Sage and the others froze for a moment, their eyes locked on the figures closing in from every direction.

The shock on their faces was unmistakable, what stood before them was unlike anything they had ever encountered. Not in books, not on missions, not even in whispered rumors among Adventurers.

At first glance, these creatures resembled wolves. But the longer you looked, the more unsettling they became, as if they were things that shouldn’t exist at all.

Each one towered at least three and a half meters tall, nearly as high as two grown men stacked together. Their bodies were both lean and heavy, with long, powerful limbs segmented more like insects than beasts.

Their entire forms were covered in overlapping green scales that shimmered faintly under the eerie green light from above, giving them a cold, unnatural glow.

Their heads were wolf-shaped, with long snouts and rows of sharp teeth but their eyes were far from normal. Instead of just one pair, multiple smaller eyes lined the sides of their heads like an ant’s, each moving independently to scan their surroundings in impossible ways.

Jagged ridges ran down their backs, while thin, blade-like limbs extended from their sides, twitching as if alive on their own. Their main legs ended in sharp claws that dug deep into the soil with every step, leaving clear marks behind.

What made them even more unnerving was how they moved not with the natural rhythm of wolves running or leaping but with sharp precision almost mechanical in nature. Every step seemed calculated perfectly; when they shifted positions, it was silent and smooth, like shadows sliding across the ground.

The air itself felt heavier around them. Most radiated power comparable to 3rd Order Common Magical Beasts. But five larger ones stood out, their bodies bulkier with darker, thicker scales and their aura was noticeably stronger: 4th Order Elite Magical Beasts. They drew attention immediately without anyone needing to look closely.

Mina swallowed hard when she saw them; her usual playful expression vanished as she leaned forward on Sage’s shoulders and whispered quietly, "Petty uncle Sage... what are those monsters?"

Sage narrowed his eyes and scanned the creatures carefully for any familiar sign or aura but shook his head slowly after a few seconds.

"I don’t know," he admitted calmly but seriously before looking to the others. "Does anyone recognize what kind of magical beasts these are?"

No one answered.

Gregor frowned slightly and tightened his grip on his sword hilt; Vanthrice’s eyes darted sharply between the creatures; Brutus lowered his stance; and all the other Adventurers tensed up but no one spoke because none had any clue what they faced.

Sage clicked his tongue softly under his breath. "Vaults really are unpredictable..." he muttered lowly as he exhaled slowly and began adjusting mentally to this new threat. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He was just about to turn and speak to Valeria when, without a sound, she vanished from her spot. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared dozens of meters away, outside the encirclement of monsters.

With her arms crossed calmly, she stood there like a spectator rather than someone involved in the chaos. Her crimson hair danced lightly in the wind as she regarded them with her usual cold and indifferent gaze.

"Take care of it yourselves," she said coolly, her voice steady and unwavering. "I don’t want to waste my strength on these weaklings."

With that, she closed her eyes, as if the unfolding situation wasn’t worth her attention at all.

Sage froze for a moment, his expression stiff as he stared at her. For a split second, he nearly let out a curse but managed to take a deep breath and compose himself instead.

The others were no better; disbelief filled their faces, yet no one dared to speak up. They all knew arguing with Valeria was a losing battle, one best avoided unless they were ready to risk their lives.

Suddenly, Mina jumped down from Sage’s shoulders and landed gracefully on the ground. She casually patted her skirt as any trace of fear faded away.

Rolling her shoulders and cracking her knuckles with a smug grin, she declared, "Alright then!" waving her tiny hand as if summoning something.

One of the Adventurers stepped forward immediately, carrying a massive shield that was easily three times Mina’s size. Yet somehow, she lifted it effortlessly and slammed it onto the ground with a resounding thud that sent cracks radiating outward.

With an overly confident grin for someone so small, she looked at the surrounding creatures and said, "Let’s dance."

Sage reached out and tapped her lightly on the head. "Stop playing around," he chided with a slight frown. "This is serious."

Mina rubbed her head playfully and stuck out her tongue at him before giggling softly as if his scolding had never happened.

Sage shook his head in frustration before focusing back on the monsters, his demeanor shifting to one of determination. "Alright, listen up," he said, his voice steady but quick as he laid out his instructions.

"We need to form a lineup: tanks up front to hold their attention, support in the middle, and damage dealers on the sides. Rotate your focus and...."

Mina blinked at him, clearly confused, and then rolled her eyes. "What are you even saying?" she interjected, irritation creeping into her tone. "Can you break it down for us?"

Sage hesitated for a moment, scratching his head sheepishly. "Right... my bad..." he replied before rephrasing. "Mina, Leona, Brutus, you three take the front and block them. Keep their attention on you. Caelis and I will provide backup from behind, covering you and dealing with anything that slips past. Gregor, Vanthrice, and the others, you’re the main attackers, hit them from the sides. Avoid the stronger ones up front and focus on working together."

Although it sounded like a long explanation, he communicated everything clearly and efficiently, so it only took a few seconds for everyone to grasp their roles.

Just as the formation was set, the monsters moved.

Without warning, the green wolf-ant creatures emitted low, distorted growls.

Their bodies began to blur as they charged forward in unison, transforming into streaks of green light that hurtled toward Sage and the others from all directions.