I had a split second to glance at the monsters that were swarming us before the closest of them engaged me in battle.

* * *

Name: Earth-Swimming Catoblepas

Type: Beast

Level: 51

Disposition: Passive

HP: 1470/1470

Physical Attack: 446

Magic Attack: 309

Speed: 158

Attack Range: Melee

XP: 4506

Description: Catoblepases are magical evolutions of the common water buffalo. The evolutionary step is believed to have taken place when mana was infused into the buffalo’s horn, making them much more powerful and heavy. The earth-swimming species was a natural evolution of the common catoblepases of the elemental plane of earth. However, due to their mild nature, these beasts are often trained as scouts and foot soldiers for particularly strong individuals.

* * *

Of all the beasts that my father would be able to send, these seven-foot-tall, four-thousand-pound behemoths were the ones I’d have the most remorse killing. And he had most certainly sent them knowing that.

I’d always had a fascination and empathy for these poor mighty creatures whose heavy horns forced them to live their life looking down at the ground. There was just something incredibly disarming in the way they looked at you while munching on grass.

But the same could not be said in this particular instance, as the first of the massive beasts threw itself at me. I barely had enough time to bring my spear in front of me to block its terrifying charge.

“There’s no time!” Aphrodite shouted as I felt a wave of energy sweep my feet. “Disengage and follow me!”

I pushed the beast away and instantly absorbed the information about the buff that had just appeared on the edge of my view.

* * *

Name: Rush

Type: Buff

Level: 2

Effect: Boosts Speed by 33

Time Left: 19 minutes 59 seconds

Description: Vast amounts of mana are concentrated on the recipient’s feet or wings, greatly increasing their movement speed.

* * *

I moved to the side and struck one of the catoblepases that was about to attack Aphrodite. The beast was momentarily surprised by my immense force striking its indestructible horns. This gave Aphrodite just enough of a chance to move out of the beasts’ range, and by the looks of how fast she was running, they would have a hard time catching up with her.

But my act of heroism did not bode as well for me. Two of the catoblepases pierced my ribs and shoulder while another appeared from the ground underneath my feet, launching me into the air. This last part worked to my advantage as I was moved away from further harm by the surrounding beasts. And it just might have been my most creative way of fleeing a battle yet.

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I grabbed the monstrous buffalo’s right horn with one hand as I channeled my divine skill to charge my spear with electricity. I brought the spear down onto the buffalo’s ass and released the built-up electricity, making it launch itself up onto its hind legs.

Even though I was expecting its reaction, I was barely able to hold on to it. These buffalos were not bred for riding but rather as beasts of burden and they’d been raised by my father for situations like this, when he wanted someone to be taken down fast and without too much fuss. That meant that the beast wasn’t used to having someone on its back. It kicked and spun around, trying to throw me down, but another electrifying pierce in the rear sent it sprinting forward and away from its confused kin.

It took about fifteen seconds and another couple of nudges before I finally saw Aphrodite in the distance. I jumped off the beast, and it immediately turned to face me.

“Don’t do anything stupid now, boy,” I said, my blue-glowing spear crackling with electricity.

Upon seeing this, the catoblepas took two steps back and ran off in the direction of the rest of the beasts that were still running my way. I could count at least two dozen of them running through and trampling over the glowing mushrooms,. Perhaps we would be able to fight them if we found a place narrow enough to allow only a couple of them through to attack at once, but our chances would be very slim out in the open.

“What now?” I shouted to Aphrodite as I finally made my way out of the jungle and on to the starlit, sandy beach.

“We wait,” she said, absolutely calm.

“I don’t know if you’ve looked behind us recently but there’s a host of massive, angry beasts with huge horns coming our way.”

“You mean the ones you brought to my home?” she asked, a hint of anger in her voice as she took a step into the sea.

At first I didn’t understand why she would head into the water. It wasn’t like the beasts weren’t able to swim. In fact, I was pretty sure we had a better chance of outrunning them than outswimming them. Within two seconds, however, her intentions became clear as the waters around her became white and foamy under the moonlight and the large oyster that she’d originally emerged from made its appearance next to her.

“I will never forget how I was driven away from my home, Zeus,” she said as the oyster opened and I saw a set of stairs heading down inside it. “You’d better never forget it either.”

“I won’t,” I agreed.

We jumped into the oyster right as the beasts reached the beach, their trampling raising a huge cloud of sand.

I ran down the steps that spiraled into the darkness with a feeling of unease, despite the urgency. Actually going into extra-dimensional spaces myself had always seemed wrong to me and despite having used such magically enhanced places before, I preferred gigantic but mundane buildings instead.

“Is this thing strong enough?” I asked, as the oyster closed above us and a series of pink torches lit up the steps.

“It will suffice,” Aphrodite said, but her last word was almost drowned out by the deafening thump of the catoblepases horns on the oyster’s shell.

Despite what Aphrodite had said, or rather had left unsaid, the oyster did not seem to have any trouble with the herd of massive beasts that were now pummeling it. Still, I wasn’t going to let myself relax until we were safely away from them.

“Are we just going to wait it out?” I asked. “‘Cause I don’t think they’re going to go anywhere until they crack this thing open.”

She brought a single finger up in front of the mouth and as much as I didn’t like it, I shut my mouth as she closed her eyes. I felt the steps underneath my feet tremble slightly and realized the shell was moving. Soon, the banging noises ceased completely.

“Are we going to come back?” I asked.

“It’s too risky to return now,” she said, her eyes still closed.

“Where are we to go then?”

She didn’t reply immediately but eventually opened her eyes and looked at me.

“We are a safe distance away from them now.” Then she resumed walking down the stairs.

I followed her into a large, dimly lit room that resembled an informal celebration area more than anything. There were couches, pillows, furs, and low tables spread around this cozy low-ceilinged nook that made it look very welcoming, despite the fact we were in the middle of the completely dark and dangerous sea.

“I suggest you rest,” Aphrodite said, and let herself fall onto one of the oversized pillows. “It might be a while before we can get out of this place again.”

“What forms of entertainment does this Oyster provide?” I asked, looking at her as I put my new helmet back into my inventory.

“Entertain yourself, Zeus,” she said. “You brought those beasts to my doorstep and this oyster is not going to drive itself.”

Promptly, she closed her eyes again and I felt the whole room shake for a split second. It seemed that she needed to actively concentrate on moving the oyster through the water.

“Where are you taking us then?” I asked, watching her still breathing hard after all the running.

“To the mountain that I told you about,” she replied, “or at least to the closest shore I can find.”

“And you need to focus all your attention on commandeering this vehicle of yours?” I asked, trying to sound as needy and annoying as possible.

“Yes, I do,” she said, frustrated. “I am really starting to have seconds thoughts about this.”