Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

Chapter 360: Oddities

360. Oddities

I came here to fucking help you guys, but what did I get? I was nearly stabbed in the fucking face.

Amanda cursed as she got back to her feet. I tilted my head, facing her and listening to her complaints. Daniel wore an annoyed look on his face, while Edithe and Orgaf just looked confused. But I just smiled.

Im glad youre here, Amanda! Im so sorry that happened Orgaf! Whyd you attack her?

I turned to the Elite with a frown. I looked at him accusingly, and he drew back.

What? I sensed we were being followed. I thought it was an assassin.

He shook his head, gesturing at Amanda.

No, she is an assassin. I can tell. Youre part of the Harrowed Vindicators, arent you? Amanda the Silent Serpent.

Orgafs eyes narrowed. He stared at her suspiciously not really wary, considering he could deal with her with ease if she tried anything. Not that Id allow that. I liked Amanda.

The brown-haired woman spat back at Orgaf.

So what if I am? Do you have a problem with assassins, thief?

No. But I do have a problem with those who lack any respect for their betters. Watch your words carefully, girl. Or the next time I swing for you, I wont miss.

He spoke dangerously, taking a step forward as he brandished his dark blade. Amanda bit her lower lip, clearly nervous, but didnt back down.

Fuck you

Alright, thats enough.

I clapped my hands together before either of them could kill each other. Orgaf opened his mouth to protest, but I raised a hand.

Amanda is a friend, Orgaf. I dont appreciate that you attacked a friend, simple as that. Now lets just apologize and make up, ok?

I looked between the two of them. Amanda shifted, averting her gaze. She said nothing, while Orgaf shuffled his feet as he grumbled.

Shes the one who started it first, its not my fault

It doesnt matter whose fault it is. Were not here to fight each other, but fight alongside each other. Now shake hands and apologize!

I made them shake each others hands. Orgaf murmured under his breath.

Fine, Im sorry

Its whatever, I shouldnt have insulted you either

Amanda spoke without meeting his gaze. I grinned, patting them both on the shoulders while a small audience watched.

Edithe blinked a few times, taking in this scene. Both Orgaf the Thief of the Golden Scale and Amanda the Silent Serpent were apologizing to each other like they were children whod gotten in trouble. And Salvos, of all people, was acting like their mother.

The redhead turned to the other member of the audience.

Daniel can you please explain to me what I am watching?

He closed his eyes, slowly burying his head in his hands out of sheer embarrassment.

I dont know either

And a voice laughed. Edithe turned around to face Willy, the [Will O Wisp] cackling behind them.

Heh.

Someone, please, pinch me.

Edithe sighed. This day cant get any weirder.

Now that that was settled, I led the group away from that small forest clearing.

Come on! Its just a few miles from here.

I didnt expect you to find Sickleshade Valley so soon. It must really stand out quite a bit, huh? Is it actually shaped like a sickle?

Edithe commented idly. I shook my head.

Oh, I didnt find this Sickleshade Valley.

I replied with a straight face. Willy piped from my left.

Because I found it.

What? No! I saw it first!

I sputtered, but the [Will O Wisp] was insistent.

Nuh-uh. Me first!

You only knew what it was when I pointed it out to you

Wait, what do you mean by that?

Daniels voice interrupted our bickering. I smiled at him, running forward. I ushered my companions to hurry as I ran on.

Come on, youll see.

We continued for about five more minutes before I came to a halt. My companions, Orgaf, and Amanda were a step behind them. They all came to a halt as I spread my arms wide.

Yep, this is it.

They stared with wide eyes. Speechless. They had nothing to say no input. Willy flitted around me, and I turned back around to face the desolate landscape. The forest of trees came to an end here. Or, at least, was briefly cut off. Trees lay overturned at the fringe of the trampled ground. A line had been cut through the forest. A path paved by a stampede.

This is proof the [Goliath Oliphants] had been through here.

I walked over the broken trees and fallen branches. It was like a hole had been carved through the forest, leaving destruction at its wake. I glanced left and right, seeing it spread out far and wide. It curved like a river flowing through the forest. I could see neither ends of this line of destruction, but one side led to the northeast to seemingly nowhere while the other led southwest to the Motharis Mountain Range.

So

I looked back at my companions, still surveying this landscape. I pointed at one end of the path, then the other.

Where do you think the Oliphants went?

No one in our party was a tracker, per se, but we did have Skills. Passive Skills that would help us survive in the wild. And with the help of those Passive Skills and our general intuition, we all agreed that it was highly likely the Oliphants traveled to the southwest.

Towards the Motharis Mountain Range.

It only made sense. Their original habitat had been deep within Motharis before the Wyverns drove them out. They probably had a natural instinct that would draw them back to their home.

So we set out towards those mountains in the distance as the sun began to set. Edithe and Daniel were slightly nervous, but theyd already resolved themselves to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Willy, Amanda, and Orgaf had no qualms about this since they were higher-leveled.

These [Goliath Oliphants] werent even that big of a threat anyway. Edithe wouldve struggled the most against them but I believed in her power.

But despite that, I was the most nervous out of all those present. Or maybe nervous wasnt there right way to describe it. I was antsy. Excited. Anxious. Why? Well, the answer was simple.

Belzu was last around the Motharis Mountain Range.

There was a chance I could run into him again once I entered Motharis. Sure, that chance was minuscule. After all, the Motharis Mountain Range spanned hundreds of miles long. Yet, there was a building trepidation within me either hope or worry that told me Id run into Belzu again.

We always seemed to find each other, no matter what happened, and I didnt know why. But this time, I wasnt going to fight via clones. I wasnt going to run. I had everything I needed to beat him.

My fist tightened as I led the way, and Edithe walked up to my side.

Are you alright, Salvos?

Hm?

I cocked my head. She peered at me, studying my expression.

You just look worried about something.

Do I?

I didnt know that it was that obvious. But I paused. I glanced back. I saw Amanda looking uncomfortable as Daniel rolled his eyes.

Fuck, if Id known I was going to be attacked for offering my help

No one asked you to come, Amanda. Seriously, stop complaining

Willy and Orgaf didnt pay much attention to my feelings either.

So, what is a Grand Spirit doing without a [Summoner]?

...no understand.

I was under the impression all Spirits were born with [Universal Language Comprehension]. How odd

Uh no speak?

But youre speaking right now

It was just Edithe. She noticed my subtle fidgeting masked with each step. And she looked at me warmly.

I know Im the weakest one here, Salvos. But Im not an idiot. And Im your friend. You can tell me if something is wrong.

Um

I shrugged, not sure what to say. Then I met the red-haired womans gaze.

If anything really bad happens, Edithe, I want you to run.

Run?

She furrowed her brows. I nodded.

Yep. Ill be fine, dont worry. But you have to run, alright?

...I see.

That was all she said, and the conversation ended. I couldve told her that I had a feeling we were going to run into Belzu, but shed have immediately turned back. There was no way she was going to let me face the Primeval Demon at my current level.

But I didnt want to endanger her life. So, I raised a hand and snapped my fingers.

And dont worry.

I spoke as all six of my clones appeared around me in an instant. They were summoned quite quickly, too. Was it because my Skill was maxed? Edithe paused. Amanda looked away from Daniel, giving me a puzzled look.

Whats she doing?

Just some precautions.

I answered the former assassin before turning back to Edithe. I gave her a reassuring smile.

Ill make sure you and Daniel are safe.

Edithe nodded slowly. We continued on. The Motharis Mountain Range was still so far away. And we followed the trail of destruction. It would lead us to the undulating hills. We spoke about mundane topics. I barely paid attention as Daniel and Amanda recycled their usual banter.

Seriously, just leave if you dont want to be here

But as day turned to night and we were still miles away, I began to sense something was amiss.

Huh. Why arent we there yet?

Its just a few more miles. Well be there by sunset.

Orgaf spoke simply. I shook my head.

But hasnt it already been sunset for a while?

I gestured at the line where the sky met the earth. The sun was setting. Slowly. But it didnt seem to fully descend. Orgaf, however, just gave me a confused look.

What do you mean?

I

I trailed off. I looked towards the sunset. Then towards the Motharis Mountain Range. Orgaf shrugged and turned back to Willy.

Its probably nothing. Dont worry about it. Anyway, whats a Grand Spirit like you doing without a [Summoner]?

He addressed the [Will O Wisp]

And I froze. Didnt they already have that conversation? I faced my companions. Amanda was arguing with Daniel again as Orgaf and Willy were having the same small talk as before. Then I turned to the sunset. The orange ball was hanging there in the sky, where itd been before. And I craned my neck towards Motharis. No matter how much closer we get, we were not getting closer

Salvos?

Edithes voice interrupted my minds ramblings. I sputtered before she could speak.

Is something

Not you too?

I stared at her, aghast. She blinked.

Me too? What are you talking about?

Dont you see whats going on? This doesnt make sense. None of this makes any sense. I

She grabbed me by the shoulder.

Calm down, Salvos. What are you talking about?

This is has to be magic. A curse? An illusion? No

I pursed my lips. Edithe narrowed her eyes. She met my gaze.

Are you sure, Salvos?

I nodded as I activated [Planar Navigation], but I didnt sense anything was wrong. Everything felt right to me, even though I knew it was wrong. I tried to work my jaw.

Its an illusion. It has to be Belzus illusion. And a curse, maybe. But my [General Status Effect Resistance] isnt

I couldnt finish my explanation. Edithe was staring at me as I stammered wildly.

Belzu? His illusions? But why is the Primeval Demon

And she paused. Edithes eyes widened. Her green eyes shimmered for a moment. As if she saw something I couldnt. I took a step back.

Edithe?

This is an illusion!

She yelled, swinging her staff at something. Daniel, Amanda, Orgaf, and Willy turned to her as she was knocked to the ground by thin air. I shouted, running to her side.

Edithe!

And a figure stepped in front of me. No not just a figure. Six figures. They made me come to a halt. My own clones stopped me. I tried to move them out of the way, but all six of them ignored me.

All six of them? That wasnt right. I didnt have only six clones. With [Salvo of Vanity] maxed at Level 25, I had ten clones now. Also, the fact that I was still at full strength even after summoning them unless I didnt summon them at all?

One of them lashed out my way as the realization sank in. Orgafs eyes widened. He shouted, leaping to intercept the attack.

Salvos

He cut through the attack with ease. He looked around in alarm as I warily backed away from him.

Whats going on? When did we get trapped in an illusion? Why are your clones attacking you?

Its Belzus! The Primeval Demons illusions! He mustve caught us off guard

I started, and Edithe rose to her feet. She glared at something in the sky and shouted.

Thats enough!

Edithes voice echoed. She slammed her staff on the ground, casting a beam of light to the sky. The sky cracked from the blast. I covered my eyes from the blinding light. The world shattered around me as Orgaf, Daniel, Amanda, and Willy drew back. We all looked on as the illusion was torn down. A dark dome hung overhead, speckled with stars. A warm breeze washed over us. I stumbled back, casting my gaze around as I caught sight of the dead trees.

These desiccated trunks jutted out of the ground and spread out for a mile in every direction. Figures moved between them, and what had previously looked like my clones transformed to Mindreapers.

And up above, floating underneath the moon, was Belzu. The Primeval Demon. Edithe was staring right at him. He clicked his mandibles together.

Hmph. if youd just followed the illusion and left this forest, you wouldnt have to die today. Alas

He raised his arms, and a cacophony of terrible shrieks echoed from all around us. I looked up as Wyverns darted around him. I felt the earth shaking as Oliphants charged us from every direction. Belzu finished as he pointed at me.

This will be the last time we ever meet, Salvos. Goodbye. [Forlorn Execution].