''Holy shit!'' Carl's expression practically distorted when he saw the total scene of slaughter surrounding the campfire, where most of the candidates were gathering.
He didn't take back his mind in time after witnessing those; he just immediately sensed the pressure of a minotaur behind him, thanks to his [ Dragon sense] Skill. Carl gritted his teeth and held his sword's edge against his shoulders to block the incoming monster's strike without taking a look, or, more accurately, he couldn't have done.
Bang!
After the monster's first strike, it left a tingling numbness across his shoulders — but that wasn't all.
In an instant, he kept his breath back in his lungs as another kick from nowhere impacted on Carl's sword and knocked him rolling across the green grass for a while before Carl quickly controlled his inertia with his sword—Pinned the sword down into the ground.
''Damn it! What an insane strength. Why could such a monster stay at this rank F dungeon?''
He glanced around again, assessing the battle, an exit where he could easily run over there, but nothing then. According to his thought, he assumed there were around 100 minotaurs present at this place. They had been blocking every escape, and even the tiniest place was not.
How bad luck.
However, he had no time to be desperate. He would find another way to escape while fighting the minotaurs. The best option now was to cooperate with the candidates gathered in the center. Although most of them were dying, it was still better to use the living ones to cover his run.
Carl broke out of his thoughts of planning and promptly changed his targets to miserable candidates and dashed ahead.
''Hope you guys will have some effective for me.''
Carl lifted his sword to deflect the incoming minotaur's massive axe. Normally, some guy could be crushed by that strength or even deflected and also left a fatal wound, but Carl differed from them; he redirected the axe's strength and leaped into the air, creating a significant gap away from the monsters.
Just like that, he narrowed over to the candidates.
"Fuck!" Carl grimaced as a wave of pain gnawed at his palm, the memory of just a moment ago flashing in his mind. It was clear he couldn't disperse the full force of the minotaur's swing.
He fixed his eyes ahead—the place where the painful yell had echoed everywhere. The candidates tried to fight back, but what they got in return were brutal strikes. Blood began to paint the horror scene, dyeing everything in red over the ground.
Carl focused on a minotaur nearby and leaped at it, whirling his sword toward its neck, but it was too tough to cut through. He didn't give up—he poured his mana into the blade and stabbed into the minotaur's right eye, blinding it forever.
Sensing the beast's violent, painful movements after the vile action of Carl. He slid down and slashed at its leg, then grabbed some grass to push himself up again quickly.
He didn't even dare to look back—his goal was to find an exit. His eyes darted rapidly, searching for any trace or advantage to exploit.
And then, he saw one of the stronger candidates fighting fiercely against the minotaurs.
"Hey! Do you have any kind of plan?!"
Carl shouted while breathing a stream of flames at the monsters, driving off the crowd of monsters that had gathered, buying him a little time to slip past.
But still, a few axes came flying his way. Of course, as a genius swordsman in his generation, Carl just used some tricks and sharp techniques to deflect them all without much trouble.
Wilbur knocked away a monster's axe with his dragon wings. He quickly noticed Carl, and something changed in his eyes. Wilbur shouted:
"Seize my leg!"
Carl frowned at Wilbur's request, but he instantly realized Wilbur's true intention.
"Damn it! He's going to fly."
Without hesitation, Carl rushed over to Wilbur and jumped with all his strength to grab Wilbur's right leg. Another guy quickly grabbed Wilbur's left leg, but the chance was gone in an instant.
"Help me, Wilbur!"
Wilbur cast a cold look at the remaining candidates, then it shifted into one of guilt.
"Sorry! But I can't carry any more. I need strong ones to defeat the final boss."
"Forgive me! I'll pray for our souls."
Then, he flew up, carrying the four guys hanging from his legs.
"Tsk! That's what a good man should do… but I won't blame him. Anyway, you saved me," Carl muttered with a click of his tongue, glancing down.
"Amen! Don't look at me with those furious eyes. I'm innocent."
Carl sighed, ignoring the looks of hatred and agony from below. Miserable people—abandoned for their weakness and lack of luck.
They would become fertilizer for this land. Even if he hoped they'd reincarnate into something better, well… the soil wasn't such a bad resting place.
"Well… I can see it now. If we get through this place, we won't see them again." Carl glanced toward the edge of the forest.
"S-Shut up! You're just saying what everyone already knows!" shouted Paisley, the one clutching Carl's leg.
"Yeah… I know." Carl nodded, giving Paisley a brief look. He grimaced for a moment, then smiled.
This tough guy now looked completely exhausted. His skin was pale, as if all the blood had been drained from his body. Tsk! Carl guessed Paisley had put in too much effort just to keep holding onto Car's leg. He must have fought a long battle with the monsters. And he had even been stuck in the middle of the horde.
The other two guys were in the same state.
"I think they need some rest before we face the final boss."
Wilbur nodded and kept flying forward.
Soon, they left the monsters behind in the forest, thanks to Wilbur's speed. His ability was so impressive that Carl couldn't help but feel jealous. If he had those wings, his combat ability would skyrocket, and he'd complete far more system missions.
"Yeah. I'll have to wait until I reach the three-star dragon soul."
...
''But..I'm thirsty''
Ting!
Mission: Escape from this place(accomplished)
-------------------------------------
[You've received your rewards]
. Water Flask ×1000
. Mana stone x30
—----------------------------------
''Oh great!''