Plop.
The head of the Screecher fell on the ground and made a disgusting noise as its flesh corroded. Now that I got a good look at it, I realized that the screeched had a human form but somehow, it was walking on all fours and it doesn't have eyes. Instead of eyes, it has one big mouth on his face with rugged teeth and a sickening inside.
Just when we were about to sigh in relief, numerous screechings could be heard in the area.
"Yong Rui, we have to leave right now. This forest is filled to the brim with screechers. We can't possibly take on all of them alone." Liu Zhi nervously whispered towards me. "Blade, use your detection skill, how many are there in total?"
"About thirty, no forty of them," I muttered before Blade could even respond to the question.
"How did y-"
"Let's talk about that later. Just as you had stated, we don't have the leisure to stay here any longer." I told them. Even I was getting rather anxious about the overwhelming numbers of the screechers. "If only I were in the Transcendence Realm... " I said to myself as I clenched my fists.
No, get stronger. That's our mission and we have to focus on just that. But right now, we can't afford to die either.
"I'll set up an escape route and we'll rely on Blade and Yong Rui over here with detecting any screechers nearby. As much as I hate to say this, we're already their prime targets. Their hunt has begun and we have to work together to get out of here alive." Liu Zhi said. "Yong Rui, I know that you don't want to join our party, but please, lend us your aide, just until we steer clear from the screechers."
"Sure, it's not like I wouldn't be needing your team either. We have common ground here so let's form a party in the meantime for now."
Ti-ring!
Ti-ring!
...
The sudden change in my expression must have alarmed the party quite a bit since Liu Zhi grabbed me by the shoulders and asked if I was okay. I nodded... but honestly, I was a bit surprised.
I mean, I just gained five levels! In all those days steadily killing off Stage-One, Stage-Two, and Stage-Three Rabid Humans, I only gained ten levels but now, a mere screeched gave me five levels in one go?! And adding to that, I didn't even lift a finger to help them fend off that cursed screeched.
"Sweet!" I told myself as I looked at my current stats.
....
Current Level: Fifth Level of Spirit Realm
...
Liu Zhi, Wu Yan, and Blade looked at me with a weird expression on their face as if they just saw a crazy person in front of them. Well, who would've guessed since I was a bit nervous a while ago and my expression shifted to that of glee and elation.
As for me and my opinion on joining my party, I digress. I think joining a party would be much better than flying solo since I could get a lot of experience points just by sitting around. Honestly, this is one of the best perks that the System ever gave me.
"What do they call it again... oh, idle games. This is like an idle video game, I think." I muttered to myself as I followed the group, running towards the densest parts of the forest. "So I just have to watch them from afar and as long as they are in my party, I would earn all the experience points they gained."
So far, this is the only advantageous thing that the System gave me. After ten levels of pure hard work, I guess I deserve at least this much. As I looked at Liu Zhi and the others who were panicking, my short-lived happiness was cut off in an instant and I joined them in their escape. Although they were strong, much stronger than I currently am, to be honest, I don't think they'd be able to take on forty screechers at once. '
kiieeehk!
kaaaahhhhk!
screeeech!
Multiple screeches and rushing could be heard from the thick foliage that surrounded us. The irritating noise that encompassed the forest was too bothersome that for a moment, I forgot what my current status was and thought of getting rid of all of them once and for all. A split second later, I remembered that I'm currently at the Fifth Level of the Spirit of Realm. That's why I decided to hold off my fury as I followed the trio.
Slash!
Fortunately, the screeched pouncing towards Liu Zhi's general direction was brought to attention by Wu Yan as she fired her flaming arrows towards it. It gave Liu Zhi enough leeway to act as he punched the screeched to oblivion.
"We gotta go faster! We can't stay here any longer!" Liu Zhi snapped, clearing the way forward with his fists and charging power.
"There are two coming to the right, we have to turn a little bit to the left and head towards there," I spoke towards Blade since both of us were holding the rear of the advancement.
Blade nodded towards me before catching up to Liu Zhi and telling him what I said.
"Right?" Liu Zhi muttered, then he turned his head in my direction. "Can we trust you on this one, Rui?"
I nodded. There was even no advantage for me if I lied since I knew that Wu Yan could detect them as well, however, her detection skills were not as good as mine though.