Chapter 25: A Howl in the Forest
The group huddled closer together as Reidar studied his returning scouts. The Wind Sprite’s agitated chittering promised nothing good.
<There are probably going to be multiple monsters.>
The problem was that the Summoned Rift-Sprites had this kind of reaction only when they met monsters who had a similar level to their own or higher.
<This won’t be an easy fight...>
"How many?" Linda interrupted his thoughts. She was clearly scared based on how white her knuckles were and how tightly she was gripping her weapon.
Reidar had hoped that the monsters the group would need to face for the first time would be weaker, but unfortunately, they hadn’t been lucky.
<Whatever, let’s see what they are. If they are too strong, we will simply use the Rift-sprites to hold them back while we flee.>
"I can’t tell for sure," Reidar said. "But more than four based on the sprites’ reactions."
Frank clutched his tire iron with both hands. "Maybe we should go back to the gas station."
"No time and no use," Reidar said. His scouts were gesturing something. Reidar understood that something meant the creatures were close, very close. "Besides, this is going to be a great chance for you to start getting used to th—"
A howl echoed through the forest ahead of them. Not the chittering of Rift-Sprites, but something very close to that of wolves. The sound made several group members take involuntary steps backward.
<Stay calm, Reidar.> In truth, he was scared as the rest of the others. It was impossible not to be. He fought for 10 days in the forest, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t human anymore. He felt fear like everyone else.
"What was that?"
Before Reidar could answer, shapes emerged from the undergrowth ahead. Four creatures stepped into view, and Reidar had seen nothing like them.
–Glimmerfang – Level 10–
–Glimmerfang – Level 9–
–Glimmerfang – Level 11–
–Glimmerfang – Level 10–
–Glimmerfang – Level 9–
–Glimmerfang – Level 10–
–Glimmerfang – Level 9–
–Glimmerfang – Level 10–
–Glimmerfang – Level 10–
–Glimmerfang – Level 9–
They were huge, like wolves, but that’s where the resemblance ended.
Their bodies were lean and strong, with fur that shifted from dark gray to silver in the light. But the worst part was the crystals—jagged growths jutting from their heads, shoulders, and joints.
Sharp, clear spikes stuck up from their foreheads like horns. Their eyes glowed from the inside, pulsing with every breath. And their teeth, jagged and made of something like crystal, caught the sun, throwing little rainbows across their snouts.
The lead Glimmerfang, level 11, bared its teeth and let out another howl. This time, the cry was followed by a dazzling flash of light coming from its throat. The unexpected light caused dots to dance in Reidar’s sight.
"FUCK! Everyone stay close to me! I’ll protect you, but if you get a chance to strike, take it. Don’t let them get within biting range, or you are dead!"
"This is insane," Frank said, but he raised his weapon in defense.
Reidar raised his Rift-Sprite Conductor and called his remaining summons to defensive positions.
The Glimmerfangs moved with pack intelligence that made Reidar’s skin crawl, as it was different from anything he had fought until that point.
The Rift-Sprites were many but apparently stupid. They couldn’t use the level of coordination those beasts were using, luckily.
<I wonder if those things are some kind of mutations that came from wolves. If that’s true, it would explain why they are so coordinated.>
If all the monsters were like these, Reidar would have been dead meat quite some time before. They spread out, trying to surround the group.
The largest Glimmerfang lunged forward and aimed at Mike’s throat. Reidar channeled mana into a Wind Blade.
The cutting crescent of air struck the creature mid-leap, opening a deep gash across its flank. The beast hit the ground hard but rolled to its feet, dark blood dripping from the wound.
[Your Wind Blade strikes Glimmerfang for 89 wind damage.]
[Arcane Leech effect triggered. 22.25 damage points converted into mana.]
His Stone Sprite intercepted a second Glimmerfang that had tried to circle around behind them.
The summoned creature’s hide was not so resistant to the beast’s attack, and Reidar could see fragments of something breaking off and lodging in the sprite’s skin.
"They’re surrounding us!" George said, swinging his pipe at a Glimmerfang that had gotten too close. Now it wasn’t a matter of the monsters trying; it was a matter of the bastards doing it.
[You have gained 67 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]
[You have earned 56 Survival Points.]
The beast snarled and snapped at George’s weapon. When its teeth closed on the metal pipe, several crystal fangs broke off, remaining embedded in the steel. George jerked his weapon back, startled by the fragments that now jutted from his makeshift club.
"The teeth break off," Reidar said. "Don’t let them bite you. Those fragments will cause bleeding for sure."
"How do you know that?"
"Intuition, what else?"
The battle became chaotic quickly. The Glimmerfangs’ pack coordination allowed them to attack from multiple directions, slowing Reidar’s killing significantly.
But his group was still made up of 6 level 13 creatures, him included, and that was without taking into account his equipment.
[Glimmerfang defeated.]
[You have gained 68 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]
[You have earned 55 survival points.]
The monsters were not going to stay alive for long. Reidar found himself casting spells as fast as his mana would allow, trying to keep the creatures away from the inexperienced survivors.
A Fireball struck the wounded Glimmerfang, igniting its fur. This time it didn’t break off as if it was made out of crystals, but it caught fire as if it was any other kind of fur.
<As weird as physics are right now, I can’t really say I’m surprised!>
The creature howled in pain and fury but continued fighting despite the flames consuming its coat.
[Your Fireball strikes Glimmerfang for 95 fire damage.]
[Arcane Leech effect triggered. 23.75 damage points converted into mana.]
His Ember Sprite engaged another Glimmerfang in combat, trading elemental blasts for crystal-fanged bites. The sprite’s porcelain shell cracked under the attack, but it landed a few fire attacks that left the wolf-like creature singed and desperate.