The Achievement Junkie

Chapter 106 Facing the Mysterious Cetuses

’What should I do?’

Trevor’s thoughts were clouded and he felt uneasy. Not wanting to put his men back into harm’s way, he struggled to give the order to help without the other captains’ support.

Jack and the others were busy facing the thirteen cetuses without any military help. He didn’t expect much from Fronks but it still infuriated him nonetheless.

’Bowzer, get ready to join in. Wait for a good opening to kill in one strike,’ said Jack telepathically. Bowzer nodded and Jack shouted for everyone to hear, "Captains! Your men may get in our way, but you’re all plenty strong. Get in here and help so we can end this, or is the Royal Court filled with cowards who only know how to ask for help?"

Many soldiers frowned when they heard Jack’s statement, but he paid them no mind. He was busy launching as many arrows as possible. He was too weak to kill them, but he could slow them and support others.

A few seconds passed without a word from the captains and a bellowing war cry sounded out. Zariff roared at the top of his lungs, "ROOOOOAAAARR!!!"

The nearby beasts were startled momentarily but quickly came to their senses. However, Zariff took advantage of their hesitation. A roughly chiseled war axe appeared in his hands before he swung and brutally tore the nearest cetus’ neck in half.

"Just a dozen left! Careful for stragglers!" yelled Zariff as two other cetuses surrounded him, making four in total.

Brunar and Maynard were busy holding off four as well and Rydel had attracted two himself. The remaining two barreled toward Jack, seeming to be even faster with each sheet of rain falling over them.

Jack looked back at Daliea and shook his head, not wanting her to step in until absolutely necessary. It would be best that she did nothing so she wouldn’t attract attention. It’s not everyday that a powerful unknown mage appeared in Reinolt. If people began to investigate her, it could lead to a lot of trouble.

’Get ready, here they come. I’ll distract the first one and you go for the kill.’ Jack and Bowzer readied themselves for close combat. Their blood had already started burning, just waiting for the right moment to ignite their flame bodies.

Jack released one last arrow, targeting the second cetus after him to try and create a better window to attack the first. Then he stowed the bow and began to shuffle backward, keeping his eyes on the approaching cetus.

As the cetus lunged forward and brandished its shark-like teeth at Jack it sensed that something was off.

Suddenly, Jack’s body burst into flames and grew to the size of a troll and his level jumped from lv. 18 to lv. 22. A falchion appeared in his hand and immediately began to grow read as steam formed all around him.

Everyone watching was astonished, not knowing what to think. Even the cetus flinched back and narrowly avoided Jack’s swinging blade, only receiving a small cut.

Unlucky for the cetus, it then felt its windpipe shatter. It tried to growl but collapsed in Bowzer’s now flaming jaws. Bowzer had hidden himself in the flames on Jack’s arm and instantly went for the kill after igniting his own enormous flame body.

"Hell-flame Fox..." The crowd watching the fight was aghast. Their jaws were all slack as they trembled at the sight of the massive flaming fox.

The other cetus roared, filled with rage for its lost companion. As if hearing a call for help, one cetus facing Zariff and another facing the samurais darted towards the flaming duo. They all felt far more threatened by that living flame which could burn despite most level differences.

"Get back here!" Zariff tried to rush the escaping cetus but the other three covered it, letting it slip out.

"Watch out!" After warning Jack, Maynard ran toward the one evading him. When the other three tried to cut him off, Maynard vanished from where he stood.

Another roar sounded as Maynard’s blood-red blades slashed into the unsuspecting cetus that attempted to charge Jack. That lapse of attention to its enemy caused its death.

Seeing three of those terrifying beats die in rapid succession was overwhelming to the soldiers watching the onslaught. They had all seen dozens of men die to those things and were unable to slay a single one. Witnessing five adventurers kill four without casualties was a blow to their pride as Royal Court soldiers. And seeing the Hell-flame Fox in action only added to the shock, especially since Jack appeared to have the same ability.

Trevor was astounded. "Adventurers are this strong..." He couldn’t help but praise them in his heart.

Captain Prat was also experiencing some shock. He knew about Zariff and Maynard thanks to there bloody reputation, but Rydel was only ever known as a lazy hunter amongst the captains. Almost out of nowhere he now appeared as a lv. 30 adventurer who could hold his own against two of those beasts, despite only stalling them.

Fronks frowned deeply when he saw what was happening. Unlike the others, he was hoping the adventurers would experience some casualties at least.

Unable to spare time with the crowd, Jack was busy running from the incoming cetus. Bowzer managed to face one of the two after Jack, but it was ready to face the fox and wouldn’t let Bowzer get any free attacks.

As the Cetus was gaining on Jack, he was trying to come up with some kind of plan. He could feel that his flames weren’t as strong thanks to the rain so he wasn’t fully confident he could seriously injure it with fire alone. Plus, using his fire would mean getting in range of the cetus’ mouth and he wasn’t willing to trade blows after what happened with the troll.

Only seconds later the cetus caught up and forced Jack to turn around. As the cetus dove at Jack with his jaws and claws, Jack sidestepped away from the cetus’ head. He parried the cetus’ claws with brute force with help from his scalding hot blade.

At the same time, another sword appeared in Jack’s other hand. It was only lv. 15 and was a common sword but he stabbed it into the cetus’ side.

A scaping sound was heard as the scales clashed with the shortsword. Some blood was seen but the wound wasn’t deep. Jack was barely able to scratch it and he was already feeling exhausted.

The cetus snarled and quickly repositioned itself before attacking again, unfazed from Jack’s maneuver.

On the sidelines, Trevor drew his sword and prepared to join the fray. He had finally made his decision, despite the obvious intentions of the other captains.

"Hold!" Fronks stopped Trevor and grabbed his arm. "Let the adventurers handle, that’s what they get paid for."

Trevor was about to snap and yell back to Fronks but a pained cry interrupted him. He looked back and saw blood dripping from the jaws of a cetus and Jack holding his bloody right shoulder.

"Out of my way!" yelled Trevor fuming mad.

"Hold! That’s an order from a superior officer!" retorted Fronks plainly.

Jack was cursing the Royal Court in his heart. He was now having a staredown with a cetus that he was sure was at least ten levels higher than himself. His heavy breathing brought a cruel smile to the cetus, who seemed to be playing with Jack.

Like Jack suspected, his flames weren’t able to cause much damage to the cetus despite the creature biting his flame body. He wasn’t sure whether it was due to the level gap, the rain, his low-leveled bloodline skill, or a mixture of each. All he knew was that he had no confidence facing the cetus alone.

Slivia was watching on the side with terror in her eyes. She shouted, "Jack, run!"

Not daring to look away from the beast before, Jack avoided giving it any openings to strike. HE wanted to stall as long as possible.

Aware of Jack’s plan, Cetus neared Jack and lunged to him, again targeting his right side.

Jack did his best to avoid damage but a claw still slashed his abdomen. He grunted in pain and saw the Cetus’ many layers of teeth reach for his neck.

Not wanting to accept his death he stabbed with his sword but to no avail. His death seemed imminent.

"No!" Zariff shouted and forced his way toward Jack but was constantly slowed by the cetuses. The beast appeared to change their strategy, stalling the strongest fighters while they picked off the weaker ones.

Maynard tried to activate his sudden death skill but was slashed before he could vanish, forcing him to stay with his current opponents. Rydel was under the same pressure, unable to aid Jack in any way.

Jack could feel the cetus’ warm breath. He shivered in pain and anticipation. His short-lived life as an adventurer was flashing before his eyes.