At Secondil's weapon shop, Pepper collected his repaired Vorpal Small Hammer, two new weapons, and the evolved Madness Breaker. He hurried to the Enhance Trading Company and knocked on their door.
"Pepper here. Please tell Rex I'm ready," he said to the receptionist.
"Understood! I'll inform the branch leader immediately!" The receptionist sprang into action. As she left, a crow swooped through an open window, aiming to perch on Pepper's arm.
"Whoa, a crow!?"
Startled by the sudden visitor, Pepper realized it wasn't hostile. He extended his left arm, and the crow landed. A chime rang—Te-loring♪—followed by a message: A Messenger Bird has arrived.
Recognizing Shangri-La Frontier's mail system, Pepper felt a chill. While researching the Swamp Digger, he'd come across the Messenger Bird system—a communication method exclusive to players who'd formed a Friend bond. And Pepper had only one friend in the game.
(This is 100% from Amane…)
Certain it was from Arthur Pencilgon, he hesitated. Ignoring it could invite trouble—her penchant for mischief could make PKing seem tame. Reluctantly, he opened the message.
To A-kun,
Yo, how's it going? Still in Secondil? It's your big sis Pencilgon!
How's the quest going? I told you to hit me up when you reach Thirdrema, but you're taking forever, and I got impatient, so here's a little mail!
Just to remind you: contact me when you get to Thirdrema. I'll meet you in person to share how to trigger the Gravekeeper Wezaemon quest. We're still sorting out the team and prep, and this stays top-secret until the big day, got it? Spill the beans, and… you know what happens.
Also, I'm glad you're still kicking, A-kun. Let's game and hang out again soon!
From Arthur Pencilgon
Pepper braced for her usual taunting, but the message was surprisingly straightforward, which only heightened his suspicion. He scanned for hidden acrostics or coded messages, but found nothing.
Still, he had a personal rule as a "person": Always reply to messages, even if it's to shut someone down.
"Ugh, fine…" He muttered, selecting the crow to send a reply. "Wow, this is pricey… Alright, 'Got it, stay safe' should do."
He typed the brief response, and a classic envelope appeared, sealing the letter. The crow snatched it in its beak, took off from his arm, and soared out the window.
At that moment, Rex arrived. "Pepper-sama, sorry for the wait. Here's the prototype we'd like you to test against the Swamp Digger Maddeik." He gestured to a prepared carriage outside. "Please, take a ride."
Rex handed over five baseball-sized balls crafted from Mad Frog pelts.
Sonic Throwing Orb (Prototype): A trial product from the Enhance Trading Company. When struck with force, its internal mechanism triggers a powerful sonic wave.
(Yes! A weapon that'll work against the Swamp Digger!)
Relieved it wasn't some gimmicky dud, Pepper realized the orbs' limited quantity was his lifeline in the swamp's brutal terrain. They marked the time limit for avoiding the Swamp Digger's attacks without getting hit.
(The Swamp Digger's 'special action' means I've only got four chances to dodge. With swamp-compatible skills, I might pull this off…)
"Best of luck, Pepper-sama," Rex said.
"Thanks."
Entrusted with Rex's request, Pepper knew he had to succeed to reach Thirdrema. He boarded the carriage, which took him and the cloaked Aitoil to the Swamp Digger's territory. Unbeknownst to him, a player lurking in the shadows watched, relaying his movements to another. A white cloth around their waist bore the emblem of a black wolf clutching a shield and sword.
Minutes later, the carriage stopped near the canyon swamp leading to Thirdrema. "Thank you," Pepper said, and the Enhance Trading Company staff bowed, parking the carriage behind a rock to observe—likely to verify the prototype's performance.
"Alright, Aitoil, this is the Swamp Digger's turf," Pepper said.
"Finally here, huh, Pepper-han?" Aitoil replied, emerging from his cloak and landing on the ground.
Before them stretched a vast swamp flanked by towering cliffs, nearly impassable for carriages. Pepper equipped his new Swamp Pepper Small Hammer in his left hand and stepped forward cautiously.
But at the swamp's midpoint, he paused, scanned the area, and moved to back himself against a rock wall.
"Pepper-han? What's up?" Aitoil asked.
"I got an idea looking at the terrain," he said. "Aitoil, hop on my back."
"Got it, comin' aboard!"
With Aitoil clinging to his back, Pepper advanced to the swamp's center. The ground trembled, and the mud before them swelled like an inflating balloon.
It burst, spraying muck everywhere, revealing the beast: a shark's head and fins, a catfish's body, and axolotl-like limbs. The area boss guarding the path from Secondil to Thirdrema—the Swamp Digger—had appeared.
"GISHAAAA…!!"
"Here you are, shark-catfish!" Pepper shouted. "I'm in a hurry, so let's make this quick!"
The Swamp Digger dove into the swamp, exploiting its key advantage: while players were slowed by the Forced March status, it swam freely, creating a massive mobility gap.
"Here we go!"
Pepper activated Actus Dash, a skill granting one second of free movement on rough terrain per 10 Strength points. As the Swamp Digger's dorsal fin closed in, he sprinted toward the rock wall.
"Pepper-han!? That's a dead end!" Aitoil cried.
"I know, Aitoil. That's the point."
As Actus Dash expired, reverting him to Forced March, the Swamp Digger lunged from the swamp, aiming its jagged teeth at what it thought was a trapped fool.
"Think I'm the idiot, shark-catfish? You're the real fool here."
Drawing the beast in close, Pepper triggered Slide Move, gliding sideways. The Swamp Digger slammed nose-first into the rock wall.
"GIJAA!?"
"Was that your plan, Pepper-han?" Aitoil gasped.
"If it swims through the swamp, I just narrow its path," Pepper explained. "With the swamp slowing me and attacks coming from blind spots, my only defense is you warning me. Plus, this rock wall's too good not to use."
As the stunned Swamp Digger reeled, Pepper used Accel to close the distance. The beast recovered quickly, snapping its jaws, but Aitoil leaped from his back, slashing its chin with her Storm Naginata: Tiger Roar using Wanderer Blade: Yaksha Slash to stagger it.
"Pepper-han, go!"
"Nice one, Aitoil! High Press and Swing Strike! Take this!"
The Swamp Digger stumbled, and Pepper's Swamp Pepper Small Hammer, enhanced with knockback from High Press, landed a heavy blow, toppling the beast sideways. It dove back into the swamp, resetting the fight.
"No escape!" Pepper shouted. "Aitoil, cover your ears!"
He grabbed a Sonic Throwing Orb from his inventory, crushed it with Grip (requiring 50+ Strength), and hurled it at the rock wall. The orb burst, unleashing a deafening sonic wave that echoed through the swamp, forcing the Swamp Digger to surface in shock.
"GIJAAAA!?"
"Gah, louder than I thought!" Pepper winced.
"Big noise…!" Aitoil groaned.
The sound stunned both sides, but Pepper didn't falter. Activating Highbeat to boost Agility, he closed in, chaining Heavy Strike (increasing blunt damage) and Rush (reducing stamina drain) to unleash a flurry of blows on the Swamp Digger's flank.
"GISHAAA…!"
"Not going down yet, huh?"
Using Slide Move again as its recast timer ended, Pepper repositioned against the rock wall. Learning from its mistake, the Swamp Digger dove, weaving side to side to gauge his next move.
"I've got another new weapon to test," Pepper said. "Time for a trial cut and smash!"
He stowed the Swamp Pepper Small Hammer and drew the Swamp Pepper Dagger, locking eyes with the beast. As the Swamp Digger lunged from the right, jaws wide, Pepper readied his blade with a steely gaze.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
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