After checking out his items and level, he could still loot the elite mob. One of the main ways hunters make money is by selling monster parts.
Corresponding professions, like blacksmith could use monster parts to create or upgrade equipment.
The only reason he had not done it so far was that normal mobs are not worth much. Usually, hunters take even an ear or tooth to claim they killed a certain monster, but this dungeon was through the guild.
Otherwise, he would have nearly a hundred wolf ears.
The elite monster in front of him was different. It would definitely be worth something, even though it was likely less than a single uncommon piece of equipment.
Cassian learned through school that wolves usual valuable parts are their teeth and heart.
So he quickly dug out those parts.
While not important to mention, C-grade monsters usually have a core in their hearts, though the location can differ for species.
Where the core is located largely determines the creature's ability. If it is in the heart,t then it boosts physical ability.
Unfortunately, the elite mob was not a C-rank; otherwise, he would surely be rich.
Moving on, he began to wander the forest again, shirt torn to shreds, covered in blood, and with two pairs of boots hanging from his sides.
He did not encounter any wolves for about eight miles; the large group he had killed was probably all there was in the area.
Even once he started encountering wolves again, there were not many, and certainly not pairs.
'It's almost time for this dungeon to close.'
The elite monsters were probably already dead, leaving only the boss. Once the boss was defeated, everybody would be able to exit the dungeon.
Otherwise, there were usually only two ways to exit the dungeon.
Finding an exit or a special item, though there were also hunters with extremely rare skills that could allow the same.
Cassian marched forth all the same; he had things he needed to do.
The sun fell, and he finally caught sight of something that could help his navigation. While most of the forest was dark, he could see a small trail of smoke.
Something he only noticed because of his sense enhancement skill.
'Fire…'
Even the possibility forced him to move in that direction.
Luckily, the flame and smoke did not die down; otherwise, he might have lost direction. However, the length of whatever battle the user was participating in worried him greatly.
He had traveled for nearly half an hour to get close enough to smell the smoke, but the battle was still going on, and he could now hear the battle.
The noise was distracting, but through it he could hear the yells of a charge, one of pain, and a loud howl.
He stopped jogging and started sprinting towards the battlefield. However, instead of charging straight into the frey, he stopped at the treeline and started to observe.
The enemy looked like a werewolf, except twice a normal person's height, and its health bar was the biggest he had seen yet.
BOSS - Wild Werewolf - Level 7 - Health 953.8/1250
The werewolf's silver fur was already covered in blood, and it currently had a torn arm in its hand. It had thicker legs but freakishly thin and long arms.
Cassian immediately scanned the crowd and found his target. A thin girl with long blue hair was on one of the flanks.
'What are they doing?!'
Putting a mage on the flanks was a horrible decision.
The group was just over two dozen people, with only a quarter of them being mages; all the others were tanks or melee damage dealers.
There was no need to put a mage on the flank.
The werewolf charged towards the group's frontline but was halted by several shields squeezed together.
Cassian looked towards who was in charge; it was a tall blond man, and one of the school's A-rank mages. Besides him, there was the party led by Han, who had kicked him in the back.
He edged around the tree line to get closest to Alizée. Eventually, he moved past the tree line, unnoticed, and approached Alizée.
Mages in combat were actually quite limited; modern guidelines for bosses and elite monsters suggest conserving mana to try and get decisive hits. Otherwise, mages would just cast several spells and hide in the back.
So Alizée was just watching the battle, focused on the werewolf's movements.
Eventually, Cassian was only ten feet from her, but that was where he stopped. He was at a range where he could protect her from anything approaching her now.
He did not care too much about the boss; his contributions would mean little and would draw too much ire.
Instead, he also focused his attention on the boss. It was the first boss he had ever seen, but it was quite intimidating.
Elite monsters convert 1 stamina into 25 health points, but bosses do 50. While elite monsters do not get new skills, bosses do. Which meant that the werewolf still had skills to use.
While observing the battle, he noticed a certain rhythm that the group got into. When the werewolf charged in several tanks would block it, while the attack was rebounding, several damage dealers would advance from behind the tanks and attack. After retreating, the group would go back to formation.
However, when the werewolf raised its hands above its head for a heavy attack, a mage would cast a spell, interrupting its attack. A perfect, by-the-book strategy, and it was working.
"Who are you?" A voice from his right shouted.
It was the blond leader mage. Instantly, several mages brought their attention to him.
"Cassian?" Alizée immediately questioned.
She looked him up and down, "What happened to you?"
He heard the footsteps of the blond mage approach and turned to face him. His face cold, "What do you want?"
"What do you mean? You are the one interrupting us." The mage responded.
"Wait, Cassian is strong, he can definitely help." Alizée interrupted.
However, this did not help in the slightest: "Do you mean this is Cassian, the F-rank?"
The mage's face formed a sickly grin.
"Do you really think this strategy is going to work?" He asked.
"What an idiot." His smile slowly became arrogant.
"This is the suggested strategy for bosses; of course, your small brain might not understand it."
While the strategy was by the book, he had learned that monsters were not as described in books. Not a simple being to fight, but a living struggle of aggression that would not let up on opportunities.
"The second the boss uses a skill, your defensive line will break." He spoke coldly.
"Fool, we are not as weak as you imagine. Every person here has made it to level two. But I suggest that even if you are at that level or even higher, you should leave. To spare your own pitiful life."
The mage then returned to the backmost spot, firing off an arrow of water.
Alizée walked in front of him to gain his attention, "What are you doing here? The boss is dangerous."
"How is your mana?" He ignored her.
"I have about half left, and answer me!"
Cassian crouched down in front of her and yanked off her shoes.
"EEK, what are you doing?" She started weakly pushing at his head.
He checked the stats on her boots. They were just common mage boots.
Cassian then replaced her own with his red boots.
"Where did you get these?"
She then checked the stats.
"Uncommon…"
A flash of realization, "Did you kill an elite monster?"
He nodded without a word.
She frowned in confusion.
"Focus on the battle for now."
She snapped back to facing the monster.