Chapter 337: Rotsea Emberfiend

Chapter 337: Chapter 337: Rotsea Emberfiend

While Seraphina Sinclair thought it was normal, Lyra Lowell and Alaric Hawthorn simply couldn’t comprehend it.

"Fayestar, you’re not taking this?" Lyra Lowell asked, his eyes gleaming as he pointed to the Standard Weapon on the ground.

"That?" Fayestar glanced at him and waved dismissively. "Don’t want it. Take it if you do."

Lyra Lowell scrambled to pick up the D-level Standard Weapon. He blew the dust off it as if it were a priceless treasure. After tearing a strip of cloth from his own spear, he strapped the weapon to his back. Then, like an eager little follower, he trotted along behind Fayestar.

Although Alaric Hawthorn, who had been standing at the back, said nothing, the hand at his side clearly clenched. He was obviously furious with himself for not getting to it before Lyra Lowell.

Seraphina Sinclair knew the weapon’s value well, so it was only natural that the two of them would scramble for it.

’She had gotten a good haul for her E-level foldable military knife back in the day. But times had changed; it wouldn’t fetch such a high price now.’

Even so, Seraphina Sinclair was still a little surprised that Fayestar would toss aside a D-level Weapon so casually.

But soon, Seraphina Sinclair understood.

’Both Fayestar’s weapon and her attire were lightweight, suited for a single strike before immediately repositioning.’

’If there were class roles, she would be considered an assassin.’

’Carrying this Standard Weapon would significantly hinder her agility.’

’If it were a D-level monster, I could defeat it by myself, so I wouldn’t have any demands for my teammates.’

’But now we’re facing a C-level monster. To defeat it, both of us will have to give it our all.’

Fayestar understood this as well. She glanced back at the still-unmoving Seraphina Sinclair and brandished her dagger. "Not getting ready? You plan on letting me take this thing on by myself?"

Without a word, Seraphina Sinclair raised her hand and gripped her longsword. As Fayestar watched, she gave a slight, deliberate lift of her chin.

"That’s it? You’re ready?" Fayestar looked Seraphina Sinclair up and down. Seeing nothing to criticize, she could only frown. "So... now... we fight?"

"What’s the rush?" Seraphina Sinclair said, pulling up a screenshot in front of Fayestar. "It’s a C-level monster. It pays to know your enemy, you know?"

Fayestar shot her a look, then skeptically examined the image she had shared.

[Rotsea Emberfiend (C-level)]

[Description: If you are seeing this, then first of all, congratulations... You have seen through the illusions of this dungeon and found the being responsible for it all! The Emberfiend’s massive body is a heap of countless pieces of gelatinous, corrupted flesh. Its surface is covered in a dense network of fissures and pustules that occasionally split open, oozing a foul-smelling, viscous, dark-green ichor. Several tentacles extend from its main body, which it can use to lash out with surprising flexibility. It can also spew a corrosive, toxic fog that inflicts severe Spiritual Pollution.]

[Weakness: ???]

[Note: C-level monsters possess a special ability. Please be extremely cautious during battle!]

After reading it carefully, Fayestar’s expression grew grim once more. She pointed a finger at the last line. "What’s the special ability?"

"No idea." Seraphina Sinclair shook her head, her gaze returning to the Rotsea Emberfiend, which was radiating a terrifying aura. "The Description didn’t say. And judging from the note, it seems each monster’s special ability is different. We’ll have to find out what it is ourselves."

She paused, then added, "But one thing is certain: a special ability like this must be a huge threat. It could even turn the tide of battle in an instant."

Fayestar tsked, her knuckles turning white as she tightened her reverse grip on her dagger.

"So, that ten percent certainty you mentioned... was that because you guessed we’d be facing this thing, or because... you have a way to deal with its special ability?"

Fayestar had assumed a C-level monster would just be an upgraded D-level one—a simple stacking of Attributes.

But now, it was clear this was a qualitative leap.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t answer directly. She held her longsword horizontally before her, the Blade reflecting her tranquil eyes. "That ten percent... is for playing it by ear."

"Playing it by ear?" Fayestar almost laughed in exasperation.

’So the ten percent chance wasn’t based on any concrete plan or some ace up her sleeve. It was just a ’wait and see’ approach?’

But this wasn’t the time for questions or sarcasm.

Because up ahead, the massive Rotsea Emberfiend seemed to have sensed their unconcealed discussion. Or perhaps it had simply grown tired of waiting. If they didn’t make a move, it was going to come after them.

In any case, the C-level monster before them was slowly awakening.

The fissures and pustules covering its surface began to writhe. The viscous, dark-green ichor oozed more profusely, dripping onto the ground with a SIZZLING, corrosive sound and releasing puffs of pale green smoke.

Several barbed tentacles rose from around its bloated body, twisting slowly in the air like vipers, their tips aimed directly at Seraphina Sinclair and Fayestar.

An oppressive aura, far more powerful than that of any previous monster, crashed over them like a physical tidal wave.

In an instant, the very air seemed to turn viscous. Every breath they took was filled with a nauseating, putrid stench.

Lyra Lowell’s legs gave out from under him, and he nearly collapsed. He managed to stay upright only by bracing himself against the wall, his face as pale as a sheet, his teeth chattering.

Veins bulged on Alaric Hawthorn’s forehead as he clenched his jaw, fighting against the crushing pressure that threatened to break his mind. The veins on the hand gripping his gun stood out in sharp relief, yet he remained planted firmly in front of Lyra Lowell.

Fayestar’s hand, gripping her dagger, trembled. Finally, with a grit of her teeth, she set Mimi down on the floor. She whipped her head around and snarled at Lyra Lowell and Alaric Hawthorn, "You two, take care of my Sunflower. If anything happens to it, you won’t make it out of here alive!"

Lyra Lowell flinched at Fayestar’s murderous warning and immediately began nodding his head like a chicken pecking at grain.

Alaric Hawthorn’s expression was grim, but he knew that at his level, fighting this monster would be suicide. It was better to stay in the back.

Lyra Lowell scrambled to pick up Mimi, then looked to Seraphina Sinclair. "Boss Sinclair, should we take your Sunflower, too?"

Seraphina didn’t trust them with it.

The Sunflower was her life. For Seraphina Sinclair, entrusting her life to others was unthinkable.

But trying to fight a C-level monster while holding the Sunflower was tantamount to suicide.

Seraphina Sinclair frowned, still undecided. Just then, Fayestar scoffed from the side. "What are you afraid of? If we die, those two won’t survive either. For the sake of their own lives... they’ll be sure to protect your Sunflower."

It was true, but for some reason, Seraphina Sinclair suddenly recalled the words on the Stone Tablet:

"A Sunflower can give you far more than you could ever imagine, but what is the price of that exchange... Perhaps only those who have lost one truly know."