Chapter 379: Neon City
The tunnel, dark and cave-like, finally came to an end—and what lay beyond was something truly wondrous. Something neither of them had ever seen back on the surface world. Before them stretched a meadow of short, slender grass extending for about two hundred meters. Most astonishing of all, the grass glowed faintly green, just like the rocks, the sand, the seashells, and even the fish. Everything around them had glowing lines running through it and moved in the dark, as if they were the only sources of light in this entire place.
"Wow, this place is amazing. Look, master—my footprints on this glowing sand, they turn black and then slowly fade away."
Fluffy Head-chan exclaimed to Chang Long in excitement. Chang Long turned to look at her own footprints—and indeed, there were black marks where she had stepped on the glowing sand.
"Looks like everything here can glow,"
Chang Long said, glancing around. Far in the distance, what looked like a town could be seen—houses seemingly made from seashells. But then again, it might have just been a large heap of shells not too far off. The terrain here seemed to distort all sense of distance, making it impossible to judge how far anything actually was.
The two of them crossed the meadow and sands, heading toward the seashell structures—or possible city—in hopes of using it as a starting point for their journey. But along the way, a beam of red light suddenly shone down from above. They looked up—and both gasped in shock.
"Vampire Octopus Beast – Level 105 – preparing to attack."
The name alone was not nearly as terrifying as its appearance. The Vampire Octopus resembled an octopus. Its massive body was bright red, with long tentacles linked together by a thin, web-like membrane stretching across all eight arms, each over two meters long. Each sucker had something resembling a needle protruding from it. As it slowly spread its tentacles wide, it looked as though it was casting a net over its prey.
Chang Long drew her sword swiftly to defend against the attack. Thanks to her recent level increase—now six levels higher—it would not be too difficult for her to take this thing down on her own.
Clanggg!
The sound of her blade striking one of the octopus's sucker needles rang out—letting her know just how tough that part of the beast really was. The Vampire Octopus flung its tentacles forcefully, pushing itself out of her attack range. Just then, Fluffy Head-chan shouted for her to use a skill—to release his true form.
"Puppet Manipulation,"
Chang Long cast the skill knowingly. The tiny lion began to grow, enlarging to his original size before death, his transformation powered by glowing strands of her mana. Fluffy Head-chan leapt into the air. Though the area's conditions limited his strength and speed, the jump was still high enough for him to bite and claw at the Vampire Octopus.
With a powerful bite and slashing swipe, Fluffy Head-chan tore through the side of the octopus's head and severed two of its tentacles with its razor-sharp claws. A chunk of flesh from its head dangled from Fluffy Head-chan's jaws.
The Vampire Octopus immediately lost its balance. Seeing itself at a disadvantage, it jetted a stream of water to propel its body away from Chang Long. But Fluffy Head-chan had no intention of letting it go and gave chase, with Chang Long close behind.
"What are you doing, Fluffy Head-chan?"
Chang Long asked.
"Chasing it down to kill it, of course, master."
Fluffy Head-chan answered eagerly without even glancing back, his eyes locked on the fleeing octopus. The Vampire Octopus darted into a narrow crevice—only wide enough for one person at a time. But as soon as it slipped inside, a swarm of glowing white jellyfish with luminescent cores and tentacles emerged.
They were no bigger than the palm of a hand, but they numbered in the hundreds—and they instantly swarmed the intruder that had entered their domain: the Vampire Octopus. Flashes of light, like miniature lightning strikes, flared as the jellyfish's transparent tentacles touched the octopus's body. It struggled and thrashed in desperation, but there was no escaping from the hundreds of jellyfish now engulfing it. In the end, the Vampire Octopus became nothing more than food for the tiny jellyfish.
Fluffy Head-chan, upon witnessing the scene, screeched to a halt, body tensing so hard he almost bent backward—despite being a spirit that could not be eaten. Still, the idea of getting stung by hundreds of jellyfish with venomous needles did not sound the least bit pleasant. As much as it pained him to give up his prey to the swarm, it was better than ending up skewered by a hundred stingers.
"Not in the mood for an electric massage, Fluffy Head-chan?"
Chang Long teased with a grin.
"Hmph! I'm not sore in the slightest. But if you are, master, please go right ahead—don't mind me."
Fluffy Head-chan replied cheekily, making the reaper girl burst out laughing.
"I think we'd better get out of here. Looks like those jellyfish aren't quite full yet."
Chang Long said, casting a glance at the remains of the Vampire Octopus—reduced to scraps in an instant. Fluffy Head-chan agreed, and the two began walking away.
"Look, master. From here, that shell pile seems even bigger now."
Fluffy Head-chan pointed out after they had traveled some distance.
"You're right. Maybe that is a real city after all."
Chang Long smiled. If they could just make it there, they might finally get some proper rest—and maybe reunite with the others who had gotten separated: Jane, Hero, Killer, Murder, Kitsune, Flatear, Anya, Brownie, and Luther with his demon puppets. As for the two ghosts, Devi-chan and Hisa-chan, Chang Long was not too worried. After all, they could not stray more than fifty meters from her anyway.
.....
"This guy's slow as a damn turtle!"
Luther complained irritably, shooting a glare at Killer. The assassin could only offer a sheepish laugh. He did not dare argue—after all, he really could not see anything and had to rely on Luther to lead the way. Luther, for his part, was used to walking fast—so fast that not even his own two demon puppets, Lamia and Fangy, could keep up. If Killer could see where he was going, he definitely would not be moving this slow.
"W... Well, I can't see the way. But still, we finally made it out of that dark hole."
Killer said, grinning awkwardly. Despite Luther's constant grumbling the entire way, he had still helped guide Killer out of the pitch-black passage—and had not just walked off and left him behind to fend for himself.
"Damn right we did. Let it be known: there's nothing the great Luther can't do, as long as he sets his mind to it. Now then, is that a city?"
Luther puffed out his chest and praised himself with pride, staring off at the bizarre landscape ahead. In the distance, he could make out what looked like a pile of shells that resembled a town.
"Whoa! There's actually a city in a place like this."
Killer asked in surprise, stepping up beside Luther to try and spot the city he had mentioned.
"What do you think—could brother be over there?"
Luther turned to ask Killer, eyes wide and childlike with curiosity, stunning the assassin for a moment.
"Maybe. I think we should head over and check it out—just in case the others are there too."
"Then let's go. This time, you're leading the way."
Luther said, turning to scoop up Fangy in his arms, which caused Lamia—who had been riding on Fangy's back—to fall off and tumble to the ground.
"Haha, sure thing."
Killer replied, taking the lead.
"Hey, you two..."
A familiar voice called out from around a stone corner, drawing Killer's attention immediately. Luther, already knowing who it was, rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Flatear. Kitsune!"
Killer called out in delight. The two sacred beasts, currently in human form, stepped out from behind the stone crevice. Despite the joy of reuniting with group members, Flatear's face made it painfully obvious—he was not happy to see Luther.
"Ugh, what a drag to run into you lot."
Flatear said haughtily, lifting his chin in disdain.
"Like I'm supposed to be happy running into annoying people like you."
Luther shot back without the slightest courtesy, causing the kirin's eyebrow to twitch.
"Enough. Whether you're bored or annoyed, you'll still be traveling together for a while—at least, if you intend to keep following master. Isn't that right?"
Kitsune interjected, his voice calm but firm. Both Flatear, who had been about to open his mouth for a comeback, and Luther fell silent at once. Killer glanced between the two of them and Kitsune, and thought to himself: If anyone could keep Chang Long's unruly companions in line—besides Chang Long herself—it was Kitsune.
"Do you have a plan for continuing the journey, Killer?"
Kitsune asked politely. Though his tone was still formal, the soft, deferential voice he used only with Chang Long was nowhere to be found.
"Yes, we're heading toward that distant shell pile—over there. We think it might be a city. We figured anyone who got separated would probably aim for the same spot as a starting point."
"I see. But don't you have a phone? Why not try contacting master? We already attempted telepathic communication, but it didn't work—this place seems to have too much interference."
Kitsune's suggestion made Killer's eyes widen in realization. How could he forget they still had communication devices—phones.
"Oh—right. I'll try calling Lord Chang and Murder now."
Killer quickly dialed both of them and learned that they, too, were headed toward the same shell mound. With no maps and no idea where they were, trying to find one another along the way would be almost impossible. Meeting at the shell pile—which was most likely a city—seemed to be the most practical plan. Once the meeting point was confirmed, everyone set out immediately for their shared destination.
.....
On the way to the shell mound, Chang Long's group encountered a number of strange beasts—each with glowing, bioluminescent patterns on their bodies. There were floating marine worms with rippling frills, gliding through the air as if swimming. Sea cucumbers that squirmed along by coiling and uncoiling their bodies. Giant cuttlefish whose skin flickered with disco-like lights. And even manatees with flowing hair like a woman's, complete with two large seashells covering their chests.
Eventually, Chang Long finally reached it—the shell mound they had seen from afar. It really was a city, just as she had hoped. It was not particularly large, but it had everything a traveler could need. The city's NPCs were either jellyfish—or humanoid beings that looked like jellyfish. They had clear, trailing tentacles on their heads that hung down like dreadlocks, capped with knit beanies in alternating green and yellow stripes. Their way of speaking was brash and streetwise—like back-alley punks.
After five long days of travel, Chang Long's first move was to find a hotel and book a room. A pearlescent clamshell-shaped bathtub filled with aromatherapy bath salts helped her unwind. And when she finally collapsed onto the plush, springy bed, she felt so cozy that she dozed off almost immediately.
"Looks like she really was exhausted."
Devi-chan turned to Hisa-chan. The two of them stood by Chang Long's bedside, watching as their master slept deeply, completely unaware they were standing right there.
"Well, it is understandable. This place is kind of special."
Hisa-chan smiled softly, gazing at their sleeping master. In slumber, she looked just like an innocent young girl—so different from the fierce warrior who could go from calm to deadly in a blink.
"Let's go take a look around the city—maybe we'll run into the others who got separated. We'll leave Fluffy Head-chan to stand guard here. That okay with you, kitty?"
Devi-chan invited Hisa-chan to join him in exploring Neon City. They left Chang Long to rest peacefully—though not before Devi-chan, true to form, made sure to poke fun at Fluffy Head-chan one last time before they left.
"Hmph! Just go already."
Fluffy Head-chan, sprawled out at the foot of Chang Long's bed, turned his head away with a flick. Devi-chan burst into laughter at his attitude, clearly entertained, while Hisa-chan gave a wide smile before the two of them floated out of the room together.
The ghostly duo—Devi-chan and Hisa-chan—revealed their forms for others to see. Aside from Chang Long, none of her companions or friends had the ability to see these normally invisible spirits. Strangely enough, the sudden appearance of the two ghosts did not faze the city's jellyfish-like NPCs in the slightest. In fact, they looked delighted and began shouting over one another to hawk their goods with enthusiasm, as if competing.
"This place seems lively, huh..."
Devi-chan said in astonishment.
"Hehe,"
Hisa-chan chuckled. Despite it being just the two of them, the buzz and chatter around them made it feel like the city was packed with people.
"These guys are on another level. I swear!"
The ghost of the former pirate king rolled his eyes and continued walking, completely uninterested in the noisy jellyfish shopkeeper NPCs of Neon City. The two surveyed the city streets, keeping an eye out for others from the group who were supposed to be heading this way per the plan they had made with Chang Long.
"Devi-chan, Hisa-chan. I'm so happy to see you!"
A sweet and familiar voice called out, drawing their attention. The first group to arrive in Neon City after Chang Long's was none other than Anya, the fairy girl, accompanied by Hero, the sniper, and the ever-feisty Brownie, who no one dared mess with anymore due to his absurdly high level.
"Oh. You guys got here before anyone else? Now that's unexpected!"
Hisa-chan remarked, making Anya smile bashfully, fully understanding the teasing tone in her voice.
"This one's getting fiercer by the day—just like missy. That's a good thing, though. A young lady needs to know how to defend herself—so she doesn't get pushed around so easily."
The comment, sounding like a father giving advice to a daughter, made Hero's lips twitch a little. He was not sure whether the words were aimed at him or not, but one thing was clear—there was someone who definitely agreed with that sentiment wholeheartedly.
"Exactly. Devi-chan is so right! Anya's strong and beautiful. She's clearly the one most worthy of being master's twin!"
Who else could it be but Brownie, the self-proclaimed and undisputed superfan of the fairy girl.
"Oh no, I'm not that great. Where's master? Since both Devi-chan and Hisa-chan are here, then she's probably in town already, right?"
Anya replied bashfully. Ever since Alice-chan was gone, Anya had become the sole beauty in the group. That was because no one—ever—included Chang Long in that category. She simply lacked the sweetness and delicate charm typically associated with femininity. (Not that she had any clue this was a thing.) As a result, everyone went all out to protect and cherish their lone fairy girl.