HPDBC Chapter 291
Chapter 291
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]
Chapter 291
“Where is this place?”
“Who am I?”
Aeron and Dominic, their faces blank with shock, looked around in a daze.
All they could see was an expanse of searing hot sand.
Just half a day ago, they had been in the slums.
While it was no Neo Seoul, the slums were still livable.
Now that they were stranded in this desolate desert, they fully realized how good they’d had it.
They had been entranced by Zeon’s promise to help them grow stronger. But before they could regain their senses, they found themselves in the middle of nowhere.
“I remember the sandstorm surrounding us, but... after that...”
“Same here...”
Awooooo!
A wolf’s howl echoed from somewhere in the distance.
The expressions on their faces froze instantly.
“What was that?”
“Could it be... a beast?”
Panic setting in, they fumbled to check their belongings.
Fortunately, the items they had bought from the Goblin Market were still with them.
Aeron drew his sword, while Dominic clutched his staff with both hands.
Their hands trembled violently as they held their weapons.
“Ugh...”
“Damn it, I’m going to piss myself.”
Awooo!
The howling grew louder, closer, their bodies shaking more with every second.
Then, over a sand dune, the source of the sound appeared.
Large, round ears, pitch-black eyes, and mottled fur—beasts that resembled wild dogs, but with far larger, sharper teeth.
“What kind of beasts are those?”
“They look like wild dogs...”
Their appearance wasn’t particularly intimidating, which gave Aeron and Dominic a fleeting sense of relief.
That was until dozens more appeared behind the first one.
“What the...!”
“Damn it, a pack?”
Growl!
At once, the beasts lunged toward them.
They were Lycaons, beasts that resembled African wild dogs.
F-rank beasts—the weakest among their kind.
An E-rank Awakened could handle them easily with a clear mind. But to Aeron and Dominic, both half-paralyzed with fear, the Lycaons might as well have been Cerberus.
As the pack closed in, Aeron swung his sword instinctively.
“Take this!”
Yelp!
The lead Lycaon yelped and collapsed, wounded by his sword. But the rest of the pack pressed on undeterred, unfazed by their fallen comrade.
“Ahhh!”
Fueled by sheer desperation, Aeron slashed wildly, his survival instincts kicking in.
Meanwhile, Dominic stood frozen, staring blankly at his friend’s frantic battle.
The surreal sight of his friend fighting beasts left him stunned.
It wasn’t until Aeron’s voice snapped him out of his daze that he realized the gravity of the situation.
“Damn it! Start attacking! I can’t take them all on by myself!”
“Huh?”
“Get a grip, you bastard!”
“Oh! O-okay!”
Finally, Dominic fumbled to lift his staff.
It had cost him every coin he had saved. Though it was a mass-produced staff, its mana conductivity and skill-casting speed were decent thanks to its supplementary enchantments.
Dominic planted the staff into the ground and shouted,
“Shock Wave!”
Yelp!
Snarl!
Stunned by the lightning strike, the pack panicked and fled—exactly in the direction Levin wanted.
“This way, please.”
Levin coaxed, firing small electric jolts to guide them toward Aeron and Dominic.
The Lycaons charged straight into the two, unleashing their frustration on them.
Growl!
Bark!
Aeron and Dominic’s eyes widened.
“Again?”
“Damn it! Can’t we get a break?”
But the Lycaons didn’t wait for an answer.
Baring their sharp teeth, they lunged.
Aeron stepped forward to block their assault while Dominic cast his spells from the rear.
Their movements, while still rough, had grown noticeably sharper.
Aeron’s sword strikes became more precise, with the occasional skill woven in. Dominic, too, had learned to adjust his mana output, conserving energy as he cast.
Not that it made things easy.
Each time they defeated one pack, another would soon follow.
By now, they had realized what was happening.
“This has to be Hyung and Levin’s doing, right?”
“Who else?”
“Damn it! You really can’t trust anyone in this world.”
“Quit whining and pick up your sword. We’ve got another wave incoming.”
“What about your mana?”
“Barely enough for one more fight.”
“Then let’s give it everything we’ve got.”
“Yeah.”
They bumped fists and readied themselves once more.
* * *
“They’re getting better.”
“Even an idiot learns if you put them through enough hell. Want another jerky?”
“Sure.”
Levin handed Zeon another piece of jerky, a delicacy from Klexi’s shop.
Zeon didn’t bother asking what it was made of.
‘If it tastes good, that’s all that matters.’
Chewing thoughtfully, Zeon watched as Aeron delivered the finishing blow to the last Lycaon, ending the fight.
The two collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. Their exhausted forms looked almost pitiable, but Zeon felt no sympathy.
This was a gentle introduction compared to what he had endured.
Zeon had been forged through brutal trials under Dyoden’s guidance. Levin, too, had grown strong through Zeon’s harsh training.
Compared to that, this was child’s play.
“Let them rest for now, then we’ll find something stronger.”
“Not Lycaons?”
“They’re no longer a challenge. Without risk, there’s no growth.”
“So, something tougher?”
“F-rank, but on the stronger side.”
“Got it.”
Levin nodded and took off again.
Moments later, another dust cloud rose in the distance as yet another pack of beasts charged toward the exhausted Aeron and Dominic.
Thanks to Levin’s tireless efforts, the pair had no time to recover.
Their anguished cries soon echoed across the desert.
“Damn it, Levin!”
“Why are you doing this to us?”
Levin chuckled softly, muttering to himself,
“This is all for your own good. Hyung’s heartfelt love for you both, expressed in the harshest way.”
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Demon God]