Chapter 408

Chapter 413: Causing trouble~ (Please subscribe!)

Upon noticing a creature stirring up a trail of sand and wind in the distance, Laentoluca and Nafude both heightened their alertness upon observing this phenomenon with their naked eyes.

The two girls picked up the “Relic Weapon” resting on the nearby plank – the “Holy Sword,” once crafted by humans.

They prepared themselves for battle.

“What’s going on over there!?”

It wasn’t just them; members of the salvage team on the ground also noticed the commotion arising from the yellow sands.

“It’s a ‘Beast’!!!”

“Run for it! We’ll be dead if we get caught!”

“Where are the relic weapons!? Weapons are made for moments like these, quick, take that thing out!”

Panic quickly spread among the salvage team members.

In the current state where all surviving intelligent races have gathered on the floating continents to survive, it was obvious what could emerge from the desert without needing any guesswork.

The current land-dominating beasts.

An enemy appeared amidst the swirling sandstorm, but its form didn’t resemble a typical beast body; instead, it looked more akin to an enormous scorpion.

With a head and massive front claws, its body size compared to that of a building, red-black carapace covering its entire body, and countless eyeballs peeking through the cracks of the carapace, sending shivers down one’s spine.

This was the “Strangler Fourth Beast.”

Among the beasts that could possibly be encountered on land, the encounter rate with the Fourth Beast was relatively higher.

Excluding factors like luck, this probability was simply due to the Fourth Beast’s widespread distribution.

The “Strangler Fourth Beast” had no habit of living in groups; they would never inhabit near another of their kind. This wide-spread characteristic directly contributed to it being the most commonly encountered beast on the surface.

It was also the least dangerous. Since each encounter only involved one, the chances of escape were still quite high.

However, perhaps due to the poor psychological resilience of this year’s salvage team,

After the first pig-headed soldier panicked and screamed, more and more salvage team members began fleeing in disorder.

Unfortunately, beasts rely on sound and movement to locate prey.

The first victim was the pig-headed soldier who screamed first; his upper body was swept away with a single swipe, followed by another comrade close to him.

From appearance to approach, it took merely a few seconds for the casualties to exceed five.

By the time Laentoluca and Nafude arrived to kill it, the Fourth Beast had already claimed its first kill.

The two golden fairy girls, relying on the powerful performance of the Holy Swords, managed to complete their first-ever battle on land with remarkable efficiency.

“Isn’t this beast too weak? It barely put up a fight.”

As if expressing, “I haven’t even used my full strength yet, how did you fall so easily?”

Nafude swung her “Desperation” around, seemingly venting her frustration.

The sword in her hand was a large Holy Sword of pure red color.

Despite her petite frame making her wielding such a great sword seem rather incongruous, thanks to her training in combat since childhood, she somewhat resembled a small warrior.

At least in front of the scattered remains of the “beast,” her presence was certainly imposing.

“…”

After dealing with the attacking enemy, Laentoluca remained silent.

The blue-haired girl watched her companion complain while tightening her delicate fingers gripping the Holy Sword “Hysteria” slightly more.

Though the enemy before her eyes had fallen, for some reason, her worries had not dissipated.

Had the enemy truly been dealt with?

The next moment, the land provided the answer.

On the continuously wind-swept barren ground, a small hole suddenly opened up.

And then, one after another, more holes emerged.

Like barnacles leaping onto the body of a whale from the sea surface.

At a glance, the number seemed to increase rapidly.

Soon, it formed a scene resembling gushing springs, with liquid-like forms slowly seeping out from each hole.

Coalescing, shaping.

Countless shadowy figures resembling trees extended their branches while encircling the creatures stepping onto the ground.

“Hundreds of Sixth Beasts…without any warning…why are they here!?”

“Do you have time to care why now!? Those are Sixth Beasts! Quick, activate the spell furnace, do you want us all to die here!?”

“But sir, there are personnel who haven’t returned…”

“Just pull them aboard before takeoff! If necessary, abandon them! Can’t you choose between the lives of a few versus the majority!?”

At the Tiger Ear Grass Airship, the eagle-winged race First-Class Martial Officer commanding this salvage operation roared at his deputy.

—The “Deep Diver Sixth Beast.”

A troublesome monster with the abnormal abilities of “fission proliferation” and “rapid growth.” Its main body is on the ground, but it can attack the floating continent clusters.

Not only does it regenerate dozens of times and remain lively, but every regeneration makes it stronger than before.

How can one possibly fight such a monster!?

There’s nothing to do but run!

The eagle-winged First-Class Martial Officer made the decision in an instant.

“Oh well, Nafude, your wish has come true.”

Facing hundreds of Sixth Beasts emerging from the ground, Laentoluca spoke to her companion in an “extremely calm” tone.

That hand gripping the weapon’s hilt, with fingers whitened from tension, silently revealed her indescribable state of mind.

“Heheh, even I don’t think we can handle this number… Is it too late to regret now…?”

Nafude forced a laugh.

“Is that so? What a pity. I was hoping to see you show off your skills, leading me out in a bloody fight like in those storybooks.”

“Sorry, I can’t do something like that.”

While exchanging these bittersweet words with Nafude, Laentoluca quickly adjusted her state. A pair of wings made of colorful magic manifested behind her, lifting her petite legs clad in black stockings off the ground.

This wasn’t about gaining power through manifesting wings.

Gold Fairies themselves were a race capable of flying using magic. Activating magic to make the wings visible was for convenience during battles against beasts.

Because all beasts couldn’t fly. Even the Sixth Beasts invading the floating continents merely drifted randomly with the wind after dispersing.

Aerial combat was advantageous for Gold Fairies.

Nafude understood this as well, activating her own wings a moment later and tightening her nerves while scanning the enemies before her.

Then, the battle against the beasts commenced immediately.

“Uh… I think… I’ve caused some trouble!?”

On a nearby sandy hill, a blond adventurer wrapped in a black cloak stared at the scene ahead, momentarily opening and closing his mouth before sheepishly scratching his nose.