Free Web NovelChapter 35: The Hunt
The dungeon boss, Fenrir, stood before Julius. It was bigger than he expected. Its voice was deep and raspy as it spoke.
"Hello. Human."
[Breach Spawn - Fenrir]
Lumi moved in front of Julius. She was caught in a mix of awe and fear but she stood regardless.
"Hey," Julius said.
Fenrir’s red eyes moved between them but its attention was on Julius. The mist curled around its legs. Blood dripped from its jaws onto the black sand.
Julius looked at the creature. It stood at the entrance of the cave. He stood near the cave’s entrance but didn’t move beyond it.
"You are not afraid?" Fenrir asked.
"Should I be?" Julius replied.
"I could kill you where you stand."
"If you could, you wouldn’t need to wait for me to come here." Julius said.
Besides I have the wardstone in case you try something like that.
The creature’s eyes widened slightly. A grin plastered across its furry face, revealing its bloodied teeth.
Fenrir stepped back from the entrance. The movement was slow as his massive form went back into the mist.
"Hahaha...You are clever for a human." It emphasized the last word. "Come inside. I don’t bite...hahahaha"
Yeah right.
Julius looked into the chamber. The blue overlay from the Eye showed him what Xavier had described and worse. Green outlines on the ground most still, some moving faintly. Two on their knees.
The red outline of Fenrir settling back onto the stone throne at the far end. And Daren, one green outline still held in a grip near the throne.
"What’s the guarantee you won’t kill Daren the moment I step in?" Julius asked.
"I give you my word," Fenrir said.
I’d be a fool to trust that.
Almost as if reading his mind. Fenrir tells some people to leave. A group of four adventurers ran out.
Branthir didn’t come out. Neither did the dwarf with the red greatsword. Neither did Daren.
"A gesture of good faith. The rest stay," Fenrir said.
So it’s not just a mindless beast. It negotiates and understands how deals are made.
That made it more dangerous.
Julius looked at the survivors who had stumbled out. They were moving away from the entrance as fast as their injuries could allow. Some supported each other.
He recognized some of them. They were part of the parties that had stopped the wolves outside.
The same ones who ran in here despite Xavier’s warnings.
Julius turned his attention back to the chamber. If they were to fight Fenrir the biggest problem would be the mist.
Xavier had told him the creature used surprise attacks to kill most of the mages and healers as it moved through it.
By the time Daren and his party joined the chaos. They didn’t think to clear the mist before fighting.
I could use the eye to get a good perception but the ability causes intense pain the more I use it for a long time.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Julius!!"
He turned. Xavier was coming down the corridor behind them with his staff in hand.
"There is no way," Xavier said, slightly breathless, "that I am going to stand out there while this beautiful woman goes in without support." He straightened as much as his injuries allowed.
Without support?
Julius looked at the elf. It was obvious he would only be a problem but he needed all the help he could get. He didn’t need deadweights though.
"Look Xavier. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come with us," Julius said.
"But I have to help my friends. If a Veshari without powers is going in there, why should I stay idle?" the elf protested.
"Because you are weak," Julius answered, which caused Xavier’s eye to widen.
"But..."
"What chance do you have against Fenrir in your current state? If you couldn’t beat him with your party, what makes you think you can beat him now?" Julius asked.
The elf took a moment to answer. "But I...I want to help." The elf sank down and looked at the floor.
Julius understood why Xavier wanted to help. He was the reason his party couldn’t fight at full strength as Fenrir targeted him for being a mage.
Guilt.
His wind magic would be good for removing the mist but the elf himself had low mana. Right now Julius estimated he could only cast two spells at best. freewёbnoνel.com
It will have to do.
Julius walked to the elf and put a hand on his shoulder. "There is a way we can save them but you must do exactly what I say. Got it?"
The elf nodded and Julius explained what he wanted the elf to do. The elf listened and his eyes widened with each piece of information. At the end of the explanation his mouth was wide open.
"So I’m bait?" The elf said. His bravado from earlier had faded.
"Yes but Lumi will be there to keep you safe," Julius answered, which made the elf’s eyes gleam for a moment before he asked. "What about my friends?"
"I can’t promise anything but if all goes as planned. Everyone remaining will survive," Julius answered.
The elf nodded.
He turned to Lumi. He had hired the Lycan for a simple job but now they were about to fight something that had massacred parties of adventurers.
"My apologies for dragging you into this."
"Huh?" Lumi said before adding. "Don’t worry about it Boss. What kind of employee would I be, leaving you alone without getting paid first," she added.
Julius could see through her attempt to appear brave. It reminded him of Vincent when they had to run errands for the gangs. For him that was a good thing. Fear had kept them alive after all.
I might give her a raise after this is done.
He gave her a nod and turned to the entrance.
’Activate trial mode’
[Trial Mode Activated]
[Trial Mode: 15 Minutes Remaining]
The three of them walked in.
The chamber was larger than it had looked. The smell of blood was everywhere. Julius stepped over broken equipment and bodies without looking.
He kept his eyes on the stone throne Fenrir sat on as he deployed Coordinate. From where he stood, a faint translucent bubble appeared and enveloped the entire interior of the room.
The ability did not require a gesture. He simply thought it and it took effect.
Daren was near Fenrir. The half-elf was still conscious but slumped near the wall.
The human part of him must be tougher than I expected.
"Let him go," Julius said as he advanced.
"I will as soon as you move away from the entrance," Fenrir replied.
Fenrir picked Daren up and lifted him higher. The claws of his other hand aligned as its fingers flattened into a rigid form like a knife hand.
Julius moved away from the entrance. Lumi and Xavier followed close. The latter was casting a spell that cleared the mist slowly.
As they moved, Fenrir did the same and eventually the boss stood near the entrance while the trio stood near the throne.
By now Xavier’s spell was complete and the mist in the room had cleared but the effect was temporary.
"I heard you tell the elf mage you’ll keep his friend safe," Fenrir said as it dangled Daren. "Let me prove to you how hopeless your situation is."
It adjusted its hand to strike through Daren’s stomach. Julius had already folded his index and middle finger. The gesture for the switch skill and wasted no time using it.
[Switch - [><].]
[Swaps the position of two objects or people within the Coordinate zone instantly.]
Fenrir felt the weight on its hand shift as its claws ripped through guts into a bloody mess.
It looked at what it was holding. A dead Orc.
Daren found himself on the ground two meters to Julius’s left. Xavier took a moment to process everything and then rushed to The half-elf’s side.
Fenrir looked at what was in its grip for a few seconds then tossed it aside before looking at Julius.
"What did you do?"
Julius didn’t reply.
Fenrir went on all fours and in a moment’s notice, it moved. The speed was unlike anything Julius had ever seen. The Boss moved quicker than any creature he had seen.
Julius had the Wardstone ready in case but Lumi was faster.
She hit Fenrir from the side before it reached Julius. The momentum carried both of them into the chamber wall.
The impact shook the stone. Releasing rocks and dust. Survivors who were around that area of the room moved away as best as they could.
Lumi pulled back immediately, claws dragging across grey fur as she disengaged and rushed to Julius’s side. He turned to look at Lycan.
Lumi’s posture was less upright than before as she was basically on all fours. There was extra fur on her arms and legs. Her claws were a bit longer than before.
Her skin glistened as drops of sweat covered them. The bandages she wrapped on her chest were getting damp.
But the most interesting thing to Julius was her extended canines and eyes that glowed white in the dark cave. Her mouth emitted a low growl as Fenrir got up.
I wonder what the draw back for this is.
Julius returned his attention to Fenrir who had looked at Lumi properly for the first time. It smiled as it got up from the wreckage. freēwēbnovel.com
"None of the ones I fought earlier had this." Fenrir grinned as he walked towards them. "This bloodline ability of the Lycans."
"The Hunt."
