LIGHTNOVELONLINE 0061 – Cheat
In this eerie forest, Athena and the other players faced a challenge. The supply package was right in front of them, but the demonized tree monster was massive and twisted, threatening everything around it.
Athena gripped the black axe in her hand tightly, her eyes firm and resolute. Reckless and impulsive, she joined the battle. The tree roots attacked, and the fight began instantly. Athena was the first to charge forward, swinging her black axe, which glowed with a strange light. Each swing created a huge gash in the thick roots, and the smaller ones were severed and fell to the ground.
The other players were not to be outdone. They unleashed their skills—some released powerful magic attacks, others fought with their fists, each blow precise. However, none of them used their full strength. Their goal wasn't to destroy the tree monster but to get the supply package in the middle. They just needed someone to distract the tree monster. As soon as there was an opening, they would rush in and grab the package. Who would get it depended on their abilities.
Unlike Athena, who was fighting with all her might, most of them fought while retreating, waiting for an opportunity. Among the three other players, two clearly knew each other. During the battle, they protected each other, an unconscious habit that was hard to hide despite their efforts.
In the intense fight, everyone's breathing became rapid. They kept attacking the tree monster, not giving it any chance to rest, while they also had no time to catch their breath.
"Hey, those two over there, do you know each other?" One of the players, a young man in full armor, spoke up first. It was unclear where he got his armor from, but he fought the tree monster with his fists, the force of his blows powerful enough to repel and shatter the roots.
The other man and woman ignored him, glancing at Athena instead. Based on the colors shown by their battle medals, the person who had been killed earlier and the armored man were from Region 003, while three of the four remaining players were from Region 004.
"Don't ignore me. Although we're competitors, we're still fighting together now, right? I'm [ True Heart ] from Region 003. What about you? Are you not even going to say your names?"
After the fierce battle, Athena and the other two panted with fatigue. "Region 4, Athena," Athena said.
The other two also revealed their names. "Region 4, [ Witch's Cloak ]," said one.
"Region 4, [ Magic King ]," said the other.
"Hahaha, what pretentious names you have!" [ True Heart ] laughed without hesitation, but the other two looked displeased.
As Athena's attacks grew fiercer, she almost broke into the central area but was pushed back. The other three sighed in relief but used her aggressive assault to quietly advance.
The tree monster, repeatedly losing roots, grew enraged and frenzied. More roots gathered toward Athena, reducing the pressure on the other three and creating an opening.
Seeing the gap, the three quickened their pace to slip inside. The tree monster, sensing something amiss, sent some roots after them too. But at that moment, the light beam from the supply package suddenly disappeared.
The three were shocked, while Athena sighed in relief.
Feigning recklessness, Athena suddenly dashed in the opposite direction with her black axe, escaping the dangerous area. Leaving the other three to deal with the tree monster's wrath, they were caught off guard and couldn't understand how the supply package had vanished under their noses.
Athena didn't care about this. As soon as Mikmik grabbed the supply package, the light beam disappeared, and darkness enveloped the area again. Now was the best time to escape. If the three behind her reacted and surrounded her, it would be troublesome since they were both powerful and from the same region as well.
Mikmik led the way ahead, and the package he originally held was now in Athena's hands. They ran swiftly, as if chased by a fierce tiger.
The three at the tree monster's location grew increasingly suspicious. The disappearance of the supply package was definitely related to Athena, who had been the main force attacking the tree monster. Suddenly, she withdrew, and the package disappeared—what a coincidence?
It turned out they weren't the ones using the tree monster as a tool; they were the tools themselves.
[ Witch's Cloak ] gave [ Magic King ] a look, and they planned to abandon [ True Heart ] and escape.
Beside them, [ True Heart ], now bearing the brunt of the increased pressure from the tree monster due to Athena's withdrawal, was fuming.
"Hey, you two, I'm not an idiot. I'm not falling for the same trick twice. Either we all go together, or none of us are leaving!" [ True Heart ] said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"And you saw that person's strength earlier, didn't you? Isn't it better if the three of us surround her?"
The [ Magic King ] and [ Witch's Cloak ] eventually agreed. A blue barrier appeared around the [ Magic King ], and when he pushed it forward, the entire tree monster was shoved back.
[ Witch's Cloak ] took out several bottles and threw them at the tree monster. The bottles shattered, releasing a ghostly blue flame that burned fiercely, scorching the roots of the tree monster.
Since they were cooperating, they had to show enough sincerity! Without hesitation, [ True Heart ] retrieved his weapon from his system backpack: a shield that gleamed with a cold light.
The shield was made of a mysterious metal, its edges sharp as blades, and the surface was intricately engraved with complex patterns that seemed to tell an ancient story. When [ True Heart ] held the shield, a powerful aura emanated from him. Although it was a piece of defensive equipment, he wielded it as a weapon, slicing through the encroaching roots with it.
The tree monster was soon forced to retreat. It chose not to attack the three humans anymore, keeping a watchful stance. Seeing this, the three of them left without hesitation, showing no desire to continue the fight.
[ Witch's Cloak ] closed her eyes, and faint fireflies shimmered around her, merging into the ground. "I see, I hear, I track..." she murmured softly.
The fireflies spread in ripples underground.
After determining a direction, Athena and Mikmik ran without stopping. But as she took another step, Athena sensed something was wrong—it was the feeling of being watched. She warily scanned her surroundings but found nothing. Mikmik meowed questioningly beside her.
Athena didn't think it was her imagination, feeling a bit uneasy.
Unseen to her, every step she took left a faint glow, creating a trail that only [ Witch's Cloak ] could see.
