Chapter 65: Sub-Captain Wayne [Bonus - 1/2]
Wayne extended one arm toward Liam.
The sub-captain was suspended above one of the energy platforms, one hand inside the pocket of his trench coat and the other pointing directly at him.
A new platform appeared beneath Liam.
"Huh?"
Liam barely had time to react before landing on the energy platform.
Lydia, who was still in the shape of a parachute, quickly returned to her slime form.
Wayne looked down at him.
"You seem pretty excited to participate in the raid."
Liam looked up.
"Well... yeah."
"But you’re still a rookie in the guild."
Wayne sighed.
"And if something happens to you, I’ll have to take responsibility. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay out of the way."
Liam blinked.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Liam looked down.
The rest of the hunters were already preparing for the next attack.
"But I can help."
"No."
Wayne raised a hand.
Liam took a step toward the edge of the platform.
"Then I’ll just go down."
He tried to jump, but before he could...
A wall of energy appeared in front of him.
Liam stepped back, and another appeared behind him.
Then another to his left and another to his right.
Lydia watched as the walls began closing in.
[Lydia: Honey, he’s trapping you.]
Liam looked around.
"It’s like a box..."
[Lydia: He’s forming a cell.]
Liam frowned.
"Lydia, get out before it closes completely."
His wife obeyed without hesitation.
The small green mass slid toward one of the edges.
The energy wall was already about to close.
Lydia slipped underneath it just in time.
The final wall joined the others.
Wayne slowly closed his hand, and the energy intensified.
Liam knocked on the surface.
"Wow..."
He was completely trapped inside the energy cell.
Amber raised her voice from another platform.
"Wayne!"
The sub-captain turned his head slightly.
"Don’t waste time with a guild member who could be useful to us."
Wayne looked back at Liam.
"I don’t intend to have to carry a rookie around with me."
Amber frowned.
"He’s more capable than you think."
Wayne lit a cigarette.
"We’ll see."
Liam sighed.
"I guess I’ll have to watch."
Wayne pointed at the cell.
"Exactly."
The sea of sand trembled again, and all the hunters took their positions.
Wayne pointed at Liam.
"You can watch."
Liam raised both hands.
"Okay."
He smiled.
"I won’t get into trouble."
But his eyes were focused on another target.
Lydia.
The small gelatinous mass was descending toward the combat positions.
[Lydia: I’m waiting for your instructions, honey.]
Liam smiled.
’Of course.’
◇◆◇
The sea of sand began to tremble.
Millie stood at the front.
Her armor reflected the violet light of the sky.
Her feet were firmly planted, and both hands were ready.
A few meters behind her stood Amber and Don Rouch, accompanied by several close-combat hunters.
The ranged attackers remained suspended in the air on Wayne’s energy platforms.
Evan had his bow ready, with his new energy-infused arrows loaded.
Even from a distance, Liam could tell that everyone looked exhausted.
They had been fighting for hours.
Wayne remained suspended above them.
A cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth.
Liam watched him.
’So these platforms are part of his Awakening.’
It didn’t seem like a particularly offensive ability, but it allowed dozens of hunters to attack from different heights.
It was perfect for a battle like this.
Lydia finally landed beside Millie.
The small gelatinous mass rolled across the sand.
Millie immediately recognized her.
"Lydia?"
Lydia raised one of her tentacles and gave a tiny thumbs-up.
Millie smiled.
"You two really love getting yourselves into trouble."
Lydia waved her tentacle.
Millie let out a small laugh.
"But I appreciate you coming to help."
Lydia turned her attention back toward the sea of sand.
Then...
BOOOOOOM!
The sand beneath the hunters exploded open, and everyone stepped back.
A huge circle appeared beneath their feet as the sand began to sink.
And then the fangs appeared.
Dozens of enormous teeth emerged around the circle.
Liam’s eyes widened.
"There it is. The dungeon’s boss."
The worm’s mouth opened beneath them all.
Millie jumped backward.
"Now!"
Her ability activated.
"Taunt!"
A powerful surge of energy burst from her body, and the worm immediately turned toward her.
"Over here!"
Millie continued retreating.
"Come on! Look at me!"
The monster opened its mouth even wider.
Don Rouch stepped forward.
"Perfect, girl."
He raised his golden spear and drove it into the center of the creature’s mouth.
"Grow!"
His arm tensed, and the spear began to lengthen.
CRACK!
The tip pierced through the monster’s jaw.
The weapon continued growing until it completely pierced through the creature’s mouth.
"Now!"
Amber shot forward, her body covered in energy.
She propelled herself forward with both legs.
She reached one of the fangs.
"Get out!"
She struck.
CRACK!
The fang shattered.
Another strike.
Another fang fell.
The close-combat hunters took advantage of the opening.
"Attack!"
Their weapons began striking the creature.
Evan raised his bow.
"Fire!"
The arrows shot out from the platforms.
The ranged attackers began targeting the eyes covering the worm’s body.
Liam watched in fascination.
He had never seen anything like it.
It was his first time witnessing a battle against a dungeon boss.
"Incredible..."
But something caught his attention.
Wayne.
The sub-captain wasn’t looking at the boss.
He wasn’t even watching his own teammates.
He was still watching Liam.
Liam frowned.
’Why is he watching me so closely?’
It was uncomfortable.
[Lydia: It looks like they don’t need our help.]
Liam watched the battle again.
’I’m not so sure.’
The battle seemed to be under control, but something was strange.
’There’s a reason they’ve been fighting for hours.’
Lydia remained alert.
Then...
The worm roared.
"RRRRAAAAAAA!"
Its body began sinking.
Millie stepped back.
"No!"
The monster’s mouth began to close.
Don Rouch tried to pull out his spear.
"Wait!"
Too late.
The destroyed fangs began regenerating.
New teeth appeared one after another.
The worm closed its jaw.
CRAAAAACK!
The golden spear snapped in two.
Don Rouch was sent flying backward.
"Don!"
Amber rushed toward him.
The worm raised its head.
Millie continued using her Taunt.
But...
Nothing.
The creature completely ignored her.
Liam’s eyes widened.
"What?"
Millie froze.
"My Taunt..."
The worm shrieked, and its thousands of eyes began to glow.
Liam felt a chill.
’It’s changing.’
The monster was no longer reacting the way it had before.
It had learned.
And now it was looking directly at the hunters.
Lydia watched from below.
[Lydia: Honey...]
Liam clenched his teeth.
’I know.’
The worm sank back into the sand.
This time, it wasn’t retreating.
It was preparing to attack from any direction.
Liam looked at Wayne.
The sub-captain finally tore his gaze away from Liam and looked at the boss.
His cigarette fell from his mouth.
Wayne looked worried.
Liam slowly smiled.
’Now.’
Perhaps the time had finally come to show that man that being a rookie didn’t mean being useless.