Chapter 241: Time-Bound
As soon as Zeke decided on the actions he would take, the [Gamer's System] generated the things which he needed to do. All being presented in a succession of [Notification Windows].
[A Time Limited Quest has been added – Taking Out The Weeds]
[Quest Information: The gamer must extract all of the Chaos Plants in any means possible from the continent. Leaving even a single one out will automatically result in the failure of the quest.]
[Reward: One random skill from the Blood King.]
[Note: Any skill owned by the Blood King is useful against the Monarchs.]
[Time Remaining: 1:59:00]
…
[A Time Limited Quest has been added – Monster Extermination]
[Quest Information: The chaos monsters within the continent must be eradicated. Leaving even a single one out will result in quest failure.]
[A halberd upgrade will be given as a reward]
[Note: Halberd upgrades simply increase the overall status points which the weapon endows on its wielder.]
[Time Remaining: 1:59:00]
…
[A Time Limited Quest had been added – Sweeping Out Darkness]
[Quest Information: All of the areas marked by the gamer as light dark and black need to be destroyed within the allotted time. Failure to sweep away the chaos energy on the areas will result in the automatic failure of the quest.]
[Ten random units from the Blood King's army will be given as a reward. These will automatically be in the form of conjures.]
[Time Remaining: 1:59:00]
…
[An Optional Quest has been added – Savior of the Demons]
[Quest Information: Upon finishing all the timebound quests listed, the overall population within Helios must not drop below 80%.]
[Aeros' Horn will be given as a reward.]
[Item Information: A devourer type unit can consume the said item. Allowing them to have some of the skills owned by the King of the Sea. The item may also be used to make a weapon with a water attribute.]
"Well that's a lot." Zeke said, opening the [Voice Chat] right away in order to give the commands to his allies.
"Sylph I need something else done right away."
"Ack what is it this time? We haven't even gone out yet."
"Exactly. That's why this command is perfect as it stands."
"Well, I mean, if that's the case you should start talking." The elf said in reply. Noticing that Zeke was talking just a bit faster than usual. Meaning, things needed to be done quick.
"Get the barrier crystals from the hideout and set them up on the area of the citizens. I'll be blasting those places first." Zeke said, already making the proper revisions on his plans based on the quest rewards.
"Understood. How long do we have until then?"
"I'll give you ten minutes. Teleporting in itself should not take you that long and the heroes would be too busy dealing with the plants to notice you." The citizens knew Zeke and the elites all too well already. In fact, them arriving would cause hope to rise for the demons who knew that victory was certain whenever they appeared.
"Wait, so do the heroes also get blasted? I mean they are within the immediate proximity of the plants after all."
"Don't be silly. They're part of my quest reward so they need to survive. Just ask the elites to talk to them. I'm sure those guys would be more than happy to oblige to fellow humans. Especially if it's one who'd provide a way for them to save face."
"I think you got that last part too accurately. Anyway is that all?"
"Yeah. I trust in you Sylph."
"That doesn't actually make things any easier you know." The elf said in reply. Something which Zeke simply laughed to as he finally closed the [Voice Chat].
"Now where was I? Ah yes, I need to bring you out." Horizon came out from a gigantic ball of flame that floated in mid - air; placing thirty bullets on the creature which he intended to use in order to perform the same move done on the [Chaos Wyverns].
The gamer went on his way. He set the [Quest Countdown] that floated near enough for him to see it every time and, without a moment to lose. He began the race against time. The two of them teleported to one of the [Black Areas]. Crashing down before the enemies could even make any move against them.
Just like that, the whole continent shook like never before. Even far away everyone saw the explosion that seemed to be as big as the sun. An exaggeration only because they were near enough to compare it to such.
Every monster within the area where Zeke landed on got burned immediately. Reduce to nothing but ashes as even their bones were burnt to a crisp. However, this was not enough to kill the six horned monsters. They remained standing in the field. But not for long.
[The gamer has died.]
[The conditions have been met for the Curse of the Blood King]
[You have taken the Blood King's form.]
"Guess you guys are just naturally sturdy then." Zeke threw his halberd at the enemies and, just as he expected it pierced through them. Devouring the monsters right away.
They couldn't even fight back because they were already in a dazed and weakened state. Adding to the fact that, the succession of attacks made by Zeke was so quick and unpredictable to counter against.
"I mean. That makes one right?" The gamer noted. Collecting all the loot on the area and proceeding to the next one.
Unfortunately he wasn't able to make the same move twice. This was just a way for him to speed things up and to have extra time on his hands in case something unexcepted came up. Plus, this was also a great move for forcing Horizon to turn to its [Infernal] form. A dragon which was basically pure flames, having a burnt exoskeleton that served as both its frame and its armor.
This was not for show. Horizon was basically capable of using the same flames of the fire god at that point. The trick which Zeke intended to use on the remaining areas. Yet before proceeding, he noted the time on his hand.
"She should be contacting me right aboouuuuuut….now."
"Zeke."
"Yes! F**k I'm even psychic now." Zeke victoriously thought to himself before replying to Sylph.
"Yeah what's up?"
"All the areas have been prepared for the attack. The heroes are giving us a hard time but they've followed the orders and fallen back for at least five minutes. That's all the time they gave us to do what it is that we planned and – "
Sylph wasn't even able to finish with what it was that she was about to say. There was a huge explosion that came nearby. With the barrier shielding her and the citizens nearby from the damage. This immediately burned down the plant while also destroying the monsters nearby.
"Did you just…"
"Yup. Sent my suicidal [Chaos Wyverns]."
"Zeke!"
"I'm sorry I don't have time. Go clean the mess up and we'll have as lengthy of a discussion as you need when I get back." Zeke said, ridding on Horizon as he went to the next areas.
"Come on buddy we still have a long way to go." Zeke said, with both of them flying through the areas and burning down the [Chaos Plants] they passed through. In not less than ten minutes, they have arrived at the second location.
What Zeke was performing couldn't be recreated on the next continent. Particularly because of the length of time needed to collect all the materials needed for the fight.
Of course he could just destroy the monster but that would not give him anything. The enemies would still be able to regenerate because of the oozing [Chaos Energy] and, in fact, Zeke would only be helping the enemies regenerate – the exact opposite of his goal as this would increase the amount of [Chaos Energy] instead of reducing it.
"I hope this is enough to give you a scare." Zeke said, dropping to the second area and facing the remaining enemies. Those which Horizon failed to burn down.
"Okay guys, I'm kinda bit of in a hurry so I can't talk to you anymore."
"YOU'RE DEAD!" One of the monsters said – pouncing on the gamer with incredible speed.
Yet the gamer was able to dodge easily as he dashed towards his enemy. This move was not only surprising but even shortened the amount of time needed for them to collide. In this split-second Zeke proved to be the quicker one. Activating [Overdrive] which allowed him to stab the opponent with the halberd and dodge the attack made.
"Man this thing is really useful when it's real huh." Zeke mentioned as he notice the significant increase in the strength of the halberd. The poor victim of the weapon was already on the ground. Unable to even pull out the weapon as its flesh as slowly getting absorbed.
There was another six horned monster and luckily it was also a melee fighter. It thought that Zeke was helpless without his weapon. But it as dead wrong. Literally.
"How…" Zeke punched a hole through the chest of the beast. He then followed this up by creating multiple elemental reactions. Freezing. Burn. Corroding. Poisoning. Rotting.
He mixed all of these up because he didn't have time to test out what weakness his opponent had. Nor did he have the luxury of time to use [Analysis].
"Yeah like I said, I'm running on some sort of timer so save your questions for the afterlife." Zeke mentioned. Removing his blood-stained hand from the hole on the monster's chest.
"Okay, now to absorb you too." Zeke took the lying halberd on the ground. It was already finished with its earlier meal, leaving not even a strand of hair from the poor monster. Something he recreated on the same monster.
"Damn you're a bit greedy." He mentioned, looking at the speed the halberd worked.
[1:30:27]
This was the time left for the gamer to finish his task. He looked at it with much excitement. Thrilled that there was a challenge he could benefit from this time around.
"Okay, let's finish this faster than Pier could even realize he's f**ked."