Dead:Lost - Chapter 8 Before The Red Dawn

It took all day to eradicate them and we are completely exhausted mentally even though we have casted many buffs to erase our physical and mental fatigue. What we need right now is a rest. But the Guild Master forbid us from resting or slowing down.

“It’s evening already and 10 heverra from now we will enter the [Sixth Danger Zone]. [North Wind of Liberation] Leader asked the Guild Master to let the parties rest, but was completely rejected. It’s true that if we make camps here, we will face a lot of resistance or even some high-ranked Undeads. Hopefully we can endure this journey.” said Jack.

“I have been horse riding for five daesh, ouch, my butt. It hurts…” said Toval as he strokes his butt.

“I’m so jealous of the people who ride on the carriage…they can eat and sleep whenever they want…” said Anna. Anna is the only woman who rides a horse with the men since she is a swordswoman.

“Anna, you can join the girls in the carriage you know…” said Robert sympathetically.

“I have a motion sickness. I think riding a horse is far better, Robert-san. I’m quite enjoying this, especially when we battled against those scorpions back then.”

“Anna-chan, Robert-chan…you may come here if you want, it’s already evening.” said Rania from the carriage.

“I’m sorry Rania-san but I must refuse. I can’t use my sword inside the carriage. Wait, where did Robert-san go?” Anna glances around her.

[Companion Alberto Robert Hawk has gained 1000 EXP from killing 10 Demonic Treants] the system message popped in front of me.

“HEY ROBERT! THAT’S CHEATING YOU BASTARD!” said Toval.

“Early bird gets the worms. That’s your fault for being too slow.”

“Robert, you can’t wander off by your own you know?” I said.

“Sorry, but careful is not my style. You do know that there are many Treants around us right? We are deep inside dead forest. I bet Mothman or Vampire will appear.”

“Ah…give me a break.” Arnold sighs.

“I will report this to other party’s leaders and the Guild Master.” I said as I wrote a message and sent it to them. A few moment later, there is a reply from the [CST] Party’s Leader Kenzia. She said her party has taken down one Mothman and one Vampire.

“You are right Robert.” I said to him reluctantly.

“I know right?” I ignore his remark and open a party wide broadcast.

“This is Leader to all [White Falcon] members, starting from now; there is a high chance of Mothman and Vampire attack. Watch out for Treants that disguised as normal trees. Vanguards are to avoid Treants’ AoE (Area of Attack) range to prevent their [Insta-Kill] Skill or Magic. If you wish to hunt them, be sure to kill them with one hit. Priests, Healers, Druids, Sages, Paladins, Champions and Clerics be on your guard and protect the carriages and your comrades with your [Divine] Magic or Skill. If you can, command and guide anyone who wants to take down the Treants. Lastly, all party members activate your skills and abilities for night fight.”

“I prefer to not do that Leader, I have enough monsters already for last two daesh.” said Arnold.

“Be wary of Mothman and Vampire. Any classes with [Divine] Attribute Magic and Healers follow my instruction.”

“Excuse me. This is Julio from Paladin Riders, My Lord, are you sure about that?”

“Yes. You have my word and permission. But don’t act rashly on your own. And don’t call me “My Lord”.”

“Affirmative, I’ll command my men, My Lord” *sigh* this man wouldn’t back down at all even after being told.

“This is Zikiya from Priest Squad, Ishizaki-sama, should we cast [Miracle Eyes] on everyone?”

“Yes. And please stop adding “sama” at the back of my name.”

“We shall do so, Ishizaki-sama.” This woman also wouldn’t back down either.

“Yavia Druid’s Squad Leader here, dear leader. I ask thee not to kill the Treants since they are part of nature.”

“Hey, do not hear any request from a Tree-worshipper. She wants the Treants to kill us.” said Khazim.

“I mean no harm to all of you. If you are kind and merciful to nature, they will also kind and merciful to you.”

“Yeah, I’ll be kind to the Treants, I’m sure we will have new place called “home” inside them. Surely, they will be thankful for a food donation from everyone’s meat here. Don’t you think so Tree-worshipper?”

“Children of Gaia and Earth Dragon Gods, I didn’t say to let the Treants eat you. I mean to—”

[Companion Alberto Robert Hawk gained 10000 EXP from killing 100 Demonic Treants] the system message popped in front of me again, now with more EXP as everyone’s looking at Robert who is riding on the right side of the carriages.

“…” Everybody is looking at Robert with disbelieve at what he just did

“…what?” Robert said nonchalantly with a straight face

“That’s pretty racist ya know Dark Elf boy.” said Khazim to Robert, but I think he doesn’t understand what Khazim means.

“HUAHAHAHAHAHAHA…!” I heard Tim and Rania’s laugh from broadcast.

“…so cruel…” said Yavia.

“Now, now Yavia-san hears me out. Everyone can freely hunt them if they attacked us. Don’t you think they endanger other travelers here?”

“Fine…if that’s our Kaichou-sama’s wish, I’ll not oppose it.”

(The heck is “Kaichou-sama” (“Lord Leader”)?!) I thought.

“That’s a good girl, Yavia-chan. Kaichou loves good and obedient girl you know?” said Rania.

“Men really love submissive and timid girl eh? How manly. I too, love them but I prefer persistent but foolish one. You know how the sensation is when you break them from inside and make them hopeless, making them fall into despair? Ufufufufufu…” she keeps grinning while continuing her fantasy.

(Damn, Rania-san is a sadist right down to her core. It’s best to stay on her good side) I shudder as I think about Rania sentences.

“Hey! No one here wants to hear yer fetish. You damned pervert spider!” yelled Khazim.

“…and no one here wants to hear an argument from tiny talking annoying pebble.” She replied.

It’s quite nice to hear everyone being friendly to each other, though I don’t like to tease each other.

“MOOOOOTTTTTHHHHHMMMEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“HEY! DON’T USE [BROADCAST] TO SCREAM YOU STUPID LOUD GUILD MASTER!!!!!!” shout Arnold. Yeah, he sure is pissed off on how many times Guild Master used this magic to scream.

“EVERYONE TURN OFF YOUR LAMP AND ACTIVTE [NIGHT VISION] OR ANY SKILLS AND ABILITIES THAT HELP YOU SEE IN THE DARK, PRIEST AND OTHER DIVINE CLASS, BEGIN CASTING YOUR MAGIC NOW!”

“YES SIR!”

“EVERYONE PLEASE STAY QUITE AND KILL THE BEASTS SILENTLY!”

They proceed to follow my instructions. It seems Robert and Arnold has confronted two Mothmen and took them down already.

“Hyah!” I take down one with my arrow and then Jack followed it.

“Good Lord, Tim hasn’t fired his magic with ridiculous power is somewhat wrong and unsettling…” said Jack.

“Don’t worry. If he did that, Robert, Rania-san, Arnold-san, Abel-san and I will punish him all day long. He had tasted “that hell” long time ago.

“Heh…it sure brings good memory Leader.” Jack released his arrows and three Mothmen fall from the sky.

Through the night, I assisted Jack and other Scouts pining down the Mothmen. The other “Holy Classes” used their [Divine Arts] according to my order if necessary, has hunted down ten Vampires. We kept riding until the sun emerges from the horizon. We have been fighting all night long. And as the sunlight shines, I felt relieved that we are able to survive the night.

“I’m beat, I can’t sleep oh my…” said Arnold.

“We still have two daesh Arnold-san. Please endure it.”

“I know Leader, even though we have enchanted ourselves with various buffs of strengthening magic, I think some of them has gone and my body feels tired somehow.”

“Yeah, it’s natural. Normally, we eat and sleep in regularly every day. Our body has a system called “clock” to “control” the activities of our internal and external organs. If it is disturbed by forcing ourselves to stay awake for a week with little food, then our brain can’t handle the stress.”

“Well, it’s a good thing if someone has [Dragon Gods’ Blessing] and [Earth Mother’s Blessings], don’t you think so?”

“Yes, in fact I’m a Holy Elf, these blessings will refresh my mind and body as long as I get in touch with light. For Robert who is Dark Elf, he is at his peak when the light disappears from Gaia. For example, he is at his peak when it’s raining, eclipse, new moon, cloudy or night.” After I finished explaining, I opened my water sack, then I used my magic to make it float and let Nida drinks it. Arnold and Jack followed my action. After that, I opened a water sack and bread sack for my own.

“Arnold you are a Terra Elf and Jack is Sylph Elf, I hope you can touch the ground.”

“Hah…I wish I could…” Arnold sighs as he looks to the ground.

“Windy weather is enough to refill my mana and refresh my body. When galloping at full speed like this, my blessings automatically activated by their own and I don’t feel any fatigue at all.”

“Damn you…” I chuckled after hearing that. Then a message popped out on my face.

“Haru-san, have you eaten your breakfast already?”

“I have. Ayumi-chan, what’s wrong? You haven’t contacted me the past five daesh…”

“Nothing…I just want to know how are you feel. Since the past five daesh are filled with deadly battle.”

“I’m good inside out, is there something you need?”

“Umm…can you ride near the first carriage?”

“Yes…?” then I am riding alongside the first carriage. Ayumi opened the window and gave me something, most likely a breakfast and lunch she makes a moment ago.

“Oh, gomenasai (Sorry) I didn’t know you have prepared this.”

“Iye, iye daijobu (No, no…Don’t worry). It took quite a while to prepare this because it was quite wobbly inside the carriage haha…” she smiled sweetly when she gave the box to me then I opened the box and ate the content wholeheartedly.

“It’s very good, thank you very much. I’ll keep the lunch for later.” She replies by smiling gently.

“Heeeh…..” a voice came from behind Ayumi’s.

“Oh-hoo…WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE A PAIR OF LOVEBIRDS DATING BEHIND THEIR TEAMMATES?!” Then Luna reveals herself and grabbed Ayumi’s from behind surprising her.

“It’s still morning you guys already act lovey-dovey?! How dare you forget about me here hah?!” Luna hugs Ayumi-san from behind and teases her body.

“Luna-chan! P-please sthawppp…!”

“I won’t, I won’t…just you see…!!! Bahahaha!!!”

“Kaichou! You should join to!”

“No, thanks.”

“Kaichou did you forget to turn off the broadcasting magic?! Everyone could hear you!” said Luna.

“Heeeh?!” I am surprised by this revelation.

“Lass, don’t you say it so easily, ye ruining this Dwarf mood…” said Khazim while stroking his beard.

“Khazim-dono?! Sorry, I—”

“How Lucky…I really want to have a girlfriend as well…” said Toval from behind.

“Toval-san?!”

“Hey Toval, if you have a girlfriend, I will pity her forever…” said Arnold.

“What why?!”

“She will become your pervert toy…” said Yuna with disgusted face.

“Hey!”

“…especially if she is a young, innocent, devoted and pure maiden who just started to feel her “first love” …” said Mikazuchi.

“That’s harsh!”

“…not long after that, Toval will become a young father and when his girlfriend’s father knows that, he will beat him into pulp…” said Tim joining the conversation.

“How rude! It’s not like anyone can beat me!”

“I’ll pity the woman who will become Toval’s girlfriend or wife, poor thing…” said Elza.

“Hey! Guys, that’s rude!”

“Oyy…! How dare all of you having fun by yourself!”

“Heck! Rania—KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” Well, the situation has become worst and I chose to retreat from there by backing away.

“HEY DO NOT STARTS SCREAMING ON [BROADCAST] UGH, YOU DAMN GIRLS…!” said Arnold clearly feeling annoyed.

“Have you finished your flirting, Leader?”

“Hey, now that’s just rude Jack.”

“Oh, well. In a few heverra we will reach the [Sixth Danger Zone]. The field there is a vast dead grassland, with almost dried river. It’s not good scenery if I say so…”

“Hmm…open grassland with no obstacles and wetland you said? I have bad feeling about this…”

“Dragon?”

“That’s one, other is ether Skeletal Dragon or Undead. I think blood-thirsty beasts will appear there…”

“What about plant monsters, Leader?” asked Jack.

“The vine type and trap type, if I remember correctly.” Then, I activate [Broadcast] Magic to all members.

“Leader to all [White Falcon] Party members, everyone conducts Anti-Dragon, Anti-Dragon Zombie, Anti-Undead and Anti-Plant Monsters Formation.”

“Kaichou, are you—bfffpptttttt HEY RANIA CUT IT OFF WITH THIS STICKY WEB THING.” said Luna.

“Leader are you serious?!” asked Abel ignoring Luna.

“Leader, that was just my speculation…please don’t change our formation based on mere speculation!” said Jack.

“Better safe than sorry, Jack.” I assure him.

“Yo boy…this is the best trip ever…how about nice cold ale before I bashed a Dragon head?” said Khazim while waving a flask of Ale.

“Hey! No alcohol before battle you stupid drunk!” said Mikazuchi.

“Vetto to Leader, the formation is complete. Everyone is prepared, we are ready for battle.”

“Aniki, what if I’m brainwashed the Dragon so I can ride on its back?”

“No.” I answer him in a stern tone.

“Kaichou, I want to use [Mete—” Tim is about to asked something stupid before I cut him off

“No Tim. We can’t have you wreak mayhem here” Hearing my answer, I can hear Tim’s disappointed voice.

“Kaichou, I’m done making explosive flasks here…”

“Don’t make dangerous things inside a carriage Erick…”

“Heiki-heiki! I’m fully awake “right now” and I’m fully aware of my surrounding Kaichou.”

“Right now?!” I startled.