Nobody noticed Locci as he crept up behind the Wanderclaws, ensuring his safe arrival. With stealth on his side, he swiftly struck at the rearmost Wanderclaw, its screech betraying his position.
Suddenly, all the Wanderclaws turned their attention to him, launching themselves in his direction. However, Locci wasted no time. He slammed the ground, unleashing a powerful [Cold Wave] that knocked several Wanderclaws back, causing some to plummet into the fissure below.
The Wanderclaws persisted in their assault on Locci, but the frostbite effect from his previous attack slowed their movements. Seizing the opportunity, Locci unleashed his [Frostbite Fury], swiftly dispatching three Wanderclaws that had lined up against him.
Locci was pleased with his performance. Wanderclaws were formidable adversaries, relying heavily on their speed. By depriving them of their swiftness, he had significantly weakened them.
With his frostbite abilities, Locci had become the bane of the Wanderclaws, their ultimate adversary.
But the Wanderclaws still had tricks up their sleeves. They concentrated mana in their front legs and shot towards Locci with incredible speed, leaving beam-like trails in their wake. This ability, known as [Razor Rush], temporarily boosted their speed, enabling them to unleash clawing attacks despite any lingering slow debuffs.
While Locci would have once been wary of this move, he now had a countermeasure ready.
Locci slammed the ground once more, unleashing a blue wave that clashed with the advancing Wanderclaws. Despite their efforts to resist each other, the sheer number of Wanderclaws quickly overwhelmed the wave, reducing it to smoke and allowing them to press forward. However, Locci had vanished without a trace.
Locci reappeared suddenly, perched atop a Wanderclaw's back, sinking his teeth into its neck and sending electric shocks coursing through its body. With a graceful mid-air flip, he hurled the incapacitated creature at another approaching Wanderclaw. Swift as ever, he then unleashed his [Frostbite Fury], dispatching them with a single swing of his claw.
With only three Wanderclaws left, Locci faced a tougher challenge. These last three proved to be more cunning than their fallen comrades.
As Locci executed his signature [Frostbite Fury] against the previous two Wanderclaws, the remaining three charged at him with their [Razor Rush], slashing his body before he could fully defend himself.
In a desperate bid to survive, Locci hastily activated his [Heal], restoring his wounds with a burst of green energy.
Realizing they couldn't match Locci's speed, the three Wanderclaws seized the opportunity to bite him. One aimed for his front leg, another for his hind leg, and the third for his back.
As Locci attempted to lift his leg to unleash a [Cold Wave], the frostbite effect spread through his body, debilitating him further. To make matters worse, the Wanderclaws intensified their biting, causing him to stumble and fall.
"Locci!" came the worried call from the other side.
Despite the dire situation, Locci refused to give up. With determination, he cleared his mind and endured the pain. He acknowledged that fighting multiple Wanderclaws was still a formidable challenge for him, but he knew there was a way out.
Spotting a Wanderclaw's neck within reach, Locci seized the opportunity and sank his teeth into it, sending electric shocks coursing through its body and forcing it to release him.
Free from the grasp of the creature, Locci managed to lift his leg. He slammed the ground, unleashing a cold wave that sent the remaining two Wanderclaws flying. Without hesitation, he immediately activated his [Heal] ability to mend his injuries.
Despite having healed his injury, Locci felt the strain on his mana reserves. With each ability he unleashed, his reserves dwindled further. Realizing he had only enough mana left for two more abilities, he faced the daunting task of defeating three remaining Wanderclaws.
On the other side of the fissure, Andre gazed at Locci with concern etched on his face. Despite his desire to save his friend, they were separated by the daunting fissure and the menacing swinging guillotines.
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Turning to Riza, Andre implored, "Riza, could you command your Nix to activate the Beast Blaster?"
Riza shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, they're out of range," she explained. "This is precisely why I cautioned against sending your Nix alone. It's too risky to engage multiple opponents without a weapon Nix Artifact."
On Locci's side, despite the challenging circumstances and his struggle to catch his breath, he refused to succumb to despair. Surrounded by the encroaching Wanderclaws, his eyes blazed with unyielding determination.
As the three Wanderclaws advanced slowly towards him, Locci made no attempt to flee, hindered as he was by the effects of frostbite. Instead, he allowed them to draw near, biding his time. When they were within reach, he unleashed a powerful [Cold Wave], sending them flying with a decisive blast.
Locci wasted no time in closing the distance with one of the Wanderclaws. As he approached, the creature mirrored his movements, rising to its feet and meeting him head-on. Without hesitation, they engaged in a fierce grappling match, each one locking their body against the other in a test of strength and willpower.
Despite facing off against a single Wanderclaw, Locci proved to be superior in terms of strength. Using his advantage, he maneuvered himself into a dominant position atop the creature. Attempting to bite his opponent several times, Locci found his attempts thwarted as the Wanderclaw blocked his mouth.
Undeterred, Locci employed a cunning tactic to outsmart the Wanderclaw. Pretending to claw at its face, he deceived the creature, causing it to lower its guard. Seizing the opportunity, Locci swiftly sank his teeth into its exposed neck, ultimately defeating it.
Locci's ordeal was far from finished. Just as he thought he had gained the upper hand, the other two Wanderclaws nearly ambushed him from behind. With quick thinking, Locci reacted by hurling the body of the defeated Wanderclaw at the first assailant, momentarily halting its advance. Without hesitation, he then unleashed his [Frostbite Fury] at the second Wanderclaw.
With only one Wanderclaw remaining, Locci found himself unable to rely on his abilities any longer. The situation would have been more manageable if both combatants were devoid of their abilities. However, to Locci's dismay, the last Wanderclaw enveloped its front leg with a radiant light, indicating that it still possessed enough mana to unleash another ability.
With the last Wanderclaw hurtling towards him at breakneck speed, Locci braced himself, knowing he couldn't evade the impending [Razor Rush]. As the attack slashed into his side, Locci seized the opportunity to retaliate. With swift determination, he mounted the creature's body and sank his teeth into its vulnerable neck.
Despite the Wanderclaw's attempts to dislodge him by leaping and thrashing, Locci dug his claws into its flesh, refusing to let go. Gradually, the creature weakened under Locci's relentless assault.
Finally, the last Wanderclaw faltered and surrendered to Locci's superior strength and resilience.
With his victory secured, Locci couldn't contain his triumph. Letting out a victorious howl, "Awooo," he celebrated his hard-fought triumph.
"You did it, Locci!" Andre exclaimed. "Now, could you please switch the lever? It's over in the corner."
However, Locci didn't hear him. Exhausted from the intense battle, his stomach growled loudly. Ignoring the lever for the moment, he decided to savor the meal laid out before him.
Those watching from the other side were astonished when Locci began to eat. Their surprise only grew as Locci continued to devour the food without pause.
"Oh my, what an appetite! He's just like legendary grade Nixes!" remarked Riza in disbelief.
Serena glanced at Locci and whispered under her breath, "Could he possibly be an extra grade?"
While others speculated and whispered about him, Locci remained indifferent. His focus was solely on enjoying the nourishment after the fierce battle. Unperturbed, he continued to eat, paying no mind to the system messages that appeared before him.
[Your mana has increased!]
[Your wisdom has increased!]
[Your willpower has increased!]
[You have leveled up!]
[Name: Locci Snowstar
Species: Snowoo
Level: 7 | Grade: Extra
Innate Ability: 3 | Essence: 3/3
Strength: 25 | Endurance: 20 | Resistance: 23
Speed: 24 | Stamina: 26 | Polish: 17
Mana: 16 | Force: 19 | Wisdom: 11
Soul: 6 | Sense: 19 | Willpower: 11]
After finishing his meal, Locci finally turned his attention to the system window. A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he licked his lips upon discovering he had leveled up.
Locci's spirits soared at the realization that he was now only one level away from reaching level 8, where he would unlock another essence slot.
Just as he was about to delve deeper into the system messages, Andre's voice broke his concentration. "Locci, if you're finished, could you switch the lever?"
Returning to his senses, Locci made his way to the lever in the corner. With a decisive pull, he activated it, causing the swinging guillotines to cease their menacing motion. After that, a clear path emerged from the previously impassable fissure.
As people swiftly crossed over the newly revealed path and gathered around him, their expressions reflected a range of emotions.
Riza, typically grumpy, wore an unexpected expression of approval, her anger seemingly forgotten.
Goran, Joe, Jane, and Andre shared similar acknowledging looks, their respect evident in their eyes.
Serena maintained her composure, though a subtle hint of greed flickered in her gaze as she regarded Locci.
Meanwhile, Riza's Wanderclaw and Komucha kept their distance with fearful expressions, clearly intimidated by Locci's prowess.