Chapter 106 - Egg?
The duration of the Skill, 'Reinforce' has already ended. It still needs another twenty-six minutes before Ban could use it again.
However, Ban did not think too much about it. They already killed the first wave of the Two-Tailed Rats, and even though they still expected more, they knew that the rats numbers would not get past one hundred as well.
"Let's go, Eva!" Ban said in his unusual voice that has been modified by the Ant Mask that he was wearing.
If it was any normal Summoner and 'Monster' they would surely be already tired after fighting that intensely without rest. However, with the passive effect of the skill, 'Greed', the Absorber, his and Eva's energy were getting replenished every time they kill a Two-Tailed Rat Beast.
It was a cycle in which the Two-Tailed Rats were also confused on how they should counter it effectively. Unfortunately for them, Ban and Eva would not let them think of any countermeasures as they hurriedly went towards the inner area after clearing the first wave of Two-Tailed Rats.
From time to time, one or more Two-Tailed Rats would surface to ambush them. Unfortunately for the Two-Tailed Rats, Ban and Eva were more alert than ever, especially Ban who had his motivation renewed upon thinking about the possible Albino Two-Tailed Rat present at the end of this path.
The Two-Tailed Rats attacks or ambushes become meaningless as Ban and Eva will immediately dispose of them the moment they appear in their vision. It was unfortunate that nothing useful can be harvested on their body but Ban just shrugged it off while just imagining that it was his bad day. However, deep inside, he was actually hoping for a Beast Core to emerge at least twice.
After a while, Ban and Eva arrived in a more spacious area. They were still below the ground but the space in front of them actually has its ceiling raised more than even the height of the huge tube outside.
Ban looked up as he felt amazed how the Two-Tailed Rats managed to make such a place. It looks like it has been managed pretty well, and it seems that its foundation was also quite pronounced. If they were not a Beast, Ban even thought that they could become a good partner for carpenters or engineers.
He took a lamp from the Dimensional Storage and pressed a button to turn it on. The lamp started to emit a bright light a moment later and without wasting any more time, Ban threw the lamp towards the center of the spacious area.
And the moment the lamp landed, Ban immediately became elated that he did the action as with that, he was able to take a glimpse of what was on the path, as well as on the center of the spacious area.
The lamp was immediately taken out the moment it landed, however, that brief moment was already enough for Ban to register all the information regarding the current situation.
At the center of the spacious area was a thick column made from rocks with an uneven surface. Below it, there was a stone platform that Ban estimated to be as tall as his waist.
Above that stone platform was a bundle of Two-Tailed Rats furs that had been gathered to form a small nest. And above that nest was an Egg, the same size as Ban's fist.
He was very far so Ban was not able to determine what color or what kind of it was, however, it was surrounded by more than forty Two-Tailed Rats as if they were prostrating on it openly, treating it as though it was a holy being or a God.
Ban turned his head sideways and noticed that the wall of this spacious area was actually covered by the Two-Tailed Rats furs. Meaning, this whole spacious area was their nest, while the small nest where the egg was situated was also a different nest, that was probably just to make the egg comfortable.
Ban was confused about it as he did not find such events or information regarding these events on the knowledge injected by the System. He looked around and became disappointed when he could not find the Albino Two-Tailed Rat amongst the rats that were prostrating on the egg.
His mood instantly went down the drain upon thinking that he won't really earn much on this expedition other than the rewards that will be given by Boss Mario as well as the sword that he was holding now.
Although he felt that it was now a waste of time continuing in this endeavor as he won't earn much, he still preserved and chose to continue with the initial plan. It was Boss Mario and Kuys' request so he could not ignore it just like that easily.
"Come on, Eva, do your best!"
"It's a Hunt fest!"
Ban yelled as he took the remaining lamps on his Dimensional Storage as he prepared to scatter them around to light the surroundings. He also waved the sword in his hands before pointing it towards the Two-Tailed Rats. He did not know why he uttered that second line but it seems that it automatically escaped his mouth, as if it was an instinct.
Ban ignored it as he felt that it was not important. What's more important was that they kill all the Two-Tailed Rats and obtain that egg that they were trying to preach to.
Ban does not recognize that egg but for the Two-Tailed Rats to gather and from all directions to try and preach that egg, it must be something important, and there might also be a chance of him selling it for a good amount of coins.
And so, Ban changed his target from the Albino Two-Tailed Rat to the Unknown egg that the Two-Tailed Rats were preaching to.
The moment Ban threw the lamp earlier, he already garnered all the attention of the Two-Tailed Rats at once. The forty or so rats turned their eyes on them, and if only stares could kill, Ban and Eva would have already become minced meaty now due to the intense glare that the Two-Tailed Rats were releasing.
If it was any other Summoner, they would surely be afraid and try to hide on the back of their Summons, while trying their best to escape in this area as far as possible. After all, the Beasts numbered around forty, and even though they are only at X-Mortal Rank, even a normal E-Elite Rank Summoner would also not dare to fight them head-on.
They might be able to defeat the horde for the first few minutes but after the fatigue starts to affect them, that will be the start of the Summoner's doom.
However, Ban has nothing to be afraid of. He got Greed's passive, 'Absorber' working wonderfully in the background while he fought. As long as he manages to kill one or two X-Mortal Rank Two-Tailed Rats at the duration of a minute, then one can even consider Ban as having an unlimited stamina.
And not only that, the Absorber would also even help him heal the wounds that he got during the skirmishes.
Ban and Eva immediately entered the Perfect Harmony state again. They are already familiar with it and they could already activate it anytime and anywhere they want. If the others heard of this, they would surely realize how cruel the world was for them.
The Perfect Harmony state was supposed to be a state that one could not enter easily. Even though a Summoner had already achieved it once, it does not mean that they can do it again. They have a high chance of entering that state again but it was not to the extent of Ban and Eva's accomplishments. They are making the Perfect Harmony state as a very normal thing that was attainable by even just the weakest mob.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Ban and Eva did not wait for the Two-Tailed Rats to attack them as they dashed towards them without warning instead. Eva moved with her wings and with greater speed than Ban, she instantly arrived near her first prey.
Boom!
Eva landed right on the head of the Two-Tailed Rat, causing it to have its eyes grow wide in surprise and bewilderment. The blow was so strong that there was now a dent on the head of the Beast.
Seeing that, Eva did not waste any time as she held the head of the rat in place using her two lower hands. Meanwhile, her two upper hands both started to rise in mid-air.
Her eyes glowed for a moment before she yelled with her insect voice along with her two upper fists, smashing on the dent that she created earlier on the Two-Tailed Rat's head.
With her strength alone, the endurance of the Two-Tailed Rat's head could not keep up as it bursted out a moment later after she smashed it repeatedly with both of her two upper small hands.
After killing that rat, she immediately threw it aside as if throwing garbage as she immediately proceeded to take on her next prey.
Meanwhile at the other side, Ban was also brutally killing the Two-Tailed Rats one by one with his sword and the Twin Baton that he transformed into a the short whip.
He took advantage of the range of whip to lash the Two-Tailed Rats that wanted to gang up on him. He does not let more than two Two-Tailed Rats surround him as that might become too much for him to handle.
He was even more efficient than Eva as he utilized the whip and the sword rightfully, killing one or two Two-Tailed Rat every minute.