Chapter 305 (2/2)
The other, displaying a surprising amount of dexterity, leapt across the space between them, aiming to directly crush Randidly. After scrambling narrowly to the side, Randidly belatedly deactivated Burning Footsteps, the strange buzzings in his head fading somewhat.
Of course, it wasn’t that the pain stopped. It just wasn’t constantly increasing anymore. As fast.
They were strong, too strong, and fast. This level of opponent would dominate a Zone easily. Either this game had a terrible case of vindictive RNG, or they were using his own strength against him. Most likely the latter, although it was clear that these monsters had been able to kill some other nearby people.
“Simon…” Randidly growled, his eyes scanning the area. No more threats. But there was a shadowy figure farther up the hill, that seemed to be watching the whole experience with eyes far too intelligent for Randidly to be comfortable.
He raised his hand and fired off a Mana Bolt. It wasn’t a polished spell, compared to some of his others, but it was one that was backed by a very high Intelligence, and the price tag was just right. The bolt of energy slammed into the figure and sent it staggering, but then Randidly had no more time; the goliaths had arrived.
Simon, as if belatedly realizing what Randidly wanted, formed his lopsided arrows in the air, directing him to the spots where he could strike the monsters. Feeling slightly without confidence, Randidly advanced. Even if the opponent was here, this level of maggots… there were simply so many that it would be difficult to do damage through them all.
But his hands were sharp and vicious, coolly cutting through the flesh, seeking.
The arrow shifted, and Randidly could only grin. The fact that it ran meant he was close. His barrage intensified, doing his best to hit the areas in a logical fashion, and after a few seconds, his Talon Strike sank into the flesh of a shoulder, and the maggots trembled, and flickered around him, revealing a furious copper face about at his chest.
Only after cutting off the creature’s head did Randidly speak. “Spill your blood for me… and bring your progenitor out here. Simon! Next!”
Randidly couldn’t hesitate now; the pain was constantly growing. To his mounting horror, his vision was beginning to swim, from the pain alone. Not that his vision was particularly useful against these enemies, but… this was a level of pain that Randidly had hitherto not experienced. It certainly wasn’t a good sign.
With a roar, Randidly leapt at the next maggot goliath. Even if it could hide in its body, it was still stuck on the ground. If he moved with enough force…
But mid flight, he sensed the blow coming and twisted to the side, letting it glance off of him, rather than smash him again. Still, this strike knocked him farther than he would have guessed. This opponent moved forward like a living, floating bubble of mercury, twisting and sliding, its body full of thick tentacles of dark, reflective metal.
Grimacing, Randidly looked around. The other monstrosities gathered closer, aiming for him. The remaining maggot goliath bellowed and rushed closer. This metal creature, likely the Raid Boss itself, seemed content to just ooze slowly nearer, helping its minions surround and swarm Randidly.
The headache had sharply increased in intensity, and that continued to rise. His eyes were watering, and everything was vibrating. It was impossible to see, and his hearing was beginning to be drowned out by a ringing that emerged from his soul.
Randidly growled, his higher functions of communications falling away and reverting to his baser caveman instincts.
He would kill them if they approached closer.
They moved closer.
With eyes burning brightly, Randidly raised his head to stare at the sky, and then he activated a skill absolutely embedded with chunks of foreign Aether. Even though it was dangerous… Randidly couldn’t find it in himself to care. He was swept up in a great rage, a growling, hungry thing that refused to acknowledge the opponents before him. He would crush them.
Besides, how much worse could the pain get?
Activating the skill, Randidly’s consciousness went white, and then the human parts of Randidly slowly shut down from overexposure to pain.