Chapter 258: Met Again

And it wasn't just the massively Evolved Kruthik. If it's not a dozen, then, there must be at least a couple hundred of the smaller ones that followed the Evolved Kruthik.

After the Evolved destroyed the entrance of the cave, it pokes its head and roared seeing an uninvited guest looming around in one of their cave. Its roar blasted the crystals that were growing around the cave, it also pushed some of the smaller ones far at the end of the cave.

But Ned and Katolin held. They held against the beast's anger.

But its entrance hasn't ended yet. Seeing Katolin in her beast mode, the massive Kruthik knew, she was an arachne. So it hissed with its dark and yeast-infested teeth.

Kruthik were born enemies of the inhabitants of the Hive. Meeting the one that almost wiped out her team and her almost dying, Katolin's resolve to destroy the Evolved Kruthik reached its peak. Perhaps, her new strength gave her confidence, but at the same time, she was blinded by it. Having to taste the power Ned gave her, Katolin responded to the Evolved Kruthik by punching its face with four of her limbs reinforced with mana.

The punch pushed its head that made a gap between them and its head. Having given the chance to escape, Ned dashed to the gap with him pulling Katolin.

"I know," Ned said without looking at her. "But we need to leave. It is too much for us."

In a proper hunting team, there must be at least someone that could pull the aggressiveness of the beast-like warriors and knights, then one would attack from behind like rangers and mages. Additional support would strengthen the team with their support spell, or magical items, or potions.

But there were only two of them. Judging from Katolin's physique (in her beast form) and abilities she was a frontline warrior with spells as her support. Ned had to determine yet if on her human form she was some sort of rouge type or an elemental mage.

As for Ned, he was trained to fight the brute beast. Exactly the one that they have encountered. He might use Vanishing Stance if he finds it weak spot, but Brute Stance would fare against its massive body. But judging by the digits on his display, he might want to stay and analyze the pattern of its movements to fully determine its weaknesses. But, no. He has been using Overclock for quite some time. He could conjure Fireballs perhaps Egnious with his mana flowing at 3, 878 and increasing. But Ned was his mind; he knew his limit. His energy was 40% and decreasing. Escape was the only option for them.

But, how could they?

If hundreds of smaller Kruthik were waiting for them.

The massive cave... No, it was more like a ruined plaza. Shattered monoliths, crumbling pillars, and a castle over the horizon. All these under a dome of complete darkness above them. The only light was coming from the crystals affixed on the walls. These were mana stones in raw form but rougher in edges. Surrounding this underground dome, at the base of the walls were entrances to other caves.

In the middle of the ruined plaza, where the ground adorned with cracks, were the Kruthiks standing motionless as though waiting for someone to command them. They were neatly forming a file with the tip of the spikes on their shoulder were aligned side-by-side. Looking from above they were like soldiers nurtured with discipline.

Ned looked behind him. Looking for any openings that would aid their escape. The Kruthiks that were closer to them were screeching but doing nothing.

"What now?" Katolin started, voice muffled under her exoskeleton crafted helmet. She was at least back with her self.

"You remain focus," Ned replied. His eyes sweeping the surrounding, from the ceiling to the walls, and back to the cave where they came from. "I don't want you going enraged."

Katolin lowered her shoulder all the while her limbs were retracting back.

Ned wanted to go hard on her. But remembering her recent tragedy, Ned would scold her to a minimum.

A barrage of roar produced behind them.

They both spun in unison.

The massive Kruthik's spikes stabbed the ground as it tried to twist its body to face Ned Katolin.

Ned said, "How was your mana?"

Katolin said, "Fine. My mana is around half of yours. But I can still produce magic for quite some time. Half a day perhaps. Longer with the thick mana here."

Her voice was stern as her face was the same. But looking at Ned, she smiled after she dissolved her scale-like helmet but not the exoskeleton wrapping her like armor. She needed the defense.

A day? Ned thought and involuntarily tilted his head. If it's half of mine then that would be around 2, 000 in digits. Yet, she said she can manage to use them for half a day?

Still, they could not take the massive Kruthik with just the two of them.

The massive beast successfully angled itself in a charging position. Horns around its eyes, forehead, and triangular snouts were ready for a charge.

And so the beast charged with its roar as the cue.

Ned and Katolin's ground was slightly elevated which enabled Ned to perceive an opening in the ruined castle. This opening was once the gate of the castle. At a distance of around a hundred and fifty meters, darkness clad the ruined castle. But there was no other way. The exits around the dome were heavily guarded by the Kruthiks, and it would take a great amount of force both physically and mentally to reach these exits. Also, the gaps between the Kruthiks in the middle of the ruined plaza was enough for them to pass through. Still, there were hundreds of the smaller ones were stationed in the middle, unmoving.

"Shit!"

Ned rounded Katolin while he curses. Producing his sword in his hand, Ned acted as both a knight and a warrior.

"I'll take him," Ned said in a hurried note. He then brandished the broken Butterfly. "Try to make a part going to the castle."

Katolin nodded, no time to take on grudges at the moment. But before she transformed into her beast form, she gazed at the charging beast. She then reinforced her legs with mana: both her human legs and the arachne legs behind her back.

She has been using mana a lot ever since she got to learn how to use her abilities and spells. Ned steeled his thoughts and let Katolin do her job without thinking too much she might go Mana Burned.

And so Ned dashed to meet the charging beast.