NOVEL NEXT Chapter 75: Unskippable mission again.
The dungeon floor was a treacherous mix of cracked obsidian and pooling, viscous shadow-ichor.
The oppressive air tasted stale and metallic, echoing with the shrieks and guttural clicks of the remaining Eclipse Beasts.
Grey was in the thick of it, moving through the chaotic melee like a dark, unstoppable storm.
He was currently engaged with a pack of five creatures.
Three were the relatively smaller, yet numerous, Scourge Class beasts, swift, clawed horrors that relied on sheer numbers.
The other two were the far more dangerous Shadowheart Class beasts, hulking, six-limbed monstrosities whose hides were like thick, shadowy leather and whose attacks carried enough residual Gloom energy to cause internal hemorrhaging.
Grey was fighting on pure, exhausted instinct, the training and the memory of Flint's betrayal fueling his every move.
He utilized the environment, forcing the Scourge beasts to cluster, then swept through them with rapid, low-aura kicks and punches, conserving his energy for the tougher foes.
A Scourge beast lunged for his back.
Grey didn't turn; he ducked beneath the Shadowheart's sweeping forearm and drove his elbow backward, channeling a sharp burst of aura directly into the smaller creature's head.
The Scourge beast crumpled, dissolving into dust.
Grey didn't spare a thought for the system chime, his focus absolute.
He danced away from the twin strikes of the two Shadowheart beasts, their claws carving deep gouges into the obsidian floor where he'd just stood.
He knew he couldn't beat them conventionally, their defenses were too high, and his stamina was nearing its limit after the prolonged fight.
It was time for the finisher.
With a deep, guttural intake of breath, Grey executed the devastating sequence.
First, he activated Partial Gigantification.
His right arm immediately began to balloon, tendons thickening like cables, muscle fibers stretching the skin taut.
The limb grew disproportionately large, easily doubling in size and mass within a terrifying second.
Pouring all his available fighting aura into the massive limb.
A thick, turbulent, red smoky aura, the visual manifestation of his raw, aggressive spiritual energy enveloped the arm, crackling violently.
The sight of this grotesque, terrifying transformation sent a wave of panic through the two remaining Shadowheart Class beasts.
They hesitated, a fatal mistake.
Grey lunged forward, rotating his core and hips with explosive force.
The enormous, aura-coated fist zoomed toward the nearest Shadowheart beast.
It wasn't a punch; it was a cannonball of kinetic energy.
The One Punch Kill struck the beast's chest plate.
There was a sound of crushing stone and imploding shadow.
The beast's hide fractured instantly, and the sheer force of the blow erupted from its back, tearing the creature into smithereens and scattering its essence into the air.
The final Shadowheart beast, paralyzed by shock, didn't even have time to shriek before Grey delivered a rapid follow-up kick with his normal leg, stunning it, and then brought the great crimson fist down in a final, crushing blow.
The dungeon fell silent.
Grey stood panting, his enormous right arm slowly shrinking back to normal size, the red aura receding.
The air cleared of shadows, replaced by the persistent, soft dinging of the System interface.
The notifications scrolled rapidly, a detailed ledger of the slaughter.
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29400 EXP]
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29350 EXP]
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29060 EXP]
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29100 EXP]
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29307 EXP]
[Scourge Class Beast killed: +29092 EXP]
[Shadowheart Class Beast killed: +58004 EXP]
[Shadowheart Class Beast killed: +58000 EXP]
[Shadowheart Class Beast killed: +58490 EXP]
[Shadowheart Class Beast killed: +58089 EXP]
[Shadowheart Class Beast killed: +58176 EXP]
[Level up!]
[Level up!]
[TOTAL DUNGEON CLEARANCE REWARD: +150,000 EXP]
With a wide, satisfied smile on his face, Grey crouched down and began the tedious but necessary task of collecting the beast cores left glittering on the ground, the condensed spiritual energy that was the true prize of any dungeon run.
He had just gathered the last core and was about to move out of the silent, destroyed chamber when another, jarring system notification abruptly popped up in front of him.
The notification was not the usual battle summary; it was a brightly colored, unavoidable block of text demanding his attention.
[MAIN STORYLINE ASSOCIATED MISSION: ACADEMY FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION
Participate in the Academy Festival to be held for three days. Make sure to participate in all the activities from the C class and strive to achieve the top spot.]
[REQUIREMENTS
Participate in at least 5 events.
Make Class C the overall winner of the festival
Mandatory to participate in the drama section]
[REWARD
+500,000 EXP
Affinity increases with Grand Elder Ignis]
[ You cannot decline this mission]
Grey stared at the glowing text, his hard-won euphoria instantly draining away, replaced by utter disbelief. His jaw dropped.
"What the hell!?" Grey yelled, his voice echoing in the dead silence of the dungeon. He was shocked speechless.
He had just survived a life-or-death battle against enemies far exceeding his normal routine, only to be immediately saddled with an academic social event.
His hand clenched into a fist, the collected beast cores cutting into his palm.
He lifted his gaze to the ceiling of the dark cavern and screamed in pure, unadulterated frustration.
"These are the moments I fucking hate you, System!"
*****
The powerful beating of the Griffon's wings ceased as the magnificent creature gracefully descended onto a quiet, well-maintained clearing just on the edge of the sprawling forest.
The dense, oppressive darkness of the Wasting Wood was abruptly replaced by the glow of civilization.
Before them, a short distance away, stood a city.
Its stone walls were imposing, but the bright, warm lights spilling over the ramparts and illuminating the night sky spoke not of battle, but of enduring life.
The city's presence screamed into the night, a beacon of Elven resilience.
The Griffon came to a gentle rest, and the three weary travelers, Harlon, Erowen, and Alvaro climbed down.
Harlon took a moment to rub the Griffon's muscular flank and stroke its proud head.
"Thank you, old friend," Harlon murmured, his voice laced with gratitude.
He gave the beast instructions. "Stay out here, but close. And rest. We'll be needing you again."
The Griffon let out a soft, acknowledging call, settling down to guard the forest edge.
As the three stepped clear of the trees, moving toward the main path leading to the city gates, they saw they were expected.
A young-looking elf male with neat brown hair and a distinctly handsome, if serious, face stood waiting.
He was clad in a simple but finely tailored tight robe, signifying his rank as a civic official rather than a soldier.
Behind him stood a small detail of uniformed elf soldiers, standing rigidly at attention.
The official offered a polite, deep bow. "Welcome, Princess Erowen, Sir Harlon, and Captain Alvaro. I have been waiting for your arrival."
Erowen and Alvaro offered brief, tired nods. Harlon returned the greeting with respectful courtesy.
"Thank you for receiving us, City Lord," Harlon said.
He knew this man commanded this crucial border settlement, often referred to as the Gate of Twilight, the point connecting the World Tree Palace's network with the rest of the world, just outside the main battlefield zones.
This was the only elven city outside the jurisdiction of the World tree's protection.
Though the city was mainly controlled by the elves and majority population was them only, there were other people of the unified race too, staying without obstruction from any party.
"Please come this way," the City Lord said, gesturing forward with an open hand, indicating they should follow.
The three nodded and fell into step behind him.
"I hope you didn't had to face much difficulty in your journey." The city lord inquired politely.
"Don't mention. It was quite the hassle with the merks and the marsh." Alvaro replied.
"You passed through the marsh lands? Why though?" The citybkord asked in surprise.
"There was no other way. The whole forest has turned into the battlefield, there was not a single route available for us to traverse." Alvaro said.
"How were you able to come out?"
"We managed somehow." Harlon said, a flash of regret and pain passing through his face.
"Is everything ready, City Lord?" Harlon inquired, shifting the attention away from the topic, keeping his voice low as they approached the towering gate structure.
"I have arranged for your accommodations inside the City Lord's Quarters immediately," the city lord replied efficiently.
"More importantly, the Teleportation Node will be ready by tomorrow's dawn. You can all directly move to Alabasma City, the nearest nexus to the Veridian Academy, and continue your journey from there with a prepared carriage."
"Alright then. Thank you for the hard work," Harlon said, a genuine smile replacing his weary grimness.
The logistical plan was perfect.
"It's my duty, Sir," the City Lord replied with a bow of acknowledgement.
Harlon returned the nod, his smile fixed.
The tension of the marsh had broken, replaced by the strategic relief of safe passage.
They passed through the huge city gates, the soft, warm light of the inner streets embracing them under the pale arch of the crescent moon night, leaving the darkness of the Wasting Wood behind.