Scanning the chaotic battlefield, it didn't take long before she spotted her first potential target. Not the human Archmage she had seen back on the third floor of the dungeon, but instead someone different who was no weaker than that person. The main difference being that compared to the human Archmage, this adventurer didn't have the ability to affect the battlefield in a similar manner. Focusing most of his attention on dealing with a singular target, something that had also resulted in him being in a far more dangerous position compared to the magic wielding adventurers generally staying hidden behind the towering city walls covered by the protection of the barrier that prevented any monster from sneaking through the dungeon entrance.
[Beastkin (Wolf), Ancestral Wolf Warrior, lvl 105]
The target in question being an adventurer with a pair of fluffy ears and a rather prominent tail going head-to-head with an equally powerful monster far larger than himself. Even though the overall destruction caused by the battle was far less compared to the magic specialized adventurers hidden behind the towering walls, it wasn't enough to hide just how powerful this adventurer was.
Choosing someone like that as a target would clearly not be the best choice under normal circumstances, as the beastkin adventurer would undoubtedly be far harder to kill compared to an adventurer focused on magic, but this wasn't a normal situation, as the overpowered beastkin adventurer was currently covered in blood from head to toe. Struggling to stand upright in the face of what was undoubtedly the strongest monster she had seen inside the dungeon so far.
Standing close to seven meters tall with a shiny black exoskeleton that made it difficult for the beastkin adventurer to do any real damage, Scaly felt like she had encountered a monster that she herself stood no chance of winning against with her current strength.
[Terrestrial Beetle Lord, lvl 91]
And inspecting the monster, she discovered that this was the first ever monster above level 90 that she had encountered, something that was far more terrifying compared to the 100+ level adventurers due to the simple fact that the beetle would have had to go through several evolutions before reaching its current state. Meaning that by solely comparing levels, the terrestrial beetle lord would be far above the level of the beastkin adventurer. Making the current struggle of the beastkin adventurer understandable, while also being the main reason why she believed ambushing the beastkin adventurer was a possibility.
The only thing that prevented her from diving down to attack the beastkin adventurer immediately was the fact that there was currently a second equally powerful adventurer keeping an eye on the battle from the city walls.
Although she might be able to catch the beastkin adventurer locked in battle with the terrestrial beetle lord off-guard with relative ease, there was no way her ambush would go unnoticed by the one observing the battle from city walls, something that would likely end up resulting in that person attacking her before she could even reach her target.
Because of this, Scaly decided to fly around for a bit longer to see if there was anyone else, she might be able to more easily ambush without having to worry about someone else attacking her in the process.
However, as she flew over the chaotic battlefield, she found no other adventurer in a state similarly bloody state as the beastkin adventurer facing off against the terrestrial beetle lord. Although there were other battles involving powerful monsters and adventurers no weaker than the beastkin adventurer, it was clear that the terrestrial beetle lord was on a completely different level and in turn also placed the beastkin adventurer in a far worse position compared to the rest of the adventurers fighting.
In fact, if it wasn't for the beastkin adventurer holding back the terrestrial beetle lord, she felt doubtful that the rest of the adventurers would have been able to hold back the sea of monsters crashing into their city walls, as those stronger adventurers dealing with other powerful monsters would have been forced to work together to try and hold back the terrestrial beetle lord that was currently being held back by a single individual.
After all, though there was indeed someone keeping an eye on him from the city walls, that person was simultaneously also using magic to support others from afar, likely just being nearby in case something happened to the beastkin adventurer. Allowing the person to respond immediately.
All things considered, the adventurers were seemingly standing firm in the face of the monster stampede and showed no signs of weakness for now. Even if part of her had expected this, it was still a bit disappointing that it seemed like she would only be able to target the monsters for now.
Possible as it might be for her to still go after the beastkin adventurer, it was far less risky to go after one of the injured monsters locked in battle with the adventurers, as they didn't have anyone to watch their back and were even more so exposed due to the fact that they weren't viewing the surrounding monsters as enemies. Allowing her to potentially succeed in an ambush even if she was spotted before she could reach her target.
Whoosh~
With this thought in mind, Scaly's attention shifted away from the frontlines where the adventurers were locked in combat with the monsters and instead turned towards an area a few hundred meters from the frontlines where a few of the stronger monsters that had been injured to the point of not being able to fight properly had retreated to recover.
These monsters that had managed to recover were only those with a strength level that was at least comparable to the magic earth cow lord she had fought just after her fifth evolution, as the weaker monster didn't seem to have the ability to think straight and retreat after being injured. Instead, just throwing themselves at the adventurers recklessly no matter how badly injured they were.
If not for this, the adventurers would most likely have a far easier time, as the reckless charge of the monsters that completely disregarded their lives was difficult to deal with and had already cost the lives of several unfortunate adventurers.
The only positive regarding this reckless behavior was that the monsters sometimes ended up colliding with each other midair when jumping towards the same target, something that often ended in both monsters involved being cut down with ease after they tumbled to the ground.
A scene that was far more common than one might think, as Scaly herself had already witnessed a few dozen monsters perish in such a manner since her arrival…
The reckless monsters aside, Scaly quickly spotted a few potential targets recovering behind the frontlines. Several of whom were in such a bad state that some of their recovering companions were already eyeing them greedily. Making her feel like they might attack at any moment if it wasn't for some unknown force keeping them in place and preventing them from acting.
But… Something else also became clear after she spotted the group of injured monsters… And that was the fact that all these powerful monsters were gathered in a single location no more than a few meters away from each other. In case she did make a move against one of them, the rest would undoubtedly respond and jump in to defend their companion and attack her.
Although she didn't think the reason for them to gather like this had anything to do with her, it did feel somewhat targeted, as this kind of thing did prevent her from carrying out an ambush.
The only real way to attack them without being counterattacked was for her to use her dragon breath from afar again, but in doing so, she would use up all her mana and essentially render herself incapable of hunting any more monsters without taking on a significant risk.
If possible, she wanted to avoid using her dragon breath, as it used up far too much mana when pushed to its limit and while it was possible to use a weaker dragon breath, it wouldn't be able to guarantee her killing the monsters below, as they were all powerful monsters that would take some time for her to deal with under normal circumstances...
Should I just wait for another monster to get injured and begin to retreat?
With that in mind, she soon enough turned her head back towards the chaotic battlefield where it wasn't too difficult for her to spot a powerful monster clashing with the adventurers. The problem was, she didn't feel like killing just a single monster comparable to the magic earth cow lord was worth her one perfect ambush opportunity.
Using it one the injured monsters in the back would be fine, as she would be able kill more than just one, but one the chaotic battlefield, she wanted to kill a monster comparable to one of the humans above level 100. The problem was that none of them were currently in a bad enough state for her to take advantage of.
Meaning… She would have to wait… Pure torture given how excited she was about joining the battle…
But… For greater benefits… She would wait… Another three- no five minutes!