NOVEL NEXT Chapter 123: Monster Hunter
Morning soon came once more, and once again no sunlight could be seen, only the incessant sound of falling rain. Still it was warm and dry within their cave so it was not too much of an issue for the party of four.
Over breakfast the group discussed what they wanted to do today, Rhyana and Susan had more or less come around to the idea of staying here to grow stronger so they were not opposed to remaining in place for some time. However, they were less than pleased at Violet's suggestion to what they should be hunting.
"You had your very soul wounded! Why would you want to go and fight against more of those abominations? Would it not be better to hunt regular beasts?" Rhyana asked, clearly not exactly eager to return to the dense forest area that seemed to be infested with the monsters.
"Those monsters need to be dealt with, they should be be there. And if they need to be dealt with then I, or we may as well be the ones to benefit from their defeat." The void dragon rebutted.
The two went back and forth a few times, each dragon stubbornly trying to insist on their choice. Surprisingly it was Susan that broke the stalemate by agreeing with Violet. "Violet is right, those monsters are unnatural. They can not be allowed to grow stronger, the one we fought was already close to level 80, I dread to imagine what kind of horror it may become if it evolves."
She took a moment to look into Rhyana's eyes, her look convaying her conviction to her friend. "So long as we are careful, and agree to retread after each one we slay to avoid getting caught by the rest of them. I say we go monster hunting." The last part of her statement aimed at Violet, clearly also nit wanting to get surrounded by a hoard of monsters. Thankfully Violet was not eager to experience something like that either so she readily agreed.
And so the group headed out into the rain, Violet returning to her dragon form just before they left. Violet was also back to basically full health, she still felt occasional phantom pains. But it was hardly even noticeable and did not impact her abilities at all.
She also had no issues utilising her skills anymore. Apparently experiencing soul damage caused casting skills to become painful, who knew?
Approaching the dense trees the group once more activated any stealth abilities they had.
Once more under the dense canopy the group entered the area of false twilight.
Slowly moving forward they kept their eyes and ears open for any hints of movement or sound. It took them some time but they eventually heard movement to one side. Slowing down the group turned towards the noise and steadily made their way through the towering trees.
A undulating mass of false bark limbs crept along a tree in front of them, its disturbing figure creeping along, moving from tree to tree. A trail of corroded bark being the only thing to mark its passage.
Quickly spotting the monster in the distance Violet informed the rest of the group, together they hashed out a quick attack plan. Luna would be the first to strike, with her ice being able to pierce the monster and deal significant damage. Then the rest would dive in to distract the creature whilst Luna slowly whittled it down. Luna did provide a ice shield to Susan for some added protection for their vunerable healer.
Creeping up slowly Luna moved into position. Soon enough the monster appeared in her view, without hesitation a spear of ice shot forth with incredible speed. Before the spear even struck true, the bark the monster was clinging too froze over, the creatures flesh being frozen right to it at the same time preventing it from having any chance of avoiding the incoming attack.
The ice spear struck true, piercing right through the front of the monsters body. This monster was slightly different from the first one they fought, instead of having two body sections, it only had a singular one. As a trade off for that however, it appeared to have a larger 'torso' and more whip like limbs.
A distorted cry rippled out from the creature as the spear dug deep, small fractures in both the tree and air itself spreading out from its body in response to its cry.
It was then that the rest of the parties attacks landed. Water, lightning and void all struck at the monster, each one being slightly diminished the moment that they hit the monsters body. Still it felt significant damage, two of its limbs being severed during the attack.
The creature then responded with its remaining limbs erupting out from its body as bone splinters dripping in its toxic icor were unleashed. The group dove away, hiding behind nearby trees or relying on movement skills to avoid the incoming barrage. Luna opted for the latter, with her mesmerising footwork it seemed more like every splinter that headed towards her was aimed just slightly off course.
Luna herself always managing to be in just the right spot to effortlessly avoid the incoming barrage.
Whilst doing this she pumped more mana into her ice, the fridgid frost rapidly encompassing the body of the monster. Stil no one else let up on their attacks once they avoided the initial barrage.
Sensing that it was on the loosing end of this trade the monster sent out a blast of its mana around it. The ice that was encrusting it shattering in a moment, the false bark that made up its skin being torn off as a result. Still even as it mutilated itself, it did achieve its goal of freeing itself.
Once free it moved forward with deceptive speed, appearing before Luna with its limbs extended, ready to rip and tear at her. The leopardkin reacted instantly, two swords of arctic ice formed in her hands which she rose up to parry the incoming attack.
Violet chose that moment to join the fray, appearing behind the monster a coating of void covered her body. Her obsidian claws gleamed with a sheen of nothingness as she raked them down at the nearest limb, effortlessly cutting through it.
Another cry of pain erupted from the beast, or it could have been rage, Violet didn't care to find out, more did Luna. Luna took the distraction provided to her by Violet to close the distance and unleashed a barrage of slashes. At the same time calling on the fury of the Arctic, dozens of spears of ice began to form around her, before subsequently raining down on the monster with deadly force.
Each icy projectile that landed sliced either the main body or one of the limbs. Rapidly the monster was running out of limbs to loose.
A condensed bolt of lightning fell from the sky above to land on the creature, stunning it for a brief moment, water seemed to stick to the two girls feet and boots. Yet that water did not disrupt their footing, if anything it caused them to speed up.
With the monster stunned and their speed enhanced Violet and Luna moved in for the kill. Weaving between the remaining limbs they both struck true at the core of the creatures body.
The monsters form shuddered for a moment, before it collapsed in on itself and fell to the floor beneath them.
[Your group has defeated Bark Horror lvl 74 exp rewarded]
[You have leveled up]
Smiling at the notification briefly, Violet then looked up at her companions and friends with a wide draconic smile. Then without preamble spoke up. "Good fight! Let's get out of here before the rest of them appear."
And like that the first hunt of the day had been completed, one more monster having been slain. One down, an unknown amount left.