One week passed by in the blink of an eye, and that brought some changes to the city.
Migotanie City was now in full bloom, as adventurers could be seen flocking everywhere. One has to know that the main drivers of the economy of a city are its adventurers. They were the most expensive consumers in the world, only second to the royals.
The main reason for this was the decrease in price, most of which were adventurers' items.
The city is also heavily armed now. Army squadrons could be seen on the streets more than the city guards, giving the people a bad premonition. This was also further solidified when they saw the army stationed outside the walls now.
…
A few hundred meters away from the city, deep into the forest, a small group of people were passing through the trees while the sunlight fell upon them through the slight opening of the leaves.
This group was none other than Belal's team. They were heading to hunt in the forest early in the morning, just as usual. But today was a bit different. They were in their best armor in their arsenal, with grim faces on.
"Brother Belal, are you sure we can take on that monster now?" Tanaka asked with skepticism. He was wearing a leather robe that hid everything he wore inside. But one could hear the sound of metal objects clashing against each other coming out of him, hinting at the armor pieces he wore to protect himself.
However, to his skeptical question, Bailey answered on behalf of Belal. "What are you scared of now? We have become stronger. Surely we can do this. Also, this is for brother Belal's mother. Do not chicken out."
Bailey was wearing tight yet flexible armor that was silver in color. Inside it were leather clothes to protect her skin from getting bruised by the armor. On her waist was a long sword that was hidden inside a scabbard.
"Hey, don't call Tanaka a chicken. I am sure he is just worrying about our safety. Because I feel this would be dangerous." Belal finally spoke, defending Tanaka. He was wearing slightly brownish armor that fit his giant body and made him more giant like. His head was covered by a helmet, so it would stop people from getting intimidated after seeing his sunny smile. Every time he took a step, the ground would quake a little, showcasing the weight of the armor.
"But, brother Belal. We have to do this. This is the highest confidence and assurance we have in defeating this monster. If we can kill this monster, you can finally have the money to cure your mother." Bailey said with excitement, reminding them again of the reason for their coming here.
"You are right." Belal spoke with a hoarse tone. "But if the situation gets dire, we retreat. I do not want you guys to die."
"Thank you, brother." Bailey said, pumping her fist in the air. "However, we do not have to retreat because I believe we can do this."
Belal and Tanaka just laughed at Bailey's enthusiasm and quietly walked forward.
…
After walking for half an hour, they arrived before a bunch of trees that had their branches interconnected together as if done manually by someone.
Belal and others halted in their steps after arriving before it. They looked up with their hearts racing rapidly.
On top of the interconnected tree branches, they saw a giant, hairy arm swinging left and right. They weren't able to see what was on it clearly, but they knew who it was.
It was the sole reason for their arrival.
"Tanaka." Belal called Tanaka, signaling him to start. Meanwhile, he pulled out an item from his storage, the shield that he ordered Benimaru to make.
Bang!
A giant, nine-meter-tall shield dropped on the ground, and it was just a little wider than Belal's body. The shield was rectangular, looking like a steel door. It was made of pure metal and some special ore that Benimaru had in his storage. It had borders on the side and an image of a long skull with twin horns.
"Graaaa!" The sound of his shield dropping to the ground seemed to have woken the whatever thing was on top.
On the other hand, Bailey unsheathed her sword, which was a double-edged longsword. But its length and weight were different from the basic ones. Its weight was as light as a tree branch, and its length was fifty centimeters longer than the average one.
" [ Raging Hurricane ] " Tanaka, aiming his staff at the beast on top, chanted his spell's name.
Green mana glowed on the tip of his staff before a big magic circle appeared, from which a medium sized hurricane shot toward the beast, above.
Bang…Skricht…!
Firstly, the hurricane clashed against the beast's body before destroying the surrounding branches, destroying its air bed that it built with so much hard work.
After the branches were destroyed, the beast's giant body dropped to the ground, smashing heavily against the soil.
BANG!
Dust and soil debris blew everywhere.
"Graaa…graaa." The beast that fell from the sky made some sound before swinging its hands, blowing the dust away, and revealing itself. "GRAAAAA!!!"
Belal and others were met with a loud scream that made their ears shake. However, that didn't matter, as their enemy was right in front of them now.
It was a Silverback Gorilla. This type of beast was known for its flexibility and brute strength. The one in front of them was fourteen meters tall, which was still far from reaching its peak, as an adult Silverback Gorilla could reach fifty-one meters of height. So, it was not unfair to call this one a child. It has dark brown, thick fur, but on its back, it has silver-colored fur that shines even under the dark and gloomy atmosphere created by the compact trees huddled together.
'This is a grade-8 uncommon beast. This will be very hard.' Belal contemplated it with deep worry. Tanaka was in the 4th Stage Novice Realm. On the other hand, Bailey had broken through to the 5th Stage Fleshcrafting Realm. They could have stood no chance against it all alone.
But they still came here, and that reason was for him. He was at the 8th Stage Fleshcrafting Realm which he slowly climbed after working so hard. He was just at this stage in his early thirties, while the people of his age who started along with him had reached greater heights than him.
Step Step
Belal slowly stepped forward, catching the mad Silverback Gorilla's attention.
"Graa!" Screaming out loud, the Silverback Gorilla leaped toward him and punched at him.
Belal put his shield forward with absolute trust.
BAM!
A loud bang occurred from that clash as strong winds blasted everywhere.
The Silverback Gorilla stood in its position while screaming in pain from punching the shield. On the other hand, Belal's feet dragged backwards while digging into the ground, but he held his posture still like an impregnable wall.
'Damn, if it was my old shield, it would have cracked long ago.' Belal cursed while also praising his shield. But it wasn't like his shield did all the work. He himself had coated his shield with his vital energy, reinforcing it to become much stronger and sturdier.
Warriors couldn't project their vital energy outside, just like mages, but they would transfer it to objects that were in contact with their bodies. However, they could do it when they reached a certain realm, but that was for later.
Bailey took this opportunity and appeared beside the Silverback Gorilla's right leg. Her focus was on the tendon area of the leg. She wanted to make it immobile as fast as possible.
Ting!
Bailey's world seemed to slow down as she watched in shock as her sword was deflected back just after her attack landed on the tendons. It didn't do anything but cut a few furs from its body. 'Shit! I should have put in much more strength.'
Bailey didn't think much further and escaped back, covering herself in Belal's towering shadow.
Tanaka, on the other hand, had also prepared an attack. " [ Wind Bind ] "
Two ropes made of wind appeared beside Silverback Gorilla's both sides and were tied into both of its hands. But before the rope could pull its hands further and immobilize it, the Silverback Gorilla swung its hand and broke the wind ropes.
The Silverback Gorilla's eyes turned red as it fumed in anger, getting to feel pain and being annoyed by two flies too. It glared at the towering shield, vowing in its heart that it would smash it into pieces.
It again leaped forward, but this time being a bit different. The silver fur on its back shone with luster suddenly, and its fists turned into silver-like metal.
Belal's eyes widened as he could feel the danger of this attack, so he also used a skill of his own. " [ Immovable Mountain ] "
BANG!
This time, a much stronger wind blasted all around, shaking the trees and soil.
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