Master Of None

After Elise had shouted in excitement Gil noticed a white shape in the distance pop up from the snow.

”Walker to my left. Do you see that out there? It’s hard to see but something in the distance heard us.” Gil brought attention to the thing far out. ”Actually make they five things...one looks big”

The four white mounds stretched up with a fifth larger mound behind the four. It was too far to make out destinations features but they all had a guess to what was now staring them down.

” I think that would be our wolf pack, four look normal sized but that fifth one looks like trouble. I’d say that’s the alpha.” Looking at walker for a plan. ”Elise stay by Su, you won’t be able to help much in this fight. Riley only let one boar free, we can’t have them running wild.”

Walker agreed with Laurence in these aspects. ” why do I have a bad feeling when you say it’s an alpha?” The five shapes were slowly approaching them now becoming more defined the closer they got.

” glacial wolves often travel in packs as we know, but they will fight amongst themselves as time goes on. If left alone long enough one may rise to be the strongest that one becomes the alpha. It gets the most food and grows stronger than the average glacial wolf. What I’m saying is it will be tougher than the others-” Laurence cut himself off seeing that the wolves have begun to run a circle to their right.

” Su get ready they will reach us faster than expected. Gil when they are in range take out the nearest one. Laurence if you have another beast to bring out have them hold back until they wolves are close. Remey same for you hold back until you can hit and retreat, no risks. I’m going to make the ground in front of us a bit tougher for them.”

Walker channeled his mana in to the ground beneath him. He imagined frozen earth spikes

Sprouting a small distance ahead of them directly in the path of the glacial wolves. He felt five of his mana melt away but the spikes littering the wolves travel path would slow them down giving the party the advantage. This also gives them more chances to throw out ranged attacks.

The wolves were a fair distance away but now they could all make out their detailed features. Their fur was a white color, a slight bluish hue toward the tips as if touched by a constant frost. Their teeth were crystal clear ice filed down to perfect points. Eyes were filled with ferocious emotion calling for the death of their prey. Their breath did not put steam in to the cold air giving them a cold killing aura, it was easy to see how an ambush by these monsters could devastate a merchant caravan.

Gil had readied his arrow, the wolves were farther off than walker expected but as Gil released his arrow the results of his training showed. The arrow flew throughout the air taking a slight angle with the wind. The arrow and the front running glacial wolf met perfectly piercing its left eye. His perfect aim shocked everyone but they couldn’t take any time to focus on this. The wolf that was hit lost its balance and couldn’t properly run, it may not be defeated yet but it is easily down for the count.

Already setting up another arrow Gil was tracking the next wolf. However he didn’t have much of a chance to since walker was working his own magic. He had the idea while training to use his mana shot skill with his elemental fusion and elemental manipulation skill. Using his understanding of these three skills he used the earth around him to create a spike. Consuming triple the mana it normally would hew let loose the spike. This combination caused the spike to rocket forward at incredible speed. His aim wasn’t as perfect as gil’s arrow but none the less the spike pieces the side of the glacial wolf.

’ Glacial wolf defeated

80 exp gained multiplied to 800exp ’

One hit! Walker did not expect this fusion of skills to be so powerful. The mana cost wasn’t extremely high but it took a little time to aim and create the earth spike.

”Aaaaaawwwwhoooooo” the alpha wolf gave a loud howl then sprinted towards the party. The remaining two wolves speed increased as well. That howl must have buffed their agility.

Gil adjusted to their speed and let fly his next arrow. This one missed they eye but lodged in to a wolves shoulder. It slowed the wolf but did not incapacitate it. Setting up his third arrow he aimed and fired at the same wolf this time hitting near the same shoulder completely knocking the wolf down. It appeared that the front leg was unusable. Now that walker had a still target he released the next mana shot earth spike combo. The spike flew through the air at its incredible speed piercing through the fallen wolfs’ head.

’Glacial wolf defeated

80 exp gained multiplied to 800 exp’

This was the time, the alpha and remaining able bodied wolf hit the icy earth spikes. The wolf let out a high pitched whine as it shredded its softer paws but the alpha just became angrier. The snarling face of the alpha spoke of bloody combat if it was able to reach them.

The two wolves were becoming much too close. This spurred Su to ready herself to block the alpha which didn’t seem to let up its speed. Walker didn’t have time for another earth spike and instead switched his staff for the scythe he had in his storage. He couldn’t help but think it had been a while since he practiced close combat, but he knew he had a solid skill. Aiming for the alphas legs he raised the blade and utilized his crescent moon skill. A curved energy flew from the blade heading towards the alpha.

The alpha saw it coming and leapt over the attack cutting the distance to them significantly. However the alpha had blocked the view of the other wolf which ran head on in to the crescent moon attack. Taking a serious injury to its neck it fell and squirmed in the ground rolling in to more earth spikes. The damage snowballed in to mortal wounds. In its panicked the wolf had defeated itself. Unfortunately they couldn’t focus on the system notice of defeat, the alpha was in front of them.

Su was taunting the alpha that which was ready to pounce. It left forward maw open ready to brunch and tear at Su. Her practice deflecting hits came to fruition as she stepped sideways pushing her shield forward. Instead of meeting her head on the alphas head bore the brunt of the collision. Slightly disoriented it focused completely on Su wanted to defeat this opponent. Yet Su wasn’t the only one it fought.

Since the alpha was distracted Remey was able to get near its unprotected side. ” hay maker!” She screamed as she released a massive punch to the alphas hip. A sickening crack sounded from the alpha its hip had most certainly shattered. The alphas’ growl become higher pitched and its back leg gave out.

Midnight came in to focus slashing with her claws using her shred skill. The already in pain and off balance alpha lost use of both back legs. But it refused to give up, it was the top fighter in its pack the most vicious killer. How could smaller creatures halt its movements.

Surprising all but Elise and Riley a red and white striped tiger leapt on top of the alpha tearing in to the back of its neck. Flames were flowing from its mouth sizzling and burning the alphas flesh. ”Tear it to pieces Bengal!” Laurence shouted as the tiger dug farther in to the alphas neck. This was the killing blow!

Laurence hadn’t been forward with his second tamed beast but seeing it now they knew just how strong a seasoned tamer could be. This red flame tiger was Laurence’s first tamed beast. He had caught with it tooth and nail to earn mutual respect and only called on it when in desperate need. To combat the alpha he knew his partner Bengal could finish the fight.

’ defeated Alpha glacial wolf

100exp gained multiplied to 1000 exp.

Gil fired his arrow finishing off the final incapacitated glacial wolf.

’ Glacial wolf defeated

80 exp gained multiplied to 800 exp.

Daily Quest complete: man versus beast

Glacial wolf pack has been slain.

Reward:

100 exp multiplied to 1000exp

Quest complete: slay four glacial wolves

Reward:

Vip auction ticket

Remaining merchandise’

The slew of system notifications captivated everyone. So much expiring ha even gained. The difficulty of defeating a pack was normally much higher. However due to the parties various skills and ability to plan they had an extreme advantage over any enemy let alone one that often won battles due to coordination and numbers.