86 Abyss Ritual Pool, Tent-Trio
[ New Main Quest:- Progress and get powerful enough to join the top echelon of this world in resistance against the encroaching Abyss. Reach level 100 / Reward: Abyss Devourer Mark. ]
'Abyss Devourer Mark? Sounds like something very helpful against the Abyss enemies,' Erix thought after reading the notification of the new main quest. 'Is that why the fate of this world is in our hands?'
[Warning. Abyss Encounter Detected.]
[A new task has been added.]
'I guess it's about that blood pool below,' Erix opened his quest panel and saw that the new task was indeed about that.
[ Tasks ]
—> Settle in a house and get Adventurer's ID. Reward: 1-hour leave card.
—> Kill 20 Abyss Servants. Reward: 2-hour leave card.
—> Destroy the Abyss Corruption Ritual Pool. / Reward: 2 level-ups, a Tier-1 random item box, or an Item recall box.
—> ??? (More will generate as you move)
'Cool.'
Erix nodded to himself upon seeing the task. 'Better to complete a task when there's an opportunity.'
'But…'
Erix looked at a blob of aura in extreme zoom while almost three kilometers away from the ritual pool.
That aura was just ten meters away from the ritual pool and belonged to the blond man. 'He is clearly guarding the pool.'
'If I release Roaring Metal Cannon from here, there is a 100% chance of him dodging it, and if he also managed to protect the ritual pool, my efforts would be wasted.'
Erix rubbed his temples while trying to think of a good plan to complete the task while minimizing the risks because one thing was clear: Mr. Railun and the blond man were more powerful than him. They were level 85 and 90, respectively. In this unknown world, he wanted to have a 100% chance of hitting his targets when he attacked because he didn't know what kind of powers and skills they had. He wanted an advantage against his enemies right after any battle started.
Erix briefly closed his while thinking of something before deciding. 'Alright, I should go with the second option.'
He quickly and silently flew further up before returning to the camp.
After entering his tent, he saw that his tent-mates had returned—three men in their mid-late twenties with black hair and cool outfits. One wore a leather-metal armor outfit, one wore a dark gold robe, and one had a light leather ranger outfit.
"Hi," Erix took the initiative to greet them with a friendly smile. "Did you make any progress in the investigation?"
"I think it's none of your business, right?"
Erix wryly smiled and said, "I think it is if you want to get those ten thousand gold coins."
"What do you mean?"
"I know a clue that might lead us to the missing siblings. You see… I don't want to wander alone in this dangerous place, but if it's with you three, we can succeed."
"Haha, if you have a clue, then why don't you go to Mr. Railun? You'll be easily rewarded if your clue is useful and leads them to find the siblings."
"That's right. So, stop with your bullshit."
"What do you want from us?"
'They are confident and think they are smart enough not to get fooled. Hmmm. Alright, it will be better to reel them in with the truth. A bait is a bait regardless of it came.'
"What I really want is your help," Erix said with a somber expression before he waved his hand and created a harmless mana barrier that enveloped everyone in the tent to prevent the sound from escaping from it.
"Help? We can help, but nobody gives it for free."
"We'll decide its fees after hearing your situation."
'Does being at level 70-75 gives them this much confidence?' Erix wondered. 'Or do they also have some powerful trump cards?'
'Good for me if they have it.'
"The situation is not terrible for only me, but for everyone," Erix said as he adopted a somber expression. "Mr. Railun already knows where his kids are, so he is lying about this whole mission from the start."
"I told you we don't want to hear crap."
"Shut up and listen you idiots," Erix said with an annoyed expression.
"You better have a good reason for calling us idiots."
The three of them took out their weapons—one sword, one a staff, and another a pair of daggers.
'Looks like a great team,' Erix internally nodded.
"What I am saying is truth, and if you want proof, I can give you right now if you follow me to the northwest where there's a big bloody pool and those siblings nailed into a ground of magic circles. It's like some ritual."
When Erix finished speaking, he saw a visible shock in the trio's eyes that surprised him. 'They wouldn't be shocked if they didn't believe me, but they are shocked…'
'So they believe me? That's unexpected. I thought I would have to do more.'
"What's the point? We are far away from the capital."
"Don't tell me you two want to destroy the ritual ourselves? That's dangerous!"
'Ritual?' Erix was taken aback. 'Do they know about the abyss ritual and shits related to it?'
"Ahem, if you got reinforcements, you should call them," Erix suddenly spoke loudly to attract their attention. "It's dangerous for just us four."
'If their reinforcement has some connection with top echelons, I should be able to get more information by joining them.'
'Even if I am not level 100 yet, I should still be near the higher ranks of power in this world,' Erix thought as he looked at the trio. 'These three are around my level but still know more than me, so I might also get recruited.'
This was the shortest shortcut to getting information, but it didn't seem easy.
"Reinforment is impossible to arrive in time because we don't have much time if the Abyss Ritual is active. We have to destroy it before an Abyss Harbinger manifests there."
Erix frowned.
'My first mission completely failed since it's fake from the start, and now there's this trouble of an Abyss Harbinger…manifesting?'
"We have to gather the help of everyone," one of them said with furrowed brows. "Hold on," Erix interrupted. "You can't look suspicious in front of Mr. Railun. That guy can probably kill us instantly if he gets the initiative on us."
"What's your name?"
"Erix."
"So, what do you propose, Erix?"
The trio stood arm-crossed, their expression severe. "Let's go and destroy that Abyss Ritual pool. I have an attack that can destroy it, but there's that blond man standing guard around it, so I can't use my obvious attack coming from the sky because it will give him plenty of time to prepare his defense."
"But if that landed?" the tallest one at 6'2 height asked with narrowed eyes.
Erix grinned.
"The entire pool area will be erased."
The guy with thick eyebrows snorted, "It doesn't matter if you help or not, but don't get in our way in that place. Even If your attack fails, we'll still destroy that ritual pool after killing that blond-haired man."
"Uhh, sure."
"Good."
"Lead us to the location of the pool."
"Follow me," Erix flatly said before he turned around and dispersed his barrier.
'Why are these guys so arrogant? Or are they really confident?' Erix internally mused as he flew up and led them to the north. "We'll go north first and then northwest," Erix informed them after turning his head back. "We don't want Railun getting suspicious of us."
After all, Railun had told everyone that his son and daughter were lost in the northeast of the woodland, so no one was searching in the northwest.
'Well, let's hope nothing goes wrong.'
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