Chapter 17: Pest Control strategies while burning your hats off

After we leave the trading city, we fly northwest for another 5 days without any mishaps. Along the way we eat, drink, sleep and talk to each other— but nothing more than that happens.

Finally, on the sixth day of traveling the temperature around us rises. We’ve finally reached the lava zone.

Floating 150 meters above air has a lot of advantages to it, and in this case, it allows me to see with a crystal clear view the complete lava zone.

The Hellhound lava zone is named such because well, for one it is made 50% out of molten lava, the other half being— igneous rock, or cooled down lava.

It is also called Hellhound because the most prominent lifeform in this place is the Hellhound, which looks like a black greyhound dog without any skin on the head, that is to say, the head is just the skull of the dog. its paws are eternally covered by a blue fire which it uses to attack people, by scratching and applying the burning flame on the skin of its enemies.

About sixty percent of all mobs in this place are Hellhounds, but there are other two types of enemies which we will find here: Lava Larvae and its adult form, Lava Butterfly.

Lava Larvae are 5 meters long and one meter tall worm-like creatures which swim deep into the lava before digging into the igneous rock surrounding it, to then assault any enemy that is on the ground. It will quickly jump out of the ground to try and bite whichever intelligent lifeform is standing aboveground.

When a Lava Larvae lives for long enough, they will begin a period of hibernation deep into the lava. When enough time goes by, the larvae will transform into a Lava Butterfly— enormous 3 meters long by 3-meter tall flying butterflies which have control over the surrounding lava, which it enjoys using against its enemies.

To get the King type to show up, we have to fulfill 3 conditions:

Be above the minimum level requirement, which we already fulfill (15 or more for everyone) Be below the level cap for the zone (level 30) Murder enough monsters to reach the required amount. This condition is the one we need to fulfill now, for which we need to kill nonstop in the following days, as we don’t know the actual number of monsters we need to kill. we only know the day-limit for this task which is roughly 24 days from now.

Once the king shows up, it’s a gamble. we can only hope the one that shows up is the one Rize needs— the Queen of specters, Rangda.

I wonder what kind of face Rize has at this moment? If she doesn’t appear here, the next chance won’t be until half a year later.

“Put on your masks and drink a minor potion, we’ll go down now” (Rize)

Rize has sent you a party invite

Everyone equips on their masks, and then we drink the Basic heat resistance potions.

Basic Heat Resistance Potion has taken effect: Reduced fire damage taken by 70.41%

Now, Let's go down!

Rize on my back, Kelsi on my head, and Rob on my side. Everyone goes down before landing on the ground.

"Ouch, Ouch. Hot Hot Hot!" (Rob)

Sizzle Sizzle

I look to my left, towards Rize who has already gotten off my back, and I can see—

"Huh... Rize? your boots are melting" (Doraig)

"Uh? Oh" (Rize)

I— Ah well.

"Stop crying Rob, it's not that hot" (Doraig)

"But it's hot! I can't even take a shower with hot water, nor can I drink any hot beverage!" (Rob)

I swear this guy is a cat...

"Anyways, let's stop making a fool out of ourselves, and let's begin!" (Doraig)

"Yay!" (Kelsi)

As we planned out, Kelsi will just remain seated on top of my head, making sure everyone's health is topped off and no limbs are lost (for too long)

"Alright, there's a Larvae 20 meters north-east" (Rize)

"You pull, I will stay next to these two in case one pops out of the ground" (Rob)

Following that, Rize takes out his scythe, which he flails left and right to use its ranged weapon properties.

Fwoosh Fwoosh

Two green crescents of scythe light shoot out, aiming straight towards a Larvae which was munching on a rock.

Tak Tak

A perfect hit! The Larvae wriggles around for a few seconds before looking our way

"GRUOOOO!"

"It's Coming towards us!" (Rize)

Puk Puk

"Two more came out of the ground!" (Rob)

I Take off and leave the ground below me

"Go for that one, I'll keep this one at bay using ranged attacks!" (Doraig)

"Gotcha, Don't let me die!" (Rob)

'Minor Destruction Breath'

"UWOOO!" (Larvae)

"Hiya!" (Rob)

After hearing Rob's warcry, I look his way to visualize him jumping up, before moving his wings while kicking the air above, his sword pointed at the Larvae.

"DIE!!!!" (Rob)

"SHKRIIIII" (Larvae)

Experience points received Experience points received

What the hell were these two doing these past days!

"Holy shit Rob!" (Doraig)

"Umm... Doraig? Shoot that guy" (Kelsi)

"Oh? Oh" (Doraig)

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minot Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

"That should be it, good job everyone" (Rize)

I couldn't see Rize fight, but I remember seeing the blue box show up in my vision, at around the same time Rob finished his Larvae.

"We're doing good, let's keep up with this pace" (Rize)

"Noone is hurt?" (Kelsi)

"Umm, I should be fine, but I sprained my ankle when I landed after trying that new combo" (Rob)

"Let me heal you" (Kelsi)

Hop

Kelsi jumps off my Head then walks towards Rob, before her hands light up and she heals his foot.

"What was that just now, Rob? I've never seen you fight like that" (Doraig)

"I've been trying different attacks using the double jump skill, I tried merging it with my wings just now but alas, the strain on my legs is too much, when I have to land I barely have any strength to halt my descent"

"Still, that looked really powerful" (Rize)

"I know, right? I call it 'Meteor', cool right?" (Rob)

"..." (Rize & Doraig)

"It should be okay now" (Kelsi)

"Thank you" (Rob)

She walks towards me and jump onto my head once more

"Let's go, I can see a pack of hellhounds over there" (Rize)

He points his index finger towards a place 100 meters away from us...

1, 2, ...

"I counted 14, can we go against that many at once?" (Doraig)

"15, and I think it will be fine, we can just attack from the sky" (Rize)

Oh, right. we can fly—

Rize gets on my back, I look towards Rob and we both nod towards each other at the same time.

"Go!" (Rob)

I Fly upwards, then in the direction of the pack. I turn sideways so that Rize can attack at the same time as I do

"Okay, Ready! Set! Go!" (Rize)

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'...'

Experience points received

We completely obliterated every single Hellhound, resulting in them dying without being able to put up a fight at all.

"That was Easy!" (Doraig)

"Of course, but pay attention because the Butterflies are here!" (Rize)

BZzzzzz

Because of the noise we made with all the explosions and scythe attacks, an extremely big amount of Butterflies have popped out of nowhere.

10... 20...

"What the hell, there are more than 40!" (Rob)

"Rise! don't let them fight us in an Area where they have more access to the surrounding lava!" (Rize)

I and Rob listen to Rize and thus fly upwards. The Butterflies follow us, without being able to close the distance at all. Once we go past the first row of clouds, we stop.

"Okay, we'll fight here!" (Rize)

"Okay!" (Rob, Doraig & Kelsi)

As soon as we say so, the sky fills up with butterflies, which surround us completely.

"Rob, Cover our flank! Doraig, Use your Ray: Aim to their wings!" (Rize)

"Roger!" (Rob)

"Gotcha!" (Doraig)

'Minor Destruction Ray'

Zoom!

"SHRIIIII" (Butterflies)

The ray seems to be somewhat effective, taking 5 seconds or so to destroy the wings of 3 different Butterflies which were in a line.

"Go left!" (Rize)

I fly left, while at the same I can feel how Rize is attacking the Butterflies with his ranged attacks.

Uh?

I feel my back is lighter—

"Rize!" (Kelsi)

"What happened!?" (Doraig)

"Rize Jumped towards a Butterfly!" (Kelsi)

"Oh— He'll be fine" (Doraig)

"But—" (Kelsi)

"Just let him do thing, don't worry about that guy" (Doraig)

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience point received Experience point received Experience point received

It looks like the 3 Butterflies of which I destroyed their wings have fallen to their deaths. I'll finish the one I've just shot—

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

With that Butterfly off my butt, I look at Rize, who is jumping from Butterfly to Butterfly. He maims them with his Scythe and then proceeds to jump off of them towards the next one, before repeating his actions.

In this way, he quickly takes out more than 9 of them, who soon fall and disappear below the sea of clouds.

Experience points received

Exp?

I look to my side and in the distance, I can see the carcass of a butterfly disappearing into the clouds.

When I raise my head, I spot Rob maneuvering to fight against three different butterflies at the same time.

'Minor Destruction Ray'

I lock the ray on two of the butterflies—

Sizzle Sizzle

Their wings burn, and they proceed to fall as well.

Experience points received Experience points received

The Butterflies Rize took care of, begin to hit the ground at this time, so I will continue to help Rob, seeing as Rize is fine on his own.

'Minor Destruction Ray'

"Thanks!" (Rob)

Says Rob, before he flies into the next group of approaching Butterflies.

"Dodge!" (Kelsi)

I feel a tug on my head, to which I promptly move right and evade a Butterfly that was trying to ram itself against me.

"Thanks" (Doraig)

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

I continue flying the same way as more and more butterflies begin to tail me.

"Sweetie, try this..." (Kelsi)

I continue to fly, and when I have 10 of them stuck to my back, I fly down and into the clouds.

I turn around and traverse the way I had taken before descending, before going up and reappearing— right behind the Butterflies!

'Minor Destruction Ray'

3 down!

'Minor Destruction Ray'

2 More down!

"Go up!" (Kelsi)

I evade upwards, after which a butterfly goes past the place I had been floating in.

I somersault mid-air, before locking onto said Butterfly

'Minor Destruction Breath'

The Butterfly receives the attack, which adds to his previous force, forcing his body into other 2 butterflies. Making use of the fact the 3 of them are now jumbled together, I attack again—

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

I can see there's 2 more left, who are standing there— probably frightened by the amount of dead brothers and sisters surrounding them.

That's too bad. Sorry!

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received

And the last one

'Minor Dest—'

"Rize!" (Kelsi)

Luckily I stop casting the skill just in time because when it was about to leave my mouth Rize had jumped towards the last Butterfly to take care of it himself.

"Dude, I almost shot your head off!" (Doraig)

"Oh. Sorry" (Rize)

"Why are you so bloodthirsty lately, man" (Doraig)

"Sorry" (Rize)

"Hiya!" (Rob)

After the shout, both of us turn towards the source and spot Rob fighting alone against the last 3 butterflies.

'Minor Destruction Breath'

'Minor Destruction Breath'

Experience points received Experience points received Experience points received

When the last three die, I finally look at Rob, only to realize he is covered in blood.

"Are you okay? you look like crap" (Doraig)

"I'll be fine" (Rob)

As he says that, he approaches me, before getting on my back and sitting there.

"I'll patch you right back" (Kelsi)

"Thanks" (Rob)

"How about you?" (Doraig)

I say to Rize, who responds by just giving me a thumbs up.

"By the way, I've just now realized this but— why aren't these monsters dropping any items?" (Doraig)

"Oh, but they have been dropping stuff. It's just that you get distracted so easily I figured I might as well set the loot table to the 'Leader' setting. I'd rather not die because a shiny item dropped in the middle of a fight and you stopped to admire its beauty" (Rize)

"..." (Doraig)

"Thanks, I feel much better now" (Rob)

"You're welcome. try not to get hit so much though, you might die before I'm able to heal you up if we fight a stronger enemy" (Kelsi)

"I know, it's just that I'm not used to fighting against so many enemies at once" (Rob)

"Let's exit the Lava zone, It's about time we have lunch" (Rize)

"Food!" (Rest of party)

Somewhere else in the continent, at the same time

"Master, we are ready to begin the attack on Parlor" (??)

"Good. I expect nothing less from you, Bargo" (???)

"You flatter me, master. We'll make sure the Prince dies without his corpse intact. See if anyone dares to plot against the Guild again" (??)

"Yes. no one should expect to plot against the thieves guild and go unscathed. It would have been one thing to plot against us to try and get a bit more gold out of citizens and whatnot, but this bastard tried to throw us to the gallows by making us the enemy of all the species" (???)

"Go now. I will wait for your good news!" (???)

"Yes, Master" (Bergo)

In Parlor, at the same time.

"Sir, our rats in the thieves guild have reported us that their leader is aiming for your head" (????)

"Hah, vicious junk rats. raise crows and see how they will bite off your eyes" (Prince)

"What are your orders, Sir?" (????)

"Take Gladius and his men with you. I want you to annihilate that trash and destroy any proof they may have of their innocence just in case. We can't let our plans be foiled by that bunch of human waste" (Prince)

"Yes, My prince!" (????)

Back to Doraig's party

"Ahh, I swear to everything that is right and good: Rize knows how to make anything good! I didn't believe it at first, but you've made this disgusting bug taste like pure heaven" (Doraig)

"I know, this tastes amazing— a bit like chicken, I'd say" (Rob)

"This tastes good! It reminds me of that bird we had 2 days ago" (Kelsi)

"I want some mayo and bread to go with this— can't believe we forgot the mayo" (Doraig)

"Well, we couldn't have brought that with us, it'd have gone bad. bread goes stale easily when not stored, too" (Rob)

...