Chapter 118 - Days CCCXLIII - CCCL

The hunt started very early. We made the necessary arrangements and headed out with the equipment split between two carts. We were so damn quick, that the rest of the hunters barely managed to organize themselves by the time we probably were around the gate leading to wolves' territory.

A few hours later we heard the first howl, and soon after the first dog was slain by us, and the assault began. With more of them gathering and charging at us in groups from different directions.

The battle was long since they kept coming, even from far away. Eventually, it ended though. We had some time to collect the crystals, grab some food, and push forward.

It was way past midday when we finally reached the cave.

- How far are we going? - Will asked before we entered.

- How far can we go?

- All the way to the end?

I nodded with my head. Then we lit up the torches and went inside pulling the carts slowly behind us. Sone more wolves attacked us, and another long fight started. This time though, there was no strange dog hanging around the edge of the torchlight.

We kept pressing on, choosing which way to go. This time we picked the right side, and eventually found ourselves at the dead end. The black wolves with red marks didn't show up though. We had to turn around and look for a different way.

Since we were checking tunnels one by one it took us some time, and we quickly realized that the farthest ones on the sides didn't end up this way. As we made it closer and closer to the middle, we had to walk more, and more as tunnels were getting longer.

Eventually, we encountered the first black ones, and the real party started. Before we dealt with the first duo, they managed to call for reinforcements, and soon we found ourselves in a tough position, being swarmed by this stronger type of wolves.

The fight was hard because of their incredible speed and strength of their bites. Claws were also not to be messed with. I got wounded few times but healed myself quickly. Not having to worry about Will, who was actually fighting on a pair with me, was an incredible difference.

We spend a long time there. Cutting down each of the enemies gifted with such incredible speed was not easy, and they eventually accumulated. In the beginning, it was disadvantageous for us, but as more of them came, the space became too small for all of us, and they kept interrupting each other. At that point, we were able to kill many of them.

Eventually, though, the numbers got smaller, and they regained enough space to show their strongest trait. We also were a bit worn down by the constant fighting, so it all got a bit more challenging. 

In the end, we came out victorious but also realized the reality of our hunt this place. There was no way of us killing the boss if dealing with the minions was so hard. We were forced to retreat, with carts full of crystals. That day we gained 672 stones, and a few more people pissed at us for clearing almost the whole spot just by ourselves.

After splitting and sealing I earned 84 000 points. It was just a drop of water in the vast ocean of what I needed.

We both were not content with the score, but with all of the arrangements already in progress, there was no other choice, but to stick through it, and build ourselves over time.

The next seven days passed in the same manner. With us heading as soon as possible to the woods, and clearing up the wolves' den as far as we could, without aiming at the boss. We eventually found where he was. There was a descending staircase, which ended with a silver door, guarded by two giant, completely black wolves.

They were the size of a truck and had incredible strength, but were relatively slow. We took them down without much trouble and had a better look at the door. The symbol of the tree was clearly carved in. Going inside was tempting, but we remained patient and didn't enter.

By the last day, I managed to collect 1 368 750 more points. 868 750 from my part of stones we gathered, and 500 000 was given back to me by Will. With that, I reached 2 492 491 points on my account.

I put a million points in my Shadow walk skill. I really didn't like to use it, but it was definitely useful. Then I dumped 900 500 points in my strength statistic, upgrading it 200 times. The change was so damn powerful, that I had to spend a solid minute on the ground wiggling like a dying fish because of my muscles just twitching uncontrollably.

It brought Will so much joy, you have no idea.

Then I also put a 325 250 in my constitution, rising it up 100 times. This change was a bit less impactful, but I still could feel the surge of energy changing my physicality. It was a strange and unpleasant feeling.

With that finally out of the way, we decided to grab some beers in Will's room and talk about the future.

- So tomorrow we try to kill the boss? - he asked while sitting down on a chair he pulled to the table.

I was sitting on the other side, occupying the couch.

- Yeah.

- I would feel more confident if we would grab few class points before, but I guess that out of the question for now.

- Yeah. People are more and more pissed at us by each day. Good thing they have others to be pissed at too.

- Actually, Hatta contacted me, and suddenly he has people really wanting to join Wuxia - he said with a smile. - Few more days and everything will calm down.

- Few more days and other groups will start coming at us.

- Not at us. Other groups have way better spots. Bushido will have it rough because they are occupying the goblin cave. By the way, few decent guys from Wuxia died at their first attempt to kill the rat boss.

- That's something we could expect. That thing is... 

- Yeah. I know. It's not fast, but the fact he just appears behind you and there is only a split-second window for the reaction... They probably didn't expect that. We should have warned them.

- Maybe - I shrugged. - Or maybe not. When you go for the boss you should expect unexpected.

- Yeah. I get it, but still... People died. We could at least give them bigger chances.

- Wuxia is full of traitors. We don't even have the slightest idea of how deep it all even runs. They could be on Blue's side.

- Yeah... That's that. I forgot about Williams.

- We should hope they don't do anything before we take out their head. We should start thinking about finding him. I had a good opportunity when he visited me. Now I regret not taking it.

- I know that's kinda ridiculous, but sometimes I think that maybe we go a bit too hard on that guy...

- Yes, Will. That's ridiculous. He killed Zhang Yong.

- I know, but besides that, he didn't really do any harm.

- Because he didn't have time! According to Blitzkrieg, he wanted to enslave the whole city. Would you like to be a slave?

- Blitzkrieg wasn't the most reliable source of information.

- Maybe, but he didn't lie about the poison.

- Yeah... I guess you are right about that.

Then he suddenly laughed. I looked at him, a bit surprised.

- What the heck?

- It's just... I not too long ago was dealing drugs, you know?

- I know. You told me about that.

- All I was worried about was money, and the police. Now I'm planing an assassination of some guy I barely know, without troubling myself with nothing else but my own consciousness. Can you believe it?

- I was a college dropout with no future, and now I'm planing the assassination too.

- Ok, maybe your situation is even more strange. On the other hand college, dropouts are famous for doing incredible stuff like becoming billionaires and stuff - he said with a smile.

- Yeah... Money. Leaving without it is way better.

- Oh, yes. Fuck money. If only we could drop by the local park, smack few goblins, and have enough points to feed ourselves back on earth.

I laughed.

- Can you imagine someday coming back to earth with your upgraded body?

- I think about it all the time. I would find my boy first and showed him how cool his dad has become. Then made it to the television. You know, all those talk shows. I would flex my power, then got some sponsors to advertise them, and got rich. It would be awesome.

- Yeah. I guess.

- What about you? What would you do, Peter?

- Me? I don't know.

- Oh come on.

That was a beginning of an even longer conversation, full of jokes and stories. We needed to prepare ourselves mentally for the next day. Facing the unknown brought a certain amount of anxiety along, and we had to somehow deal with it.

The truth was, we both were scared of what was waiting behind the silver doors. It could be our death.

Day ended with 266 541 points remaining on my account.