SWNOVELXO Chapter 225: A Little Convincing?
Upon reaching the base of the mountain, they discovered bodies of armoured beasts lying on the ground of blood-stained grass mixed with flesh-covered gravel.
Well, from what they gathered, they used to be armoured.
Broken shells, akin to the texture of a pale brown granite, were laid shattered and strewn across the ground like someone had picked apart a stone pavement with a crowbar.
The monsters' flesh beneath their protective exterior was covered in lethal gnashes and crimson marks as their blood continued to flow out.
However, their body was covered in a sort of dust and gritty sand that would belong on the path up a mountain.
It seemed as though these frightening beasts had been kicked and rolled down said mountain as a way to free up space.
This was what Lillian had analysed as she continued to gaze upon this sight that was rather bone-chilling, especially so as the potent smell of blood wafted into their nose, spiking their brain with the scent of iron.
Charlotte shifted uncomfortably, covering her nose at the repulsive sight. Turning her face away at a slight angle, she inquired Lillian:
"Is there even a reason to come to this filthy area? As long as we reach 500 points, we would win? Wouldn't just finding more areas with those boulders be more efficient?"
Lillian drifted her eyes to the side, gazing at the noblewoman with a deadpan expression.
"You ask this before getting here?" Rolling her eyes, she answered her question, "To answer your question, yes, you would be right."
She then moved forward, walking past the bodies and making her way around and up the steep path.
"If we were to go around the forest and keep on hunting monsters until we reach 500, then we would, of course, win. However, why should we end it so soon?"
She smiled, eventually turning it into an excited, toothy grin.
"This is the first part of the tournament. It must be exciting, noteworthy, and last of all... Capable of showing that our class are actually filled with powerful individuals that shouldn't be taken lightly."
She stopped at the edge of a cliff, several metres high off the ground. She looked down at them, gesturing them to follow with an urging look.
"Let's show these Luton academy students how powerful the Louis academy is..."
As her speech made its way into the ears of the two down below, she watched as their eyes widened and, at the same time... Glimmered.
The edges of Lillian's broad and attractive grin grew. It seemed that her "Inspiring" speech had convinced them. This was one of the reasons why she had chosen these two to join her team.
Norman was one to go along with anything that would prove his ability and reputation as "Cool".
Charlotte was the type to go along with things that could prove her superiority over a selected group of people.
By stringing her words together and making it so it would target their goals, it would make it extremely easy to convince them to go along with her plan.
Her plan... Of an absolute victory over the other team.
This ambitious goal of hers would be the only thing currently that would give her the greatest high.
As the three of them ascended the tall and laborious mountain, whose peak reached the very clouds themselves, they encountered more bodies of monsters.
Monsters like the exact one Cicillian killed and appeared from.
Monsters that were plastered on the side of the mountain with their wings crushed into paste and slash marks.
It would bid the question.
What kind of cruel individual would mutilate a creature like this to such a painful degree?
Despite these monsters reaching the D-rank and, uncommonly, some C-ranks that were far more injured than their counterparts, it looked as though their enemy had barely made any effort to take them apart.
Having reached halfway up the mountain, they began to feel the wind become harsher as it blew against them. But that was the only thing harsh about it, except for the fear of slipping and falling off the edge.
Because all the monsters had been taken care of.
Well... That was what they had thought.
Clinging fearfully to the side of the mountain, Lillian glanced to the side, discovering something that had peeked into the corner of her eyes.
The two behind her did the same thing as the sounds of flapping were made apparent, even despite the harsh winds blowing into their ears.
It was another bird, just like the ones they had been seeing on their way up. But there seems to be something... off... about it. It looked alien.
Its torso had a red mark down the middle that was covered in dried blood. However, what would been the reason for its organs to be spilling out was held together by a wall of... String?
Lillian's eyes darted from its chest towards its wings, finding traces of this particular white string on it as well.
It was as though it was being controlled by it...
Then, her eyes drifted towards its back, which was being ridden by two individuals.
A short man of small stature with blonde hair tied into a ponytail. His face had rather childlike features. He stood on the back of the bird, gripping the feathers on the back of its head.
Situated behind this short man was another individual with black hair and a face hidden behind a featureless white mask.
This individual was crouched on the bird, their hands raised as strings were wrapped around the tips of their fingers.
With careful scrutinising, Lillian was able to tell that the masked figure was assumably male. However, she already knew this since their entire team was filled with guys.
But that wasn't the time to think about that. They had much greater and larger problems to deal with.
Lillian's eyes narrowed on the masked individual in the back and the blonde man.
The enemies had decided to meet them head-on.