Chương 128: Chapter 124. Lycan nest

It took a while to set up the traps, longer than Rayne had initially expected, mostly because they weren't meant for the whole pack but more for the alpha. That alone meant they couldn't afford any mistakes. Everything had to be thought through so that when the moment came, the trap would work as intended. More than once, Rayne found himself thinking that it would be better to rely only on their blades instead. It gave him a better chance of getting the skill, but he wasn't so selfish.

Especially when none of them knew how many lycans they would be dealing with. The adventurers' guild had estimated anywhere between two to five dozen, and that range was too big for any straightforward plan. If they were unlucky and faced the higher end of that number, even a well-coordinated group like theirs could be overwhelmed. That was why the traps were necessary.

While most of them worked on setting them up, carefully placing and concealing them within the terrain, Bran moved ahead to scout the surrounding area. He kept a wide perimeter, making sure no wandering monsters or stray lycans would stumble upon them while they were still preparing. The process took nearly two hours. By the time they were done, the sun had climbed high into the sky, its light filtering through the trees and casting broken shadows across the forest floor.

The air had warmed slightly, though the tension among them remained. Rayne allowed the group a short rest. They sat where they were, eating simple rations and drinking water, conserving their strength for what was to come. No one spoke much during that time. The earlier banter had faded, replaced by quiet focus. Once they were done, they moved ahead. The lycan cave wasn't far from where they had set up the trap. It took only a few minutes of careful movement before they reached it.

The entrance looked like any other monster den at first glance, a wide opening carved into a rocky incline, its edges jagged and uneven. Dark stains marked parts of the stone, and the ground near the entrance was disturbed, filled with claw marks and old tracks pressed deep into the soil. A faint, unpleasant smell lingered in the air, something between damp fur and rotting meat. Rayne studied it for a moment before looking away.

The easiest thing here would have to go inside himself and lure a few lycans, but he had already prepared a better plan than that. Without wasting time, Bran moved forward and placed a piece of dried jerky on top of a flat stone not far from the cave entrance. After that, he took out a small vial and let a few drops of a thick liquid fall over it.

The substance was known as scentbloom extract, a crafted alchemical mixture designed to amplify the smell of whatever it touched, one of the things he had bought from Casper. Within moments, the scent began to spread, carried slowly by the air through the surrounding forest. Lycans had strong noses. If anything could draw them out, it would be this. Rayne watched silently, his grip tightening slightly around his weapon as he moved into position with the others.

They crouched low, keeping their presence hidden while maintaining a clear view of the cave entrance. A part of him considered blocking the entrance itself. If they could force the lycans to come out in smaller numbers, it would make the fight easier. But the opening was too wide, and he didn't have enough men to hold such a position effectively. Maybe in the future, he thought. For now, this would have to be enough.

Time passed slowly after that, and he used it to check his gear for one last time like he always did before a battle. Then suddenly, Bran straightened slightly beside him. Rayne followed his gaze, and saw it the next second. Three figures stepped out of the cave. They were just a little shorter than him, walking upright on two legs, their bodies covered in thick red fur that seemed darker near their limbs. Their heads were unmistakably wolf-like, with elongated snouts and sharp teeth visible even from a distance.

Their eyes glowed faintly, scanning their surroundings with a predatory awareness before they locked onto the jerky. Heins took a sharp breath the moment he saw the lycans and muttered under his breath, "They look scarier than I expected." Jason immediately reached out and pressed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Quiet," he whispered. Heins nodded quickly, forcing himself to stay still, and Rayne turned his full attention back to the lycans. The three creatures moved slowly toward the jerky, their steps careful and deliberate. Their noses twitched as they caught the scent, and their eyes widened slightly when they saw the bait sitting out in the open. One of them paused, its head turning as it scanned the surroundings, as if trying to understand why something like that was just lying there.

Rayne felt his grip tighten on his sword as he realised they might be smarter than the goblins or imps. He glanced toward Bran, who was already in position with his bow drawn, the string pulled tight. The veteran's expression was calm, his breathing steady as he waited for the right moment. Then as one of the lycan moved its hand to grab the jerky, he exhaled and released. The arrow cut through the air with a sharp hiss and struck it straight in the chest.

A loud, guttural cry tore from the creature as it stumbled forward, blood bursting from the wound as it tried to steady itself. The other two reacted instantly, letting out low growls as their attention snapped away from the jerky. But they didn't get the chance to act. Jason charged in right then. He moved like a boulder rolling downhill, fast and unstoppable, covering the distance in seconds. His axe came down in a wide arc, crashing into one of the lycans' shoulders with brutal force.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The impact sent the creature staggering, its body twisting under the blow. More blood flowed out as Jason continued his charge, his axe biting deeper into the lycan's shoulder as the force of his movement pushed the creature down. It stumbled under the impact, its balance breaking as its claws scraped uselessly against the ground. At the same moment, the rest of the party revealed themselves.

Kesh and Heins rushed forward without hesitation, moving straight toward the wounded lycan that Bran had shot earlier. The creature was still trying to recover, its chest heaving as blood spilled from the arrow wound, but it didn't get the chance. Both of them struck together, blades driving into its torso again and again until it collapsed under their assault. Behind them, Bran had already nocked another arrow. He released it in one smooth motion, aiming for the third lycan.

But then, something unexpected happened. The lycan's claw shot out and caught the arrow mid-air. The wood snapped in its grip as it crushed the shaft like it was nothing. A deep, furious growl escaped its throat as its red fur began to glow faintly, the color deepening into something darker like blood. Rayne's eyes widened slightly and he shouted.

"Brace!" The lycan moved the next second. It vanished from where it stood, its body blurring forward with a sudden burst of speed. One moment it had been several steps away, and the next it was already closing in on Bran, who barely had time to step back. But before its claws could shed any blood, Nate rushed at it. He raised his shield and slammed it forward with all his strength. The impact connected, forcing the lycan to shift its movement, but it didn't hold.

The creature pushed back and retreated just enough to avoid the follow-up strike. Rayne saw the gap in its momentum and immediately closed the distance. He stepped in fast, his sword thrusting toward the lycan's back in a clean, direct strike. The creature reacted again, turning just in time to face him. For a moment, he paused, but then his battle instincts and training took over. Rayne twisted his wrist mid-strike, shifting the angle of his blade before driving it downward instead.

The sword cut into the lycan's leg, piercing through muscle and forcing it down slightly as a sharp cry escaped its mouth. Its claws came for his throat immediately after. Rayne sidestepped, the attack missing him by inches. Before the lycan could recover, another arrow struck. Bran's shot landed cleanly into its neck, the force of it pushing the creature down onto one knee. It struggled, trying to rise, but Rayne didn't give it the chance. He stepped in and drove his blade forward.

The sword pierced straight through its throat as the monster struggled before its body went still. A faint notification buzzed in Rayne's mind, but he knew he had gotten no stat or skill out of the lycan. He pulled his blade back and turned immediately. The other two lycans were already dead. Kesh and Heins had finished theirs with repeated strikes to the chest, while Jason stood over the one he had charged, his axe buried deep as he wrenched it free. The entire fight had lasted less than a minute.

But Rayne didn't relax. His gaze shifted back toward the cave, his grip tightening slightly around his weapon. The lycan he had faced had been fast. Faster than he had expected for something that likely wasn't even at level thirty. He could follow its movements. But if there were more of them, then— A long, echoing howl cut through the air, followed by another. From within the darkness of the cave, multiple pairs of eyes stared back at them.

Rayne felt someone suck in a sharp breath behind him just as dozens of lycans burst out of the cave, their bodies leaping forward in a wave of red fur and claws. They moved with terrifying speed, covering the distance in moments as they came straight for his party.

"Shields!" Rayne shouted, but his party was already moving. All of them raised their shields just in time. Claws slammed against metal in a harsh, grinding sound that echoed through the clearing. The impact pushed a few of them back a step. Rayne focused on the lycan in front of him. It slashed again and again, claws scraping against his shield, trying to break through with sheer force. Its glowing fur pulsed faintly as its skill activated. But he didn't let the fight prolong.

Rayne pushed forward, using his strength to shove the creature back. It staggered, its balance breaking for a brief moment as its fur flared into a deeper red. A foot immediately stomped down hard to pin it in place before he drove his sword downward. The blade pierced through the lycan's eyes and into its skull, cutting through bone as it let out a broken cry. He didn't wait to see it die. Pulling his blade free, Rayne looked around. The initial assault hadn't injured anyone, but it was clear they were struggling.

The lycans were faster than they had expected, and their coordinated attacks were forcing the group to move into a defensive formation. Heins, Kesh, and Nate had grouped together just as planned, their shields overlapping as they held the line against multiple pairs of claws. Behind them, Bran stood steady, releasing arrows one after another with practiced precision. In the center, Jason fought like a force of nature.

He held two lycans at bay on his own, his axe swinging in wide arcs that forced them to keep their distance, each strike heavy enough to break bone if it landed cleanly. Rayne took a steady breath, moving to cull their numbers just as another lycan leapt toward him, claws aimed straight for his chest, but he saw it coming. Shifting just in time, he let it crash into the ground beside him.

His sword followed immediately, and cut cleanly across its neck, opening it in a single motion as blood sprayed across the forest floor. But as he looked up, two more lycans rushed toward him, their fur already glowing as they closed the distance. Rayne didn't meet them head-on, pushing down his mana through his hands. Death mana flowed into his blade, causing it to vibrate faintly as the air around it distorted. The moment the lycans saw it, they shifted their movement to the sides. But Rayne was faster.

He adjusted mid-swing, his blade cutting across the space they moved into. The arc of death mana struck both of them in the chest, sending them flying backward. Their bodies slammed into another lycan behind them, and all three crashed hard against the cave wall with a painful cry. Rayne locked his eyes down to the group of lycans pressing down at his party, another [Death Strike] forming on his blade, but then he picked up more movement from the cave.

More lycans poured out one after another and at once, he understood that their numbers were probably closer to the higher end of the guild's estimate, maybe even beyond it. [Death Strike] wouldn't be enough to kill everyone with how fast they moved, and he cancelled it immediately. Instead, he shifted to another plan they had already prepared and took a breath. The next second, he unleashed [War Pulse], his mana flowing out of him and as the entire battlefield mapped itself out in his mind.

Then, he moved to take control of the battle.

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