Zectas Volume III: Malediction of Veneficatl Valley (23 page)

'No wonder the kappas stopped coming.'
Confident that the lower-level kappas feared him, Smoke decided to take a quick break. He took out the bread and boiled eggs that Saru gave him earlier.
Quickly, he wolfed down the food to recover his lost HP as he only had 60% of his life bar left. He needed to raise his Satiety level as well. He merrily enjoyed the bread and eggs as he gently rowed the boat towards deeper waters.
As Smoke ate, his mind wandered. Out of all the Simiavulgs, he only managed to raise Saru's Intimacy level to 82%. Even his previously-high Intimacy with the great masters Doctus, Tenvis, Castas and Meras had now been reduced to 55%, after his Beggary ability wore off on his second day in Saruras.
His Intimacy with them was still high enough for them to request these favorable trial conditions, but not high enough to allow him entry into any of the specialized temples. 
'At least my pseudo-full Manatl barrier worked. This staff is really useful.'
Despite the fact that his Cunning of the Dire Fox ability didn't detect any monsters nearby, he still quickly shifted his mental state to battle-ready after he finished his meal.
'This can't be it? There has to be a reason for Indignus' smug smile.'
After reading the updated quest window, Smoke was forced to row even further into the lake. He thought he heard something from the shoreline, but the sound was too faint to be heard clearly.
He wondered if they were reprimanding him for something related to this quest, but then he thought that he was safe since he'd been strictly following the rules Indignus had given him.
These thoughts instantly disappeared once Smoke's Cunning of the Dire Fox ability picked up twelve kappas swimming fast towards his medium-sized rowboat.
Six of these webbed monsters managed to get aboard his ship while the rest tried to cling on the sides. He immediately noticed that these monsters were also larger and had darker green-colored scales.
He spun his white metallic staff into a blur. The kappas on the side of his boat were blown away by his basic attacks.
SCHILD SCHILD SCHILD SCHILD SCHILD.
As he repelled the kappas on the side, he also carefully blocked and absorbed the attacks of the kappas on board his ship.
PLONG!
Smoke's white staff momentarily stopped spinning for a second as he executed another one-strike kill. Right after he killed the kappa, his staff resumed its lightning-fast spin.
Yet, he didn't fail to notice the kappa's life bar before it disappeared. It clearly displayed (0/160,000 HP). 'I guess this will take longer than the last time.'
Two and a half hours went by as Smoke fought off the higher-level kappas until he was once again left with only two of them. It took him longer because of the monsters' higher defense and bigger life bars.
He absorbed these two kappas' attacks and killed them using only the staff's ordinary damage. Afterwards, he sat down and opened the minimized quest window.
Smoke found that he had already killed 99 kappas. Just one more and his quest was done.
Serendipitously, the largest kappa that Smoke had seen sprang up from the starboard side of his boat. Smoke sniggered at the monster because he still had a fully-charged staff capable of instantly killing it.
PLONG!
Right after he killed his hundredth kappa, Smoke opened the blinking quest window again.

As Smoke was reading the updated quest window, he saw Saru floating across the lake inside a white spherical Manatl. He heard the albino Simiavulg shout and point to his back. "Row back to the defensive rocks! Those are the twin bull sharks, Requin and Cornu. They're second only to Calamar."
"Huh?"
All of a sudden, his Cunning of the Dire Fox picked up two massive monsters. He estimated their length to be at four meters and their width to be at a meter and a half.
He sensed that these monsters were swimming rapidly towards him. He turned around and saw that two fins and a pair of horns were about to ram into his medium-sized rowboat.
Smoke looked back to the defensive rocks and knew that he couldn't outrow these two monsters. He turned to face the lake's Boss-level monsters and held onto his white staff tightly.
His survival instincts kicked in. The Manatls on both ends of his white staff disappeared. He raised his staff in front of the bull sharks and created a full-body Manatl.
The purple spherical Manatl barrier formed just in time for one of the bull sharks to leap across and ram both its horns straight into it.
SCHILD SCHILD.
Thanks to his mental image training of flowing water, Smoke knew exactly what to do. He calmly redirected the force of the bull shark's attack to his left side, forcing it back into the lake.
The bull shark's high damage reduced the Manatl's duration and it had already started to fade. 
Unfortunately for him, the second bull shark performed the same attack and had its jaws inches away from his back.
THWAK!
As he readed himself for the bull shark's teeth to sink in, Smoke saw an energized white metallic staff held by an albino gorilla Simiavulg come to his rescue. Saru arrived just in time to deliver a pinpoint attack on the bull shark's belly.
Saru's attack displayed the name and life bar of the bull shark. Smoke saw that this one was Cornu and only had (360,163/450,000 HP) left.
Smoke could not even rest for a second, as the first bull shark came back with its jaws wide open. He tried to hold his full-body Manatl, but it wasn't strong enough and the bull shark's razor-sharp teeth dispersed it.
THWAK!
Saru delivered a hard blow to the bull shark's head and its jaws failed to reach Smoke. Saru's blow reduced the bull shark's life bar to (385,981/450,000 HP) and revealed its name: Requin.
After Saru's destructive blow, Requin was forced back into the lake.
"We have to hurry back. Even the brown-staff wielders couldn't handle both these guys at once."
Smoke immediately sat down and placed both oars into the rowlock. Smoke rowed with all his might as Saru remained standing with his white metallic staff in hand.
His Cunning of the Dire Fox alerted him that the two bull sharks were on the opposite sides of his rowboat. The two monsters were coming in for another attack.
Both Requin and Cornu leapt from opposing directions for a synchronized attack. He then saw Saru raise his white staff parallel to the boat and instantly create a white inclined Manatl ramp on both sides.
SCHILD SCHILD.
Saru's Manatl ramp forced the two bull sharks to jump across the boat. Smoke rowed even harder towards the defensive rocks. Saru's life-saving techniques gave Smoke hope that they could survive this.
This time, Requin and Cornu came from the back and the left side of the rowboat. Saru kept calm and swiftly responded with the same inclined ramps.
SCHILD SCHILD.
Both bull sharks flew high into the air as the monsters' attacks missed once more. Smoke and Saru were slowly getting closer to the defensive rocks when Smoke heard a gurgling sound coming from the murkly lake.
Smoke's Cunning of the Dire Fox picked up another monster, even larger than the two bull sharks. Eight tentacles with coral spearheads for tips emerged.
Slowly, Calamar's gigantic head rose from the green lake. Smoke saw Calamar's eyes look in the direction of the two bull sharks.
Then he heard a loud noise coming from the colossal squid.
"GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAK!"
Smoke only rowed with his right oar a couple of times as he wanted to evade the colossal squid. Calamar stretched out its long tentacles and blocked their path, but didn't directly attack their boat.
"Why isn't Calamar attacking us? Is it feeding us to its bull shark underlings? " Smoke wondered out loud as he rowed.
At the same time, the two bull sharks were swimming fast towards them prompting yet another attack. However, this time both Smoke and Saru were on their feet and had their energized staves ready.
Smoke still had some of the absorbed energy from Requin's attack earlier, while Saru had plenty of absorbed energy from both of the bull sharks' attacks.
When Cornu and Requin leapt to attack them, Smoke thrusted his staff into Cornu's belly right after dodging its jaws. Smoke's energized white metallic staff damaged Cornu for 40,000 points. Cornu's life bar displayed (320,163/450,000 HP).
"GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAAKK GRAAAAK."
Smoke distinctly heard Calamar make the same loud noise after he attacked Cornu.
'Is Calamar laughing?' Smoke wondered.
THWAK!
Meanwhile, Saru bashed Requin's head in with his white metallic staff and gravely injured the monster. Requin's life bar displayed (267,189/450,000 HP).
Saru's hard blow forced the monster down towards the rowboat. The massive bull shark received even more damage when its body hit the sturdy boat before sliding down back into the lake.
Requin's return to the water rocked the boat hard. The intense swaying motion almost capsized their rowboat.
"GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAAKK GRAAAAK."
Smoke once again heard Calamar's weird noise, which he thought to be the lake boss' laugh.
"Saru, any idea why Calamar's behaving like that?"
"I don't know. Just be happy that he isn't attacking us."
Right after Requin flopped back into the lake, Smoke sensed Cornu leap in for another attack. Unfortunately, he couldn't move fast enough to completely dodge it.
His left arm got lightly scratched by one of Cornu's sharp horns and Smoke was damaged for 35,000 points. Smoke's already-damaged life bar now displayed (90,850/165,850 HP.)
'That was just a scratch?' Smoke shook his head as he imagined how much damage a full-impact attack from the bull shark could do.
Requin and Cornu swam further away from Smoke and Saru before turning around.
The DarkElf watched as the monsters dived into the lake. His Cunning of the Dire Fox sensed that they picked up speed from below and leapt in for a low side attack. The bull sharks' assault bypassed Saru's Manatl ramp since it came from right below the ship's side.
Saru was forced to create a white concave Manatl barrier around the entire starboard side of the rowboat.
SCHILD SCHILD!
Smoke eagerly watched as Saru's barrier absorbed the twin bull sharks' first attack.
SCHILD SCHILD! SCHILD SCHILD!
Smoke needed to do something to help Saru. Since the quest window confirmed that he completed the test's objective, he was now free from its restrictions. He switched weapons and used his weighted chain and sickle.
With the aid of his Lunar Boots, Smoke leapt over Saru's concave barrier. He used his hooded cloak to glide over the rowboat and threw his weighted chain into the water.
He activated the weighted chain's built-in ability to return to him as he willed it and the sturdy iron chain wrapped itself around the twin bulls sharks. Smoke managed to wrap the chain around them three more times, which heavily restricted Requin and Cornu's movements..
Saru canceled his Manatl barrier and attacked Cornu.
THWAK!
The bull shark's life bar displayed (231,286/450,000 HP). Smoke landed on top of the rowboat and tied the iron chains to it. The boat briefly tilted and was filled up with some water.
He may have restricted the bull sharks' movements, but it was a risky gamble. The bull sharks could break free from the chains at any moment and sink them.
However, he took his chances as he leaned in and grabbed a hold of the bull sharks. Hurriedly, he began stabbing Requin with his sickle.
The sickle proved very effective against the shark's hard slimy flesh. He kept on attacking after confirming that both bull sharks still had a hard time moving.
"GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAAKK GRAAAAK."
Smoke heard Calamar's weird noise once more.
'I guess this must be really funny to Calamar or something?'
Saru joined in and attacked Cornu with his uncharged white metallic staff. The two land dwellers continued with their relentless attack.
SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH!
Both of the bull sharks thrashed and rolled about as they tried to break free, but they were only struggling against their own strength. The Chain and Sickle of Dasende proved to be a very dependable weapon.
"GRAKAAA GRAK GRAKAAAA GRAAKK GRAAAAK GRAAK."
As Smoke and Saru kept attacking the bull sharks, Calamar also kept making its weird loud noise.
That was until Requin and Cornu's life bars were reduced to below 15%.
At that time, Smoke and Saru both instinctively stopped as they felt a strong killing intent behind them. The two of them turned around only to see Calamar's angry face.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK!"
Eight coral spearhead-tentacles instantly headed their way. Saru reflexively extended his left hand and created his strongest concave Manatl barrier in front of them.
CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK!
The first round of Calamar's  tentacles came. Immediately, Smoke switched weapons and used his electro-charged arrows enhanced with his armor piercing ability Armor Break of the Armadillo.
Eight arrows flew towards the colossal squid. Yet, each of the DarkElf's arrows only damaged the monstrous lake boss for only 125 points. It did, however, reveal Calamar's life bar (799,000/800,000 HP).
'What? How could my damage be that low?'
Suddenly, the bull sharks' bodies were covered in black slime. Two huge feelers rose from the water and grabbed a hold of the twin bull sharks' tails.
Smoke's muscles flexed as he held on tightly to his chain and sickle. The two bull sharks were being pulled out of Smoke's hold over them.
He felt Saru grab his waist as he was being pulled down from the boat. Smoke hurriedly released his iron chain's hold on the two bull sharks.
"Whoa! Thanks, Saru. Calamar sure got us good."
"Calamar isn't done yet. Look!" Saru pointed at eight gigantic tentacles coming straight at them.
The albino gorilla Simiavulg quickly created another white concave Manatl.
CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK CHINK!
A barrage of tentacles poured down against Saru's Manatl.
"Smoke, I don't think I can hold out for long. You can glide, right? You better get out of here."
The DarkElf couldn't believe what he was hearing. This albino gorilla Simiavulg was willing to sacrifice his own life for a non-Simiavulg.
Smoke tried his best to row towards the protective rocks, but Calamar would block his every attempt and only direct them back to the deeper portions of the lake.
As Smoke watched Saru defend against Calamar's attacks, he remembered how he used the knowledge from the book entitled "Simiavulg Etiquette" to increase his Intimacy with him.
Ever since he performed the Simiavulg bow for Saru, his Intimacy with him had been steadily growing. As he remembered this, thoughts about a different book he read in the Pillar temple's library popped up in his head.
'There was one book about a bullied a fish.' He remembered how the fish turned the tables on its two bullies and became sadistic towards them, but kept them alive. Calamar swinging the twin bull sharks around could've been said to perfectly match that scene. Then, a sudden thought popped in Smoke's head. 'Could it be...I wonder if...'
"Smoke? What are you doing? Stop rowing and leave already!" Saru angrily raised his voice.
"How long can you hold your Manatl against Calamar?" Smoke asked, after a brief pause.
"I don't know! All I know is that if you don't leave now, you're going to die!" Saru shouted back with his back against Smoke.
Smoke stubbornly remained in the rowing seat.
He used all of his strength and created some distance between them and Calamar as fast as he could. Using his recently learned ability called Manaception, he began to scan the lake bottom.
Unfortunately, while doing so, his rowing speed was minimal to say the least. Suddenly, he heard a familiar sound.
"GRAK GRAK GRAK GRAAKK GRAAAAK."
Calamar stopped directly attacking Saru's Manatl and went for the area around their boat. The colossal squid splashed two-meter-high waves towards their medium-sized rowboat.
Saru responded by creating a concave Manatl above their boat. Smoke happily kept rowing with all his might as he saw Calamar toying with them.
The colossal squid still held the twin bull sharks as it chased after Smoke's rowboat.
Normally, Smoke wouldn't dare to rely on information from a children's book, but desperate people will cling to the very last sliver of hope.
He kept his eyes closed. He visualized the lake's energy with his mind's eye. He felt the multitude of living things inside it, from the microscopic organisms to the lake's current boss, Calamar.
From the depths of the lake, he sensed a strong pressure of rushing water. He followed it with his senses and traced it to a hole with a diameter of half a meter.