Chapter 436 - 353: You’ll Really Get Beaten Up

Chapter 436: Chapter 353: You’ll Really Get Beaten Up

Zelir had no doubt that the next time they came, a brand-new, fully-functional camp just like this one would be built in the great hall of the third-level ruins.

"Of course they’re enthusiastic. The more the ruins are explored, the more Adventurers will be drawn here."

Gray, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised by this at all.

"Just think about how much money they can make from selling permits alone."

"Not to mention all the supplies, equipment repairs, consumable sales, and even loot buybacks... The Association takes a cut from every single transaction."

"With the ruins opening this time, the Sen Gu Town Adventurer’s Association must be raking it in."

"No wonder they gave us an extra eight hundred Gold Coins as a reward..." Zelir said.

After a simple dinner, the group set up camp to rest.

「The next day, early in the morning.」

The sun rose in the east, its dawn rays piercing through the clouds.

Zelir stepped out of his tent, yawning.

He felt a bit better today than he had yesterday.

Though he’d slept through the night, his Magic Power hadn’t fully recovered; it was still only at about 70%.

But the feeling of weakness had lessened considerably, and he felt more energetic.

’In a few more days, the aftereffects of overusing my Magic Power will be completely gone.’

The group retrieved their Land Birds, passed through the curtain of light to the first level of the ruins, and began their journey back to Sengu Town.

After passing through the Ruined Temple and the Central Courtyard Garden, the team made their way through the dense forest of the antechamber area.

THUD THUD THUD...

Broad, webbed feet stamped against the dirt, their powerful footfalls echoing through the forest.

The golden-yellow and bright-red Land Birds advanced rapidly through the forest.

Suddenly, a ferocious roar shattered the silence.

"ROAR!!!"

All five turned to look to their left, toward the source of the sound.

Behind a grove of glowing mushrooms not far away, a tall, dark figure led a dozen or so smaller creatures, all of them screaming as they charged madly toward the party.

"Ah..."

With just a single glance, Zelir identified the type of Demons rushing to their deaths.

A Beastman Goblin.

And a dozen or so goblin minions.

"Here we go again..." Valles sighed in resignation.

Hill’s earlier concerns had been right on the mark.

The mounts were just too conspicuous, especially since the Demons on the first level of the ruins had a tendency to go berserk.

Only a team with their overall strength would dare to travel so brazenly.

Everyone pulled their reins tight, and after a couple of stomps, the Land Birds came to a steady halt.

The Beastman Goblin’s roar made them instinctively fearful, and their bodies trembled slightly.

However, after so many trips with Zelir’s party, the Land Birds had grown bolder and didn’t panic and flee.

"You need a hand?"

Gray’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword. "Or do you want to get in some more Magic practice?"

"I’ll take care of it."

Zelir drew Night Peace and took aim at the creatures.

He had already received the [Seizing Tyranny] reward for the first-kill on a goblin.

’But I haven’t gotten the first-kill reward for a Beastman Goblin yet.’

’Since this one is serving itself up on a platter, it saves me the trouble of hunting for one later.’

Zelir remained seated on the bird’s back, not even shifting his posture as he began to draw on his Magic Power and cast.

Soon, over a dozen blazing fireballs materialized one after another in front of him.

Fractal Fire!

With his increased Intelligence, Zelir could now control his Magic Power with greater ease.

When casting Fractal Fire, he could effortlessly reduce the power of each Fireball to conjure even more of them.

Plus, the Fire Magic Zelir cast now had the power boost from [Elemental Protection]!

With a light tap of his Magic Wand, the dozen or so poised fireballs surged forward.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM...!

In an instant, a rapid series of explosions echoed through the glowing mushroom grove!

Zelir stared intently at the scene before him.

The fate of the ordinary goblins went without saying.

They were blown to smithereens by the immense power of the Fireballs, creating a spreading mist of charred, black blood.

And the Beastman Goblin... was also killed in a single blow!

As the Fireball detonated, the rolling wave of flames it unleashed completely engulfed the Beastman Goblin’s two-meter-tall body.

Then, the surging Magic Power exploded from its core!

The Beastman Goblin’s upper body was completely obliterated, vanishing in a spray of flesh and blood.

The small Goblin Community couldn’t even withstand a single barrage of Zelir’s Fractal Fire, getting completely annihilated while still over ten meters from the party.

Zelir was satisfied with the result.

’The power of my Fire Magic has definitely increased quite a bit.’

’Before, a Fractal Fire with its power split among a dozen-plus fireballs wouldn’t have had this kind of destructive force.’

’[Elemental Protection] is pretty effective.’

Level 48 (642/1150) -> Level 48 (804/1150).

The experience only went up by a little.

But the Beastman Goblin was a brand-new type of Demon, so Seizing Tyranny activated.

[Killed unique Demon "Beastman Goblin." Seizure effect activated.]

[Received attribute point bonus: Power +7, Agility +5, Constitution +6.]

Power: 160 -> 167

Agility: 185 -> 190

Constitution: 159 -> 165

Spirit: 298

Intelligence: 255

Perception: 38

Charm: 76

Lucky: 66

A familiar warmth surged through his body. Feeling his flesh grow stronger, Zelir nodded in satisfaction.

Just when he thought that was all, another notification suddenly popped up on his status panel.

[Seized Trait: Vigorous Energy]

’...?’

’What the heck?’

Zelir focused his thoughts on the trait, and its detailed information appeared.

[Vigorous Energy: This means you will... become more extraordinary in certain aspects, and you will possess a faster recovery speed.]

Zelir’s expression turned strange. Following a new sensation in his body, he subconsciously looked down.

He focused on the feeling and realized... something really was different down there.

’Holy crap...’

’You can even seize a trait like this?’

’What does it mean, "more extraordinary" and "faster recovery speed"?’

"Why are you staring at me?" Hill’s puzzled voice cut in.

"Huh...? Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all."

Zelir quickly shook his head and waved his hands dismissively.

He hadn’t even realized that his gaze had drifted over to Hill at some point.

Averting his gaze, Zelir silently unequipped the [Vigorous Energy] trait.

’Good thing these traits can be freely equipped and unequipped; they aren’t mandatory.’

’What the hell...’

’But... why didn’t I seize this trait when I killed the ordinary goblins?’

After dispatching the suicidal goblins, the party members set off once more.

Zelir continued to ponder the question.

A curious connection suddenly formed in his mind.

"Hey, have you guys ever wondered something?"

Zelir asked while riding his Land Bird.

"There are lots of naming conventions for Demons, but... why are they called Beastman Goblins?"

"What do you mean?" Gray asked, confused.

"Well, look. The specially enhanced version of a Kobold is called a Giant Beast Dogman."

"The specially enhanced version of a Gnoll is called a Jackal Wolf Barbarian Soldier."

"But for some reason, the specially enhanced version of a goblin... is specifically called a Beastman Goblin."

Zelir mused, looking thoughtful. "But there’s also a Beastman race among people... could there be some hidden connection?"

"Ooh... that’s a good question."

Gray paused for a moment, then a wicked grin spread across his face. "Why don’t you take a guess what that ’hidden connection’ might be."

"Ew..."

An expression of disgust appeared on Valles’s face, and he frowned slightly.

"You usually seem so refined. How can your mind be filled with such things?"

"Zelir, I have to warn you," Marcus advised seriously. "It’s fine to joke about it among ourselves, but you’d better not bring this up in front of any Beastmen."

"You’ll get beaten up."

"Oh... right." Zelir seemed to get the picture.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

The party passed through the dense forest without any trouble and, after stepping through the curtain of light, returned to the underground great hall.

They listened to the clamor of merchants and Adventurers haggling, the CLANG of a blacksmith’s heavy hammer, and the pained cries of the injured.

The tension they had maintained throughout the ruins finally began to ease.

’We’re finally back in the world of men.’