Within the holy scriptures of the sacred word, there is a phrase that says:
"The best battle is not reserved for the best soldier, but for the man who most needs to overcome it."
I usually don't challenge the holy scriptures, but I can't take it anymore. I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I'm struggling to breathe...
"Lady Raiza, Lord Ester doesn't look well," Kharla said, appearing calm. Now Raiza, Chizze, Kharla, and I are trapped in the monster zone between Dredprism and Khisphe.
A while ago, we were in another monster zone, but here the miasma is denser, and we don't have the earth dragon to clear the path...
HOW DID WE END UP HERE!?
image [https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/078/606/665/large/duval-saul-4324334.jpg?1722562607]
...
After practically destroying the elven forest and freeing the forest ogres, that idiot Gasthor left without our belongings. Our luggage and the earth dragon stayed at the inn in Rusthia, and with all the commotion we caused, it's not a good idea to go back there. At least not for a while. Fortunately, I always carry my master's letters with me, but...
"Ah! I can't take it anymore! I'm tired of wandering around this place. We're so screwed, the food we stole from the elves is already gone, we left the earth dragon in Rusthia, and I have no idea where we're going or why... Why...? Why am I the only one struggling with this damn miasma?" I shouted in frustration...
Unlike me, my companions didn't seem to have any trouble with the miasma. I knew Raiza was accustomed to this environment. Still, it surprised me that Chizze, with her delicate sense of smell, wasn't affected by the miasma. I guess the beastmen of her tribe are stronger than they seem, but I don't understand how that little girl, younger than me, also seems to breathe without any problem.
Kharla looked at me with a superior expression.
"Lord Ester, stop that pathetic display and try to maintain your composure. The miasma of the monster zone isn't very strong, although... I remember when I traveled with the cardinal, he used an orb to withstand the miasma, but I never needed it. I've never been affected by the negative effects of curses or poisons, so this miasma doesn't affect me."
So that was her passive ability; that girl must have a great gift.
"Now be quiet, Lord Ester. I need to concentrate."
Kharla placed her hands on the ground and I don't know what she was looking for. She said:
"Lady Raiza, Miss Chizze, get ready. A small group of beasts is heading this way."
...
Oh, that reminds me, the name of the monster zone is quite serious. Since the fog lifted from the elven forest, we’ve seen a horrid landscape. Purple clouds filled the sky, a result of the miasma in the air, and the worst part was the monsters in the distance. Deformed creatures that are hard to comprehend at a glance; this monster zone was far worse than any I have visited before...
After preparing some makeshift provisions, we left the dying elven forest and continued our adventure... or so I tried, as I’ve been attacked by monsters countless times...
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Raiza has her battle experience, not to mention her superhuman strength. Chizze has her instincts and the strength of a beastwoman. As for Kharla, she is practically a walking radar and can detect nearby enemies, but me...
First, I leaned against a rock that turned out to be a camouflaged spider. I think it was hiding and when its prey got close enough, it attacked... I found out when I was almost its lunch...
Second, I thought I saw a tree with fruits, but upon approaching, it turned out to be a nest of some giant insect, and those fruits were larvae that tried to attack me to parasitize my body...
And lastly, I stepped on a trap set by some animal in the area and almost fell into a pit where I heard squeals at the bottom. I guess it was a nest and anything that fell down there would surely die devoured...
Honestly, I would like to have Kharla's monster detection ability...
...
Raiza placed her hand on Kharla's back.
"Very good job, Kharla. Now I'll take care of those monsters."
"Lady Raiza, let me fight. I want to show you what I’m capable of."
Raiza took a step back and said, "I leave it in your hands."
Chizze was watching them with an indifferent look. "Well, the girl is going to fight. Chizze will wait with Master."
Kharla quickly said:
"Wait, Miss Chizze, I'll need your help... By the power of the goddess, bless this person with bravery, strength, and courage. Grant her the power that we all have in our souls and our hearts. Sacred Connection."
Without giving Chizze time to respond, she cast a spell, covering her in a blue aura.
“What the hell did you do to Chizze? I’ll kill you!” said Chizze.
Kharla lowered her gaze towards me. “Mr. Ester, please help me with your slave.” The girl was trembling at Chizze's words...
“Chizze, go along with Kharla. At least for now, she’s part of our team, and you should at least tolerate each other,” I said to Chizze while the beastwoman had a very angry look.
“Chizze will only listen to Master. Don’t forget you are the weakest link in this pack. Chizze is your superior.”
Kharla, with a smile, said, “Of course, Miss Chizze. Now let me show you what I’m capable of.”
When those women finished their discussion, many giant crocodiles appeared.
They weren’t much like the crocodiles found in nature; these had longer legs, were faster, and more ferocious beasts. But what caught my attention the most was their way of attacking.
These monsters don’t attack in packs; it’s very rare for them to gather, and we are very far from water. These monsters shouldn’t be here.
Kharla said, “Miss Chizze, on my signal.”
The blue aura around Chizze intensified, and at great speed, she moved among the crocodiles. It was a speed that rivaled Raiza’s. I didn’t realize when the crocodiles were left lying on the ground.
“HEEE,” we heard a scream.
Chizze disappeared from my sight and reappeared, placing three people on the ground in front of me. It reminded me of when a cat brings a cockroach it hunted as a gift for its owner...
Looking at the unconscious men on the ground, I asked:
“Chizze, what just happened?” Chizze crouched to my height, as I was still lying on the ground, and said:
“Chizze doesn’t understand much what happened. I know I was faster, but my body moved almost instinctively. It’s like I wasn’t myself.”
Kharla said loudly, “Haha, because you weren’t yourself, that was my unique magic. Not only did it increase your stats, but I can also control your actions. So it was technically me who defeated the monsters.”
Chizze looked at Kharla with a cold stare; I think she doesn’t like Kharla at all.
“Well done, Chizze and Kharla. You did a very good job. Now, who are these people, and what are they doing in the monster zone?” Raiza said. I replied:
“They must be tamers; that would explain how those crocodiles got here.”
Raiza adds, “I also suppose these guys must be bandits… I remember that Dredprism has always had a serious problem with its borders, especially with the Rusthia bandits… Although they don’t have direct borders with Rusthia, there are many monster zones between the two countries. Therefore, these guys must have planned to attack us to kill us, kidnap us, or something worse.”
…
When the tamers woke from their fainting spell, they saw that they were surrounded by us. By the way, these guys were wearing special masks for this environment; it was clear that they aren’t too fond of this climate either…
“Hey, I think your buddies and you tried to attack us with your pets. I was considering either killing you and feeding you to those crocodiles or asking them to take us out of here and letting you keep your lives as a thank you… What do you think I should decide?”
As usual, Raiza was intimidating those guys. I think one of them wet himself out of fear…
I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use those crocodiles to move faster. That way, I might avoid getting eaten by some monster for a change…
image [https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/078/606/649/large/duval-saul-4234334.jpg?1722562555]