The distress signal burst in the sky like a brilliant moon, casting bright light over Battlefield No. 3.
Even the dense fog couldn't obscure it, making it visible for miles in every direction.
"It's not far, let's go."
Upon seeing the distress signal, Lin and Ning Yiyi hurried over.
Regardless of the internal competition, whether it involves life or death, these are matters within the human race.
On the battlefield, when a distress signal is seen, nearby professionals will rush to help.
This is a rule that all professionals follow.
It is by cooperating that humanity has survived the threats from the abyss to this day.
The distress signal was not far from Lin, just a few minutes away.
"Something's wrong, all the monsters here have vanished."
Ning Yiyi sensed something amiss.
After passing the central area, the number of monsters had started to increase significantly.
Yet now, as they hurried along, they encountered not a single abyss monster.
Then, sharp laughter pierced through the mist.
"It's a demon's laugh."
"It seems these man-eating monsters have been summoned by demons."
Ning Yiyi quickly deduced.
Abyss Demons can command monsters.
Professionals likely to send out distress signals are usually under siege.
The two accelerated their pace.
The howling of the man-eating monsters filled their ears until they finally arrived through the dense fog.
Hundreds of man-eating monsters had surrounded a group of people, attacking in layers both inside and out.
Nine people comprised the group: two knights, three supports, and four attackers.
Such a team configuration is uncommon.
Among the four attackers were summoners, mages, archers, and a warrior.
The warrior also served as a knight, blocking the monsters' attacks.
This team was not low-level. Though not yet level 40, they were around levels 37 or 38.
With their team level, dealing with the man-eating monsters was not difficult, and they had every chance of breaking free.
The presence of the demon was the key issue.
An Abyss Demon was airborne, intermittently attacking them, exerting tremendous pressure on the knights.
Each time the knight attempted to break free, he was thwarted by it.
The Abyss Demon, wolf-faced and reminiscent of the Dog Demon yet with a distinctly different aura, lacked wings and rode a massive green wolf.
The green wolf, winged and with exposed sharp teeth, looked exceedingly fierce.
Lin had read about this type of demon in the archives.
Named Abyss Wolf Demon.
Wolf demons are a vast population in the abyss, born as pairs, with one becoming a wolf demon and the other a blue wolf, serving as the mount.
The relationship between the Abyss Wolf Demon and its mount, the Blue Wolf, is akin to that of brothers.
They work in perfect harmony, their combat power far surpassing that of the Abyss Dog Demon.
The Abyss Wolf Demon thwarted the knight's attempts to break through repeatedly, its harsh laughter echoing.
It seemed to be toying with its opponents.
Lin could tell that if it truly intended to kill, these people might not have survived until now.
A detection technique was swiftly deployed.
[Abyss Wolf Demon (Ordinary Demon)]
[Level: 38]
[Strength: 12000]
[Agility: 10000]
[Spirit: 3000]
[Stamina: 9000]
[Skills: Roar Attack, Bite]
Indeed, it was much stronger than the Abyss Dog Demon, but for Lin, it was hardly a challenge.
The only complication was its ability to fly, and rather swiftly at that.
Escaping it would be a challenge.
"We need to find a way to trick it."
Lin and Ning Yiyi exchanged glances, understanding evident in their eyes upon feeling the detection technique. The Abyss Wolf Demon turned its gaze towards Lin.
Its fangs gleamed menacingly as it let out a derisive laugh, "Ah, finally some newcomers."
"Look at that, a little one at level 26, and a girl at level 25."
"Their skin looks so soft and tender, surely they will be delicious."
It had deliberately circled without killing, waiting for the professionals to send a distress signal.
Its plan was to kill more while waiting for reinforcements.
The devil's voice reached the besieged group
In that moment, despair set in.
What could level 26 individuals possibly do here? Were they to die after having come so far?
The abyss wolf demon's gaze fixed on Ning Yiyi, its tongue lasciviously licking its fangs, "I'll start with you."
As it spoke, it charged towards Ning Yiyi.
Its eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light, excitement at the prospect of tasting delicious prey evident.
Ning Yiyi let out a cry and took refuge behind Lin.
"There's no use hiding, your fate is sealed!"
"I'll start with your hands, then your thighs. I won't let you die until I've had my fill."
"Your screams will season my meal."
The Abyss Wolf Demon's maniacal laughter rang out. In its eyes, Ning Yiyi was already its prey.
It failed to notice the lack of fear in Ning Yiyi's eyes, only a smirk of victory.
"You fool, prepare to die, and don't you dare interfere with my feast!" The Abyss Wolf Demon lunged, its claws gleaming.
Its claws, as sharp as any weapon, struck.
Suddenly, a skeleton armor appeared, blocking its attack.
What just happened?
It was momentarily confounded.
Then, a red marker appeared above its head with a buzzing sound.
What was this?
The Abyss Wolf Demon looked up, its movements significantly slower than usual.
Not only it, but the green wolf it rode also slowed down dramatically at that moment.
As it looked up, it was besieged by skeleton warriors.
The skeletons grasped the green wolf's feet, their broadswords emitting a bright red light as they slashed at the wolf's wings.
More skeleton warriors leaped up, clambering atop it.
The demon's screams, elongated by the slowing curse, echoed eerily, affecting even the man-eating monsters besieging the professionals.
Each monster's movements became sluggish as if encumbered by heavy weights.
"What's happening?"
"Why did it suddenly slow down?"
"This is...a curse!"
"Break out now!"
Under the curse's influence, the monsters' attacks slowed considerably, reducing the threat they posed to the professionals.
Seizing the opportunity, the knights led the charge, breaking free from the monsters' encirclement.
Before they could fully escape the monsters' reach, a piercing scream resounded.
It was the Abyss Wolf Demon's death throes.
The Abyss Wolf Demon, even in death, could not comprehend its defeat.
Why was this seemingly insignificant level 26 so formidable?
Why couldn't it defend itself?
Lin had merely awaited its approach.
The curse, combined with the explosive might of the skeleton warriors, enabled a swift, surprising kill.
In mere moments, it was over.
[Killing a level 38 Abyss Wolf Demon yielded +380000 experience and +50 military merit]
[Acquired demon blood.]
[Devil Essence Blood: Contains abyssal power, useful for alchemists and blacksmiths in crafting equipment.]
After the rescue team broke through, they encountered the Abyss Wolf Demon's corpse.
"He actually killed it."
"How did he manage that?"
"Isn't he only level 26?"
"How quickly was that demon slain?"
Amidst their astonishment, Lin whispered to them, "Move back 100 meters; I need to clear the area."
The group was momentarily taken aback, unsure of his intentions.
Clear the area? But why ask them to retreat 100 meters?
Ning Yiyi then emerged, saying, "You should hurry away to avoid accidental injury."
Though skeptical, the truth that the Abyss Wolf Demon had been vanquished was undeniable.
Belief in the improbable seemed wiser than doubt.
Exchanging glances, the group decided to withdraw.
At that moment, the man-eating monsters had regrouped, only for several skeletons to confront them, dispatching many with just a few strikes.
"Such formidable power!"
Ordinarily, a man-eating monster wouldn't fall to just two or three blows.
Suddenly, a loud explosion! The group was jolted.
Shockwaves billowed towards them like a fierce gale.
Upon looking again, the space before Lin was cleared.
Dozens of man-eating monsters lay lifeless.
The group was rendered speechless...
Should such force be directed at them, survival, let alone unscathed escape, would be miraculous.
Then, two more blasts ensued.
A further swath of man-eating monsters perished.
With a gulp, they wondered, "Where in the world did this formidable individual come from?"
"To be merely level 26 and wield such lethality..."
"Are his summons truly that potent? Could such a powerful profession exist?"