Chương 22: Mumbai

The first rays of sunlight bathed the sprawling city of Mumbai as Joe and his group crossed its threshold. The morning air carried a low hum of eerie stillness, broken only by the faint clicks of unseen insects. [Get ready. The moment something appears, grab it, and we move.] - Esha. They had planned everything down to the second. Based on experience, they assumed the quest rewards would materialize in the air before Nithya and her companions, just like loot did when Samira or Esha looted a fallen Beast.

The suddenness of the appearance would likely catch Nithya's group off guard, giving Esha and Samira the split-second advantage they needed to snatch the rewards. Joe had remained silent during their scheming, unwilling to endorse their plan but not enough to oppose it. Like it or not, he was now the linchpin of the act, ensuring the whole operation didn't spiral into chaos, or worse, violence.

As the group took their first steps into the city boundary, three radiant books with an almost divine allure shimmered into existence before Nithya and her companions. Esha and Samira moved instantly, their hands darting forward with precision. In a flash, Esha secured one book, and Samira grabbed another. Anticipating Nithya's reaction, Joe stepped in before she could reach for the third.

"Sorry," he muttered, plucking the final book from the air. Before anyone could react, Drishti, Samira and Esha all leapt toward him; he scooped them up effortlessly into his arms in one smooth motion and bolted into the city like a streak of lightning, his long strides a blur. The sheer speed of his escape left the trio's legs dangling comically behind him, flailing in the air. Esha's laughter echoed, sharp and triumphant, breaking the stunned silence left in their wake.

Back at the scene, three bewildered faces stared after them, frozen in shock as if a magician had just pulled off the perfect sleight of hand. __ Nithya stared at the spot where Joe had bolted from, her mouth slightly agape. The sheer speed at which he'd moved was beyond anything she'd imagined. How high was his agility stat to run like that? It was almost absurd. Snapping out of her daze, she brushed the dust from her clothing and glanced over at Ravi and Hema, both looking equally stunned.

"We never speak of this. To anyone. Ever. Got it?" Both nodded vigorously, their expressions solemn. Nithya sighed and opened her status screen, her mood lifting slightly as she read the new notification. System Message Generate Profession Gate to choose your reward. Y/N She couldn't help but smile, the remnant of her quest reward still enough to soften the blow of the Progenitor and his group's theft.

"At least it wasn't a total loss," she muttered as she mentally clicked yes, and a swirling gate began to form before her. __ Joe ran through the empty streets of Mumbai. The three women jubilantly cheered as he awkwardly clutched them in his arms. His strides were swift, each step kicking up dust as he navigated the quiet streets. He eventually stopped near an abandoned building with shattered windows and crumbling walls, setting the trio down carefully.

The moment their feet touched the ground, all three women scrambled out of his grasp, brushing themselves off. Esha was the first to recover, her eyes glued to the glowing book in her hands.

"These are legendary skill books!" she exclaimed, her voice bursting with joy. Joe leaned against the cracked wall, catching his breath.

"I hope you feel bad now," he said, his tone laced with mock disapproval.

"Not at all," Esha shot back without missing a beat, her grin wide enough to rival the sunrise. Joe shook his head as Drishti hesitantly stepped towards him. Joe chucked her the last of the three books, and she let out a little yelp in surprise as she caught it.

"It's yours," he said, raising a hand to stop her protest.

"Your reward for being seduced to the dark side." Drishti's expression was a mixture of guilt and uncertainty, but she eventually nodded, clutching the book tightly as she examined its glowing inlaid surface. Legendary skill books. Joe still couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Such incredible rewards for what had turned into a glorified escort quest. He glanced at the three women, shaking his head in mild disbelief. He was travelling with a bunch of monsters.

As if on cue, the trio sat down and began to glow as they absorbed their newly acquired skills. Joe watched, silently hoping the new skills weren't tailored specifically to their original owners. That would complicate things. Drishti was the first to showcase her new skill. A shimmering barrier appeared before her, glowing faintly before disappearing.

"Mana Barrier," she explained, her voice steady with awe.

"It can block most attacks, even from higher-level opponents." Joe raised an eyebrow. That was a skill he wouldn't mind having himself. He wondered if he could maybe emulate it one day. Esha stood next, bouncing lightly on her toes before taking off in a blur. She moved so fast that even Joe struggled to track her. Moments later, she returned, her breathing slightly laboured.

"Speed Boost," she announced triumphantly.

"I'm faster than you now, Farmer." Her grin was equal parts teasing and victorious. Finally, Samira rose to her feet. Without a word, a pair of majestic, glowing wings unfurled from her back. She leapt into the air, soaring effortlessly above the building. After a few elegant loops, she landed gracefully beside them, her expression serene. Joe let out a low whistle, impressed.

"Well," he muttered, "It's official. I'm travelling with demons." The three women exchanged triumphant grins, their confidence radiating in waves. Joe leaned back against the wall, knowing full well this was just the beginning of their crazy journey. They spent the next hour at the city's edge, experimenting with their newly acquired skills and brainstorming strategies for the upcoming battle. The sight of the three women honing their abilities filled Joe with a sense of cautious optimism.

Initially, the thought of venturing deeper into Mumbai had filled him with dread. A boss Beast was daunting, especially one as formidable as a giant snake. He braced himself for what he thought might be his most brutal fight yet. But now, with Esha, Samira, and Drishti's new skills, he felt a glimmer of confidence. They finally had the tools not just to survive but perhaps even win. [We have two options.] - Joe.

[If we engage it inside the city, I'd need a few hours to use Flourish and create a more favourable environment for the fight. Or we lure it outside the city to a grass-covered area.] [I like the idea of drawing it out. In the open, we can target its body more effectively.] - Esha. [But there would be fewer places to hide.] - Samira. Joe considered this. Both had valid points. [Are there any large park areas in the city?] - Joe. [Gandi National Park, just to the north,] - Drishti. Joe perked up.

That sounded promising. [Let's go check it out.] - Joe. The group made their way to the park, moving quickly yet cautiously through the quieter parts of the city. They soon arrived at the southern tip of Gandhi National Park. The vast green expanse stretched before them, a serene contrast to the chaos they were preparing for. The park's open fields and dense patches of trees offered a perfect balance of visibility and cover. [This place is perfect.] - Joe.

He took a few steps forward, surveying the area more closely. [And I just had a great idea.] The others exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.

"What's your idea, Farmer?" Esha asked aloud, folding her arms with a sceptical but intrigued expression. Joe turned back to them, a smile spreading across his face.

"You'll see. But first, I need you three to trust me and follow my lead. This snake might be strong, but we are smarter." The three women nodded in unison, ready to face whatever came next. __ The Alpha Constetippon lay coiled in the heart of Mumbai International Airport, its massive form stretched across the concourse like a living mountain. Its thick, scaled body glinted faintly under the dim light, the intricate patterns on its scales shimmering with a subtle iridescence.

It slept soundly, lost in a blissful dream. In the dream, it was devouring the most enormous egg it had ever seen. Its massive jaw unhinged effortlessly as it began swallowing the gigantic oval whole, the sensation of the rich, imagined flavour filling it with delight. It was a perfect dream, one that made its long tail twitch ever so slightly in contentment. But suddenly, a strange pain pricked at the very tip of its tail.

The Constetippon's golden eyes blinked open briefly, glancing down to see a tiny mouse nibbling at its tail. Dismissing the nuisance, it coiled its body tighter and returned to its dream, intent on finishing the egg. The mouse, however, did not stop. Its teeth bit down harder, and the sharp pain jolted the Constetippon fully awake. Lifting its massive head, it looked back at its tail with a slow, irritated gaze. Five small, sharp, pointy sticks protruded from the scales near the tip, blood oozing in faint rivulets.

With an annoyed shake, the Constetippon dislodged the offending sticks and laid its head back down, determined to reclaim its rest. But the peace didn't last. A deeper, sharper pain stabbed its tail, and it whipped around with a sudden hiss. This time, a larger, thicker, pointy stick jutted out, dark blood seeping from the wound. The Constetippon's forked tongue flicked out to taste the air; it saw nothing as its head whipped around, scanning the area. It began to settle again when movement caught its eye.

Another stick, a smaller one, was flying straight toward its tail. It swatted the projectile from the air with lightning reflexes and glared upward. A strange birdlike creature was there, silhouetted against the dull airport light. Its wings glowed faintly blue, and it held a stick with a taut string in its hands. The Constetippon narrowed its eyes in annoyance. The bird pulled back the string, releasing another pointy stick aimed at its head. With a flick of its powerful tongue, the Constetippon swatted it aside.

Now, it was angry. This irritating bird kept firing its sticks, and the Constetippon was done tolerating the nuisance. It would devour the annoying creature. Raising its head, the massive snake slithered forward with terrifying speed, its coiled muscles rippling under its scales. The bird, however, darted away, flapping its glowing wings. Not today, strange-looking bird with your bothersome sticks. Today, you are food. The Constetippon surged forward in pursuit, its movement fluid and relentless.

But as it closed the gap, a sharp, searing pain sliced along its side. The snake recoiled slightly, craning its head to inspect the fresh wound, dark blood streaking its glossy scales. A blur of motion whizzed by, a tiny, fast-moving human darting past with a glinting metal weapon. The Constetippon roared, the sound a deep, bone-shaking rumble, and lunged to devour the human. But the tiny creature zipped away too quickly, disappearing from its line of sight.

Its frustration mounting, the Constetippon prepared to give chase when two more sharp sticks struck its body, one narrowly missing its head. With a furious hiss, it turned its attention back to the persistent bird. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. This wasn't over. The Constetippon was enraged now. It would not rest until the strange bird and its pointy sticks were consumed.

__ [It's coming; it will be in range in three seconds, two, one, now!] - Samira's message flashed in the corner of Joe's vision. He exhaled sharply, releasing the massive mana blast he had held with painstaking effort. The enormous sphere of mana, nearly three metres in diameter, erupted from his hands and streaked into the sky like a blazing comet. It arced gracefully, its momentum gradually waning as it reached the peak of its flight.

It hung suspended in the air for a moment, a radiant orb of condensed power, before gravity reclaimed it. It began its descent, streaking downward toward the heart of the city. The target: the giant snake carving a destructive path through the streets below. Joe watched the blast's trajectory with unblinking eyes, his breath held. It was a gamble created by Joe's wild mind. Now, all he could do was hope the blast landed. __ The Constetippon was furious.

The tiny, ridiculously fast human kept poking it, and the annoying bird above wouldn't stop firing sharp sticks whenever it paused to retaliate. Then, something caught its attention. A strange glowing ball descended from the sky, its brightness growing as it plummeted. Stupid bird, it thought. That ball won't hit me. I'm too fast. It started to swerve, but its massive body slammed into something, a glowing, translucent wall that hadn't been there before.

Confused, it turned to move the other way, only to hit another glowing barrier. It hesitated, baffled by the sudden trap, and in that moment of distraction, the glowing ball struck its back with a thunderous explosion. The impact sent waves of force rippling outward, shaking the ground and filling the air with smoke and debris. The Constetippon roared in pain, its body writhing as the blast tore through its scales. __ [It hit!] - Esha. [uh, it's pissed now and bleeding a ton. Here it comes, Farmer.] Joe stood at the park's edge, listening to the sounds of destruction as the snake tore through the abandoned city, drawing closer with every passing second. Samira zipped past overhead, vanishing into the trees behind him to rest, and moments later, Esha darted by, disappearing into the foliage. Then Joe saw it. The snake's massive body, thicker than a two-story house, slithered into view.

Its enraged eyes locked onto him, and with a roar, it lunged, its colossal mouth wide open as it smashed down onto the spot where Joe had been standing. But Joe had already moved, slipping away at the last moment with Nature's Step. The snake bit into the dirt and spat out a mouthful of dried mud, turning sharply to locate its target. It spotted Joe off to the side and began to rear up, but it was too slow. Joe unleashed another massive Mana Blast, this time at nearly point-blank range.

The snake tried to twist its body to avoid the attack, but the blast struck true, detonating on impact and ripping a huge chunk from its body. The snake let out a feral, ear-splitting scream of pain and rage, vibrating through the air. Its massive head slammed into the ground, its furious gaze scanning for Joe. Joe stood firm, locking eyes with the beast. Slowly, he raised a hand.

"Mana blast." The explosion ripped through one of the snake's eyes, sending its massive head recoiling from the force. Joe didn't stop. He sprinted alongside its enormous body, unleashing Mana Blast after Mana Blast into the now half-blind beast. The snake's furious screams grew quieter with each strike, but its rage remained palpable. Samira rejoined the fight, her glowing wings propelling her above the snake's head as she fired arrow after arrow into its thick scales. Yet the snake wasn't done.

Its wounds, though devastating, began to knit together visibly, its incredible toughness on full display. [Keep attacking if you can. If we can keep damaging it faster than it heals, we can do this.] - Joe, his focus unyielding as he maintained the relentless barrage. His and Samira's attacks continued for ten gruelling minutes before Esha reappeared, carrying Drishti in her arms. She had raced back into the city to bring her along.

Now, with all four of them focusing their efforts, the snake was on its last legs, but it wasn't done yet. The beast inhaled deeply, then unleashed a desperate, deafening roar, spraying venom in every direction. Samira quickly flew out of range while Esha and Drishti were protected by a shimmering shield, summoned to block the venom in time. Joe, however, wasn't as fortunate.

Positioned directly in front of the snake, he was caught at the centre of the attack, half his body doused in acidic venom, which burned straight through his Mana-Coating.

"Aaahh!" he screamed, pain tearing through him. He instinctively tried to activate Nature's Step to escape, but his mana bar was nearly empty from the barrage of Mana Blasts. So, instead, he stumbled backwards, narrowly dodging the snake's thrashing tail as it slammed into the ground where he had been standing. He ducked low and rolled out of range as the snake, now visibly weakened, attempted to pursue him. Its strength, however, finally gave out.

With a heavy crash, the beast collapsed to the ground, its massive body heaving once before going still. Seeing the snake immobilized, Samira wasted no time. Her wings flapped gently, drawing her bowstring back with immense force, channelling all her power into a single, decisive strike. For three tense seconds, she held her position, mana radiating from her bow.

"Critical Shot!" she shouted, unleashing the skill. The arrow shot forward with explosive force, propelling Samira backwards as it struck the snake squarely in the head. The impact echoed through the air, and the massive beast fell silent. She had done it. Samira had delivered the final blow. You have slain Alpha Constetippon level 58 Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 31 - stat points distributed. Joe collapsed to the ground, exhaling sharply.

His entire left side burned with pain, the venom still eating away at his skin. Drishti was at his side instantly, pressing a healing pill into his mouth. He felt it dissolve, the healing effects combining with his natural recovery to dull the agony slowly.

"Are you okay?" Drishti asked, pulling some cloth from her storage ring to try and wipe the venom off his face. It hissed as she did, forcing her to throw the cloth away in panic as it practically melted in her hands. [The venom might disappear when the beast is looted.] - Joe. [I got it.] - Esha. Moments later, the venom on his skin evaporated, turning into wisps of smoke. Drishti winced at the sight of his half-melted face.

"Don't move," she said firmly, holding his head steady as she continued tending to him. Joe closed his eyes, letting the healing take hold. All in a day's work, he thought with a faint curl of his lip. It took Joe almost three hours to recover enough to be carried out of the city. Esha roughly picked him up as her patience ran out from boredom, so she was now carrying him on her back, East out of Mumbai. [You are a heavy Farmer.] - Esha. However, she had a smile on her face as she sent the message.

[I am all muscle, so it makes sense.] - Joe. Esha laughed in response. Joe looked over at Drishti, who was on egg-carrying duty. She was sweating from the heat it gave off. [Is it always this hot?] She asked, seeing him looking at her. [Yeah, I just got used to it. Sorry.] - Joe. [Samira, could you take it for a little while? I need to cool down.] - Drishti. Samira jogged over and took over egg-carrying for a short while. Joe felt a little conscious about not carrying the egg.

It was almost a part of him now, and not having it on his back felt wrong. But he knew he needed to focus on healing. Esha had said his face currently looked like the elephant man. He was sure it didn't look that bad, but it felt pretty off to the touch. He used this downtime to check what loot he got from the Snake. Item - Two Constetippon venom sacks(Crafting material) Rare. Item - Constetippon Tooth(Crafting material) Rare. Item - 10 pieces of Constetippon Meat(Cooking ingredient) Common.

Item - Boots of the Wanderer. These boots are for those who prefer travelling over staying in one place. +20 Agility, +20 vitality. Fall Damage Negation(You will receive no damage when falling from a great height). Joe couldn't wait to put on his new boots. The snake venom had melted one of his shoes, so one foot was currently uncovered. Samira, Esha, and Drishti had all received new weapons from the Boss Beast. Samira got a bow of unyielding force, which gave her twenty stat points in Agility and Strength.

Esha received a short sword of piercing, which gave her forty stat points in Agility. Drishti had received a new wand of potent bonds, which gave her twenty stat points in Intelligence and Wisdom. Drishti was upset with Joe after the fight. He had not adjusted the experience share back to normal. So she had received five level-ups, while Joe had received only one. She resisted the urge to admonish him due to his bad condition. So he had gotten off lightly this time.

He had been focusing on levelling up his profession, so he didn't feel he was falling behind. He was still growing stronger. Growth-wise, Drishti had seen the most significant improvement after that fight. She was now at level forty-five. Samira and Esha had hit level forty-nine and were still ahead of her. But she had gained the most levels since they departed on this journey. They had been travelling for about thirty minutes when Joe suddenly felt a strange feeling wash over him. He looked to the north.

He couldn't explain it, but he knew something was coming. [Esha, stop for a minute.] - Joe. Esha slowed and let Joe down.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. I just have a feeling it would be a good idea to wait here for a bit," he replied.

"We can do that," Esha said, unsure what was happening. Joe sat down and looked around. There weren't any beasts nearby, so he relaxed and popped another healing pill into his mouth. One hour passed as Joe sat there, mainly focusing on healing. His face had almost returned to normal now, but he still looked like someone who had been burned recently. Esha was not too far away, hunting while Drishti sat with Joe.

Joe learned over the last week that Gul, the leader of Damua village, was, in fact, Drishti's grandmother. Drishti explained the passing of both her parents and then started talking about her sister.

"You met her in the village, the young girl named Anjali," Drishti said.

"I remember. The little one with flowers in her hair?" Joe said.

"Yes, she will be eight this year," Drishti stared into the distance.

"We were never that close growing up. I was always too busy with my studies and university. But she has been at my side since our parents passed."

"Was it difficult leaving her behind to come with us?" Joe asked.

"Yes, but it was important," Drishti said, focusing on Joe.

"My grandmother was the one who made me come with you." Joe had removed his sunglasses earlier and looked Drishti in the eye.

"You didn't want to come?"

"Truthfully, no. I barely knew you, and being around you was… scary." His Aura, he thought.

"I can understand that. Esha still scares the hell out of me." They both laughed.

"I haven't seen her so happy in a long time."

"This is her happy? Dear god, I never want to see her mad then," Joe replied. A memory flashed in his mind. He shook his head, not wanting to relive that moment.

"Yes, if you can believe it. Samira and Esha are the only survivors from their original group of twelve. She has been through a lot." Joe had known they had been through some tough times, but damn. Her banter had reminded him of someone from one of those old war movies he liked. Joe really wished he could have a beer right about now.

"I hate the system," he said"Me too."

"Careful, you probably shouldn't be like me and say that out loud. You might start getting some near-death quests like I do."

"Aren't you a progenitor? You're the system's favourite," Drishti chuckled.

"Trust me, I am no one's favourite," Joe sighed.

"I'm just lucky or unlucky, depending on your viewpoint. Going back to what you said earlier, I'm glad you did come along. You have been a good balance of perspective to have around, and you handled dealing with all those villages like a pro. I was impressed." Drishti blushed slightly and smiled.

"I've always been good with people. Thank you," She said.

"But your turn to the dark side was unexpected," Joe smirked.

"Please don't talk about that. I still feel so bad," she said, lowering her head.

"It's fine, Anakin. I won't mention it again." Joe said as he gently patted her on the back.

"At least for a day." Joe turned when his egg started to vibrate loudly. He placed a hand on it.

"What's wrong?" Before the egg responded, Joe saw something move out of the corner of his eye. As he looked over, he saw a Gate forming around fifty metres to his right. [Esha, Samira, come back. It's time…] The four stood staring at the Orange Gate swirling before them.

"It's different from the Tutorial Gates. They were green," Samira said.

"What do you think it is?" Drishti asked, turning to Joe. All three of them were looking at him. That made sense, considering he was why they had stopped and waited here. But Joe had no idea that a Gate would appear, of all things.

"I have no idea. Wait here." He walked towards the gate, raised his hand, and tried to touch the orange watery surface. Drishti gasped behind him. But his hand did not reach the gate; it was stopped short by an invisible force. System Message You are ineligible to enter this Profession Gate; only those with a free profession slot can enter. Joe smiled and turned back to his companions.

"Esha, can you come here a second?" Joe waved Esha over.

"Why?" She asked as she tentatively walked forward.

"What is it? Did you feel something?" She continued forward and reached Joe's side.

"Yes, I did, but…" He leaned forward and motioned for Esha to lean in like he was going to tell her a secret. He cupped his hand near her ear.

"This is Sparta," he whispered. Before Esha could do more than widen her eyes, Joe threw her into the gate. She passed through and disappeared.

"Joe! What the hell are you doing!" Samira shouted. Joe raised a hand and started laughing.

"Easy… hahaha. It's a profession gate… haha. She will be fine." Joe held his side as he tried not to fall over while laughing.

"I just couldn't resist." Samira and Drishti stared at him in disbelief.

"Touch it," Joe said.

"You are sure it's safe?" Drishti asked, moving towards the Gate.

"Kinda," Joe replied.

"I think anyway, I mean, it's a profession gate. What's the worst that could happen?" Drishti placed a hand on the surface of the gate, and her eyes lit up.

"Wow, he's right. It's safe," she said to Samira, who stepped forward and touched it. After a few moments, she looked at Joe.

"Why does everything crazy only happen when you are around?" She asked, shaking her head. Joe froze momentarily and stared at something unseen, his eyes darkening. Drishti looked at him, wondering what was wrong.

"You guys go ahead before Esha has a heart attack. I'll wait here. Oh, one more thing, in case you get stuck in there for a while, and I have to leave, meet in Kanpur?" Samira nodded and walked into the Profession Gate. Drishti paused a moment, about to ask what was going on. But one look from Joe made her hesitate. Something was wrong.

"Go on, I'll be fine," he said. Drishti nodded and slowly walked into the Gate.