TRAPPED IN GREAT HERO ONLINE

CHAPTER 08

"Your body seems unable to withstand the power in the arrow you used, Dyne. With that, this is my victory," said Evil Gamma to Eldric.

"No... it's still not... over..."

"Don't blame me, Dyne. This shows that you're still weak."

Evil Gamma moved three green roots from his body. These roots had sharp thorns and wriggled like snakes. The area around Eldric and Evil Gamma became more open due to Eldric's previous attack. Some damage was caused by the arrows Eldric shot, which couldn't be avoided. As a result, many of the surrounding trees and the road he walked on were disordered and severely damaged.

Evil Gamma moved one of his roots toward Eldric, who appeared to be starting to tire. Eldric realized that Evil Gamma was beginning to attack. His body felt heavy, but he had to withstand the attack. Eldric jumped sideways, focusing the last of his strength on his reflexes to move his legs. He managed to dodge Evil Gamma's attack. Eldric made a good move. After that, he aimed [Mald Arrow], the usual magic arrow, at Evil Gamma. His position was good, but...

"Too slow, Dyne..."

"Huh?"

One of Evil Gamma's roots slammed toward Eldric, who was about to release his arrow. Eldric couldn’t avoid it.

"Ugh?!"

Evil Gamma's attack hit Eldric in the stomach. The powerful force of the root sent Eldric flying several meters from where he stood. The [Mald Arrow] he held slipped from his grasp due to the attack. His body crashed to the ground as he endured the pain from the thorny root that had struck his stomach. Eldric couldn't stand up because of the pain.

"Why? Is this all you can do, [Great Hero Dyne]?" asked Evil Gamma, slowly walking toward Eldric.

"Si...al....!"

Evil Gamma sensed an unusual aura from his opponent. The aura emanating when Eldric's eyes met his, as he walked toward him. Evil Gamma stopped his steps. He probably realized that his position was not something he could maintain forever. Evil Gamma felt that something was being hidden from him. Evil Gamma used his root to grab the [Mald Arrow] lying on the ground, then threw it right beside Eldric's body.

"Not a bad glare, Dyne. You're not just this, are you? Stand up and fight me. Don’t you want to save your friend and that elf girl?" Evil Gamma asked Eldric.

"You....!"

"Are you angry? That’s not bad. Just vent it on me. Or maybe... should I finish off your friend and that girl?" Evil Gamma seemed to provoke Eldric.

"Evil Gamma!" Eldric started to get angry.

He grabbed the [Mald Arrow] next to him. Slowly, he stood up and emitted a different aura from before. Eldric’s glare was filled with rage as he pulled his magic arrow toward Evil Gamma. His body was still trying to hold on and showed no mercy to the enemy in front of him. Eldric was furious after hearing Evil Gamma talk about killing his friend, Rylan.

"Before you go any further, I’ll make you crumble here!" Eldric shouted angrily.

"Not bad words. Try if you can," replied Evil Gamma to Eldric.

"Evil Gamma!!!"

Eldric shot his magic arrow at Evil Gamma. Just like before, Evil Gamma didn’t show any reaction to dodge the arrow aimed at him. If the result was the same, Evil Gamma would only suffer a small wound.

A different movement started to appear from Evil Gamma. He shielded his front with the thorny roots. Could Evil Gamma see that Eldric’s attack could injure him more severely?

BLLAARR!!!

Eldric’s attack hit the roots protecting Evil Gamma. The damage and explosion were no different from the first attack Eldric had used. With that, Eldric hoped to weigh Evil Gamma down so that he couldn’t move. However...

"Not bad. You’re still able to draw a magic arrow from your bow," said Evil Gamma.

"S-Shit! You’re... a monster!" Eldric said, glaring ahead. Evil Gamma wasn’t seriously affected by the attack. Only a little injury was seen on the thorny roots that had just protected him.

"As I said, right? Right now, you can't defeat me. You can't surpass me as I am now!" Evil Gamma said, moving his thorny roots.

On the other hand, Rylan couldn't bear to watch what was happening to his friend, Eldric. Eldric was fighting alone against the monster named Evil Gamma, but all his attacks were having little effect. Rylan was trembling slightly. His legs felt like they wanted to move, to save or help Eldric, but he had no weapon.

Rylan glanced at the elf girl he was protecting. She had a small dagger. Evil Gamma didn’t say why he was targeting the elf girl, but Rylan felt something was off. Rylan grabbed the dagger placed near the girl’s feet. The dagger was red and still looked fine.

"Sorry, I’ll borrow this for a bit. I need to save Eldric before that monster finishes him off!" Rylan said, glancing at the unconscious elf girl.

Rylan stepped out of cover. He ran toward the battle between Eldric and Evil Gamma. He stopped right behind Evil Gamma, who couldn’t take his eyes off Eldric, who was now too weak to use his [Mald Arrow].

"Evil Gamma!" Rylan shouted during the fight.

Eldric and Evil Gamma turned their attention toward the source of the voice. Rylan stood, breathing irregularly, holding the dagger he had taken from the unconscious elf girl.

"What are you doing?! Get to safety! He’s dangerous!" Eldric shouted at Rylan.

"Shut up! Realize your condition! You’ve reached your limit! This time, let me handle it!" Rylan replied, aiming the dagger at Evil Gamma.

"Don’t get so emotional. You two are friends, right? Dyne and Reast... or should I call you Eldric and Rylan?" Evil Gamma said to Eldric and Rylan.

Eldric and Rylan were surprised. They didn’t expect Evil Gamma to know their real names. How could he know their true identities?

"How... do you know our real names?!" Rylan asked Evil Gamma, still shocked.

"Hmmm... this is troublesome."

"Answer quickly!" Eldric yelled angrily.

"Calm down, Eldric. No need to get emotional like that. First, I’ll tell you the information I gathered today," Evil Gamma said to both of them.

"Information?"

"Yes, Rylan. The information I gathered today isn’t bad. Eldric’s [Magic Skill] is 23. You can still improve, Eldric. If you grow and learn how to use the weapon you hold, you could defeat me someday," Evil Gamma explained to Eldric.

"What are you saying, Gamma?"

"That’s exactly what I’m saying, Eldric. I’ll also give you something interesting, Rylan. Eldric’s power can grow faster than you think. Because of that, you’ll find a weapon that suits you to fight alongside Eldric, Rylan," Evil Gamma told Rylan.

"Hey! I still haven’t heard why you know our real names?!" Eldric spoke up.

"Oh, right. Someone from the nearest town told me your real names."

"Could it be... Voth?" Rylan muttered after hearing Evil Gamma’s words.

"Dammit! That lizard....!"

"Well, I’m not going to tell you more about where I got your names from. You don’t need to think about your personal information. It’s useless. Your goal is [Finias], right? I’ll give you a warning," Evil Gamma explained to Eldric and Rylan.

"Hm? A warning?" Rylan asked, confused about what kind of warning this was.

"There’s an organization that has started operating in [Finias]. An organization conducting experiments on the races of this world called Plantazel. That organization is named Lucifer," said Evil Gamma to both of them.

"Lucifer? Are you one of them? Why are you giving us this information?" Eldric asked Evil Gamma.

"I don’t want you two to die without realizing your potential. You both have potential in my eyes. When you’re stronger, I’ll defeat you both. Besides, I’ve never seen a race like yours. You both are similar to Firtania, but your ears aren’t the same. Well, I don’t care about your race as long as you develop the way I want, Eldric, Rylan!" Evil Gamma said happily.

"Are you toying with me and Eldric, Evil Gamma?!"

"Oh, yes. I’ll give you this. Two bottles containing healing medicine for Firtania and you, Eldric. Just pour the liquid in these bottles on the body of the injured person, and all their wounds will heal. With that, my business here is done," Evil Gamma said, placing two red bottles containing healing liquid on the ground.

"You’re giving this so easily? What are you planning, Evil Gamma? Why are you targeting that elf girl?" Eldric asked Evil Gamma.

"Eldric, my business here is done. I have no obligation to answer that. Rylan, hurry up and find your weapon so you can make our battle more fun. I must go now. See you later, Eldric and Rylan," Evil Gamma said to both of them. Evil Gamma walked into the forest and slowly disappeared from their view.

"Hey! Wait! Ugh?!" Eldric tried to stop Evil Gamma, but his injured body couldn’t hold on any longer.

"Are you alright, Eldric?" Rylan asked.

Eldric was barely able to hold himself up. His wounds still burned in pain.

"Rylan... we... can’t let Evil Gamma win. There’s still a lot of things we don’t know. But now, we must go after Finias."

"We’ll find the truth and stop whatever evil plans are happening there. Together."

"Don't worry, Rylan. You've saved me. Besides, the opponent I just faced..."

"Evil Gamma, right? Danger awaits us in [Finias]. We need to prepare for anything that awaits us there, Eldric."

"You're right, Rylan."

The battle involving Eldric and Rylan has ended. However, their enemy has disappeared from sight. At that moment, the information they obtained has increased slightly. The path to reach [Finias] will become more dangerous than either of them could have imagined.