85. Stampede

The Mindreapers and their hordes of monsters closed in on us, pouring down the streets in an angry, unstoppable current. This tidal wave came as Daniel and I burst out of the building, casting our gazes around the dark, broken city.

Brilsum Ruins had been thrown into a frenzy; the target of their ire was at the two interlopers who dared enter amidst the cloak of darkness. I spotted the first of the monsters making their way around the street corner. Rabid Rancors were leaping through great distances to get to us.

I raised a hand, aiming it at the large insect-like creatures.

“[Scorching Wave].”

The bright blue flames ignited and lit up the night. It sent a plume of deadly fire into the air, catching the monsters mid air and setting them ablaze. I spun around and gestured at Daniel to leave as the charred bodies of the low Gold monsters fell to the ground, dead.

“Go!”

I called out to him as I ran past him. Daniel however, was fumbling his way slowly behind me despite the head start I had given him.

There was a crash behind us. The larger, more powerful monsters finally turned the corner and caught sight of us, doubling their pace to reach their targets. I glared at my companion and started pulling him along.

“Why are you so slow?!”

“My [Agility] is not as high as you—”

He started right before a ball of fire flew past our heads.

“— and you have [Self Haste] active! It’s not fair!”

His voice drew out like a long and booming blast, echoing through the explosion resounding behind us. I glowered but didn’t respond. Something else had caught my eyes— something of far more importance.

The first Mindreaper had finally made its appearance. The one leading this horde against us. It flew above a pack of Gatho Mammoths, its eyes angrily scanning the area before stopping on us. I knew what was coming next and pushed Daniel to move ahead of me.

“Just run! I’ll catch up to you in a moment!”

“What are you—”

The wave of mind magic washed over me as I growled a shriek.

[Title Skill: Zealous Call]!

I focused the Skill entirely on Daniel. Not because I wanted it to affect him, but because I did not want him to be drawn by it. It was a feeling; something I noted when the General Skill leveled. Perhaps it was [Deadly Instincts] which told me about it. And it worked.

The horde of angry monsters… turned even more angry. Their rage to me was doubled— tripled even! They bore down on me like a column of burning ash. The eruption of rage, pressured into existence deep beneath the surface of the earth, before spewing out like a lava from a volcano.

...I had no idea what a volcano was, but Daniel told me it shot out hot lava.

I readied myself for the volley of fiery spheres, for the shaking of the earth and the rising of pillars barring my path. I was hit by the sound that pierced through my ears, for the magic that attacked me straight in my mind.

My senses were overloaded, even with [Self Haste], I could not evade it all in time. In an instant, the protection offered by my ring fizzled out and my body was cut and bleeding. Only [Charge of Embers] saved me, bringing me down a narrow side street. The sound magic and mind magic still struck me, the Mindreaper being the first one to reach me, unencumbered by the buildings and rubble covering the ground.

Letting it make its approach, I sent out a [Scorching Wave] at it in the air. It flinched from the attack, but otherwise suffered little damage from the Skill. Then before it could fly back from me, fire chains caught it by its tentacled legs. I tugged it down from its flight and swung my kusarigama for its face.

[Fire Strike] empowered my attack and it sheared deep through its magical body.

The Mindreaper reeled back— before the rest of its horde tore into the side street. I struck out once again, but this time I followed through with the attack and pinned the Mindreaper to the ground. It let out an inaudible screech before turning a hate-filled gaze at me.

Then its eyes cleared. It stared at me for a moment, confused. Its consciousness returned to it and a smile spread across my face.

How… what… did… you…?

I leapt back and waved at it, ignoring the telepathic messages it sent my way.

“Got to go! Bye!”

The Mindreaper’s eyes grew wide before it sent a wave of mind magic my way. My head felt like it was about to burst as I bled the black blood of my kind, trying to fight through the attack and escape from its range.

Get… back—

An explosion cut off the Mindreaper. A ball of fire exploded where the Mindreaper stood, sending broken bricks and earth up into the air. Craning my neck just a little bit, I tried to catch a glimpse of the Mindreaper’s body. Still alive, huh?

Crunch. Crunch. CRUNCH.

“Huh.”

A stampede of Gatho Mammoths ran over the Mindreaper. The monsters— the Drakes, the Rancors, and the Ground Cravers— they had all broken out of their trance. My Title Skill freed them from whatever it was that was taking hold of their body. And now, they were fighting each other.

The Gatho Mammoths had tried fleeing from the ferocious and violent Drakes. The scaled beasts tearing into the smaller creatures with ease— the only monsters that could take them on too spooked to take part in the massive battle.

A Drake had its head raised high, creating a powerful ball of fire to burn its enemies. When a pack of Saeves climbed up its legs. These weren’t [Prima Saeves]. They were the smaller variation— the ones I had protected Sophia and Cless from when they were asleep. The night before the giant ape had attacked us.

They were lower leveled— around level 40. But they were not easy to deal with, even for me.

While a horde of monsters had been gathered by the Mindreapers and whatever magic empowered them, most of these monsters here weren’t swarm monsters. They weren’t like Centinels or Giant Spiders. They formed groups far fewer in numbers than them, making up for their numerical inferiority by their individual superiority.

So the Saeves brought down the Drake, ripping apart its iron-like scales as if they were picking fruits from a tree. More small skirmishes broke out, but I did not stay to watch it. I fled the scene, just like the Gatho Mammoths. Except I was faster.

Stalking through the Brilsum Ruins, I saw the other patrols of Mindreapers and their hordes slowly bear down on the chaos I had left behind. The sounds of fighting drew those nearby, however the ones further away ignored it. Perhaps this was the chance I had to search the city— while the Mindreapers were distracted. But there was always tomorrow.

To my relief, I found Daniel safe and alive, waiting for me at the same spot we would spy down onto the Dungeon from. He was sprawled, arms wide on the white floor. I went to lie down next to him, heaving a heavy sigh.

“That… wasn’t fun.”

“It really wasn’t.”

“I almost died.”

“I didn’t, but I would have if not for you.”

He glanced over at me, giving me a grateful look. I grinned back and got up.

“It was dangerous, but—”

I pointed down at the Brilsum Ruins— where the fighting was happening, although it was subsiding. At the corpse of the Gatho Mammoths, just at the edge of the city.

“I have a plan, and that plan means we’re going to do that again.”

The Human man stared at me in disbelief for a moment.

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

I snorted and crossed my arms.

“It serves as a really good distraction. We can sneak through the city undisturbed then. Maybe even go into the inner part of it without any problems.”

Daniel frowned. He scratched at his chin as he considered this. Leaning back, I cast my gaze up into the starry sky, a very good feeling passing through me.

“Plus, it’s good for levels.”

Defeated [Nightmare Mindreaper - Lvl. 80]!

More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 20 levels above you!

Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!

Defeated [Horned Drake - Lvl. 61]!

Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!

Defeated [Rancor Mite - Lvl. 54]!

Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!

…

Defeated [Gatho Mammoth - Lvl. 68]!

Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!

Subspecies [Midday Changeling] Level Up!

[Midday Changeling – Lvl. 57] -> [Midday Changeling – Lvl. 58]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Subspecies [Midday Changeling] Level Up!

[Midday Changeling – Lvl. 58] -> [Midday Changeling – Lvl. 59]

Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

Salvos (Death of the Destroyer)

Species: [Greater Demon]

Subspecies: [Midday Changeling] - Lvl. 59

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 4

[Identification] - Lvl. 5

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Mortal Form] - Lvl. 2

[Rest] - Lvl. 3

[Title Skill: Zealous Call] - Lvl. 2

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 10]

[Vitality]: 60 (+5)

[Strength]: 40 (+5)

[Endurance]: 63 (+5)

[Wisdom]: 79 (+5)

[Agility]: 115 (+5)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 8]

[Advanced Fire Creation] - Lvl. 18

[Charge of Embers] - Lvl. 6

[Fire Strike] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Ignition] - Lvl. 5 (Maxed)

[Scorching Wave] - Lvl. 7

[Self Haste] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 15

[Passive - Deadly Instincts] - Lvl. 7

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 4

“They’re back!”

Edithe and Rachel came down from their room to hear what the source of the commotion was about. Something was happening that was making a lot of noise, turning the usually quiet headquarters of the Valiant Dreamers Company into a mess hall of the Sunmere Republic’s army.

When the two reached the bottom of the stairs, they realized what all the hubbub had been about. Standing at the gate to the building was Gabriel. Sophia and Cless followed behind him as he entered the headquarters with a single command.

“Where is Hadrian?”

The leader of the Valiant Dreamers company produced himself in an instant. He spoke in a hurried voice and bowed deeply.

“Alchemist Gabriel, my father, Baris has fallen to the ailments of a deadly poison. He is still in the midst of fighting against it, however his situation is dire. I ask for your assistance to take a look at—”

“I’ve already taken a look at him, boy.”

Gabriel snapped back.

“I just returned from the training grounds. And there, I found three more damn plants amongst your staff working as a cook, a groundskeeper, and another server.”

Edithe blinked as gasps broke out all around her. Rachel tugged at her shoulder, speaking in a worried voice.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s… I’m not really sure yet.”

She hesitated before giving a response. Three more plants— as in, from the Iron Champions Company? Hadrian had the same thought.

“The Iron Champions Company is sending more assassins at us?”

“They’re looking to finish the job.”

Gabriel strode past him, almost brushing past his shoulder. Hadrian turned back and called out after the [Alchemist].

“These assassins— where are they?”

“I’ve dealt with them. They put up a bit of a fight, nearly took Sophia with them.”

The young woman lowered her head as Gabriel spoke, not even glancing back at her.

“But they won’t be bothering anyone ever again. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an antidote I have to make.”

With those final words, Gabriel entered the building and slammed the door shut behind him. Edithe watched as all the bystanders— the members of her company like Paige, Ian, Glenn— begin to break out into their own, panicked discussions. Hadrian approached Cless and Sophia, demanding to know more about what happened.

The red haired woman felt her hands tense around Rachel’s shoulders. She only realized to relax her grip when the girl looked up at her, amber eyes growing wide.

“They’re talking about… assassins?”

“...yes.”

It made no sense to Edithe. Why would the Iron Champions Company send so many assassins to kill Baris? He had been their leader, but he was old and no longer in charge of the Valiant Dreamers.

If it was payback they were looking for… they could have hired cheaper assassins to take out other parts of Valiant Dreamers Company’s operations. Maybe even target the weaker members. To spend so much gold on these elite assassins— they had to be very angry, or have an ulterior motive.

Edithe couldn’t help but feel a worried feeling bubbling up inside of her. However, it all vanished when she saw how quiet Rachel had become. She lowered herself to her knees and met the girl's eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-Is… is it my fault?”

Rachel glanced up at Edithe, her hands tightly clinging to the doll on her chest. Edithe blinked as she continued, tears already pouring down her face.

“Are these the assassins coming after me? The Harrowed Vindicators? I… I’m sorry. I’ll leave if I’m too much trouble— I…”

Edithe immediately hugged the girl, cutting her off. Slowly patting the back of her head, the red haired woman spoke reassuringly.

“It’s not your fault. These aren’t the bad guys coming after you. They’re… other bad guys. And we’ll deal with them. So there’s no need for you to cry.”

Drawing herself away from Rachel, Edithe gave her a smile. She knew what kind of a household the girl had grown up in— Salvos was unconcerned, even though she liked the girl. But Daniel had told Edithe. He had told her about how Rachel’s mother left her, and her father tried to get rid of her.

It was something that Edithe was familiar with, and she knew she had to say something there. Anything, really.

Rachel sniffled and stared up at the red haired woman.

“It’s… it’s really not my fault?”

“No.”

Edithe spoke simply. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“It’s not."