Free Web NovelChapter 52: _A Guide Who Shouldn’t Be Here
The Phoenix Flight and Glacier Talon ships docked at a part of the harbour a good distance away from the Leviathan.
The remains of Norfolk’s harbour stretched before them like the aftermath of a war. Dock cranes stood twisted at odd angles, some collapsed entirely into the blackened water. Cargo containers were scattered across the shoreline like toys thrown aside by a careless giant.
Several ships had already capsized, their rusted hulls half-submerged beneath the oil-dark waves rolling in from the Rift.
Devon took in a shaky breath.
Blood, ozone, methane and something rotten permeated the air. A few corpses, monsters and humans alike, floated around them, bodies mangled and bloated.
"This is just awful," Alisha squeezed her nose with two fingers, face twisted with disgust and pity. "Looks like those beasts ran from these parts when they saw our ships docking."
All around them, Hunters from different Guilds marched into the submerged harbour as well. The water level was ankle high so still manageable.
For now.
"Look who we have here." An annoying voice Devon didn’t wish to interact with chimed from behind them.
He stood still, jaw tightening before he even glanced back.
Viktor.
"My good man," the shameless Esper held his shoulder when he got to his side, a playful grin on his face. "We always seem to cross paths these days, huh?"
Devon didn’t answer, eyes focused on the ruined harbour ahead of them. The monsters did seem to avoid these parts.
But something was off.
"I’m guessing your grandfather came here as well." Viktor went on, ignoring the disapproving look from the Hunters around them. How anyone could be so carefree in the presence of a Cataclysm Level Rift was beyond them.
Alisha raised a hand just then, signalling him to shut up. Viktor frowned, gaze still assessing Devon as he thought. ’He has no clue that Ambrose is here, does he?’
His head spun back to the Glacier Talon ship. The only people there were his mother and the mischievous Guide. Irina wasn’t required to step down yet. Neither was Magnus.
Their presence on the battlefield might actually alarm the Leviathan into reacting badly.
"Do you hear that?" Alisha took off her left earphone, pointing one finger ahead of them. "Listen."
Devon’s eyes narrowed and so did Viktor’s. Every other Esper present also froze, following the lead of the only S-Rank with sound manipulation.
Then—
—Roars.
Guttural roars rumbled from different corners of the city. Buildings shook as beasts dropped from them, their cold eyes locking on the new set of humans here to play.
Many Espers took a hesitant step back once the bipedal beasts started charging toward them. Devon’s eyes lit up with yellow flames but before he could make a move, Alisha placed a hand in front of his chest.
"Allow me."
Slowly, she took off her earphones, hanging them around her neck. She dragged in a breath.
Viktor instantly got flashbacks. "You all might want to cover your ears!"
No sooner had he said that than she opened her mouth. A powerful sonic wave exploded from her throat, vibrating the air around her. A few people standing close who hadn’t heard the warning on time regretted it, immediately clutching their ears.
The sonic wave crashed into the incoming beasts, disorienting many and flinging back the others like leaves in the wind.
The exoskeletons of a few even began flaking off, causing the beasts to wail in a disturbing cacophony. The moment Alisha’s attack stopped—Devon moved next.
A flame the size of a candle flickered above his thumb. With a flick of his finger, it shot forward. And exploded into a blazing inferno the moment it touched the beasts.
BOOM!
The resulting explosion consumed the monsters like ants, the heat evaporating some of the surrounding water.
"Show-offs." Viktor spread out his hands with a snort. "Let Glacier Talon show you how it’s done."
All the other Espers could do was watch in awe as the S-Ranks opened the way for them, killing off scores of the A-rank beasts. Their attacks should’ve killed more but the exoskeletons proved difficult to break even for them.
That wasn’t much of an issue once more targeted attacks were made. With most of the remaining beasts weakened, the other Espers darted in, each Guild moving in coordinated waves.
The battle for Norfolk had officially kicked off.
"Look at them go." Irina chuckled to herself from her ship’s foredeck, taking a sip from a cup of iced tea. "If they can keep this up, reclaiming the city shouldn’t be difficult."
Her head inclined toward a ship docked beside hers. And the familiar face standing on its foredeck.
"That old coot never changes..."
Unlike her, Magnus’ expression was stiff, his shoulders rigid like he was ready to charge in at any second. He occasionally stole glances at the Leviathan in the distance.
The Leviathan’s massive body shifted beneath the black water, its presence alone sending slow waves toward the harbour.
He knew if that thing decided to make a move, things would change in seconds. So he braced himself for that.
What neither of these SS Rank legends knew however, was that on the side of the Glacier Talon ship, a certain Guide was sneaking out like he had committed murder.
[Host’s calculated distance from the target is 200 meters.]
Ambrose groaned, fingers curling around the glass tube containing the stealth potion. He hadn’t taken it yet because he needed to be careful with how he used it.
If he ingests it, it’ll only keep him invisible for five minutes. And apparently, he could ’split’ those five minutes whenever he wants, choosing when to appear visible again.
But still... It was just five minutes.
’How far away from Devon do I have to be throughout the mission?’ he asked Aura, already sighting a good hiding spot.
A shed which was surprisingly left untouched, the black water rippling around it with each new explosion from the battle.
[At least 50 meters.]
Ambrose sighed, glancing back at Irina and Magnus. None of them had their eyes in this direction so it was the right time to make a run for it.
He ran into the wooden shed, huffing a breath once he was in.
The place had no door.
Shattered glass from fallen cups littered the ground. Abandoned footwear was also at some corners and the electricity was out.
He could already imagine how the residents must have fled during the dungeon break last night. Hopefully they survived...
[WARNING!]
The red flash of the system screen made Ambrose halt. Chills ran down his spine as the voice went on.
[A-Rank beast approaching! The host is advised to evade.]
He swung his head around, noticing a shadow stretching into the room. Horror surged through his stomach when he saw the tall figure of one of those bipedal beasts lumbering toward the shed.
The beast’s claws scraped against the doorway as its cold blue eyes locked onto him.
... Shit!
