"Maintain the formation! Don't break!!"
Perhaps it was because of the frenzy that the monsters were in, they seemed easier to kill than usual.
Perceival and Fabian dashed forward side by side, the former was using gauntlets, apparently his vambraces weren't just vambraces but an enchanted rank weapon that could extend to cover his fists and serve as a formidable damage dealer.
As for Fabian, he was a dual sword wielder, his strikes were light and fast, his skillfulness with the sword was beyond commendable, he moved in such fluid patterns that one could get lost in how beautiful he made combat look.
The rest of the parties were also no slouches.
They broke into six formations, three at the front, three behind.
While Fabian and Perceival themselves served as the spearhead of the hunt.
Instead of going on the offensive like they usually would, they held a defensive line.
And the reason was none other than the strange behavior of the monsters.
Usually, monsters were quick to attack when they sighted humans, especially Corpse Eaters.
They loved to hide in corners and wait for the right moment to strike.
When facing them and any other monster, it was advisable to execute quick offensive attacks, aimed at incapacitating the monsters before they got the chance to strike.
However, this case was different.
These monsters did not look like they even cared if humans were before them. They didn't stop running.
At first the group went on the offensive, but after a while Perceival observed no change in the monsters' pattern.
It was as if they were too freaked out about something to care that they were being slashed apart by these humans.
'What could they be so scared of...'
Just when that thought tugged his mind, a sonic sound explosion shook the air and attracted their attention—although many couldn't dare to look away, since they were not skilled enough to ignore the rugged stampede of the Corpse Eaters.
However, Perceival and Fabian could spare a few seconds of glance, while cleaving through the monsters momentarily.
It was then that something clicked in Perceival's head.
'Whatever that was... I presume that Ryan and Mr. Arlem are facing it. Then it could be the reason why these monsters are exhibiting this pattern of behavior? They're running away for their lives?'
Perceival then deliberated that if that was the case, pushing through a horde of desperate monsters would work to their advantage.
Hence they introduced a change in strategy, and that was how they now held a defensive ground and began to easily kill these Corpse Eaters as they got desperate to break through and run away.
One would say that in a couple of minutes, they had slain more Corpse Eaters than a party would on a normal occasion.
On a normal occasion, without the encounter of higher danger level Corpse Eaters from the upper Calamities.
As far as they were still Hazard and Disaster level, it was pretty much an easy hunt.
And in that kind of hunt, a party consisting of three teams, each team consisting of three individuals, would slay at least thirty Corpse Eaters.
On better days, they could slay even fifty to sixty.
However, the lifeless bodies of monsters, by the looks of it, seemed to have surpassed that number twofold.
And no one was injured too.
This was looking good... things were proceeding better than any of them thought it would.
'Now, all that is left is to wait for the signal from those two...' Perceival thought.
Then he proceeded with adrenaline boosting through his veins. This kind of better day motivated him to fight harder.
His movements were more fluid, his senses sharper, and he was happy, that once again, everyone might survive this battle.
It was always a battle of uncertainty each time they set out to kill.
As a scout he carried the responsibilities of dear lives.
He had to search for routes that held less dangerous monsters, and should an anomaly occur due to his miscalculation or what he never even envisioned—
Perceival took the blame upon himself more than anyone would.
This apocalyptic continent, over the past few months, had taught him what it meant to be a scout, the weight it carried and how painful it could be.
Hence, every time they set out, Perceival's only wish was that they all come back with the same number they left with.
But it wasn't like his wish was always fulfilled every time.
However, this time at the very least... it seemed like it would be fulfilled.
So Perceival fought with so much joy flooding his veins and fueling his power.
Their moment was cut short...
Suddenly all the monsters froze... and began to shiver. They all were headed towards a particular direction but froze, turned and dashed away in different directions.
With more speed and vile fury, they shot into different angles, crudely attacking anything or anyone that stood in their ways.
Everything happened so fast that in mere beats, the entire space that was teeming with crowds of monsters just moments ago, was completely barren.
Everywhere was dry... only the drifters, who stood, dumbfounded and panting.
"What in the world just happened?"
The place was filled with so much deafening silence that Fabian's mutters could be heard clearly by everyone around.
Perceival turned to the direction the monsters were initially running towards and opened his tiny eyes a little bit.
He did not know when his lips parted tremblingly.
"There's—there's something coming..."
He couldn't shake it off. The cold fear that gripped him made his entire body freeze in motion.
Perhaps this was what it felt like.
The other part of fight-or-flight that rarely gets talked about.
Still, others couldn't tell yet. Since they were not as perceptive as he was, they couldn't tell that a monster was slowly approaching them.
While taking its time to decimate the Corpse Eaters it met on its way.
"Hey, see..." one of them pointed to the sky, to the red cloud of dust that was slowly dissipating.
"Perceival," Fabian called, keenly observing the stocky scout backing them. "That's our cue to leave... how do we move all these bodies?"
His voice was hoarse and inaudible at first, clogged by the thick tension of fear that churned his insides, so Fabian couldn't hear clearly what Perceival was trying to say.
"Hey, what's wrong with you–"
Before he could finish his statement, Perceival made a savage, sharp turn, his face pale and rife with horror, his tiny eyes wide opened as he shouted at the very top of his throat.
They didn't need an extra confirmation, because even as Perceival ran towards them, a humanoid, four-armed creature was also hurtling towards them.
Northern since the moment he sent Dark Terror out sat cross-
legged with his eyes closed up until now.
However, there was one moment when he opened one of his eyes.
[Do you want to copy Talent FrostHeart (SSS - Class) for 5,000 talent fragments?]
Both eyes grew wider.
[You do not have enough Talent Fragments]
'Crap, crap, crap! What the hell was that? Who in this damned place has an SSS-class talent? And why the shit is it worth five thousand talent fragments?!'