Chapter 82: You want those fruits?

"Hungry?"

Zephyr repeated the word, and only then did Lucien realize what had slipped out of his mouth. He quickly let out an awkward laugh and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Just a little. Probably because we have been running around since morning. And I didn’t even get to have a proper breakfast because of the emergency announcement."

Zephyr nodded with a thoughtful expression.

"I feel a little hungry too. Is it possible to find something edible in this place?"

Jake, who was standing closest to them, overheard their conversation and turned around, staring at them as though he had just heard something unbelievable.

He glanced at the enormous lizards in the distance, then back at Lucien and Zephyr.

"You two are hungry? Now?"

Lucien was rendered speechless. Beside him, Zephyr gave a low, affirmative hum.

Jake’s eyebrow twitched.

"There are so many S-Rank monsters right in front of us, and you’re seriously thinking about food right now?"

Zephyr blinked.

So there were monsters in front of them?

He hadn’t spread his mana, so he didn’t know.

Lucien stared at Jake with a completely deadpan expression, as if he had already given up on maintaining his face.

"Well... fighting and guiding are both tiring. Of course we’re going to get hungry. Besides, isn’t there food right over there?"

Jake’s expression turned strange as he looked toward the lizard monsters.

Food? Where?

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

Wait... Were they actually planning to hunt those lizards for lunch? After all, those giant S-Rank monsters were pretty much the only ’food’ available around them.

Still, they were S-Rank monsters!

How could these two casually talk about eating them when he was still wondering how they were going to fight those lizards?!

Before Jake could say anything else, Erick suddenly interrupted the conversation. His eyes settled on Lucien. There was a clear hint of mockery and disdain in his voice.

"You want those golden fruits?"

Only then did Jake realize what ’food’ Lucien was talking about. He blinked and turned his gaze back toward the clearing.

Finally, he noticed the three golden fruits hanging from the tree at the center of the clearing.

"There’s really food over there!"

Erick kept his gaze fixed on Lucien.

"If you want those fruits so desperately, why don’t you go get them yourself?"

A faint smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Go ahead. We’re all waiting."

He glanced casually toward the clearing, where the lizards were guarding the tree.

"Just walk over there, pick the fruits, and come back. I’m sure those S-Rank lizard monsters won’t mind."

Erick paused, his tone turning even more mocking.

"We’ll cheer for you from here."

Lucien’s face twitched violently.

This bastard was doing it on purpose!

Erick knew he was weak.

Just a Guide, with no physical strength whatsoever. He also knew perfectly well that Lucien couldn’t possibly sneak past those terrifying monsters and casually pluck the fruits from under their noses.

And yet he was telling him to go get them himself? Was he trying to get him killed?!

Lucien clenched his fists, his frustration rapidly reaching its limit. For a moment, he genuinely wanted to walk over and punch that irritating smile right off Erick’s face!

Eleven, Oreon, Ryan, and the others had also been drawn to the conversation.

Eleven, in particular, was thoroughly enjoying Lucien’s misfortune. It seemed Lucien had managed to piss off Erick!

For a moment, he even forgot about the terrifying monsters and his earlier panic.

At that moment, Zephyr’s cold voice suddenly sounded from behind Lucien.

"I’ll get them for him."

Everyone froze.

Erick was the first to react.

His expression stiffened as he watched Zephyr turn toward the clearing.

It seemed his mocking words had backfired.

He had only been trying to vent the irritation he felt toward Lucien, that idiot!

Before Zephyr could take another step, Erick immediately reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Are you crazy?"

Zephyr pulled his arm free and gazed at him with narrowed eyes. He had heard Erick’s earlier words to Lucien, so now he simply threw those same words back at him.

"Just cheer for me. I’ll be back."

Erick felt stifled for a moment.

His eyes turned gloomy as he stared at Lucien.

This damn Guide! Zephyr was actually willing to do something this risky without any preparation, just for him?

The more Erick thought about it, the more furious and irritated he became. He almost wanted to hack Lucien into pieces!

Seeing the terrifying look in Erick’s eyes, Lucien couldn’t help but shudder. Yet instead of backing down, he straightened his back and gave Erick a provocative smirk. After all, Zephyr was on his side!

The tension between the two had barely settled into a standoff when, without warning, someone from their group, who had secretly slipped toward the very back, suddenly launched an attack toward the group of lizard monsters from their position.

Jake immediately cried out.

"Which bastard—"

He didn’t even get to finish his sentence.

The lizard monsters in the distance had already sensed the incoming attack. With terrifying speed, they scattered and easily avoided it, causing the attack to crash into the ground behind them. The next instant, loud, furious roars erupted from the group.

The sound waves came crashing toward Jake and the others like an invisible storm.

Everyone’s expressions paled.

They instinctively clutched their ears as the deafening roars shook the entire clearing.

Even the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble, fine cracks spreading across the earth like a spiderweb.

Erick’s pupils dilated as he gritted his teeth and covered his ears.

The roars of the ordinary lizard monsters were already unbearable, but the roar of their leader was on an entirely different level.

It was so powerful that Erick could even feel a sharp pain spreading through his ears, as though they might start bleeding at any moment.

His first instinct was to look for Zephyr.

Was he alright?

Erick immediately turned in Zephyr’s direction, only to freeze.

Zephyr was perfectly fine. In fact, he was standing beside Lucien, covering Lucien’s ears with his hands and mana.

Erick’s eyes immediately turned red.

Why was he protecting that guy first?!

Before Erick could even process his irritation, a running figure caught his attention from the corner of his eye.

Gilbert.

The S-Rank Esper from B City was already running far away from the group.

Erick’s expression darkened further.

He immediately understood.

That bastard had launched the attack just now!

Ryan and Sylvia, the two siblings, had also retreated after him, apparently unwilling to remain anywhere near the angry monsters.

They had been standing closest to Gilbert and had clearly seen him launch the attack.

Even as the terrifying shockwave from the monsters’ roars swept through the scene, making their ears bleed, the three of them gritted their teeth and continued retreating.

By the time Erick noticed, they had already put a considerable distance between themselves and the rest of the group.

In the end, apart from Zephyr and Lucien, only Eleven, the two A-Rank Guides, Oreon, the burly S-Rank Esper standing beside him, Jake, and Erick remained near the clearing.

Eleven and the two Guides were clutching their ears and crying out in pain, while Jake had both hands pressed firmly against his ears, his brows furrowed tightly in agony.

Oreon and the burly Esper tried to help them, but there was little they could do.

Eventually, Zephyr was the one who created a temporary barrier around everyone, giving them some relief from the deafening roars.

The moment his mana spread outward, the pressure on their ears immediately eased.

However, their brief respite didn’t last long.

Two of the lizard monsters guarding the green fruit tree suddenly received an order from their leader. Without hesitation, they turned toward the group and charged.

Their massive tails swept through the withered trees with terrifying force, crushing thick trunks as they swung toward the place where everyone was hidden.

Erick reacted almost instantly.

His body blurred as he used his skill to dodge the incoming attack. However, he made no attempt to help anyone else—not even Jake.

As for Zephyr... after witnessing his power, he knew Zephyr was more than capable of surviving this. He had also seen him use a healing skill earlier when they were outside the Dungeon, which meant he didn’t need to worry too much about him getting injured.

At least, that was what Erick told himself.

Deep down, he was still worried.

But instead of rushing over to protect Zephyr, Erick merely watched from a distance, silently hoping that everyone else would get caught in the attack.

Especially Lucien.

It would be even better if that guy died on the spot.

Unfortunately, none of Erick’s wishes came true.

Just as the two enormous tails were about to slam into the group, a terrifying surge of mana suddenly erupted from Zephyr’s body.

The mana spread outward in an instant, enveloping everyone in a hazy, translucent shield.

Boom!

The two massive tails slammed into the shield with enough force to shatter the surrounding trees.

Yet the shield didn’t even tremble.

Instead, the moment the tails touched its surface, an immense rebound force erupted from the shield.

The two lizard monsters were sent flying backward as though they had struck an invisible mountain.

The force that threw them back was nearly twice as powerful as the strength they had used to attack.

Their enormous bodies crashed into other lizards before finally coming to a stop.

For a moment, the only sounds within the shield Zephyr had created were everyone’s heavy breathing and the frantic pounding of their hearts, which had nearly stopped just a moment ago.

Everyone stared in shock at the scene before them.