NOVEL WEB Chapter 13: Dark Howler
The air was thick with tension, and the ground beneath them trembled as the monkey-like creatures—the Dark Howlers—approached. Their glowing red eyes pierced through the night like beacons of death. Each step they took was an ominous thud, shaking the earth. The sound of their claws scraping against the stone ground echoed across the mine, a sound that could send chills down anyone's spine.
There were hundreds of them—Dark Howlers, vicious and relentless. Their fur was as black as the void of space, and their bodies rippled with unnatural strength. Their teeth gleamed in the dim light, sharp and jagged, ready to tear through flesh and bone.
Shaoran looked over at the formation of his crew, his mind already racing through the tactics that needed to be executed. He could sense the urgency in the air. The mine was all that stood between them and the complete annihilation of their forces. If they didn't defend it, it would be the end of them all.
Uncle Bai, as always, was ready for battle. The old man stood at the front, his two high-powered rifles at the ready. The weight of the weapons seemed almost effortless to him, and his fingers moved with practiced precision. He wasn't a stranger to bloodshed—his reputation as the Ripper from the past wars was legendary.
"Ready yourself," Bai muttered, eyes scanning the approaching wave of Dark Howlers. He adjusted the stock of the rifles against his shoulders, getting into position for the first strike.
Jerry, always the strategist, gave his orders with a calm authority. His voice cut through the chaos like a knife through butter.
"Hold fire until they get closer," Jerry commanded, his eyes narrowing as the first Dark Howler leaped from the shadows, its claws glinting in the faint light. "Don't waste bullets, let's see how they move first."
The rest of Jerry's men, tightly clustered in their formation, waited in silence. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they watched the monsters advance. The chatter of the radios was the only sound breaking the silence—other than the occasional growl or screech from the Dark Howlers. The beasts were getting closer.
Shaoran, standing beside Jerry, spoke without turning. "They're fast. We can't afford to hesitate."
"I know," Jerry muttered. "But we need to know their tactics first. Don't rush it."
The first Dark Howler leaped at them from the shadows, its muscles rippling as it lunged at the formation. Jerry's men opened fire, but the creature was already too fast. It dodged the bullets with terrifying agility, claws swiping through the air like razors.
The first shot rang out, Bai's rifle blasting the creature in the chest. The force of the bullet threw the Howler back, but it was far from dead. With a feral snarl, it got back to its feet and charged again.
Bai didn't hesitate. Another two shots rang out, one hitting the creature in the head, dropping it instantly. The second Howler was already moving in, its claws outstretched, aiming for Bai's throat.
"Get down!" Jerry shouted.
Uncle Bai ducked just in time as the Howler's claws slashed through the air above him. With a feral roar, Bai spun around, firing both rifles simultaneously. The first Howler took a bullet to the gut, and the second one took the brunt of a well-aimed headshot. The creature crumpled to the ground in a heap.
But the battle was far from over. The Dark Howlers came at them in waves, each more savage and unrelenting than the last.
"Form up!" Jerry barked, signaling his men to tighten their ranks. His voice was a commanding presence, his hands already drawing his own weapon—a customized semi-automatic that fit perfectly in his palm. He fired at the incoming Howlers, each shot carefully aimed, but the creatures kept coming. Their speed and agility made them difficult targets, and every time one went down, another seemed to take its place.
Suddenly, one of Jerry's men—a tall, broad-shouldered soldier named Mark—was tackled by a Dark Howler. The beast's claws sank deep into his flesh, and he screamed as the monster dragged him down to the ground. His comrades opened fire, but it was too late. Mark's body went still as the Howler ripped into him, its fangs sinking into his throat. The life drained from his eyes as his body went limp.
"NO!" Another soldier shouted, running to his fallen comrade's side. But before he could reach Mark, a second Dark Howler charged and took him down with terrifying speed. The soldier's scream echoed through the mine as he was torn apart, blood splattering in all directions.
"Focus!" Jerry yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. He dropped one of his men with a clean shot to the Howler's head, but the beasts just kept coming.
Uncle Bai, in the thick of it, was like a whirlwind of death. His rifles roared in his hands, sending bullet after bullet into the oncoming hordes. Every shot seemed to find its mark, but the monsters were relentless. His eyes were sharp, calculating, moving from target to target without hesitation. He mowed down a dozen Howlers with ease, his movements smooth and precise as he shifted between his two rifles.
Then, out of nowhere, a massive Dark Howler leaped directly at Bai. This one was different. Its muscles bulged with unnatural strength, and its claws seemed twice as long as those of the others. It roared, a deep, guttural sound that made the air vibrate.
Bai didn't even blink as he fired both rifles. The first shot caught the beast in the chest, but the Howler wasn't even fazed. It slammed into Bai, knocking him to the ground with a bone-rattling thud.
Jerry's eyes widened in horror. "Uncle Bai!" he shouted.
Without thinking, Jerry rushed forward, his weapon drawn. He opened fire at the Howler, hitting it square in the side, but the creature was still on top of Bai.
"Get off him!" Jerry shouted, but the beast didn't listen. It swiped at Bai with its claws, catching him across the chest and leaving deep gashes that bled freely.
Jerry didn't hesitate—he aimed at the beast's head and fired. The bullet tore through its skull, sending it crashing to the ground, lifeless.
"Get the fk up, Old Man!" Jerry said, pulling the older man to his feet. Bai coughed, but he was still alive, his eyes flashing with fierce determination.
"I'm fine," Bai grunted, wiping the blood from his lip. He took a deep breath, picking up his rifles again and resuming the fight.
But the battle wasn't over. The Dark Howlers were still pouring in from all sides, and the humans were slowly losing ground.
Shaoran stood at the edge of the battlefield, watching the carnage unfold. His heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he had to stay focused. He couldn't let them fail. Not now. Not after all this.
"Tika!" he shouted.
The two goblins, Tika and Gorx, stood at his side, eyes wide with worry. "Master!" Tika cried out, but Shaoran waved her off.
"Get in there!" he ordered. "Help defend the line. Now!"
Tika nodded, her small frame darting into the fray. She grabbed a crude but effective dagger from a nearby stash and charged toward the battle. Gorx followed suit, his pickaxe raised high, ready to smash anything that came his way.
But even with the goblins' help, the Dark Howlers just kept coming. The air was thick with the smell of blood and sweat, and the sounds of battle were deafening. Jerry's men were falling fast. The Howlers' speed and ferocity were unlike anything they had ever faced. Every time one of Jerry's men tried to reload, another Howler was upon them.
The loss was devastating.
One by one, three more men fell, their bodies torn apart in brutal ways. One had his throat ripped out, his body slamming into a wall with such force that it left a blood splatter across the stone. Another had his arm ripped clean off, his body screaming as the Howlers feasted on him.
Jerry gritted his teeth. There was no time for hesitation. This wasn't just a fight for the mine—it was a fight for survival.
"Form up!" Jerry shouted again. "Hold the line!"
The survivors rallied around him, but the Howlers were getting closer, their numbers overwhelming. With every shot fired, the creatures seemed to get stronger, more determined. The Howlers were closing in on them from all sides.
But Jerry wasn't about to let them take the mine. Not today.
With a savage roar, he opened fire again, mowing down several Howlers with quick, accurate shots. His men followed his lead, firing into the horde with everything they had.
The battle raged on, and it seemed like they might just hold the line.
For now.
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Dark Howler (Elite)
Type: Monster
Level: 15
Health: 1,500/1,500
Mana: 500/500
Class: Beast
Race: Dark Howler
Affiliation: Nightmare Horde
Attributes:
Strength: 250
Dexterity: 180
Endurance: 220
Intelligence: 50
Agility: 300
Speed: 350 (Faster than most human combatants)
Stamina: 300
Perception: 150 (Enhanced night vision, keen hearing)
Combat Stats:
Claw Strike:
Damage: 120 - 200
Critical Chance: 25%
Effects: Causes bleeding (Bleed for 30 seconds, dealing 30 damage per second)
Nightmare Roar:
Damage: 250
Area of Effect (AoE): 20m radius
Cooldown: 30 seconds
Effects: Stuns enemies for 3 seconds, causes fear (increases incoming damage by 20% for 10 seconds)
Poisonous Bite:
Damage: 150
Duration: 20 seconds
Effects: Venomous poison that causes gradual health drain (20 damage per second)
Blood Frenzy:
Effect: Increase in strength and speed by 50% for 20 seconds when at 50% HP or below.
Defensive Stats:
Armor: 80 (Reduces damage taken by 40%)
Regeneration: 10 HP per second (Can regenerate HP in darkness or night-time conditions)
Resistances:
Fire Resistance: 20%
Ice Resistance: 10%
Mental Resistance: 30% (Resistant to mental control effects and fear-inducing abilities)
Abilities:
Shadow Step:
Teleports up to 15 meters instantly to a dark location, allowing the Dark Howler to evade attacks.
Cooldown: 15 seconds
Pack Hunter:
When in a group, the Dark Howler gains a 25% bonus to attack and defense for each additional Dark Howler in proximity.
Effect stacks up to 5 Dark Howlers.
Night Cloak:
Activates at night or in low-light conditions.
Increases evasion by 30% for 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 60 seconds
Weaknesses:
Light-based Damage: Takes 30% extra damage from light-based attacks.
Silver: Vulnerable to silver weapons, taking 50% additional damage from silver-infused weapons.
Behavior:
Aggression Level: High
Tactics: Relentless, prioritizes isolating prey and attacking in groups. Avoids open light but becomes significantly stronger in darkness.
Morale: The Dark Howler's morale increases when close to other Howlers, making it more aggressive and reckless in groups.
Communication: Can signal other Dark Howlers with a low-frequency, eerie howl that calls nearby units for backup.
Loot Drops:
Dark Howler Fang (Can be used for crafting weapons or potions)
Nightmare Essence (Can be used to enhance dark magic)
Howler Claws (Can be used to craft armor or accessories)
Blood of the Howler (A rare liquid that enhances physical abilities temporarily when consumed)
Lore:
The Dark Howler is a Nightmare Horde creation, born from the void of corrupted realms. They were originally wild beasts, but over centuries, they have become twisted into vicious, dark predators, the perfect creatures of war for the Nightmare Lords. Their terrifying abilities make them deadly in the dead of night, with increased ferocity when in the presence of their pack. Rumors say that their howl is a harbinger of doom, summoning their brethren from the darkest corners of existence.
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