CHAPTER 74: CARNAGE

[You have eliminated a Named Boss, Erikta]

[You have Leveled up]

[You have gained +3 generic attribute points]

[You have gained +5 specific attribute points]

[You have gained...]

Lucien nearly staggered and fell. But he plunged his sword into the ground and held firm.

The mobs still remained to deal with... but something else troubled him more.

He had slain Erikta, the Goblin King, or so he believed. However, his disappointment stemmed from the fact that Erikta was not an Elder rank monster.

Of course, he had figured that out as he fought the beast. But it was still unbelievable—there were many things he felt he didn’t quite grasp, and it wasn’t like the forum explained every single detail about Evolution Online. Even if it did, finding specific information amidst the avalanche of data flooding the forum proved nearly impossible.

He was still at the very beginning, the bottom rung of whatever Evolution Online encompassed.

The fact that the Goblin King was not an Elder rank either meant the field was marked by something else, or that he was completely overlooking something crucial.

’Now what could that be...’

Lucien strained to stay upright—even while leaning on his sword.

The vicious eyes of the remaining goblins lingered on him, thirsting for blood.

He knew he had to deal with all of them. However, his stamina was depleted.

He needed rest.

Leveling up had restored his Health points, but he needed to stop moving to regenerate stamina.

Of course, there was this alternative.

Lucien exhaled.

"All remaining points go into stamina."

[You have added 28 attribute points to Stamina]

Lucien felt a surge of strength flow through his body.

He inhaled deeply and exhaled. Then he moved.

***

Gaya, Adrian and Elara were walking in the depths of the cave. Right in front of Gaya, a ball of light floated, illuminating the entire cavern.

Her face was indifferent and difficult to read as she walked forward. What she was thinking, Adrian tried to guess a thousand times but could never quite figure out.

He had figured that the greatest good he could do for Lucien was to report this situation to Gayanna and return with reinforcements.

The moment he reported to her, her expression became grim and she had literally not spoken a word since then.

She just bolted straight toward the mountain and kept going. Adrian and Elara had followed her of their own accord.

Adrian hesitated a bit and said:

"I’m sure Master Cien is going to be fine. You don’t have to worry about him."

Elara chuckled a little.

"Yeah. He looked like a very competent guy."

Gaya remained silent. She kept walking deeper into the cave. She then came to an abrupt stop and drove her fist into the wall.

The cavern wall cracked and shards of stone fell. But her slender pale knuckles also split.

She gritted her teeth and exhaled. Then her expression became indifferent again and she continued walking forward.

Elara and Adrian made sure to keep several steps behind.

Elara whispered:

"Lady Gaya seems really angry. Why?"

Adrian looked at her with a hint of concern.

"To me... she looks very worried."

Elara looked at her again.

"Now that you mention it... she does look very worried. But also very angry."

Adrian chuckled.

"I’m sure Master Cien will get an earful."

They continued to walk in silence for a few moments. Then Elara’s low voice broke the quiet.

"This Master Cien. Do you know him? What kind of person is he?"

Adrian paused for a moment, then shook his head.

"I haven’t known him for long, but stories of his escapades have reached our ears. Although it would be difficult for locals like you to hear such extraordinary tales. But let me simplify it for you."

He paused to breathe and continued.

"You know the Sealed Edge of the continent, Mist of the Forgotten, Hollowreach."

Elara nodded.

"Yes. Those were the origins of evil stories used to frighten us as children—the legendary corrupted dragon that eroded the Mist of Darkness and became a haunting monster that killed anything that entered it."

Adrian smiled grimly.

"Yes. That. Master Cien came from that place."

Immediately she stopped, her eyes widening.

"What?!"

She couldn’t help but raise her voice in that moment.

Adrian quickly cautioned her.

"Shush."

She quickly lowered her voice to a whisper.

"Oh, ah, I’m sorry. But what?!"

She struggled to stifle her voice.

"How is that even possible?"

Adrian nodded.

"I ask myself that every minute too."

He turned forward, staring at Gayanna’s distant figure.

"And when I look at Lady Gayanna, I can’t help but feel like she also came from there. She has a very pristine and powerful presence, you know. Like she’s ancient."

Elara nodded slightly.

"You’re right. She does seem very, very ancient. It couldn’t be... could it?"

She looked at Adrian with a conflicted expression.

Gayanna stopped ahead. They had finally reached the expanse where Adrian and Lucien had engaged hordes of goblins—green ones and red ones—before entering the inner cave.

She stopped and studied the place, scrutinizing it for a while. Until she exhaled and continued forward.

It was becoming quite evident how worried she was about Lucien; her hurried pace proved that. But it was also becoming quite evident how furious she was.

So much so that Adrian didn’t know whether to consider Lucien lucky she was coming or very unlucky she was coming.

She then entered the cave and suddenly stopped again.

Adrian and Elara from the outer cave saw her halt; they were curious. But it wasn’t until they entered the inner cave as well that they came to an abrupt stop.

Adrian frowned.

Elara covered her mouth and nose.

The stench of decay and blood wafted through the atmosphere like invisible tendrils of gruesome annihilation.

She couldn’t even bring herself to look.

She deliberately and quickly turned her face away from the carnage.

Carnage was an understatement.

What she glimpsed in that moment: monsters, all of them, their bodies mangled, limbs shattered, eyes gouged out.

Every single creature that had existed inside the iron bars within the cavern room had been savagely terminated, and it was so gruesomely done that it was difficult to imagine a monster accomplishing something like this.

No matter how she looked at it, a psychopathic human had to have done the job. If it really was a monster... Elara shivered at the thought.

’...we are doomed.’