Chapter 255:Tesr or not?
The Alpha had broken through. The contractors had been thrown aside. The enormous goat turned fully toward the convoy.
Silver’s expression hardened.
"Everyone move!"
The Alpha charged directly towards them as though sensing they were the weakest link in the group.
[Phantom Draw Lv3 Activated]
Silver fired.
The bullet struck its chest but it barely slowed.
Ravenna fired almost concurrently to him. The bullet hit its horn in which the beast shook its head and continued. Silver realized they couldn’t stop it with ordinary bullets the Alpha seem to be familiar with guns or it’s speed enabled it to change it’s trajectory. What made it worse was it’s coat.
"Ravenna!"
She looked at him.
"Get back!"
He stepped forward and his sword came free. The Alpha lowered its horns in preparation. Silver waited until it was two meters, then the beast lunged, raming straight towards him.
[Short-Step Lv2 Activated]
His body shifted sideways as the horns passed within inches of his torso.
He swung his sword.
[Advanced Swordsmanship Lv1]
The blade struck the Alpha’s neck, the impact forcing Silver backward. His arms shook from the resistance. The cut wasn’t deep enough if he could even call it a cut.
The Alpha turned immediately completely unfazed by the earlier attacks. Silver barely raised his sword before him in time before the horns struck his blade. The force sent him sliding across the ground, tumbling. He could feel the ground cutting into his skin.
"Silver!"
Ravenna fired.
The shot struck the Alpha’s eye causing the beast to recoil. Silver hurriedly pushed himself upright, cause he didn’t want it to turn on her.
"I’m fine, don’t aggregate it!"
The Alpha roared and unfortunately turned toward Ravenna. Silver’s heart tightened.
"Ravenna, move!"
She didn’t hesitate and ran. The Alpha charged after her completely ignoring any attacks aimed at her.
A burst of flames shooting from below her feet,increasing the distance between them, but the Alpha wasn’t left far too behind.
Antony, seeing her struggle intercepted the charging Alpha. He stoop infront of it’s path and held it by it’s own. He was thrown above it seconds later, but it was enough time for Silver.
He raised his gun and fired repeatedly. The bullets struck the creature’s back and feet. The Alpha stumbled.
Ravenna turned and fired her strongest shot. The bullet, coated in flames, struck directly behind the Alpha’s jaw. The creature screamed as the fire burnt through its coat.
Silver moved.
[Short-Step Lv2 Activated]
His body flashed before he dissappeared and appeared beside the Alpha. His sword came down to the same wounded area.
[Advanced Swordsmanship Lv1]
{Proficiency increased}
This time, the blade penetrated deeply and the Alpha staggered. Silver twisted the sword and the beast roared as it tried to twist. He held on for dear life.
Ravenna fired again the bullet coated with compressed flames that left a small heat wave on the air the moment it passed.
The shot entered the now fully open wound. It visibly burnt through it’s face until it hit the heart, the Alpha collapsed after a few more minutes of struggle again Silver. The ground shook beneath its enormous body as it fell. For several seconds, nobody moved, then the remaining goats began retreating.
They expertly climbed the cliffs, one after another. Within minutes, the herd had disappeared. Silence returned to the valley leaving only the faint sound of the winds and the heavy breathing around them.
Silver stood over the dead Alpha, breathing heavily. His arms hurt, his shoulder was bruised and his sword hand trembled slightly.
Ravenna approached immediately.
"Are you hurt?"
"Nothing serious."
She looked at his shoulder.
"You’re bleeding."
Silver glanced down. There was a shallow cut along his upper arm.
"That’s nothing, it’ll heal soon."
Ravenna frowned.
"Don’t say that."
Silver smiled.
She checked him anyway. Antony eventually approached while looking at the dead Alpha.
"That was a goat,I got thrown into the air by a freaking goat."
Silver nodded.
"Apparently."
"That’s ridiculous, don’t ever tell anyone about what happened here."
"You got KOed by an ugly goat, I think I’ll hold onto that notion."
Antony looked at the corpse.
"That one was definitely ugly."
Ravenna laughed despite herself. The tension finally broke.
Larry walked over, his expression serious.
"Everyone accounted for?"
Rebecca answered.
"Yes."
"Injuries?"
"Several minor ones."
"Any serious?"
"No, we’re fine."
Larry nodded.
"Good." He looked at the Alpha. "That’s the strongest creature we’ve encountered so far. Wow... we thought you wouldn’t be able to fight it off, it seems you’re as good as advertised. Your coordination was good, especially you two. If you guys manage to live through this, you’re going to go far in life."
Silver frowned slightly before smoothing his expression. What he had said just didn’t sit right with him but he choose to ignore it because it didn’t feel malicious.
"Thank you for that."
"It’s nothing, not many people manage to survive this place. You should be proud of yourselves."
Silver smiled awkwardly and looked toward the cliffs.
"Will there be more?"
Larry didn’t answer immediately.
"Probably."
That single word made the group quiet.
Larry continued.
"This creature controlled a large territory." He gestured toward the surrounding mountains. "If we encountered one Alpha here, there are likely other powerful beasts controlling other sections."
Silver understood. They had killed one of the valley’s territorial rulers, and that meant they had entered an ecosystem where powerful creatures controlled enormous territories.
Larry looked toward the sky. The sun had nearly disappeared.
"We’re done for today."
Nobody argued.
The convoy had taken damage, several people were exhausted and darkness was approaching. They began collecting the cores and valuable materials from the dead beasts.
The Alpha’s core was considerably larger than the others. Silver watched as the contractor responsible for extraction carefully removed it. Even from a distance, he could feel the energy inside.
A Rank Four beast core.
But Silver didn’t feel tempted to claim it. He already had enough resources. Besides, taking it would create unnecessary conflict.
The expedition had rules. Everyone received a share based on their contribution and Silver was satisfied with that.
And the fact that they had watched them struggle again the Teir four without providing any help just showed that they could throw them to the wolves at any time.
Silver didn’t fall for the two rank four contractors unable to beat a Tier four beast bullshit, it was ridiculous and pretty obvious a show.
As the group finished cleaning up, Larry approached.
"There’s an observation centre nearby."
Silver looked at him.
"Here?"
"Yes, built by the military, I don’t think we can camp here especially with all the blood." He pointed deeper into the valley. "We should reach it in an hour or two."
Ravenna looked at the sky.
"Is that safe?"
"Safer than staying here." Larry paused. "The centre is controlled by Alpha Three, that was why I didn’t want to go there. They’re pretty strict, especially the military."
Silver’s expression changed slightly. That meant they were approaching territory controlled by forces much more powerful than the Delta Sanctuaries.
Larry continued.
"The Delta Sanctuaries don’t control the Red Zone."
Silver nodded.
"Understood."
"We only have authority up to the Yellow Zone." Larry glanced toward the deeper valley. "Everything beyond that falls under military jurisdiction."
The group began packing. Silver helped Ravenna prepare their vehicle.
The journey ahead would be short but the atmosphere had changed. Silver looked toward the enormous valley. The darkness had completely settled.
Silver climbed into the driver’s seat.
The convoy began moving. The headlights illuminated only a small portion of the road. Beyond that narrow beam was nothing but darkness.
He kept both hands on the steering wheel. The valley stretched endlessly around them. And for the first time since entering Death Row Valley, Silver understood why so many people never returned. The valley was not for the weak.