บท 21: Escape Item.

While creating Maids VS Apocalypse, Mark got the idea to add a few secrets here and there for the more attentive players to find. One of them was a method with which they could greatly improve their character's combat ability right from the start.

The method required them to sell the pistol and either the sword or the spear they got from the starter pack. That would only grant them another 200 Gold, but with those additional funds it becomes possible to buy another item.

Pierce +1 was one of the cheapest enchantment scrolls one could get from the store. It only costs 400 Gold, but the effect it grants more than doubles the damage of an early-game weapon.

The moment Mark entered the System shop he was reminded of another problem. The prices of the items sold on it were different from those in the game. That scared him for a moment, but to his utter relief, the price of the enchantment scroll turned out to be cheaper than expected, sitting at 250 Gold.

The prices of the SLP and the carbon fiber sword were different as well, getting him an additional 500 Gold. That didn't mean he had extra funds to squander, however. When applying the enchantment to the carbon fiber spear, the workshop demanded an entire 250 Gold. Seeing the cost doubling in front of his eyes was painful, but it was still within an acceptable range.

The System's Workshop worked fast just like in the game. In just a matter of seconds, Mark created his first enchanted spear.

'Still…'

The fact that it was an early-game weapon didn't change. Mark was unsure if such a weapon would even graze a late-game boss such as Malarak. In fact, he wasn't even sure if they could get close enough to attack him. The calamity remained in the sky. Lara was strong but he doubted she could through the spear with enough force to pierce the enemy scales.

'And she can't use her Force Field on the weapon if it's not in her hand...'

Even with an enchanted weapon in their arsenal, the odds were still far from being in their favor.

'Wait… we don't really have to kill the dragon… we just have to escape it…'

The S rank quest specifically told him to escape Malarak's pursuit. That meant fighting it was going to be a last-ditch effort, and even then they only had to slow it down enough for them to get to safety.

'Escape…'

As he flipped the word in his mind, Mark recalled that he had created an item specifically for that purpose. Going back to the System shop, he was relieved to find it was much cheaper than the enchantment scroll. Just like the enchanted spear, he wasn't entirely confident that the escape item would work against a monstrosity such as Malarak, but if he were to combine the two, a chance might just reveal itself.

After discussing the matter with his maid, the two of them came up with something. In the end, it was all just one big gamble, but if left with no other choice, they could only hope for it to work.

~[ ]~

'Wait for it… wait for it… now!!!'

Mark listened to the rumbling approach, and as soon as he saw the shadow appear at the end of the street, he swung his arm and flung the item he held with everything he had. He was never an athletic person so he doubted it would fly very far, but by sheer luck, Malarak happened to have his head lowered allowing it to barely reach his eye level.

The escape item Mark had purchased was a simple stun grenade, or so he thought. The moment it detonated Mark learned that he had underestimated the capabilities of the items he created. The explosion was sharp and loud, but the light it produced was a hundred times more powerful than he had anticipated, turning the entire area into a monochrome painting of black and white.

The dragon roared and began thrashing around. Having shielded his eyes the entire time, Mark was able to avoid being blinded and quickly jumped back into the SUV. He intended to move it out of the way in case the dragon decided to try and flatten him even while blind. Just as he was about to step on the gas, though, an elegant figure leaped from the tall building on the right with a spear in her hands.

Mark felt his heart jump to his throat as he watched her fall toward the dragon, and the devastating roar that followed informed him that her attack was successful.

Malarak lost what little control he had and the thrashing got even more violent. The buildings shattered and the road cracked, fissures spreading in random directions. Water hydrants exploded, sewage pipes surfaced, and electric lines were ripped. Throughout all the chaos, Lara descended to the ground without a problem, her nimble movements making it appear as if the maid uniform she wore did little to hinder her.

She evaded Malarak's claws and the falling debris while running with everything she had toward the SUV. Not wasting any time, Mark had turned the vehicle around so the passenger seat would face her direction, allowing her to jump at the moment she arrived.

"You did it!" Mark stomped the gas pedal with everything he got. "You actually did it!"

Lara offered no reply, but her flushed cheeks and the smile she wore spoke of the excitement in her heart.

The wheels squealed and the car took off. Blinding the dragon might've bought them some time, but until they reached safety there was no telling when the tables might get turned. Their original plan included them heading for the closest bomb shelter, but because of the blocked roads, they ended up straying from their chosen path.

Mark had a backup plan in case things turned out like this. The subway system of Stonegate City was designed for war as well. Not only were they sturdy enough to serve as hiding spots in the case of emergencies, they also connected to the bomb shelters and other cities. Since he had no idea how the dragon was tracking him, Mark was hoping that escaping to one of the neighboring towns would be enough to shake off the pursuit.

The only way to know whether they actually escaped was if the System announced the end of the quest. Until then, they would have to stay hidden or escape somewhere the dragon couldn't reach, but with how tenacious that thing was, it was doubtful that he would ever stop before tasting his meal.