Chapter 118 Awakening Ii

The Dire Hammer kills monsters for a living. Old, young, male, and female. Whichever it is, so long as it is not human, they are bound to kill it, and in some cases capture it alive.

It was clear to them that whatever is in the red cocoon before them isn't human. Another thing they also got from it is that it is not something they can easily capture.

As something they knew they couldn't capture, they resorted to using the first option, to take it out before it poses any threats.

"is it dead".

Riley asked, straining his eyes to try and see past the smoke the cocoon had been covered in, a result of their attack.

"no, it's still beating, I can hear it".

Dexter confirmed the cocoon's condition by paying close listening ears to any sound it could have made, and when he had affirmed that it survived their combined attack, he responded to Riley.

"I knew it was dangerous the moment I set my eyes on it, but surviving our combined attack with Caren's buff is something I did not expect it to do".

Riley and Dexter corresponding with each other, backed away from the cocoon, making as much distance between them as they could. Their expression underwent an abrupt change as a drop of sweat fell down from Dexter's chin.

"Riley..."

"I know. Whatever is in that cocoon, is about to make its way outside".

Although they couldn't see the cocoon as it was still being covered by the smoke, they felt movements from it.

The energy they had felt in the cocoon beating so ferociously, was now slowly leaking out, enough to tell them that it's hatching moments had began.

"should we attact before it completes hatching".

Riley asked, still holding his sword close to him and his gaze not moving an inch away from the smoke.

"we already did that earlier and it did nothing. If anything, it just made things worse".

"then should we just watch as it completes its hatching and puts us all in danger".

"we can't do that either. The chances of us surviving a direct contact with it is relatively slim".

"well then, what should we do".

"i don't know Riley. Why do you keep asking me that when you are the supposed leader of the party".

Dexter snapped at Riley as he was in a tense position to continue occupying each and very question from Riley.

It's not as if Riley does not have a plan laid down for this sort of situation. He does, the only problem is that the settings of the place they are in does not really go well with his plan.

The cocoon managed to take their attack head on, but was not at all affected by it. The next course of action, obviously is to increase the firepower but in doing so, they might bring the walls down on themselves.

The location they are currently in, is a really enclosed space where they cannot afford the luxury of causing much damage to it unless they are ready to risk the walls collapsing on them.

There is also Dana and Nadea in their care, they cannot let any harm come to them no matter the costs.

If it was only the party here, increasing the firepower is a risk they would be willing to go with. But with Dana and Nadea here?....., it's too risky an option to abide by.

"sigh........"

Riley raised his sword downward, giving himself room to collect his thoughts and think of a more preferable ways to solve the problems before them.

"Caren, take the kids and get out of here as fast as you can".

He was done thinking too far on it, and had come up with an appropriate solution for what they are facing.

He thought of asking Dexter to take care of the kids, but his help would be highly profitable here than escorting the kids out.

Asking Caren to do the job, was also not something he had an easy time deciding on.

When facing a monster, unexpected situations are meant to arise, and the white mage who has the ability to heal any wound is needed around to deal with said unexpected situations.

She is like an extra arm and leg for the Dire Hammer, asking her to leave them is the same as saying they don't need an extra arm, which in their current situation they are really in need of.

"how will you guys manage here without me".

Caren knew how important she is to the team, and how beneficial her staying would greatly help the team, that is why she asked, wanting to make sure Riley is not being too delusional with his decision making.

"we will make do without you until you get back. The children's safety comes first".

"so is getting rid of this monster. Do you guys realize how defenseless you will be putting yourselves into if I were to leave you and go".

Caren was not convinced with Riley's decision and was willing to stay even if it meant the kids being in danger.

Whatever is coming out of that cocoon, they have no knowledge of. The only plausible thing they know is that it's dangerous, and must not be allowed to come out.

If Caren were to leave, Riley's and Dexter's chances of killing it would drop drastically, that could mean endangering not just their own lives, but the lives of those in the city, if the monster does get outside.

She wasn't ready to let that happen. She as a devote believer of the Gods, was thought to prioritize saving the majority over the minority, sacrifices must be made for the greater good of all, and that good is dependent on the situation.

"I am staying, and nothing you say can change that".

"listen to me Caren, this is not the time to be stubborn. Take the kids out of here, and come back for us".

Riley turned his head towards Caren, and in anger he yelled out at her. She had always proven to be very stubborn and unwilling to listen, but he wasn't going to tolerate her behavior given the current situation they are entangled in.

"it will be too late if I leave with the kids. The monster have to be taken down before any of us gets out of here. You can ask Dexter to take them away, because I won't be doing that".

"Caren....."

"guys?...., I think it's already too late. The monster is already out of its cocoon".

Dexter broke the hot tension that was erupting between Riley and Caren by giving them the worst possible news they needed to hear at the moment.

They both turned their gaze over to the cocoon that had already shed out the monster living in it.

A monster covered in slimy substance, it's height taller than the kids by only two inches, having a deep red wine color with its red long hair reaching to his feet and covering his face. The visible deadly sharpened claws on its fingers, and the slanted crimson pupils that shone brightly beyond the hair covering it.

This monster stood still, with its head raised up but still covered by hair, making no movements and only emanating an Aura of dominance claiming ownership on where they stood.

The Dire Hammer members being exposed to its Aura, trembled in tremendous fear and could feel a pressure trying to press them down to their knees.

The Dire Hammer for the first time in their lives, felt the need to want to succumb to the elegant presence of a monster, the one who stood tall with a dignified conduct.