Chapter 42 - What's This?

What's this?

Jake saw the serpent then the girl. It was right time before they lost the shingle. The serpent was throwing out buckets of smoke, combine with the shingle and the vessel; the serpent could easily cover the third street and confine players. 

Sashi held her breath, she was afraid that if she delayed few seconds then she would miss the target because of the hazy sight. The arrow brushed past the vessel injuring it. Jake felt his heart in his mouth, for a moment he thought that the target was missed. 

Sashi was no different. She was dumbstruck. The vessel should have impaired from the head. In the next moment the vessel lost the support and hung at one side, half part was damaged with the arrow. This gave some opening and the shingle fell. 

Sashi saw this and rushed. She was shouting to get the attention of the team head. Junan was much near the serpent and the last bit of enemies. Her shouts got the attention and she pointed the shingle from afar. Junan understood what was going on. 

Since the shingle was no more backing, the ogres surrounding the boss dispersed. The eyeless serpent rolled on the ground to capture the shingle. Junan saw this; he threw his second weapon toward the serpent. The weapon hit the big rolling body. 

Junan took bigger leap. His sword pierced in the middle where the shingle was placed and the serpent was tried to capture it. Junan placed his feet on the round circles and thrust the sword again. The body placed in circles shook and the shingle appeared. 

Team head jumped inside the circles of the body to pick it. The tail of the serpent encircled to capture him however the big sword once again fend it off. Junan jumped outside from the rolling body of the serpent. Consecutive three attacks injured the serpent and it was helpless to use the last option. Junan secured the shingle and surveyed the surrounding he was sure that with the death of the serpent the street would no more be a hurdle for them. 

Thinking this he attacked on the serpent. After some effort the serpent got killed, with that ogres disappeared along with the street and the blood pool in the surrounding. The other players ran to reach at one place. The changes were going on. They were awe struck to see that the fourth street was no actually street. 

With the third street cleared, they were standing at the beginning of the fourth street. Fourth street was similar of forest with the scarce source of light. "Don't tell me fourth street is trap." Hammer boy twitched seeing the forest. "Since when did they start to design street this way?" Sashi reached near the team and commented. 

She was also looking for the kid. Jake did not reach because he was slow. Fortunately he was able to spot them because the street disappeared. The formation of the battleground was acceptable however splitting from the team could bring them trouble. 

"Come on we cleared the third street despite knowing that it was impossible. Now we are here, let's see what is waiting for us. From the appearance I can tell that this last street or somewhat forest is bridge point for something big." Junan spoke out his thoughts. 

The occasional sounds on the forest were enough to let them know that ogres and the last serpent was waiting for them. Before officially entering in the street forest, they wanted to share their opinions. "I have no reason to disagree. The signs are pointing. Just that I am not sure why the last serpent is hiding in the forest." Albert commented. 

He was very satisfied battling with the enemies in the open streets. Seeing the forest, snakes immediately came in his wild thoughts. Meanwhile Jake reached near them. Junan nodded. "We are slowly making best formation of this team. I am sure till the end of this level we will be able to learn perfect formation and win the level. Who else is excited?" Junan was team head and he has bigger responsibility. 

He wanted to know if the present rate of success lifted the morale of the team members. They should be ready for the boss and all other dangerous aspects. Without perfectness or best understanding, the team would remain incomplete and incompatible. 

"I am dreaming to cross this level finally. With this rate we will be able to kill the boss before the time limit ends." Hammer boy spoke enthusiastic. He did not speak out his inner thoughts though. Joining the last battles of the game portal was conditional for him. The only purpose was to glare the fake bosses of the real world. 

Junan nodded. "We have two shingles. Basically the efforts of two competing players make it possible to get it." He pointed toward Jake Lin and Sashi. "The third shingle would be equally tough to get our hands on. When the time comes no one should leave sliver of effort in helping others. Until now you have learned well that without collaboration, the other two teams wiped out and they would not get second chance in the next level. This is gesture for us that if we followed them then we will meet the same end." Junan grimly spoke. 

There was no more doubt that the game portal was not designed for single player level up. It was about team level up. He wanted to speak all these aspects so that if anyone among them have any doubt, should be cleared before they advance further. 

They were silent. Half of them were slightly problematic when it comes to collaborate with others in the game. This game portal could become the ban on their gaming career if they showed nonprofessional behavior, it was obvious now. The reflected on what they should follow from here on. Until now they were listening the orders of the team head knowing that he was officially selected to lead them. 

However after going through half of the first level, they understood the importance of every player in the team including Jake Lin.