Absolute Craft-Chapter 62: An Abandoned Village (2)

Chapter 62: An Abandoned Village (2)

"Trying to steal my right hand?" Kyria asked as he arrived, moving slowly toward Blake with his hat pulled low, revealing only a sliver of his red eyes.

Blake responded casually, "No."

"No fun," Kyria said from behind his mask, prompting Wolfang to chuckle. "What do we have here?"

He glanced over, spotting Joel and the woman he had fought with. Their nicknames—The Chosen One and Eru—were visible for everyone. Although their gear was clearly inferior to Blake’s or Kyria’s, there had to be a reason these two were close to Blake, especially the man.

Meanwhile, Eru’s bold stare captured Kyria’s interest. She locked eyes with him, relying on her naturally defiant expression to challenge him. She didn’t back down, despite Kyria’s high-quality military uniform and armored vest.

"We’re one short," Kyria remarked.

Just then, Joel waved his acquaintances over. They looked rather annoyed that he’d been ignoring them, but the arrival of Eru, Wolfang, and Kyria had triggered a mini event—no surprise, given how popular the latter duo was in the tutorial zones.

In particular, Kyria commanded a thirty-man force that had seized a zone in the Eternal Winter Graveyard, a location not everyone could access. It was unusual to see him here instead of guarding that special place. Clearly, there was more to this expedition than met the eye.

In truth, Kyria had vowed to subdue Blake and recruit him into his guild. This chance to mess with him in a simple, rundown village—especially so soon after recent events—was too good to pass up.

Joel, oblivious to these hidden agendas, smiled at his acquaintances. "Turns out we only need one! Thanks for coming, though! I’ll repay you guys in the future—just ask if you need help, and I’ll be there!"

"Can I tag along with you?!"

"Hey, that’s my line!"

"Nah, I was gonna say that first!"

Kyria eyed them sharply. "None of you are joining us. Decide among yourselves who’s coming, then log out and leave us be. If you can’t manage that, I’ll have someone from my guild fill the spot."

Blunt to a fault—and with an undercurrent of threat—Kyria showed no concern for their opinions or pleas. He refused to let anyone else see more of Blake’s potential.

Eru pointed at herself. "Why am I included?"

"Feel free to drop out," Kyria replied with a shrug.

The young woman’s face twisted in irritation. She put on a brave front and insisted she’d stay in the expedition, no matter what anyone said. Since it was clear no one else was going to enjoy themselves here, Joel’s acquaintances picked a "sacrificial lamb" and left, leaving him on his own.

Now, the Abandoned Village loomed before the team of six. Blake and his companions had never been here before. From the outside, they could only see a sprawling settlement of ruined houses swallowed by darkness. Roads and trees bore the scars of past battles, and an invisible wall separated the village from the rest of the world—and from any light.

Touching that wall triggered a system window:

<Would you like to enter the Abandoned Village (Lv. Recommendation 0-15)?>

<Yes>

Blake had formed a party and invited everyone, granting them exclusive access to this unique zone. A familiar pull tore him from the outside world and placed him onto the battlefield.

There, six zombies—straight out of a horror story—lurched toward them. Their hands flailed in search of raw flesh, and their eyeballs dangled near their lips like small bells. Gaping mouths emitted shrill, continuous shrieks.

Sol whined, struggling to escape Blake’s grasp.

Blake smiled. "Yes, yes. Go ahead."

All eyes shifted to Sol, who wriggled free and shot into the air like a courier bird. He glowed like a star, visibly charged with excitement—and flames. After circling above the zombies, he dove straight at them using his newfound skill.

"Sol!" Blake called out, his tone so uncharacteristic that Wolfang and Kyria glanced at him in surprise. "Don’t hurt yourself!"

Those zombies had been adults in life and still possessed much of their old strength, standing taller and bulkier than the small boar Sol had once beaten. Even if Sol’s health points were infinite, his dragon husk might be at risk. Yet in the heat of the moment, Blake paid no mind to that logic.

His concern was so at odds with his fearsome reputation that Kyria could hardly believe his ears. A man strong enough to take on an entire guild and gain a legendary power, fussing over a few scratches on his pet? It felt surreal.

Wolfang, however, wasn’t surprised. "We all have our weak spots, right?"

Meanwhile, Sol slammed into a zombie, causing utter chaos. Flames churned like clouds, and the smell of scorched flesh filled the air. He looked like a baby splashing in a pool for the first time.

Blake stood by, watching intently. If Sol was just a baby, then Blake resembled an overprotective father.

"He just needs a wife with a firm hand," Wolfang said, amused by this unexpected weakness in the man who had defeated him.

Once Sol finished off the zombies, Blake turned to his group. He locked eyes on Joel and beckoned him closer. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Joel stepped out of formation, shoulders squared. "I’m ready to train!"

"I said I’d teach you," Blake replied, "but there’s someone far better suited for it."

Suddenly, an elegant figure emerged from his shadow, stunning everyone. Beatrix rose from the darkness, bow in hand and helmet-mask firmly in place. She stood beside Blake, making her smaller stature all the more noticeable. Yet as she narrowed her emerald beast eyes at Joel, he felt goosebumps prickle down his arms.

Wolfang covered his mouth and muttered, "He really does have a wife with a strong hand. I suddenly feel bad for our Chosen One."

"He brought that on himself with that nickname," Kyria agreed, letting his gaze linger on Beatrix before finally turning away.

There was so much more to Superbia that he couldn’t help but look forward to what appeared to be a simple expedition.