"Are you all ready?"

I drew their attention with my question as I approached.

When I said that, they ended up choosing not to answer my question, but nodded as a sign that they had understood what I was saying.

"Take this with you."

I said as I took out a stone from my inventory.

Ronnie Anne, once again assuming the role of leader, stepped forward and took the stone from my hand, but with a confused face.

"What's this?"

Ronnie Anne asked, as she stared at the purple stone with a curious look on her face.

"That's a teleport crystal."

I said it with a neutral look on my face.

As soon as Lincoln said those words, Ronnie Anne began to look at him with a confused face, clearly not understanding the usefulness of the object he had handed her. She stared at Lincoln, waiting for an explanation that would clarify the purpose of the stone.

Ronnie Anne, with a confused look on her face, still staring at the crystal I had handed her, said:

"I'm sorry, Lincoln, but this looks more like a stone than a crystal to me. But that's okay, what I really want to know is what this thing is for."

After hearing that, I take the crystal from her hand again. Keeping my expression as inexpressible as ever, I begin to explain the purpose of the object.

"Basically, as the name suggests, this crystal sort of serves as a kind of teleporter. However, it has a few differences."

As soon as Ronnie Anne heard that, she couldn't hide how confused and, at the same time, curious she was. Unable to stop herself, she decided to ask more about the object Lincoln was holding in his hands. This time, however, with a little more excitement in her words.

"But why isn't it working?"

Ronnie Anne asked, as she took the crystal back from her friend. However, her tone of voice, which had previously been one of excitement, changed to one of confusion. After all, the 'stone' wasn't doing anything.

"Simple: you just need to include your MP in it."

I answered her question, short and to the point.

As soon as I said that, Ronnie Anne barely waited for me to say anything else and was already doing it. However, the stone only glowed purple and nothing else happened.

"Looks like it didn't work."

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Commented Ronnie Anne, as she took her eyes off the crystal and again guided them in my direction.

"But of course it won't work. Basically, what you've just done is identify to the crystal that this place you're in now is the safe place you want to be teleported to in case something goes wrong. However, this crystal can only move one person to the place that has been marked as safe, meaning that its use is unique. However, if you manage to imbue it with enough MP to the point where it turns red, up to six people can be teleported with you."

As soon as I said that, both Liam and Zach were relieved at the thought of being able to escape if something went wrong. However, I ended up dashing their hopes.

"Oh, and before I forget, if you see that the situation is still under control, but you get scared and want to run away... you are forbidden to use my crystal for that purpose; however, if the situation really does get out of control and puts your life at risk, then you have my permission to use the crystal."

I said that, still with my usual neutral face.

Ronnie Anne, still not understanding what this 'dangerous' situation was, decided to ask me.

"And what would this bad situation be?"

"Well, in case you only end up encountering a horde of goblins, i.e. the fifty I mentioned earlier, you are strictly forbidden from using this crystal. However, if you come across a monster almost like those goblins, only much bigger and holding some kind of wooden spike, don't think twice and get out of there immediately. Are we clear?"

I asked as I stared at them. However, my countenance, which had previously been neutral, changed to a more serious one.

They, clueless and overwhelmed at least, couldn't answer my question. But they nodded, indicating that they were aware and had understood everything I had said.

***

After almost half an hour of conversation, and with the plan all worked out, Lincoln and the others split up. Lincoln had gone in the direction his system had indicated. Ronnie Anne, as the leader of the group, was guiding Clyde, Rusty, Liam and Zach to the other side that Lincoln had told them to.

10 MINUTES LATER....

After a few minutes of aimless walking, I finally reached the town that my system had indicated. It was a relief to find the place after so long wandering around.

As I entered the city gates, I asked myself:

"Is this really the way?"

As Lincoln walked through the streets of the abandoned city, he accidentally crossed an invisible blue line on the ground.

As soon as he stepped inside that line, that same female voice he was used to hearing echoed in his mind again.

Ring ~

*SFX to something appearing*

[URGENT WARNING:]

[You have just entered the 'hunting zone'.]

As soon as I read that message, the only thing that came to mind was the thought: "What do you mean hunting zone?"

And once again, the system answered my question.

*SFX for something disappearing and reappearing*

[NOTE:]

[Defeat all the monsters scattered around and clear this part of the city in the time required.]

Orc: [0/2]

Grey wolves: [0/18]

Goblins: [0/30]

When I saw that, I was a little worried and confused at the same time. After all, I saw nothing but an abandoned city and a bunch of trees.

"What the fuck? There's no one..."

Before I could finish saying those words, a horde of more than 10 goblins appeared out of nowhere in front of me. I was completely surprised and didn't know what to do in the face of this sudden situation.

The only thing I could say in the face of the whole situation was: "If you're coming to me, I can't keep you waiting."

After saying those words, Lincoln took from his inventory the kitchen knife and one of the swords he had taken from the goblins and, with a psychopathic smile on his face, said.

"Let the hunt begin!"