Chapter 459: Deadly danger

"Then let us start!" Evale shouted and the players shouted randomly as a sort of morale boost. 

Standing by the side, Eldrian watched all this with complex feelings. He looked at the players who seemed to really consider this just a quest and envied that simplistic thought process.  And he looked at them being willing to die for this quest with pride. 

Turning to Cephaphyr Eldrian combed through his mane and said, "Let's start too, remember, wait for me to start and try to follow what I do. Our aim is to do one massive attack and retreat. Also, started the telepathic link."

'Roger!' Cephaphyr replied as he changed into his true form, spread his wings, and soared into the sky with Eldrian on his back. The two quickly flew higher and higher, until soon the forest became a small dot as they hid behind the clouds. 

They waited for the distraction spell, their signal, and Eldrian kept reading the guild chat while waiting. 'They have really become adept at using it, though it makes sense. If people can do it on a keyboard, then, when it requires just a few instances of thinking it should be far easier.'

[{Elizabeth} - Judith! Get their attention! ]

Naturally, behind Judith was an entire squad of warriors who charged at the undead and killed 5 of them just from their charge before retreating. 

[{Judith} - We got their attention, coming your way Therdul!]

[{Ilmadia} - Spells are at the ready, message when you passed the explosion range.]

A few seconds passed and the new message appeared, [{Judith} - We just entered it, ready your spells!]

Just a second later, [{Ilmadia} - Fire!]

With that, on the ground, a massive explosion appeared as the entire group (18 skeletons) were blasted to pieces. From where Eldrian and Ceph were waiting it looked just like a small flicker of a flame. 

[{Zyviss} - A second and third group are coming. Including one Flaming Reanimate!]

[{Elizabeth} - That is sooner than we expected, sending the signal.]

Casting Flare, a light so bright that even in the middle of the day it was visible from afar. Even Eldrian could see it clearly, like the reflection of a mirror. 

Seeing the signal, the mage standing and waiting started casting his spell. As the Flaming Reanimate was about to run into Therdul's group of tanks, a massive hail of ice appeared and rained down on it. 

The first wave of ice melted before even reaching the reanimate's flames, however, the second made it without a problem and the third started hitting it at full force. 

[{Elizabeth} - Eldrian, now! Evale is about to launch her arrow!]

Nodding, Eldrian closed the chat so he wouldn't be distracted and patted Ceph's side. "It is time for us to do our thing. Let's go!"

Ceph nodded and turned his body nearly perpendicular to the ground, folding his wings and letting gravity do its work while adding some wind magic to increase their speed. 

If not for the bubble that Ceph always kept active when carrying Eldrian, Eldrian was certain he would have long since been blown away. 

As they closed half the distance, a massive explosion occurred in the deforested area where the fight was taking place. Certain to draw the undead's attention, the two silently entered the forest and stopped next to one of the Spirited Ackley trees. 

'Right, Ceph, see if you can have the trees' connection be used against them!' Eldrian shouted mentally as he rushed to the tree they had landed next to.

He immediately sent out his mana in waves, not immediately turning it into a spell but rather just filling the tree and doing his best to push it into the network. 

It immediately felt like his mind was stuck in quicksand as the network fought against him. However, Eldrian wasn't new to such a feeling. Pushing even harder, he focused on a simple idea. To have his mana spread. 

He didn't try to perfectly imagine the network or keep track of what was where. He just pushed his mana into it recklessly and followed this simple idea. 

The simpler it was, the less the network managed to fight it. 

Ceph did the same, however, to him this was far easier. The trees had welcomed his presence and immediately allowed him to connect with them all. They screamed at the little alicorn to end their suffering, causing tears to flow as he cursed that he couldn't save them. 

"I'm SORRY!" The sound filled the entire forest, as a quake started and thousands of trees turned to ash. 

Eldrian sent his mana along with the weakened network, searching for the source. As he did, a crippling fear clutched at his heart so he immediately detonated all his mana by having it take on the form of Thora. 

"Ceph, hurry. Something is coming!" Eldrian shouted as he jumped onto Ceph who flew into the air.

Behind them a massive demon charged. It was over four meters tall and two meters wide, and its wings were easily twice its length. 

{"How dare you interrupt my plans!"} It shouted in a demonic language that no one understood as it gave chase. Quickly closing the distance between the pair. 

Just as its outstretched hands were about to grab hold of Ceph's tail, an arrow pierced its heart and sent it crashing into the trees. Its curses filled the forest as the two disappeared from its view. 

...

"That was too dangerous, I can't believe there was still a devil prince in the forest!" Evale shouted as the two landed on the walls. Her heart was racing as fear rushed through her. 

"That isn't the worst though," Eldrian said and Evale's mind failed to accept this.

"That isn't the one who controls the network." Eldrian mumbled as he climbed off of Ceph and slumped against the wall. Taking out a few sweets for Ceph to enjoy while they rested. 

The players were all also retreating as more and more undead charged at them in furry. The effects of what Eldrian and Ceph had done were clear for all to see. 

Before the camp, where there used to be just 500 meters of clearing, there was now another 3 kilometers. There were still some trees and plants in these areas, but far less than before. The forest now looked like a patchy beard. 

Finally, after managing to calm his raging heart and mana, Eldrian looked at the quest log and started laughing like a madman. 

[Quest: Fighting Back]

[Part 1:  Completed]

[Part 2: Areas Cleared = 439/826 (398)] (AN: The (#) is the personal contribution)

[Part 3: Areas Cleared = 54/200 (54)]

[Part 4: Areas Cleared = 4/800 (4)]

'That... That is far more than I expected.' Eldrian mumbled after finally managing to stop laughing.

'Should I renegotiate with Elizabeth? Nah, they deserve the reward for not backing down and immediately standing behind me.'

Of course, when Elizabeth learned of their haul she might want to offer some to Eldrian. Who would be shameless enough to just accept such a reward without sharing it with the greatest contributor?

The total reward from this one day would come near to a thousand gold (749). This was an insane amount for any player. In fact, Eldrian doubted that there was anyone else who had managed to make such a large amount in a month, not to mention one day.

AN: A big thanks to everyone who continues to support this novel on WN.