Chapter 255: Snake
"Go, go!" Eva said, rushing through the narrow gorge.
Suddenly, a big ape emerged on top of the right cliff, tossing a massive boulder at them.
Eva raised her head before jumping into the air. She thrust her spear smoothly, receiving the rock instead of hitting it.
Then, she smacked the spear from below with her shield, tossing the rock in another direction.
Vera leaped toward the cliff on the left.
Wind Step.
The moment she stepped on the left cliff, she bounced to the right cliff, using the wind to continue propelling her up. A few steps were all it took for her to reach the top of the cliff.
"Uhuuu!" The ape covered its fist with rock and punched her.
Vera struck the fist, but the wind covering her blade suddenly changed the direction of the punch slightly. She shifted in the other direction, using this small gap to reach the ape.
With one clean strike, she cut the ape’s body.
"Rooo!" Another ape came from the other cliff, leaping over the narrow gorge to smash her.
However, Ellia appeared out of nowhere and sliced the ape’s neck before she used the ape’s body to kick herself to the left cliff.
"Secured." Vera shouted, checking the right cliff.
"Clear." Ellia also made sure there were no beasts coming toward them.
The team had been making good progress because the two vanguards remained flexible and handled most of the beasts. Even Katarina and Auric didn’t have much time to act.
Eva remained with the team, while Eric continued to observe the battle. Vera and Ellia were strong, but he could also do something.
But he knew that these two were more experienced than he was, so he observed them first and used their experience to become even stronger.
"Good work." Auric nodded. With Vera’s evolution, she had become stronger and more efficient in using her power, allowing her to do something bolder.
Besides, Vera was taking the opportunity to increase her element as much as possible.
Since she had evolved, she could begin absorbing rank 3 materials to strengthen her element.
In fact, her current element wasn’t zero. Instead, it was already 16% as she absorbed three rank 3 beasts they had hunted previously.
At the same time, there was a wind element artifact she could absorb, but she chose to wait because she wasn’t sure whether this artifact was included in her share or not.
She wasn’t the only one who had been improving tremendously. Even Auric had increased his elements.
In the Alps, Auric could absorb two elements. He possessed a wind element called Windstorm, whose rating matched the wind element in the ruins. More importantly, he possessed two types of water elements that matched the water element in the ruins.
They were called Thick Water and Chilling Water.
In the Wind Temple they visited the previous day, Auric managed to fill another wind element called Eternal Gale.
As a result, the amount of elements in his body had increased drastically, especially for his water and wind elements.
He checked his status last night.
Name: Auric Elfe
Avatar: None
Grade: Error
Affinity: Error
Element: (Fire 100%), Water (152%), Lightning (109%), Wind (158%), Earth (104%), Plant (102%), Light (36%), Dark (64%), Unique (100%)
He managed to bring his water and wind elements halfway toward evolution.
In addition, there were four ruins located near the Alps. They were Wind Temple, Unique Valley, Chilling Lake, and Light Road. Just as the names implied, they were four ruins with wind, unique, water, and light elements respectively.
The Alps ruins covered 70% of the Alps. Hence, the military created its base west of the Alps, right outside the mountain range.
The Wind Temple was located in the northwest of the Alps. They visited this place because it was the closest.
However, the unique valley was located on the opposite side. If they wanted to reach this place, they had no choice but to cross the Alps, or it would take a very long time before they reached the unique valley.
That was what Auric had been doing all this time.
The light road was located on the south. Originally, Auric intended to go to this place first before going to the unique valley. This was a perfect chance to increase his element, hoping that it would be enough to evolve his light element.
The Chilling Lake was located in the northeast, which was the last target. He thought that he might be able to fill yet another water element, making him one element away from evolving his water for the second time.
At that time, he could focus on the water element and make it to rank 3 first, allowing him to get the gold-grade certificate.
Unfortunately, the terrorists chose to cause an incident in this place, so he had no choice but to go to the unique valley first.
Before lunch, they managed to cross a third of the mountain. At this pace, they could cover two-thirds before dark and reach the Unique Valley the next day.
When they crossed this narrow gorge, the field expanded. It was a lot wider, but it wasn’t big enough to be considered a valley.
Auric pointed forward. "We should cross this place. This place is quite long, but because it’s protected by two mountains on the side, we shouldn’t encounter a lot of beasts. Still, it doesn’t mean the number of beasts here is low. We will set up camp at the end of this ravine."
"We should go down there and secure the area. There’s not much water, but there is at least enough water to cook and for other things." Ellia pointed to a certain spot.
"Got it."
The group descended the mountain and reached the ravine. They split up into three pairs, just like the night watch. Ellia and Auric were tasked with cook, while Eric and Vera searched for other edible ingredients. Eva and Katarina focused on securing the area.
When everyone wasn’t looking, Auric handed over the fresh vegetables and meats to Ellia.
"Test this." Ellia raised the ladle and asked Auric to test the soup.
Auric took a sip and raised his thumb. "It’s good."
Ellia smiled, satisfied. "By the way, what are we going to do with Eva?"
"I have a plan, but for the time being, we should take advantage of her. At least she won’t be a danger to my life yet."
"I see. Be careful, we won’t know what type of schemes she has for us."
"I know." Auric nodded. While grabbing the plates, he suddenly noticed Lindwurm flying around. ’Lindwurm? Are you feeling restless?’
Lindwurm hesitated for a moment. "Yeah. I’m trying to locate the sound."
’What sound?’
"The sound of someone screaming."
’Screaming? Who? Are there people beside us here?’
"No, not that... It sounds like far, far away. It may be behind this mountain..." Lindwurm pointed to the left mountain. "However, I can’t fly too far from you, so I won’t be able to check it. It’s quite low, but it has become bigger and bigger."
’They’re coming toward us?’
"Most likely. However, I can’t determine the distance as well as their location unless you can go up there."
’Your senses are extremely sensitive.’
"I’m just an avatar."
’I guess my father is just that powerful to have such powerful senses... Rank 6?’ Auric narrowed his eyes.
Lindwurm refused to answer further.
’Well...’ Auric paused for a moment. If those people were coming at them, there might be a clash. The ruins were so big that they should barely meet other people, so it was quite concerning.
However, the most concerning report came a few seconds later.
"I think they’re coming closer. I now can hear what they’re shouting."
’And what is that?’
"Help."
That one word shook Auric’s heart. He didn’t expect that someone was asking for help at a time like this. The question was whether he was willing to help or not.
If he helped them, they might claim the glory or take advantage of his group. If Auric chose to ignore them, he might not be able to sleep well tonight. At the very least, the relationship between him and these people was neutral.
’Maybe I should check first.’ Auric thought for a moment before informing Ellia, "I need to leave for a moment. Sorry, but can I ask you to handle all this?"
"Sure." Ellia nodded, not knowing what he had in mind.
Auric ran toward the left mountain while shouting, "Katarina, Eva, where are you?"
It took him a couple of calls before these two heard him. They immediately regrouped with Auric.
"Eva, I need you to continue patrolling. Katarina, follow me."
"What’s going on?" Eva asked, furrowing her brow.
"It’s nothing. I hope I’m just being paranoid here, but one person still needs to handle the patrol. So, can you please continue?"
Eva didn’t like the role, but it didn’t seem like she had any choice. She ultimately accepted it. "I understand. Make sure to return and inform us if something bad is about to happen."
"Yes." Auric chose Katarina simply because he couldn’t afford to be alone with Eva. He didn’t know her mission after all.
"Let’s go, Katarina." Auric climbed the mountain at high speed while Katarina followed next to him.
"Can you explain to me what’s going on?"
"I believe I hear people asking for help. I’m not exactly sure, but it’s coming toward us. There should be some kind of incident behind this mountain, and it’s coming... I just don’t want us getting into trouble without checking what it is."
Katarina thought for a moment before agreeing. "I understand. In that case, we’ll climb and determine that. Still, you can hear all that?"
"It’s not him. It’s me! The Great Chubby Dragon, wait, I mean, the Great Handsome Dragon, Lindwurm!" Lindwurm proudly pointed at himself, but the only one who could see and hear him was Auric.
’So, you like the chubby name.’ Auric scoffed inwardly. On the other hand, he replied to Katarina, "Well... maybe, maybe not."
"..." Katarina sighed. Auric was truly mysterious. At the same time, she wondered how much Auric had been hiding all this time.
People thought Auric was extremely talented, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg.
It took them three minutes with their speed before they reached the top of the mountain.
Katarina could hear the voice much more easily at the top since nothing blocked the sound anymore.
"Help!"
However, the one that piqued her interest wasn’t the person’s voice or the person himself.
Instead, it was the being that chased after the person.
A massive green snake was crushing everything in its path as it came closer and closer to the man.
The snake was forty meters long. Its mouth alone could easily swallow a two-story bus.
"Shaaaa!" The snake plunged forward and swallowed the man. It soon raised its head and spotted Auric and Katarina at the top of the mountain.
Lindwurm sighed. "I think we’re screwed."