CHAPTER 32: THE CITY OF SNAKES

Aven immediately took a step back. Kykloi’s mention of S-tiers beasts didn’t go unnoticed.

Apart from monsters having their own level to level 100, they’re also categorized into tiers. From low-level tier F to boss-level tier S.

Crix had already signed the contract with the Red Halo’s board. And now, both teams had consented to the terms and conditions and punishments if they didn’t keep to their word.

It’s permanent blindness for anyone who failed to comply.

But the Red Halo seemed more reluctant to even cross the West sector’s gate, fear dug into their hearts after the interference of Kykloi.

The half succubus lady pushed Alan away from her, her head high as she walked towards the veiled man, who still leaned on a broken lamp post and stood behind him.

Such drama.

The ’Gamblers’ board, however, were ready. Elian had crossed over the corpse and into the West sector.

The plan still went on. Crix with the twins, and him with Aven. But something still clung to his chest. And it wasn’t the smoky tainted air.

Kykloi mentioned Aven hiding a secret away from his ’friend’. And if by chance the friend was him... Aven knew a thing he didn’t know anyway.

But he’s sure as hell would ask.

The ruin stretched far. Broken buildings laid on the sides of the city.

Suckerbot, if I die here... I’m not going to be punished, right? I still haven’t figured out how my Divine Variant works.

[Pfft. No. You’d only get punished if you die stupidly.]

Elian raised a brow. Elaborate.

[Like tripping over a rubble... Or getting mauled by a low tier monster.]

[The Constellation ’Hunter of Lost Lines’ wishes you luck.]

[You’re gonna need it.]

He mentally face palmed. Walking closer into a half crumbled building, where he’d be sure to see some beasts he could fight, Elian felt a cold hand clasp his arm.

He turned, meeting Aven’s distraught face.

"Are you afraid someone’s going to die because of you again?" Elian asked, his gaze fixated on Aven’s cold hands.

Aven blinked twice. "I... uh..." he released his grasp. I can’t tell him I found out his sister’s dead. That’ll break him.

His stomach flipped as his expression turned into worry. And I don’t want him to hate me.

So Aven smiled at the scowling man. "I don’t want your sorry ass chewed by some monsters, okay? I paired us for a reason. Strong and weak, composed and ADHD’s—"

"The twins have ADHD?"

Aven groaned as he gnashed his teeth. "Not the point. I’m saying I matched the group fairly so we get the work done faster," he then turned to look at Crix and the twins.

Both tall twins were busy admiring Crix’s artifacts. Gnawing over how shiny the fox necklace was, or how grippy his gloves were.

And Crix softly laughed with them, even showing and goofing about an artifact he bought with 5000 coins.

Aven bellowed at them. "Come on. Don’t do this. Focus."

Sun glanced at the Queen. He pouted, leaving Crix’s side, about to say something, but his gaze caught Elian.

Elian slowly shook his head, as if to tell Sun to stop. So he did, sighing and nodding back at Elian, moving on with Crix.

All while the other team, despite being shook to their bones, had all walked in. A male member shot Elian and Aven a dirty look before nudging them off their shoulders.

Elian glared, his blood boiled every time he caught a sight of Alan. However, he stomached it again, patting Aven in the back before he took left for the ruins of the West sector.

Kykloi mentioned another thing apart from the whole cosmic weird six Tales of something something something...

It was the only thing that spared them from getting ’exhilirated’ off the earth.

To find the advertiser.

Could it be someone that advertised the West sector’s luxurious life? Or another beast?

But only if they do claim the territory could they try to find the advertiser.

He fastened his pace, going under an abandoned building left almost untouched.

Although it has cracks at the edges, and the last floor of the tall building looked like it has been chewed off, it was the only building that remained standing.

Even the four- winged revolving doors were left untouched... If someone ignored the roughly large hole behind it.

Aven caught on to him. He already had his sword drawn out. "You fool. You don’t have any weapon on you. Do you plan to die?"

Elian gave a nervous laugh. He searched the ground looking for... Ahah!

He took a few steps away from Aven, bent down as he picked up a slightly thick iron rod the length of his arm.

Aven stared at him like he’d lost it.

"Are you crazy?"

"No, why’d you say that?"

Aven’s gaze darted to the rod. "That’s just a piece of metal—"

"It’s a rod."

"—It can’t do shit. First is the damn stick. Now this. Just buy a weapon. I know low classes don’t have enough mana to create a mana weapon. But that—" he ridiculously pointed at the rod, "doesn’t have anything on you."

Elian blankly stared at him. His grip tightened on the rod.

[Sucker Punch Lv 1 has been activated.]

He pointed the rod on a big round stone right behind him. And tapped it with the edge of the rod.

The stone blasted into tiny pieces, shocking Aven on how effective the stupid skill was. Although Elian’s skills had useless names like ’Pawnstar’—he chuckled at the name— at least for an E-rank highly defective Pawn, it was something.

Elian’s System screen popped up.

[Your skill has reached a new level!]

His lips tugged into a smile. Nice.

[Sucker punch Lv 2! You can now blast a whole human into smithereens if they’re arrogant.]

Now that’s confusing. Does it work for high tier monster?

[Dunno. Try it.]

Aven’s voice cut through the air. "Okay that fine... We can work with that," he etched a brow, "I think? Let’s just get moving. I’m sure the other team must have cleared half the city."

It’s a city, Aven. Not a street. But okay?

"I’ll go search the first floor," Elian said as he pushed the revolving door, stepping inside the story building. Another giant deep hole laid in the middle.

He almost shrieked. Stomach plunging deep. His feet were barely holding on.

He peeked inside. But didn’t know how deep it was. Or worse, if a beast reside in there.

He almost fell into a bottomless pit. Dying here would mean another 12 hour punishment with the Tormentor.

He shriveled at the thought.

Glancing around the ridiculously large hole, figuring how he’d go around it without falling in and risking another death, a whoosh of air flew past in, fluttering his slightly overgrown dark hair against his eyes.

Elian looked up to see Aven, levitating in the sky.

Aven winked at him, almost mockingly and he can’t bear to admit he was jealous.

He can’t fly.

"Bastard..." He muttered under his breath.

But almost immediately, Aven swooshed past him. "Elian, you dumbass, you’ll trip and die."

Before Elian could protest, Aven’s arm hooked around his waist and yanked him off the ground like he weighed nothing.

"Wait—WAIT! Put me down! I can walk!" Elian flailed, the rod clattering against his leg as his stomach lurched. Wind slammed against his face, his hair flying everywhere like a chaotic mop.

Aven only smirked. "Oh? You can walk? You almost kissed a hole ten seconds ago."

"And stop holding me like some—like some princess! I’m going to throw up on your shitty face—"

"Stop struggling dammit! I’m trying to help you... Princess." Aven shot back, tone dripping with smugness.

[He’s right, you know. You do look like a princess right now.]

Shut up, Suckerbot!

He yelpedas Aven ascended higher. The air grew colder. His heart hammered like it wanted out of his ribs.

Then, mercifully, his boots hit solid ground again. Second floor. He staggered a bit, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt like that’d erase the embarrassment. He opened his mouth to mutter a reluctant thanks.

But something, felt wrong. Even Aven stilled, his shoulders stiffened.

Goosebumps rose to his skin.

The air became colder and a low hiss slithered through the ruin.

Aven’s smirk faded.

From the corner of the second floor, something massive uncoiled. Its scales scraping against broken concrete. A green, two-horned serpent lifted its head, golden split iris stared right at them. Its tongue flicked, tasting the air.

Elian’s hand tightened on the rod. "Aven..."

"I see it," Aven muttered, his voice quieter now.

The serpent’s head tilted, examining the two idiots that dared stand in front of him.