Desolate World

"Huh? Who!?" Gon was startled. He took his fighting stance and jumped a few meters backward.

"It's me, Ace. Don't say that you have already forgotten about me," Ace approached the nervous dragon carefully. After all, Gon was much stronger than him. It would be bad if because of a misunderstanding, he was attacked.

Gon appeared confused at first, but then he seemed to recognize him, "How can you be here? Didn't I tell you that you should go East?"

Ace didn't know how to explain his circumstances, "Well, there is a reason. However, who are fighting over there? Its impact makes the creatures in the forest terrified."

Just as Gon would answer, an explosion occurred on the lake surface.

*Boom*

Ace and Gon who were relatively near the epicenter of the explosion were thrown off a few meters.

-1,047

Ace spurted blood. He felt his chest was hurt and he was dizzy because was hit by the shock wave of the explosion. However, because of his special trait he could roll on the air and landed with his two feet.

His ears were ringing and he couldn't feel his body. He still couldn't think clearly.

Gon wasn't as lucky as him. He was thrown off to a tree and hit it. As if hit by a truck, it was toppled down.

Ace then realized that the mist around him was cleared. It was the first time he could see far away since he entered the forest. But what he saw made him terrified. 

The lake in front of him, a crayfish with a length of around 50 meters, was standing in the center of the lake a few kilometers from him. The turbulent water of the lake made Ace recall the scene of a film from the last century about a giant monster that attacked a city. 

"What on earth?!" Ace exclaimed.

He then realized that the monster's condition was tattered. It was injured heavily. Many cracks could be seen on its thick shell. One of its claws was maimed. Ace also saw that it only had an eye. 

The monster's name then floated above its head.

[Ascetic Crayfish, Level 50, Lord]

Ace saw its HP was only around 20%. He couldn't imagine what creature could make such a monster injured so badly.

*Swiff*

Ace felt a pretty strong wind hit his body, as he looked above, he saw a big dragon around 15 m tall flew past him.

"Dragon!!!" Ace couldn't help to mumble.

"Boss! Wasn't that too much? Do you want to destroy the lake?" Gon, who seemed to be injured, but not much, shouted to the flying dragon.

The big dragon then stopped. He looked Gon with a teasing glance, "Then, I hope you tell me how to face that guy. Isn't it your time to do something? His last skill was pretty hurt, you know."

Gon seemed to be flustered, "Ha?! Hahaha, I'm just kidding. Please finish that shrimp as you like."

The big dragon snorted. Ace could feel he was pretty disgusted with Gon. 

Ace tried to examine the dragon's identity.

[Mars]

Race: Fire Dragon (Lord)

Level: 68

Ace was sure that he was Gon's superior. He felt a suffocating aura from him. However, for some reason, he felt that the dragon wouldn't hurt him. 

Ace then realized, the dragon looked at him with a surprised expression, "Human? What are you doing here?"

"I-I'm sorry. I'm Gon's friend. I was attracted by the sound of the battle, so I came here. I…," The dragon's majesty made him overwhelmed for a moment. He couldn't arrange his words well.

"Oh!" Mars looked at him with a surprised and interested stare. A smirk rose on his 'terrifying' face. As he wanted to talk, they heard a voice, "Boss! That bastard is really tough."

A 'small' blue dragon was flapping its seemed to be injured wings approaching them. 

[Eric]

Race: Ice Dragon (minor)

Level: 32

From another direction, a blue dragon that was somewhat similar to the previous dragon also flew to their location. 

[Erica]

Race: Ice Dragon (minor)

Level: 32

Ace could feel although the two blue dragons were similar in appearance, their tempers were different from each other. Ace couldn't point it out, but the later blue dragon seemed hard to approach.

The later blue dragon glanced at Ace for a while, and then came to Mars, "We must be careful with its bubble explosion. I lost ¼ of my health just because of it."

They then discussed the tactic to the next round without taking care of Ace, the 'stranger'.

Ace didn't know what he should do, he then tried to ask Gon for some help, however, Gon seemed to be in bad mood. 

He then looked at the lake and realized that the big lobster tried to dive into the lake.

"Eee… Excuse me. Shouldn't you have to fight the monster? It looks like want to run," Ace tried to remind the dragons.

All dragons then looked in the lake direction. The big lobster had already submerged into the lake. The dragons looked stunned, they then began to flap their wings.

However, before they flew, a winged woman flew past them and then threw something into the lake. She then said, "It seems the effects of the potion are weakening. But don't worry, it will appear again soon."

"Oh, are you human?" The woman shouted in surprise as she saw Ace. She then looked at the dragons not too far from Ace.

"Sorry, it seems everyone is injured," She said. She then held her staff high and said, "Mass Heal!"

Instantly, Ace felt his body became warm.

+2789

"So much?" Ace shouted. He was surprised a healing spell could heal so much HP. Actually, not only was he the one that had been healed, but everyone there also had been healed by Aria.

'Angel? Should be a high-level healer,' Ace said in his heart. He then examined the winged woman.

[Aria]

Race: Angel (inventor)

Level: 42

Aria, the angel, looked Ace with gleaming eyes. She then came down and then took Ace's right hand with his two hands. With a happy mood, she said, "Could you help me?"

Ace froze, 'What is it?' He didn't know what Aria tried to convey, 'Maybe just a different culture.'

Ace took his hand and then stepped back nervously, he subconsciously said "Sure…"

Looking at her at a close distance, Ace could see how unusual her aura was. Her entire body was as if glowed. Ace was sure her smile could melt even a cold heart. Realized what he had thought, Ace shook his head.

'Dangerous!!! What I had thought l,' Ace felt guilty for what he had thought.

'Sorry Sofia…' He whispered in his heart. He then took a deep breath. After calming his heart, he looked at the angel, and with a kind smile, he asked, "What can I do for you?"

He found out his mind had already been pretty stable. No longer being affected by her charm completely.

Aria smiled. As if didn't realize his struggle to maintain his heart, she said with enthusiasm, "You know, we wanted to build a city here. And we needed some help…,"

"Miss… Maybe you can explain it later. The Gigant appears again. It won't take a long time to deal with it," Mars said. He then looked at Ace, "Could you wait for a moment. You should watch a little farther with Gon, so you won't be affected by the fight."

"O-okay…" Ace said.

Mars nodded, he then led everyone except Gon to fight the lobster again.

"Let's go there! This fight will enter the last phase. The gigant will intensify its attacks before dying," Gon said indifferently. 

Ace didn't know what made him upset. He just nodded and then went farther to avoid the effect of the fight.

***

Mars like before, became the main force to deal with the huge crayfish. The smaller two dragons, Eric and Erica helped him deal some damage to it while trying not to attract its attention. As for Aria, she flew at a higher altitude to give them support when needed.

The crayfish fought them desperately. As if it knew that it didn't have a chance to survive, it attacked Mars crazily.

It used water around it to do various attacks. It made Mars and the others suffered some injuries a few times. However, with Aria behind them, they could fight without much worry.

A few times the crayfish made a big bubble from its mouth, and then detonated it. This move always made Mars and the rest blasted away. However, like before, they would come back to fight the crayfish after getting healed from Aria.

Every time the crayfish did its ultimate skill, Ace and Gon felt horrible. The shock wave of the explosion made them injured, although not much. Many trees were also damaged or even toppled down. Many lake creatures such as fish or water-type monsters were also blown away around them because of the explosion.

However, Ace wasn't panic like before. The damage that he had received far lighter than before, although never below 200. He used queen cards repeatedly to heal himself and Gon. 

Ace also activated the video recording function to record the battle in the lake. Every few moments the mist thickened and gradually covered the area. However, each time the explosion occurred, it would blow it away again. 

It had been 15 minutes since Mars and the rest fought the crayfish again, finally, the Gigant was defeated.

***