Chapter 119: Embracing the Light of Ambition Part 5 Part 1

The first thought that went through Animalia’s head was that it was impossible. They wouldn’t be able to beat this thing.

(Strange…… Is this the true power of a Unique Monster?)

Indeed, the strategy employed here by the members of the SF-Zoo was so flawless and powerful that it could even affect Phantasmal Dragon, one of ShanFro’s strongest monsters, for a whole one minute, rendering it completely immobile.

For example, that strategy would allow them to subjugate the boss of this area, the Usurper Dragon, without as much as breaking a sweat. Thanks to the cooperation of the high-level players and strongest restraining magic out there, there was not a single boss, mob or rare enemy that would dare to resist them. …… Or so she thought.

「 Now then, Lukaan-chan, I wonder how your fur feels to the touch?」

Pushing aside her anxiety, Animalia’s curiosity got the better of her and she started to approach the Night Prowler.

Animalia’s unique weapon, “Key of Hades” granted her access to the unique spell called “Hand of Tartarus”, an ultimate restraint spell that would render any creature immobile for a set period of time, no matter the kind of creature.

The trade-off for this wonderful effect was that for the next five minutes she would not be able to recover HP and would continuously take small amounts of damage every second. Eventually, at the end of those five minutes her HP would sit at the whooping value of one.

For Animalia, however, death was a small price to pay if it meant that she would be able to satisfy her curiosity and grope the animal she was chasing after for a whole one minute. A twisted logic, but logic still.

For Itsukushima Maria couldn’t play with animals in real life.

Ever since she was little, Maria would suffer from severe allergic reactions to various kinds of animals, which for an animal lover like herself was a true torture. Even being in the same room with a single hamster could prove fatal for her health.

Throughout her childhood Maria tried to interact with animals on many occasions, which would always end up with her being hospitalized for a long period of time. She already lost count of how many tears she shed because of that. That is why for Maria, since it was so realistic, ShangriLa Frontier was a Godsend, a true Paradise on Earth.

You can pull weeds out of the ground. Your boots leave their marks in the soil. Stones you pick up have different shapes and sizes. Ripples form on the water’s surface when you throw something into it.

So if the game can even replicate fleas running on the animal’s body, it is no wonder that the physics of the animal fur would also be super realistic.

So the ultimate reason for why Itsukushima Maria created Animalia and established SF-Zoo was not because she wanted to fight the monsters, but to get to know them and collect as much data on them as humanly possible.

(A giant wolf…… I wonder what kind of feeling its fur will have? Is it fluffy? Or maybe hard and rough?)

“Hand of Tartarus” is a spell that no creature can oppose. No one who gets caught up in it can move an inch.

Yes, no move was allowed as long as “Hand of Hades” was active. That is why Animalia was sure Lukaan was immobilized and didn’t exercise any caution, and other members of SF-Zoo started cheering and taking screenshots.

(Fufu, it’s good to be the leader. At least I have the privilege of first touch.)

Of course, she didn’t forget their original purpose. After they touch it all they want, they will critically strike it a hundred times, fulfill the requirements for the EX Quest and then off to Rabbitz they go!

At first she was disappointed that she couldn’t go to Rabbitz right away, but right now it was different. For the perspective of reaching Rabbitz was finally well within her reach. She could almost taste it.

If she would have received full access to Rabbitz, she could cuddle and play around with cute bunnies as much as she possibly wanted.

(Think we can combine touching it with scoring those critical hits……?)

Their eyes meet. At that moment, Animalia was convinced.

Luukan was unable to move…… It wouldn’t be able to even if it wanted to.

Those eyes were empty and lifeless, just like that of a doll. Its golden eyes kept on staring into nothingness, devoid of any sign of sentient life in them.

But if those were not its eyes, then who was staring at Animalia right now?

(The night…… The night is staring at me……?)

But there was nothing out there. Just the darkness of the night and the remains of the fortress that could be seen in the distance.

But Animalia could clearly feel it. It was staring right at her. Not from over here, but from somewhere else entirely.

「 …… Impossible.」

She could feel something staring at her out there, hidden in the deep, black night. The intense feeling emanating from that gaze…… Yes, it was the same kind of gaze with which a predator looks at its prey.

It was at this moment that Animalia finally noticed.

The true identity of the Night Prowler Luukan, a black wolf that attacks people at night at random locations.

No, the truth is the order is reversed here.

---- It was the darkness of the night which took the form of a giant black wolf!