Chương 30: The Giant Winged Bat

"Seriously… a half-orc from the mountains actually came all the way here?" Vaelis snorted.

"Aren't you two basically the same?" Grey raised an eyebrow with amusement.

"Who's the same as him?" Vaelis glared at him.

"I'm an elf. He's an orc!"

"You're both half-bloods, aren't you? What's the difference?" Grey said with genuine curiosity.

"Talking to someone like you is completely impossible!" Vaelis looked utterly exasperated.

"You two are arguing again?" Marcus returned after registering the party members for the quest. He tossed a gold coin to both Zelier and Vaelis.

"This is the compensation from the town hall for the last quest. Three gold coins in total. We'll split it evenly."

"Guess the town hall isn't that stingy after all." Zelier pocketed the coin.

"How much money did you guys make while I was gone?" Grey stared at the gold coin with wide eyes.

"Too much for someone who wasn't around to earn it," Vaelis replied, shooting him a sideways glance. After accepting the quest, the team once again agreed to meet at Blackstone Town's checkpoint the following morning. This time, the quest put considerable pressure on Marcus. He would have to withstand the full assault of a frenzied Giant Winged Bat, so he specifically replaced his old shield with a much higher-quality composite shield. The core of the shield was made from several layers of compressed hardwood.

Unlike his previous wooden shields, this one had a full steel faceplate reinforced with rows of rivets. Its defensive capability was several times greater than his old buckler and one-handed shield combined. Of course, the price was equally impressive. The shield cost Marcus a full gold coin. The Giant Winged Bat's nest was located deep within the western region of the Ashwood Forest, with the exact location clearly marked on the map. However, Marcus didn't rush straight there.

For safety's sake, he first led the team to Creekvalley Village, the settlement that had been attacked by the monster. Before fighting an enemy, gathering as much information as possible was always the wiser choice. What if the quest details were wrong? Creekvalley Village. The village lived up to its name. It was nestled inside a small valley, with a clear stream winding around it. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a peaceful and beautiful place.

But before Zelier and the others even reached the entrance, they immediately sensed something strange. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. It was broad daylight, yet the village was almost completely empty. No villagers could be seen working the fields. The entire settlement was silent, carrying an eerie, almost ghostly atmosphere.

"This place feels seriously wrong," Zelier muttered.

"That's normal." Marcus had seen situations like this many times before.

"When ordinary people encounter a monster threat, they don't have the strength to protect themselves. Hiding is their only option."

"Especially against a flying monster like the Giant Winged Bat. Forget children—even adults can be snatched away instantly by a single dive. Everyone else can only watch helplessly." As they stepped into the village, movement finally came from one of the houses. A wooden door creaked open, and an elderly man leaning on a cane hurried toward them.

"Thank the gods… You're the adventurers who accepted the request, aren't you? You're finally here!" The old man tightly grabbed Marcus's hand.

"I'm Chief Bart of Creekvalley Village." As Chief Bart moved, more villagers slowly emerged from their homes. The moment they stepped outside, every single one of them instinctively looked up at the sky, their faces filled with fear.

"Adventurers!"

"Adventurer-sama, our village is saved!"

"Please kill that damn bat!" Faced with the overwhelming noise, Marcus looked slightly overwhelmed. He raised a hand and motioned for everyone to calm down.

"Everyone, please quiet down…"

"Before we begin the quest, we need to confirm some details."

"Chief Bart, when did the Giant Winged Bat first appear?"

"About five or six days ago…" Chief Bart began recalling the events.

"It flew over the village, and several of our livestock were killed. At first, we thought it was just some kind of giant eagle, so we had a few hunters shoot arrows at it…"

"But it immediately went berserk and dove straight down." Fear covered the old man's face. Even now, remembering that scene made him tremble.

"The people here were completely powerless against it. John… John had his head torn off by its claws…"

"The others were all injured as well."

"Ever since then, it comes to circle above the village every day. The moment it sees someone, it attacks immediately."

"We only managed to send someone to Blackstone Town while it wasn't around…"

"How large is the Giant Winged Bat?" Vaelis asked.

"When its wings are fully spread…" A hunter standing nearby answered.

"About five or six meters wide."

"And its wing tips have bone claws. They're extremely sharp. Its teeth are like blades too…"

"It can even release attacks similar to wind blades!"

"Are you certain it's always the same monster?" Vaelis pressed.

"Absolutely." The hunter nodded firmly. After gathering all the information, the four exchanged glances. What the villagers described matched the quest report almost perfectly.

"Adventurers… when do you plan to take action?" Chief Bart asked nervously.

"Right now." Marcus looked toward the forest.

"Noon is when its energy is at its lowest." Before they departed, a little girl suddenly wrapped her arms around Zelier's leg. Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Adventurer… please avenge my daddy…" Zelier crouched down and gently patted her head.

"Don't worry. We will." The team left the village and headed directly toward the valley's exit. After crossing a wooden bridge spanning the river, they arrived at the entrance of the dense forest. Even though the Giant Winged Bat was a monster, its instincts still drove it toward darkness and away from sunlight. The forest here was far denser than anywhere else. Even during the day, the interior remained dim and gloomy.

And since the Giant Winged Bat preyed on large animals, this environment was practically the perfect habitat for it.

"Zelier, use Illuminate to scout ahead." Marcus tightened his grip on his shield.

"You and Vaelis stay ready to attack at all times. Grey, provide support."

"When I draw the Giant Winged Bat's attention, we should try to cripple its wings first. If it can't fly, it'll be much easier to deal with."

"Understood!" A glowing orb slowly floated upward, hovering above the group and illuminating their surroundings. Vaelis looked around carefully. The trees here were enormous. Their thick, overlapping canopies nearly blocked out the sky completely, while massive roots twisted across the ground like giant serpents coiled beneath the earth. Many branches showed signs of being violently snapped apart, and deep claw marks scarred several tree trunks.

From the moment they entered the forest, the entire team remained on maximum alert. The air was hot and humid, almost suffocating like a sealed furnace. A faint stench of decay lingered everywhere, likely from the remains of animals that had died and begun to rot. Everyone in the party shared the same vague feeling. They were getting close.

"Everyone, watch above us." Marcus lowered his voice. He stopped moving carelessly and began carefully weaving between the tangled roots, raising his shield above his head. Vaelis's pointed ears twitched constantly. While listening for the slightest abnormal sound, he kept his eyes fixed on the sky above.