.

Mary's eyes widened, but the king merely waved his hand forcefully, compelling her to direct her strength towards the most esteemed woman in all of France. The queen mother had not yet opened her eyes before she fell back into a deep slumber. When Mary looked at the king, he had already turned his gaze towards the window, where the scenery outside was unrecognizable. Apart from the dimming light of the day, the speed of the carriage had reached its limit. The carriage did not seem to be supported by the wheels; rather, it felt as if it were being pulled by the wind. It was moving so fast that when they encountered a bend, the carriage surged forward violently due to inertia, dragging the horses down. When Mary looked at the king again, he had already shifted his gaze to the window, where the scenery outside was unrecognizable. Apart from the dimming light of the day, the speed of the carriage had reached its limit. The carriage did not seem to be supported by the wheels; rather, it felt as if it were being pulled by the wind. It was moving so fast that when they encountered a bend, the carriage surged forward violently due to inertia, dragging the horses down. The heavy bodies of the horses were crushed against the driver, rolling over, while the carriage carved a long gash in the muddy wilderness, the door flung open, and the carriage body shattered into pieces.

"Fire! Ignite!" Marili whispered, "Werewolves fear bright light and high heat"

A group of plainly dressed clerics charged in on horseback from the other end of the road, each holding an ancient spear with a glimmering silver tip. The werewolves turned towards them, howling, and their encounter lasted only a moment. In an instant, three werewolves were impaled into the air by the spears. After a single strike, the clerics discarded their broken spears and drew out uniquely designed long knives. They turned their horses around and charged at the werewolves once more, and the werewolves did the same. They collided like two pieces of steel, the cold gleam of the long knives and sharp teeth sparking like flying embers. In an instant, three werewolves were impaled into the air by the spears. After a single strike, the clerics discarded their broken spears and drew out uniquely designed long knives. They turned their horses around and charged at the werewolves once more, and the werewolves did the same. They collided like two pieces of steel, the cold gleam of the long knives and sharp teeth sparking like flying embers

"Werewolf," Mary replied

"Silence her!" the king commanded

"No amount is enough," replied a guard with a Welsh accent. "Your Majesty, they are devils, and devils do not fear gunpowder." He looked at the king, a young man who appeared quite mature, with chestnut long hair: "But Your Majesty, we will protect you. Just watch, God above, if we meet with misfortune, you will surely see how we fall before you." After saying this, he turned and returned to his companions.

"How much ammunition do you have left?" the king asked

At this moment, the Empress Dowager let out a moan, as if she were about to awaken

The coachman stood up from his seat, his face pale and drenched in sweat, desperately urging the horses on. Contrary to the Empress Dowager's expectations, the speed of the carriage did not slow down; instead, it continued to accelerate. Sparks flew between the carriage frame and the axle, and the buffer straps supporting the carriage emitted a creaking sound under the unbearable strain. The occupants of the carriage could no longer sit steadily in their seats. The Empress Dowager knelt on the floor of the carriage, tightly clutching her rosary beads, murmuring prayers. Meanwhile, the King and Miss Mancini occupied a window each. "What is that?" the King asked. Sparks flew between the carriage frame and the axle, and the buffer straps supporting the carriage emitted a creaking sound under the unbearable strain. The occupants of the carriage could no longer sit steadily in their seats. The Empress Dowager knelt on the floor of the carriage, tightly clutching her rosary beads, murmuring prayers. Meanwhile, the King and Miss Mancini occupied a window each. "What is that?" the King asked.

A royal guard, under the king's command, took out flint and tinder to ignite the fabrics in the cart. The wool, luxurious silk, velvet, and richly embroidered cotton quickly caught fire, spreading throughout the entire carriage. Within minutes, every piece of expensive wood began to blaze fiercely, the flames scorching the backs of the onlookers, bringing both heat and light. The intense brightness forced the werewolves back to about ten feet away, encircling the king and his guards, their numbers exceeding even the fingers on two hands. Marie warily observed them; these werewolves were certainly not the result of mere misfortune. Although Paris had declined due to several religious wars, it still had a king and bishops. Periodically, clerics and knights patrolled the outskirts, wilderness, and forests of the city, driving out and hunting down heretics and beasts.

As the scene suddenly turned upside down, the king saw Mary hurriedly opening a bag while loudly reciting another incantation. The carriage was suddenly filled with fluffy wool, and the people inside were unharmed. However, their crisis was never on the road or in the carriage. The werewolves were closing in, and the royal guards urged their horses, surrounding the overturned carriage. Some assisted the king and queen mother in escaping from the carriage, while others stood guard, either holding firearms or drawing their swords. The people inside were thus unharmed, but their crisis was never on the road or in the carriage. The werewolves were closing in, and the royal guards urged their horses, surrounding the overturned carriage. Some assisted the king and queen mother in escaping from the carriage, while others stood guard, either holding firearms or drawing their swords.

Louis XIV witnessed this creature for the first time with his own eyes. It stood approximately as tall as two adult men, devoid of clothing or any other evidence that it had once been human. Its body was covered in dark blue-black bristles, with only a small patch of light-colored fine fur on its chin. It possessed a massive wolf's head, with pale eyes that either reflected the firelight or emitted a yellow glow, and its black, round pupils were constricted to a small size. When at rest, it would stand upright, and its claws were exceptionally large, with the hind claws being somewhat elongated. However, each claw had five talons, unlike the four talons typical of ordinary wolves. It had a small patch of light-colored fine fur on its chin, a massive wolf's head, pale eyes reflecting firelight or glowing yellow, and its black, round pupils were constricted to a small size. When at rest, it would stand upright, and its claws were exceptionally large, with the hind claws being somewhat elongated, but each claw had five talons, unlike the four talons typical of ordinary wolves.

The werewolf emitted a reluctant howl in the air, and when it fell to the ground, the entire carriage shook