Salvos

“I will help you and every other monster in this Land of the Lost escape from the Bloodied Gulf. Is that clear enough for you?”

Centina didn’t get it. She didn’t understand why I decided to help her. I tried to explain my reasoning, but it didn’t go through to her. There was some sort of disconnect. My logic was not something she could comprehend.

“Explain again— why have you decided to help us even though we have just met?”

“Because I want to.”

I shrugged, much to the confusion of the [Evolved Centinel]. Sighing, I crossed my arms.

“Look, I feel bad for you— I understand what you’re going through. At least, with you and your Species. I don’t really care about that whole romance or love part.”

My eyes flickered as I glanced down the hallway, back in the direction of the main cave chamber of the haven.

“And I like some of the other monsters here. They’re nice and fun to be around. I’d rather they not die or anything.”

“I… see.”

Centina didn’t seem particularly convinced by both my reasoning and by my conviction. I could tell she didn’t think I’d succeed in helping them escape, and that I’d give up after trying for a little bit.

“I have been trapped in this cavern for hundreds of years, Salvos. Unable to surface. Unable to even speak to my own kind. If you truly believe you can achieve this feat which I’ve struggled to accomplish in this great timespan, I will not stop you. I simply implore that you do not risk the safety of this haven with whatever you have in mind.”

“Don’t worry! I have plenty of ideas.”

I waved a hand off as I started out of the secret room.

“I’m a genius, after all!”

—--

The first thing I did was recruit some help. Well, actually, the first thing I did was distribute my Stat and Skill Points.

Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 123

Class: [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] - Lvl. 78

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2

[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] - Lvl. 4

[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] - Lvl. 6

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 6

[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 145 (+25)

[Strength]: 132 (+25)

[Endurance]: 143 (+25) (+3)

[Wisdom]: 255 (+25) (+10)

[Agility]: 310 (+25) (+5)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 1]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 10

[Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 8

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 10

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x1

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 3]

[Dimensional Pocket] - Lvl 5

[Mass Particulate Modification] - Lvl 5

[Mystical Projection] - Lvl 15 (Maxed)

[Long Range Teleportation] - Lvl 20 (Maxed)

[Planar Navigation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Scattering Displacement] - Lvl. 10

[Warped Time] - Lvl 10

I leveled up a bunch and had plenty of Stat and Skill Points to spend. I focused mostly on what would help me with leading the monsters in this haven out of the Bloodied Gulf. Speed, [Warped Time], and other such things that would help them move faster.

Then I approached Willy. I waved at the [Will O’ Wisp], watching him gorge on a bunch of the Centinel spoils we’d just returned with.

“Hey. Remember what you said about leaving this place?”

“Truth.”

He turned to me insistently. I nodded.

“Yep, I believe you. But I just want to know— how exactly are you able to do that?”

“Fly.”

I could almost hear the flaming ball snort. I rolled my eyes.

“Just like that? Aren’t you afraid they’ll catch you before you escape?”

“Maybe.”

He flitted around me before turning his flaming gaze in the direction of one of the tunnels we came from.

“Exit high. Become small.”

“There’s an exit that leads us higher up? And you can make your body smaller so you’re less discernible?”

I tried to interpret what he meant. The [Will O’ Wisp] brightened— literally.

“Yes.”

“Huh.”

That was interesting. I tapped a finger on my chin as I glanced around the rest of the haven. I spotted Galt over by a stalagmite, lying on the ground and nibbling on the moss growing on the moist stone floor. Behind him, a group of giant crabs were huddled together, pointedly trying to keep away from the writhing, thin maggot-like creatures that were feasting on a pile of Centinel corpses.

There were a lot of large monsters here. It wasn't going to be easy, hiding them from all the Centinels above. Although, maybe we could transport them one by one? At least— I could.

I turned to Willy, curious.

“Say, I know you’re able to make yourself larger and smaller, but are you able to make yourself larger to carry others with you?”

“Easy!”

His tone made it sound like it was the stupidest question in the world. I mean, I did expect him to be able to do at least that much— he was over Level 120, after all. To be more specific, he was Level 125. He’d leveled quite a bit too from the battle against all the Centinels.

“What about that thing you did with your flames?”

I gestured at him, then at one of the dead Centinel’s lying on the ground.

“You made them fly. Can you do that with people?”

Willy hesitated.

“...no.”

“Aw.”

That would have expedited the process quite a bit. I sighed and explained my plan to the [Will O’ Wisp].

“I want to help everyone escape this place— the Bloodied Gulf. And I’ll need your help.”

He faced me, intrigued.

“How?”

“As of right now, I think it’d be best to transport everyone one by one. Discreetly.”

“Interesting.”

Willy thought about it from a moment. Then he glanced over at Kron.

“Help.”

“You want Kron’s help, too?”

“Faster.”

“I guess if she helps us with her illusions, it’ll probably make it safer. And it’ll speed up the process.”

I paused. Then I furrowed my brows.

“Hey, why didn’t you think of this before?”

The [Will O’ Wisp] shrank and looked away.

“...d-didn’t think.”

I cocked my head.

“Why not? Is it the same reason why you don’t want to leave?”

He remained silent for what felt like a full minute. Finally, he responded with some guilt in his voice.

“Yes.”

“I see.”

I waited for him to elaborate, but he said nothing more. I didn’t prod him about it since he was clearly averse to discussing it.

“Anyway, that’s a good idea. Talk to Kron about this idea— I'll speak with Galt.”

“Galt?”

He asked, perplexed. I smiled.

“We need a test subject, right? And who better than him? He’s big and he’s high-leveled, so he can protect himself if something goes wrong.”

“Smart.”

“Well, of course.”

The [Will O’ Wisp] and I split. He spoke to the [Krokodis], while I tried to recruit the [Gallias Tortoise] to trial the first attempt at breaking the monsters out of the Bloodied Gulf.

“Hey, Galt!”

I called out to him, and he looked up from eating the moss on the walls.

“Yes, Salvos?”

“I was just wondering— you’re strong, right? I mean, you’re one of the highest-leveled monsters here.”

“I am indeed high-leveled.”

The giant tortoise spoke as he got on all four legs, slowly pivoting to face me directly.

“However, as to whether I am strong is uncertain. Perhaps my level is considerable, but I do not often partake in battles.”

“Wait, then how are you Level 115?”

“I hail from a place called Gallias Island. It is my home, but it even rivals parts of the Bloodied Gulf in terms of danger— at least, barring the deepest depths.”

He shook his head, speaking in his squeaky voice. Unlike Centina and Kron who were speaking an actual language, Galt was simply making noises with his mouth. But there was intent and meaning behind the noises, and that was how I understood his intent. I wouldn't have understood his words before I leveled in [Universal Language Comprehension].

“Oh, so you leveled only because you had to survive.”

I nodded, understanding. Galt, however, didn’t see it that way.

“I survived, and that is how I leveled. I did not survive because I leveled. Those are two different things.”

“Right.”

“I’d prefer to stay in my comfort zone, Salvos. I can see that you and the [Will O’ Wisp] share similar hearts— that both of you vie for the challenge. But I do not. If, for the rest of my life, I am forced to remain here in this haven because it is the only place that is safe, then I will.”

I peered curiously at the [Gallias Tortoise] as he laid himself back down, finding a comfortable position with that huge shell on his underbelly.

“I have no quarrels with living a life without excitement as long as I am content.”

“But… but are you really content here?”

This haven, even if it was the safest place in the Bloodied Gulf, was absolutely dull. There was nothing here. Even the guarantee of survival. After all, Centina’s friend could return whenever for any reason whatsoever.

“What do you mean, Salvos?”

Galt met my gaze, and I elaborated.

“What if you’re given an opportunity to return home? Or maybe not home— some place that’s just… not here. A place that’s safer.”

It sounded too good to be true. Of course it did. The [Gallias Tortoise], even if he had no language, was intelligent enough to understand that there was a catch.

“That depends on the risk. Would my survival be guaranteed? Would escape even be reasonably plausible?”

I pursed my lips, turning back to Kron and Willy as their discussion finished. I watched as the [Krokodis] nodded eagerly to the proposal. Then I nodded at Galt.

“It’s reasonably plausible. I have done it myself. The only difference is that I’ll be bringing you which may make it riskier, which is why there’ll be help.”

“Interesting.”

The [Gallias Tortoise mulled over it for a moment. He remained in though, and I was starting to think I’d have to find another volunteer. But eventually, he stood back up.

“Do you know how I ended up here in the Bloodied Gulf in the first place, Salvos?”

“Um, you never told me.”

I shifted back as he chuckled squeakily.

“I was getting tired of Gallias Island. My kin are not like me. They are aggressive and violent and territorial— not mindless like the Centinels— but if you are not one of our kind and they perceive you as a threat, they will kill you. Even though I was safe, thanks to them, I wasn’t comfortable. I wasn’t happy living in my home. So, I left.”

He closed his eyes, speaking regretfully.

“I departed Gallias Island, knowing that I would have to cross even dangerous waters to get to safety. I took a risk, and unfortunately, things went awry, and I ended up here. Trapped beneath the Bloodied Gulf.”

I blinked as Galt opened his eyes, holding my gaze with a look of determination.

“But if you told me I could turn back time— do it all again— and asked me if I took the risk once more? Do you know what my answer would be?”

I thought about my regrets— how I was separated from Haec and ended up lost in the Mortal Realm. Would I do it all again? I felt my lips curl up.

“Yes. After all, it is what you wanted, right?”

“Indeed.”

The [Gallias Tortoise] returned the smile, although with how his mouth was shaped, it was barely even a smile. I clapped my hands together.

“Good, we’ll get you out of here, Galt. I promise.”

I craned my neck, facing the rest of the room— all the monsters within.

“All of you. I’ll help you escape.”

I whispered, conviction clear in my voice.

And from behind me, Galt laughed.

“Well, good luck in convincing the [Talonflayers] to listen to your plan.”

He nodded in the direction of the long, spindly maggots.

“They’re as dumb as rocks.”

I blinked.

“Seriously?! As dumb as rocks? That’s very, very dumb!”