Chapter 360 - Taunt

Chapter 360 Taunt

The second venture into the Dark Sky was rather successful for Edward’s party. Although they did run into several monsters on the way, they worked together to swiftly get rid of them without alerting other monsters nearby and get encircled like last time.
Moreover, they were slowly making their way toward the missing Mufasa.
[Edward: The System’s reaction is stronger here. Mufasa has to be nearby.)
[Leah: You say that, but it’s all darkness and nothing could be seen. It spoils the mood even more because we can’t use lights here.]
[Doug Ag: And it’s very quiet around us, with no monster sounds… I have a bad feeling about this.]
[Marni: Damn it, I died again! There are so many monsters down in Dark Sky!)
(Marni: Sorry, wrong post.] [Edward: …]
[Leah: I’m suddenly in a very good mood!]
(Doug Ag: I’m suddenly feeling very confident for some reason too!]
[Edward: Do your best, everyone. We are very close to clearing this floor!]
(Leah, Doug Ag: Yeah-!] [Marni: …]
(Marni: Although I know about the rumors circulating amongst the Players, don’t you think it’s hurtful to say that in my face? Is our friendship fake!?]
[Edward: If we clear this stratum, I could embed one rune in one of your items.]
(Marni: Really? Then should I come to the Dark Sky to die again? By the way, I don’t want the Ace Rune. Some Player who embedded it got team wiped for some reason.)
(Edward: …]
Hello? Are you not being a little too materialistic there?
Although Marni appeared keen on continuing the conversation to get more information about Dark Sky, Edward and the others were still in the process of exploration. With the lightless environment making their work a lot harder, Edward and the others responded to Marni’s other questions rather slowly.
And being not one to keep bothering others, Marni soon left the post and built another new party.
Soon, however, Joe whose task was to stay on high alert as the party’s vanguard and as such did not join the chat came online.
(Joe: I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?]
Edward did a double take.
When did an oaf like you learn this trick?
[Doug Ag: Good news first. We’ll be happy then, and then we’ll get shocked by the bad news later.]
(Joe: Good news it is. Well, I think we found Mufasa.]
(Edward: Where?]
(Joe: Nearby, just ahead. And now the bad news: I can see some flashes from here…]
At first, Edward had been distracted by Joe’s information, and soon become nervous as some faint specks of light showed up.
That was probably the flashes Joe had seen.
And one powerful monster that shone brightly was coming their way!
Edward also quickly realized that it might be the same monster that Mufasa startled before.
Does that mean the creature had been chasing Mufasa until now?
Come to think of it, they definitely had not talked to Mufasa for some time.
[Edward: Mufasa, you there?]
(Mufasa: Yeah, but this isn’t good…]
Even as Mufasa’s comment appeared on the Player forums, his figure appeared within everyone’s vision!
“You guys…”
Mufasa had barely breathed those two words when he promptly realized that he must not simply make a sound in the profound vastness of Dark Sky.
Hence, he promptly switched to commenting on the forums.
[Mufasa: Run!]
In fact, his comment came too late.
Edward and the others saw the illusory radiance behind Mufasa and immediately became wary.
But that wariness was single-sided and momentary.
After all, Edward was not wary in the next split second-though there was no telling how far the monster was, its bright body alone made it appear to be over two kilometers away.
It appeared to be a cross between a prawn and a dragon, with sharp spines growing over its body. Although it had no limbs or teeth, it had a horrific, gaping maw with innumerable tentacle-like things growing out of it.
Could the monster be the reason why things had been so silent around them?
[Muta the Black Dragon Python, LV30]
Edward had assumed that his eyes were playing tricks on him and rubbed his eyes to check. Even so, the monster’s level was still 30 and not 130.
(Edward: Mufasa, prepare to counter. We’ll support you.)
[Mufasa: Don’t be fooled by its level! It’s definitely not just level 30—I would believe it even if the System says it is level 60!]
[Edward: What?!]
Nonetheless, Edward did not have much time to prepare. The creature was moving along the trail where Mufasa fled, brushing past Edward’s party.
Not about to miss his chance, Edward immediately casted a Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon Blast, attacking the monster from beneath its belly!
At first, he thought that launching his ultimate skill at such close distance would blow the creature half to death even if he did not kill it, or at least stun it.
And yet, Edward did not expect that his attack did not cut down the monster’s HP by much!
Edward was immediately dumbstruck.
How could this be? A level 40 monster would have been maimed if it had a skill like that fired on its stomach, let alone a level 40 monster…
Meanwhile, Muta the Black Dragon Python appeared to notice the presence of Edward’s group just then, hence turning around to lunge towards them!
“We have no choice! This is going to be a direct fight! Joe, Doug Ag, use whatever skills you have!” Edward cried while waving Happy Flames—the passive barrier had been broken after he died last time, and the staff only buffs the damage of his fire spells now. “Princess Leah, please buff us. Jessica, we’re counting on you on heals and other buffs
too!”
“I’ve been waiting for this!”
After holding back for a long time, Princess Leah promptly unleashed her weapon, waving her flag in the gloom of Dark Sky, revealing the steel shaft beneath. “Warsong Chorus, Hero Creation, Unyielding Strength! Don’t worry and charge!”
“Edward…” Jessica seemed worried, but she did not stay idle—the hilt of her holy lance was shining with silver light.
Gou Dan’s AWM had turned into a large bow as well, and he handily got his arrow nocked.
At the same time, Joe had drawn out Giant’s Toe and smiled fearlessly at the behemoth, hooking his finger at it while using a Taunt.
“Come to papa!”