NOVEL WEB 18. Trouble(3)
"ARGH! NO! SOMEONE!! HELP- AAAAUGHHHHH!!"
Someone's dying cry blasts amidst the mountains.
I check it and see the carriage that Orca and I rode.
!
I shoot the two wolves attacking the coachman dead and check his condition.
...
He is dead, the wolf bit into his neck and ripped off a huge chunk of blood vessels.
Other than the dead horses and coachman, the carriage itself seems to be untouched. I check the back and see all our belongings are still intact.
I take my bag and head for Chael.
Upon reaching a cliff, I can finally see the entire Chael.
I clench my fist. It's not a pleasant sight. One part of the walls surrounding Chael was breached, and people within Chael are desperately escaping or trying to defend themselves.
However...escaping is futile.
I look at the forest surrounding Chael and notice many beasts at every corner. They are surrounded.
Chael itself is built on a flat empty land surrounded by a forest and mountains. Geographically, it's a decent location but it's a different story when it comes to a siege.
I see Radz and his man fighting in the chaos outside Chael. Orca is on the floor shivering.
I quickly find a way down the cliff and get to the battlefield.
On the way, I shot down many dormant beasts waiting for their chance to kill escapees.
"Phew..." I calm myself and observe the battlefield from the outskirts. I notice a wolf eyeing Orca and bring up my musket. It's rather far...about 40 feet. I take a deep breath and go into a prone position.
...
As the wolf was about to pounce on Orca, I press the trigger.
*BAM!*
Shit! I missed.
I quickly press the trigger again and hits the wolf in mid-air.
"Hah...fuck...that was close," I mumble.
A few beasts look in the direction of the sound.
I get up and switch positions.
Radz notices me and waves. I reply by pointing at Chael and waving my hand towards Chael, telling them to go help the city.
Radz hesitates for a while. He slashes another boar and nods.
"EVERYONE! GET INTO A CIRCLE FORMATION AND PROTECT THE LADY. THE YOUNG MASTER WILL COVER US!!" Radz says.
"Are we not going for the young master too? If he dies, we are dead!" a subordinate says.
"That's why we have to quickly get to Chael! I will go after the young master after!"
They gather around Orca who pulls herself up and quickly moves towards Chael.
I try my best to keep as many beasts away as possible while dealing with my fair share of beasts.
"Ahh!"
A lizard manages to bite a subordinate's legs.
"FUCK! G-GET IT OFF!!" The subordinate attempts to stab the lizard but to no avail, its scales are too strong.
As a result, one part of the formation was broken.
With no other choice, the circle formation becomes smaller and they abandon that one subordinate.
"No! Please! I want to live! I don't want to die here!! ARGHH!!? LET GO!!" He repeatedly smashes the sword's pommel against the lizard in desperation.
*BAM!*
My bullet annihilated the lizard, blasting it away from the injured subordinate. But the next moment, a wolf pounces on him and bites his shoulder.
"ARGH?!!! HELP! SOMEONE!!"
Another wolf joins in and rips the subordinate apart.
I click my tongue.
*hiss*
?!
A lizard ambushes me and bites my body, throwing the musket away from my hand.
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-30 hp
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"UGH! DAMN IT!"
I take out my dagger and stab into the lizard's eye, then I punch the hilt deep into its body, killing it.
I kick the corpse away and shoot two boars near.
Damn it! I lost my knife!
Something is off. Wolves usually attack Boars for food but now they are fighting together in sync? Also, where did the lizards come from? Their habitat is nowhere near Elvis.
I can only think of one thing: Habitat Migration. When that happens, there are leaders to coordinate the attack between the species.
I need to find the leader to stop this.
Radz's group successfully entered Chael. I then observe the beasts' movements.
Most of the beasts are coming from the west.
...
I decided to sneak west. Hiding my presence from whatever beasts I come across.
!!
I could not believe what I saw. Deeper into the forest, herds after herds of wolves, boars, and groups of reptiles are stationed all across the mountains, dormant as they loiter in their designated area.
However, the most surprising fact is that an elf is controlling the beasts.
I clench my fist, irritation boiling within.
Why the fuck is an elf trying to harm us?!
For many years, Chael was never attacked by a vicious monster wave because near Chael is an elf kingdom. They take care of the beasts and monsters that enter their sanctuary.
Exasperated, I look around and found a mountain with a vertical, outward curving wall on one side and the other side a very steep slope.
I climb up the steep slope and check the tip of the mountain. There are some rocks barely balancing.
"Let me show you the best embarrassment a tamer can ever feel," I mumble.
Bringing the musket to my face, a loud explosion echoes across the atmosphere giving away my position.
*PSST!*
The bullet hits the ground next to the elf, shocking her. The elf looks in my direction and orders the closest beasts to attack me.
Another missed bullet hitting the ground near her foot sends her jumping and finding cover.
I look at the incoming hordes of beasts. Taking out a rock, I place another mana stone into the cartridge and aim at the beasts.
Since the wolves have nimble and better foot strength, they attempt to climb the steep slope first. However, once they reach a certain height I shoot their face and kill them.
?!
Their corpses then go tumbling downhill and hit the closest wolf, causing a domino effect of wolves falling. Their momentum causes them to crash into the ground with a lethal impact.
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+10000 exp
+10000 exp
+10000 exp
+10000 exp
+10000 exp
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This is a method I've commonly used in Elvis Arcane, I call it "Slope Hunting".