"HURRY UP! SHIELDS UP!" - Ian
I yell again at everyone desperately. Not knowing what was going to come out tied a knot around my heart. Negative thoughts and emotions flood my brain.
What is it?
Is it going to just annihilate everyone here?
Strong? Weak?
How is everyone going to cope with a new enemy?
Stellar is going to be bringing back Solar and Celine as well, will they notice the danger?
What was everyone else thinking in this situation?
I gulp down my saliva and stare at the bulging skin as it slowly tears revealing the red flesh underneath.
"We are so screwed aren't we?" - Kingston
"Hopefully, not…" - Ian
Within the next couple of seconds, only the sound of the wolves growling softly could be heard. Everyone tenses up, shields in their hands nervously looking at what might appear from the monster's corpse. Like a balloon it pops loudly, bursting blood, flesh and bones in all directions while a dark figure zooms upwards to the sky. In seconds the figure flies towards me stopping right in front of me blowing me back with the sheer force produced by its speed.
I finally get a look at our new enemy and it was ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!
Its fly-like head was twitching in front of me while the long jet-black antennae wiggle about above it. Its proboscis moves like a snake as it coils around my shield. I can see my terrified expression in its ruby eyes, the thousands and thousands of me, terrified of the monstrosity in front of me.
I try to step back however, the strength it has in its tongue immobilizes my arm as it coils down the shield, wrapping around the arm guard. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and my spine shivers. Its large black thorax presses up against my shield and with one of its brown forelegs or arms grabs my polearm. I can see the three pairs of crystalline wings, with blue veins reaching from the back of its thorax to the tip of the wing as well as a chestnut-colored scorpion tail with a jet black stinger dancing towards Kingston. The threat of the unknown makes Kingston hesitant about his action.
The monster brings its head closer to mine and I can smell the stench of rotting meat off its mandibles. I hold my breath and slowly move my head back when I hear a voice in my head.
"Buzz-Hu-Buzz-man-Buzz-An-Buzz-ger-Buzz-Lord-Buzz-Kronos-Buzz-Hu-Buzz-man-Buzz-Pay-Buzz."
There wasn't a sound coming from the insect but I could hear its voice. An annoying buzzing sound in between the human language. Its words were a jumbled mess but I could tell it saw us as a threat. However, it was stronger and faster and it was right in front of me. I see its antennae stand tall while its tail focuses back on me. The stinger oozing out a thick purple liquid as it points towards me.
I'm scared.
I can't even talk.
I'm going to die.
These words run through my head until.
"DON'T DIE FROM THIS!"
Stellar's shout pierces through my thoughts and at the same time as if it was slow motion, I see a small red ball fly and hit the monster in the head. A flash of light explodes in front of me and a wave of heat blasts into my face but I could feel the monster's grip on my arm and spear loosen allowing me to run backward. My hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes felt singed and my face feels like it was on fire but I grit my teeth and prepare myself for the battle.
".???q γm ???nimυlli ???? ???il ?nini?? ??? ?m???d
,?bn?? γm ni m?o? nυ? ??? γ?M
Ball of Light!" - Solar
Solar's attack came right after the smoke had started to fade around the monster's head, another flash of light and explosion. This time, slightly bigger than the prepared item that old man Hus had created with the girls.
"ATTACK!" - Ian
I yell at the top of my lungs as I lunge forward with my polearm aiming for its large thorax however, the 2 fleas-like legs bent forward and the monster jumps upwards in the sky. Its jump alone allows it to tower above us, reaching the same height as the forest's canopy and within seconds a high pitch buzz of its 3 pairs of wings fills the atmosphere. The wings move so fast that it looks like they had disappeared.
Kingston had tried to attack the monster as well from behind however ultimately missed and was standing next to me in disbelief. David, Frank and Yor brought the rest of the team near me, forming a defensive line. I could see the goblin archers firing their arrows up, towards the monster, however, their efforts were in vain as the monster nimbly dodges each arrow. It was our first time against a flying monster and we made zero preparations for it. With no reliable method to deal damage to the flying monster, we had to wait for it to come after us.
"Ian, I'm sorry for the last spell took all my mana that I had recovered. I won't be able to cast any spells." - Solar
"It's fine, both you and Stellar's timely attack broke me out of my state of fear." - Ian
"Sorry, I wasn't much help either despite me being the closest to you." - Kingston
"Don't worry about it. It was looking at you as well since its tail was ready to pierce you at a moment's notice." - Ian
"Still. I froze up." - Kingston
"Doesn't matter. We should focus on the problem at hand. That monster, I think it talked to me." - Ian
"What do you mean? I heard nothing." - Kingston
"I heard buzzing sounds mixed with words. I think it has some sort of telepathy however, it is at a basic level. It's part of Kronos's army since it mentioned that I had angered Kornos." - Ian
"I have never seen a monster like that. Usually, it's golems that are part of Kronos's army. Never an insect-like that." -Stellar
"A new addition then?" - Kingston
"Whatever it is. It is stronger than us and faster than us AND it can fly. EVERYONE! KEEP YOUR SHIELDS UP AND BE READY TO BLOCK ANY SORT OF WEIRD ATTACK!" - Ian
None of us knew what kind of attacks it was capable of and none of us could even begin to pretend we could predict its movements. Its erratic movement resembles that of a fly, every time an arrow would fly near, t would dodge and move into different airspace.
"Come closer. Make the shields press against each other and have shields above us as well. The only gaps that I permit are the ones where your spear can go through nothing else." - Ian
I commanded everyone to create a turtle formation. While we don't know the new monster's capabilities, I believe and trust in the durability of our shields. The big scutum shields covered the sides while the smaller shields covered our tops creating our strongest defensive formation and with the wolves in the middle ready to attack I felt more confident.
I peer through the gaps to see where the monster was, however, I couldn't find it through my gap. As I was able to ask if anyone has vision of the monster the area where David was defending got hit. David grunts loudly as he buckles under the sheer force but he stands his ground. One of the demi-humans next to him took the opportunity to stab the monster with his spear but the tip of the spear just bounced off the exoskeleton creating only a white scratch mark.
After getting hit the monster retreats back and flies towards the other side where Yor happened to be defending. Yor's stats were lower than David and once the monster came crashing to Yor's shield it broke through our defenses sending Yor back a few steps and into everyone else, falling into Celine and another human shieldbearer. However, with the monster in the middle of our formation, we took the opportunity to attack it all at once. My polearm aimed for the head, David's ax came crashing down on its eye, Kingston took the liberty to attack its wings, Stellar stabs towards the throat, Belle, Dawn, Razor each attacked whatever was close to them be it the thorax or an arm while other various spears and axes attacked the arms, legs, and thorax.
A green bloody mess occurred as we were able to land our attacks on the more vulnerable places but with a high pitch buzz that caused everyone to hold their ears the monster got free from the encirclement. However, it didn't come out without any damage. One of its ruby eyes had been smashed by David's ax while one of its arms was severed and lying next to Yor. Furthermore, one of the wings was broken and half of it was hanging downwards unable to move to make the monster awkwardly fly around. The attacks to the thorax and the necks only produced white scratches meaning that the exoskeleton of the monster was more durable than any material we have so far however, it has a lot of other vulnerable spots.
"Buzz-Hu-Buzz-man-Buzz-I-Buzz-Be-Buzz-Back-Buzz."
From the state of the monster, it decided to flee, and even if one of the wings was broken it still flew faster than any of us running. At the same time, the alpha jackalope's body burst into a big cloud of purple smoke. I breathe out a long sigh as I watch the black figure fly away. Gibing and the rest of the goblins came running down from the trees and met up with everyone asking about any injuries that might have suffered. Yor who took the biggest hit seemed to have broken an arm. His elbow was purple and his forearm had already swollen up. Celine and Gibing help take off the arm guard and the shield while getting some of the jackalope furs that was acquired during the battle and creating a sling, while Gyumi and Gewari found a stable stick and some vines to create a splint.
Yor was barely smiling through the pain, laughing it off as if he just wasn't strong enough to handle something like that yet, but behind his simile, I could see him wince from the pain every so often. David took Yor's basket and slung it over his shield while saying for Yor to rest up and get better fast. The rest of the shieldbearers were doing their best to boost Yor's confidence as they all notice his shaky voice.
I look over towards the place where the corpse once was and walked towards the area. The smoke had dispersed and Kingston noticed it as well, following behind me as we both went to see what the loot for this tiresome battle was. At the bottom of the riverbed were two objects, a book and one of the antlers that belonged to the alpha jackalope. I fish out both items to have a better look at them.
[ Skill Book: Enhanced Agility ( Active ) - 3MP
+5 Agility for 10 minutes
Cooldown 30 minutes
This skill book will allow the user to obtain the skill Enhanced Agility. Enhanced Agility will allow the user to acquire a burst in speed. Open the book and say the skill name in order to learn it.]
[ Mutated King Jackalope Antler
A larger-than-average amber antler from a King Jackalope. The beast had been mutated with a serum that accelerated the potential growth creating a denser and sharper antler. ]
"Kingston, I'm going to use the skill book on myself. Any objections?" - Ian
"None. You don't have a skill yet so, I don't mind. You don't want one of your NPC's to have it?" - Kingston
"I thought about it a while ago and I realized that I too need to get stronger. I can't hide behind everyone." - Ian
"Got you. Then you will want to do the Ikanda training, even if you go mental like me." - Kingston
"I know. I didn't want to go into it before since we needed to progress more in HavenFall. With this long period without me, it will allow someone reliable to step up and take leadership while I am away." - Ian
"And once that happens you can focus on yourself? Smart move." - Kingston
"Yet. Once I get back I will be going into the Ikanda. Noah and Howard will have acquired the trust of the other NPCs and it will make it easier for me to leave them in control." - Ian
"Alright." - Kingston
I give Kingston the antler and open the book.
"Enhanced Agility." - Ian
The book shines white for a few seconds as it disintegrates into small balls of light, slowly moving into my head. Once the last ball of light floating into my head I hear the system message.
[ You have acquired skill - Enhanced Agility ]
Not the best skill and it is definitely not a Kamehameha but it is still a skill.
My first skill.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel