69 Chapter 69: Mad Monkeys (2/2)

A few traced the trajectory of my arrows, but the arcane projectiles were moving so fast their eyes couldn't follow their movements. In the next second, more than a few of these supposedly cautious Mad Monkeys found their skulls or eyes punctured by the blinding arrows, which punched through their heads mercilessly.

These were the lucky ones.

The rest didn't die instantly, the arrows piercing through their bodies in different places and causing them to convulse. They toppled over, shrieking in pain as more arrows continue to stab into them, turning them into pincushions.

…then merciful silence.

Taking a deep breath, I then summoned Canis Minor and directed them to flush out whatever Mad Monkeys that remained. The pack of hunting hounds eagerly loped into the forest, sniffing the air. I also maintained my Corvus to keep an aerial vigil over the area, so as not to miss anything, and also to be prepared for any surprises.

”GGGGGGGGUOOOOOAAAAAAAAAH!”

The ”surprise” came, though I couldn't say I didn't expect it. Turning in the direction of the roar, I could already see through Corvus's eyes the enormous monkey smashing its way toward me. It was uprooting trees or tearing them out of its path, bellowing ferociously when it realized what had happened to its pack.

The Berserk Monkey. The Alpha of the pack. Easily ten times the size of a normal Mad Monkey, it was swelling with muscles and looked more like an ape than an actual monkey (yes, there is a difference between a monkey and an ape). Its prehensile tail whipped out, splitting huge trees apart, and I could see a flash of silver at its edge. A scorpion-like blade curved from the tip of the Berserk Monkey's tail, slicing through the trees like laser through diamond (because I know you're sick of the hot knife through butter similes).

”Heh,” I smirked. ”You saved me the trouble of looking for you.”

Initially, I was surprised that the Berserk Monkey wasn't leading its pack of Mad Monkeys, but come to think of it, it wasn't all that strange. Just like lions, where the alpha male lion just lazed around at home while the female lionesses in the pride did all the hunting, the Berserk Monkey must have been slacking off at its nest while its underlings did all the work. But now that an unexpected massacre had occurred and the Berserk Monkey lost contact with its subordinates through whatever mystery means of communication they used, it came charging over.

Perhaps it shared a telepathic link with the Mad Monkeys it reigned over, just like how I shared a mental connection with my Constellation spirits.

No matter. It was too far away and too slow. By the time it reached the vicinity, I already had another arrow prepared and drawn.

”Rigel.”

The Berserk Monkey never knew what hit it. My blazing arrow struck it in the chest and detonated, essentially nuking the area.

Rank D or not, the Berserk Monkey was nothing compared to Hades, the monstrous foe I had faced all those weeks ago. I felt perhaps a little disappointment at the lack of challenge, but this was basically easy money.

Oh, no…I can't get complacent. I can't underestimate my enemies.

The only reason why I won this time was because of ample preparation and planning. The Mad Monkeys had no idea what kind of strategies I would employ against them, and they were completely caught off guard. They were also lower-ranked, so they pretty much weren't that strong.

If they were more powerful monsters, they probably would be a lot more dangerous. This wasn't to say the Mad Monkeys posed no threat to me. On the contrary, I knew that they could easily kill me when given the chance, which was why I made so many preparations in the first place. Looking down on them could prove to be my last, fatal mistake.

”Thanks, guys,” I said when my Canis Minor returned, their jaws and claws bloody. After one last sweep to ensure that all the Mad Monkeys were dead, I then dismissed my Constellation spirits and prepared for my journey back to school. It was too tiring to maintain my Constellation spirits in the physical world for extended periods of time. Yeah, I could maintain them for a couple of hours if I continually fed them my magical energy, but that would be too draining and I might collapse from the exhaustion. Besides, I might need my magical energy for later. You would never know.

”All right, let's go.”

Following the highlighted path visible in my lenses, I began on my return journey. Stepping through the broken trail left by the Berserk Monkey and ignoring the charred crater left behind by my Rigel, I cautiously made my way toward the exit…

Boom!

…only to swivel around at the sudden explosion. Some distance away, I spotted an enormous conflagration blossoming into the sky, the flames blazing hungrily as they consumed whatever unfortunate trees that were within their reach.

”Hmm…” despite knowing it was none of my business, my curiosity got the better of me. The battle with the monster monkeys were pretty unsatisfying, after all. ”Maybe I should check that out.”