[Salvos] 645. Astros Mountain (Patreon)

645. Astros Mountain

***

Kali’natha narrowed her eyes as she knelt to the ground. She placed a hand on the rocky ground, tracing a finger over the shape of a foot. She looked up at her two companions accompanying her— Vla’di and Crim’zu’son’ra. The three Elves were here on a simple mission. They were to hunt down the [Hero] of the Human Lands and bring his head to their Dominion.

Unfortunately, their target had escaped their grasps. And now, they were struggling to track him down again. Kali’natha knew that with the level differential between them, she would have easily been able to defeat him if she could only just find him. However, that was proving to be quite difficult.

“They went this way.”

She whispered as she rose back to her feet. Looking up, she saw the mountainous terrain up ahead— she saw the undulating lines in the distance, leading them further up and towards the Dwarven Mountains.

Her brows snapped together as she wondered what exactly was the plan here. Perhaps Daniel was planning on seeking refuge in one of the many Dwarven fortresses located by the border. As the Principality of the Farl-Zun Forest, Kali’natha couldn’t just attack the Dwarves without instigating a war. That would have been problematic.

She shook her head as she took a step forward.

“We need to move faster.”

“And are you sure we’re headed on the right path this time around?”

Vla’di replied simply as he raised a brow. He was a full head taller than her, even if he had shrunk because of his old age. But despite the wrinkles on his face, he wore a mocking grinn, exuberating a false youthfulness in his demeanor.

“You’ve led us in the wrong direction a few times now. We’re going to lose this [Hero] because of your failures.”

Kali’natha gritted her teeth, but ignored his provocation. She shook her head as she strode forward, speaking calmly.

“I was misled because of that Human [Merchant]’s annoying artifacts. She certainly has quite a few trinkets and toys up her sleeve, but this time, I am certain.”

She turned back and looked between Vla’di and Crim’zu’son’ra. In the distance, the sun was setting over the horizon. The sky was painted a dark crimson, with not a cloud in sight. She raised her bow as she spoke commandingly, turning back around in the direction of her prey.

“We shall find and kill the [Hero] tonight. I guarantee that.”

***

It had been a few days since Daniel Song was attacked by the three Elves right outside the city of Soros. While he hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of the Elves that had ambushed him, he had been told by Kacey that they were far above his level. Apparently, the highest-leveled amongst them was a Level 176 [Mystic Huntress].

Even with the Sword of Alexander, Daniel didn’t stand a chance. Not against such dangerous enemies. Perhaps he might have been able to take them on if he had undergone his Class evolution sooner. He might have been more confident with whatever [Hero] Skill he would have gained. But that wasn’t possible now.

He had to keep moving. He couldn’t even stop to sleep. The only reason he was able to keep going was thanks to Ivonne Vigil. As one of the highest-leveled [Traders] in the world, she had an eclectic range of items she carried on her— many useless artifacts, and some expensive treasures. But a lot of what she had on her ended up being quite useful.

For example, she had given Daniel a Potion of Awakening which was what allowed him to stay awake for so long without feeling exhausted. Certainly, he could have just taken stamina potions to tough out the tiredness. Or maybe he didn’t even need to use any potions. But he would have certainly felt some exhaustion.

With the Potion of Awakening, he felt more awake than ever. Which was good— it allowed him to be prepared for a fight at any time. After all, he was only a Human, even if he felt like a superhero from the comic books he’d read as a kid. His senses would be diluted if he was exhausted. So he was grateful to Ivonne for all her help.

And this was not all she had done for him. She had also used a plethora of artifacts to throw the Elves off their tracks. Whether it was with a Scroll Of Imitation, which created false clones of them that she sent off in another direction, creating a false trail. Or if it was with her Anti-Scrying Ring, which obfuscated their location. It all proved incredibly useful in keeping them alive thus far.

But it was all only delaying the inevitable. Because, eventually, the Elves were going to find them. When that happened, they were going to die. Except, supposedly, Ivonne Vigil had a plan. Daniel didn’t know what that plan entailed. He just knew that they were getting… close.

“There it is— our destination.”

Ivonne whispered as she pointed at the tall mountain in the distance. Both Daniel and Kacey exchanged a glance, before looking up. They saw the towering peak rising above the clouds— looming over the rest of the mountain range.

He had never seen such a spectacular sight before. Even back on Earth, he hadn’t seen a mountain that tall. And he had been to Mount Rainier during a field trip to Washington.

“Where is this place?”

He asked with wide eyes. And it was Kacey who replied to him.

“That’s… Astros Mountain.”

“Astros Mountain?”

Daniel blinked, turning to face the [Crusader]. He was vaguely familiar with the name of the mountain, but he wasn’t sure where he heard of it before. Ivonne trudged forward as she shook her head.

“It is the tallest mountain in all of Secely. There lies your only hope for our survival.”

She spoke simply, and Daniel bit his lower lip. He stared into her back as he spoke up.

“Ivonne… you can’t keep leading us blindly forward. We need to know where we’re going— we need to know what we’re doing.”

Ivonne paused when she heard his words. Slowly, she craned her neck back to face him. They locked gazes, and she finally began to explain.

“There, at the very peak of that mountain, awaits a city that once stood far above the world. It was a city that dared to reach for the heavens. It was a once ancient civilization that had ascended to become Gods.”

“Gods? Like Salvos?”

Daniel’s brows snapped together, recalling how his companion had become a Lesser God. Kacey reacted in disgust when she heard that. But he glared at her, and she quickly averted her gaze.

Ivonne nodded as she smiled.

“Yes. Or so the legends say. But now, it is gone. And all that remains is the Fallen City of the Stars.”

“You’ve been there before?”

Daniel peered at the [Merchant] curiously. She turned away, looking at Astros Mountain, still in the distance.

“Indeed, I have. And that is why I know this path leads to safety— that is how I know it shall be our sanctuary.”

The young man listened to her speak. But he chewed his lower lip when he heard what she said. It had been bothering him for a while, however he was always brushed off when he questioned it. This time, he decided to press her for an answer.

“Ivonne… how will this place protect us from the Elves? Didn’t you say this is where I’ll be able to repair my Primordial Longsword?”

Ivonne tilted her head back at him.

“Indeed it shall. But it shall also protect us from our hunters.”

“But how?”

Daniel asked, taking a step forward. She met his gaze as he waited for her answer. For a moment, she didn’t move. But then her eyes flickered, and she sighed.

“Unfortunately, it appears we have wasted too much time here.”

She brought a hand up, and Daniel blinked. He wanted to ask what she was talking about, but he saw the volley of arrows coming from the side at the very last moment. He drew the Sword of Alexander and stepped forward, shouting as he cut down the oncoming projectiles from a distance.

Each of the arrows exploded as they were struck out of the air. But thanks to the Sword of Alexander, each swing of the sword sent golden blades out, and he was able to take them down from a distance.

“Shit— we’ve been found!”

Daniel spun around and turned to Ivonne and Kacey.

“We need to get out of—”

“Not so fast.”

A figure appeared behind Ivonne. An elderly Elven man, carrying a staff that was as tall as he was. He pointed the weapon at her back as he grinned.

“But you’re not getting away so easily this time around.”

Kacey cursed and reached for her sword. But a looming figure appeared behind her as well, wielding a great warhammer. She backed away in horror as he gave her a bloodthirsty look. Daniel’s grip tightened around the hilt of the Sword of Alexander, when he heard a figure landing behind him. An Elven lady held up a bow with a calm look on her face.

“We have you now, [Hero] of the Human Lands.”

And that was the [Hero] realized that they were surrounded.

[Druid - Lvl. 174]

[Warrior - Lvl. 169]

[Archer - Lvl. 176]

Author's Notes:

What thonk?

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