Levi led the way up through the tunnels, accompanied by Lash, Firelord, Skarm, and Frosty. Crackle and Jagged Bladefin were spread out around the group in a loose formation, some far in advance, others closer, all ready to react to block an attack or convey information at a moment's notice.

There was no way they could go up against a plus. If anything they encountered was even a miniboss, they'd retreat and change the plan.

Levi was the only one in the group with proper armor; the others were using an assortment of the smaller items he had with him. Gloves, boots, knives, whatever Peter or Irene hadn't already claimed, he divided among the others. Mismatched, not enough for everyone, but better than nothing.

He had only his own manabow with him, which he handed off to the highest level Ranger to volunteer. The other Rangers he sent away; there weren't enough weapons for all the Fighters, let alone to give to other classes.

The mages were armed with whatever wands and books he had, which was a surprising amount. Enough for all five of them to have one of each. Levi hoped to get a larger storage bag eventually, which would have been capable of holding larger items and allowed him to be a walking armory - and do away with the bulky backpack. So far none of the dungeons had provided one, and probably wouldn't for another few thresholds.

The tunnels out to the main room of the dungeon were as empty as ever. No monsters, no guards, no obstacles whatsoever.

The obstacles would come once they stepped foot outside the prison tunnels.

Since his last time here, the ravine had gone from populated by one or two small groups of the lithe packhunter kalvex, to being absolutely overrun with them.

Before they even set foot outside the tunnel, Levi held up a fist to halt the group.

Right outside the tunnel entrance a half-dozen of the things were prowling about.

Physically they looked far less intimidating than the Spined Kalvex he'd encountered in other dungeons, the local thinner and straighter-horned wolf monsters lacking the size and weight of their larger Destruction counterparts.

To make up for their smaller size the packhunter variety looked to be fast and, more dangerous to the low-leveled hunters in Levi's team, traveled together in groups.

No dungeon creature should be underestimated, even more so those spawning at over level 20. Two or three of them would be enough to decimate this group, let alone the... nine he counted sniffing around the ravine outside.

On the upside, if they were able to pull this off, they'd have an insane power boost to their future runs through the training loop. All the fights that had started to become a serious challenge again as the dungeons leveled would be significantly simpler with a handful of third- or fourth-threshold minions on their side.

Levi took one cautious step forward, then a second. By the fourth, the kalvex nearest them raised its head to stare directly at him. It had the same canine head as Destruction types, but leaner and more elongated. Its horns were straight and short, twisted radially instead of the huge curving ones on the other kalvex he'd seen, with an oddly sheep-like body shape. Unlike the long shaggy hair of the larger Destruction kalvex, these had shorter and straighter hair more reminiscent of deer than anything, in shades of dark brown, grey, or black.

If seen from a distance, unaware of their true nature, one might mistake the kalvex pack for something innocuous.

Levi knew better. So when the kalvex hunched forward, its nose pointed unerringly at their hiding place, he backed quickly into the dim tunnel.

As though he'd stepped out of a radar range, the kalvex lost its look of focus, tilting its head this way and that. For a moment it searched around uncertainly, then it gave its head a quick shake and resumed trotting along after its companions.

"Lash?" Levi whispered. "Think you can get one of those with your terror eye? Hold it long enough that the group leaves it behind?"

The soul-seeker drifted forward, staring intently at the kalvex. They meandered about in no particular direction, but were gradually moving further away from the tunnel entrance. Lash pondered a moment, then his tendrils splayed to either side in a shrug.

"What about Command?"

Lash repeated the gesture.

"Too high level for you to make any promises. Can you try anyway?"

Lash crossed his tendrils in front of himself, tilting sideways.

Of course. Uppity minions. "Really? Now?" Levi hissed.

Lash held his pose.

"Please."

Lash bobbed in agreement.

Levi crept forward again, motioning for the others to stay back. Whatever sense the monsters had to detect his presence had a ridiculous range. Though the pack had to be hundreds of meters away, he'd barely taken two steps out of the tunnel before they paused in their wandering, the nearest kalvex again tensing and staring in Levi's direction.

Lash glided forward to interpose himself between Levi and the kalvex, capturing its gaze while Levi took a step back to escape its range. The rest of the pack continued their meandering as though no longer interested. The lone kalvex stood stiffly, gaze locked with Lash even as its companions wandered further away.

Levi watched, tense with his inability to help. This section of the plan relied on factors beyond his control. It was all he could do to stop himself instinctively surging stamina and rushing out there.

Anything he did now would only disrupt things. He could only wait.

He didn't like waiting. Waiting felt too much like inevitable doom closing in.

Lash's mana dropped sharply, diving to below half.

The kalvex took a few slow steps forward, head lowered in front of it, staring straight at the giant eye. Then it stopped, its posture shifting abruptly, turning back toward the rest of its pack.

No. They were so close!

Lash's mana dropped again, his eye glowing brightly enough to send golden light illuminating the tunnel, casting Lash's and Levi's shadows against the wall.

The kalvex spun around abruptly and took a short jerky run toward the tunnel before Lash's mana reached empty. The command had been far less effective this time than with the lower-level monster out in the previous floor, but they'd split one off from the rest. If they could lure it in the rest of the way, they might still be able to pull this off.

Levi turned to the Ranger. "Shoot it."

He nodded and aimed at the kalvex as it slipped from Lash's temporary control. The bolt hit true, prompting a snarl of pain from the kalvex.

Level 20

(Kalvex Packhunter)

Health 99%

The shot, despite hitting right on target, had just barely dropped its health visibly.

From his experience with the harpies, Levi calculated it had a minimum of 500 health, perhaps closer to 700 depending on the Ranger's skill. Now he really didn't want to fight the whole pack of them.

Levi had to hold himself back. He wanted to rush out and start stabbing, but If he moved too far out it would alert the rest of the pack. Then the whole plan of luring this one away on its own would be undone.

Firelord poked Levi's arm, the kobold's draconic eyes already alight with eager fireglow.

"Permission granted."

Gleefully, Firelord gathered fire within his clawed hands and began to hurl it at the target kalvex. Another manabolt hissed past Levi and into the kalvex, the two assaults dropping its health another percent.

Moment of truth. If it fled to collect its allies they would be done for.

As it turned out, between the arrows and the fireballs, gathering its pack was the last thing on its mind. The kalvex bellowed a screeching roar of fury and charged, leaving the rest of its group behind.