[BONUS]
"H-help!"
"Help me!"
Upon noticing the arrival of new players, the others screamed for help. The few groups with Isolde and Leonel didn't hesitate, charging at the vampires and monsters, eager for the candy points.
The creatures of the dark naturally wouldn't just stand still and do nothing.
Though seemingly weak because of their thin and frail-looking body, the vampires were creatures that had very high STR and AGI.
Upon the sight of more players, their supple skin quickly reverted to dry and wrinkly, and their ethereal faces seemed to age a thousand years, with their mouth almost ripping half their faces when they bared their sharp teeth and fangs.
Some players paused and got frightened, while the others who had a high tolerance for horror stuff weren't deterred and attacked the vampires.
The players who had their ATP nearing hundreds had no problem dealing with the vampires and easily dealt out damage from their weapons.
Like in the movies, the vampires' and monsters' weakness was fire. The mages all started firing fireballs and spells at the monsters, and their flames engulfed the vampires, burning them alive.
Screams of despair filled the air, followed by the monsters' loud shrieks. Against the number of players, the vampires and monsters were simply no match.
It only took a few minutes for the fight to be over. While the players were busy thanking each other for their help and licking the boots of the players who defeated the monsters, Leonel and Isolde were at the side, busy searching the room for maps.
Throughout the fight, they didn't even bother sparing the battle a glance, let alone help the other players, earning some of the players' ire.
"They didn't even help."
"They said they're not here for points."
"Still . . . they should help their fellow players when they're in danger. It's common courtesy."
Leonel and Isolde ignored their rants before Leonel shot up and declared, "Found one!"
Leonel was so happy that he found a portion of the map when he smashed the music box on top of a piece of furniture that displayed exquisite plates and bowls.
He had a feeling that something was hidden in the box, and who knew that he was actually right?
Actually, the group could explore the castle even without the numerous pieces of maps scattered throughout the mansion. All they had to do was to move to new areas, and their map would be update.
But since they were hurrying toward wherever the Count was, they needed to complete the map, so they could find where the Count was staying and avoid getting lost in the maze-like mansion.
"Let me see." Isolde went to Leonel and checked the map in his hand. "Oh, your luck is good, Leo. You found a big portion of the upper floors."
"Give that map to us."
Both Leonel and Isolde lifted their heads from the parchment paper in their hands. In front of them were the players, and they looked angry for some reason.
Isolde faced them. "And pray tell why we would do that?"
This was the problem with having plenty of players around. Fights would break out when the other party didn't get what they wanted and when there was the slightest argument.
"Because we're the ones who defeated the monsters here, obviously."
Isolde's head tilted to the side. "And how exactly is it connected to how my friend here found that map?"
The players with ATP nearing the hundreds stepped forward and growled, "Listen here, lady. If you know what's good for you, hand over that map. You didn't even fight for it."
"It's because it's not to be fought over. It's to be found, and we found it first. So go and search your own map. Or . . ."
Isolde unleashed [Isolde 4.0]. The rattling gun was almost her size and looked intimidating as hell.
"I can fight for it, just like what you wanted," she threatened.
The others stepped back.
Before things could get out of hand, Leonel stepped in and grinned.
"You won't get any map, though," he told them. "I've already uploaded that piece of parchment onto our map, so it's gone now."
Leonel spoke the truth.
When Isolde checked their map, she found that the upper floors were already lit up for them to explore without getting lost.
"What?!"
"The nerve of that guy!"
"They didn't even do anything while we fought for our lives!"
Isolde and Leonel stared at the others and dared them.
"Well? Do you still want to take a go at it?"
The other players' faces went red in anger, lips in a thin line, and fists shaking before some sighed into the ceiling and left.
It was not worth it since they wouldn't get anything even if they killed Leonel and Isolde. The fight would only cost them HP and MP reduction.
But of course, there was always a hot-headed person who wouldn't accept defeat. One of the players whose ATP was nearing a hundred wouldn't just let things go just like that.
Fueled with the confidence of his high stat, he charged at Isolde with his broad sword as he growled, "Bitch! Don't think that you can get away"!"
The player didn't get to finish his words as Leonel stepped forward and raised his shield, smacking straight into the player's jaw. The latter flew upward with his eyes rolling in the back of his head.
He twirled in the air a few times due to the force before his body finally dropped onto the marble floor with a loud bang.
Leonel's STR wasn't that high since he poured most of his EXP to his DEF and HP, so the man lived with a single digit remaining to his HP.
( . . . continuation on NOTES)
A/N (Doesn't consume coins)
Ten more chaps or more until this arc ends and we'll finally go to the Alchemy Arc.
We're finally half way into the story.
Thank you to everyone for supporting this story this far
We'll try to finish this book this year to make way for a new book in time for WSA . . . i hope.
PS.
FEBRUARY Stretched Goals!
Every 1000 PS = 1 Bonus chapter
Every 500 GT = 1 Bonus chapter
Every Super gift = 1 Bonus chapter