We all looked at him, silently waiting for him to continue.
"What if we could find a way to lure it out because the way I see it Huey and a few select others may need to team up to take on this monster. Now mind you, it may or may not be enough but its at least worth a try right?" the man said
Bennet silently contemplated the man's words and I could imagine the gears in his head turning as he tried to think of a way.
I too stayed silent for a few moments before it finally hit me. It was an insane idea but one that could work regardless.
"Use me as bait" I said
Mayor Bennet's as well as everyone's gaze abruptly turned to me. they turned to fast that it was a miracle their heads didn't just snap from their shoulders.
"No I can't in my right mind think of using a young man with a bright future ahead of him as bait" the mayor shook his head not skipping a second to think about it.
"He's right we can't do that" this time to my surprise it came from Conrad who was still standing behind me.
"It's the only thing that might attract it" I said. "It might be strong but it is without a doubt looking for soul essence that is strong and I believe my soul essence might be pure enough to catch its attention. It was the same thing that happened with the Second Star Order eagle back at school. Lydia and Rina were with me at the time and it could have gone after either one of us but it came after me so if we're going to lure it out then the best bet it to use me as bait"
Mayor Bennet released a heavy breath. He turned around placing both of his hands onto his desk. He leaned onto it, his head hung low. It was clear as day this wasn't something that he could bring himself to do.
In a way it felt good to know that someone who had a clear conscience as his was the leader of the camp.
"If you think you're sending me to my death then don't bother…" I said looking at his back. "…because I don't plan on dying"
The mayor turned his head slightly looking straight into my eyes and I could see the conflict in his gaze but I gave him a reassuring smile.
"…Fine we'll use you as the bait" he said
"Thank you sir" I said releasing a light breath.
"No don't call me sir you have earned enough of my respect to call me Bennet" he said before looking towards the man with the glasses who was still standing behind the mayor's-Bennet's, desk. "Thorne we're going to have to change the plan a little bit. If we start making the preparations now how long will it take?"
The man whom I had just learnt his name was Thorne took a moment to think.
"About two days at most" Thorne replied
"Alright start getting everything ready" Bennet said.
Thorne nodded before he started walking away. He gave me a brief nod as he walked passed me. I nodded back.
Then I heard the door open and shut behind me and I knew he was gone.
Bennet then walked towards the map table in the center of the room and motioned for us to take a look.
"Come its time I tell you what the plan is" he said
He pointed at the map and began to explain his planned briefly. He didn't go into the tactical details too much as that would just give me a headache to be honest.
But so far the plan seemed feasible and had a higher chance of success should everything went according to plan.
…
We spent a total of thirty minutes in his office before we finally got out.
"Geez that took longer than I actually thought" I said stretching my bones when I exited the building.
"Huey…are you sure about the plan you know you can change your mind if you're not certain. My uncle made that very clear" Conrad said. He was standing beside me.
I looked at him in surprise before a mischievous grin formed.
"Didn't know you were worried about me. Is that why you never said a word even when we were talking about the plan?"
Conrad faked a cough and didn't even bother to hide the fact that he was avoiding the question at all.
"The guys are getting impatient lets go" he was already walking off, not even waiting for my response.
I laughed before following behind him.
Even though Conrad had used it as a way to get away from me, it was also true that everyone in the group was getting impatient. They had been waiting by the building this whole time. Currently they were all giving us death stares as they sat on the steps outside the Hall.
They looked bored too; especially Jordan.
"You guys have a party in there or what?" he grumbled
"Well…not exactly" I said before explaining to the group.
I told them about the mayor's plan to lure out a strong beast from the forest with the goal of eliminating it so that all the survivors could move to a military base across the bridge. Of course I didn't mention anything about using me as the bait.
If I did then they would surely blow up on me especially Jordan who was already peeved by the fact that I had left him behind in order to sneak out alone.
"…And that brings us to our current situation" I said at the end of my tellings. "The mayor approved of our team and he gave us permission to head out and hunt. We have two days at most before the plan is executed so we'll have to make it worth it and raise our levels to at least level 10"
When I finished I noticed the looks on everyone's faces. They were in deep thought.
…then
"Well what are we waiting for. Lead the way boss" Clara said with a smile that seemed to reach her eyes. She was as upbeat as ever which put my heart at ease.
"There's no way I can say no to getting stronger" Dulton spoke. The thin man was already standing and stretching his sleeping limbs and Jordan raised his fist in my direction to which I responded in kind and raised my own.
"Let's get it on bro" he shot me a smirk.
We fist bumped.
Everyone stood up getting ready to move in full gear. I took the lead as we exited through the gates of the camp that lead towards the town.
We had one mission today. Clear out most of the town in two days.
…
A few hours had passed since we began clearing up the rest of York Town and things were proceeding rather smoothly.
Currently we were facing a large pack of mutated dogs that stood at an average height of 50 centimeters from the ground.
Clara nocked an arrow to her bow and pulled stretching the string. The arrow was glowing faintly with a green hue. She was standing at the top of a building just above the battle field where the rest of the other lower leveled members were currently engaged in combat. She made a point not to fire her arrows too close to the members for fear of hitting them by accident.
After all, Clara had never used a bow in her life and if it weren't for the apocalypse then she probably never would have. She took a deep breath and released the string.
The arrow flew off. Heading down below and curving slightly before sinking into the hide of one fo the beasts. It pierced its side sinking between its ribs and puncturing part of its heart. The beast whimpered before it fell to the ground weak and bleeding internally. It die a few moments laters.
[You have…]
Clara ingnored the spirit record and reached for the quiver of arrows on her back. She retrieved another arrow, nocked it to the bow and then she fired. This time though she missed.
"Tch" she grit her teeth in frustration. This wasn't the first time she missed and it probably wouldn't be the last but one thing that was clear was that she was improving steadily and the more she fired the less and less she missed and the more she hit her targets.
While all this happened a little distance away. Most of the beasts had clustered around the group as they fought with everything they had.
Dulton moved like a whirlwind cutting through enemies with his sword and although they weren't clean cuts and he had to attack a beast more than once it was still impressive. He ducked and rolled as one of the mutated dogs lunged at him, its jaws open and claws extended at him.
It hit the ground with a loud thud breaking the already damaged road that they were on. Dulton rose to his feet and spun around in the direction of the dog. He held his sword with both hands and slashed at it before it could regain its balance.
His sword tore through the hide on the side of its neck and ripped open a wound that bled profusely. The beast whimpered and with every spurt of blood, it weakened. Seconds passed, more blood spilled and pooled at its feet.
"Hah!" Dulton released a yell as he struck once more killing it as well as bathing his sword in crimson red blood. He received the confirmation of his kill from the Spirit Record but he was already clashing with his next opponent.
Mordecai was using his
And to say that he had killed a large bulk of these mutated dogs would not be an exaggeration at all.
Nale and Vicky, the blonde bombshell, worked together, they were the weakest of the group and having them fight alone was a high risk that could get them injured. Having them pair up with those of a higher level would end up being a hindrance too as that would defeat the purpose of this expedition.
On another part of the battlefield sharp flashes of light as well as sharp sounds of skin and bone being ripped apart could be heard as several mutated dogs dropped dead at Conrad's feet. The young man's swordsmanship was truly impressive and it was by far better than Huey's. he smiled for a moment as a level up notification flashed in his retina and he felt his fatigue wash away as his stamina rose and climbed back to its fullest point, not only that but his mana returned too. Then…
The temperature suddenly dropped and large ice spikes emerged from the ground. They shot upwards in a chilling trail that impaled and killed numerous mutant dogs all at once. Veronica had her hand stretched out in that direction before she pointed in another. This time though ice pikes shimmered into existence infront of her before she launched them forward.
It was as though a rain of death had filled the area. To say that Veronica had the best Area of Effect skill and the highest kill count of the group wouldn't be an exaggeration at all.
…
As the last of the dogs fell, I couldn't help but look at the aftermath in awe. There were numerous beasts lying strewn on the now blood soaked ground. Ice fragments stuck out of some of them. Some of the beasts were still impaled above the ice spikes sticking above the ground. Some of the mutated dogs had arrows run through their bodies. Some were cut to pieces others missing their heads and other had deep cuts on their bodies.
The sight was as terrifying as it was awe inspiring.
'Diabolical…Veronica's large scale attacks are as deadly as they are beautiful. The others aren't bad too if things keep going this way then it shouldn't be long before they can catch up or at the very least reach a good enough level before the fight against the 'lurker''
The mayor had decided to designate it as such. An appropriate name if I do say so myself.