Chapter 476: Chapter 473 – Mušmaḫḫū and the Emergency Mission
After leaving the crowded restaurant, Sylvia walked slowly along the Main Street of the Helios Empire’s capital, which was beginning to quiet down as evening approached. The late afternoon sunlight bathed the magnificent stone buildings in a soft, warm golden glow, casting long shadows across the smooth stone sidewalks. The sky in the western horizon was turning a reddish-orange, signaling that day would soon give way to night. The aroma of street food still lingered strongly in the air, a mix of leftover savory pizza, faint grilled skewer spices, and the sweet scent of fruit juice blended with road dust and the sweat of workers heading home after a long day.
Sol lounged comfortably on Sylvia’s shoulder, his full belly rising and falling gently in a soft rhythm. Occasionally the golden cat purred quietly in satisfaction after tasting so many luxurious new foods. His shining golden fur caught the evening light, making him look like a living luxurious statue. Sylvia occasionally stroked his back with her cold fingers, feeling the small warmth that contrasted with her own undead body.
The lunch earlier had made Sylvia feel lighter. The sweet-savory taste of the pineapple pizza with melting cheese still lingered on her tongue, awakening old memories from Earth before the apocalypse. For a moment, the burden on her shoulders felt lighter memories of normal life, laughter, and simple flavors that had now become rare treasures. But that peace didn’t last long.
As she passed a popular tavern called "The Tipsy Griffin" located at the corner of a busy street, Sylvia overheard a conversation between several hunters drinking beer on the outdoor terrace. Their voices were loud and tense, clearly audible amid the evening bustle.
"...the Rank S party ’Iron Fang’ that went to the dimensional rift east of the capital failed completely, bro. Out of seven elite members, only one survived and made it back to the guild barely alive," said a thick-bearded hunter as he took a deep gulp of his beer. "He could hardly stand, his blood was black from poison, but he still forced himself to report. As soon as he finished speaking, he collapsed and died right there on the guild floor. Only his strong will to deliver the message kept him alive for those final few minutes."
His companions at the table fell silent for a moment, their faces grim. One female hunter with a scar on her arm added, "I heard it from the guild staff. They discovered a new dimensional rift in the eastern mountains two days ago. That party was sent to investigate because of reports of strange dark purple lights and earth-shaking roars. But the moment they entered... it was over. The whole party was wiped out in a short time."
Sylvia subtly slowed her steps. Her sharp ears caught every word clearly. Sol on her shoulder also perked up his ears, his golden eyes narrowing warily.
"What exactly did they face? Another dragon? Or something worse?" asked another in a low voice.
"I don’t know the full details. The news is still tightly sealed by the guild leaders and possibly the empire. But one thing’s clear: the monster in that eastern rift is no joke. It’s not an ordinary monster that can be killed with standard swords and magic. They say its blood is like hellish acid, and it can summon minions from its own blood."
Sylvia frowned deeply. A full seven-member Rank S party had been almost completely wiped out. That was no ordinary occurrence. Even the Ancient Hydra in Greywood Dungeon, despite its terrifying regeneration, could still be defeated thanks to their strategy and combined firepower. What kind of creature could kill nearly an entire party of that level so quickly?
She wanted to hear more, but the conversation began shifting to other topics and official news was still very restricted. Sylvia continued walking toward The Golden Dragon Inn, her mind racing. This could be a great opportunity, she thought. A new, heavier quest and a powerful ancient monster could accelerate her delayed experience accumulation and evolution.
But just as she turned into a small street leading to the inn, a firm voice called out from behind her.
"Hunter Sylvia!"
Sylvia stopped and turned calmly. Guild Master Marcus Blackthorn was walking quickly toward her. His dark blue guild coat fluttered behind him. The middle-aged man with graying hair and an old scar on his left cheek looked extremely serious. His brows were deeply furrowed, and his powerful Rank S aura felt oppressive.
"There’s a high-level emergency mission. Come with me to the guild right now. There’s no time to delay."
Sylvia didn’t ask many questions. She nodded briefly. "Understood." Through their group telepathy, she immediately called her two sisters with an urgent tone. Alicia, Stacia. Come to the guild now. There’s an emergency mission from the Guild Master himself. Hurry.
Stacia, who had been immersed in reading her novel in the inn room, immediately got up from her bed. Alright. I’m heading there right away. The climax Chapter can wait. Her voice in the telepathy sounded slightly reluctant but obedient.
Alicia, who had just finished retrieving her repaired silver staff from the blacksmith, also responded quickly. I’m on my way, Sis. The staff is stronger now. Qilin is coming with me.
Sylvia followed Guild Master Marcus into the Hunters Guild building, which was still quite busy even as evening deepened. The hunters who saw them whispered among themselves but didn’t dare approach. They went straight to the VIP meeting room on the second floor via a spiral staircase lit by magic crystal lamps.
As soon as the thick mahogany door opened, Sylvia saw several people already seated around a large round table surrounded by carved chairs. Among them were the five people she had fought in the arena earlier that day, their faces still heavily bruised, with large lumps on their heads and arms, and purple bruises around their eyes. Their gazes immediately filled with anger and resentment when they saw Sylvia enter, but none dared speak loudly. Only a quiet mutter of "She..." came from one of them.
There was also another party of six people who looked more authoritative, equipped with shiny full armor, artifact weapons, and stable, well-trained auras. They looked at Sylvia with a mix of curiosity, admiration, and sharp assessment, as if measuring the new powerhouse that had appeared in the capital.
Sylvia sat in the provided chair without any expression, her black coat neatly folded. A few moments later, Alicia and Stacia entered the room. Alicia carried Qilin in her arms; the small deer looked alert with its faintly glowing horns. Stacia was still holding her thick novel in her left hand, her loose robes slightly rumpled from rushing. They sat beside Sylvia, forming a compact and powerful group.
Guild Master Marcus Blackthorn sat in the head chair, his face growing even more serious. He tapped the table with his rough fingers, instantly silencing the entire room like a grave.
"We don’t have much time," he said directly, his voice heavy with authority. "This morning, the Rank S party ’Iron Fang’ that was exploring the dimensional rift east of the capital failed completely. Out of seven elite members, only one survived and returned to the guild. But after reporting crucial information, he died on the spot. Only his strong will to deliver the message kept him alive for those final minutes."
The room fell into a deathly silence. Even the five who had provoked Sylvia earlier stayed completely quiet, their anger replaced by real tension and worry.
"What kind of monster did they face?" asked the leader of the sixth party in a tense voice.
The Guild Master let out a heavy sigh, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "Mušmaḫḫū. One of the ancient monsters created by Tiamat, the Primordial Dragon Goddess. Not an ordinary monster. It may even be on the level of a mid-tier god that was sealed. Similar to the Ancient Hydra you killed yesterday, but far more dangerous. It doesn’t have extreme regeneration like the Hydra, but its blood is extremely toxic. A single drop can melt the best steel, poison vast stretches of land, and kill living creatures within dozens of meters just from its vapor. Its body is gigantic, with seven heads each capable of firing corrosive acid, black lightning, and nebula poison. Its ability to summon monster minions from its own blood makes it almost impossible for an ordinary party to handle. That dimensional rift seems to have opened a weakened ancient seal."
Sylvia frowned even deeper Mušmaḫḫū. The name sounded unfamiliar but immediately triggered her danger instincts. She could imagine how terrifying the monster was, a colossal body like a moving mountain, roaring heads, and blood flowing like rivers from hell.
The Guild Master continued in a grim tone, "We need the best team to handle this before Mušmaḫḫū fully emerges from the rift and threatens the capital and surrounding villages. All of you have been chosen because of your recent achievements and proven strength. Including Sylvia, Alicia, and Stacia’s group, who just killed the Ancient Hydra by themselves."
The five who had lost to Sylvia looked at her with mixed gazes still containing anger and envy, but also a reluctant respect after witnessing her power in the arena. One of them, Gorn Thunderfist, growled softly but ultimately stayed silent.
Sylvia remained calm, her voice cold and firm. "When do we depart?"
"Tomorrow morning at dawn. Prepare yourselves as best as you can high-grade anti-poison medicine, anti-acid equipment, and a solid strategy. The rewards will be very generous if you succeed, including rare artifacts and loot rights. But remember... This is not an ordinary mission. Mušmaḫḫū is not a monster that can be dealt with by raw power alone. Cooperation and intelligence are essential."
The meeting continued for nearly an hour with task assignments, maps of the dimensional rift, and additional information about Mušmaḫḫū potential weaknesses gathered from the final report. Sylvia listened carefully, her mind already formulating strategies: using holy fire and her undead abilities to counter the poison, Alicia controlling ice to freeze the monster’s blood, and Stacia providing support magic and illusions from her artifact novel. With her Level 110, Sol, and Qilin, they had a real chance.
But deep in her heart, she knew this would be a far more difficult battle than before.
