Our Dharma Masters are like this.

Chapter 5: General Monster Compendium of the Adventurers' Guild

The group stomped out the campfire and tidied up the campsite.

This time, they managed to eliminate thirty-six wolves and also obtained ten intact wolf pelts, which was a pretty good haul.

Wolf pelts with wounds or flaws were discarded; Blackrock Town had no shortage of such resources, and even defective pelts didn't fetch a good price.

Marcus cleared his throat and began to speak.

"According to the commission issued by the Adventurers' Guild, the bounty for a wolf is three silver coins. I killed thirteen, Gray twelve, Vales nine, and Zelier two. Is there any objection to the number?"

Several people nodded in agreement.

These kinds of commissioned tasks to eliminate wild beasts are usually paid per person, unless it's a joint effort to exterminate monsters, in which case the payment is split proportionally.

"In addition, each person will receive a basic appearance fee of five silver coins. That's all the money you'll get. All payments will be settled on the spot after the Adventurers' Guild delivers the commission."

Gray was overjoyed.

After this mission is over, I can enjoy myself in the tavern for a while longer.

Zellier, meanwhile, was silently making plans in his mind.

The bounty was six silver coins plus a base reward of five silver coins. He didn't get a share of the wolf he killed because its fur was burned by the flames.

He will receive a total of eleven silver coins from this mission.

This money should be enough for him to get by for a while.

The currency system on the continent of Candia is very simple: one gold is equal to one hundred silver, and one silver is equal to one hundred copper.

It's a bit pathetic to think about it... You spend several days in the forest on a mission and don't even get a single gold coin.

After packing their belongings, the team began to head towards the edge of the area.

Marcus led the way; he had spent nearly a year in this forest and was most familiar with the surrounding terrain.

Zellier looked around.

The Greywood Forest is a truly fitting name. The bark of the trees is a grayish-white color, resembling weathered bones, and when combined with the morning mist that permeates the forest, even the air becomes damp and heavy.

The group trekked in silence, with only the sound of their footsteps rustling through the thick layer of fallen leaves.

After walking for about an hour, Marcus suddenly stopped. His imposing figure stood still, and his voice was somewhat muffled.

"Something's wrong."

"Lost?" Zellier blinked.

The surrounding scenery seemed almost unchanged to him, always the same gray-white trees shrouded in mist; Zellir would believe it if you told him they were going around in circles.

"I'm not lost..."

Marcus looked up at the sky. "At this time, the sun should be fully out, and the morning fog should have dissipated, but it's actually thicker than before."

The four members of the team were only a meter apart and could still see each other clearly, but as soon as they looked around, they could clearly feel the obstruction of their vision.

"A rare foggy day?" Wallace said.

"Not like."

Marcus shook his head in denial.

"It hadn't rained the day before, the forest was dry, and the ambient temperature hadn't dropped suddenly, so the conditions weren't conducive to the formation of a dense fog."

As if to confirm Marcus's words, the surrounding fog churned and surged, and gusts of cold wind swept in, further reducing visibility from about ten meters.

A sudden, intense sense of unease welled up in Zellir's heart, and he subconsciously sniffed.

The fresh scent of grass and trees is gone, replaced by a fishy and foul odor.

But it wasn't a wild wolf. Wild wolves have a more pungent, foul odor, while this smell...

It has a stronger smell of blood!
"Everyone be careful." Vales's expression was grave; he had also caught the smell.

He already held the longbow in his hand, an arrow nocked on the string. "There seems to be something in the fog... a troublesome fellow may be on his way."

Gray also abandoned his usual relaxed expression. He gripped the hilt of his sword, his forearm muscles bulging slightly as he exerted force, and he scanned his surroundings warily.

Could it be a bear?

As soon as he finished speaking, a deep roar came from all around, shaking the soul, and the mist churned violently like boiling water.

A huge black silhouette appeared without warning, flashing past the thick fog in front of the group!

Although it was only for a brief moment, all four of them witnessed this scene, and a feeling of horror instantly exploded in their hearts.

"damn it!"

Gray took two steps back, exclaiming in shock and anger, "What the hell is that?!"

Vales took a deep breath, and even his usually calm voice trembled slightly.

"It's a mist demon..."

Adventurers' Guild General Monster Encyclopedia

[Sequence 61]: Mist Demon
Individual Threat Rating: [Challenging]

Appearance features:

The appearance of the Mist Demon is extremely unstable and may take on any form, but in essence it is a mutated life form made up of the flesh and bones of various creatures.

Its most distinctive feature is that its body surface is covered with a layer of flowing energy barrier.

Lifestyle habits:
A typical ambush predator, it is highly aggressive and usually inhabits places such as forests and swamps where it can easily hide its tracks.

The appearance of the Fog Demon is inevitably accompanied by a large-scale, persistent, and supernatural dense fog that violates the laws of nature.

special power:

The Mist Demon possesses immense power, far surpassing that of ordinary wild beasts, even surpassing that of bears. However, its most crucial ability lies in the energy barrier covering its body.

It can dissipate most forms of pure physical kinetic energy. Specifically, ordinary sword strikes, arrow piercings, and warhammer blows cannot harm its flesh and blood.

Core weakness:

The barrier reacts violently to attacks containing fighting spirit or magic.

A mid-level warrior's full-force attack infused with battle aura can break through this barrier, while pure energy attacks—that is, magic—are the most effective means of shattering this shell.

Association Notes:

warn!warn!
The Mist Demon's "Challenge" rating does not stem from its destructive power, but rather from its near-unbeatable defensive characteristics.

If there is no warrior or mage in the team who has mastered battle aura, then the Mist Demon will be a nightmare for the entire team!
Based on the limited reports from survivors, the following points can be confirmed:

1. Don't trust your eyes, and don't rely on your experience.

If you find that the morning fog has not dissipated after sunrise, please retreat immediately along the same route and report the matter to the nearest Adventurers' Guild. We will send a team to clear the area.

2. If there is no intermediate warrior in the team who has mastered battle aura, or at least one mage who can reliably cast offensive spells, the association strongly recommends that you run away immediately if you encounter a Mist Demon. Do not make any futile attempts!
"What the hell is this bad luck..."

Gray's face looked quite grim.

"What is a Mist Demon?" Zelier asked with a puzzled expression.

“A standard monster’s surface energy barrier can block almost any physical attack; only battle aura and magic can break through it,” Vales explained quickly.

According to the Adventurers' Guild's assessment, the Graywood Forest is not considered dangerous. Only wild animals roam the outer areas, while monsters are found in the central area. Moreover, there have never been any sightings of the Mist Fairy.

(End of this chapter)