Chapter 198 Temple Night Wolf
On the continent of Efala, the definition of "supernormal" and "legendary".
If we put aside those complicated power systems and start from the perspective of professional level, it is actually very simple.
Supernormal: lv11-lv20;
Legendary: lv21 and above.
As long as you break through your professional level by 10 levels, you can become a truly so-called supernormal professional.
Of course, even if they belong to the same "supernormal", the strength between professionals may be greater than the gap between lv1 and lv10 due to the influence of various factors such as combat skills accumulation, equipment, and professional categories along the way.
But compared with before, it can be said to be a qualitative change.
After the concept of "profession" appeared in this world and evolved for countless years, basic professions such as "warrior" and "wanderer" were able to spread to every corner of the continent and become the first choice for adventurers to embark on a career path.
Clear ascending paths, a large number of combat skills to choose from, and relatively simple ways to get a job... These have basically been mentioned before.
But there is another crucial reason.
It is something that you will realize after becoming a professional and embarking on this path.
- Level cap!
Including "Ranger", "Barbarian", "Priest" and other basic professions in the eyes of the world.
Their level cap is "10".
This means that when you become a "warrior", you don't have to consider other things, you just need to concentrate on collecting the required combat skills and improving your proficiency.
You can step by step and steadily reach the end before the extraordinary.
Even if you have a certain plan for your career path, the combat skills you practice along the way are all required for job transfer.
Then after reaching the bottleneck, you don't need to spend any effort, you can easily complete the job transfer and become extraordinary.
This is almost a matter of course.
But for unpopular niche professions like [Tide Hunter], [Evil Knight], and even [Meteor Blade Hunter].
There are reasons why they have not spread throughout the continent and become one of the basic professions.
On the one hand, the harsh employment conditions are.
On the other hand, it is also because the level cap of these professions is often only "5".
This means that when they have maxed out their professional levels, they are still halfway away from the 10th level required to become "extraordinary"!
This requires that those who have taken on unpopular professions must take on a different profession part-time and start from scratch.
The sum of the levels of the two professions, "5+5", completes the conditions required for extraordinary.
Xia Nan is almost certain that the [Meteor Blade Hunter] he is employed at the same level of lv5 is definitely stronger than most basic professions.
But the other party still has room for steady growth, but he needs to find another part-time job to make up for the level requirements of "extraordinary".
"Alas..."
At this point, Cash couldn't help but sigh again, and even the movement of cutting the corpse in his hand slowed down.
"Otherwise, do you think I'm staying well on the sea, and there are adventurer associations nearby. Why do I come so far to Panyun Province?"
"Isn't it to save more points, exchange for a few suitable combat skills, and open up the road behind?"
Xia Nan didn't speak, thinking in his heart.
The strength of Cash's breath in his perception should be far from lv5, and now it should be just to prepare for the part-time job behind.
According to the other party, his [Meteor Blade Hunter], as an unpopular among unpopular ones, should only have a limit of lv5.
After reaching the maximum level, I have to find another part-time job.
Tsk...
I have to build a combat skill system and pave the way for the extraordinary in the future. I have to slowly accumulate the points required for exchange.
I can't help but feel that there are too many things to consider, which is a bit troublesome.
I plan to find time to plan it after the mission is over.
As for now, I'd better stay alert and follow the Seathorn team to complete the mission and get the money.
On the way, I can also ask Cash and Veris for some advanced knowledge about the profession.
"You should be a warrior profession, right?" Cash asked casually, "Have you thought about where to develop in the future?"
Xia Nan was alert.
After organizing his words a little, he replied ambiguously:
"Let's take it one step at a time. There is no way out. I am already satisfied to get the professional level."
"Haha, then you are lucky." Cash grinned, with some hints in his words, "You can still get a job at this age without any way out."
"When I was your age, I was still worried about where to get my next meal."
"I am really lucky."
Xia Nan still pretended to be confused.
In this way, the two of them cut up the wild boar meat while seemingly chatting and testing each other.
When Veris finished checking the trap, she chuckled and led Mint back to the camp.
The huge wild boar had been neatly cut into several piles of meat.
"It's getting late, let's eat first."
Cash reminded him after putting the cleaned dagger back into the leather sheath.
"You can take a nap, and we will set off when it gets dark."
...
Shanan felt that he had been deceived.
The taste of wild boar meat was far from as wonderful as Cash had described before.
After being roasted, the meat was hard and had an indescribable fishy smell. It
was not as soft, glutinous, and sweet as the stewed meat in the White Tit Tavern.
It was tough in the mouth, but some parts tasted like chewing leather shoes.
Considering that Cash only sprinkled a little salt when roasting, and did not add too many seasonings.
Maybe it was because of his cooking method.
Or maybe it was because his taste was more picky?
After all, the other people in the team seemed to be quite satisfied with the pork.
Cash picked up a pig leg and chewed it until his mouth was full of oil, looking like he was enjoying a delicious delicacy.
Mint, on the other hand, was just like the introverted and delicate girl that Xia Nan remembered. She ate the meat slices cut from the wild boar in the bowl in small bites.
Even before eating, they made a few gestures to the wild boar that had been decomposed into pieces, as if to thank nature for its gift.
Xia Nan couldn't help but feel a little confused.
Druids, eating meat... shouldn't matter, right?
In response to this, Bohe gave that most of them had no impact.
Except for a few more extreme associations, druids did not dislike eating meat.
After all, "the strong prey on the weak, and the fittest survive" is also a vital part of nature.
What they really object to is the behavior that destroys the balance of nature.
In simple terms, if you are hungry and kill one or two to replenish your energy, no one will care;
but if you massacre a species on a large scale, or even set fire to the mountain, then these guardians of nature will probably come to you to "have a chat".
According to Bohe, some druids in some associations will even burn the forests with controlled flames at regular intervals to maintain the natural balance in their hearts, saying that this can promote the reproduction of the overall life community.
Xia Nan noticed that when the relevant content was mentioned, the girl's brows were obviously frowned, and there was some rare resistance in her tone.
On the contrary, the drow half-blood "Veris" sitting next to her did not have any special reaction.
It is understandable that for the drow elves, who have lived underground for a long time, dealt with various underground monsters, and used torture, murder, and slavery as a racial culture.
Setting a fire and burning a few forests.
It can hardly be called an evil act.
At this moment, Verice was holding a rather delicate dagger—of course not the two that were coated with poison—and roasting a small piece of wild boar meat.
The pair of eyes that flickered in the night stared at the piece of meat on the short blade quietly and cruelly, making a "sizzling" wail under the burning flames, dripping with grease, and charred and curled.
It seemed that what was on the sharp blade was not a long-dead wild boar corpse, but a living creature that still had consciousness.
Shanan keenly noticed that the vine-like thorn pattern on the surface of Verice's dagger had a similar style to the dark purple tattoo on her skin in the hollow part of her leather clothes.
However, because he did not know the relevant knowledge, he could only guess that it might be the emblem of the other party's clan, or a pattern that was simply out of his own preference?
"People on the surface always say that the drow elves are very dangerous, and even their nails are quenched with poison."
It seemed that he noticed the gaze from the other side of the campfire.
The slender and powerful wrist turned slightly, and the thin lips opened slightly, revealing the soft and tender red inside. The steaming meat was sent into the mouth.
"But every time I pick up the whip, there are always a group of people who get excited. Why do you think this is?"
As soon as the voice fell, Cash on the side burst into laughter.
With a bit of color, the vulgar jokes that no one would pay attention to at ordinary times are still interesting seasonings in the boring and high-pressure adventure.
I have to admit that Verice, a mixed-blood, is very well mixed.
While inheriting the exquisite facial features and perfect body proportions unique to the drow elves, the human blood has diluted the originally too dark skin color, and the figure is relatively tall, which makes the body curves show vividly.
Under the night, the blurred body outline and the silver-white long hair reflecting the moonlight form a sharp contrast, showing a unique beauty.
In response to this, Xia Nan secretly raised his vigilance.
The night is deep, the fog is thick, and even the swaying black shadow under the other party has become a little blurry.
For a wanderer who lives with shadows, this is almost the most suitable environment for fighting.
Fortunately, I have a good sense of perception. If the opponent makes a move, I should be able to react immediately.
And the distance between the two is quite subtle.
If I take a step forward, the beheading sword can cut off the opponent's neck; on the contrary, it is a bit difficult for the two daggers to touch me.
The iron-gray longsword was placed diagonally beside him. Shanan ate the wild boar meat with a stronger smell, chatted casually with Veris, and estimated the distance between the blade and the opponent's neck in his mind.
Awooo -
suddenly, a high and deep wolf howl came from the depths of the fog.
Silence instantly, the relatively relaxed atmosphere in the camp suddenly solidified.
Although the wolf howl was slightly blurred and could not be heard clearly because it came from a distance, it was clearly distinguished from the general wolf howl.
The tone was obviously more sharp and much shorter.
At some point, he had already grasped his stone spear in his hand. Cash silently raised his head and glanced at the silvery white waning moon in the night sky.
"Get ready!"
...
Temple Night Wolf.
As its name suggests, it is a wolf that is accustomed to nocturnal activities. As for the prefix of the three words "Temple", it is the transliteration of the word "Temple" in the common language of the elves.
It means "dangerous group collaborator".
This kind of wolf has an IQ far higher than that of ordinary wild beasts. Although it has not reached the level of intelligent creatures, it can also implement relatively complex hunting tactics.
They are huge in size, almost twice the size of ordinary wild wolves. Their sharp claws can easily tear thick and tough cowhide. They are also agile and agile, with outstanding endurance. Even in a dense forest with many obstacles, they can run long distances at a very fast speed.
Taken alone, it has already exceeded the scope of ordinary wild beasts and reached the level of "monsters".
Not to mention, they are social animals and hunt as a family.
A wolf pack with more than fifteen individuals can even put an adult cave bear on the hunting menu.
As for the elite individuals, the leaders of the wolf pack.
A more robust and powerful appearance is only one aspect.
An adventurer once witnessed that when facing a wounded and mad manticore, an individual who looked like an alpha wolf burst out with a dazzling silver light, and his combat power doubled, buying time for the wolf pack to retreat.
The target of the Seathorn team's mission this time is such a Temple nocturnal wolf pack of about 10.
According to the information provided by the association, there is no "alpha wolf" individual in the wolf pack. It
is completely within the scope of their team's ability to handle.
In fact, under normal circumstances, these nocturnal wolves rarely move around the periphery of the misty forest, let alone leave the forest and attack nearby human villages.
But recently, with the turmoil of wild beasts of strange origin, a large number of nocturnal wolf sightings have appeared on the periphery of the forest.
Adventurers have also suffered casualties.
And the location is getting further and further out, gradually approaching the safe area on the edge where villagers often move.
This is why the association issued a professional-level commission and hired a professional team to go and clear it.
In this regard, the Seathorn team also made detailed and sufficient preparations before setting off.
Including but not limited to lighting tools for nighttime operations, some targeted traps, kerosene bombs, baits, etc.
When the wolf pack is detected by howling, as in the case now, what to do has been planned a few days ago.
Cash took out a palm-sized bag from his waist bag, then carefully identified it with the firelight, and confirmed that he had taken it correctly.
He untied the thin rope tied to the bag and reached inside with his right hand.
When he took it out again, his fingertips were already covered with a lot of blue-brown dust.
He didn't care about the consumption, and sprinkled a lot on everyone in the team.
Until even the surrounding air was filled with a strong smell that was lingering and complex, like a mixture of pine resin and plant liquid.
Then he put the small bag of powder back into his waist bag.
This will help them cover up the human smell on their bodies.
Chapter 199: Enlightenment, Hunters and Prey
Xia Nan rarely moves in the Misty Forest at night.
Since the beginning of the journey, the experience in the rotten fish and shrimp team, as well as the repeated warnings from teammates along the way,
have made the concept of "the Misty Forest at night is very dangerous" deeply engraved in his heart.
Even though he has obtained a professional level and has more and more life-saving trump cards, he still follows this principle summed up by countless adventurers at the cost of their lives.
At present, due to the needs of the mission, he must go out of the camp at night.
Xia Nan raised his vigilance 120% in his heart.
While his attention is highly concentrated, his perception is also condensed invisibly.
With both hands tightly holding the beheading sword, his body is slightly tense, and with a thought, [Fang Hunting] or the "deflection force field" of the [Dead Line] ring can be used at the first time.
And perhaps it is precisely because of his more acute perception than before.
He also has a deeper understanding of the Misty Forest under the night.
First of all, it is quiet.
It is not absolutely silent.
To some extent, it is not an exaggeration to describe the sources of the sound as "many".
The "rustling" sound made by the friction and collision of branches and leaves in the evening breeze, the strange chirping of insects one after another, the occasional flapping of wings from the treetops, the roar of unknown beasts from afar...
and it is precisely against the backdrop of these noises that the surrounding environment is more quiet.
Then, it was dark.
The Seathorn Squad prepared a lighting tool, which was a lantern carried by Cash.
It came from a grocery store with a good reputation in River Valley Town.
On the way before leaving River Valley Town and entering the Misty Forest.
Xia Nan had seen with his own eyes the bright light scattered from the inner cover of the lantern, centered on everyone, illuminating almost half of the camp.
But now, the thick fog in the air has suppressed the light that should have brought brightness and security to everyone in a small and extremely cramped space.
Even the bushes and grass on both sides could not be clearly illuminated, and only vague outlines could be seen.
The only thing to be thankful for is that Shanan's perception ability has been greatly enhanced. Although it is affected by the obstruction of the gray fog in the forest, the range of perception is still much larger than before.
This adds a bit of peace of mind to his heart.
As for the smell...
I can only say that the masking powder that Cash sprinkled on everyone before leaving is two-way.
Other creatures can't smell the human smell on them.
Shanan's nose is left with a strong pine resin fragrance.
Carefully move forward in the dark forest.
Unlike the position when they were rushing on the road during the day, the formation of the Seathorn Squad has changed significantly at this moment.
Mint is still protected in the middle.
As the caster, healer, and controller of the team, her melee ability is slightly weaker, and she doesn't have any strong defensive ability.
As the core of the team, it is natural for her to be protected by several people.
Cash, holding his spear, walked in the front.
But the one who was a little behind was Veris, who was supposed to be wandering on the side of the team as a "wanderer".
A dark elf from underground, with the blood of drow.
This tall mixed-race person has night vision far beyond that of ordinary people. She needs to see the road clearly for teammates in front of the team and be alert to danger.
As for Xia Nan, he was at the end of the team.
After a few days of contact, he left the impression of a warrior with quick reaction, good perception, and good at close combat. He
is also the only Chinese A owner in the team besides Cash.
Based on this premise, letting him lag behind can not only prevent the enemy from sneaking around and attacking from behind, but also provide timely support to teammates when encountering danger, with a certain tolerance for error.
Xia Nan has no objection to this. He
is even quite happy in his heart.
At least in this way, compared to walking in the front, he does not have to guard against the backstab of teammates behind him.
This is the first time that Xia Nan has officially teamed up with professional teammates for adventure.
Putting aside the little thoughts in everyone's mind, overall, the experience is not bad.
At least in his opinion, the members of the Seathorn team all have the professional qualities that professionals should have in his impression.
Walking at the end of the team, he could clearly see that the people in front of him were keeping a high level of vigilance, but they were not as nervous and panicked as ordinary adventurers.
Everyone was doing what they should do.
Even the thin girl "Mint", who might be a little inexperienced as expected, was holding her yew wood staff that looked like a branch, and walked calmly in the middle of the team.
Considering her origin as a "druid", such an environment might still be her home.
Well... this is normal.
In her dark eyes, the swaying orange-red lights in front of the team were reflected.
Shanan's sight passed Mint and swept across the backs of Verice and Cash without a trace.
Thoughts flowed in his mind.
The "Temple Night Wolf" and the tasks that might be taken in the future were not the purpose of the two coming to River Valley Town.
According to them, the reason they came to River Valley Town was for a target that had been tracked all the way.
They stayed here just because they suspected that the wild beasts in the forest were rioting, which might be related to the target.
Only then did he look for temporary teammates, accept commissions, and try to track down the target through the mission information provided by the association.
The two did not seem to want to reveal too much, and Xia Nan was too lazy to get involved and did not ask in depth.
Anyway, it has been agreed that they will help him complete the task about "beast man" later.
As long as he can get the metal material for upgrading the snake-scale arm shield, he doesn't want to care about other messy things.
Buzz——
The wooden sword [Green Pine] on his back suddenly gave off a familiar warm feeling.
Xia Nan's footsteps suddenly paused.
Always keeping alert to the surrounding environment, his abrupt movements were noticed by the three teammates in front of him almost instantly.
The team that was originally moving forward also stopped where they were.
"Hiss..."
Before they could open their mouths to ask.
As if noticing the movements of several people, a dense bush not far ahead suddenly shook.
Along with the fleeting colorful scales illuminated by the light and the unique hissing sound of snakes, the movement quickly faded away.
The warmth behind him gradually faded, Xia Nan stared at the direction where the venomous snake disappeared, and shook his head gently.
"It's okay, continue."
The few people breathed a sigh of relief.
And at this moment,
Awoo -
a short, sharp and strange wolf howl, once again came in the night.
And compared to before, the sound was clearer.
Obviously, they were not far away.
Cash looked serious and waved to the people behind him.
He watched carefully and said in a low voice:
"We're getting close, get ready!"
...
The Seathorn Squad would not forcefully search for such a dangerous and powerful wolf pack in such a complex and dangerous environment, in the dark of night, in a dense forest filled with fog.
The most significant difference between humans and beasts is the level of intelligence and whether they are good at using tools.
After confirming that the wolf pack was close, the Seathorn Squad stopped moving forward.
Instead, they stayed where they were and set up their positions.
First of all, of course, there were all kinds of traps.
The traps from River Valley Town, which have been quite popular recently and are specifically designed for large beasts, were cleverly set up in the alleys between two trees, in the cracks of rocks and under fallen leaves.
In order to restrict the activities of the wolf pack, some simple noose made of vines, ropes and branches were also set up around them.
Secondly, there was a palm-sized cloth bag buried deep in Cash's backpack, protected and hidden by layers of oak boxes and oilskin bags.
The moment Cash carefully took it out of the bag, everyone on the field smelled an extremely strong smell of blood mixed with rot.
This was the scent bait they had purchased before they came, specifically to attract carnivores.
After setting it up carefully.
Cash sprinkled some masking powder on everyone one by one, and then, as planned, he led a few people to climb up several tall oak trees near the bait.
The dark night, the thick fog, and the lush treetops.
Hiding in it, even if you stand below and look up, it is difficult to find the figure in the dense branches and leaves.
As long as you don't make any noise, there is basically no possibility of being exposed. With
his chest rising and falling slightly, Xia Nan controlled his breathing to make it slower and longer.
His body was half-squatting, and his left hand gently supported on the tree trunk on one side to maintain his body's center of gravity.
The heavy iron armor and the two long swords behind him made his posture look a little awkward.
But a pair of leather boots fell on the thick branches, which was particularly stable.
The invisible effect from the professional expertise [Tidal Shaping] made his whole body like an iron nail, firmly nailed on it, motionless.
Waiting quietly.
The cold evening breeze brushed across his cheeks, and the air was filled with the stench of bait and the resinous aroma of medicine powder.
Xia Nan's eyes passed through the gaps between the branches and leaves, staring at the forest below that was motionless.
His body was motionless.
For some reason, at this moment, he suddenly remembered the scene when he was learning [Tooth Hunting] with Fugan.
The winter wolf came from the depths of the ice field, crawled in the snow, blended its huge figure with nature, and patiently waited for its prey
to approach. It seemed to merge with his figure at this moment invisibly.
The branches and leaves swaying in the wind, the nameless flying insects rising and falling under the moonlight, the long, slow and almost disappearing breath, the concentration to the extreme...
A subtle feeling arose in his heart, and an inexplicable understanding emerged in his mind.
"Proficiency +5"
"[Tooth Hunting] lv3: (39/100)"
The translucent characters flashed before his eyes.
Xia Nan was stunned, and he came back to his senses from that special state.
"What do you mean, 5 points of proficiency were added directly!?"
He wondered in his heart.
Xia Nan used to think that the proficiency value, which determines the progress of the combat skill upgrade, must be accumulated slowly through daily training and use in battle.
In the Church of the Moon Goddess of Neum, the increased proficiency after observing the structure of the divine art through [Heart-drawing Vision] made Xia Nan realize that
"proficiency" may not only represent its literal meaning.
It is a general term for a more extensive and grand concept.
To a certain extent, it also seems to represent the degree of one's understanding of combat skills.
And the encounter just now made Xia Nan sure of his guess.
Recalling the wonderful experience of that moment, he smacked his lips silently.
"Is this some kind of... 'epiphany'?"
Xia Nan half-crouched in the tree canopy, focusing his attention again, trying to enter that mysterious state again.
But no matter how he tried, there was no response.
Realizing that this kind of opportunity is rare, he stopped wasting his energy, only remembering the wonderful experience of that moment in his heart and returning to reality.
He didn't know if there was a problem in any link.
Until the silver moon was hanging high above his head, the inexplicable noises in the forest increased.
There was no movement in the forest below where a large number of traps were set.
It was already the second half of the night.
If we wait any longer, the danger will increase exponentially.
I saw Kash made a few secret signals, indicating that several people would temporarily retreat and continue tomorrow night.
He then jumped from the treetops to the ground quite lightly.
"It's really strange." Kash muttered in confusion while cleaning up the traps.
"Could it be that the kid in the grocery store took kickbacks and sold inferior products to me?"
"It shouldn't be, isn't it said that the reputation is pretty good?"
Beside him, Mint yawned lightly, but did not relax her vigilance. She held her branch-shaped staff in her hand and warned everyone about the surroundings.
Although Veris didn't look tired, she couldn't help but show a bit of complaint on her face:
"I told you to go to the grocery stores recommended in the Adventurer's Handbook. This kind of thing is a little more expensive, but it doesn't matter."
"You've been out for so long, don't you know the tricks in the handbook?" Cash carefully picked up the bait from the ground and put it back into the oilskin bag. "If I have connections in the association, I can open any store and get on the list!"
"There are only a few truly conscientious ones."
"Whether it's River Valley Town or Barracuda Bay, it's the same!"
Xia Nan didn't say anything, and while keeping alert, his eyes swept over the scent bait in Cash's hand.
As if realizing something, he frowned suddenly.
He asked:
"Your bait should not only be aimed at nocturnal wolves, right?"
"Of course!" Cash nodded, "Baboons, vultures, spotted tigers, cave bears... As long as they eat meat, they are all useful."
"And because it is near the wolf pack, no more dangerous monsters will be attracted."
"But we have been guarding here for most of the night. If your bait is really not ineffective, there should be no movement at all, right?"
As soon as the voice fell, Kash, who also realized the problem, was stunned.
The next second, the blue-gray stone spear was already tightly grasped in his hand.
"Alert!!!"
The low roar spread throughout the scene in an instant.
The traps that had not yet been fully lifted fell quietly to the ground;
the air was filled with the rotten stench unique to carnivorous bait.
The identities of the hunter and the prey
seemed to have changed at a certain moment.
Chapter 200 Wolves, Deterrence and Division
Almost the next second after Cash sounded the alarm, the entire Seathorn team started moving.
They were all senior adventurers who had obtained professional levels and reacted very quickly.
Just after returning to the ground from the tree, the slightly loose formation instantly condensed.
With Mint, the spellcaster in the team, as the core, several people shrank inwards, in a form similar to "back to back", but leaving enough fighting space.
Shanan, Veris, and Cash were each responsible for an area, and their vision covered the surroundings 360 degrees.
After all, the team was formed not long ago, and two of the members were newcomers who had just joined. They were not well-matched, so it was impossible for them to cooperate tacitly.
In such a sudden situation, it was already good to have such a reaction.
Shanan held the beheading sword tightly in both hands, while leaving some attention to be on guard against teammates beside and behind him.
A pair of dark eyes stared at the deep night filled with fog in front of him, concentrating his mind to perceive the possible dangers.
If Cash's scent bait really worked, there would be no way there would be no movement in the misty forest at night for such a long time.
Then there were only two possibilities left for them.
The first one was that Cash had indeed bought a defective product and the bait did not work.
Considering that the air was still filled with a very strong rotten stench that rushed straight from the nose to the top of the head.
It didn't look like it was ineffective.
Xia Nan felt that the probability of this happening was very small.
Then, there was only one possibility.
Those dangerous predators living in the forest and active at night had actually smelled the scent of the bait.
They even took action and moved closer to where they set the trap.
However,
there was a more ferocious and brutal aura that made these predators suppress their hunting desires with their survival instincts and dared not approach.
I don't know when it started, but the sharp wolf howls that came from the depths of the mist from time to time have not been heard for a long time.
Xia Nan looked focused, with no emotion on his face.
But he couldn't help but feel troubled in his heart.
Where is it?
What part of their operation was wrong?
The situation where the enemy was in the open and we were in the dark was reversed in an instant. The Seathorn Squad, who maintained their formation in the forest, seemed to be shrouded in a spotlight, alert to the deep darkness around them.
Time passed quietly.
In a few minutes, even the wild boar on the campfire could not be roasted.
But for the few people on the field, it seemed like several hours had passed.
They were just standing there, not and dared not to make any extra movements.
Cash's face was already covered with a layer of fine sweat, and his muscles were tense, like a spring compressed to the extreme.
Just a little movement could make it explode instantly.
Veris held two daggers in her hands, and her tall body and face were covered by a layer of gauze-like shadow, as if she would melt into the darkness in the next second.
Although her specific expression could not be seen, such a reaction was enough to prove how serious she was.
Mint, who was protected in the middle by everyone, still held her branch staff tightly, and her water drop-shaped light green earrings swayed gently in the wind.
Her expression seemed a little nervous, but her eyelids were drooping, as if she was using other sensory abilities to search for enemies around her.
Compared with the three people, Xia Nan's expression and movements did not seem to have changed significantly from before.
This was naturally because he covered it up well.
In fact, his heart was also much tenser.
The [Dead Line] ring on the index finger of his right hand reflected an inconspicuous dim luster under the moonlight, and the "deflection force field" was ready to go.
At this moment, the four people in the Seathorn team were all ready for battle.
It was like a barrel of gunpowder filled with gunpowder. It only needed the tiniest spark, a proof of the existence of an enemy, and all the repression and restraint would be detonated in an instant.
But just like that, the flame that ignited the whole scene never appeared.
As if sensing the nervous state of several people on the field, there was no suspicious movement in the surrounding forest.
It was like a top predator with exaggerated patience, hiding in the unknown depths of darkness, peeping, and letting everyone waste their energy in vain.
Staring at the quiet and dim bushes ahead, at a certain moment, Xia Nan even thought that he was once again fighting wits and courage with the air.
In fact, everything that happened was just a coincidence. What so-called wolf pack and enemy did not exist at all?
But in just the next second, he denied his hesitation.
Above the five senses, there may not be any special discovery.
But on the other hand, his perception ability far beyond that of ordinary people, like an illusion, felt a very clear and obvious hostility.
The greedy and cold sight passed through the space barrier, wet and coldly attached to the skin, penetrated into the pores under the action of high pressure, and drilled into the flesh;
the hungry and brutal desire almost condensed into substance in the air, turning into an illusory cold wind, blowing past his ears and neck again and again.
Absolutely, absolutely, there is something, crawling in a shadow, watching him.
Xia Nan was sure in his heart.
Time passed by minute by minute.
Just when Xia Nan thought that they would stay here until dawn.
Suddenly someone moved!
He knew very well that in this situation, if he kept wasting time, the scales of victory would only tilt to the other side.
After weighing the pros and cons, Cash suddenly gritted his teeth.
He took out three or two small black capsules from his waist bag, and without deliberately aiming,
he threw them towards the dark and deep forest in front of him.
Boom -
grease and powder were instantly ignited with a little sporadic fire.
The bright and blazing fire burst out like an explosion.
It illuminated the forest in front.
The "kerosene bomb", a universal throwing prop from the grocery store in River Valley Town, which almost everyone has as long as they have enough money, once again demonstrated its power during the adventure.
It did not burn any enemy. Under the suppression of the thick fog at night, the orange-red flames were difficult to spread around and would soon go out.
But the illumination for only a few seconds allowed the dangerous enemy hiding nearby, who seemed to be there and not there, to cast a covetous look at the people on the field, to reveal its vague figure.
Fluffy hair swaying in the wind, a strong and sturdy huge body, elegant and slender limbs, and a powerful long tail dragging behind it...
It was fleeting and it was impossible to see its full appearance.
But just a quick glance at the remaining vague shadow was enough to identify its biological category.
"It's the Temple Night Wolf!"
"Prepare for battle!!!"
It was like some kind of signal.
As the kerosene bomb was thrown, it turned into a fleeting bright fire.
The dense bushes on both sides, which were originally silent, suddenly made unusual noises.
Phosphorescent green cold eyes appeared in the darkness. The strong stench and pine resin fragrance in the air were blown away by the evening breeze, revealing a kind of pungent smell unique to wild animals.
The low-frequency roar of the dog's threat made the blurred outlines under the moonlight gradually clear, and the silver fur flashing between the branches and leaves of the bushes could be vaguely seen.
The huge body showed a sharp and clever posture with a strong sense of contrast. It seemed to float through the forest like a phantom in the moonlight, making the sound of the swaying bushes even more deafening.
These wild wolves living in the jungle have a strong sense of discipline.
When they are not discovered, they hide quietly and patiently consume the attention of their prey; and once they are exposed, they will instantly go crazy and rush towards the people on the field.
There is no room for the Seathorn team to react.
Almost the next second after the kerosene bomb was thrown, seven or eight silver wolves with shoulders as tall as an adult's chest rushed out of the bushes.
Awooo -
the somewhat shrill wolf howl made his eardrums hurt. He stared at the two nocturnal wolves rushing towards him.
Xia Nan looked extremely focused, and even breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared with the high-pressure situation before, he was in his comfort zone after entering the battle.
The beheading sword in his hand tilted slightly, and the iron-gray sword light was even sharper under the moonlight.
The brain thought quickly.
The current situation is a positional battle between the team and the wolf pack, and they cannot move randomly.
Otherwise, if one or two of them slip through, not only will Mint, the spellcaster in the center of the team, be in danger, but the other two teammates will also be at risk of being attacked from behind.
Moreover, in the misty forest in the second half of the night, even in the outer area, the danger has increased significantly.
With such a big noise, who knows what will be provoked from behind.
We must fight quickly!
"Squeak."
While thinking, the ground under his feet shook slightly.
Saturn splashed, and several green vines with barbs suddenly shot out from the mud, like tentacles wrapped around the front legs of one of the nocturnal wolves.
The barbs penetrated deep into the fur of the wild wolf almost instantly, and tightened as it moved. In the blink of an eye, blood was oozing out.
Behind him, the slightly green and smooth short hair moved without wind. Mint held the branch staff tightly in both hands, and his lips moved as he chanted a spell.
Xia Nan nodded slightly and took two steps forward.
The white wolf that was entangled in thorns and slowed down suddenly was reflected in his dark eyes.
"Bang!"
The thick leather boots connected to the shin guards suddenly fell to the ground, like the roots of an ancient tree, absorbing the power from the depths of the earth.
The calves, hips, waist, chest and abdomen... all the way up, finally gathered at the fingertips of both hands, and swung out with the sword.
Swish -
the iron-gray arc of perfect light reflected the bright moon above, and it was fleeting in the dark forest.
The long-lost sound of the sharp blade cutting through flesh and bones reached my ears.
[Spin Slash]!
He had already practiced it to perfection. The only "mastery" level combat skills on his body, seemingly ordinary basic moves, are still the most reliable helper in Xia Nan's battle.
Even with the improvement of physical fitness, it is more powerful.
Tilting, from bottom to top, like a slash.
When the cold light disappeared.
The sticky brain matter flew out with half of the mouth, a beast eye and a few broken ears.
Half of the head was cut off.
The broken wolf corpse still retained the inertia of rushing forward, but its consciousness had already escaped into the darkness.
The strong body spurting blood twitched and spasmed and fell to the ground, no longer able to attack.
The long sword that tore the wolf's body turned a semicircle along with the pouring force.
Xia Nan took another step to the side, and his body turned around.
He did not let down his guard.
He had already placed his long sword across his chest, taking a defensive stance to deal with the other night wolf that was flanking him.
But what he did not expect was that
, as he moved his feet and changed his position
, the light grey leg armor on his legs, the bone pieces that had become more delicate after being cut and polished, suddenly flashed with an invisible wave.
The ferocious wolf in front of him, who had been growling and showing its sharp canine teeth, suddenly paused and froze in place.
A touch of human confusion appeared on the narrow wolf head.
In the beast's eyes, which were filled with violent and murderous thoughts, there was only a blank clarity.
He even stretched out his tongue to lick his nose.
...
[Bone Binding Iron Legs] (Effect 2):
There is a chance that hostile beasts with a challenge level not higher than "1" will fall into a state of shock;
...
He realized it quietly in his heart.
Xia Nan did not hesitate at all and turned from defense to offense.
He took another step forward, exerted force with both hands, and slashed out another [Spinning Slash].
Iron-gray arcs of light flashed down.
A complete wolf head, splattered with scarlet blood, flew to the ground. Beside
my ears, there was the dull sound of a heavy object falling on the ground. It had only been a dozen seconds since the wolf pack appeared. Panting slightly, Xia Nan turned his head and looked at the other two sides. Mint's face was pale with sweat, and her hands were shaking. Obviously, the large amount of spells cast in a short period of time consumed her a lot. But the results were also outstanding. The body of a nocturnal wolf was twitching and falling on the ground next to it. Traces of plant entanglement could be seen faintly on the surface of its limbs. But what really killed it was a small wound on the side of the neck that was bleeding continuously. ——It came from the blue-gray stone spear in Cash's hand. At this moment, this middle-aged man who claimed to be a fisherman and became a professional by chance was in a tough fight. Unlike Xia Nan, there were three wild wolves rushing towards him. Even if he solved one of them with the help of Mint, he still needed to deal with two night wolves at the same time. Although it was not fatal, it looked particularly embarrassed. The surface of the scales that were not bad had many traces left by the wolf beasts. As for Verice... Shanan frowned suddenly. As a "wanderer" known for her agility and her fighting style that tended to fight on the move, this drow half-blood was very uncomfortable with the current positional warfare. Facing the siege of three night wolves, she might have avoided the opponent's attack with her relatively flexible posture, and left wounds on the wild wolf's body, causing the toxins on the surface of the blade to gradually erode and take effect. But Verice's original position was also shifted due to the siege and pulling of the wolf pack, whether intentional or unintentional. The formation was quietly divided.
The last two nocturnal wolves, who had been lurking around since the battle began, also approached silently, lowering their bodies like shadows under the moon.
They quietly slipped in through the loopholes and
pounced directly on Mint, who was in the middle of the team!
Chapter 201 Wolf Leader
As the only spellcaster in the team, Mint's role is more of an auxiliary one, unlike the stereotypical mage who can easily blast out a few fireballs.
But her role is not small.
Not to mention the post-war treatment, the performance of the past ten seconds alone is enough to reflect her value of being protected by everyone.
So far, there are three Temple Night Wolfs that have died.
Two of them were directly killed by her.
Of course, for Shanan, the role of those vines and thorns is not that big.
After all, his instantaneous speed and burst ability are much stronger than those of wild wolves.
But no matter what, Mint must have helped.
On the other hand, facing the siege of three night wolves at the same time, Cash was able to find an opportunity to reduce their number.
Mint's control help contributed greatly.
Even on Veris's side, the three wild wolves that were fighting with her could see the scars left by the thorns.
Obviously, the girl also provided support to the other side, but the effect was relatively general.
At the same time, the high frequency of spellcasting covering the three battlefields was the reason why her face was so pale.
Veris, Cash...
Everyone knew the importance of spellcasters to the team. They
also clearly knew that compared with the other people in the team, Mint's melee ability was weak.
The same was true for the wolf pack.
As for when the night wolves discovered him and others, and how long they had been ambushing in the surrounding bushes, Xia Nan did not know.
But he could feel very clearly the "sense of planning" shown by these beasts during their actions.
Whether it was from the initial hidden peeping, to the sudden attack after being discovered, to the number distribution of 3, 3, 2, and even the final use of Veris's combat characteristics to divide the formation.
It all gave people a sense of déjà vu of some kind of temporary command.
Xia Nan couldn't help but be alert.
At the same time, the other people in the team also discovered the two wild wolves that had mixed into the formation from the gap left by the drow half-elves.
"Swish!"
The blue-gray stone spear stabbed out suddenly, almost poking a shadow in the air.
Only a few broken hairs were left on the tip of the spear.
Cash instinctively took a step back, leaving only a scratch on the scales on his chest as the huge wild wolf, which was aiming at his neck, pounced from the blind spot.
In the corner of his eyes, he saw two fierce figures approaching Mint quickly.
"Fuck!"
He cursed and roared, and was about to support him.
But as if sensing his thoughts, Cash just moved a little bit into the formation, and the two night wolves that were originally around him suddenly increased the frequency of their attacks.
Under normal circumstances, if it was just a one-on-one fight, Cash was sure that a few minutes would be enough for him to take down the night wolves in front of him.
But when the number of such beasts reached multiples, their combat power increased exponentially.
He clearly knew that as long as he stabbed the spear into the wolf's body, he could use the impact of the injury to quickly pull the scales of victory to his side.
But every time he wanted to exert his strength, another nocturnal wolf would haunt him and attack from the other side, forcing him to temporarily stop and dodge.
One of them made a feint attack from the front, and the other attacked from the side.
It was like a shark smelling blood in the sea, circling around him to test and attack.
In his ears, he could faintly hear the howling of the wolf beast and the screams of the young woman.
Cash became more and more anxious.
But it was of no use.
It only left a few more deep scratches on his armor.
As for Veris...
this half-blood wanderer with dark skin and two poisonous blades in hand had already been in a bitter battle.
There were no obvious scars on the surface of the close-fitting leather jacket that was close to his skin, but the whole person's position was further away from the original position under the deliberate pressure of the wolf pack.
The poison was taking effect.
The white wolf with more injuries could be seen, and its sticky lavender saliva was already flowing out while panting.
The slender four legs were still powerful, and the body was still agile and swift.
The distance that affects the body's movement is still far away.
Of course, she noticed the wolf's sudden attack.
But just like the current situation where it was dodging and moving further and further away under the attack of the night wolf.
It was powerless.
...
"Swish!"
Mud stars burst out.
Green vines rose from the soil like tentacles and wrapped around the four legs of the white wolf.
The high-speed moving body paused slightly.
Before it had time to exert force to tighten, only a few blood marks were left, and it was torn off by the muscles squirming and swelling under the thick fur, turning into fragments in the plant fluid.
Facing the two night wolves that broke into the defense line.
Mint behaved as normal as always.
First, there was a moment of panic.
Facing the two fierce figures approaching quickly, her body tensed and the expression on her face froze in an instant.
The whole person was stunned.
But in just the next second, this girl with a smooth short hair reacted again.
Knowing that she was definitely no match for these two monsters at close range.
As Mint stepped back quickly, a faint green light lit up on the tip of the yew staff in her hand.
Vines and thorns emerged from the ground, delaying the approach of the Night Wolf as much as possible.
She knew that if she wanted to break the deadlock, she had to wait for the support of her teammates.
Before that, she had to delay the time as much as possible.
There was nothing wrong with Mint's approach.
To some extent, it was even the best solution at the moment.
However, what she didn't know was that the two senior adventurers in the Seathorn team were currently trapped in a tough battle and could hardly get out.
If she wanted support, the only thing left was...
oh——
The eardrum-shaking piercing wolf howl suddenly sounded behind her.
Mint's backward body paused, with a look of surprise.
"More?"
"How is that possible? There should be only ten in total!"
Chaotic thoughts flashed through her mind.
She suddenly realized that something was wrong.
This... didn't seem to be the howl of a night wolf?
Although both had the unique penetrating power of a wolf howl, this howl was obviously louder and longer.
If the howl of the Temple Night Wolf was a dangerous phantom echoing in the night; then the howl that almost broke the skull at this moment was the ice storm howling and raging on the wild snowfield.
Time and space seemed to freeze at this moment.
The two night wolves in front of her were still chasing each other, but the distance of a few meters allowed her to see each other's turbid eyes filled with violence and bloodlust, and the saliva splashing from their mouths.
But it was only the next second.
A huge wolf head made of swirling gray fog, crushed leaves and grass seeds, blood and moonlight, opened its ferocious wolf mouth with iron-gray fangs at an exaggerated speed far beyond the reaction of ordinary people.
Bite down!
"Boom!"
The fierce wind with a strong smell of blood rushed towards her, causing the girl to close her eyes unconsciously.
She could faintly feel that a warm and sticky liquid was sprinkled on her body with the strong wind.
When he opened his eyes, the two fierce and violent night wolves and the illusory wolf head that engulfed them had disappeared.
Instead, there were two headless wolf corpses with holes everywhere and blood gushing out;
and a sharp figure holding an iron-gray long sword.
He casually turned the sword flower and shook off the remaining blood on the surface of the beheading long sword.
Xia Nan's eyes swept across the broken wolf corpses on the meadow, and glanced at the girl Mint standing next to him, who seemed to be stunned.
His sight moved over the other party's pale face covered with sweat and his hands trembling with the staff tightly grasped.
He did not find anything suspicious.
He slightly tilted his body to make the blind spot of his vision closer to the other party farther away, eliminating the possibility of backstabbing at this angle.
Then he nodded slightly to the other party.
Looking at the other two battlefields.
[Tooth Hunting] is now the core combat skill that almost determines Xia Nan's fighting style. Perhaps it may be replaced by [Gravity Control] in the future.
But at the moment, the exaggerated mobility and explosive power it gave him were what he deeply relied on.
Roaming support, surprise retreat... This combat skill was extremely applicable.
Coupled with Xia Nan's good endurance, it could be said to be a killer on the battlefield.
With [Spin Slash], facing an enemy weaker than him, it was as easy as chopping melons and vegetables.
He did not intend to hide his strength too much, and the reveal of [Tooth Hunting] was already in his plan.
Seeing that Mint was fine, he moved his feet and the wolf howled quietly, intending to support other teammates.
But unexpectedly.
Xia Nan's idea had just come up in his mind, and he had not yet taken action.
The night wolves that were roaming around Cash and Veris suddenly seemed to have received some instructions.
They howled twice and retreated tacitly.
They did not run away, but maintained a subtle distance that allowed them to move forward again at any time, or turn around and retreat into the forest.
They lowered their bodies, arched their backs, and roared threateningly.
The two men who were relieved from the high-pressure state also panted and quickly moved towards Shanan to reorganize their formation.
Of course, they also heard the loud wolf howl that suddenly sounded just now. They
even witnessed the whole process of Shanan crossing the battlefield and beheading two night wolves in the blink of an eye with the wolf-shaped airflow.
Many thoughts suddenly arose in their hearts.
But after all, the situation was special and it was not convenient to communicate. They only glanced at the wolf corpses on the ground a few more times before looking away with some strangeness.
"What should we do? Should we retreat?"
Veris asked breathlessly, her chest rising and falling violently with her breathing.
She was not injured, but her physical strength seemed to have been consumed a lot. The silver-white hair on both sides of her cheeks was wet with sweat and hung by her ears.
"Three of the five night wolves were poisoned."
"If we delay for a while, they will be completely poisoned."
She added, the two daggers in her hands reflecting the purple-green light under the moonlight.
Cash did not make a decision immediately. He
looked a little embarrassed, with claw marks all over the surface of his scales.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at Shanan beside him.
"What do you think? Should we retreat?"
He didn't know what the two were thinking, but Shanan had been making a judgment in his mind about the situation on the field since just now.
There were a total of ten Temple Night Wolves, and now there were only five left.
Under normal circumstances, as long as they were not starving, retreating in the face of such a loss was inevitable.
No!
According to Shanan's understanding of predators in nature, let alone five, as long as any one of the wolves was hurt, it would make him and his men show enough threat.
These alert and cunning beasts would not be able to come forward like they did just now
. After weighing the benefits and risks, they would have run away long ago.
But now, they can still maintain such discipline, wandering in the surrounding woods, staring at him and his men.
There is only one reason left.
He suddenly fixed his eyes, looking at the dark and lightless depths behind the wolves under the cover of night.
A gray light flashed in the dark eyes.
[Heart-gravitating Vision]!
The mental power quickly drained away like a floodgate, and the head felt dizzy.
In the world before his eyes, only the original black and white remained in an instant.
The illusory lines symbolizing gravitational ripples collided silently and intertwined, constructing a huge and agile figure in the bushes and dense forests.
The sight was locked!
[Heart-gravitating Vision] exited before the mental power was over-consumed.
Xia Nan looked straight at the direction he had just sensed.
"Hua La..."
After noticing the sight, he finally stopped hiding.
Accompanied by a rustling sound of shaking branches and leaves, and the whimpering of the wolves in submission and awe.
A huge nocturnal wolf with a silver body, as if bathed in moonlight, walked out of the forest quietly.
Its body size is obviously two circles larger than that of its peers.
If you stand close, you need to look up to look at it.
The shoulder height is probably two meters.
But at the same time, its huge body does not look bloated at all. It is
even more slender.
Its four slender and agile legs lightly touch the ground, as if it can fly directly with just a little effort.
Under the night sky, against the moonlight and the dark forest, it actually gives people an indescribable sense of elegance.
"Didn't you say there was no alpha wolf?"
Xia Nan frowned, staring at the silver wolf in front of him, and asked without turning his head.
"The mission information given by the association says so." The sudden change made Cash seem hesitant, "And normally speaking, if the group has only 10 heads, it will not meet the conditions for the birth of an alpha wolf." "
At least 15 will be enough."
Hearing this, Xia Nan's heart tightened, fearing that there was an ambush.
Fortunately, with the help of perception, he knew that there were no signs of other large biological activities around, so he breathed a sigh of relief .
Should we retreat?
Or, can they retreat?
The air was filled with thick fog, and it was difficult to tell the direction.
The densely wooded environment in the forest further restricted the performance of [Tooth Hunter].
The few of them might be professionals, but the misty forest was the natural home of the wolf pack.
Not to mention the other dangers they might encounter late at night, if they simply ran away, they might not be able to outrun these wolves.
Not to mention the fatal problems of exposing their backs to the enemy and the loose formation that was easy to break during the retreat.
As for climbing trees...
Even if we ignore where everyone is at the moment, during the battle, under the pressure of the wolf pack, they have been quietly forced to a clearing in the forest with sparse trees.
If the alpha wolf has the means of long-range attack.
The Seathorn Squad that climbed the tree would simply be a sitting duck, without even the means to fight back.
"Can't retreat."
Across the barrier of space.
The dark eyes stared at the pair of cold wolf eyes in the depths of the dense forest ahead.
The surface of the iron-gray sword in his hand was the moonlight from the sky above his head.