Frostbound

The alpha let out a low rumbling growl that made all of the other wolves join in. It was angry and did not appreciate my use of the dead bodies.

This is gonna hurt.

The alpha charged straight toward me, intent on killing me. Sweeping Slash wasn't going to work on this one so I dropped that skill. Heavy Blow was my only option.

I hadn't ever layered Heavy Blow on top of Penetrating Strike before, but if there ever was a time to do it, it was now.

The highest level Austin and I fought during our hunting trips was a level 13. Level 16 wasn't that much higher than 13, but this monster was different. All the bosses of the waves were stronger than their levels stated.

It was like they were a step above the normal monsters. Not only did they have a level advantage over normal monsters, but they also had a fundamental advantage.

If this were a video game I would expect it to have a blue name or something to signify a rare mob. I didn't know how monsters leveled and gained strength, but the bosses were strong.

The bosses from previous waves were at a level now that I could fight and they were much stronger than monsters at the same level. The fox boss was way faster and stronger than even the wolves of this wave and it was the same level.

I heard calls of retreat being sounded off behind me but I didn't listen. There was no way I was going to outrun the boss and it would only cause more chaos by running from it.

The only way forward was through.

Our plan for when the boss broke through the gate was to retreat to the cabin in the middle of our camp to fight there. It was the sturdiest structure after the walls and it was also the most defensible.

The number of wolves from the wave lingering around was few and could be handled without me anymore. I had to make sure I had the boss's full attention.