Starting from Zero

Book 4, Chapter 24

Monster

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As the Warrior said, the terrain isn't nice to horses. Or nightmares. Night Shade soon began to have trouble lifting his hooves. We could only choose paths that looks more solid. All the camel riders would run past us at ease. Now I know why they're called the ships of the desert.

Eventually I had to de-summon Night Shade and walk on my own. I can move faster this way!

The sun feels terrible but I must admit the scenery here looks quite equisite.

My feet suddenly sunk. Damn it, quicksand!

"Rosa!"

Poom. A tentacle shot out of the surface while lifting up a lot of sand. Looks like the soft area is quite suitable for Rosa to move around.

The tentacle pulled me to safety. I'm seeing fewer players now, probably because the deeper part can be more dangerous.

"Help me!"

I heard a faint cry. But it's coming from...underground? It sounds muffled.

I followed the voice, ran over a small dune and saw it's source. An Assassin is struggling in the sand. He wears a strange shaped mask which covered his face, so I can only see his eyes and a small portion of his mouth. I have no idea what he's wearing because he's immersed under the sand. Only one of his hand and the head are visible now.

"Relax!!" I jumped off the dune. "Don't move! It will kill you faster!" (*)

He heard me and stopped moving. I ordered Rosa to stretch a tentacle towards him. Even Rosa can't enter the quicksand area so we can only pull him from far away.

"Catch it!"

He grasped the tentacle and we successfully pulled him out.

"Thank--thanks for that! I thought I'm done for." He sat on the ground and breathed heavily. "I'm [Merciless Heart], a Killer. Just call me Merciless. May I know your name, maam?"

"I'm Ziri. Male. Don't call me maam or I'll throw you back in there."

I didn't tell him my class. He can guess on his own. I don't like lying anyway.

"But Assassins usually don't level up in deserts?"

He didn't question me, probably because he believed I'd throw him into the sand for sure.

"I'm not leveling." He stood up. And woah this guy's tall. That's at least 180 centis. He looks good too. But that body doesn't look really strong because of those assassin tights. Jealous. I'm only 172, I look miserable when standing beside him.

"I got a quest which needs me to kill some monsters here and discover the hidden desert road."

"That sounds fun. What's the reward?"

"10 thousand crystals, an egg and a champion badge." He didn't keep any secret. "But it's a unique quest. If I accept it then no one else can. You can team up if you wish. The quest said I'll need a lot of helpers. It will not give us any extra reward so I tried coming here alone."

"If I join you I will share the loot you know?"

"You saved me, let's consider it a thank-you. Besides if I die the quest will fail."

He sent a team request without waiting for my answer.

Interesting. I accepted it.

My quest recorder beeped. Yup, I got the quest too. The destination is not far. We'll reach it soon according to the map. The description didn't say much so I can only ask Merciless again.

"What monsters are we fighting?"

"I think they're called [Army Bugs] or something." He shook his head. "I don't know what they look like yet. this is only the third time I actually come to a desert."

"Really?"

So he wandered here without knowing what he's doing? I got the feeling that this will not be easy. Considering the rarity of companions eggs, this quest must be really difficult. And the money reward is not bad either. It even mentioned that a team is required. So it either involves something that needs a lot of teamwork, or a strong boss which is impossible to face alone.

And he still came on his own! I should have asked for more information before I joined him. Shoot.

"Did you ask for any information around the place before you came?"

"Why? I can just come and see for myself."

Dang! A total quest noob!

I can't quit now. I saw the penalty for failing the quest, I'll need to pay a lot of items plus losing a level. Fuk. I should have used my brain more.

"We're here!" Merciless stopped abruptly.

"Huh what?" I'm still worrying about the bad outcome in my mind. "Already?"

"Over there." He pointed to a burrow located on a sand dune ahead.

We carefully approached the burrow and poked our heads inside. Nothing, it's all dark.

Sssssss!

Something caught our attention behind us, and we jumped when we looked back. It's a pale brown colored monster that looks like a crab. Luckily it's also shocked to see us. It must be intelligent. I've noticed from previous experience that intelligent monsters can sometimes get distracted or surprised, while dumb ones just charge at people without thinking.

I drew my sword and moved to the monster. I'd hope to keep my identity a secret but protecting my life is more important.

I swept at its legs instead of attacking its body, since that shell looks pretty hard. Cutting its thin legs is a better choice now.

My sword easily broke six of its legs. Obviously it never learned how to stand just using two legs so it collapsed down with a BONG.

"Run!!"

I dragged the dumbfounded Merciless and ran away. He recovered soon and ran even faster than me. But neither of us made it to safety.

A giant wave of sand was pushed into the air. The dune disappeared, and now more than 300 monsters are standing at the place. They're bigger than the one we just met. They look like those hairy tarantula spiders found in forests, each one is no smaller than a water buffalo!

Merciless took out his dagger. "Careful now. [Desert Tarantula], level 507. They don't usually stay in big groups but we must be really unlucky today."

"...Do you know that monster I just cut?"

I already identified it. And I know this will end badly the moment I heard the name of these monsters.

"What was it?"

"[Desert Tarantula Queen]!"

"Huh?? But they look so different!"

"Too bad then! It's the truth!"

I'm already thinking up plans. Using Lucky to strike from above may be a good idea.

But something else went wrong before I can make the move. The ground shook. Then a black, smooth, half-sphere shaped object appeared behind the spiders. And I recognized it! That mirror-like back...Iron Beetle! So they can live in desert too??

The small bump raised quickly, followed by its body. Then a second, a third Iron Beetle.

Now this is serious trouble. We wandered into a monster nest.

"What the hell are those??" Merciless doesn't know about the beetles.

"[Iron Beetle], level 650, with insane defense! You aren't gonna damage them!"

"No kidding? What about that thing behind us?"

"Behind us??"

I turned back and, sat on the ground. The burrow we saw is completely gone. An Iron Beetle, three times larger than the other ones, is standing there! I don't need to use my skill to know that it must be an Iron Beetle King!

"I got an idea!"

"What is it??"

"We run!!"

I run ahead while Merciless reacted a bit slower. The beetle king breathed a green flame beam, Merciless simply disappeared.

I kept running. My private chat came up.

"Ziri? I was killed!"

"I know! That thing's at least 700, insta-killing a squishy class is too easy for it! Now leave me alone I'm trying to survive here!"

I cut the chat. The spiders are already hot on my tail. I can't get away without Night Shade!

"Lucky!"

I jumped onto his back. The ground is a killing zone!

Before Lucky can take off, a white object flew towards us. It hit Lucky but didn't do any damage...?

But it locked us onto the ground!

That's a lump of spider silk. Countess silk wires are attached behind Lucky's body, and a group of smaller spiders are pulling on them, keeping us in place!

"Everyone come out!!" I summoned all of the companions and servants. I can't get away so I have to fight it!

Phiona quickly cast a fire wall, separating the monster group from us for the moment, while burning the web away. I called the Phantom Knight leader over and began to assign tasks.

"Take your knights and block those Iron Beetles. Phiona, use your AoE fire skills inside monster crowds. Loong'er, can you do something to prevent the beetle king from moving?"

"I can use my sealing spell but it will only last for a short while."

"Do it then! Lock up the monster king. Phantom come with me. Rosa, disrupt their movement, and pick out the small spiders when you can! Dart, run around the monsters and distract them. Night Shade... stay far and support us with your spells. Lucky attack with me! Let's do it!"

Phiona cancelled her fire wall and began to use massive burning skills. Blue flame covered a huge area, causing the spiders to run amok.

"Lucky, dragon fire!" That's a perfect skill when the enemies are stuffed together.

Lucky released a fire beam and cleared out a straight path across the monster group. The Phantom Knights took the chance and sprinted through the monsters. They can't use their horses now but they're already fast on their own.

When the path got filled up by monsters again, the knights are already closing in on the other Iron Beetles. I took off my wizard robe. No need for that now.

I drew my double swords and jumped into the spider horde

Lucky went airborne and helped me clear monsters nearby, I moved towards the legless spider queen while killing anything in my path. The tarantulas realized my intention and all moved to intercept, which only helped Lucky to get more kills with his dragon breath. Each flame beam would kill or hurt a dozen spiders.

A bigger spider jumped from the horde. I'm defending myself from all the other ones in front of me and I don't have time to block this one!

I hope I'm a spider now. If I have eight legs--gah!

I thrust the dragon tooth sword in my right hand into a spider's maw. Green fluid covered my face. The sword is stuck in the corpse. I simply gave it up, aimed my hand at the falling spider and released my dragon cord.

Pssh! The spider is split into half. Another wave of green blood showered me from head to toe.

I spun around while waving the dragon cord in a full circle, creating a series of green fountains around me. I just realized the cords are better weapons now! But it's not perfect. Cutting stuff with the cords will consume my MP. That circle attack did kill a lot of spiders but it only left me with less than 20 MP!

Another spider jumped towards me. I can't use the cord now so I used a Soul Chaser bolt instead. It's a waste but I don't have choice now!

The bolt went through the spider. I shot another bolt, a common one this time, and hurt another jumping spider.

When I'm trying to finish off the second one, a giant force pressed me onto the ground. A tarantula got onto my back!

But it soon disappeared. I turned to see Lucky's tail just did a perfect homerun. He tried to sweep away more spiders. It didn't work well because there are too many!

After some stressful fighting I noticed my burden is being relieved somehow. The spiders are moving away?

I looked around and saw the Phantom Knights coming towards me. The Iron Beetles are all corpses!

Rosa sneaked under the spider queen and wrapped his tentacles around it. Poof! The entire body of the spider was dragged underground. I don't know if that's enough to kill it because I don't have time to check. My EXP bar is already flying due to all the kills.

The knights reached me. These spiders are completely defenseless against them due to the big level gap. They are killing these bugs like primary schoolers playing with ants. Compared to them, I'm in pretty bad shape. Cuts and holes are everywhere on my body and my HP and MP are already at bottom. I don't carry much healing items on me since my companions can share their HP with me. Now I regretted it. I need to at least keep some stock.

"Watch out behind!"

I saw the Beetle King breaking out of Loong'er's spell. My alert is a bit late, three Phantom Knights running in the back are knocked flying by the giant monster which is even bigger than Lucky.

Their HP nearly got emptied. I immediately un-summoned them. Servants can't get revived, I can't lose them!

The other seven knights scattered apart, the Beetle King charged straight towards me. And it obviously doesn't tell enemies and allies. Some spiders on the way all got squashed.

Before it can reach me, Lucky charge over and parried its giant body. Lucky is then sent flying and rolled on the sand for some distance. It's too strong!

"Loong'er! Help!"

She flashed above us.

"[Thunder], level 10!"

A thick lightning pillar hit the beetle on the back. It didn't do any significant damage!

"Master! Rosa killed the spider queen!" Phantom spoke.

All the other tarantulas escaped faster then they came. That's at least a relief. I got two whole levels in the fight. I don't know the exact number but the sand around us is totally soaked in green.

The Beetle King is the only monster left. I took the chance and scoped it with my Star Gaze.

[Gold Beetle], level 900.

Attack 1,200-2,300,

Defense 5,000,

Speed 100,

HP 10,000

MP 5,000.

Attacks carry poison effect.

Talent skill [Strong Acid Spit], damage 120, causes continuous damage for 1,200 seconds.

Physical Resistance 50%,

Spell Resistance 45%.

???

That's a fucking tank!!

The skill looks deadly. And what the hell are those question marks? There's something even Star Gaze can't detect?

That's the only breather I can get. The beetle is charging again.

"Phiona!"

Phiona swept down and dragged me into the air. The beetle raised its head, a ruby-like object on its forehead flashed before a red beam of light hit Phiona.

We crashed on the sand again. What the fuc was that, laser weapon??

The remaining Phantom Knights threw their lances. Unlike against Iron Beetles, the lances only produced metal sounds without piercing the hard shell.

"Phiona, are you alright?"

She can't stand up anymore. I had to un-summon her. Oh fuck you Merciless. You might as well call yourself Brainless!! This is no solo quest. You need to bring an entire guild to do it!

Complaining is not going to help. I need to get out of this!

I asked the Phantom Knights to form up. They're the only reliable force now. The beetle's HP bar was chipped away quite a lot. So the lances aren't completely ineffective. Level 900 means it's only 50 levels higher than the knights. Seven knights will still cause some solid damage to it.

The knight leader charged ahead first.

But the beetle got another secret weapon!

After a clash, the leader flew backwards which took all the other six members to catch him. Apart from six legs, the beetle has an extra pair of fore limbs as weapons!

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(*) Tip: knowing how to survive quicksand, swamp dirt or thin ice can be useful.

How many words did I finish this week? I overdid it again.

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