The Storm Monsters

Barking sound from behind really gives tremendous fear to a group of people who are trying to escape from being chased.

Behind there, there are so many monsters that look like dogs, but there are a few things that make them different. Moreover, the two pairs of legs, the front and the back, have links formed by skin or something and looked very thin but also very elastic, which allow the monsters to float for some time and still move quickly.

With just one jump, the monsters are able to pass through many tree branches in order to catch up with the few people ahead who they are hunting. Time is an important factor in the pursuit. As time passed, the distance between them and the group of people they are chasing is eroding.

I don't know what their fate will be. The reason they run away, of course, is because they wouldn't be able to survive against the swarms of monsters that are chasing them.

...

The tree branch shook slightly after a foot stepped on it in a very short time and just walked away. Then, once again someone stepped on it with a greater pounding weight.

The leaves swayed as soon as the two people sped past them due to the splitting wind giving a gentle gust of wind.

"You see there? Can you beat it?” someone asked a girl who was following him behind, it was me who some time ago was asked by the girl to let her follow me.

I, who didn't mind someone following me, didn't reject her wish.

The girl behind me, with her hair tied in a ponytail, she displayed a well-proportioned face shape and a formidable jaw on her pretty face. Unfortunately, she's too young to be able to make me fall in love. If I were her age, I'd be blown away.

"Let me try!" replied Elrene in a voice that sounded reassuring.

I nodded, before stopping jumping once my feet landed gently on a tree branch near a monster whose head seemed to be surveying the area.

My arrival was apparently not noticed by a monster that was shaped like a chameleon but had a tail like a whip that was ready to tear its prey while still coiling from the base of the tail to the tip, which, at the end of it there was something sharp that seemed to glow.

When the chameleon-like monster, whose name was written on the screen was camouplague, heard an abnormal sound around, its skin immediately changed color to a translucent look and it was as if it wasn't there. Camouplague was really camouflaged in its huge body size!

Even though the camouplague could change the color of its skin to appear translucent, it didn't change the fact that the weight on its body still made the branch it was stepping on tilted downwards.

Of course, the tree branch which was much smaller compared to the camouplague's body size, it was clear that the tree branch it was stepping on was under such a heavy burden.

But if someone came in a hurry or wasn't alert, or there was even a possibility for those who didn't have a keen eye, the camouplague wouldn't be noticed. The tip of the branch stepped on by the camouplague basically seemed to merge with a single root, and that made the camouflage look so perfect.

Elrene, who had just arrived, had time to wonder where the monster she had seen from a distance had gone before. Once she got close to me, she didn't notice the presence of the camouplague, which of course, from that distance, she couldn't quite identify what monster I was referring to.

"Eh? Where's the monster?" whispered Elrene with a confused look on her face.

I stared at her blankly, before replying: "Isn't that because you came to bring the sound?"

Elrene even smirked with her eyes set somewhere.

With the pointer of my index finger pointed at where the camouplague was, Elrene drew her bow with arrows ready to be released towards the target.

However, before that happened, there is a sound of barking like the sound of so many dogs coming from the direction of the camouplague. Not that the sound is coming from the camouplague, but rather that it sounds far up ahead.

I look at Elrene, she is actually looking at me too.

“Can you handle this camouplague alone?” I ask to Elrene quietly, while my index finger again points in the direction of where the camouplague is.

Elrene who has just found out that the target of this hunt turns out to be a camouplague, who of course she knew the characteristics of this camouplague in detail, seems hesitant to answer as her eyeballs are fixed on something that couldn't be seen. "Who knows. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can kill it..." she replies.

I take a deep breath, contemplating what decision to make. Maybe, I should let this level 15 camouplague die at my hands… I think.

"Okay. We'll find the suitable monster for you later, okay? I'll take this monster. I have a feeling there’s something going on there. I'm afraid, someone is in danger..." I say, which is immediately nodded by Elrene without hesitation.

I smile slightly while shaking my head slowly, feeling that the decision wasn't such a bad thing.

With that answer Elrene gave, the time it takes for her to defeat the camouplague is not a short. Especially if I let her handles the camouplague alone, it's too risky. I don't know if Elrene meant not being able to defeat it is when the camouplague runs away or she is actually threatened by the camouplague. If that happens, then I'm really stupid.

Camouplague is in camouflage, waiting patiently for the thing that previously made an abnormal sound, intends to ambush something once it is within range of its attack. But without knowing anything, the camouflage is no longer active. Helplessly, the camouplague falls into the muddy ground.

I shakes off the Sprinter Ghost Dagger that just managed to pierce the camouplague's heart without getting any response from it.

After re-sheathing my Sprinter Ghost Dagger, I looked at Elrene, before saying to her: “Hey, I think, it would be best if you head back to our resting place first. I will go there myself…”

"But why?" asks Elrene who seemed reluctant to let me go alone to a place that might be dangerous there. Moreover, she has already guessed what the voice is. "Perhaps, it's a flock of diver hyenas known as 'storm bringer' that the Hero Candidates desperately avoid, even if it's the previous Hero Candidates..." she continues.

“It's good that you know what the monsters are. So, I don't have to think of a logical reason for you not to follow me there…”

"I-if fighting a lot of monsters, wouldn't it be better to add people to help?" asks Elrene trying to stay with me going there, trying to change my decision.

I shook my head slowly, taking a deep breath, before saying: “No, Elrene. In fact, it's better to be alone. I'm sure you know how fast I can move. Wouldn't it be with this ability of mine that I can escape when my life is in danger?"

Elrene seems to catch the implied meaning of my words. Even though she feels it is not a wise decision, she is aware that she would only be a burden to me.

Even though it's a subtle way, but I feel bad also saying Elrene is a burden. Unfortunately, that's a fact that shouldn't be ignored... I thinks.

"Come back, okay?"

Hesitantly, Elrene turns around. Before starting to jump over the tree branches, she glanced at me for a moment, before saying: “Hiro too, don't stay there too long. Promise me!”

I nodded after smiling slightly. Then, I starts to dart from one branch to another in the opposite direction of the direction Elrene took.

That is the direction, where the sound like the roar of the storm is.

...

Under the command of the leader, a flock of diver hyenas seem to have sense, moving to make a siege formation with a small part of a flock of diver hyenas that are able to move quickly to cut off the escape.

The group of people they are chasing really no longer have a path to keep advancing away from the diver hyenas swarm.

“How can we face this, Vierr?” asks a woman wearing skimpy clothes, part of her body could be seen. Her clean white skin with sweat sparkling that reflects the sun's rays, it is undeniable, she is a woman who has advantages in curves and skin quality.

The man called Vierr doesn't seem to hear the voice of the woman beside him. His eyeballs scan the surroundings, where, so many diver hyenas perch on tree branches.

Behind both of them are two pairs of eyes, two people who are also having their backs to them. Each entrusts their back to the partner.

The time is felt so slow. None of them shows a fine facial expression, all of them are pale white with cold sweat that has come out of all the pores in the body. In the face of death, the soul also trembles uncontrollably. Thoughts seem to be no longer connected, only fear dominates them.

Then, among the surrounding growls, comes a domineering growl.

The group of people turn with stiff necks towards the source of the sound. Down below, on the muddy ground, a hyena that has a different appearance is walking gallantly.

The hyena down there doesn't have a foot link like the other diver hyenas. With a size that is twice as large, on its body there is also armor made of bones. The bone armor that looked very strong protect its ribs, head, and two pairs of legs. Undoubtedly, that distinct hyena is the leader of the diver hyena flock.

Such a sharp gaze, each step is able to make big waves in the mud. Of course, the weight that owned by the hyena that has bone armor on it is enormous without letting go of the fact about its size.

"It’s..."

“Exoskeletal armored hyena!” someone exclaims in a slightly stuttering voice.

Hearing that muffled-sounding exclamation, the person called Vierr gasps as if he has just woken up from a daydream. Then, he calls out: “Cast the Blessing Aegis spell immediately, Katerine!”

“A-aah... Alright!”

The spell is cast by the woman named Katerine, the woman who is beside Vierr. It doesn't take long, the energy that is able to dispel a leaf that was about to fall onto the head of the women behind Katerine is slowly created, from what at first seemed only translucent and thin, becomes slightly golden and thicker.

As the name suggests, Blessing Aegis! People who are within the range of Katerine's abilities will be blessed. Depending on the conditions, blessings will remove bad influences. In this case, the tension and fear slowly evaporate.

In the calm that arises, the mind is clear again.

"So, how's it going?" someone asks jokingly, as if resigned to what would happen next.

"We can't let them easily eat our flesh, can we?" chirps the woman behind Katerine with a low giggle.

Vierr chuckled, before saying: “We will fight together, my friends!”

“Heh! Of course...”

"I won't let them freely prey on me..."

"I do, hope we're all safe..."

"Stay cool. We will all be safe. Rest assured! You just need to follow my instructions. I have a small plan to surprise them…” Vierr says as he stares at his fists which are being clenched so tightly.

The three companions stared at each other for a moment, before nodding steadily.

There is laughter from below, where the exoskeletal armored hyena who is staring intently at the four people is located, its face looking sinister behind its bone armor.

Then after stopping that unpleasant laugh, the exoskeletal armored hyena lets out a loud roar.

The diver hyenas surrounding the four people finally spring into action.

Some of the closest diver hyenas immediately lunge, but all of them only hit the still active Blessing Aegis.

Vierr immediately instructs his three friends to carry out his little plan.

Realizing that it is impossible for the diver hyena to destroy the Blessing Aegis, the exoskeletal armored hyena crooks its forelimbs while the rear is left as before. After shaking its rear body which is in the starting position, the exoskeletal armored hyena jumps so high towards the four people.

The air seems to be split apart by a large body that is flying.

BANG!

Blessing Aegis reveals small cracks that immediately spread, continue to grow, until they finally break.

Unlike Vierr expected, it turns out that the exoskeletal armored hyena will move earlier. Luckily, he has told Katerine to activate Blessing Aegis under the Blessing Aegis that has broken out.

But even so, the exoskeletal armored hyena doesn't seem to go as far as destroying a single Blessing Aegis. The claws covered with sharp and large bones are smashed against the Blessing Aegis, until the last layer of Blessing Aegis would again suffer the same fate.

During that time, the diver hyenas that are in the vicinity are overthrown by Katerine and the other woman who followed Vierr's instructions to kill them.

The woman beside Katerine has fired arrows several times actually which has various effects on the surrounding diver hyenas and she’s the one who brought down the diver hyenas the most.

Even though the woman's archery skills are very capable, it still has to be accompanied by a high level of character when fighting high-level monsters, which is why none of the arrows are able to penetrate the armored hyena's exoskeletal skin, let alone the armor made of bones.

A man wearing boxing gloves crossed his arms after standing in front of Vierr and facing the exoskeletal armored hyena, preparing to withstand the huge claws as the Blessing Aegis shattered. Of course he isn't stupid enough to directly block the large claw, but instead immediately activates the Mirror Shield which is able to reflect some of the impact of the attacking opponent to the owner of the attack.

Katerine no longer has the mana to activate any of her skills, because the two skills she casts cost a lot of mana. That becomes one of the reasons, why Blessing Aegis has such a great effect in terms of defense. However, facing a very strong opponent will still be destroyed.

“You two, close your eyes! Then Brant, prepare yourselves!”

The Blessing Aegis cracks again, then shatters when the huge claw hits it for the last. The big claw doesn't stop moving even though the Blessing Aegis has been pierced through, until the big claw finally hits the Mirror Shield.

A boom is created.

Then suddenly, a dazzling light makes the diver hyenas nearby unable to see.

Vierr immediately helps Brant to get up, who has bounced off a tree not far from the incident due to holding the big claw of the exoskeletal armored hyena, while the exoskeletal armored hyena is also blown away.

Using the opportunity, the four of them immediately flee.

But unexpectedly, even though the four of them have run as fast as they could, the diver hyenas that had previously cut off their escape path have been waiting for them in the direction they are about to flee.

Apparently, that diver hyenas had been planned to appear at times like this, so that they are not exposed to the previous blinding light.

Brant, a man capable of fighting on the front lines is now injured.

Katarine no longer has any mana to help in the fight.

The woman wielding the bow seems traumatized, as all of her attacks were unable to penetrate the exoskeletal armored hyena's skin. Her hands seem to be shaking, she certainly wouldn't be able to release the arrows on target either. In fact, she has crushed so many diver hyenas. She should be proud. However, perhaps her pride is crushed by a stronger opponent.

Archers are indeed very rare, because they require the ability to be able to use the potential of archery weapons well.

As for Vierr, he isn't someone who could inflict serious damage on an opponent. He specializes in supporting comrades, just like how it was before. The dazzling light that blinded the diver hyenas and made room for them to escape, it was coming from him. While one more skill possessed by him is Heal, it can indeed heal Brant.

But to heal someone, Vierr still takes time and it doesn't instantly heal the target to be healed.

“Maybe this will come to an end, Vierr…”

Vierr gulped, before saying: “You two, take Brant away. I will restrain this diver hyenas with all my might-…”

"How can it be like that!" cries Katarine with tears in her eyes.

"Rin, understand me, okay?"

Vierr steps forward regardless of Katarine's reaction, while the woman holding the bow seems to be in a state of fluster.

What is their fate? Will Vierr be able to fight the remaining diver hyenas?