(NIco POV)
"It's calmer than expected."
I mused as be took a step forward and looked around. There wasn't many of the Sun-Cursed Worms around, which was not what Movarathos said about them. I had expected to be surrounded by swarms of them, but perhaps it's a blessing that I haven't? Or it could be a curse…
"Hmm."
I continued marching by the blood river, keeping my gaze fixed on the sand. Something was strange. I was trying to bait them and kill a few to test out my newly replenished body, but perhaps I don't need to. Nonetheless, I didn't let my guard down and warily watched every move the sand would make.
At that moment, the familier voice inside my head announced something shocking.
[The Boss of this level has been defeated!]
[No more monsters will attack you in this level!]
[You have recieved the temporary effect 'Gift of Protection'!]
'W–what?'
My eyes widened, as I halted in my steps, faltering for a moment. It can't be. I wasn't the one who defeated it, so it must be Morgan. There is nobody else beside him in the Key Rush. But how? That boss should atleast be A-Class, and if he did it during the crimson moon….it would be AA-Class. How could he have…?
It made sense now. This is probably why the Sun-Cursed Worms haven't shown themselves. The moment their sovereign is defeated, they wouldn't bother exacting revenge or anything like that. Instead, they would retreat into the sand and never show themselves for the next three days of mourning. This was the custom Movarathos told me about.
"That crazy bastard…."
To think he actually managed to defeat such a powerful being, I wasn't unsure of I should laugh or be afraid. However, right now, I didn't really care about that. What this really meant was that the level was now free and with the gift of Protection being active, the monsters wouldn't attack me even if they tried.
This was why the bosses are so unfairly high-level. Fighting them is a huge risk, but if one manages to kill one, the rewards are Abyssal. Morgan must have recieved a hell amount of Abyssal Fragments from that fight. He should be closer to reaching Novice…. Much closer than I was. This truly is frustrating. I truly am a misfortune magnet, huh?
For now I put this thoughts to the back of my head and channeled innate spirit into the head piece, before lifting off the ground and rapidly making my way towards the next level, since I didn't have to worry about any giant worms capturing me from the sky, I focused entirely on reaching the next destination.
"Morgan…."
The name tasted bitter on my tongue. He has been a thorn by my side ever since I met him. And now, chances are, im about to meet him again…
_________________________________
(Morgan POV)
The massive crimson moon ascended upwards, enveloping the entire desert in a crimson veil that was both eerie and serene. I admired it's beauty for a second, before I clicked my tongue and dashed. I couldn't allow the Sun-Cursed Worms to get me.
"Damn, that bastard….looks like he finally made it."
I was expecting something like this. Nico has been quiet for too long, not doing much for awhile. However, I knew he was alive by checking the mission log. Plus, he wasn't the type to die so easily anyway. He was similar to an annoying cockroach that refuses to die, no matter how many times you spray it.
Though, the problem was, he arrived on the next level just when the sun rose for me!
I needed to head to the blood river and swim down quickly. I was completely out of innate spirit. When i reach the river, no Sun-Cursed Worm will be able to get me and ill also be able to return back to the upper level. It was a shame that I didn't have time to think or anybody to brag about killing that monster of a giant worm, but it's still one of my proudest achievements ever since I was forced into The Mulligan.
As I was dashing towards the blood river, I noticed something strange from the corner of my eye. Turning back, I halted and stared at the Sun-Cursed Worms.
"Why the hell aren't they chasing me?"
I was bewildered. The very thought of them not bothering to chase me baffled me. Instead, all of them just surrounded the corpse of Velsharath and started dragging the corpse down into the sand. It was almost like they were mourning the death of their sovereign.
"Don't they want revenge?"
I didn't understand this mindset at all. If someone took out a leader I genuinely respected and admired, I would take revenge for the deceased without a hint of hesitation. Yet these monsters doesn't seem to have the desire to do that. Could it be that they have some philosophi—
My thoughts were cut off by the familier voice announcing inside my ears.
[You have recieved the temporary effect 'Gift of Protection' for defeating the boss!]
'Oh, so that's why.'
I laughed dryly. It's not the Sun-Cursed Worms dont want to exact revenge. Rather, it's that they can't. This effect I have recieved seems to be protecting me from being attacked. It's quite convenient, but also made sense. The Boss was too difficult, almost unfair for a mission of this level. However, defeating them isn't necessary, but if you do, the rewards are significant.
I thought, while staring into my Screen.
Abyssal Fragments: [699/1000]
I have now gotten significantly closer to capping at a thousand. When I do reach that amount, I would be able to evolve my blessing. I was very curious to find out what would happen. All in all, I don't regret fighting Velsharath. Defeating the Boss of a Level seems to grant you with Protection while also rewarding you significantly. The only downside is that the bosse's rend to be unfairly powerful.
That I can work with.
It made me wonder. Did Nico also recieve the rewards of my efforts? It would really upset me if he did. He wasn't the one fighting for his life here, but to be fair, he did do most of the working during the fight against Lord Tanmi and I still managed to snatch the rewards. One thing I was certain of, though, was that he was alive.
This meant I can't linger here any longer.
So, I quickly turned off [The Zone] and dismissed [The Cleave] and [Duskweave Mantle]. I would of kept the cloak on if I hadn't recieved the effect of Protection. Right now, all I wanted to do was alleviate some exhuastion before I reach the Respite Zone.
"The Respite Zone…."
If my hunch that Nico recieved the same Gift as me, he should also be heading for the next level right now. If this is the case, would I see him in the Respite Zone? Or would the Respite Zone also be flipped and we wouldn't meet?
If I do see him, I will attack him without hesitation. Even in a place like the Respite Zone can't control my anger. I think? Well, whatever happens, I was confident I wouldn't be in danger.
So, before long, I was dashing towards the next level.
It wasn't far. I had already cleared a significant amount of distance before the crimson moon rose and even during the fight, I had run quite far without realizing. So, I was confident that even with Nico using his flight, I would manage to reach the next level before Nico ever would.
Without looking back, I began running, even as my calves screamed I'm protest for me halt and take a break.
And then, eventually, after around six to seven minutes of running, I felt something around me change. My body stopped on its own and my vision darkened, reality around me bending with a powerful force that I couldn't describe in words.
'I made it.'
This thought reached my head before the announcement even reached my ears.
[You have ascended to the Second Level! Congratulations, Player 40,345,678!]
That wasn't the end, though.
[Player 789,776 has ascended to the Second Level!]
A crooked smile formed on my lips at the very expected announcement. But then, my emotions just disappered, as a blissful sigh escaped my lips.
[Welcome to the Respite Zone!]
[Reparing damage done to body….]
[Alleviating exhuastion….]
[Alleviating mental strain….]
[Replenishing innate spirit….]
[Alleviating Hunger….]
[Alleviating Thirst….]
[Removing excretion…]
[You're back in Shape!]
The sensations coursed through my body. My mind calmed down by itself, my body suddenly felt like it was brimming with vigor, the exhuastion forgotten. And my urge to eat, drink and release waste has disappered into thin air. It filled me with a profound sense of relief that I couldn't quite put into words.
I opended my eyes to the very familier void.
But then, as I turned my head, I saw a face that I despise.
Standing a good 5 meters away from me was Nico. As expected, he looked calm and peaceful, due to the effects of the Respite Zone. His messy blond hair with bangs covering his eyes looked much cleaner than before and his body, covered only by a crude loincloth, had no scars or wounds. The Respite Zone truly was a miracle, it was capable of making a brat like that look like a model.
Strangely, though, I wasn't able to feel any anger towards him. Any negative emotion that surfaced within me just vanished whenever it tried bubbling up to the surface. The Respite Zone certainly had a very strong effect.
[Temporary effect 'Gift of Protection' has been removed.]
I didn't even register that announcement, as I took a step closer towards Nico. Not to attack him, but to get his attention. He seemed to be staring at his Screen at the moment.
"Hey, you—ow!"
My words were cut off, as I hit an invisible wall, causing me to stumble back. Nico heard the sound and looked up, startled. There was a flash of anger in his eyes for a moment, before replaced by a calmness and serenity.
"Where were you, Morgan?"
Rubbing the top of my head, I stared at him in confusion. So, this comfirms that Nico really didn't know about it.
"That's a secret."
I replied coyly, recalling the way Nico refused to elaborate on the tracking equipment he had. Though, I was now certain it had something to do with his Blessing ability, instead of being a tracking equipment.
"I see."
Nico replied, sounding indifferent. But I knew he wasn't. When there isn't something a knowledgeable person doesn't know, they will seek it out. Eventually, after some time, he said.
"You defeated a boss."
I grinned.
"I did. What do you think? The overseer even boasted that I had achieved the impossible doing it, that I was the first one to kill an AA-Class boss."
Nico's eyes widened in surprise briefly, before his face contorted to something more complicated that I couldn't quite understand, his fists clenching.
There was a beat of silence after my words, the Nico broke it calmly.
"I'll kill you the next time we meet."
I simply shrugged.
"Right back at you."
We both exchanged brief looks for one more time, before turning around and walking the opposite way. There was still some time in the Respite Zone that I didn't want to waste.
I wanted to just get over there and beat the crap out of him, but there seemed to be an invisible wall between us. Which, i sort of understood why it came to be. I was in the underworld of the blood river, while he was in the upper world. Perhaps that's why we couldn't physically Interact, but still see and speak to each other?
I sighed and shook these thoughts out of my head.
"Time to check the shop."