Chapter 50 (1/2)

Glendel watched the city, feeling slightly annoyed.

On behalf of the leader of his group, he had been sent to investigate the two newbie villages that had sprung up so close together here. In the winding, 50 mile trek up here, their group hadn’t seen a single pillar of light. Imagine their surprise when they arrived and found two.

Something was different here, and their leader was cautiously pessimistic. And thus, Glendel was planning on making contact with both. But when he had originally approached the first village, the more civilized seeming one, he had been told to turn around and leave or they would shoot. As he tried to explain himself, they had fired off warning shots, sending him scampering back.

Although he had put some points into End and Vit from finishing paths, he didn’t think he could do something as ridiculous as survive bullets.

Just as he was about to give up, disgusted, something strange happened. The bus that acted as a gate to the city pulled to the side, and a truck drove out, carefully driving in the small, thin path free of monster bodies.

As it pulled off the road and went around on a path, Glendel walked out cautiously, waving his arms. This was different, maybe they had sent someone out to talk with him…

But the truck was ready to pull right passed him, and only stopped when he shouted “Hey!”

Still, it did stop, so Glendel walked to the side, looking into the driver’s seat. A tall, athletic looking black man sat there, dressed in a police uniform. Next to him was a beautiful woman with honey colored skin, that looked oddly familiar.

Glendel offered a nervous smile. “Hey, uh, again. I was just wondering… how do you get into the city.”

The two exchanged a heavy glance.

The officer turned back to Glendel. “Unfortunately...we aren’t accepting any more refugees at this time. If you want shelter, we recommend you head to Donnyton. Actually, we are heading there now, if you need a ride.”

Glendel nodded uncertainly, then got into the back of the cab. The truck pulled away, driving around the hill in a long loop, while the two up front talked in tones too low for Glendel to hear. Instead, he turned and looked at the cargo.

It was…. Glass…?

*****

Randidly’s left arm hung useless at his side, 4 large furrows in his flesh keeping him from being able to move it. And the slashes from the Sphinx came faster and faster. With only one arm, he blocked as well as he could, dispersing the force.

But the Sphinx just teleported behind him and attacked from a different angle. Gritting his teeth, Randidly used Spearing Roots, starting them behind him, so that the sharp attacks rushed towards his back, hidden from the Sphinx’s vision. As the huge paw descended towards him, Randidly raised his spear with his good arm, simultaneously guiding those roots around his body, hugging him as closely as they could, the attacks rushing forward.

Because of that, the Sphinx’s attack hit him almost square on, the training spear given to him by Shal bending dangerously.

But at the same time, several of the spearing roots landed on the its paw, digging into the sphinx’s flesh. It tsk’d in annoyance, shaking its paw, and Randidly used that opportunity to withdraw several potions, downing them all.

Then, as his health surged back upwards, his arm healing, Randidly leapt forward, an Empowered Phantom Onslaught rushing towards the creature.

As soon as it ripped through the roots, however, it teleported away again, his attack hitting nothing but air. Panting, Randidly adjusted his stance and waited. The sphinx just seemed disappointed.

“Heh, heh, heh, you are likely waiting for me to use up my mana, correct? But it is in vain; before the Newbie Barrier drops, I have unlimited mana, so that I would not succumb to any of the other monsters out here. I might not have any regeneration, but my well of mana and stamina will never run dry. And for you, that is bad, bad, bad….”

Randidly lowered his spear slowly. It couldn’t be accidentally doing this, right…? “...And what about your health?”

The sphinx threw its head backwards, laughing. “Hahaha! From your face, you are wondering if it is a trap, yes? That I claim to have no regeneration, and fail to mention infinite health, just infinite stamina and mana. It is no trap; although I am bound, I am still a sphinx. I have my pride. No challenger will be clueless, around me. Although it is a broad term, isn’t it, little sheep? Clueless, clueless, clueless…”

“But, but, but… “ It continued. “That is not to say I cannot heal myself. But until the barrier drops, I am stuck out here, and so I might as well play with you for a while. It gets so dull out here. And the only way to amuse myself… is to eat, eat, eat.”