Chapter 23
“…Young Master.”
“Yes. I think that’s right.”
Inside the cavern, charred wolf corpses lay scattered everywhere.
Eric faced the enormous wolf that had appeared with heavy footsteps and gave a slight nod to Leona, who was staring at him with tense eyes.
“What is that? Is it very dangerous?”
“A Named.”
“A… Named? As in the special kind I’ve heard about? But I learned those are rare even on large battlefields…”
Listening beside them, Lilian looked up at the wolf with wide eyes at Eric’s reply.
Whatever she thought the term meant, there was only one meaning for “Named” in Protect Humanity, so it couldn’t be far from what Eric imagined.
“It must have been trapped in some patch of ice that hadn’t melted. But where could a beast that size have hidden itself so completely? The cave must be huge.”
A Named.
A rare mutant among monsters—one whose power transcends its own species.
As Lilian said, they were not something you normally encountered.
Yet between the Morbus he’d seen in the sewers earlier and now this, Named monsters kept appearing even though the monster invasion hadn’t officially begun.
Even Eric, a veteran who had cleared this cursed game many times, found it strange.
It was odd enough that someone moved an entire pack of Frost Wolves. Now a Named? Who on earth is behind this?
Smuggling Frost Wolves across a border was no small matter, and this wasn’t some small Ratman.
To bring in a Named—something rarely found even in real wars—before hostilities began meant a frighteningly powerful group had to be involved.
—Kiiing…
The massive wolf inspected the fallen packmates, licking them sadly, then turned toward them and bared its teeth.
Pruna of the Frozen Earth
Level: 28
Strength: 36
Agility: 110
Vitality: 54
Magic: 90
Traits: Frost Hide, Frost Step
“Level 28… higher than Leona. Being Named, it’s no surprise—it’s every bit as strong as hero-class Leona or Lilian, maybe stronger with those traits.”
An agility of 110—ten points higher than even the notably swift Leona.
Eric had fought Frost Wolf Named bosses before in Protect Humanity, but always with a proper raid party.
This time it was just three of them, and aside from Leona their agility was pitiful.
Could they defeat it with standard tactics? Doubtful.
And Eric’s own body wasn’t exceptional. With his mediocre stats he’d be lucky just to slow it down.
At least we already cleared out the smaller wolves. If they’d all come at once, the three of us wouldn’t have stood a chance.
It was bleak, but not hopeless.
High agility and magic usually meant lower vitality.
And Lilian was one of the continent’s most powerful mages.
Though twice knocked unconscious earlier, if she could land a solid fire spell—a Frost Wolf’s weakness—they might manage.
“Sir Lilian. I know it’s tough, but one more time. Wide area, as sure a hit as you can.”
Hearing Eric’s calm request, Lilian tightened her grip on her staff.
“That size… wouldn’t a concentrated, single-target spell be better…?” she began, but seeing Eric’s unwavering expression, she bit back her objection and nodded.
“…All right. I’ll do it your way, Young Master.”
A mage’s decision in battle was critical: long casting times meant a wrong choice could cripple their offense.
Especially for Lilian, whose trait drained her mana and left her unconscious after a big spell.
But Eric clearly knew more about Named monsters than she did—and she didn’t want to disappoint the one who trusted her.
Most of all, I don’t want to let him down.
A vivid red magic circle flared in the air, more intricate than any she’d cast before.
“Ugh…”
A splitting headache stabbed through her, and she bit her lip to keep from groaning.
—Kuhh!
Heat gathered rapidly around her. The Named, which had been circling warily, launched forward with a thunderous kick.
Boom!
Eric whipped his head around just in time to see the massive body vanish and reappear in front of Lilian.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
So fast…
He’d known its agility was high, but not like this.
If not for the noise behind him he might not have realized it moved at all.
Fortunately Leona intercepted it in time.
One more heartbeat and Lilian would have been ripped apart.
Clang!
The clash rang out as the Named recoiled, claws withdrawing.
Though huge, its raw strength was still outclassed—Leona’s strength was 26 points higher.
Stats weren’t everything, but in sheer power the wolf couldn’t win.
Leona readied her blade again, but her wrist ached from deflecting that sudden claw strike.
It’s fast. Nothing like those smaller wolves.
She’d barely seen it move before it launched.
Thanks to its size she managed to block, but a fraction slower and Lilian would have been gravely hurt.
I can guard Lilian and counterattack… but…
She cast a worried glance at Eric.
Protecting two people from such a swift foe was almost impossible.
All she could do was hope the beast kept focusing on the mage.
Whoosh!
“Y-Young Master!”
Despite her efforts to hide it, the wolf caught Eric’s shifting eyes and lunged.
—Kraaaah!
It appeared before Eric in an instant.
Leona darted in, driving her blade into the gap just as the claws slashed.
Clash!
“Kh…!”
“Sir Leona!”
Blood dripped from her palm where the sword had scraped.
She’d blocked in time, but barely—her hand was cut from catching the blow on the blade’s tip.
“Fall back! It’s dangerous!”
Gritting her teeth against the pain, she tried to steady her shaking sword, but then saw Eric moving in to exploit the opening.
Eric was capable, but this creature was nothing like the sewer Ratman.
Despite its bulk, its speed challenged even her reflexes.
If he engaged now, he’d only get in the way.
“I’ll handle—”
Crack!
A strange sound came from beneath her feet.
She glanced down.
The ground under the wolf whitened with frost.
“Leona! Back, now!” Eric shouted urgently.
Frost Step—one of Pruna’s traits.
If she stayed put, even her formidable vitality wouldn’t save her from being frozen solid.
“Leona! Damn it!”
But Leona held her ground, worried that retreating would expose Eric.
Frost crept up her legs.
Damn it! I’m dead weight like this!
Eric clenched his teeth.
He knew every Frost Wolf weakness from the game, but his body couldn’t match his knowledge.
With his feeble stats he couldn’t even scratch its hide—and moving closer would only let the spreading frost take him too.
“Haah… huff…”
While he racked his brain for a plan, Leona groaned as the cold bit up to her side.
Think. There has to be a way to bring it down…
“Everyone, back!”
A sudden shout—and a surge of heat—came from behind. Lilian.
Whump!
Eric smashed the ice around Leona’s feet and yanked her back just as a massive flame burst from Lilian’s complex magic circle.
Boom!
The wolf’s claws struck empty ground with a crash as fire engulfed the spot where they’d stood.
Fwoooosh!
—Kyaaaaa!
Flames roared like waves, smoke and heat filling the cavern along with a hideous scream.
“Leona, are you all right?”
“…I’m fine. Just…shaking a bit.”
Eric glanced at her pale face and trembling body, her breath frosting the air despite her armor.
The fire’s warmth was melting the ice, but she was clearly in bad shape.
—Grrr…
A chilling growl rumbled through the fading smoke.
“…Damn. Still alive.”
Burned black and sizzling, its hide still smoldering, the Named staggered back into view.
Eric stepped forward, shielding the wounded Leona.
“Young Master, I—ugh!”
Leona tried to rise using her sword, but her numbed legs failed her and she collapsed.
“My legs…”
—Kuhhh!
The wolf’s massive forepaw swung at Eric.
Crash!
“N-Noooo!”
Dust billowed, hiding everything.
Through the haze Leona saw a huge silhouette and cried out in despair.
Thud…
A chilling, wet crunch followed.
“Huff… huff…”
“…Young Master!”
Looking up, she saw Eric atop the beast, and her face lit with relief.
“Please… please…!”
On the giant wolf’s head, Eric clung to its matted fur, stabbing down again and again toward its rolling eye.
Thunk! Thunk!
—Gahhh! Grrr!
The cavern echoed with its terrible howls.
The beast thrashed as its eye was pierced, but Eric gripped the coarse fur, palms tearing, and held fast.
His shoulder throbbed from an earlier graze, his arms weakening, but he refused to let go.
If he fell, all three of them would die.
—Grr… grrk…
At last the monster’s struggles weakened.
Sensing it, Eric clenched his fist in triumph.
Finally!
Ding!
[Trait Neurotoxin activates!]
[Pruna of the Frozen Earth is now Poisoned.]
The trait he’d gained from the Ratman Named.
It had taken time for the poison to spread through such a huge body, but it was enough.
Now, while it lay helpless—
Thrust!
Eric braced atop its brow and drove his sword into its ruined eye with both hands.
“Ghhhhh…!”
Blood streamed down his arms as the blade sank deeper, his vision turning red and dizzy from the wound in his shoulder.
“Just… die already!”
Shunk!
The blade pierced something tough and went in to the hilt.
—Grrrk…
Thud!
The giant body twitched and collapsed.
“Huff… huff…”
Ding!
[You have defeated the Named monster Pruna of the Frozen Earth.]
Eric read the bright message through ragged breaths and finally exhaled in relief.
“We… we did it…”
Thump.
