Chapter 2: monster party

“Trouble!” an anxious shout rang from the doorway of the [Moonlight] guild grabbing the attention of the 100 or so members in the mess hall. The anxious voice came from troubled looking knight. “A large swarm of [Balloons] have appeared at the eastern gate! A newbie adventurer got surrounded and is fighting them off but I don’t think he can last long!”

Zelkova, who was chatting to the bartender earlier instantly stood up. “I guess I’ll go then…”

“There are 4 [Boss Balloons] approaching their direction as well as some [Black Boars] and [Wyverns]!”

Zelkova immediately grabbed hold of the large two-handed sword that was resting next to him and sprinted towards the exit, followed almost immediately by the other adventurers.

“Mages go up the walls with archers and shoot down any monster that tries to enter the town through the air; close combat fighters disperse and guard the other gates! We don’t know if any more monsters are coming.”

“[Goblins] are approaching from the east and west!”

“[Orcs] and [Wyverns] approaching from the south”

“[Yetis] are trying to enter from the north!”

“Damn it! Everyone disperse and coordinate with the other guilds! Make sure none enter the city! Ma—” “[Giants] have appeared in the east!” “–What the hell..!? Everyone code Delta S-24!” Zelkova swiftly gave commands to his guild mates.

“Zell, what’s going on!?” An anxious voice came from above Zelkova. It was a girl with wings on her back.

Without slowing down, Zelkova explained the situation. “Monsters are trying to enter Eclana and not only that, there’s a newbie in danger of being slaughtered by [Giants] at the east gate. Get your members that can fly to counter the [Wyverns] in the south. My team and I will take care of the [Giants].”

Without replying, the winged girl changed directions and proceeded to carry out the orders.

“Please make it in time!” Zelkova prayed as he ran to the eastern gate.

“Mother of… what the hell!?” Hyakuren stared speechless as he felt the ground tremble and shake almost causing him to lose his balance and be impaled by a [Black boar]. “Whatever is making this shaking has got to be a pain…” Hyakuren evaded a charge from a [Black boar] and pierced its head before pulling it out and stabbing another boar between the eyes.

A squeal alerted Hyakuren that he was being targeted so he abandoned his claymore and jumped back with his back facing the closed gates.

Clicking his tongue, Hyakuren transmuted the air and created a sinister looking scythe. ‘Creation: [infernal heat], [vibration effect]...’ The scythe began to glow red and gave out a low hum. “Come here you little piece of shit!” Hyakuren taunted as he swung the scythe horizontally, cutting down multiple [Black boars] and [Balloons].

As he fought the monsters on the ground, the sentries were focusing on the [Flying Balloons] while indirectly helping with eradicating the [balloons] on the ground.

Hyakuren gave out a war cry as he began to chain his movements, cutting down dozens of monsters with every swing. “Ichiharu style: Infernal steps!” Hyakuren shouted the name of his family’s technique.

He became more fluid. Each step he took left a burn mark as he swung the scythe using his whole body, creating vacuum waves with each swing; cutting down any monster 3 meters away from his scythe.

The more he killed, the more the earth began to shake. Hyakuren knew now that it was probably large monsters coming his way so he quickened his pace.

A loud roar followed by multiple deafening explosions happened 500 meters away from Hyakuren, causing him to shield his eyes as debris picked up.

“No… way…” Hyakuren stared at the rising [Giants]. There was no way he could take on all of them.

“Newbie, reinforcements are coming so hang on!” a sentry shouted at Hyakuren as he shot down another [Flying Balloon].

Hyakuren felt reinvigorated. “I guess I’ll buy some time…” Hyakuren cracked out a malicious grin as he ran forward with his scythe in a position to cut horizontally, ignoring the war cries coming from the [Giants].

“Zelkova-sama, quickly and help the newbie! He’s in real trouble now! [Giants] have appeared!”

Zelkova cursed neared the now lowering draw bridge. Picking up his speed, he ran up the makeshift ramp and jumped out of the town towards the eastern battle fields.

Zelkova was astounded by the gore and loot that was littered everywhere but regained his senses when a thundering boom rang through the air.

“You know what to do!” He called out and brandished his two handed sword as he ran towards the [Giants].

Dozens of adventurers rushed out the now lowered bridge and took up different formations as they neared the [Giants].

Zelkova strained his sights to find the ‘newbie’ that held off the hordes of monsters and with great difficulty, due to the debris, found him slaughtering [Black boars] as he evaded multiple [Giants] attacks.

Without even needing to think, Zelkova rushed past the carcasses and cut down a rather large [Black boar] that was about to charge the lone adventurer.

 “Hyakuren, you’re the newbie?!” Zelkova cried out as recognized the odd clothing of his travelling companion.

“Hyakuren, You’re the newbie?!” Hyakuren couldn’t help but frowned at the nickname he was given.

“Zelkova, what’s going on!? I was merely harvesting some [Balloon skin] when these boars and those-” Hyakuren and Zelkova dodged the hammer of the [Giant] by sprinting between its legs “-those [Giants] appeared.”

Hyakuren and Zelkova stood back-to-back as they were surrounded by the other monsters.

“It’s quite a long explanation, but short story: monsters are sieging the town. There are [Orcs]-” Zelkova cut down a boar with his heavy sword “[goblins], [wyverns] and other monsters trying to enter each gate.”

“Then we should wrap things up here quickly then.” Hyakuren swung the scythe, slicing some boars. He threw the scythe up at the [giant] and it embedded itself in the [giant]’s thigh causing it to roar.

The two gained some distance from the [giant] and Hyakuren materialized serrated Nodachis in each hand. “I’m guessing your teams are taking care of some of the [Giants]?”

“Yeah but they won’t last long without support so let’s cut this bastard down.” Zelkova lowered his stance with Hyakuren doing the same.

The two shot forwards like bullets and began to fight the [giant] with Hyakuren clearing any monsters that tried to distract Zelkova who had the rawest power.

The [Giant] began to hammer down on the two but surprisingly, both Zelkova and Hyakuren who were in the hammer’s trajectory did not evade but parried the blow; causing the [giant] to lose balance and fall down.

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Seizing the opportunity, Hyakuren embedded the serrated blades into the chest of the [giant], “Combust!” Hyakuren shouted as the area where Hyakuren was stabbing into began to glow red. Zelkova stared as Hyakuren ‘chanted’ magic into the [Giant]’s body.

The [Giant] began to wail but slowly, it began to stop moving as its heart was burned to a crisp.

“On to the next one!” the two quickly changed targets to the nearest [Giant] that was being held off by a group of winged people.

—Several Hours later—

Hyakuren breathed heavily as the last of the [Giants] was killed.

“Hah… hah… Is that all of them?” Hyakuren inquired to the equally tired Zelkova.

“I… hah… hah… think so…” Zelkova leaned on his sword.

“Tsuvait: restoration!” A pale turquoise light enveloped the two, slowly regenerating their energy and removing their fatigue. “Are you alright, Zelkova-sama?” a female elf with pale blue-silver hair appeared in their vision.

“You’re… Lunaria-sama…!” Zelkova cried out loud when he saw the girl.

She had long silver-blue hair that reached the middle of her back, pale skin and pale silver irises. She had a lithe frame and looked to be around 17 years of age. The robes she robes hugged her upper frame slightly, accentuating her curves.

“Is everything alright?” Zelkova inquired the [Moon elf].

“Yes, everything is all good. As soon as you defeated the [Giants] the other monsters retreated.” Lunaria explained, making the two breathe a sigh of relief.

“I just came here and already I am tired…” Hyakuren half whined to himself as he walked away from the two people.

“Hyakuren, where are you going?” Zelkova called out to the 19 year old male.

“I am going to loot every monster carcass I can find and use them as materials~” Hyakuren playfully answered as he did as he told them by removing the tusks and fangs of [Black boars] and picking up all the [Balloon skins] he could find.

This caused Zelkova to shake his head and Lunaria to giggle. Even after such a long and difficult battle, Hyakuren still managed to be energetic.

Hyakuren never stopped moving and kept harvesting monster parts that were easily taken. He re-created the bag he lost and changed its form and properties with [Transmutation: reconstruction]. He made it into a pouch and gave it two [Blessings] called [infinite storage] and [Mass removal]. This allowed him to collect every material without over burdening his body with a large and unneeded backpack.

The bag was also given an ability to create separate spaces for putting in different materials so as to not mix things up. This allowed Hyakuren to not worry and just loot all day. "I wonder if there's a limit?" He mused as he picked up a [red balloon skin]

After hours of looting, Hyakuren had a few hundred [Balloon skins] and around 200 [boar tusks]. Everyone was pretty much in the town, making sure that no monsters infiltrated the gates which left only a few adventurers picking up loot outside of town.

In the eastern battlefield, only Hyakuren was the only one left; giving him enough privacy to deconstruct the horned helmets the giants were using into their respective ores such as iron and steel. He didn’t bother with the meat of the [Giants] and [Black boars] as he did not want to eat any pigs or humanoid giants. Allergies was his reasoning.

After getting the last of the loot, Hyakuren proceeded to the town gates but was stopped when he heard a voice.

“What! Everything that can be sold is only the meat and fur?!”

It was a tomboyish voice.

Hyakuren, out of curiosity, headed towards the owner of the voice whist hiding his presence.

What he saw was a girl wearing leather armor skinning the [Black Boars]. Her long black hair tied into a ponytail exposed her pale white skin. It was not surprising how Hyakuren knew the girl was too thin to be a veteran adventurer. Quietly, Hyakuren stood behind the girl.

“Argh… damn this knife. It’s too rusted….” The girl dejectedly stopped trying to skin the monster and leaned back and stiffened when she felt her back touched Hyakuren’s legs. She slowly looked up from her position.

“You need a hand?” Hyakuren asked the girl but she passed out seeing the bloody and smiling figure of Hyakuren who had entrails and dried blood on him.

“Thank you…” the girl shyly and embarrassingly said her thanks after Hyakuren skinned the boar and carved its meat.

“It’s fine. My name’s Hyakuren by the way. I’m an adventurer.” Hyakuren introduced himself as he cleaned the knife of the boar’s blood. “It’s not safe out here you know? There was a battle not long ago.”

“Well… I was only going to scavenge some materials…” The girl scratched her cheek.

“I have too much on me at the moment; do you want some of it?” Hyakuren offered

 “B-but you gathered it yourself, I couldn’t possibly just take what you harvested!” the girl rejected his offer but Hyakuren still went towards one of the tree to pretend he had some materials hidden there.

“I told you, I have too much on me. If people know I have this much, it is just going to be a hassle so let me give you some as a gift of our acquaintanceship.” Hyakuren made an excuse as he hid behind the tree and created a small bag the size he had before it was ripped to shreds. He took out a few dozen [Balloon skins] and a few [Boar tusks].

“Here…” Hyakuren tossed the bag to which the girl caught in a panic.

“T-thank you…” she quietly thanked the kind male and bowed.

“Mind telling me your name now?” Hyakuren stood in front of the girl. “After all, I did give you mine.”

“My name is… Kili Aasfresser…” the girl introduced herself with a quiet voice.

“Then take care, Kili. I will go on ahead to the town.” Hyakuren walked nonchalantly through the town gates leaving behind an impression that would never be forgotten by the girl named Kili.

“Y-yeah…” Kili picked up the knife she used but was surprised to find it sharp and lustrous as if it was newly forged by the blacksmith. “The knife…?” truly, the male she met was an enigmatic one she thought to herself as she stood under the moonlit sky.

—End of Chapter—

Again: constructive criticism, suggestions and simple praises are welcomed~