Chapter 101: The Crippled Ice Hopper
Suddenly, Sara and Blade heard a voice echo in their heads.
"Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz!"
Blade looked over at him in puzzlement, while Sara struggling to maintain her dead pan expression and not burst out laughing.
Night chuckled nervously and said aloud, "I got a new skill."
"A mind-type skill?" Blade nodded in understanding.
"You should be careful with it when using it on strong people," Sara cautioned him gently. It was not actually safe.
What if someone had bad intentions? It was easy to trace the connection back and do lethal damage. Sara thought
After testing the telepathy some more, they continued their journey.
Soon, they spotted deep cave, but this one was noticeably different. It had two Ice Hoppers standing directly outside.
But the interesting thing was that they didn’t attack them on sight.
Instead, they just clacked their sharp mandibles in annoyance, acting as if they were already expecting them.
Then, they simply parted ways and stepped aside in utter defeat.
This bizarre sight was a first for Night, who was expecting another round of fighting.
Sara looked at this strange behavior with a suspicious expression.
Blade suggested calmly, "Let’s go in. I think they look very inviting."
Night chuckled dryly.
He well knew that inviting them inside was probably the last thing the insects wanted to do.
As the tome floating in front of Sara flipped open, a spell was instantly activated.
[Illumination]
The dark surroundings were immediately filled with bright light once again. Ahead, they could see that the inside of the cave was relatively small compared to the last one.
Exchanging cautious glances, they went inside, ignoring the two depressed Ice Hoppers.
While they were technically free EXP, the group was more curious about what was hiding inside.
As they stepped fully inside, they saw a small, enclosed cave covered in Ice Crystals. But these specific crystals gave off an immense amount of pure mana.
Magic Crystals, Night thought in awe.
He had seen them listed in the System Shop under the Resource tab.
A Common Grade Mana Crystal was 1,000 SC, while an Uncommon Grade one was 10,000 SC.
The prices for subsequent grades increased similarly: A Rare Grade was 100,000 SC, Epic Grade 1,000,000 SC, Legendary Grade 10,000,000 SC, while a Mythic Grade was a staggering 100,000,000 SC.
Finally, a true Divine Grade crystal was 1,000,000,000 SC.
That was literally a billion SC. And this was if the prices were not inflated due to their rarity on the market.
The prices were completely ridiculous.
If an Evolver wanted to actively make some quick cash, finding and selling magic crystals was an good way to do it.
A single Divine Grade Mana Crystal technically cost more than his entire current bank balance.
It made him painfully realize he was not as rich as he thought he was.
Then Sara said with a hurried breath, "Epic Grade Mana Crystals!"
Even the normally nonchalant Blade looked genuinely stunned. This was a fortune.
But unlike the two women, who were already calculating how much they would sell the crystals for, Night focused on the monster resting in the middle of the room.
It looked back at them with a uneasy, resigned expression.
It looked like an Ice Hopper, but this specific one was smaller and had three crystal horns, similar to the ones on Lucy’s forehead, embedded on top its head.
It looked like it was a royalty among the monsters.
Despite its size, it also radiated an aura that felt a lot stronger than the other standard Ice Hoppers.
Also, the pressing question of why this monster hadn’t run off was answered.
It was missing its insect legs and wings. In fact, it only had one mandible remaining intact; the other one was broken off.
Its multi-faceted insect eyes looked at him with dread and intelligence, ignoring the other two women.
It should be more wary of them instead of me. I just hit Level 30 thanks to your generous contribution, Night mused internally.
Still, he was happy it was not giving him the rabid, hostile look he had expected, meaning there was some ground for a peacefully discussion.
Sara and Blade finally pulled themselves away from the treasure and looked at the mangled monster as well. Looking closely at its pathetic condition, many of their questions were answered.
"What exactly do we do with it?" Sara asked them.
Blade shrugged coldly. "I couldn’t care less. It’s also Level 85."
Sara frowned. "Something like this can easily conquer the outside world if left unchecked."
Blade nodded. "To the weak, indeed. Such a existence is a Calamity."
Hearing this grim assessment, the Ice Hopper seemed to understand their intentions somehow. It desperately tried to back away, but without working limbs, it was a sitting duck.
The two loyal Ice Hoppers stationed outside suddenly rushed back in to defend their queen, but they were instantly killed as a small magic circle rapidly appeared from Sara’s tome.
[Lightning Bolt]
Seeing where things were heading, Night quickly stopped her. "Wait!"
Hearing him, the nervous Ice Hopper looked at him pleadingly, while Sara and Blade looked at him in question.
Night quickly explained, "I want to try to make friends with it."
Immediately, Sara and Blade understood exactly what he meant. He wanted to turn it into a summon.
Sara frowned in concern. "But isn’t its level a lot higher than yours?"
Night completely understood this issue as well.
System Girl chimed in. "Don’t worry, it should be possible! It’s just that its level will drop to match yours right after bonding."
"Not much EV will be consumed as well!" she added helpfully. "Since its level will fall, the resulting energy lost from this can be used to mitigate the EV consumption of the process!"
With renewed hope, Night replied to Sara and quickly explained the mechanics.
As he explained, the intelligent Ice Hopper was also unhappily coming to understand its inevitable fate somewhat.
Night slowly closed the distance.
Still completely covered in [Nightmare Fire], he was not worried about any sudden retaliation. If anything, it was the Ice Hopper who grew nervous as he closed the distance.
Then, Night connected with it telepathically using his new skill. "Hi there. I am Night."
It was startled at first, but then it rapidly realized it was the same [Hive Mind] skill it natively used.
The Ice Hopper clicked its lone mandible. "Buzzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz!"
(What exactly do you want, monster?!)
Night was speechless.
For a second, Night entirely didn’t know what to respond.
It was novel to be blatantly called a monster straight to his face. Even if he low-key truly was one, for now, he looked pretty damn human.
Night coughed. "I want to be friends with you."
Now it was the Ice Hopper’s turn to be speechless.
The Ice Hopper fumed telepathically. "Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzz! Buzz?!"
(And you ask this right after you all just mercilessly killed all of my clones?!)
So they were clones? Night thought in surprise.
But it seemed like much more than that. A simple clone shouldn’t give actual EXP when killed, right? Technically, the main person was fundamentally still alive.
Keeping his thoughts to himself, Night quickly fired back defensively.
"You guys attacked us first!"
The Ice Hopper screeched in his mind. "Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!!!"
(Because you guys invaded my territory!)
Cough... This was not how this supposed to go...
Night quickly changed directions. "Do you want to become strong? If you willingly become friends with me, I’ll guarantee you become a lot stronger..."
Now the Ice Hopper paused and didn’t argue back.
It had seen personally, through its vast network, how Night had effortlessly dealt with its clones.
Standing in front of Night with its crippled main body, it knew instinctively the brutal outcome would be the same if it attacked.
Strength. Every single monster in the cosmos deeply craved strength.
Born in a dungeon...
Finally free after a dungeon break... which monster didn’t crave true strength?
Unlike other beings, they understood its value more.
The Ice Hopper was not against subserviently following a stronger monster; it was common in the brutal monster kingdom, after all.
It then hesitantly buzzed back. "Buzzz! Buzz! Buzzz! Buzz! Buzz..."
(I am already crippled. I don’t my majestic wings nor my sharp limbs anymore.)
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz..."
(The terrifying being had unimaginable power. Despite escaping the region, the wounds refused to heal.)
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz..."
(Even if I willingly follow you, I am no longer capable of doing much... except making clones and surviving on these poor mana crystals.)
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz..."
(I will just become a burden for someone as mighty as you.)
Now that’s what I was talking about! Night was happy they were finally on the right track.
He was so excited hearing the monster was not against it that it showed on his face. Thankfully, his face was covered behind the [Nightmare Fire].
Night assured it warmly. "Don’t worry. I am sure you will do just fine."
"As for your severe injuries, I will personally ensure they are treated as soon as possible."
"It’s just that... the bonding process may cause you to lose some levels," Night warned honestly.
He didn’t want to trick it too much. But some things were better left unsaid since there was very little trust between them yet.
Saying too much right now might backfire, ruining the delicate moment.
This was the major drawback of dealing with a monster this intelligent.
The Ice Hopper, not minding the loss of levels, replied eagerly. "Buzz! Buzz! Buzzz!"
(Okay... It is better than here!)
Night felt a little bad about the coercive circumstances. It was unlike his other summons, where the decision was a lot more mutual. But such was the reality of life.
When a true Calamity struck, you didn’t have many choices left.
And he was undeniably the Ice Hopper’s calamity now...
He slowly raised his hand.
The [Nightmare Fire] around his hands retracted, and on his open palm, thick, blackish-purple [Nightmare Mist] gathered.
After using it exactly four times already, with Death, Lilith, Eve, and Lucy, he was incredibly familiar with the delicate bonding process.
The Ice Hopper looked directly at the [Nightmare Mist] fearfully. To it, the mist was many times more ominous than the funny-looking fire.
Without waiting any longer, Night touched the crippled Ice Hopper with his hand as the [Nightmare Mist] enveloped it completely.