Chapter 58

They walked onward, keeping their eyes on the trail. Leon wondered how the creatures would react if he used his ability to call them, considering the group they just met. The toad fed off the other frogs, so if there were larger groups of them, would the remaining toad become a king if they didn’t take them out fast enough? But the other kings had taken in live monsters, not dead ones. Maybe the toad took on traits instead of power?

Leon’s thought got interrupted as Finn grabbed his shoulder.

Finn pointed ahead and slightly to the left. “See the group over there?”

Leon squinted past the last two trees dividing this swamp section from the patch of forest they’d walked through. A level three toad sat unblinking at the end, with five frogs sitting in a half circle in front of it. “You think you can take them out from here, or do you need a clear line of vision?”

“Of course, but it would be easier if someone distracted them. I don’t want to get licked again.” Finn spat to the side. “Slimy bastards.”

“Got it.” Leon took a step forward, then stopped. “Did you already take the potion?”

“Yeah.”

“And how does it work? Like the health potion?”

“It’s an antidote, man. How do you expect it to work?” Finn shrugged. “But it also gives you immunity for two hours after taking it.”

Leon looked toward the creatures. “And you didn’t want to tell us that when you took it, because…”

Finn threw his arms out in a helpless gesture. “Man, come on. You’re totally going to put me in the line of fire now.”

“I don’t see the creatures dealing much damage. Nevertheless, that’s not how I do things. Even if it would be more cost-efficient.”

Finn narrowed his eyes. “Why not? Anyone else would have done it.”

“I respect my group,” Leon said, simply. He waved to Hert to come forward. “Hert, can you block Finn from the tongues while he’s attacking? If it gets too much, I’ll approach from the side.”

Hert nodded. “Sure.” He stepped forward and lifted the shield.

Finn took his position behind it. “How do you want to do this, leader?”

Leon looked at the frogs. “Step out and fire an arrow, then step back again to wait for the first attack. It takes long before they attack again, so hopefully, you’ll get off two or three arrows before they croak.”

“I’ll get them to croak with just one,” Finn said. “Don’t you doubt it.”

Leon smiled. “The frogs croak before they attack. That’s how you’ll know how to evade in time.”

“Of course,” Finn said, nodding. “That’s what I meant.”

“Hert, step out a bit, so they’ll see you. Finn, you follow.”

Hert took two steps out, and Finn one. The ranger fired off an arrow. As with the other group, this one attacked without warning.

“In!” Leon said, and Finn followed his command.

A second later, the five tongues lashed against Hert’s shield, and they knocked him back a step. One of them didn’t get pulled back, since the unlucky frog sank onto the ground.

“Out! Take the toad.”

Finn stepped aside and fired two arrows, and the toad and a frog fell down. As the toad died, the rest of the group disappeared.

Leon frowned. “Good work.”

He walked into the water and to the lily pad, where he picked up the items. “Eight coins and some slimy skin.” Leon walked back to the others, jogging to lessen the suck of the mud beneath. “Seems like there’s an order to taking them out if we want the full loot.”

“I knew it,” Finn said, grimacing.

“Sure you did,” Hert said, sighing. “How didn’t you know of these monsters when we came in here, anyway? You’ve obviously lived through the rain season before, considering the bridge and all.”

Finn’s ears reddened. “How didn’t you? You must have lived through it, too.”

“I don’t enjoy getting wet and crafted indoors.”

“And I had more important things to do than to chase down low-level monsters like these.”

“Like what?”

Finn turned toward Leon. “Why do you think there’s an order?”

“Because the other frogs disappeared, and I think the loot we should have gotten from defeating them went with them. We got ten from a group of a toad and three frogs, but only eight now. I think the toad needs to eat them for them to count toward the total.”

Finn nodded. “As I thought.” Then he looked around. “Where’s Ava?”

Leon spun around. “She was right behind Hert when we got here.”

Hert shook his head and sighed. “She said she’d rather wait for us to go back where she knew it was safe from both toads and insects.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Finn asked, red in the face. “We need to get her!”

Leon nodded. “Yeah. She might think it’s safe, but there’s no way to be sure about that. After what we’ve been through, one would think she knew that.”

“What have you been through?” Finn asked as they backtracked.

“Wolves chasing her, mostly,” Leon said. “At least she’s good at climbing.”

“Not that it will help her much.” Hert put his shield in his inventory. “The frogs can probably reach her in the trees, but she’s also disgusted by all the insects. She won’t climb them unless her life is at stake.”

Finn stomped past Leon, taking the lead. “Ava!” He swatted away a fly. “Come!”

Leon and Hert followed.

“Wait, what was that?” Hert asked.

Leon looked at him, and then into the forest. “What?”

“I saw something move.”

“Probably just insects,” Finn said, continuing. “Hope you’re not scared of some creepy crawlies.”

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“It looked like it was in-between the trees.”

Finn sighed and peered back for a second. “Man, have you seen these insects? They’re huge.”

“Ah!” Ava’s voice rang through the trees and Finn hastened his steps.

Hert sighed. “There goes the foghorn of the damsel in distress.”

Leon ran past Finn into the clearing. A level five bat, big as the toad, had its claws in Ava’s hair. From the looks of it, it tried to lift her into the air.

Finn gaped up at it for a second before he readied an arrow and shot it. The bat fell down in a rain of pixels, and Ava tumbled onto her hands and knees.

“You’re okay now. I saved you,” Finn said, leaning down to pat her shoulder. “You can always trust me.”

“Are you hurt?” Leon asked as he approached. He crouched down.

“N-No,” she stammered, glancing up at Leon and then Finn. “Thank you. You saved my life.”

“I sure did!” Finn straightened himself up, smiling.

Leon stretched out a hand to help her up. She took it. “You better stay close to us. I know we cleared that monster group, but we’re still in the forest.”

Ava sniveled. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay, sweetie,” Finn said, taking Ava’s hand from Leon. “My bow is here for you. Stay with me, and you’ll be safe.”

“Finnekins!” Ava threw herself in his arms. “I knew you’d come back for me! I knew I could count on you.”

“Of course.”

Leon sighed and walked back to the path. “Well, since we’re all doing fine, let’s head further into the forest and grab the camps we missed on our way back. Does that work for everyone? Maybe we can make this day worth it for all of us.”

******

They walked back through the forest. It had taken them almost two hours to clear out most monsters in the area, and now they had taken out the first two that they’d passed and missed. The tactic had worked well, with Hert shielding Finn, and occasionally, Leon had stepped in to either distract some monsters, or to shorten their tongues.

“So, what’s the total for today?” Finn asked.

Leon opened his inventory. “One-hundred-seventy-nine coins, fourteen frog legs, three clusters of warts, four frog’s eye, six slimy skins, two toad’s horn, twelve poison sack, two toad’s eye.”

Finn furrowed his brow. “Say that again?”

“It’s the loot from twelve groups of monsters of different levels and sizes. You think you’d get it all after I say it one more time? I wouldn’t even remember all we’ve gathered if I closed my inventory.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Finn mumbled.

“What about I sell all the crafting items when we’re back, and then give everyone their due when we meet up tomorrow?”

“I’ll come with you to the stall,” Finn said. “I won’t let you fool me out of coin. I’ve done most of the work today.”

Leon nodded and closed the window. “That’s fine. If we all go together, we can split it up directly, so we don’t need to think about it anymore. Then we can also decide what we want to do tomorrow.”

“Sounds great,” Hert said.

“Sure, but…” Finn stopped as a roar sounded through the forest.

Leon spun around and looked through the trees. His sense gave off a tingle of danger. “We’re too far from the level 6 wolf king, so I think this is the level 3 one.”

“Yeah, that sure as hell isn’t a frog.” Hert took out his shield. “Do you see where it is?”

“Maybe someone set it off,” Ava said, hugging Finn’s arm closer. “Don’t you think so?”

Finn raised a hand and squinted through the swamp and forest parts. “It’s soon here.”

“How are you guys on fatigue? Do we want to fight it?”

“Of course we—” Finn cleared his throat. “That’s up to you, leader.”

“I think we can take it. It brings some extra coin, but kings are also dealing much more damage than the normal creatures, so we need to be careful, even if it’s level 3. Are we up for it?”

“Sure,” Hert said. “Wait a bit, I got a pop-up!”

“Me too!” Ava echoed.

Leon stared at his own box.

Poisoned

You have been poisoned.

Effect: -5 HP per minute

Source: Air

First time information:

All dungeons, closed, semi, or open, contain poisonous air during the rainy season. If you stay in an area for too long, you will get poisoned. The amount of damage the poison deals to you varies from area to area.

Poison will tick down your health until you die unless you are given antidote, either through a potion or a spell. In this area, you will lose five health points every minute.’

“That’s so mean! How are we supposed to fight that?” Ava said, taking out her potion.

“What?” Finn asked. “Did everyone except me get a box?”

“It says the air is poisonous,” Leon started, but a splash caught his attention. The wolf king, level 3, had landed in the first swamp area and sprinted toward them on two legs. It looked identical to the wolf king he’d ran into before, except it was much smaller and the tag was a clear yellow. Level 9 in power, huh? Strong, but doable. “I’m going for the legs as a distraction. Hert, shield Finn and Ava, and Finn, shoot at the head and upper body.”

Without waiting for confirmation, Leon took out his sword and one of the antidote potions. He drank it and readied the weapon, waiting a moment before he set off in a sprint into the water. He met the beast a few steps from the path, ducked under its clawed right hook, and slashed at its calf. The wolf howled in pain and dropped down on all fours. Leon rolled to the side and saw an arrow fly into the beast’s eye. The damage showing above its head meant it was a critical hit.

“Nice shot!” he called, running to the side. He slashed out with his sword as the wolf raised an arm, brushing it over the eye to get the arrow out. The creature wobbled, and Leon struck again, just as an arrow went into the beast’s side. It was much easier than he’d expected it to be, and he smiled. If anything was a sign that he’d gotten stronger, this was it. The level 6 king would be another matter, though.

The wolf stomped around, sending water splashing all over the place. Instinctively, Leon shielded his eyes with his arm.

Ava screamed. Leon spun around at the sound and saw a bat scratching at her hair. Again.

“I’ll save her!” Finn shouted.

Leon turned to the wolf king, which had sunk down on the ground, almost like it had given up. Leon approached with caution as he readied his killing strike, aiming to cut off its neck. It could fake it. He swung. The weapon hit into the fur and the flesh.

“Yeees!” a voice hissed from behind the beast. “Miiine!”

Leon took a step back as the beast exploded into pixels, forming a small pile on the ground, and revealed a green creature. It was a snake. Or rather, something like it. It had a long tail that it used to raise itself up, two green arms and hands with three fingers, and the body continued up, skipping the shoulders to a head that was short with an elongated snout. A cleaved tongue licked around its lips until it realized that the wolf king had disappeared. Even though it lacked eyebrows, it looked like they should have shot up in surprise.

“Food, gone?” It raised its head and met Leon’s eyes. The tag on top of its head said that it was a level 6 snake, but the tag was white. Its slitted pupils widened. Before Leon could react, it turned around and slithered into the swamp at an amazing speed, looking a little paler.

“What the…” Leon stared at the spot where it had disappeared.

“Come on, are you going to pick up the loot, or what?” Finn held Ava in his arms. “And you better pay for damages.”

“Did you see…” He looked toward Hert. “What was that?” Leon furrowed his brow, turning from his group to look into the swamp again.

“Damages, man. Psychological damage or whatever. Why bring her here?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Leon muttered, crouching to gather the loot. Wolf parts, coins, but also two bat wings. He put them all in his bag. “I meant the snake.”

“What snake?” Hert asked.

Ava began sobbing. “I don’t wanna be here anymore!”

“See what you’ve put her through?” Finn pointed at Ava’s cheeks. Then he shook her. “This is what he puts you through.”

Leon sighed. “Let’s get out of here. Hert, can you pick up the loot?”

Hert picked up the pile and continued along the path, following Finn and Ava. Leon turned to walk, but stopped to look into the forest and swamp again. What was that? It wasn’t a normal snake, and even though the text had been white, it was level 6, and it made him feel uneasy.

When they got out of the forest swamp, Hert slowed in to wait for Leon.

“What’s up?”

Leon shook his head, looking at the swamp again. He told Hert about what he’d seen.

“That’s odd,” Hert said, also looking at the forest.

“Seriously,” Finn said over his shoulder, “a good leader wouldn’t have gone there. He would have gone to the real monsters. Not the creepy-crawlies, just to scare someone else. That’s just fucked up. She’s been through enough.”

“Sure, that’s exactly what I wanted,” Leon sighed. He looked through his inventory. It was full, but the amount of coin they’d amassed wasn’t even close to what he’d hoped for. He stopped and looked toward the wheat field. “We’ve only fought for a little over two hours, so how would you guys feel if we go into the field today as well?” Leon added, “Ava, Hert?”

The others walked toward him, Ava still clinging to Finn’s arm.

“What, I don’t get a say in the matter?” Finn spat. “What happened to making group decisions? Besides, that’s where I wanted to go in the first place, but you forced us to go to the tutorial forest.”

“What happened to letting Leon lead today?” Hert countered.

“You also get a say, Finn,” Leon said, “but you have a tendency to only listen to your own opinion before hearing that of others’. Like now.”

Finn clenched his jaw, and his arm around Ava tightened. Ava whispered something, and he loosened the grip, whispering something back. He let on a smarmy smile. “So, sweetie, what do you want?”

Ava looked longingly toward the city, then took a breath and nodded. “We can do that.”

Hert looked on with crossed arms. “I mean, sure. I’m fine with it, as long as Leon continues as our leader.”

“Sure, sure.” Finn nodded. “Then, let’s go.”

Finn and Ava took the lead, whispering among themselves.

Leon wasn’t sure why, but something had seemed off about them all day.

“Something’s fishy,” Hert muttered. “Let’s keep our backs clear.”

Leon nodded and followed the other two in through the portal.