The identity of the enormous shadow was a creature that looked exactly like a vampire bat. The only difference was that it was incomparably larger.

With both wings fully spread, the thing was bigger than a two-and-a-half-ton truck. It looked like a higher species of vampire bat. Walfred’s eyes went wide.

"Don’t tell me, an Elite Monster...?"

"Bingo."

His fears had become reality.

Bauer confirmed Walfred’s words, his gaze fixed on the giant vampire bat radiating a dark crimson glow from its eyes.

"E-rank Elite Monster, Blood Wing."

The leader of the vampire bats.

Far faster, stronger, and more cunning than any regular specimen. An E-rank Elite was the kind of creature that required at least three D-rank hunters working together to barely take down.

And here, they had two D-ranks and one C-rank. On paper, they had the advantage. But Bauer’s expression remained grim.

"That thing moves insanely fast. Its reaction speed is beyond anything you can imagine, so attack carefully. Otherwise, you’ll get hit with a counterattack."

Bauer outlined the key points to watch out for when fighting Blood Wing. And the moment he finished speaking, the creature vanished from sight.

"What? Where did it..."

"...! Above us! Move!"

Bauer shouted urgently.

In that instant, Blood Wing appeared above everyone’s heads and plummeted toward them at blinding speed.

CRAAASH!

A powerful tremor shook the surroundings.

The spot where Blood Wing struck was cratered deep enough to bury a knee. A mere graze from that would be enough to shatter bone.

While Walfred caught his breath after barely dodging the attack, Bauer launched a counterattack.

"Rising Spike!"

The ground split open and thorns of rock surged upward.

But Blood Wing, as if mocking the attempt, instantly took to the air and gained altitude.

And then.

Whoosh! Slash-slash-slash!

When the creature flapped its wings, a dark crimson slash wave rained down on the group.

Caught off guard by the sudden ranged attack, Bauer hastily used Great Wall, but he was a beat too late.

Slash!

"Aaagh!"

A blood-red slash wave found the gap in Great Wall and tore into Ferd’s shoulder. The powerful blow sent Ferd crashing to the ground.

"Ferd!"

Rosa frantically fired off Wind Cutters to provide cover, but Blood Wing dodged every attack with acrobatic maneuvers, weaving through them like it was performing aerial stunts.

As the creature flapped its wings again, seemingly preparing another slash wave, Walfred made his move.

"Frozen Weapon!"

An ice spear formed in an instant.

Walfred contracted his arm muscles, then twisted his body to add rotational force. Using his enhanced physical abilities to the fullest, he hurled the ice spear at Blood Wing like a javelin.

Whoosh! Crack-crack-crack!

The ice spear flew incomparably faster than Wind Cutter. Fast enough to make even Blood Wing abandon its attack and dodge.

But it couldn’t dodge completely.

Scrape!

Its outer hide was grazed.

Was the creature furious at having been hit? Blood Wing continued its savage flight, spreading wide its maw lined with pointed fangs.

And in that moment.

"Kieeeeek!"

An ear-piercing shriek followed.

A powerful ultrasonic attack.

Walfred, Bauer, and Rosa all momentarily froze, their bodies locking up as if paralyzed. And Blood Wing didn’t let the opening go to waste.

Whoosh!

Blood Wing dove at breakneck speed.

Its target was Walfred.

As if exacting revenge for the attack moments ago, the creature slammed into Walfred head-on.

WHAM!

Paralyzed by the ultrasonic attack, Walfred had no chance to dodge and was sent flying. The impact was powerful enough to half-bury his body in the ground, but the actual damage he sustained wasn’t that severe.

[Defense: Frost Shield activated]

[Damage received: Non-elemental]

[30% of damage absorbed.]

Frost Shield, which he’d activated earlier.

The frost barrier had kicked in.

Meanwhile, having confirmed that Walfred was embedded in the ground, Blood Wing charged at him with its jaws wide open, ready to tear into his neck.

"Get out of there!"

Bauer shouted desperately from afar, but Walfred didn’t move. And then, the very instant the creature closed in.

’Now!’

Walfred’s eyes flashed.

As if he’d been waiting for this, he sprang to his feet and seized the creature’s neck in a viselike grip. Rather than dodging, he’d chosen to grab hold of it.

"Kiheeeek?!"

Had it expected Walfred to be critically wounded? Was it shocked to see him move without a scratch?

Blood Wing’s eyes went wide with surprise.

In that opening, Walfred formed an ice spear and drove it into Blood Wing’s hide with every ounce of strength he had.

Stab! Crack!

[Warning!]

[Target possesses cold resistance.]

[20% of damage is negated.]

An alert told him Blood Wing had cold resistance, but thanks to the enhancement from Cold Emission, the ice spear sank more than halfway into the creature’s body.

Startled by the sudden ambush, Blood Wing rocketed into the sky and thrashed its body wildly, trying to shake Walfred off.

"Kieeek! Kyahaaak!"

Blood Wing flailed and writhed with agonized shrieks.

But Walfred clung on with a monstrous grip, refusing to let go of the ice spear. At the same time, he reached out with his free hand toward Blood Wing’s panic-stricken eyes.

"Ice Needle."

Ice needles formed right in front of Blood Wing’s eyes.

The moment the creature’s eyes went wide, Walfred fired at point-blank range.

"Launch."

Crunch! Thwack-thwack-thwack!

The ice needles, guided by Walfred’s will, brutally shredded Blood Wing’s eyeballs.

"Kieeeeek!"

The creature thrashed in agony.

Having lost its sight in an instant, it spun wildly through the air, alternating between steep dives and sharp climbs, desperately trying to shake Walfred loose.

The motion sent a wave of nausea crashing over him, but Walfred only tightened his grip on the creature’s neck.

And then.

"Frozen Weapon!"

An ice axe appeared in his hand.

Perfectly timed, Cold Emission enhanced the ice axe, which radiated a pale blue glow. Walfred swung it, hacking at the creature’s neck over and over.

Thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack! Crack!

He struck the wounded spot again and again.

Blood Wing’s dark crimson blood erupted like a fountain, drenching Walfred’s face.

But Walfred didn’t stop, and with each passing moment, Blood Wing’s wingbeats grew weaker.

And finally.

"Kiieeeeek..."

With a feeble, drained cry.

Blood Wing’s body plummeted to the ground.

THOOOOM!

The carcass crashed into the snow-covered field in front of the precinct.

The impact from the crash sent the deep snowdrift scattering in every direction. Thanks to that, Walfred was spared any serious injury from the fall.

With its neck more than halfway severed, Blood Wing lay gasping and convulsing. Walfred, still gripping the creature’s body, raised his ice axe.

"So long."

Thwack! Crack!

The final blow shattered the creature’s skull.

Blood Wing shuddered one last time, then went limp. And in that moment, a victory notification appeared, signaling the end of the battle.

-----

[Extermination successful.]

[Elite: Blood Wing]

[Rank]: E

[Reward]: 2,000 coins

Skill Book (Random), Recovery Stone

-----

A notification confirming Blood Wing’s extermination.

On top of that, a massive amount of coins, a skill book, and an unknown piece of loot. Looking at the rewards that made the life-or-death fight worth it, Walfred smiled quietly.