Chapter 61 - Hallucination

"That's a massive monster!" Aaron exclaims as soon the monster showed its figure.

It moves like a boulder, not by the mean of rolling, but with every move it makes, the cave trembles. It even looks more akin to titanic humans. It is more of a giant than an Evergreen Ape.

"L-Leader, that's the monster we must eradicate?" A man who trembles in question, quivering at the sight he makes to the Giant Evergreen Monkey.

Ning Fu nods as he grinned in delight. Aaron, who saw it ponder, dazed at Ning Fu who seems to be pleased rather than scared.

Everyone was expressing their worries. There might be no Evergreen Monkeys anymore, however, the foe they must defeat is one of an impossible feat to do.

No one would dare to injure this monster. Even worst, no one would challenge it. Its hands are way bigger than the average human size.

Aaron just inspected, observed Ning Fu since he felt strange about it. Ellena at the back was just preparing her sword, also thinking of a proper way to fight this monster. Although she can't think of a strategy, she was thinking of how to limit herself in exhausting from using her stamina.

She inquired Aaron, "Aaron, what do you think we should do? It's massive. Do you think blessing me would do a great job?"

However, Aaron didn't answer. Instead, he was trembling, widening his eyes while looking at Ning Fu.

Inside his mind, he was freaking out. Uncomposed by the situation, even he can't fathom that he was nervous.

'D-Did he smiles? It feels more like there is a kinship with these two!' He exclaims inwardly, anxious about the situation.

Even he was thinking of a way to defeat the monster, it wasn't important as it is impossible anyways to defeat it. It's similar to an S-rank monster. Ranking it to A is an understatement.

"Ellena, leave this place right away! Now!" Aaron exclaims, ordering Ellena to leave. However, Ellena who was preparing was dumbfounded by Aaron's words.

'What? Why? We can't defeat it?'

Aaron finally understood the situation. Although his comprehension of the situation was late, they still must leave immediately.

"We're going to die here!" Aaron yelled as he felt the threat towards Ellena's life. Unaware of why it was late, he seems to be confident of the premonition.

'Die? If you say so, what about other?' Ellena appears to be calm, even with being surprised earlier, she managed to fix her composure right away. However, Aaron knows the variable of the situation. Ever since they got to the tribe, he was vigilant of everything.

It was a mistake visiting the settlement. It made a huge crack in Ellena's path.

"Just leave-!" Before Aaron could continue his words, Ning Fu made a loud laugh, facing every people inside the cave.

'It can't be!' Aaron freaked out once again.

"Welcome! I present you, My Lady! All of you will become her food right now!" Ning Fu wickedly grinned, facing everybody.

"It's a trap!" Aaron exclaimed, only to Ellena hear everything he said.

"Everyone! Escape right away, it's a trap!" Ellena exclaims, however, everyone just looked at her in a dazed look.

"Trap? No way, that's the leader. He wouldn't do that to us."

"What are you talking about bitch? He just said that we will eat that monster. What are you spouting with nonsense?"

"Hahaha! Crazy! Have you gone mad with the venture?"

Everyone just laughed at Ellena, oblivious of her expression. They seem to not comprehend the situation. Even worse, they seem to understand it differently.

What just happened? Did they mishear her? What's happening? Aaron was just anxiously thinking. Words and ideas are popping out of nowhere, keeping him overwrought.

"Hm...? You are not affected by that vest?" Ning Fu gazed at Ellena with a confused expression.

"Affected? What do you mean?!" Ellena exclaimed in confusion, as she's starting to get tensed.

Ning Fu was thinking of something before answering her. "No way, your mental strength is unfathomable." Ning Fu hissed.

Although it was confusing for Ellena, Aaron understands everything. From the beginning, they were controlled by the leader. Even worse, they were brainwashed.

The effect of the vest, explains why is it strange. Even it was ceramic-looking, it was stronger than what was expected. And more of it, it has a different effect, perhaps brainwashing or hallucination.

"Obviously, I want to feed you to My Lady."

'So in the beginning, he was planning to trap his people. And Ellena was just a casualty of this scheme. Perhaps that bastard was thinking of how much he could feed off to his master.'

Ellena was starting to be frightened, can't help but tremble. Even the vest is starting to show its effect, she was hallucinating. Ning Fu's words became alternated, more into luring words.

"We are going to kill this monster, prepare your sword." Ellena prepared her sword, even ignoring Aaron's warning.

Because of what's happening, Aaron just cursed, then removed the vest on his own.

To Ning Fu's surprise, his eyes widen as the vest started to float on its own.

"What?!" He exclaims. "What's happening?!" Perplexed by it, he tried to head to Ellena to put back the vest, but he was too late, Aaron finally removed the vest, reporting Ellena to her mind.

'What was that? Why did the leader become a different person?' She asked as soon she came back to reality.

"How did you do it?" The leader was about to grab Ellena's neck but Ellena reacted immediately, moving backward 10 steps away.

Ning Fu was surprised more. Her movement was too fast that he haven't caught it.

However, he just sighed. "That's useless anyway. You won't escape this cave as I already cast the barrier." He went to the Giant Evergreen Ape's side as it grabs one of the men then ripped its upper body by biting it.

Ellena gasped. As blood sprayed out, Ellena fists were trembling in anger.

"How could you do that to your people?!" She yelled in furious, enraged at everything she just witnessed.

Ning Fu just laughed, "What? To my people? Why would I care about them? They're not even related to me in an inch."

Everyone except Ellena was just standing in front of the monster as if waiting to get eaten. Ellena has nothing to do. She knows that her current ability is not enough to kill that monster.

Staying still, she endured the scene, as if it was a nightmare for her.

Aaron, flying above Ellena mumbled, "If he's not him."

Ellena was confused about his words. "What do you mean?"

Even Ellena talked in loud voice, Ning Fu didn't bother it. He just thought of it was as if Ellena lost her mind even without the use of the vest.

"He'll not care an inch to these people if he was not him. He's impostor Ellena!"

As Aaron said it, he thought deeply. Deeply, enough to dig the deepest of his brain. Trying to extract every information he could get.

Ellena on the other hand was still perplexed.

Seconds later, Aaron talked again. "If it's a demon, there's no way it's impossible. Perhaps these monsters are not the effect of mating season, more of overflowing dungeon to be precise."

Ellena was stunned. She realized that she was carefree of everything. Being oblivious of the warning of Aaron, she cursed in anger.

"Shit!"

Ning Fu who was watching the monster eat the men saw Ellena swearing. He just grinned. "Don't worry... Just wait there, you will soon get your time."

Ning Fu felt victory, but little did he know, outside the cave, a group of people in fighting outfits was lining up.. They appear to be an organization as their garments and armors are similar, except the unique looking men in front who appears to be executive of that group.