Chapter 21 - The Unknown Girl

I braced myself and took the blow head-on, summoning my shield just in time. The impact was devastating - the giant's club shattered into pieces, and as he released his grip, it was already too late.

The force of the strike had mangled his fingers and snapped his arm. Clutching his mangled limb, he howled in agony, summoning his minions to attack.

Surrounded by his pack, the giant lunged at me in a blind rage, jaws wide open as if to devour me whole.

"Bring it on, you dog!" I shouted, pointing the sharp end of my spear towards it.

Raymond reacted swiftly, his chains coiling like springs to propel me upward. My spear met the giant's claws in a shower of sparks, its blade slicing through his paws and piercing deep into his chest.

I drove the weapon further, pushing him back until we reached the edge of the wall. With one final thrust, I ended him. I called my spear and his lifeless body dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

The sight of their fallen leader sent the smaller creatures scattering in fear, though a few foolishly tried to attack. They were quickly dealt with. As the battle subsided, I turned to the group and quipped, "Next time, we should bring Mom here to collect their corpses."

Fae frowned, wiping her boyfriend's face with a towel. "Why? It's dangerous out here." She offered him a fresh set of clothes, but he declined, saying it would be a waste with more monsters ahead.

I smiled. "Someday, these corpses will be valuable. When the waves grow stronger and resources become scarce, these creatures will make up for the shortages. You'll see what I mean."

Raymond chimed in, "We're at war. People just don't realize it yet." His words carried a weight that lingered in the air.

We took a moment to rest and eat. I used Vien's paint to mark the areas we'd explored. Checking our phones, we found no signal - that was expected, but I regretted not downloading offline idle games to pass the time.

Scrolling through my gallery, I stumbled upon a screenshot of a conversation with a girl named Kara, someone I'd met at work. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her name. How had I forgotten her? I tried recalling what she looks like, but nothing came to my mind.

Curiosity turned to frustration as I realized I couldn't access her profile without a signal. I scoured my gallery for any photos or videos of her but found nothing.

Then, I noticed a hidden folder protected by a fingerprint scan - not mine, but Kara's. My heart raced. What could I have hidden there? I often stored sensitive files to keep them from prying eyes, especially if its "unsafe" content. Does that mean I have this girl's intimate photos or videos?

Zild noticed my flushed face. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern etched on his face. The others turned to me, their expressions mirroring his.

I brushed it off, clearing my throat. "I'm fine." But my mind was racing. Why was I thinking about something so lewd in a place like this?

Now, more than ever, I was determined to finish this mission and uncover the truth about Kara.

As we prepared to move on, the group checked their scrolls, noting slight increases in their stats - except for Fae. I kept mine hidden, knowing the others would be shocked if they saw it.

"Show yours, you stingy punk," Raymond teased, wrapping me in his chains and stepping on my back to tighten them. Fae and Zild laughed, but I refused, unfazed by his antics.

We pressed forward, the low rumble of something massive echoing through the cave. I conjured a small flame in my hand, casting light into the darkness.

Ahead, we spotted a cluster of tin ores and, nearby, a sleeping blue mutant wolf. It was eyeless, with elongated canines and claws, its body adorned with translucent gems that pulsed with its breath. Its back was covered in long white fur that trailed down to its tail.

We decided to avoid disturbing it, but the creature wasn't truly asleep. With a sudden rush, it spewed a stream of black liquid in our direction. The foul stench of decay filled the air. "Be careful!" I warned. "One drop of that will rot your skin."

The wolf rose, its mouth forming a distorted word: "Wi-i-th-er." The crystals on its belly darkened, and it unleashed another wave of the corrosive liquid. Raymond's chains formed a steel wall, but the substance corroded them instantly, leaving them rusted and brittle.

This was the first time it happened, it rendered him shocked.

"My chains are cooked," he muttered, trying to summon new ones, but they emerged just as damaged. A drop of the liquid landed on his exposed skin, and he collapsed, his breathing labored, black veins spreading across his face.

"Fae!" I shouted. She sprang into action, her hands glowing with a green aura as she worked to heal Raymond's injuries. "Cover yourself with your ability!" I commanded, and she obeyed, though sweat beaded on her forehead while she tried to focus.

Zild nearly charged at the creature, but I grabbed his shoulder. "Its body is made of that same substance. Touch it, and you're done for."

He backs down, anger flashing his eyes. He approached Fae, standing by just in case she needed some help.

Fae's powers prevented Raymond's early demise. His skin returns to its normal shade.

I summoned my spear, infusing it with fire, and hurled it like a javelin. The flames surged, but the wolf extinguished them with its dark power, leaving the spear to rust and fall. Gritting my teeth, I released my scroll. "Let's see if you can handle this..."

My scroll materialized and its much bigger than before. The skill slot is embedded with a red gem, which I replaced with a green crystal. The whole scroll glowed and my spear got replaced with a staff. My fire powers gone and replaced with a new skill...