"What the hell is wrong with you all!"
Hans dodged a lunge and ducked under a camel as an armored cricket crashed into its legs. Maneuvering his way from attacks from spitters, spiders, and all sorts of monsters, to put some distance between them, all while cursing at the same.
Unfortunately, he didn't put enough distance between himself and them as claws, talons, and fangs scratch his body, while he baths in acid before being slammed to the ground by a scuta
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He dashed his way out of a swipe from a tail before he hammered in a screaming gerbil's skull, dodging a dive from a flaming falcon as it swooped by, only to be smacked to the ground, and turn into a paste by Hans using the scuta as a weapon, holding onto its neck and head.
You have slain [Howler Gerbil - Lv. 8]!
You have slain [Burning Falcon - Lv. 14]!
You Have Leveled Up! [Sandstream Scorpion - Lv. 14 —> Lv. 15]!
[Crushing Blows - Lv. 5] Leveled Up!
[Danger Sense - Lv. 2] Leveled Up!
He then threw the turtle into an upcoming spitter's mouth before he felt something coming behind him, turning around only to be snatched up by a vulture, and carried to the sky.
You have slain [Acid Spitter - Lv. 8]!
The vulture pecked, scratched, and vomited on him while he tried to wrench himself free in panic, then let go, dropping to him ground.
Several other birds decided to swooped by, pecking, and throwing gales of wind at him while another falcon on fire slammed into him, scorching him. The falcon soared up to the sky before flying down, friction igniting it on fire as it flew to strike him again.
This time Hans was ready.
Time slowed to a crawl as Hans moved his arms to grab onto the falcon's wing as it swooped by, eating a face full of fire, fortunately for him it would seem, that while the falcon possessed great speed and maneuverability, its strength was nothing compared to him, and its flame began to shrink and was extinguished by the wind.
Thus, Hans forced it to fly in a different direction, away from the horde of monsters. Seeing this, other monsters tried to stop him, throwing themselves mindlessly at him, and were skewered by Hans. However, other monsters decided to blow gusts of wind, bellowing out sound waves, and spitting acids.
[Slow Down - Lv 2] Leveled Up!
[Danger Sense - Lv. 3] Leveled Up!
Cuts and gashes were made across the falcon's body, and a few lucky hits melted away its feathers and skin, revealing its muscle and fat. All of this along with said falcon trying to wrestle control from him, made it hard for Hans to pilot the bird. Eventually, it became too hard for him to pilot and he was forced to drive it to the ground.
The falcon crashed into the ground, blowing sand everywhere while Hans tumble into the sand, groaning in pain but still alive.
You have slain [Burning Falcon - Lv. 10]!
[Heat Resistance - Lv. 8] Leveled Up!
You have gained skill [Fire Resistance - Lv. 1]!
[Fire Resistance - Lv. 1]
Give you resistance to Fire.
"I wanna go home..." Hans lifted himself out of the sand, and glanced around, before he relaxed, sagging into himself. The moment that he snapped out of whatever daze he was in, the monsters nearby started chasing after him, ignoring each other and focusing only on him. Combined with his recent mind fuck left him confused and in an even worse mood.
"I wanna go home..."
After a couple of minutes, Hans got up and shook the sand off him. Then he began walking, heading toward his home, at least he was going to before his senses went off
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Not just that, a large number of vibrations was traveling up from the ground, heading toward him at an alarmingly quick rate. Hans tried to dash out of the area, time slowing down, but before he could even use a second dash, the ground opened up revealing a titanic monster erupting out of the sand, its gaping maw open wide, lined with serrated teeth.
Hans could only squawk in surprise before he was swallowed up.
"SHIT!"
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"Argh!"
A fist impacted a scorpion the size of a man, tearing through its exoskeleton like it was nothing before the owner of the fist pulled back, a man with manacles on his arms and legs, tore off the hissing creature's head, covering the man in blood.
The man then lets out a roar. "IS THIS ALL YOU GOT!"
"That guy has issues." Paring whispered to Sales, who nodded in agreement.
"That would be Jerome Bearlaw, convicted for assault, and murders, sentenced to fifty years in prison. This should be his first time being outside in ten years," Caceris said. "It has been noted that he has a thirst for combat and is a [Fistfighter - Lv. 20]. He has also been noted to be aggressive, and disobedient."
"YEAH!" Jerome barreled into what looked like a Desert Hound, quite a large one from what Darly could tell. The man fought recklessly, uncaring for his well being, enduring attacks from the hound without any visible wounds. He howled with laughter, and in response, he threw a flurry of punches in response.
The hound howls with pain before taking Jerome by lunging at him, pinning him to the ground, and with its jaws locked around his neck. After some struggle, the man managed to get his arm around its neck and snap it, killing the hound.
Bearlaw threw the Desert Hound's corpse off him, breathing heavily before raising both of his arms, roaring with joy. "Haha! Hey guard!" He yelled turning toward Caceris. "I thought you said this place was dangerous! As far I can see, this place is nothing but child play compared to the—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the ground underneath him rumbled and opened up with a monster that was a giant worm with hard exoskeletons and gaping maw lines with sharp teeth, leaping out of the sand, snatching him in its maw. However, it couldn't fully swallow Jerome whole, and decided to cut him into more reasonable portions.
"Wait, wait! Please no, someone save—"
The upper body of Jerome flew off into the air before landing on the ground right at the feet of Caceris who only gave it one glance before nonchalantly saying, "He has also been noted to be most likely to die on this expedition."
Readying his halberd, Caceris took a step forward before addressing the rest of the [Execution Knights]. "Men, ready your arms! The titan will reappear to devour the rest of its meal, when it resurfaces be ready to strike it down!"
""""""YES SIR!""""""
He then turns to Darly and his two subordinates. "Your help would be much appreciated."
Darly grunts. "Sales! Be a gentleman and help inform these knights when the next attack is going to be, and provide support. Paring, just do what you do best." Sales nodded and rushed off to where the [Execution Knights] were while Paring grabbed her knives and followed after Sales.
Darly? He stood back, after all, he wasn't supposed to be on the frontline, if he was, then something was wrong. Though that mean he was helpless when it comes to combat, it just means he likes to keep his distance.
Caceris nods thankfully, before heading off.
The [Execution Knights] were gathering up the prisoners and giving out orders to them while Sales relayed information to the knights that he gathered from his spirits.
Titans. Beings who dwarf everything that exists in this world, are said to have been born as a result of the war between the Gods and the Demons, compared to that of natural disasters, divided into four groups.
The Titans of Sea, the Leviathans, Maelstroms of the Deep Blue.
The Titans of Sky, the Draconems, Overlords of the Azure World.
The Titans of Earth, the World Turtles, Life Bringers of the Material World.
The Titans of Sand, the Behemoths, Devourers of the Underworld.
What they currently dealing with were the Titans of Sand, most likely a baby given they haven't all been devoured yet. Even so, they would have to be careful given their immense speed, thick hides that grant them protection from dangers, powerful magic, and ability that could manipulate the fabric of reality like all Titans.
But such protections can be penetrated and destroyed, and their behaviors were the most predictable out of all of the four Titans. The fact that it was most likely a baby would mean it didn't have the same offense and defensive power as their parents, even so, they would have to be careful as even an infant titan could kill them all if they weren't.
The prisoners stomped on the ground as ordered by the [Execution Knights] most of them grouped up, looking anxious and bewildered. Sales had his eyes closed, Paring nowhere in sight, concentrating intensely before his eyes snapped open as he yelled, "It's about to resurface!"
"Scatter!"
The prisoners scrambled their way away from each other as the ground rumbled and the titian flew out of the ground, roaring with so much might that it blew the air across everyone's face, some of the prisoners even quivering on their feet.
"Charge!"
[Execution Knights] rush in, slashing and hacking with their weapons which glowed an ominous glint in the sun, their attack left shallow wounds all over the infant titan's body. The titan roars before tried dig back underground.
"[Bind]!"
The sand around the titan rose and covered it before hardening into sandstone, encasing it and preventing it from escaping.
Paring appeared from wherever she was, driving her knives into exposed wounds, rending them larger, and causing them to bleed profusely as she dipped back in darkness as [Execution Knights] and prisoners attacked it, reappearing to make any existing wounds worse.
Caceris rend the titan's underbelly, tearing a wound on it before jumping as the behemoth thrashed around, the sandstone encasing cracking, bits and pieces falling down to the ground.
It wasn't going to hold for long and Caceris knew it. "[Quick Retreat]!" He ordered, everyone found their bodies moved on their own as they retreated from the thrashing titan as its restraint broke, scattering pieces of debris everywhere.
The newly freed titan roars with anger, its voice booming in everyone's ear.
Darly could see the opportunity right in front of him.
"PARING! ACTIVATE YOUR SKILL!"
Paring, although startled, nodded and did as she said. "[Culling Flesh]!"
The wounds on the behemoth widen and began pouring buckets of blood, before it could do anything however, something flew through the sky, piercing through an already existing wound with such force that it blew it back. A closer look would reveal that what pierced the behemoth was a crossbow bolt.
Then the bolt fizzled and exploded with a boom, throwing it to the side as it droned in pain as everyone sans Paring and Sales watched in shock and turned toward Darly who was loading another bolt in his crossbow.
"What? Do your goddamn job!"
Caceris nods, a small smile on his face before turning toward the droning infant titan. "Charge! [Pursuit of Justice]!"
A surge of power went through everyone, their mind became sharper, their body felt lighter and more powerful, and a sense of purpose in their mind.
Together they charge.
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"This place fucking smells!"
I agree. It's to the point that I regret the fact that we share senses.
"Oh, now you start talking like a normal person, and what you do mean we share senses?"
Exactly what I said, we share senses such as touch, smell, and taste. Also, I was not well during that time, and are you finally acknowledging the fact that you're insane now, huh?"
"One, I'm not insane, and I never will be, 'cause you're just a figment of my imagination. Two, why the fuck did you not tell me that?"
Ignoring the first of your sentence, the reason I didn't tell you is because you didn't ask. Also, why the fuck are you so angry about that?"
"I-I...I don't know actually..."
Idiot.
"Fuck off," Hans grunts, trying to look around in the darkness. "Now help me get out of here before we both get digested."
And how am I suppose to do that?"
"I don't know how. Just try your goddamn best."