“Jeez, he moved so fast that I couldn’t even see him.” That’s what Dale said after Adrian walked into the forest.
It was clearly an exaggeration, but no one could deny that Adrian was fast when he went seriously. Axel wanted to say goodbye, but he couldn’t.
“What should we do?” Asked Mike a bit nervous now that the group’s members were reduced by one.
“Walk” Said Aby as a matter of fact. “Adrian is plainly faster than us, even if we were to walk a whole hour meanwhile he rested, he will still catch us. Let him move freely.” Aby talked like if Adrian was a disobedient child.
“What are we waiting then — Let’s walk!” Axel told vigorously.
And that’s what they did. Everyone stood up and starting marching. Axel knew that this forest couldn’t be infinite, that idea was reinforced by the fact that the woods were opening slowly. No one was tired, their march was slow, and the climate was nice, only one problem was present at everybody's minds. Water.
There was no pond to be seen or river to be heard. Since they left the cabin, they have been walking for about an hour with little to no rest. All of them were taken when they least expect it. Hunger may be no problem at the moment, but thirst was.
“Dale.” Called out Kayle.
“What, sis?” Said Dale back.
“Try eating that conspicuous mushroom over there. Surely your [Fortuna] will help you.” Kayle was pretty bored, she needed every bit of entertainment she could get.
“I won’t.” Dale responded.
“Why?” Asked Kayle without stopping.
“I am not going to eat an unknown mushroom of an unknown world just to satisfy your boredom.” Explain Dale to his sister.
“Damm, I am easy to read.” Exclaimed Kayle out of enthusiasm.
Kayle was now thinking if her [Procesa] was making her bored more easily because he had nothing to think about. Aby seemed to be fine, though.
“Watch out!” Axel cried suddenly.
“W-what.” Exclaimed Mike after waking up from mindless walking.
“I sense danger.” The brown man warned.
“How can you sense danger?” Asked one of the blond siblings.
“[Warden’s Taunt]!” Axel cried out loud out of nowhere.
This was the skill he obtained after fighting with Adrian, a battle cry that snatched enemies' focus and made them attack him. Shadows emerged from the trees, clearly rushing towards Axel.
“Attack!” Axel told to the group.
In an instant, both Aby and Kayle activated their auras. Mike and Dale felt like their shots would never miss and Axel sensed the strength emerging from his arms.
There were five enemies, all of them were a strange type of humanoid praying mantis, with huge black eyes and large scythes instead of arms. The monsters rushed Axel without a doubt. While they were charging mindlessly, Mike exploited that to make a shot. The arrow flew with great mastery, perfectly going through both eyes of a monster. That one fell to the ground. Four remaining.
One of the mantises lost the aggro, now marching towards Mike. Aby stood in front of him, making space between the monster and her. Dale didn’t stand still and rapidly shot darts at every single creature.
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“All of them are poisoned!” Dale cried; he had a stroke of luck.
Axel was holding three of the monsters with his two-hander, making the timing for his team to strike them. Axel noticed that the praying mantises became slower after being struck by Dale’s poison. He tried to cut one of them with the sword, but the monsters didn’t give him any chance. Seeing that her buff was useless, Kayle went to the backline to help the ranged attackers instead. Kayle ran to Dale, but another of the mantises lost aggro and rushed towards her. Axel couldn’t move, now her life was one her own hands.
Kayle shrunk in fear when the monster jumped with the intention to kill her, but then the mantis fell to the ground with a huge thud, its legs were missing, A shadow was standing on top of it and stabbed its brain.
“You should be more careful” Adrian scolded Kayle. The girl wanted to cry but Adrian talked first. “Go with them, you are in danger here.”
Aby was still holding the mantis with her staff, but finally, Mike managed to kill it right when Kayle came. Mike’s first shot seemed nothing but the luck of the novice. To be fair this praying mantis was a higher level than the other ones, as it withstood one poisoned dart and two arrows.
Without talking, Adrian stole the focus of one of the two creatures that were attacking Axel by throwing one of his daggers. His right dagger was now stuck at the mantis abdomen.
Now that Axel was free, he went apeshit onto the poor mantis. He started swinging his two-handed sword as if it was a short sword, merciless attacks landed on the creature’s arms that were concentrated on the defense.
Adrian used his last dagger to parry the scythes of his enemy. Once a pair of blows were blocked, a dart and an arrow penetrated its left and right eye, respectively.
Without no one interrupting, the group let Axel unleash his bloodthirst upon the insect. Now they were watching it as if they were an ancient Rome citizen at an amphitheater gladiator show. Within second the battle was won.
Level 2-4 [Archimantis Homicida] x5 has been slayed
Participation Rate: 22%
You have earned 240 experience
Level Up!
One [Status Point] rewarded
Now that the battle had finished, Adrian talked. “Did you all level up?” They all nodded.
“I leveled up twice.” Told Axel.
“How much experience did you obtain?” Asked Adrian to him.
“320.” He responded.
“Jeez, being the tank is worth.” Said Dale.
“Do you want to be at the frontlines?” Axel joked.
“No, sir.” But Dale responded very seriously.
Adrian opened his [Status] and dropped his two [Status Points] in [Celeratio] without thinking.
Status
Name: Adrian Dewitt
Race: Homo Sapiens Hestia
Class: -
Level: 3
Experience: 40/400
[Fisica] 1 [Constituta] 1 [Destretza] 1 [Procesa] 1 [Experenta] 1 [Atravesta] 1 [Voluntat] 1 [Celeratio] 13.3 [Fortuna] 1
[Titles] [Skills] [Min-maxer] [Battle Timing] [A-celeratioed] [Fast Stab]
“So that’s how the growth boost applies, huh,” Adrian thought out loud. “Now my [Status] looks like shit.”