The pair ran through the dark forest with tense expressions as the trees quickly passed their view. The breeze, once calming, now sent an unsettling chill down their spine as they both stared at the system window floating in front of them.
About an hour had passed since they killed the pale monster.
***
[Mission: Survive The Night]
***
During their first meeting, their systems broke into pieces and were absorbed into what seemed to be a bigger system, but for some reason, the individual systems, and especially the messaging system, still worked.
The result was in front of them, both unfamiliar and familiar; it held the blue glowing text of Ren's system, yet had the golden outline of Aria's system, and most importantly, they both could see it as if it were a shared system instead of the usual single owner system.
'Survive the night?' A scowl took over Ren's face.
The system, which was completely quiet until now, decided it was time to work, and its first message was obvious.
'This stupid piece of junk isn't going to give me anything anyway..'
If it was going to do something, it could at least show him his stats or give him directions!
'No… this is also giving me some information, these monsters probably only move during the night. We didn't see them during the day… but did they come out because we're here or is that something they always do?'
Around them, there weren't any monsters like the one they just killed, but their distant howls and cries were heard.
Some were similar to the pale monster's scream, while others were completely different, and with the biting cold wind that blew around them, the sound was terribly haunting.
While gritting his teeth, hearing another eerie howl, a ding resounded in his mind. Looking slightly to the left, he spotted Aria, who was running by his side, clenching her staff with a focused expression,
Behind her was the endless forest, the trees no longer glowing beautifully, and covering her face was the translucent notification tab from the system.
Ms. Star: [These creatures might be nocturnal; they might disappear during the daytime.]
Aria had decided that it was best to communicate through the messaging system, and internally, Ren agreed, though he didn't know if this world was the same. Monsters used various means to search for their prey, whether that be through the 5 different senses, just like humans, or the 6th mana sense.
In addition, they were also monsters that gave up on certain traits, such as eyesight, to improve their hearing. With the enchantment from mana, they became terrifying, being able to hear kilometers away,
In fact, through the use of certain magic spells, some people gave up their senses to improve their other senses to an absurd degree,
In the skyless Abyss that Ren came from, oracles of the Helian faith, a religion worshiping the sun. Would give up all but their sight and touch to increase their connection to the divine,
And in very unique cases, special saintesses appeared in this faith, that, upon giving up their senses, were granted eyes that could observe the fate of the world, and hands that could grasp upon existence itself,
'Well.. that's somewhat true.'
Memories of a comrade long gone passed in his mind, the golden rosary she held shone brilliant even in the dark of the ash covered Abyss. These thoughts were interrupted by a loud ding.
Oddly, it felt as though it held some emotion. Maybe anger?
Ms. Star: [Mr. Night stop spacing out!]
Mr. Night:[Ah! Sorry! I was just thinking the same thing. We should just avoid them until the sun rises and then move. It'll be dangerous otherwise]
The reason why they were currently running through the forest was that the monster they had fought earlier had let out an acrid odor after it died that spread quite quickly and nearly covered them in the scent.
To protect against strong smells, they rubbed a plant that smelled like sagebrush on their clothing, causing a pungent forest-like smell to envelop them, similar to the trees of the endless forest.
Looking away from the messaging box and turning to the right, Ren spotted the girl staring right at him, frowning with disapproval in her eyes.
Ms. Star: [Dangerous? Daydreaming is just as dangerous!]
Mr. Night:[Haha, I said I was sorry, didn't I? It won't happen again.]
Ren turned away with a guilty expression, looking at him incredulously. She realized it was useless to continue and pointed ahead. In that direction came the sound of a couple of monsters
Ms. Star: [Up ahead, there is an echo of a battle, and it's quieter than the sounds around us; it also seems to be coming below. Do you want to check it out?]
Ren nodded instead of replying. The two had seen some of the monsters fighting, and they were no weaker than the pale monster that fought them earlier, since they couldn't really go around fighting the other monsters without substantial risk, their only option was to run.
But it seemed their running had its limits, and they were surrounded by the roars of many monsters fighting amongst themselves, forcing them to approach the quietest roar, of course, the term 'quiet' in no way meant safe.
Running ahead, they exited a part of the forest and came across a cliff, looking down, trees spread as far as the eye could see. They had gotten used to the darkness, and the moon shone brighter than when they killed the pale monster, so they saw much further than before.
This allowed them to look down at an opening in the forest below the cliff. The distance down wasn't too large, about 10 meters, so it was quite clear to their eyes that 6 monsters were fighting,
Well, instead of an all out brawl, it was more of a 1 versus 5, there were 5 pale monsters similar to the one they had killed previously, and they were surrounding another monster of a differing species.
It was humanoid and stood on two legs with two arms similar to the pale monsters, except for the fact that it was not only completely covered in thick brown fur but also had deep injuries that were bleeding crimson blood. The monster's size was larger than the individual pale monsters; its two red eyes stared around at the creatures,
Despite the injuries, it stared with eyes that held a firm resolve seemingly unshaken by the many creatures surrounding it. As a matter of fact, it seemed to want them to charge as it growled menacingly, appearing to welcome the challenge.
And as Aria and Ren looked closer, it was clear why,
The brown furred creature had a mouth reaching from the neck all the way down the waist, lining the sides of the mouth were large, sharp, serrated teeth covered in black blood, emitting an awfully acrid smell.
This blood was obviously from the pale monsters that surrounded it, as scattered on the ground were various limbs of these pale monsters, some coming from the ones currently surrounding it, and others,
Had already been eaten by the furred beast. It seemed the only reason that the pale monsters hadn't given up and run was because the brown furred creature was also injured,
Ms. Night: [Hmmm, it seems they move in packs…. but where were they during the day?]
Aria merely nodded, not replying while tilting her head. She was focused on the battle, figuring out all she could. Soon, one of the pale monsters stepped up. It was bigger than the rest of its pack, and in its bony hand was a sharpened spear made from the bone of a similar color to its skin.
Readying itself, a tense stare down commenced between the furred monster and the larger pale monster, and after a couple of seconds, they both charged towards each other,
The pale monster thrusts its spear into the chest of the furred monster, only to be met with dozens of serrated teeth that block the spear, holding it in place as the furred monster punches forward, hitting the pale monster square in the face, the powerful punch launching it away into the side of the cliff all while still holding the spear in its mouth,
But at this moment, one of the other pale monsters sneaks up behind, its fingernails appearing extremely sharp, cutting into the back of the furred monster, causing it to roar, dropping the spear while swinging at the pale monster instead of being launched like its larger brethren was instantly obliterated, its head popping like a balloon as black blood spilled everywhere.
The rest of the pale monsters charged, and new ones joined as well. Some had large hands, some similar to the bigger pale monster had weapons, one monster jumped on the back of the large fur monster and spat out its black blood, which seemed to work as acid.
The group of pale monsters attacked its legs and back trying to avoid the front side, though this wasn't out of fear of being killed instead it seemed all they wanted was to kill disregarding their life if it meant damaging the furred beast just a little, the pale monster that spat out acid even allowed itself to be eaten to damage the furred monster from the inside.
But despite all the attacks, it wasn't enough, like an unshakeable mountain, the furred beast didn't relent at the pale monster's intensity.
Instead, responding with an even greater fighting spirit, this left most of the pale monsters dead or in critical condition, and now only the large pale monster holding the spear was left.
In the fight, it seemed to have retrieved its weapon, staring at the furred beast covered in its own black blood.
Ms. Star: [How fascinating! It threw up its bones not only to lower its weight but also to use as a weapon.]
Mr. Night: [The one we fought earlier was different, though; it was smaller than these and didn't use its bones as a weapon, nor had any special abilities. Could it have been an outcast?]
Ms. Star: [Maybe… but it was pretty strong, at the same level as an athlete, but still under a magic enhanced person.]
Mr. Night: [But the furred monster is on a completely different level, it's using a form of Aura in its attacks]
Ms. Star:[Aura… but it's still at a low level and it can only cover its hands in it, so as long as you avoid it, you'll be completely safe!]
Mr. Night: [But I'm the one who has to do it…]
Ms. Star:[What? Can't you?]
Mr. Night:[Well..]
Aria merely smiled at Ren. She knew his capabilities and asked in banter,
Ms. Star: [I'll be going now, hold him off for…1 minute!]
With a grimace plastered on his pale face, Ren nodded with a sigh and thought about the abilities of the furred beast,
'Aura is how people focusing on close combat, such as swordsmen and the like, fought. Bigfoot here had covered his hands in Aura, although this isn't the fully fledged Aura that could cut mountains and turn the sky asunder, it still allowed the monster to completely eviscerate the head of one of the pale monsters.'
So that begged the question… Why the hell were the two trying to hunt it!?
There were actually 3 reasons why they were hunting the monster, the first being that they had no other way to go, looking around, they were at the edge of a cliff that extended far left and right, and although they couldn't see far, shrieks came not just from the forest around them but also the sky above them.
It wasn't wise to stay any longer at the cliff's ledge and become the snack of a flying monster; the only reason they hadn't been attacked yet was that they tactically hid under a tall tree whose roots grew out of the side of the cliff.
The second reason that the roar of the monsters was quietest here, whether this was a good or bad, was yet to be seen, but pushing forward was their best chance of survival, even at the cost of wasting time while moving down.
And lastly, the third reason the furred monster was heavily weakened! As people who've gone through chaotic and absurd experiences, they have also gained opportunistic tendencies. If they could gain something so easily, why wouldn't they?
'I mean.. aren't easy things the best?', Aria mused, hiding in a bush
'Mmm, monster meat.', Ren felt great anticipation clenching his fist
By joining the end of a fight between two exhausted groups, Aria and Ren would take this opportunity and kill the furred beast, sweeping all the rewards for themselves!