Chapter 108: Aromatic
Henchmen A: “Sir, they’ve entered the nest.”
Jonathan: “As expected. What of the girl from Zane’s party?”
Henchmen A: “Yes, she also entered.”
Jonathan: “Good, good, have the men ready for when the Lycanian exits the nest.”
Jonathan was entering the last phase of his plan. Now that they were inside, it wouldn’t be long before they have to fight the Goblin Don. No matter how strong the Lycanian was, fighting a Goblin Don with three people would surely be a difficult task. Not to mention the countless Goblins they would have to fight through to; get there and back out. They will all be exhausted and in no shape to fight when they finally get out, that’s when they will have to deal with Jonathan’s group.
Studying the Lycanian ever since he returned to Loegrey, Jonathan decided on plans based around these facts. To counter Nathan’s plants, they had a plethora of fire-based spells to burn down anything he could grow. The Lycanian was also known to be fleet-footed, along with the members of his party, they were able to run around Loegrey for hours, without being caught. This would undoubtedly be a problem if they couldn’t catch him, so traps were being set all around the area, specifically designed to capture fast moving targets.
That just leaves the Lycanian’s poison, which to be honest; he didn’t have a counter for. Sure, he held a plethora of solutions to counter act poisons, but he was unsure of the types of poisons he had. He only witnessed the one that was used on him. The others were claims from others who had seen in town.
Jennifer: “We will just have to make do.”
Jennifer: “Jonathan?”
Jonathan turned to Jennifer, who pointed out to Shane; who had returned. With his usual smart-alec smirk, he waved to them both, prompting them to walk over.
Jonathan: “Where were you? You’ve been gone for hours…”
Shane: “Sorry about that had to run an errand.”
Jonathan: “An errand?”
Shane patted the chest he brought with him.
Jonathan: “What’s that?”
Shane: “Well, I was thinking when your strategy ultimately fails, I thought it be good to have a backup plan.”
The sides of Jonathan mouth twitched a bit, him being a bit irritated from what Shane said.
Jonathan: “What makes you think my plan will fail?”
Shane: “For one, I’m sure Nathan’s knows your coming.”
Jonathan: “What?”
Shane: “Yep, I don’t know how he does it, but for some reason, everything we did to capture him, it was like he knew what we were gonna do. I doubt the guys you had watch him went unnoticed.”
Jonathan: “Elaborate...”
Shane: “Not much to say, from the time we met, to the time we departed, it was like he knew what we planned to do and was just a step ahead of us. It was like, like he had an extra set of eyes and ears.”
Jonathan: “So what, a precognitive ability...?”
Shane: “No I wouldn’t say that, sure he was able to predict ours move to an extent, but we were still able to catch him off-guard a few times. It was more like a reaction, what’s the word I’m looking for?”
Jennifer: “A reflex?”
Shane: “That’s it, a reflex. That what it was like; he was able to dodge our attacks, but when we cast a spell that wasn’t aimed at him or something that couldn’t be dodged, we were able to catch him.”
Jonathan: “Your saying he avoided all your attacks? Correct me if I’m wrong, but there was a member of the ‘Muonshi Clan’ amongst your party.”
Shane: “What……gotta admit I’m surprised you knew that. No one outside of the five us should know that.”
Jonathan: “Do not underestimate our guild.”
Shane: “Cerin, a former member and yes he was and even with him we couldn’t land one hit on him. Besides that, you have to worry about his invisible friends and weapons.”
Jonathan: “……………What?”
Shane: “Laugh about it if you want, but while we were fighting, we manage to disarm him, but then out of thin-air another weapon appeared.”
Jennifer: “Are you sure it wasn’t the other sword he has on his back?
Shane: “I never once seen him take that sword off his back.”
Jonathan: “If what you say is true that……could it be?”
If what Shane said was true, then Jonathan had an idea of what it was. However, such things were only known in legends. Since he can’t be sure for now, he will keep it to himself, saying anything right now, it may be heard by the unwanted.
Shane: “Last but not least, we have to deal with the other members of his party. Especially the Rodentia and the Ogre. The Rodentia can turn invisible and cast high level incantation-less spells. In the middle of our battle she appeared out of thin air and began casting spells and in quick succession, so quick that my former leader couldn’t even close the distance between them before she cast another spell.
Even Jonathan was surprised by that. Beatrice was a well-known female swordsman and she was defeated by a mage. Everyone knew that mages had a distinct disadvantage when facing a swordsman. Incantation especially for more powerful spells, took time to complete, time that no competent sword wielder would allow.
Shane: “And the ogre, her strength is unparalleled. Not too long ago, in the market, the place that someone broke a steel sword over her head, and she didn’t even flinch. Now tell me, how do you expect any of the things you suggested to work?”
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Jonathan: “No need to worry, neither of them entered the dungeon with him. Only the Felidae accompanied him.”
Shane: “Yes, but there no way they will be away that long. They will be there. And the Felidae’s no push-over either. Fighting solo with Hilda of the ‘Twin Moons’ is no easy feat, winning is a whole different thing entirely.”
Jennifer: “So what, you sound like your scared to fight even if we have the advantage.”
Shane: “Did just hear anything I said, I’m telling you, you don’t.”
Jonathan: “So what do you propose?”
Shane: “Simple, if Nathan’s gone into the nest, all we need to do is make sure they don’t come out and what I have in this trunk here will do just that.”
Jonathan: “That seems highly improbable.”
Shane smirked, as he opened the trunk letting the two to peer inside. Both went wide eyed seeing what was inside.
Jonathan: “How exactly did you obtain this amount?”
Shane: “I know a guy.”
Jonathan put a hand to his chin, as simple as this plan was, with what he was looking at it would prove extremely effective.
Jennifer: “Jonathan, if used correctly, these could in fact be a good way to deal with this matter.”
Jonathan: “Agreed, Shane, what will you need to put this in motion?”
Shane: “Nothing much, just anyone and everyone who can fire a bow.”
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Level up
Nathan watched his level rise from strangling to death a few Goblins. They were unfortunate enough to have come down the path the three adventurers were currently using, no sooner did they appear that Nathan’s plants whipped out of the ground and crush their bones and snapped their necks. However, there was something that no-one seemed to bring to attention. A situation he could no longer stand and needed to make himself heard and let the issue be known.
Nathan: “It stinks.”
Ash: “Really?”
Ash and Jasmine raise their noses into the air.
Ash: “All I smell is you.”
Jasmine: “Me too.”
Nathan: “Well, I smell a mixture of dead rotting things and the backside of all things in existence.”
Jasmine: “Didn’t need to know that.”
Ash: “With that Carra plant extract on you, the flower scent is way more noticeable.”
Jasmine: “I’m so glad you’re here or else we would be smelling what your smelling.”
Nathan: “Oh, I’m sooo glad I can spare your noses with my air freshening abilities.”
Nathan who couldn’t smell the scent he was giving off and held his nose as they made their way. The battle that was taking place outside must not have ended yet, for there were barely in goblins left inside. However just like before the goblins they came across seem to home-in on Nathan like moths to a flame.
Jasmine: “Hmmm, could it be………no it couldn’t be as simple as that.”
Nathan: “Jasmine?”
Jasmine: “I think I might know why your attracting goblins.”
Nathan: “Seriously?”
Jasmine: “It’s your scent.”
Nathan: “Huh?”
Jasmine: “Like the giant Vultures from before, how they couldn’t help themselves, but come to you.”
Nathan: “The Carra extract, but you’re wearing it too and none of them seem to be coming at you.”
Jasmine: “Yeah, but there a big difference between me and you.”
Ash: “Ah, your flower scent.”
Jasmine: “Right, his flower scent and the Carra are mixing together, giving off an aroma that attracting the Goblins. Goblins to have a good sense of smell and given the state of this place, your scent, it’s probably intoxicating.”
Nathan: “Don’t use words like intoxicating to describe the situation. It’s already creepy as it is.”
Ash: “Ahahaha, men, women and now goblins, does allure know no bounds?”
Nathan: “That’s it let take this back outside.”
Jasmine: “Calm down you two, we just have to find a way to mask it.”
Ash: “Mask, what could possibly cover up that scent?”
Jasmine: “Hmm, well-”
Jasmine was at a loss, the pleasant aroma coming from Nathan was just too ferocious to be tamed and within this close space, it was definite. She didn’t think anything could cover it up, at least anything they had with them.
Nathan: “………. Actually, I might have a way.”
Ash: “What?”
Nathan closed his hand and reopened it to produce several seeds, which he the planted into the ground. After a moment several flowers sprouted from the ground.
Ash: “What kind of flowers are these?”
Jasmine: “Yeah I never seen these before.”
Nathan: “Ugh, their special flowers, that only grows in a certain place, so once I use them, I have to remove them. Can’t have anyone stumbling upon them.”
Jasmine let out a sound of amazement. The flowers were very pretty, pink petals that pointed at the end, they were sight for sore eyes amongst the dreary cave walls.
Jasmine: “They are pretty, but how are they gonna help you?”
Nathan: “They produce a pollen when you disturbed the flowers, the spores on the pollen act as awarding agent when airborne.”
Ash: “It keeps monsters away?”
Nathan: “Oh yeah, (Along with friends, family, lovers and any other creature that needs to breathe).”
Nathan kept his mouth shut, for the flowers he just grew was none other than the Myfetus. With a stench so bad, anything and everything in existence would avoid you like the plague.
Nathan: “I just need to step in the and set them off.”
Jasmine: “Well what are you waiting for?”
*Shove*
Nathan: “What Waaaaa!?”
Nathan was surprise and unready as he was shoved forward into the patch of flowers. He had no way of stopping and fell faced first into the Myfetus. He instinctively held his breath, fearing the stench, but to his surprise, no spores came out.
Nathan: “What?”
Nathan carefully stood up, not wanting to set off the plants, but again nothing happened. He took a few careful steps and still nothing happened.
Nathan: “That’s weird, that should have set them off.”
Jasmine: “Nothing happened.”
Nathan: “I wonder why.”
Ash: “Maybe it did, and we just haven’t noticed?”
Nathan: “Oh no, we would have most definitely notice, that distinct smell cannot possibly go unnoticed.”
Jasmine: “Why? What does it smell like?”
Nathan: “I don’t’ get it, it worked last time.”
Jasmine: “(Did he just ignore me?)”
Jasmine eyed Nathan, who just kept ignoring her.
Jasmine: “(Suspicious.)”
Ash: “What was different between now and then?”
Nathan: “Nothing really, no wait, I was being attacked.”
Ash: “Then that’s probably it, it’s your flowers, they don’t sense any danger so there not being set off.”
Jasmine: “(Why would it take danger to set them off? Sounds like a defense reaction.)”
Nathan: “So since I grew them, they won’t trigger, make sense.”
Ash: “Well it’s a good thing we’re here. We can set them off for you come on Jasmine.”
Jasmine jump back to her senses, when Ash started pushing her forward.
Jasmine: “Wait Ash…s-somethings up with these plants.”
Ash: “We can’t wait, more goblins could be on their way, we don’t have time.”
Jasmine: “No just a second we nee-”
Ash shoved Jasmine forward unwilling, pushing her into the bed of plants. Time seem to stand still for her, but what she took notice of was Nathan. He bowed his head in clasped his hands together apologetically.
Nathan: “*Silent* (Please forgive me).”