103 Chapter 103: Party Crasher (2/2)

If that was the case, then it would be great. They would be able to preserve their lives.

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However, Craig and many of the seasoned veterans were not as naïve. They vigilantly scanned the area, watching the cliffs just in case the monster emerged from there. A good number of them kept an eye on the forested edge that formed a wall against the valley they currently resided in, anticipating the monster to emerge from there. And others watched the skies, just in case the monster was a flying type. It was not unknown for winged monsters to dive down from above to seize unwary prey. And a scant few were glancing at the mountains, trying to ensure there weren't any caves from which the monster would emerge from and surprise them from behind.

They were all searching the wrong places.

Something erupted from the ground beneath them, knocking several mages off their feet and sending them flying like pins in a bowling alley. Hissing, it faced down the panicking teenagers and reared its claws back for an attack.

”What the hell is that thing?!” someone yelled.

The monster was…in one word, alien. Totally black from head to toe, its head was elongated and shaped like a banana, as well as totally eyeless. Its huge jaws yawned wide, revealing another set of inner jaws embedded inside it, even as droll dripped off from its serrated fangs. A long, giant tail thrashed about, its spiked end leaving deep marks in the ground. Even though it towered over the students, it was only about three meters high at most.

That wasn't surprising. Most Fiend-class monsters were much smaller than their Elemental-class counterparts. Apparently, they had reached a level high enough where they attained the ability to compress all of their demonic power into a small, compact form in order to achieve maximum effectiveness in combat.

Of course, there were exceptions, and as with most matters regarding monsters, they didn't follow any set of logical rules. Rank A monsters, known as the Behemoth class, were much larger than Fiends, often towering over whole buildings. Sort of like the kaiju in giant monster movies. Such terrifying monsters could raze entire cities with their immense sizes alone, and were practically unstoppable.

Fiend class monsters were not as huge, but as Nicholas pointed out, they were capable of laying waste to half a city by themselves.

”I've never seen anything like it before!” one of the mages yelled, his nerve failing him as he turned to run. The monster was upon him within seconds, virtually disappearing and reappearing at his position. The guy screamed as the monster's claws raked his back, sending a spray of blood high into the air. Wailing, the maimed guy toppled over.

”Bastard!”

Craig lunged forward with his glowing, crimson spear. Thrusting it at the monster's chest, he sought to impale its heart.

The monster turned around and seized his weapon before the tip could reach its black exoskeleton. Almost as if it was grinning, its hideous lips pulled back before the inner jaws shot out and smashed into Craig's face. The spearman's reflexes saved his life as he suddenly sensed the danger and skidded to a stop, but even so blood streamed down his face as he pulled back.

”Fucker!”

Twirling his spear, he swung it in a vicious slash to cleave the monster apart. The Fiend stepped back to avoid his strike, but Craig still succeeded in grazing it. Yellow-green blood splattered across the ground, some of it hitting the Crimson Spear Society president.

”Hah!” Craig crowed. ”If it bleeds, we can kill it!”

Sizzle…

Acrid fumes rose from the ground where the potent, acidic blood corroded through it. Craig also began yelling as the monster's blood burned through his skin, and he collapsed.

”Craig!”

Sheila raced forward, with Pearl right behind her. Pearl had been tending the guy who tried to run away from earlier, but it was too late for him. His spine had been torn out, and he was dead by the time she reached him.

Even if she was a healer, she didn't possess the ability to bring the dead back to life.

Fortunately, Craig was still alive. He had lost consciousness from the excruciating pain, and lay collapsed on the ground.

Screeching in triumph, the monster stomped toward him, but Sheila dashed forward and blocked its claws with her shield. However, the tremendous strength from the monster flung her aside and she crashed over a hundred meters away. Slamming her head on the ground, she lost consciousness, blood dripping from her mouth.

”Sheila!”

”Focus, Pearl!”

Dong Fang Yue Chu had also dove in to intervene, his flaming fists striking at the monster, but with little effect. Even so, the monster was still annoyed by his attacks, and spun around to face him.

”That's right! Over here!”

Dong Fang Yue Chu finally completed his spell and he unleashed a ferocious torrent of flames that washed over it, engulfing it in destruction.

”Hah! That should teach you!”

And then a spiked tail whipped out and struck him, hurling him several meters away. He slumped down, dazed, his eyes glazed over as he clutched at his wound.

”What the fuck…”

And toppled over.

”President!” Harvey hurried over to help him. He was relieved to see that Dong Fang Yue Chu was still breathing.

”Don't tell me that stinger on its tail is poisoned?” Stan murmured.

”Or maybe President Yue Chu went into shock?” Wang Fei offered.

Stepping out of the inferno, the monster screeched furiously. Its black carapace was fuming, smoke pouring off its heated surface, but it seemed otherwise unscathed. Snarling, it turned to face the trembling campers.

A few other students continued to stand and fight. A coalition of Black Rose and Holy Saints members gathered to blast the monster with spells. Various elemental attacks raced toward it, ranging from ice, fire, lightning, wind, and earth. Alicia and a few magic gunners let loose with their mana bullets, hoping to strike its vulnerable spots.

The monster disappeared.

Within moments, the Fiend tore three mages into ribbons before they could fire off a second spell. The others retaliated, launching whatever magical projectiles they could produce, whether they were fireballs, ice shards, vines, lightning, bullets or whatever else they could throw at it.

They were too slow.

The monster was already gone before their attacks reached within a foot of its original position. The students couldn't even follow its movements. They were barely able to catch a glimpse of a black blur before the monster was in their midst, tearing into their ranks. It swiped at a couple of mages with incredible speed. They went down instantly, blood violently spurting from their wounds.

Spells gave way to screams now. Their nerve broken, the students dispersed and fled. Everyone was panicking and running for their lives, no longer bearing the pretense of courage and determination to fight the monster.

Even as they ran, the demonic creature threw its head back and let out a monstrous screech of triumph and malevolent delight.