Chapter 94 (2/2)

“What’s happening to them?” Daniel asked nervously. He had liked the fact that Lyra had just dropped off these strangely afflicted individuals and left.

“I…. don’t quite know. But I don’t believe it is medical. “Regina commented, frowning. It was just the two of them in the room with the people from Turtle Town.

And, of course, Nul, when he chose to show himself.

“The neighboring village has fallen to a tribulation. Soon, it shall become a dungeon. And its people… will become the monsters that populate it, if they do not shed their bond with that village.”

Vivian blinked. “We will…. Become monsters….?”

Nul nodded. “The changes have already begun. You are switching from the Traveler system to the monster system. That is the pain you feel. But you can be saved, if you agree to switch to this village.”

“Fine, do what you have to!” Grunted Kal, holding his abdomen. Nul moved forward with a small smile, and offered his hand to Kal.

“Take my hand, and forsake your previous village. You will lose your class, and all stats gained therein, but you will retain your life.”

Kal took that hand. His smile deepening, Nul pressed his hand against Kal’s chest. Before, Kal was in pain, but it was bearable. Now Kal began to scream.

Within a few seconds, Kal was foaming at the mouth. Then his eye rolled up into the back of his head, and he collapsed. Nul pulled and a strange… something of energy was ripped out of Kal’s body, which shuddered, then stilled.

Nul ate whatever it was he pulled from Kal, then turned to Vivian and Kraig, still with a bland smile in place on his face.. “Take my hand, and I shall save you.”

*****

Dozer advance, using his large club to batter and crack the shells of the flood of beetles that rushed towards the village. His squad was barely holding together, but they couldn’t switch out; the usual legion style tactics didn’t work on these enemies. Their shells were too tough, they just shrugged off most attacks.

Magic was reasonably effective, and the mage corps was providing much needed support, ripping through lines of beetles. But they charged forward endlessly, their powerful mandibles clicking dangerously.

These were the spawn of the Tier II raid boss boss, and they were just as tough as their level of 28 would indicate. At the back, Dozer had even seen some Lvl 30s, directing the beetles.

With Donny’s squad out to reinforce Decklan, and squads I through VI blocking the skeletal horses from the North…

There was only Dozer to hold this front.

A beetle rushed close to the man next to Dozer, biting into his knee. The man fell with a cry, and Dozer roared,  opening himself to an attack, but performing a huge overhand blow that smashed down on the beetle, cracking its shell and squashing its body into the ground. One of the support squads ran forward and dragged the man back, pulling him to the healers, but that left Dozer even more exposed.

Two more beetles jumped forward, aiming for his exposed side. Dozer let go of the club with one arm, reaching and grabbing the jaw of the first beetle to leap, brutally snapping off its lower jaw.

The second he ignored, and at the last moment an arrow slid forward, through the space under his arm, and hit the attacking beetle through the head.

This didn’t kill it, but it caused the beetle to falter in confusion, and Dozer brought his huge club to bare, smashing the beetles to pieces. His squad surged forward with him, sharing Dozer’s fury that one of their own had been wounded. They crashed forward, smashing a dozen beetles with their wild blows.

Dozer felt light taps on his shoulders, but ignored it.

“Dozer baby, you should really be more careful.” Annie rebuked, standing on his shoulders and smoothly firing arrows into the crowd of beetles, buying time for Dozer’s squad to fall back and regroup. “Making a girl work so hard, even while she’s wearing a skirt.”

Almost instinctually, Dozer glanced up while drinking a stamina a potion. And sure enough, he could see right up his woman’s skirt to her lacy red panties.

She lightly hopped off him and patted Dozer’s back, winking. “Make sure you come back alive.”

Then she sauntered off, a definite swing to her hips, heading to reinforce another area..

Feeling a heat unrelated to the battle rising within him, Dozer unwillingly turned back to the beetles.