Story III / Part XXIII: Before The Red Dawn (XI) / Preparation (II)

On the Roof of a Ruined House, Near the Dungeon Entrance

Time: 10.31 A.M.E

Visibility / Distance / Weather: Clear / 20 KMe / Cloudy

"…Oh my, Robert-chan, do not tease your brother like that….ufufufufu…"

There is an Arachne and a Dark Elf sitting on the roof of a ruined house, near the dungeon entrance. Rania, The Arachne keeps giggling at Robert, the Dark Elf after she heard what the Dark Elf said to his older brother, Haru.

It's all started when the meeting between parties is being held inside the dungeon. Zack questioned Haru again about the fact whether Robert was able to cut down the boss first big HP Bar into half or not. Then, Haru asked Jack to bring Robert here since he is currently the outside of the dungeon.

A bit long after that, Jack returned without Robert and he said that he can't find Robert outside. Worried, Haru called Robert through [Divine Telepathy] and Robert answered it with casual tone. Haru irritated by Robert half-assed answer and scolded him.

Then, he asked Robert where he is but Robert answered Haru's question with even laxer tone than before as if he isn't interested in answering Haru's question and it made him got scolded again, after quite a bit time. Robert sighed and asked him quickly to get into the point since he is still battling against a demon beast.

Of course, that made Haru grumbled on the telepathy and it made Rania giggled, then he switched from telepathy to broadcast, so Robert's voice can be heard by other party's leaders.

"The people here asked me "Is it really true that Alberto-dono was able to shave off half of the Boss' first HP Bar?" They thought it was impossible in the first place."

"It's true…" Robert said that with low voice and he is hanging his words.

"SERIOUSLY?!" Zack shouted upon hearing that, as well as other party leaders.

"As I told you—"

"…But only First Mini Bar of First Bar."

".....................…" Both of us remain silent for a moment.

"…How many mini bars in a bar Robert?"

"…One Thousand." He replied flatly.

"ROOOOOBBBBBBBBEEEEEERRRRRTTTTTTT!!!" Haru screamed with all his might.

On other place, Robert is sticking his tongue out as he mocking Haru. Rania who heard that can't help but laugh.

"I teased him because he is really annoying or overprotective perhaps? Can't he see that I have grown into an adult and I have two wives already? Seriously, I don't need a guardian."

"You are half-wrong and right. First, he is our Leader. It's natural for him to protect and worry for other party members because he is the one who bear the biggest responsibility and second, he does treat you like a kid."

"Yes, I'm aware of that. But I—Oh! Get down Rania nee-chan!"

"Ow, ow, ow! Do not pull my hair! Chill—"

"Sssst! Keep your voice low otherwise they will hear you!"

"…what's it, Robert-chan?"

"Take a look there��" Robert is pointing his finger to far northeast of the dungeon.

"I don't see anything…"

"Activate your [Far Sight] and [Presence Concealment] first."

[Far Sight] is a skill that became a part of [Eagle Eye] Ability from Archer (Warrior) and Archer (Rogue) Class. [Far Sight] is the lowest skill of [Eagle Eye] Ability that allows the user to far seeing an object, but with few restrictions. Normally, if a Race has [Eagle Eye] as their [RA] (Racial Ability/Race Ability), this skill will be automatically added to the user's skill list and they don't need to learn this skill from other, scroll or book.

Meanwhile, [Presence Concealment] is an ability for classes or races who have connection to [Dark] Element or Dark Dragon Gods. This ability is the peak of [Assassination Arts] and [Thievery Arts] from [Assassin] and [Thief] Class. Normally, someone needs to pick Rogue (Melee) Class to able to get this ability. However, [Presence Concealment] for [RA] (Racial Ability/Race Ability) is different from [Presence Concealment] for [CA] (Class Ability). [Presence Concealment] for [RA} is active all-time and the user can activate or deactivate it whenever they like without [Penalty] or [Exhaustion] from [Mana] or [Stamina] depletion.

[Presence Concealment] from [CA] has limited duration and the user needs to use their [Mana] or [Stamina] to activate it. It will drop into lower rank if you are attacking your enemy or it can even deactivate automatically if your enemy noticed you or detected you through [Miracle Eye] from Mage Class (and any other [Detection]-type Skills or Abilities). The user needs to have at least A+ or above ranks to make them completely safe from [Rank Drop] Demerit from [Presence Concealment] Ability. [CA] [Presence Concealment] able to stack with your [RA] [Presence Concealment] effects and it can also enhance the effects your [RA] [Presence Concealment] although not for very long, except if you have A+ or above [CA] [Presence Concealment].

[Presence Concealment] Ability allows the user to hide in the "emptiness", "void" or "nothingness" by erasing their "existence" in the world. But it doesn't literary killing the user, it erases the user's aura, sound, movement, killing intent, existence and many others. One aspect that will make [Presence Concealment] Rank drops faster is if the user is showing their killing intent toward their targets. Leaving that aside, [EX] or above Ranks of [Presence Concealment] allows the user to completely erase their existence from the world, making their enemies "forget" or "unaware" of the user's existence.

For example, "Two guards are unable to detect an Assassin even though he is in front of them, sitting with a boy on a bench and the guards even asked him about where the Assassin is." Furthermore, [Presence Concealment] allows the user to choose any kind of skills, abilities, traits or titles they have. For example, if the user activates his or her [Presence Concealment], a list will appear on their [Screen Menu] and they can choose skills, abilities, traits, or titles that may enhance [Presence Concealment]'s effects.

"Oh, there "they" are…" Rania is seeing ten creatures that are the "main actor" behind [Rain of Chaos].

"See? Ten of "them" at the same time, and even some high-ranked ones…"

"This is bad, we must exterminate "them" right now. Otherwise, "they" will turn this forest into dust."

"You can't! I had a battle against five of them once and I almost died as well."

"Seriously? How strong are you Robert-chan?"

"I'm just your "average" Dark Elf. Please, let me call Aniki first."

"You said you didn't need a guardian? Ufufufu…"

"For this time, I need them. I can hardly finish them myself, even if you are backing me, we still couldn't defeat "that flying thing"." Hearing that, Rania giggled.

"I can't call Aniki because they would notice. Keep watching them, I'll write quick message."

Robert opened party chat menu and quickly writes something on there. He keeps writing and writing without looking around him. Rania who feels restless transforming her Demi-Human body into Human body to be able to moves faster just in case. Then, she pats Robert's back repeatedly while mumbling something.

"They started to move to the dungeon Robert-chan, better to hurry or I'll confront them by myself."

"Shit!" Robert pressed [Send] Button. After that, both of them quickly jumped down from the roof and run.

At The White Falcon Party's Base

"Haru-san, is this amount of Mana Potion enough?"

"It's not. We need twenty or twenty five more, Ayumi-san."

My party members start gathering the supplies we need for this raid. Mainly, we take mana and stamina recovery potions over the HP potions since the number of Healers in the raid team are enough to heal 500 people. The rest of potions that we will bring to the raid zone are [Savior's Tear], [Full Restore], [Debuff Cleanser], [Max Revival], and [Soul Bind]. I asked them to bring some explosive flasks, holy water flasks, and divine-enchanted bombs from the lab. I went to lab to pick something for myself and I found Erick who is still packing something. Oh well, this convenient since I want to tell him something.

"Erick, there is something I want to tell you and this is a serious matter. Could you talk with me there?"

"Hng, love confession? Let me tell you I d—" I'm glaring at him while showing an angry expression to him.

"O-osh, I was just joking, joking! Please don't get mad!" Erick smiling nervously. Then, I opened my parallel dimension and dragged him in.

I talked with Erick more than thirty minutes about what he must do when we break the boss fourth big HP Bar. He disbelieved me after I told him about the boss, but because I threatened him and promised him that I will give him "three luxurious materials", which he really wanted to complete his potion formula, he agreed to help me.

It seems he agreed to help me because he really wants to see two pure girls who rarely angry get mad. He said that it would be an interesting moment to watch and the worst thing, he said all of that while smirking widely while showing an evil expression in front of me. Well, as expected of a [Prankster]. He sure to live up to his job.

Then, I walked out from the lab to the main hall after I finished my business with him and I found Zikiya seems to have a problem. I approached her and asked her what's wrong.

"Ishizaki-sama, could you please give me a suggestion? Which one is better between Staff with [Higher Status Recovery], [Duration Reduction], [Less Mana Consumption] and [Protection for The User] or a Staff with same effects but [Protection for The User] is replaced with [Protection for The Ally]?"

"It's better the first Staff. You need to protect yourself rather than your allies."

"I can't do that! It's against the teachings of The Ma—"

"It's not a teaching against "Him". In battle, your existence is more important than your allies, if you ask me "why?" now I ask you, if you are defeated in battle, who will support us?" I said that with stern voice.

"…you are right…" Zikiya said that with uneasy tone. I know it's hard for her, since she is supposed to help other people whenever they need as her duty as a "High Priest" in Main Cathedral of Equistava Religion.

"Good, now go and prepare your team Zikiya-san."

"Thank you for your guidance Ishizaki-sama!" she bowed down and run to her tent.

I looked at Zikiya's back with sad expression. One thing that I can't understand until now is the religious (or zealot to be exact?) people like Zikiya. They are always act compassionate and helpful toward people, even in dangerous time and situation like this, they are always thinking about other people rather than themselves. I know being helpful to the people who need you and being kind to each other are good actions that is loved and taught by The Maker, Dragon Gods and Earth Mother.

However, if you keep acting or thinking like that, the people will use that weakness of yours to achieve their own goals and it will make them always rely on you that they can't do anything by themselves. Moreover, in the battlefield, such pretty thing like, "good and evil" doesn't exist, what's there is kill or be killed and survival of the fittest. You must keep thinking about your own survival and safety rather than your allies since their life are depends on your survival. I know being selfish is bad, but selfish is what keep you alive in this chaotic world.

Being "selfish" is a sign that you are living as a person who has a heart even though you are a "Holy Elf" that is supposed to not allowed to commit a sin from birth until die. You can't become a failure product called as "Hero" that only care about the people's wishes and safety over their own life.

"The Heroes" who never ask anything in return and punishing evils without asking them why they did that. "The Heroes" who are blinded by pretty thing called "justice" who don't know that their worshippers only used them to achieve their goals. "The Heroes" who don't know the people who used them kidnapped, enslaved, tortured, tormented, conquered and raped other races' freedom and chastity under a false reason such as, "disciplining them", "making them help us", or "repent their sins from killing our people and our breathen."

"The Heroes" who can only blind the people and their followers with their heroic actions and petty reasons. "The Heroes" who saved a kidnapped Sylph Elf from race trafficking but they don't free them from the slave collar or finding a way to unlock it as a form of "aiding her". "The Heroes" who only know how to add more women as "wives" and brainwashing their friends. Lastly…of course, "The Heroes" that those Humans worshipped and relied so much, who keeps showering them with hypocrite and false praises while asking them to do their dirty works without showing them what truly happened in the world itself.

…Remember, you will become like that Zikiya, who can't act selfish in your life, even in the academy. I hope you won't end up like that. Otherwise, Ayumi, Silva and I, who was saved by you won't be able to act as if nothing happened just like in the old days.

Nevertheless, I'm grateful to The Maker, Dragon Gods, and Earth Mother along with her sisters, The Ocean Mother and The Sky Mother because they taught their followers to not being hypocrite and zealot by prohibiting us from forcing other non-believers of our religion to accept our religion, unlike those Humans, Fallen Angels, Demons, Dark Valkyries and Evaillas Race did.

They also taught us to act a little selfish since it is part of our emotion. I believe The Gods above don't want to make their followers suffer from the world they created, the life they bestowed, the destiny they decided, and the fate they written.

"Yo, Boss. I��m, no, we are ready for the fight. Just show the way and we will crush that skull face. Hmm? Did something happen? Why the long face?"

"Oh, no, nothing serious, Khazim-san, Danberium-san, Igrei-san, Kathia-san and Rebia-san. Well, get ready for a tough fight, we will need your magic weapons and our magic enchanted weapons there."

"Hah! Tough fight? Ye know…we Dwarves created from Earth and Stone by Earth Mother and Earth Dragon Gods themselves. There is nothing tougher than us!" said Igrei while clenching his hand.

"Yeah yeah…so tough that your head is so hard. You will be a good choice for a throwing weapon, eh sorry…maybe it is more suited if I say "throwing hammer"?" said Luna with mocking tone.

"Heh, I bet I could forge a tower shield on that "anvil chest" of yours Madwoman." After Khazim said that, both of them started fighting. I needed to smack their head thrice to stop them.

Suddenly, there is a message that appears in my [Status Screen]. I opened the message and read it.

[This is bad Aniki! Ten of "them" have appeared from northeast side of the dungeon! Rania nee-chan really wants to massacre them, but there is "that flying thing" with the pack and please don't send subjugation parties right now! I need your help right now!]

"…What?" I am shocked as I tried to read it again carefully.

"WHAT?!" I suddenly lost my balance.

Thankfully, Jack and Julio came in time and they caught my body. After I can stand properly, Khazim asked me what happened with worried expression and I told him that Robert sent a distress message to me. I told them what Robert wrote on the message and it shocked them as well. Without wasting any time, I ordered my high-ranked party members to follow me, and head to the dungeon right now.

I ignored a small dispute created by Jack and Julio about "who will be guarding the base." Then, I quickly wrote and sent a message to other party's leaders, picked my swords from my room, called my party members and teleported to the dungeon.