The Shadow Wolf burst out of the cave entrance, sprinting back towards Kai.
Behind it, a roar shook the pine needles off the trees.
AWOOOOOO!
A massive beast leaped from the darkness.
It was twice the size of a normal wolf, its fur shimmering like polished silver. Its eyes burned with a crimson intelligence.
[Boss Monster: Silver-Mane Alpha (D Rank)]
The Alpha didn't come alone. Two elite guards flanked it.
But Kai didn't flinch. He just cracked his neck.
"Formation A," Kai ordered calmly.
Step 1: The Wall.
Fang (The Naga) slithered forward, expanding his massive hood. He hissed, slamming his tail against the ground to draw aggro.
The Alpha Wolf snarled and lunged, its jaws wide enough to crush a human skull.
CRASH!
Fang met the charge head-on. The impact was like two cars colliding. Fang was pushed back a few meters, leaving deep furrows in the dirt, but his scales held firm against the Alpha's fangs.
Step 2: The Control.
"Cinder, slow it down."
From the safety of the backline, Shadow Cinder (Mage) raised his staff.
Black frost gathered at the tip.
[Skill: Shadow Chill]
A beam of freezing dark energy hit the Alpha's hind legs. Ice crystals formed instantly, stiffening the beast's muscles.
The Alpha howled in annoyance, its movements becoming sluggish.
Step 3: The Execution.
"Jack. Kill."
While the Alpha was wrestling with Fang and slowed by Cinder, a blur of motion appeared on its blind side.
Shadow Jack leaped from the tree branches above.
Gravity + Momentum + D-Rank Strength.
He drove his shadow broadsword straight down.
SHHKT.
The blade plunged deep into the Alpha's shoulder, severing the muscle.
The Alpha roared in pain and tried to thrash, but Fang wrapped his massive tail around the wolf's torso, squeezing tight.
Constrict.
Ribs cracked.
It wasn't a duel. It was a gang beating.
Brutal. Unfair. Efficient.
The two elite wolf guards tried to help their leader, but Kai's new Shadow Wolf (the scout) kept them busy, darting in and out, biting their ankles to distract them.
Kai watched the Alpha's HP bar plummet.
[HP: 15%... 10%... 5%...]
The Alpha looked at Kai. It realized too late that the human standing in the back with his hands in his pockets was the real threat.
It gathered the last of its strength for a desperate lunge at Kai.
Kai didn't move. He didn't even blink.
Because he knew Jack was faster.
SLASH.
Jack spun his blade in a reverse grip and decapitated the Alpha in mid-air.
The massive silver body crashed at Kai's feet, sliding to a halt just inches from his boots.
Ding!
[BOSS DEFEATED: Silver-Mane Alpha]
[Experience Gained: 2,500]
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 9]
Kai let out a breath. "Good work."
He looked at the headless corpse. A shimmering silver mist was rising from it. The soul was strong. Far stronger than the regular wolves.
"You will be a fine addition," Kai whispered.
"Arise."
The mana in the air screamed. The shadows stretched and twisted, darker than ever before.
From the pool of blood, a massive claw emerged. Then a silver-black snout.
The Shadow Alpha pulled itself into existence. It was even larger than in life, wreathed in blue spectral flames. It bowed low, pressing its snout against the ground before its King.
[Shadow Beast: Alpha (Grade D) obtained.]
[Shadows: 5/5 (Max Capacity Reached)]
Kai looked at his lineup.
A Tank (Naga). An Assassin (Jack). A Mage (Cinder). A Scout (Wolf). And now, a Leader (Alpha).
"System," Kai checked the loot.
[Item: Alpha's Silver Fang (Dagger Material)]
[Item: Core of the Beast King (D Rank)]
"Leo is going to flip when he sees this," Kai smirked.
He checked the time. He had cleared the dungeon in 45 minutes. A normal team took 4 hours.
He could run this dungeon three more times before the Guild gates closed for the night.
"Get up," Kai ordered his army. "We're going for Round Two."