Chapter 77 | Alpha Wolf!
Around them, the battle continued. One wolf fell, then another.
Their talents allowed them to hold the line, but the battle was becoming a slow grind. Blood. Sweat. Heavy breathing. The kind of fighting that wore you down inch by inch.
Meanwhile, Dexter’s attention remained fixed entirely on the Third-Star beast before him.
The wolf moved first. Its body blurred. A black afterimage remained where it had been standing.
"Skill: Phantom Moonstep."
A movement skill possessed by elite Dire Wolves. By flooding their limbs with mana, they momentarily merge with their own shadow, allowing them to move with explosive bursts of speed that create afterimages and distort an opponent’s perception.
To weaker opponents, it appears as if the wolf has teleported.
The Dire Wolf reappeared behind Dexter. Its jaws opened wide as it lunged toward his neck.
"CLANG!"
Dexter casually swung his blade backwards and intercepted the bite.
The beast twisted in midair, performing an impossible flip before landing lightly on the ground several meters away.
Before it could move again, Dexter vanished.
The wolf’s instincts screamed. It barely turned its head before Dexter appeared beside it.
His blade shot toward its throat.
The wolf immediately activated Phantom Moonstep once more. Its body dissolved into a blur and reappeared behind Dexter. Its claws flashed toward the back of his head.
"Swish!"
But instead of flesh, it actually hit nothing. The wolf’s eyes widened as it realized it was an afterimage and Dexter had disappeared.
The beast looked around but couldn’t find Dexter.
It’s eyes widened in panic but suddenly it felt a heat sensation above.
Three meters above it, Dexter seem to hovered in mid air with his sword raised, he activated his bloodline talent.
"Flame Slash."
The black blade erupted with crimson fire as Dexter slashed downwards.
A two-meter crescent of blazing energy descended toward the wolf with overwhelming speed.
"Rooooar!"
The Dire Wolf roared and swung its claws toward the attack.
The flames sliced through its claws as though they were paper, then continued onward.
"SHING!"
The beast split cleanly into two halves. Its body crashed heavily onto the ground.
"THUD."
Silence fell across the battlefield. Marcus stared. Fiona blinked. Gregor’s mouth slowly opened. Lena simply looked at Dexter as though seeing him for the first time.
The Tier 3 Dire Wolf had died in less than a minute.
Killed by the supposed F-Rank burden.
Meanwhile the others were still struggling against the remaining beasts.
The battle resumed and the beast fell one after the other until only the Alpha remained. The massive beast stood silently atop the boulder overlooking the battlefield.
Its crimson eyes watched them with intelligence that no ordinary monster should possess.
Even as its entire pack died around it, it never moved and It simply watched.
Then slowly, the Alpha raised its head toward the moon.
"ROOOOOOAR!!"
The entire forest trembled and the fog rolled violently. The mana in the air suddenly became heavier.
Everyone felt it as the pressure increased.
Their eyes narrowed on the alpha.
"Everyone, be vigilant." Marcus suddenly spoke as he locked his gaze in the alpha. Bht he didn’t say anything to Dexter this time.
"Whoosh!"
The Alpha suddenly vanished.. It was as though a drawing wiped clean from a canvas.
Marcus’s face changed instantly. "Where did it go?!"
Gregor reacted first as he activated his skill.
"Guardian’s Will!"
He slammed his shield into the ground. Golden light erupted outward, forming a protective barrier around the group.
Less than a quarter of a second later, a massive shadow appeared before them and a gigantic claw descended beside Marcus.
"BOOOOOOM!!"
The impact shook the entire clearing. The barrier trembled violently as cracks spread across its surface.
"CRACK!"
The shield shattered.
But those precious fractions of a second had been enough.
Everyone immediately flew off with speed.
Marcus leapt backward.
Fiona disappeared in a silver blur. Lena rolled to safety. Gregor threw himself aside. Dust exploded into the air.
The Alpha stood where the barrier had once been. Moonlight reflected off its dark fur. Its body was nearly four meters long.
Silver claws extended from its paws. Its single remaining eye glowed with fierce intelligence.
The scar crossing the other eye somehow made it look even more terrifying. The pressure pouring from it dwarfed every monster they had faced so far.
Marcus swallowed.
"It’s actually a level 5 beast."
Fiona’s face paled. "That’s impossible. Shouldn’t it be level 3?"
Gregor tightened his grip on his shield. Lena unconsciously stepped backward.
The Alpha slowly looked across the battlefield, Then its gaze settled on Dexter.
The beast’s lips curled upward into what almost looked like a smile.
Dexter narrowed his eyes. The Alpha had chosen its prey. And strangely enough, Dexter felt the exact same way.
The Alpha Dire Wolf slowly lowered its body. Its single golden eye remained fixed on Dexter. Marcus tightened his grip on his sword.
"Everyone spread out! Don’t let it trap us together!"
The Alpha’s muscles suddenly tensed. Then, it disappeared.
"Left!"
Dexter shouted.
The Alpha appeared beside Fiona,
Fiona activated time dilation as she immediately reacted with break neck speed.
"BOOM!"
its massive claws crashed heavily into the ground where she had been standing only a moment earlier.
The impact sent dirt and grass flying in every direction. Fiona’s face paled. "That speed is ridiculous!"
Marcus immediately charged forward. Blue flames erupted around his sword. "Blue Flame Slash!"
His blade cut toward the Alpha’s neck. The beast twisted unnaturally in midair and vanished once more.
Phantom Moonstep.
Marcus’s attack sliced through empty air.
"Behind you."
Dexter’s voice came out again and the Alpha reappeared behind him. Its claws descended.
"CLANG!"
Marcus barely turn his body and managed to block.
Even then, he was sent skidding backwards through the grass. His arms trembled violently. "What kind of monster strength is this?"
The Alpha did not stop. It lunged toward Lena next.
Lena’s eyes widened. She raised her sword but she was too slow.
"BOOM!"
Gregor slammed his shield into the Alpha’s side.
The massive wolf was knocked several meters away.
Gregor planted himself in front of Lena. "I’ve got you."
The Alpha slowly stood. Its gaze swept over the battlefield.
Then it raised its head.
"ROOOOOOOAR!"
A wave of mana exploded outward. Everyone felt their bodies become heavier. Their movements slowed slightly. Even breathing felt more difficult. The alpha had activated its crowd control skill.
"Lunar Predator Aura,"