–Grimfang—Level 43–

–Grimfang - Level 45–

–Grimfang - Level 42–

–Grimfang - Level 40–

–Grimfang - Level 42–

–Grimfang - Level 41–

…

…

…

–Grimfang - Level 42–

–Grimfang - Level 41–

…

…

…

Reidar and the rest of the group found themselves surrounded by monsters Reidar had never seen. Though the system gave him hints at what those things were. Grimfangs.

Reidar checked what the system said about them.

—[«ANALYSIS»]—

«Grimfang»

Type: Beast

Classification: Worldwalker

Average Level: 42

Range Level: 40-45

Threat Level: Medium

[Known Characteristics]

Base:

Vulnerabilities: Fire, Consecrated weaponry

Resistances: Cold, Shadow damage

Immunities: fear-inducing effects

Other:

The Worldwalker classification does not inherently alter the creature's resistances or vulnerabilities. Its primary danger comes from a post-mortem effect rather than a change in defensive stats.

Vulnerabilities: None

Resistances: None

Immunities: None

[Average Attributes]

S.H.I.E.L.D.: 9

A.C.U.M.E.N.: 4

F.L.A.I.R.: 10

F.L.I.P.: 2

[ Notable Skills ]

Base:

Vicious Bite: A powerful single-target melee attack that can inflict a bleeding status effect.

Pack Hunter's Mark: The Grimfang howls, marking a single target. The marked target receives increased damage from all allied Grimfangs.

Pounce: The creature leaps a short distance to strike a target, potentially staggering them.

Other:

Dimensional Destabilization (On Death): Upon death, the creature's body collapses, releasing a shockwave of dimensional energy. All entities caught in the blast have their vision blurred and hearing muffled for several seconds.

[ Ecology & Behavior ]

(…)

// KNOWN VARIANTS //

(…)

—[«END»]—

<Based on the modifier, these are Worldwalker creatures.>

Worldwalkers were monsters from other worlds, slipping through portals just like the Rift-Sprites. They even had the same tag, though Rift-Sprites were definitely weaker.

The creatures rose from the shadows between the trees. They were massive wolf-like forms with grotesquely distended jaws bristling with rock-like teeth.

Their fur was matted and coarse, the color of ash and dried blood, stretched over bodies that stood nearly as tall as Reidar's shoulder. They were big ass wolves.

Jagged spines of bone protruded along their spines, and their eyes burned with a cold light.

They snarled while circling the group.

"Don't let them surround us!"

Not that Reidar needed Lena to say that.

Reidar's Primal Pack growled in response, the bear lowering its head defensively while the panther and wolf bared their teeth.

The Grimfangs answered with a chorus of guttural snarls, saliva dripping from fangs that seemed to shimmer with energy.

Jorik's barrier glowed brighter. "They're not backing down."

"They're not supposed to," Lena said, her gaze locked on the largest of the beasts. "Grimfangs don't retreat."

"This makes me think you already fought them," Reidar said.

"We've seen them before," Lena said as she kept her eyes on the circling predators. "Last time, they were all level 35. We pushed through, but it wasn't easy. They aren't the real problem, anyway."

Reidar watched the largest Grimfang pace just beyond the barrier's edge. "These aren't the real problem?"

"The quarry has worse monsters," Lena said. "These are just those that roam around the area."

Reidar let out a dry chuckle. "So let me get this straight, we're about to fight through a pack of level forty-plus monsters from another dimension, and you're telling me the real trouble is still ahead? What's waiting at the quarry? A dragon that breathes acid and disappointment?"

Jorik snorted, though his focus never wavered from maintaining the shimmering barrier. "You're not far off. It's just that they are not dragons."

Lena shot Reidar a look that could freeze magma. "Save the jokes for after we survive."

The largest Grimfang lunged forward, testing the barrier with a claw that sparked against the magical field. Jorik grunted, the shield flickering but holding.

"Right," Reidar said as he raised his Shepherd's Crook. "No more jokes."

He sent a mental command to his primal pack. The bear roared and charged forward, meeting the first Grimfang head-on.

Reidar counted forty of them, each one many levels above his and that of his summons.

His Bone Militia advanced; 5 skeletons moving with jerky purpose left the barrier. They fanned out going in the same position that Lena had asked Reidar for, just out of the barrier.

The bone militia drew the attention of several Grimfangs. Maybe it was the bones themselves that caught their interest, because the creatures seemed especially focused on them.

From within the barrier, his Rift-Sprite Squad unleashed a volley of elemental attacks. Fireballs, stone shards, water orbs, and slicing gusts of wind in all shapes and sizes were raining down on the pack from a safe distance.

The largest Grimfang ignored the skeletons entirely; its gaze was fixed on Reidar. It lunged, and Jorik's barrier shuddered but held. The man grunted in exertion.

Lena met Torren and Lysa's eyes. "Ready?"

Torren hefted his massive Zweihänder with a smile. Lysa simply nodded. Poisoned blades were already resting between her fingers.

The three of them burst from the barrier's protection the moment Reidar's bear slammed into the flank of a lunging Grimfang.

Reidar channeled mana, sending a searing fireball into the face of the beast trying to circle around. It recoiled with a pained snarl.

[Your Fireball strikes the Grimfang for 187 fire damage.]

[Arcane Leech effect triggered. 47 damage points converted into mana.].

Torren moved like a force of nature; his blade cleaved through muscle and bone with ease.

A Grimfang pounced; he met it mid-air, shearing through its neck in one clean motion.

[Grimfang defeated.]

[You have gained 731 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]

[You have earned 219 Survival Points.]

Lysa was simply swift. She was here, then there. She used throwing daggers, and when those ended, she retrieved them with some kind of telekinesis skill.

A dagger buried itself in the eye of a Grimfang that had pinned one of Reidar's skeletons. She went past its thrashing form, retrieving her blade before the creature hit the ground.

[Grimfang defeated.]

[You have gained 748 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]

[You have earned 224 Survival Points.]

Reidar's skeletons were falling, shattered by powerful swipes, but each one created an opening during the fight, and the others took advantage of that.

His Rift-Sprites provided covering fire and accrued damage. The attacks forced the Grimfangs to split their focus even more.

Reidar then cast a Wind Blade, cutting the legs out from under a beast moments before it could sink its teeth into Torren's back.

[Your Wind Blade strikes the Grimfang for 154 slashing damage.]

[Grimfang defeated.]

[You have gained 755 C.L.A.S.P. Points.]

[You have earned 226 survival points.]

<Luckily I invited them to my party… Otherwise I would have missed all those points…>

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