Chapter 287: On the Surface

Ned entered a series of tunnels until he reached the exit.

The Hive was made with many different exits but only a handful of them leads to the real passage outside and inside.

From outside, it looks like a natural cave, but if one wondered deep enough, they would stumble in many different forks until they reached a place where-n Goblins and other magical creatures were waiting as guards and would maul everyone not invited.

Ned was already known inside the Hive as one of them. But outside, wherein beasts with no hierarchy and less sentient—he was their enemy.

Ned walked a series of tunnels until he reached the exit of a cave well hidden under the roots of an old tree. The tree looked like a fig tree but with dark pigments on its body. This kind of tree only grew near the shores, which Ned had to follow to leave the island. That way, it would be easy for Ned to leave, since all he got to do was follow the shores, and the map he memorized before their raid was also showing that the shores were the safest place.

According to Roy, he stumbled upon this entrance when he left the world of humans with Hunters chasing his back.

Du'kki island was divided by a mountain. This mountain was once an active volcano. But over time, it remained dormant—or so everyone thought.

Ned left the Hive at night, he needed to make sure that no other human would see him. But during this time, Ned smelled something that shouldn't be possible. The Du'kki mountain was covered in darkness and only a hint of moonlight was showering its base.

As soon as Ned left the cave, he smelled something burning, something sulfuric.

"No way," Ned said as he stared at the top of the mountain.

Although unseen, Ned knew that the Du'kki mountain was letting off a faint smell of smoke.

And here he thought that the mountain was inactive.

"Could it be that..."

Ned entered the forest. Currently, he was behind (or the other side) the Du'kki mountain, a place wherein Hunters has yet to explore.

Ned wanted to take the time to feel the freshness of the air. It has been roughly three months since he went underground the mountain. He could at least feel the freedom the mountain was giving off.

But not for long. No matter how stealthy he moved to avoid the beasts lurking in the forest. He was soon discovered by a beast he yet to settle things. A Swamp Eye.

Swamp Eye was a ball of flying eyes and was weak on their own, having a Grade of E. It was surprising that it stayed in the Inner part of the mountain. Physically, it was weak. But the green mist that it exudes made it one of the most dangerous beasts in the entire Bogblot region. Its green mist could penetrate the weakest mind with its illusion.

That must be the reason why all Ned could hear was screeching in the far distance, around him was close to silence if not for the wind coming from the top of the mountain.

The Swamp Eye released its green mist in accordance to Ned as he spun around to meet it.

Ned had already felt the illusion the Swamp Eye emitted before. To gain knowledge from him, Moloatiss used a Swamp Eye to put Ned to sleep and while being tranced by the Swamp Eye.

Inhaling the mist, Ned grinned as he looked at the confused Swamp Eye. The ball of eye trembled as it hovered mid-air. It then back away from Ned learning that it failed to hypnotized its target.

Clearly, this doesn't need a weapon or spells to kill the beast.

Ned leaped the massive roots and followed the Swamp Eye as he ran towards it.

Ned tried to extend his arm to catch the beast but caught a silver gleam of light to his right. Ned bent to evade the arrow.

Who could it be? He thought as he produced the broken Butterfly as his weapon.

Came another arrow, then another, and another.

Arrows were deflected by Ned with his sword, some he nimbly evaded.

"I should have thought," Ned said as he stopped to follow the Swamp Eye and directed his gaze to the bushes under a series of trees. He then heard screeches and mumbling.

Ned frowned.

I should understand these Swamp Goblins, but now? I cannot. He thought as he dashed to the bushes where the Swamp Goblins were hiding.

[They were not sentient enough to be able to communicate]

ICE cut off Ned's thoughts.

"Hmm," he said. "Then they're not worth my time. They could be a good alibi."

Ned wanted to kill at least one or two Swamp Goblins to make them look like that he was a Runner who got lost from his team and finds his way to the Hunter's Guild while he fought along the way.

That was according to his plan. But Ned forgot that he was at Inner part of the Du'kki mountain. Where Grade D to C beasts were roaming around. To top it off, his current spot was something that no Hunters would casually go into and start to hunt.

Every day, there were thousands of Hunters hunts the Du'kki forest. But it would take days to meet another team hunting in the Middle part alone. And as Ned had remembered, a Hunter must be at least Grade Silver to hunt the Inner forest. Not to mention the Inner part of the mountain where the beast of Grades B and C used to stay.

Which means, leaving the Du'kki mountain was going to be a challenge for Ned. A challenge he won't back down.

As he approached the Swamp Goblins, Ned caught another blinding light to his right.

Behind the trees and boulders were Fire Salamanders emerging themselves. Six of them with their orange scales and red hot tails, their elongated snouts were spewing fire.

"Oh crap," Ned said in surprise.

A Swamp Goblin and Fire Salamander could never be in the same spot, as Fire Salamanders were not accustomed to swampy parts of the island. Fire Salamanders only stayed at the base of the mountain with a little leeway from above.

Ned heard a whistle behind him, arrows flew from the Swamp Goblins behind him. Ned ducked to evade these arrows but was surprised to learn that some of them were aimed at the Fire Salamanders.

Now that the Swamp Eye was gone, magical beasts were emerging from their hiding one-by-one. But it was too fast unless they were already waiting for the Swamp Eye to leave its territory.

Ned formed an idea: what if the Swamp Goblins and the Swamp Eye were allies. And the Swamp Eye was luring its prey so that the Swamp Goblins could have an easy feast, while these Swamp Goblins were guarding the Swamp Eye. Only that... Ned was their prey. And these Fire Salamanders were a group of a bigger hunting party, they were scouts.

That must be it, Ned thought. Only I was caught in the middle of them. Then, there's no reason for me to stay here.

To leave the group of fighting beasts, Ned conjured Fireball aimed at the Swamp Goblins and Windball aimed at the Fire Salamanders. Both spells exploded and Ned instantly left and followed the roots of the tree he was aiming before.

But not a minute after Ned left the entrance of the cave along with the fighting beasts. Ned encountered a tribe of Butrikis—a lizard-like beast standing in two.

There were dozens of them. Ned had to rely upon ICE to count them in an instant they emerged from the forest. 48 of them led by a bigger and vicious-looking Elder Butriki. This Elder Butriki held a massive log with poisonous mushrooms sprouting from it.

Ned had to tread trees after trees and boulders to reach the shores. But he never expected that a tribe of Butrikis would show themselves in the forest, blocking his way.

Were they going to the swamp? Ned thought, almost surprised.

"No, no, no," Ned said as he produced the broken Butterfly while to his left was a ball of fire illuminating the surroundings.

The moment Ned conjured the ball of fire, the advancing Butrikis took a quick step behind. But not the Elder one. The moment the Elder felt that Ned was a threat, it raised the massive log, and with its muscle filled leg—it jumped.

Ned threw the ball of fire to the Elder but was easily shut off with a simple wave from the Elder's log.

Ned backflipped to evade the massive log. The moment the log made contact with the ground, it produced a roar which accompanied by the other Butrikis's chants.

"Something's really amiss here," Ned said after landing atop a boulder. He then called off his Butterfly back to his inventory.

"Only the Elder is attacking me."

Behind the Elder Butrikis were the warrior lizard beasts with rusty weapons: short swords, spears. Some were using a wooden pole, while others used a wood plank as a shield. Yet, none tried to attack Ned. They were moving in a group like the Fire Salamander as though they were all going to the same spot.

After he called off his Butterfly, the Elder Butriki hissed but did not attack Ned. Its yellow, and green, and brown scales gleamed under the bars of the moonlight.

"Okay..." Ned said as jumped off the boulder and back away from the tribe.

Different magical creatures going in the same direction.

Ned stopped running and looked behind him. Under the tree and leaves, and branches came the silhouette of the Du'kki mountain. The smoke was still fresh even Ned had already traveled a good distance away from the base of the mountain.

"You planning to do something? Kon Sas Koron?"