Chapter 277 - Double trouble
Before accepting the quest, Lenny had done his research on Harpies. They weren't a stong beast on their own which was why they chose to travel in groups and hunt together. But even then, with twenty of them Lenny though it wouldn't be dangerous to go on the trip.
As long as there were no signs of a crowned Harpy. The harpy was a strange beast, it was one of the very few that would jump in evolution. There weren't many when evolving could go from a basic tier beast, straight to the king tier beast.
It was a powerful enemy that was lightning fast and even with the three of them, Lenny only had little confidence in beating it.
At the Base, no one had seen the Harpy land on the ground. It was just in the sky a few seconds ago and it had already killed one of them.
An adventurer charged in with his spear and aimed for a stab but before he could even reach the Harpy, again it had already disappeared in front of their eyes.
It was once again in the sky hovering above them. It started to circle the group with the flock above as well. The hundred or so Harpy in the air had blocked the sun and cast a shadow over them.
Everyone was now starting to feel the fear creep into their hearts. Once again, the Crowned Harpy they were keeping an eye on had disappeared, this time the adventures immediately looked to the ground but even then, they were too slow.
The Crowned Harpy had taken its next victim, the spear wielder's head was now rolling on the floor as well.
They know all knew they had no chance of fighting against such a thing. With no other options, the group decided to run. But above them in the sky, the flock was following along including the Crowned Harpy.
Lenny and the others were now deep enough into the forest where the trees were able to provide them cover, it would be hard for the regular harpies to see and dive down between the trees. As they continued to run forward though, they could hear the screams of the men behind them.
"Shouldn't we go and help!" Martha said.
"If I thought we could save them somehow, then I would have suggested it, but if there is any chance of us dying then I will pick us over them," Lenny replied.
Although Martha felt bad there was nothing they could do. Due to Lenny being on this quest in the first pace and his warning maybe some of them would be able to survive today. But if they hadn't come, she was sure they would all be dead.
As they continued to run through the forest, the struggle of the others behind them could be heard, screams before the deaths were sounded one by one.
Although they were now well hidden by the forest trees, somehow the Harpies were still able to take care of the adventures.
"Thirteen," Lenny said
"What did you say?" Martha asked, "Have you been keeping count?"
"That's thirteen people who have fallen, that means we will soon be next."
One more scream was heard and that's when Martha and Jack noticed that Roy was slowly falling behind.
The others were using Ki to run forward, pacing themselves making sure they weren't getting tired, but the same couldn't be said for Roy, he was a regular adventurer who had only just started to learn how to use Ki.
As the group continued to run forward a shadow was cast over them, the flock of Harpies had arrived.
"Damn it!" Suddenly Jack turned around and grabbed Roy, holding him in both arms. At the same time, the Crowned Harpy had landed in front of him.
As Lenny turned, he could see the Harpy on the ground, he looked up from where it had come and the branches and leaves had been cleanly cut as if they were made out of butter.
"Don't let it touch you!" Lenny shouted.
The Harpy swung its wing and Jack managed to duck down just in time, however, the tip of the wing managed to hit the top of the large great sword on Jack's back. A thud sound was heard as a piece of the sword had fallen to the floor.
Jack's sword who had been with him for a long time, it was an advanced tier weapon that was able to withstand the strongest of attacks, had just been cut off like it was nothing.
Even Jack knew if he was to be hit with that thing his body wouldn't be strong enough to take it. He then used all his strength to kick off the ground and head out with Roy. The crowned Harpy once again went up into the sky.
The group continued to run as fast as they could now picking up the pace even more. The Harpies continued to follow them but the group suffered no more attacks.
"What's it doing?" Martha asked.
"I think I have an idea," Lenny said as he looked up ahead. The forest was coming to an end and soon they would be in open land on the clean-cut grass. It was a sign that they were close to Roland City but it still would be a distance to run before they reached the city.
They had no choice though, all they could do was continue running.
"Do you remember those orbs above the city?" Lenny said, "If we make it just close enough, the Orbs will react and start to attack these beasts. It's the only chance we have."
They continued to run and finally, they had exited out of the forest and onto the green meadow where there was no cover and all of them could be seen.
At the same time though, not too far from where Lenny's group had exited from, Rick had emerged as well.
"Of all the people to have died, he had to still be alive?" Martha thought but then the sight of something else had nearly caused her to stumble and fall over.
Soon after rick had exited out of the forest above him in the sky, another flock of Harpies could be seen and there was another Crowned Harpy.
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Special thanks to Fenrir2040, SoGoodInBed, WildJay, Nwabuisi_Ifeoma, and alvaro17 for the gifts they really help.