Chu Mal-Chin made a small camp for himself high in the trees as he slowly recovered his lost mana.
The sun was beginning to set, and he could feel the seal slowly becoming undone.
After pushing the 2 down there, the system dinged happily.
[Congrats for completing the quest! Though the plot line isn't completely fixed, it has certainly cemented your image as a bastard in their minds >_
Chu Mal-Chin felt a pang of guilt. He felt that even though Samuel was a tad annoying, they would have become good friends if they had met normally.
[Don't overthink things Chu Mal Chin. Thinking complicates things. ^_^] The system chimed in before promptly disappearing.
"…" This system was abit eccentric.
——
Clearing through a group of undead skeletons, Samuel wiped the sweat off his brow.
A small explosion was heard as Andras emerged from the rising dust, the blood had spattered over his suit jacket. Thus causing him to take it off, and neatly store it in his sub space.
Sirvana's main weapon was a whip, but she didn't have it on her currently so she stole a sword from a skeleton undead and nimbly jumped around. Her long red hair was tied in a ponytail, as she fluttered around like a butterfly.
Soon, the undead were cleared out, and a passageway opened.
Stopping to catch a breath, they soon resumed their journey.
"Seeing the amount of undead around here, the hidden boss probably specializes in mental/dark related abilities." Andras examined the musty smelling walls with an unpleasant expression. "If Mallory was here, he would have made this so much easier."
"Mallory?" Samuel turned towards Andras.
"My secretary, he was the one who socked Orchid in the gut." Andras smiled bitterly. "He always carries around a dungeon inspecting item."
Samuel explored through his brain as he remembered the time when Orchid ran right into a serious looking man's fist.
Was that act of foolery apart of his plan as well? Goodness, how long had he been planning?
As if reading Samuel's thoughts, Andras answered him.
"He probably was aiming for this all along. The whole entire act of foolery let our guards down as we assumed he was in the same position as us. Him also knowing about this hidden area proves my point. Orchid has an eerily accurate intelligence provider, or he deduced the situation quickly before all of us." Andras explained to the oblivious Sirvana as well.
"Even I was slightly inclined to believe him. All those acts of joking and questions were probably also a ploy as well." Andras grimly stated.
Samuel bit his lip. Though shameful to admit, he had also fell towards his ploys and actually almost…just almost considered him an acquaintance.
Sirvana looked at the both of time before sighing. "Think about it later, no use worrying about the future of the present is uncertain."
Samuel's mood raised abit at Sirvana's blunt but smart personality, and smiled.
"Thanks Sirvana." He meekly said before he continued on. Sirvana scoffed, embarrassed before following behind.
Andras felt like he was eating dog food.
{(Chinese slang for watching public display of affection.)}
—-
When they finally had passed through a maze they encountered, a large underground dome emerged.
A field of black and withered grass greeted them, as an ugly egg shaped blob shivered in the middle.
"That must be the boss." Samuel unsheathed his sword wearily as he looked around.
"…" Andras stayed silent. The mental ability that could temporarily seal SS ranks came from an unborn egg? Even though it probably wasn't physically strong, it was quite frightening to think of what would happen if it managed to grow fully.
The trio carefully walked towards the black egg, after testing to see if the grass was safe to touch.
Andras was prepared for the egg to hatch at any moment, but as they got closer and closer, nothing happened.
Andras frowned, while Samuel activated his ability. He was the most suitable person to destroy a dark type egg.
Just as his sword glimmered in the dark dome and was about to descend, a defeating roar was heard that shook the trio to their core.
A huge black serpent shot up from somewhere in the grass, as the 80 meter long snake showed its true body.
Samuel was already half expecting something like this, so he jumped back and rejoined Sirvana and Andrew.
Although big, the snake was shocking fast as it relentlessly lunged towards the group.
"Samuel, me and Sirvana will distract it! Just try to gather your ability!" Andras shouted at Samuel and Sirvana, they both agreed hastily and went some distance from each other.
Sirvana leaped onto the snake lightly, trying to stab her sword into the snake's diamond like scales. Although it was of no use, it managed to anger the serpent enough to switch attention onto her.
Dodging nimbly, she ducked as a chunk of the wall behind her collapsed from the snake's tail.
Seeing how Sirvana's ability was limited, Andras dashed forward as his figure disappeared and reappeared near the serpent's eyes.
Sensing the danger, the snake flicked its tail, which Andras hastily dodged.
"Andras! Isn't the boss supposed to be physically weak but mentally strong!?" Samuel asked as he tried to sneak up behind the snake, to no avail.
"I was wrong to think that common deductions applied to an SS ranked gate. However, the egg must be the true boss, the serpent must be a bodyguard of sorts." Andras landed close to Sirvana and Samuel. His instincts told him the egg was the true boss.
"Change plans, Samuel, focus the egg." Andras leaped away again, as the snake again swung its tail mercilessly.
Switching the attention back onto her again, Sirvana managed to dodge the serpent's tail, but she didn't noticed the chunk of rock that fell from the ceiling.
Clenching her teeth, she raised her sword and got into a defensive position, but it was too late.
The rock hit her severely and the snake saw the opportunity and swiped its deadly tail again, smashing Sirvana into the wall.
If Sirvana's S ranked constitution was just a little bit weaker, she would have died instantly. However, she fell unconscious in her heavily wounded state.
"Sirvana!" Samuel couldn't go over to check up on her, as the snake's attention would focus on her again, so he could only relay on Andras to stall the snake.