Chapter 29

~ The Queen of the Dead Forest ~

SW/SW/SW

As far as his eyes could see, it was all but scorched forest. Occasional caws echoed in the distance and the never ending mist caused him to be alert at all times. There was no sign of enemies yet and that was exactly Ace had feared. The thick fog nearly robbed his visions. The thing he managed to see several meters away was just whitish blur.

“What are we hunting for?” Ace couldn’t help but ask. This dreadful forest was inhabitable and there was no sign of civilization whatsoever. The monsters that came to mind were lamias, dragons, skeletons, and dark elves.

Ace hoped that it wouldn’t be dragons…

“Have you heard the myth of Scylla?” Mia suddenly asked out of nowhere.

Ace frowned in confusion, “Scylla?”

“It originated from Greek Myth. It is a tale about a woman who was turned into a gigantic, multi-headed snake.”

“…and you’re going to fight that monstrosity,” it was more like a statement rather than a question.

Mia nodded, “Yep. And it isn’t just an ordinary Scylla, but a Scylla Queen. Relax, her design is totally different from the myth.”

“We’ve arrived,” KnightofDoom informed, gripping his lance tighter.

Ace went agape as his eyes bulging through the sockets. Before them stood a huge tree, distorted so that the limbs stretched out to many directions. Like the rest of the burned trees, it was as black as coal, yet still stood with dignity. It was a miracle how one could survive in this horrid, desolated place.

Thump!

He felt someone staring at him.

…staring at him.

Bead of sweat slid to his cheek. His fists couldn’t stop shaking.

What was this awfully ominous feeling? He couldn’t even move his body, let alone his legs. They keep shaking no matter how hard he tried to regain his self-control. Was he shaking because he knew that the boss was too strong? Was he chickening out because of the wide level gap?

Who is staring at me? Why me? Why can’t I shake it off…?

He wanted to run. He wanted to hide. Anywhere was fine… as long as he could get that terrifyingly wrong stare off of him.

Ace felt a hand pressed itself against his shoulder. Looking back, he saw Maria with her usual motherly smile.

“Feeling ill?” she asked.

“A little.”

Her smile went wider for a second, “It is to be expected. After all, the boss is 70 levels stronger than you. The hopelessness you feel is real, no? It is the same once you are stronger. The monsters weaker than you will flee.”

She then handed him three scrolls, “Scroll of Cloaking. Use these once we fight the Scylla Queen. It will render you invisible.”

“I recall seeing a Scroll of Invisibility. What's the difference?”

“Body heat, Ace,” Maria explained as they went inside the gigantic tree. “By race, the Scylla Queen is categorized as a snake, thus she can see your body heat easily. Think of this scroll as the upgraded version of the Scroll of Invisibility.”

Ace stashed them carefully. Looking around, the interior was totally different from the outside. The tree created some kind of wood wall to separate each room. Of course the walls were burnt, yet the strangest thing was they didn’t crumble on touch.

In front of them there was a set of stairs, made of branches entwining each other, leading upwards. The funny thing was that there were torches. The fire didn’t roast the tree. It was warm, but not scorching or damaging. Must be a work of magic.

There was a lot of furniture in the room, belonging to a royal family. Ace swept his finger through a table’s surface.

His finger caught so much dust.

Was this some kind of common code for villains to have a dirty, horrid place for living? In most RPG games he played, the boss would always live in a secluded area, his castle stood in the middle of a chasm of unfathomable depth or even flowing lava. He could understand it if the villains wanted to ensure their safety.

And also, the way to where the boss was waiting would always be winding. Levers must be activated to advance. If it wasn’t lever, then he had to have a certain item to bypass some kind of barrier. Why the complicated mapping was a must in a boss’ castle? What would happen if one of the minions, or even the boss himself, wanted to take a leak but couldn’t find the toilet?

But judging by the dirtiness in this awful place, the said queen lived by herself. Quite an irony.

Cleaning his finger with his clothes, Ace grimaced. She was an NPC, but what would happen if she were a real being? Wouldn’t she die of loneliness?

“Hey, noob, c’mon!” Asla the beastgirl called urgently. Ace quickly regrouped, walking between Maria and the archer, Mia.

They entered every room they saw, looting nearly everything. Ace got himself nice set of magician clothes, though he couldn’t equip them because of level restriction, as well as many high tier potions, scrolls, and several mid-level weapons. Talk about lucky.

Then it came. The horrible feeling again.

Ace’s eyes darted around the wood corridor nervously. It was empty. No enemies in sight.

Was that just his imagination? He felt someone staring at him a while ago…

No, it wasn’t his imagination! He heard shluck sounds, as if someone was dragging something wet across the ground. The fear multiplied as the stare grew more sinister. With a shaky hand, he read the Scroll of Cloaking…

“We’re not alone,” it seemed that Asla caught the sounds as well, readying her dual claws.

Doom carefully looked around, but was met by emptiness, while Maria cast protection spells to everyone.

Then it appeared.

Ace was shaking beyond belief as he saw her, the Scylla Queen. She was a beautiful woman, with flowing purple hair and white, pale skin. Her yellow eyes, with a slit similar to those of a snake, were glowing with contempt. Tribal tattoos decorated her unblemished cheeks. The underbust corset she wore accentuated her figure well and the gown complimented her statuesque, regal posture. Looking at her upper body, she was indeed human. However, down below, she wasn’t.

What ought to be two human legs, she had big, ten snake bodies growing within her gown, each ending in a snake head with a jaw of an alarming size. They served as her legs as well as weapons.

“…adventurers. You have pillaged my home again. What more do you want from me?” her voice was melodious and cold, but had a slightly hissing quality in it.

“Huh?” Ace swore he saw tears in those striking eyes of hers, but it disappeared when Asla leaped forward. The attack was blocked easily with one of the snakes. Although they looked weak, their skins apparently were harder than steel.

With a hand gesture, one snake leapt in the air with its mouth open, aiming to end Mia’s life. Doom quickly thrust the head in time to alter its course. The snake ended up eating the wood floor as dinner.

I can’t see a thing, Ace shivered. Their speed was too high that he couldn’t catch a glimpse of what they were doing. If only his perception was much, much higher, he’d have the chance to.

Doom charged, the tip of his lance was aflame. The thrust didn’t connect with the Scylla Queen, however, as she shielded her body with her snake leg. The fierce attack depleted its head about a third of its HP.

Each head has its own set of HP? Ace was astonished. If this was true, then they had to kill the snakes before they could attempt direct attacks.

Several snakeheads launched themselves to the trio, leaving Ace and Maria alone. Ace had already used the Scroll of Cloaking, so he was safe as long as he didn’t attack and blew his cover, but Maria was in danger of being attacked.

The continuous attacks made it harder to attack and aim properly, especially for Mia. She hadn’t the time to support others as she had two snakeheads aiming at her. Asla was in a pinch, too. All she could do was dodge incoming attacks as the best she could. She jumped in the air, readying her deadly airborne skill…

…but she didn’t realize a maw coming to get her. Ace screamed at her in time. In the air she couldn’t dodge and relied on her guard. The attack connected, causing her to be thrown aside, breaking many walls in her wake.

“Asla!” Mia screamed.

Unfortunately, the scream attracted Scylla Queen’s attention. Again with a wave of hand, Mia became the target. Numerous gaping jaws were heading towards her. Instead of running away, Mia closed her eyes forcefully, surrendering herself to death.

A loud boom was heard in the area. Opening her eyes, the snakeheads were no more. They were blasted into dust. There was a huge hole in the wall beside her, evidence that a powerful magic had been casted.

Dumbfounded, Ace stared at Maria. He knew that she was so powerful, above the level of 250. But seeing her actual power was… beyond imagining.

Now that five of the heads were gone, the fight would go easier.

Maria cast area healing and everyone was as good as new.

“Get up and fight!” Maria suddenly shouted. “She has a superb regeneration trait. If you spend your time attacking a different head, it won’t end! Focus your attack on a single head and move to another once it’s dead!”

“You… You little…!” Ace heard Scylla Queen muttered angrily. Aura of death surrounded her body as she shrieked, “You adventurers! All of you are the same! Coming and leaving as you please, stealing my treasures, and wreak havoc upon my home!”

“Shit, she’s angry!” Doom blocked a sweeping attack with his sword-shaped lance and then launched a counter attack.

Scylla Queen screamed in pain when the lance impaled one of her many snake legs.

“The snake is weakening!” Mia fired her imbued arrow. Once it homed in on its target, it suddenly crackled, sending paralyzing toxin to the Scylla Queen’s body.

Asla break through the rubble she had been lying and slashed the snake. The severed head disappeared into nothingness.

“We did it!” the beast girl smiled.

The smile faltered…

The Scylla Queen was fuming. The tribal tattoos on her cheeks were glowing ominously and her eyes seemed brighter than they were.

“I can’t forgive you…” she muttered, “I can’t forgive you… I can’t forgive you all…”

A powerful energy shocked the trio and sent them flying. Within seconds, the severed legs grew back. This time it wasn’t the head of a snake, but weapons.

Weapons made out of flesh.

Ace covered his mouth. The regenerating process was disgusting that he wanted to puke.

Doom took several steps backwards. His voice trembling as he realized the futility of fighting, “How can this be…? We killed the snake legs, but she… she turned the table in an instant…”

Mia’s hold on her bow weakened, “This… this can’t be…!”

To everyone’s surprise, Maria giggled. Calmly she walked past Mia, Doom, and then Asla. Standing in front of them was Maria in her glory, body surrounded by a black aura that reeked of death.

She opened her eyes and smiled. There was a pair of fangs on her upper teeth, apparent to all, when she spoke,

“…let me take care of you, little snake.”

Spoiler: Status

AceKivras

EXP Chart*

Atk: 9

HP (340/340)

Level 16

490/15312

Def: 21

MP(470/470)

Human

14822 to lv. 17

M.Atk: 166

Eiredrahl the Impure*

Summoner

4012 Coins

M. Def: 81

Travonka

4 Black Coins

Minimum piety

ATTRIBUTES

POTENTIAL

Equipment

Ancient Force

STR

7

Hopeless

Head

Ranagaad's Circlet {Rare} [4 INT, 8 M.ATK]

VIT

11

Worst

Neck

Amulet of Wisdom [2 INT]

DEX

12

Worst

Body

Valende's Runed Robe {Rare} [8 DEF, 18 M.DEF, 5 M.ATK]

PER

11

Worst

Back

-

INT

43

Normal

Arm (main)

Halcyon Staff [3 ATK, 6 M.ATK]

WIS

18

Bad

Arm

-

WILL

20

Bad

Waist

-

CHA

35

Normal

Legs

Black Pants [3 DEF]

* (tap to see)

Feet

Magician's Shoes {Rare} [2 DEF, 5 M.ATK]

(Help)

Skill

Description

Level

Healing

VIT

Lets you recover your HP over time

12.991

Staff

VIT

How proficient you are swinging your staff

5.085

Running

VIT

Affects your running speed

6.721

Light Armor

DEX

How effectively you act while wearing Light Armor

17.009

Evasion

DEX

Helps you to evade attacks easily

12.419

Casting

INT

This skill helps you power up your spells

21,553

Meditation

INT

Gradually recovers your MP

14.512

Herbology

INT

Lets you identify any herb to its fullest potential

9.012

Control Magic

WIS

Prevents your ally to get hit by your spells

8.884

Memorization

WIS

This skill slows down the decay of your unused skills

9.716

Literacy

WIS

Allows you to read more difficult spellbooks

14.591

Control Beast

CHA

Lets you control higher-level Summon Beasts

17.119