To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 179: Dark Sign

Northwest Region / Fisherman Village

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Fisherman Town, a fishermen's place and a resting place for old people - Legend Hunters. Plus, the second safe territory after Northwest Harbor.

The town is used as a station to go to deeper places in the northwest region.

One party is preparing to head for conquest.

"Oh, I never thought you guys would come with them!"

A legend, the captain of a ship, Mike Sparrow, came to take Lian's party off.

"You guys know each other?" asked Arlene. 

Arlene is the person in charge, and the person who recruits Lian's party. That turns out the party she recruited recognizes the Legend she is familiar with.

"Yes!" answer Lian with spirit. "Sir Mike is our mentor and trainer! You two know each other too, Miss Arlene?"

"Well, of course. Because in the past we fought together for this Floor."

Arlene indirectly told Lian and his members that she had contributed to the conquest of the Second Floor.

Of course, that fact made Lian and his member excited. 

"Are you Legend too, Mistress?!" asked Bradley. 

"You look young for a Legend," said Xian Ling, curious. 

"Mother Maria is a legend too and still looks young and beautiful. May be aging not really influential us, women," said Sara, innocently. 

Arlene has not told anything. But she already got branded with legend and old. 

It made her emotional, but she still managed to hold her temper.

"I'm not a Legend. I am in the same generation as that Silver Skadi. We came after the conquest of the 1st Floor was complete."

Arlene is not a Legend. But the fact that she was the generation that entered after the 1st Floor conquest still amazed Lian and his members. 

"Whatever it is, I wish you all the best on your expedition."

The prayer was prioritized for Lian and his party.

Lian and his member answered with: "Yes, sir!"

After that, they went to their respective desert horses.

[Abyssal Desert Horse: Big horse with six legs. Has a hump like a camel, but they are horses.]

When being left alone, Arlene and Mike took the moment to have a quick talk. 

"Hey, where is the little girl?"

Arlene had always been with the little girl Elisa before. But the little girl was nothing to be seen.

"She is in the carriage. Sleeping."

"Sleeping?"

The word sleeping is strange to be heard in that kind of situation. 

"Yes. Many things happened when we arrived in this region. Yamato and Echidna matters."

Arlene did not give the details. But Mike could guess the rest.

"So, you are going to face that monster?"

"Yes. And they all know the consequences."

Arlene doesn't worry about her group. She was even more concerned about Lian's party.

"The Greedy Young Master is with us. When things got really bad, he would definitely take the little girl away with him. Skadi and I are not afraid of death. But Lian and his party, they are still young."

Arlene needed the strength of Lian's party. But at the same time, she regretted their participation.

"Don't worry. For the highest glory, they are ready. For the good or for the worse."

Mike Sparrow, the mentor and trainer of Lian's party, had said that. Arlene had no other choice but to believe.

"Alright. Then I won't hesitate to use them."

After preparation, they were completely ready. Time to say goodbye to the town.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mild Yellow Stone / 

Their party use seven desert horse. Skadi, Lian, Richard and Bradley riding their own horse. Xian Ling and Sara ride on one. Then their carriage, which contains one man in it, and their items and objects they are protecting, is pulled by two horses.

The formation they used was a bird formation. Skadi is at the front. Bradley in the back. Lian on the right. Richard and Xian Ling on the left.

"Although I still wondering why a Vanguard Knight wants to be at the front," said Lian, curious.

If it's in normal formation, it should be the Vanguard Tank that goes at the front. But Skadi requested to go at the front instead of Richard.

"You haven't seen Skadi's physical strength yet, have you?"

Arlene's question made Lian and those on the left side astonished.

"What's with Skadi's physical strength?" asked Xian Ling.

"Her physical strength is, not ordinary. Is in the same position as a platinum Tanker."

That fact is a little unbelievable without any evidence.

That coincided with a monster coming at them.

_______

Monster Name: Giant Bumping Lizard

Difficulty: Level 8

Type: Elite Mob

Monster info: 

-  A giant six-legged lizard. Having the size of an apartment building. With their six legs, they attacked by galloping from a distance to attack the enemy and the Hunter.

Recommendation Hunting Party: Gold, Platinum

Existence: Floor 2, Region: Mild Yellow Stone.

_______

"Everyone, get ready!"

Lian and Richard stood at the front as a wall. Bradley and Xian Ling prepared their long range attack. Sara stood at the front of the carriage, preparing her Support Arts.

The Junior party is all ready with the upcoming attack. Meanwhile, Arlene just sat back, watching Skadi face the problem.

"Miss Skadi! What are you doing?!"

To fight a Giant Bumping Lizard, normally the Tank must stop the monster's movement first. Only then did the attackers do their part.

However, Skadi, a Vanguard Knight, walked, approaching the Giant Bumping Izard who was running fast with shaking the ground.

Skadi is a Diamond Hunter. They had also been told that Skadi's physical strength was above normal. Even so, they were still unprepared to witness.

The giant lizard monster was getting closer. It lowered its head a little. Its intention to hit them is so big.

On the other side. Skadi drew her sword. But she didn't seem intent on slashing the giant.

The head of the giant lizard monster against the black sword. When the two objects collided, a large burst of wind was occurred.

Everyone protected their faces from the attacking dust wave.

Lian and his members find it hard to believe, but Skadi manages to stop the giant lizard monster.

"[Typhon Gust]!"

Xian Ling dusted the area with Arts. There, they found Skadi standing in front of the giant lizard monster who was still alive.

"You lost again," said Skadi to the giant lizard.

The appearance of Skadi stopping the monster with both hands was still acceptable. But talking to the monster, and the monster somehow understands her words, really put their rationality into question.

Skadi not only managed to stop the monster, she also injured the monster's stone head.

Surprisingly, the monster's stone head had many scars like the one Skadi had caused at that time.

"Go. Try again next time."

At that command, the giant lizard monster turned around and dashed away.

They managed to beat the monster without killing it.

Lian and his four members looked at Arlene, asking silently.

"I told you."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mild Yellow Stone / Night 

Their destination is the North Coast Palace. 

It took two days of travel to get there as they were going at a low pace. They can reach the same day if they are speeding. But who was in control of the party, the Greedy Young Master ordered to move slowly.

"It's finally night! I'm tired of this territory's sun!"

Xian Ling fell asleep in the tent after a long day trip. 

"The sunlight from this territory hurts my eyes!"

Bradley did the same in the next tent.

Lian and Richard sit in front of the fire. Meanwhile, the remaining three women are preparing dishes in the portable kitchen.

There are eight of them in total. But one didn't get out of the carriage.

"Did Ars not come out to eat with us?" asked Sara, curious. 

"Given his character, it seems not. Or if he calls me and asks me to bring him a meal, I'll bring him."

At first glance, Ars is like a spoiled, powerful man.

There Sara learned about strength and money.

After getting dinner and full. Everyone fell asleep in their tents. Bradley and Skadi are on guard. Even though Bradley fell asleep on his arrow.

In the early hours, everything was still safe. Until an unusual mist suddenly appeared and begin to envelop them.

"Hey, wake up."

In the dark, Skadi's glowing Silver Sky Staff was hitting Bradley. Trying to wake the young man.

"What is it, lady? Are you falling in love with me?" said Bradley, half asleep. 

"We are under attack."

Hearing the warning, Bradley returned to his senses, and he screamed.

"All of you! Wake up! We are under attack!"

They are all outside of safe territory. Their alertness was high enough to make them wake up right away.

"Where is the enemy?" asked Lian. 

They were all prepared with their weapons. Arlene uses an assault rifle. Skadi with Silver Sky Staff in her left hand and her black sword in the right hand.

They saw no enemy. But a strange mist continued to rise and began to cover them.

"[Typhon Gust]!"

Xian Ling tried to get rid of all the fog. But her Art didn't come out.

"What? What happened?!"

Of course, that confused her.

"[Guiding Light]!"

Sara tries to cast a Lighting Arts. But it didn't come out either.

They all fell into confusion.

"Skadi." 

Arlene called out to her partner. She seemed to know what happened. That's why she wants to make sure.

"Yes. It's the same thing as the Void Fog."