Chapter 203: The Cryptid Menace (2) 

The Ankarog Warriors sharpened their blades by rubbing them against one another and hissed at the Shadowmancers, their mandibles dripping greenish-white saliva that trickled down to the ground in long slimy chains.

Nikolai realized fighting was futile, so he ordered his men to disengage at once. 

Before the Ankarogs could pounce upon them, the Shadowmancers turned into clouds of smoke and escaped from their clutches. They reappeared some distance away, hoping to catch their breath, but another group of Ankarogs burst through the ground, forcing them to teleport again.

Although Shadowmancers could use their stealth skills to turn into shadowy clouds and disappear and re-appear at will, constantly shifting out of their normal human forms put an immense strain on their bodies.