NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 1019
<1019 – Eastern Region Experience Log (18)>
Like a mint chocolate hater oppressing the mint choco lovers, the evil Mini Nodys receive the weird offering brought by them, from the Princess of the Weird, Oknodie.
It was only natural that the piled-up evil deeds would return as automatic experience points and Evil Child experience points.
[Automatic experience reached the pinnacle of the Five Elements (5000).]
[Selected <Large Organization Automated Management> as a special privilege.]
Sometimes Oknodie appears to be irresponsible and just an Evil Child, but in truth, it knows that there are former Foundation Faction Members, various cities, friends, and Homunculi depending on her.
Even though she doesn’t stay with everyone, it’s only logical to choose to better manage the people left in the Western Region.
‘If I bring back a few tentacles of the Dark Tentacle Bird on the return path, everyone will be happy, right?’
A rare specialty that only exists in the East, it’s a high rare-grade elixir that boosts Dark Mana when consumed, and receives high praise from Professor Buzhaar at the Academy when submitted.
Of course, there wouldn’t be anyone to eagerly gobble up a chunk of Dark Mana either, and I wonder how many would actually be happy to receive it.
After all, isn’t the heart of the gift what matters most?
“So, hurry up and finish this all off and die for me!”
Using a defensive balloon-shaped barrier cast with Wind Art, she carries the weird creatures and gathers the medium to large weird creatures in one noticeable spot to release them.
With the sudden rush of weird creatures, the Dark Tentacle Bird happily swooped in, thinking it was a feast.
“Kiiaaack…”
“Grrrrk…”
“Kiieee…”
With sorrowful screams, the weird creatures, entangled in tentacles, vanished into the darkness of the Abyss.
Once the hunt for small and lesser weird creatures was done, the Dark Tentacle Bird shifted its gaze to the medium to large weird creatures.
If it devoured the medium to large weird creatures too, it would swallow an incalculable amount of Holy Bombs and inevitably suffer increasing damage over time.
“Tonight’s dinner is chicken!”
Oknodie’s confident declaration about the dinner menu!
Oknodie looked up at the sky, drooling with anticipation!
“When are we eating dinner!”
…As an hour flew by, Oknodie realized something was wrong.
Did the Dark Tentacle Bird notice the Holy Bomb?
No, that’s not it.
If it had, it would have regurgitated all the weird creatures it’d just swallowed.
Yet, it was just staring blankly at the medium to large weird creatures without attacking.
Something had clearly changed.
Why would it hesitate to feast on such a delicious meal?
As Oknodie peered closely at the neatly arranged weird creatures, her eyes went wide.
“Oh? That’s not the magic circle I set!”
The reason became clear.
The cloth binding the weird creatures had additional spells inscribed in Eastern characters, acting like talismans.
There were several elements in the spell.
Reducing the aggressiveness of the bound weird creatures.
Linking the actions of the weird creatures together.
Weird creatures moving in unison as if one body.
How would that appear in the sky?
It was at that moment Oknodie realized the secret.
“Super Giant Type!”
Having placed the food in one spot, with added organic movement, it suddenly appeared to the Dark Tentacle Bird like an entirely new powerful being matching its own strength.
In terms of total energy, it’s likely lacking, but the forced docility from the spell added to the illusion.
The amount of energy was considerable enough to be understandable if thought of as a weird creature in a state of energy-saving mode, not revealing its true self.
On the contrary, how intimidating would it be if it really had that much power without even trying?
That’s why the Dark Tentacle Bird was so intimidated, acting nonchalant like it was an unthreatening pup.
Put simply, it was scared.
‘It’s not just the Mini Nodys that are helpless; the Dark Tentacle Bird’s scared too!’
Babies usually aren’t aware of the harshness and coldness of society.
They don’t have the miserable memories of sacrificing humanity while getting their hands dirty due to a bitter hunger.
With a naturally gentle nature, the status of a top predator, and plenty of food, there’s no reason to rip apart and devour a suspiciously strong opponent.
“Humph. Look at this? You devoured my Mini Nodys because they’re weak, but you’re scared of the pile of weird creatures? If you’re that scared, just starve it out!”
Oknodie blocked all exit routes leading to the source and joined the weird creatures into a pile.
Not leaving a single weird creature that could be picked up, almost all of them merged together, moving under the spell’s influence as if one body.
Now, the Dark Tentacle Bird was forced to make a choice.
Would it challenge this suspicious new face like a real man?
Or curl up on the clouds like a coward, licking its own tentacle?
“Kiiee…”
The Dark Tentacle Bird chose the latter.
Oknodie clutched the back of her neck.
“You coward! Not even a creature! You pathetic wretch! Tear off your wings! You’re embarrassing all weird creatures! Just die already!”
In response to Oknodie’s jeers, the Dark Tentacle Bird became even gloomier.
Just drooling and looking down, it turned its head upside down towards the cosmos, refusing to even poke its head out beneath the clouds.
The posture of a sulking baby bear sitting against the wall of its cave!
“Uh oh. This can’t be good…”
Oknodie instinctively sensed that things had gotten worse.
By now, it should be time—time for the protective barrier surrounding the Holy Bombs inside the inferior and lesser weird creatures to dissolve and unleash divine power!
Sure enough.
The Dark Tentacle Bird, curled up on the clouds, suddenly let out a horrifying shriek and began to glow uncontrollably.
“Kiieeeeeeeeeek!!!”
The protective barrier around the Holy Bombs released them all at once from its stomach, igniting its insides.
The purifying power contained in the Holy Mana ruthlessly burned away the Dark Mana, and the Dark Tentacle Bird screamed in excruciating pain it had never experienced since its birth.
The high taming function clearly read the will embedded in the screams.
“(Help me! Help me! It hurts so much!)”
“(I won’t hit you again! Just look at me! It hurts too much!)”
“(I’m sorry! I won’t drool! Please let me live!)”
It was enough to raise the hairs on the back of Oknodie’s neck.
The Dark Tentacle Bird confused the pile of weak weird creatures for one giant abnormal creature, perceiving the abdominal pain as an attack from that enormous being below.
The unpredictability of the weird creatures’ behavior and attack methods contributed to the confusion.
“Ugh. I’m pretty sure I directly induced the Hell Mana to create this thing, how can such a thing emerge?”
It was, in fact, an expected outcome.
When it was made, there was a risk of complete destruction for the entire Eastern Region, and even the whole continent.
While it was necessary to concentrate vast energy into one, one could neither grow obsessed with that energy nor adopt a combative inclination.
The subconscious expectation that Oknodie wanted it to emerge as kind and gentle projected upon the Dark Tentacle Bird, causing it to be born as an exceptionally timid and gentle creature despite its innate strength.
Truly, it was the Titosso of the great monster realm!
There could not be a more pathetic giant living entity in existence.
It was nothing compared to the miserable fate of the glowing dinosaur offered as a sacrifice by Oknodie.
“It’s the spell’s fault!”
Of course, having largely carved out its own inner weakness, Oknodie sought the cause elsewhere rather than within herself.
[Spell Released]
[Magic Circle Released]
Reaching a unique level in Mana Studies and Mana Control, Oknodie flaunted her knowledge as she dismantled the spells woven within the masks.
If one assumes a misunderstanding, they can manipulate it to their advantage.
No matter how timid the Dark Tentacle Bird, if it comes to know that it is not a giant creature but an alliance of small, insignificant beings, wouldn’t it come down for retribution?
“Oh?”
The calculations were correct.
However, the resistance of the Alliance of Necromancers’ Wizards was more intense than expected.
Watching the weird creatures show no signs of dispersing despite the passage of time, Oknodie realized that someone had intervened to restore the spells she had released along the path she took.
Unless the intervention was stopped, any effort would be futile.
Finally, with a complete understanding of the enemy that must be fought, Oknodie rolled up her sleeves.
“Don’t just creep around hiding; come forward boldly!”
At Oknodie’s call, the minions under the wizards’ control revealed themselves among the weird creatures.
Warriors wearing masks designed to deceive the weird creatures into thinking they were one of them.
Oknodie scoffed and immediately altered the spells embedded in their masks.
“No use.”
“We are terminals bound by the spells of the Alliance of Necromancers.”
“How could a mere human dare to covet the knowledge of the Alliance of Necromancers, transcending a millennium of history?”
To attempt to release the spell altogether was a task so intricate that even Oknodie would find it challenging.
Yet, the true worth of a veteran player lies in their ability to handle crises as they arise.
Instead of dismantling the spell of the masks, Oknodie upgraded them.
[Mask of the Intermediate Weird Creature has been upgraded to the Mask of the Advanced Weird Creature.]
[Mask of the Advanced Weird Creature has been upgraded to the Mask of the Highest Weird Creature.]
[The Mask of the Highest Weird Creature now carries the Blessing of the Divine.]
In an instant, the masks became elevated among the weird creatures and received tremendous respect!
The surrounding weird creatures shrank back in fright, while the masked warriors were considerably startled.
“Why are you giving us power?”
“Are you extending a hand to settle past grievances?”
“Hmph. How foolish. Just look above!”
The sharp words made the masked warriors tremble as they raised their heads.
Even the cowardly Dark Tentacle Bird’s size could not be disregarded, but no way could those trifling beings make Oknodie even remotely fearful.
Those insignificant beings bore the divine power that had inflicted pain upon the Dark Tentacle Bird.
Moreover, the combined mass of weird creatures that had been viewed as a giant was now retreating from those misidentified as advanced weird beings.
From above, it was clear enough to see they were of different sides.
Their strength had increased; thus, they were perceived as prey by the Dark Tentacle Bird.
The outcome was all but decided.
Though it wouldn’t dare challenge the strong, it could trample the weak with its full power, like the Titosso! The Dark Tentacle Bird spread its countless tentacles wide in the sky, surging towards the masked warriors.