Chapter 34 - Cannibal
The fight started with several spells being casted, weapons wielded, and blood littered the barren lands.
They had already discussed their formation.
Tanks like the knights would be on the front lines, taking damage while the mage was in the middle and healers would be at the back end. Midnight positioned at the rear, making sure that no lion would attack the supporting Adventurers.
"Lance, Luck, Sun, and Midnight, keep your actions to a minimum," Frederick commanded. "It's their time to shine."
The five strong members alone could handle the conquest. Given the fact that four of them are already at Level 100, it wouldn't be too hard.
The reason why they take Conquests and Comet quests were to help their guildmates level up. The five were the pioneering members of the Azure Scorch and the founding members.
"Elliot, can you tank?" Lance asked. "The tanks need more members."
Elliot looked at his level and his slightly-worn out sword. He was hesitating if he could actually do it. His weapon might break in the middle of the battle and it would become disastrous.
"I think I–"
"No." It was Luck who cut him off. "If that boar sword would shatter while you're fighting, the lions would maul you."
Frederick sighed and gave Elliot a comforting smile, "Next time."
'Borrow feature active.'
Elliot's smirked. The Manual never fails to amuse him.
"Borrow."
'Select your weapon to Borrow.'
1. << Dragon Scale Sword >>
2. << Diamond Spear >>
3. << Giant Eggshell Shield >>
Elliot deadpanned at the options. It was clear the Manual wanted him to pick the first one.
"Borrow number 1," he said.
'Dragon Scale Sword borrowed. Check your Inventory.'
"Hey Luck," Elliot called out.
He dramatically took the sword from his Inventory, staring at Luck in the eyes. "I can tank."
"That's my boy!" Lance said and ruffled Elliot's hair. "Go!"
Elliot ran to the front lines with Ripple. She was running together with him but suddenly disappeared. Not long after, an arrow shot a lion. The air around it waved and Ripple started attacking it rapidly.
"Hasty Aspire!"
"Luminous Dexterity!" Connor backed up.
He felt like he was the strongest man on earth. Elliot shot himself towards one of the lions, soloing it. He slammed his foot in front of the lion and swung his sword in its face.
The slash halved the HP of the lion and the mages from behind finished it off.
"That's some skill," one of his guildmates said.
"You're fast for a tank too," another said.
A man who wore a larger set of armor walked in between them, "The battle's not over. Deadly Taunt!"
"That's our George!" the mages from behind cheered.
Elliot wondered what his skill does. His question was answered when the giant cats surrounded George with killing intent resonating in their bodies.
Deadly Taunt attracts the beasts' attention to the caster. This was a famous skill from tanking Adventurers since they would often deal with the damages.
The lions lunged towards George. He was swinging his sword, attacking the lions while the mages and the stealth knights supported him.
"This is how you tank!" He yelled while laughing loudly.
"Freaking masochist," Luck shivered. "He's almost at Breakthrough too."
Frederick nodded. "And I'm close to breaking your bones."
"What did I do now?"
"Don't tease the boy too much," Frederick said. "Elliot's nothing compared to him. We may be wrong."
"Whatever."
The lions fell one by one. The team was about to cheer when Frederick cleared his throat.
"This is the outer den," Frederick said. "The inner den has fiercer lions. And the boss. Try to clear the minions before the boss. It wouldn't go out of its nest unless–"
"It's here!" Sun announced. While Frederick was announcing and instructing, he flew a couple of meters up to watch over the area.
"The Breakthroughers must've attracted its attention," Frederick sighed. "New plan. Kill them all!"
A surge of a terrifying aura walked towards them. Other than the pioneering members, everyone else shivered at the presence it gives off.
The lion was five meters tall. Its mane was burning with a blue flame instead of the red to red-orange flame of the other lions. Its eyes were wide and saliva flowed from its mouth.
Along with the saliva was blood.
"The other lions are gone," Lance whispered. "It's a Cannibal!"
Cannibals are beasts who eat their kind. Once a beast tastes even an ounce of blood from its own kind, they would crave for more. And when they do, this would end the life of the beast, leaving its body with a shell full of only darkness.
Only a handful of Adventurers know how to deal with Cannibals. Even when its head is cut off, it would still attack relentlessly.
"Only a ritual can kill a Cannibal," Luck said seriously. "Watch and learn."
Frederick walked in front of them, the lion was staring at him dead in the eye.
Elliot had only heard about Cannibals before but he never thought he would face one. Cannibals were basically beasts who became crazy for more meat of their kind after eating one. He paid attention to his guild master who breathed deeply.
"The approaching fearsome Adventurers made you cower and maul your kin," Frederick chanted like a prayer. "You have passed through the frontier of life and are forbidden to cross the border of death. Your soul will never reach the afterlife alone, instead..."
He raised his hand in front of him and a light blue flame lit like a wisp. "Let this flame guide you to peace. And condemn for your sins. Azure Scorch."
The lion erupted in a flame of white and blue it mewled in pain and growled, its fangs showing. Frederick stared at the lion's eyes, seemingly talking to it. "I ran out of words. Lance , just kill it!"
Lance leaped and hovered above the lion, pointing his swords down. "Exterminate!"
Two intertwining beams of black and white burst from his swords. The lion mewled in pain as the beams burned it, leaving no trace behind.
'Quest [ A Lion?!?! ] Completed.'
'Creator Reward available.'
'Claim?'
"Yes," Elliot managed to let out.
To the new members, their foreheads creased in confusion.
What just happened?
Luck laughed along with Frederick and Lance. It seemed like the three had a good laugh at their member's disappointed faces. Luck was rolling on the ground.
"That was some good drama," Sun shook his head.
"There they go again," Midnight sighed. "You know your little ritual is annoying, right?"
"That was so anticlimactic," Ripple scoffed. "I thought I could see how Cannibals are eliminated."
"You just did," Frederick smirked. "Burn them until nothing's left."
"What was the use of the prayer then?" Elliot asked.
Lance wiped a tear in his eye from laughing. "We're sorry. It was a joke for new members. Consider it as a ritual for joining the guild."
He looked at Elliot who was still figuring everything out. "There was no ritual if you're still wondering."
Little did he know, Elliot wasn't dumbfounded because of their act.
'Quest reward: << Ethereal Strike >>'