Chapter 75 - Desmond Cemetery 1_3

"[Fire Javelin]" Kimi attacked Grey Head Ape with a Spell.

The monster was aware of the danger that came, moved its body to make a defense.

I, who saw the thing it do, run to approach the monster that survived with my Silver Spear. I don't want my existence to be noticed by the monster. So, I always move by utilizing its blind spot. Thanks to that, I was able to get close to the monster unnoticed.

"[Impale]"

As the monster was caught on fire, I launched the Silver Spear to pierce its left rib.

"Ukyo!" The monster screamed.

It swung its arm to attack me but I didn't let that monster hit me. I took two steps back to dodge. Then, I kicked the ground to propel myself forward! At the same time, I unsheathed the Silver Sword.

I shot like a bullet! And the powerful swing I made managed to cut the monster's throat. 

And yes, I didn't stop to attack.

Shortly after I cut Grey Head Ape's throat, I stopped then I twisted my body and re-launched a spear attack on the monster.

"[Red Piercing]"

"Ukyo..."

This time, I managed to stab the monster in the head through its eyes. The monster's body convulsed for seconds before finally falling to the ground.

< Spear Mastery level up! 2 to 3 >

[ Spear Mastery |Lvl - 3 ] [Passive]

[ + Gives access to World Memory to gain knowledge about Spears Arte III. 

+ When using spears increase the damage and speed of attacks by 30%.]

< Acquired a skill! Sword Mastery |Lvl - 1 >

[ Sword Mastery |Lvl - 1 ] [Passive]

[ + Gives access to World Memory to gain knowledge about Swords Arte I. 

+ When using spears increase the damage and speed of attacks by 10%.]

Oh! Level up skills and new skills!

That was good news but now, I don't have time to check it out. I need to help the other!

I just defeated one monster and there are still six others that still standing.

So, I ran once again, I approach three Gray Head Ape faced by Alan and Chloe.

"[Rock Skin]" shouted Alan, shortly before Grey Head Ape's sharp claws cut his arm.

Rock Skin is a Defensive Spell from Earth Element.

The Spell will make someone's skin becomes hard like a stone. The Spell works for intercepting low tiers of Arte and Spells.

So, thanks to that Skill, Alan didn't get any serious injuries and just red marks like being slapped by a girl.

The boy then gave a counterattack!

He managed to injure the monster's leg and make the monster fall to its knees.

Taking advantage of the opportunity created, Chloe uses a Spell. "[Where Rope]"

One-meter-wide Magic Circle appeared under the monster's feet. Dozens of blue ropes came out of it to tie up the monster in its place.

Alan turned his attention to the other two Grey Head Ape. Lifting his shield, he fended off their attacks. At the same time, he launches an Arte to make counterattacks.

I keep running and finally, I arrived!

Instantly, I attacked one of the Grey Head Ape that fought with Alan using my spear. 

"Thank you, Sis Eclaite," said Alan.

"Save it for later, Alan. These monsters are not dead yet, [Flash Swing]"

Using flash swing which is the second and strongest form of Fast Swing, I tore both arms of Grey Head Ape. Then, I connected the attacks with a Spell.

"[Wind Cannon]"

"Ukyo!"

Grey Head Ape flew like a rocket after receiving the Spell that I launched from below directly.

The monster died after its head hit the ground as it fell.

< Level up! 4 to 5 >

Level up! Great! But it's not the time to celebrate!

I turned around, to help the kids fight the other Grey Head Ape. However and It seems, my help isn't needed.

They've already killed those two monsters!

Their growth is pretty scary! 

I moved my head to look at Ruciel and... Surely, she doesn't need my help. The Fallen Elf girl had already slaughtered the three monsters using her arrows.

That way, our fight is over. 

We managed to capture the stone gazebo which became the hangout place of these monkeys.

Dozens of minutes later, we finished taking out their Magic Stones. And now is the time for us to check out the stone gazebo.

And yes, this stone gazebo also existed in Ark Fantasy Online. Then I said, the buildings in the two places were relatively similar.

The dome's roof was dark green, six gray pillars were decorated with dragon statues, and a large Magic Circle was engraved on the gazebo floor. That's the building I'm referring to.

Yup! No doubt, this is the building that will lead us to Desmond Cemetery!

"This is an unusual Magic Circle," said Ruciel, who crouched down to carefully examine part of the Magic Circle.

"You're right, Ruciel. This was a special Magic Circle created using ancient language! Isn't that amazing?"

"Maybe I can say amazing, and... Is this Magic Circle some kind of Teleportation Spell?"

"Unfortunately not," I shook my head. "This Magic Circle will only show us illusions."

I walked over and stopped in the middle of the stone gazebo. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Magic Circle was active and radiating rainbow light.

"Look." I pointed to one of the Stone Gazebo's entrances.

In that entrance, there is a curtain or maybe a screen that shows the scenery of a cemetery.

Ruciel and the other moved their head. A moment later, they were surprised by the phenomenon. 

The child instantly approached the illusion. And to satisfy the curiosity in their hearts, the three little ones didn't hesitate to touch the curtains of illusion.

Sadly for them, the curtains of illusion were untouchable. Their hands passed through the scenery that being showed just like that.

"That was certainly interesting," said Ruciel, who looked at the illusory curtains with interest. "Speak up, what are we going to do next?"

"We go into the curtains of illusion and keep heading straight until we find another stone gazebo," I explained.

"Huh? We didn't get to Desmond Cemetery?"

"Unfortunately not, we need to pass through four more stone gazebos before we get there."

"Okay... What would happen if we didn't walk straight?"

"We will go back to this place or to the edge of the forest that is the entrance of this misty meadow. Therefore, we will focus on proceeding to keep heading straight. We will ignore the monsters along the way and try our best to avoid the fight. But, we will still need to fight if in the next stone gazebo we meet other monsters. You also have to remember, we have to stay together along the way. Don't let us be separated! Do you understand?"

Four people nodded to answer my question. Then, our journey began.

For tens of minutes, we walked from one stone gazebo to another. 

We avoided and escaped from a dozen monsters.

And we were lucky, of the four stone gazebos we had to go through, only two were guarded by Grey Head Apes.

We had a journey without much challenge!

In the end, we reached Desmond Cemetery after we passed the last curtains of illusion.

Desmond Cemetery.

This place was similar to the Mist Forest Ebua. A tree with no leaves and a white mist that limits visibility. However, two things distinguish the two places. 

Here at Desmond Cemetery, there are hundreds or maybe thousands of tombstones of varying shapes and sizes.

In addition to the tombstone, the difference that excited is the biting cold. This place was much colder than the Mist Forest Ebua.

"It's an awfully vast cemetery," Ruciel commented and looked at me. "Are you sure there is no undead here?"

"Yes, I'm sure," I replied with a nod to my head.

"Okay then. Now, where are we going?"

Getting that question, I raised my hand to point somewhere. "We're going to follow that black tombstone!"

"Why?"

"For that black tombstone will lead us to a place that holds abundant treasures!"

"Are there monsters in that place? Do you know what monsters are there?"

"Absolutely," I replied with a nod to my head. "We're going to face those apes monsters again. However, this time, we also have to face Headless Ape, Headless Ape Chieftain, and Decaying Illusion Peshrooms. Those monsters are quite dangerous."

"Wait a minute, Headless Ape?" Ruciel asked. She then gave me a sharp look. "You said that this place has no undead!"

"That's right, Desmond Cemetery does not have undead. Headless Ape is a living monster. It's just that, they have a strange or frightening form. The monster's face was on their bodies, right on the chest and abdomen. Those monsters can also spurt fire from their mouths."

Ruciel's body trembled and her long ears made a strong jolt after she heard my explanation about the monster.

"Can we not go to that place?" She asked in a soft voice.

"Why?" I asked back. "Are you afraid?"

"No! Of course not! I'm not afraid! I feel disgusted at that monster!"

"You don't have to be ashamed if you're afraid."

"I told you, I'm not afraid, I feel disgusted!" She was screaming and she was cute when doing that.

The girl try to convince or rather forced me to accept her claims using her sharp gaze and angry-cute expression.

"Okay then. Now, let's explore that underground tomb!"

"No!"

"I thought you were not scared."

"I'm not scared! The kids are exhausted, so we have to rest. And didn't you realize it? The night is coming!"

"Oh! I just realized that! And that is why for some time the kids didn't make any noise."