Capítulo 55: That Monstrous Entity
***
Taking cover behind a sizable truck, they surveyed the congregation of zombies ahead. "Is this the river, Meri?"
"Based on my memory, yes, sir."
After an entire day's pursuit of the zombie, their efforts had led them to this gathering of potentially a thousand undead.
"Well, if push comes to shove, I can always fly us out of here."
While the purpose of the zombie gathering near the river remained uncertain, Lucas harbored a hunch about its intent.
However, a dilemma remained. "Alright, there are four of us. One of us is a child. How do we plan on fending them off?"
It was clear to whom Lucas referred, and Meri immediately lowered her head in response.
"Lucas, don't be harsh. Meri can utilize her ability here. I believe she can safeguard her brother, as long as we avoid engaging the zombies near her."
Listening to Lucy's reassurances, Lucas extended his hand to her. "Fine, hold on to my hand. I'll attempt to fly us into the midst of the zombies. Meri, please stay silent and stay put; we'll be back."
"Can we trust you, aunty?"
Lucy added, placing her hand on Lucas's outstretched one.
"Hurricane leap!" Lucas intoned, raising his other hand to summon a gust of wind, causing their cloaks to billow. "Meri, stay right where you are."
With that final directive, Lucas sprang upwards, carrying Lucy alongside him, while simultaneously invoking his other ability to enhance their levitation.
"Hurricane spiral!"
"Ah!"
Lucy hastily hushed herself to avoid attracting attention from the zombies, as the spiraling wind drew them in the direction Lucas had cast the spell.
"This will last for 30 seconds. Hold on to your hood tightly."
"Lucas, my shoes are slipping off."
"Just grip me tightly. I told you to wear sneakers. You insisted on wearing flip-flops."
Despite their rapid acceleration, Lucy entrusted her hand to Lucas, ascertaining their direction primarily through the faint outlines of the river beneath them.
"Flip-flops are more comfortable, though..."
Lucas let out a dismissive sound. "Prepare for barefoot zombie combat. Don't whine if a piece of metal punctures your sole; I won't be consoling you."
"That's cold, dude."
Lucy muttered as the wind spiral gradually dissipated, depositing them back onto the ground.
However, even as they descended, the effects of the hurricane leap skill lingered. The zombies below had already amassed, leaving no clear space for their landing.
"Lucy, hold on to me tightly!"
"Hurricane spiral!"
"Hold on to my form."
"Fire shield!"
Lucy clung to him as the wind Lucas summoned clashed with the zombies below, pushing some of them away while others attempted to close in.
Both of them drew their swords moments before touching the ground, swiftly launching into a slashing spree against the encroaching undead.
---
[Level 2 Zombie Killed, Awarding 100 Exp!]
[Received 10 Coins!]
[Level 2 Zombie Killed, Awarding 100 Exp!]
[Received 10 Coins!]
[Level 2 Zombie Killed, Awarding 100 Exp!]
[Received 10 Coins!]
[…]
---
The strikes continued relentlessly. Exhaustion began to catch up with Lucas as blow followed blow.
The surroundings for both Lucas and Lucy had transformed entirely. Around Lucy, ice was melting, mingling with the remains of frozen corpses. In contrast, Lucas stood amidst charred, burned remnants of what had once been zombies.
The zombies swarmed them as if they were a delectable feast, despite the fact that they had placed themselves in this predicament.
Seizing a zombie's head between his hands, Lucas crushed it against the ground, causing a burst of green blood as if smashing a watermelon.
'They're quite persistent, huh...?'
Drawing his dagger from his belt, Lucas adopted a dual-blade technique, wielding both the short dagger and the long jian sword. After all, who said he couldn't? He needn't overly concern himself with Lucy's safety; she possessed the immortal ability, while he did not. He focused solely on safeguarding himself. A close call occurred when a female zombie nearly scratched him from behind.
With long black hair and a torn red dress, her once-beautiful face was now grotesquely decayed. Swiftly sidestepping her attack, Lucas plunged his dagger into her throat.
This zombie must have been infected in the vicinity. He recalled hearing that those with partners often favored riversides for romantic outings.
"Fire blaze!"
Seizing the deceased female zombie, Lucas hurled it toward the advancing horde before rushing over to Lucy.
"Most of them are converging from the south side. Let's head there swiftly. It's impossible to handle all of them."
With the blaze of fire surrounding him, Lucas could move with greater ease, but for Lucy, the situation posed a challenge. She lacked his fortuitous circumstances entirely.
Trailing behind Lucas, she recognized her considerable lag in terms of ability.
Shooting hail from her fingertip into thin air, she had dedicated herself to honing her class-specific skills in these aspects.
'If those girls knew I can snipe like this now, they'd be astounded.'
Amidst her running, Lucy giggled, baffling Lucas with her sudden amusement.
Firing fireballs from his palm at the zombies ahead, Lucas reached the heart of the dense gathering of undead.
There, he encountered a zombie adorned with a crown.
"Do you see what I'm seeing?"
"Yes!"
In spite of their astonishment, they dispatched a random zombie behind them with automatic precision, though their minds were in disarray.
As if sensing their presence, the crowned zombie turned its gaze toward Lucas and grinned.
A chilling sensation coursed through Lucas's body.
The creature, or zombie, fixed its gaze upon him and advanced in his direction.
"Hey there, human. It's been quite a while."
The being spoke to him with eyes as crimson as garnets, and skin as pale as snow, baring its sharp, white teeth.
"Don't give me that look, human. I'm rather looking forward to enjoying you immensely. Fuu."
Questions swirled in Lucas's mind, but the monstrous entity didn't allow him time to voice them, springing forth with incredible speed.
"Lucy, you handle the rest. I'll take care of this one. These seem different from regular zombies and ghouls."
Lucas yelled out, using his jian to parry the creature's attack. While not swift, each of its movements exhibited a calculated precision.
'It possesses intelligence, but what kind of creature is it?'
His expectations for this venture ranged from a worthy reward to contending with formidable mutated fish. Facing an entirely new species was beyond his anticipation.
"Whoosh."
The creature's hand gripped his sword and yanked it away.
"Creak!!"
His jian snapped. Lucas felt a sense of devastation.
The creature regarded Lucas with a smug expression, relishing his visible distress, and let out a mocking laugh.
"Well, that was an amusing struggle. It's been quite some time since I encountered such resistance, human. Don't expect me to be like those ghouls, those pesky failures of our kind."
Frustration surged within Lucas as he beheld the beast's grin, an intense desire to tear it apart gnawing at him. Unfortunately, most of his skills were on cooldown, and his jian now lay on the ground like discarded scrap metal.
"What are you, exactly? Why are you trying to harm us?"
The creature's amusement was palpable as it retorted, "Oh my, didn't you attempt to harm me first? But don't fret, I won't let your demise go to waste—IN MY STOMACH, THAT IS!"
Suddenly, the monster erupted into laughter, sending a shiver down Lucas's spine. Even Lucy, standing a distance away, appeared concerned.
"Lucas, hang on; I'm coming to assist you."
Lucas could hear Lucy's voice from behind him. Adrenaline surged, flooding his mind.
'This might not be the smartest move.'
Gritting his teeth, Lucas locked his gaze onto the mocking creature that seemed to relish his desperation.
"Clawing fang!"
"Lucy, don't come any closer. Stay there and safeguard yourself. I said I'd handle this, didn't I? Remember what I told you?"
Despite being unable to see Lucy, who was some distance away, Lucas shouted back at her.
The monster appeared amused. "Lucas, was it? Quite an uncommon name..."
A lingering smile played on its lips.
"SHUT UP!"
Lucas's face flushed with anger; his hand sweaty as his fingers transformed into the sharp, large bone of a claw. He lunged at the monster, slashing downward in a desperate attempt.
The creature sidestepped his attack effortlessly. Driven by adrenaline and a fear of death, Lucas pressed on.
"Ah!"
The monster's hand cut across his right arm, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake before the creature brought it to its lips.
"My, what a delectable morsel."
The response further fueled Lucas's rage as he lunged at the monster again, giving his all to strike at its heart.
His efforts were in vain. Nothing seemed to work.
The time limit for "Clawing fang!" expired, and his nail abruptly returned to its normal state.
By now, a trail of blood drops marked his path, originating from the wound on his chest, aggravated by his constant movement.
"Are you ready to surrender, human?"
The creature inquired tauntingly.
Lifting his head, gazing up at the monster, Lucas's expression conveyed desperation and a lack of hope.
"I surrender—"
The monster's smile grew wider.
"BANG!"
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