7 Captives
The muscle heads stopped in confusion. They looked around warily as if looking for a trap. They looked at Tarim for instructions.
Tarim used his muscles to flex some weird parts of his body. It didn't even look like a normal muscle because it had many mysterious shapes and sizes.
The muscle heads nodded in confirmation and they surrounded Ligi. Seeing that Ligi was still frowning at the ground as if he had a grudge against it, they restrained his arms.
It was only then that Ligi finally looked up and locked eyes with Tarim. Ligi still frowned while looking at Tarim but Tarim already changed his focus on the essence.
It was finally in Tarim's hands. A cultivation treasure. A power born from the pure instinct of the Limaws. It was his. He did it.
There was a proud look on Tarim's face as he picked up the essence that was clutched by Ligi. The moment he touched it, he was enamored. he couldn't take his eyes off it.
This was his accomplishment. A well deserved victory. They even dared to prolong his fated meeting with the essence.
Ligi finally let up his frown. He looked up expectantly at Tarim.
"You'll fulfill our promise right?"
Tarim didn't even acknowledge that someone was speaking to him. Let alone the one who tried to run away with his treasure.
"Hmph...Who are you to command me?!"
There was a very arrogant look on Tarim's face. He lifted his chin up as if saying that Ligi would always be below him. A guy who let others handle his problem would always be a weak person.
Tarim looked back at the essence, indicating that Ligi wasn't worth his time. He spoke with a carefree voice.
"Kill him"
"What?????? What about our agreement?"
Ligi's face was suddenly full of worry. He had dug his own grave. Why did he even do that? Why was he so angry that he bet his own life just to take revenge? Was he always that stupid?
The feeling of regret came over him. It was a backlash to the rollercoaster of emotions he felt before. He didn't even know he could elicit that kind of emotion.
This was his fault. Like always, he should have just accepted his fate. This was the consequences of disobeying the natural order. He was only born to be a cannon fodder.
He could only wonder what would have happened if he continued to run. When he still wanted live. But that's all in the past. The only thing he could do now was accept his fate.
The muscle heads reared their muscles up as if it were a catapult. As the killing blow was only seconds away, they heard a voice.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
It was Bang.
——————————
'That idiot actually stopped. Does he not value his life?'
Bang kept running while taking a glance back.
'I urge owner to go back'
'What?? Are you kidding me? I just escaped and now you want me to go back?'
Bang still kept running.
'Warning! If owner does not save his future crew member, owner will die.'
Bang finally stopped running when he heard those words. With his life at stake, he couldn't disobey the system.
'Fxxx, now I have to go back.'
Bang started running back to where he came from. He saw Ligi restrained by the muscle heads. It looked like they were about to beat him up.
He received commands from his system and intervened in the last second.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you"
All of them were surprised. The selfish guy who sold out his teammate actually came back. There was no reason for him to go back, he could have escaped by this point.
Ligi could not believe his eyes. Why did Bang come back? Why did Bang save him. Those questions kept repeating in his mind.
"Why should I do that? i'm not that merciful."
Surprised at the sudden act of courage, Tarim entertained the conversation. He only looked at Bang for a moment and then turned his attention back to the essence.
"I have come to bargain. Information in exchange for my life and his."
Bang gestured at Ligi. In the eye's of Ligi, Bang became a more trustworthy person. Ligi didn't know it was all the system's doing.
"Hmmm.... what do you have? Entertain me."
Tarim said that as if he was a king that listened to the pleas of his citizen.
"It is something that all people want. Essence"
At the mention of the word 'essence', Tarim's eyes became serious. Even the muscle heads that were quiet now fidgeted at the news.
"You better not be lying to me. Else you will suffer until you want to be dead."
"I'm not lying to you. In fact, there might even be multiple essences."
Before anyone could even react, Bang continued his speech.
"I'm sure you've heard a Limaw near here. Didn't you hear it back then?"
Bang felt nervous saying those words. He didn't know if the system was lying or telling the truth. Although, by the fact that Tarim still kept silent, told him that there was a chance that it could be true.
Tarim kept silent and observed Bang. He wore a serious look and anticipated the next words of Bang.
"That beast is currently laying a nest. You know what than means? It means eggs."
Tarim inhaled at the sudden revelation. A treasure trove that will lead to an essence? There might be multiple of those? Tarim could not hide his excitement. A smile creeped up on his face.
"You know where it is?"
Tarim asked Bang expectantly. It was hook, line, and sinker. Bang didn't know if it's true but the important fact is that Tarim believed him. There was a chance to get out of this alive.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
"Hmmm.....we'll go back to our base. Only our supreme leader could make this decision."
Tarim might be prideful but he still didn't underestimate a Limaw. Even during normal conditions, he wouldn't take his chances at fighting a Limaw. Especially now that the Limaw was about to lay eggs. It would be more aggressive and dangerous.
"You'll come with us. Tie them up."
The muscle heads followed their leader and used vines as makeshift rope.
It wasn't long till they were on their way back to town. There was absolute silence in their journey back.
Ligi felt embarrassed and ashamed at himself. He should have trusted Bang instead of judging too quickly. It was because of him that they are now being led into the lion's den.
He was useless, like always. He didn't deserve to be saved. Bang should have just kept running and forget about him. Those were the thoughts running into Ligi while they walked to town.
'Congratulations, owner has reached a milestone in the main quest. 5 WP is awarded.'
+++++++++++++++
STORE
CURRENT WP - 20 wp
-Self
•mini map : 5 wp.
•past self : 5 wp.
•*locked*
-Crew
•unlock a crew member : 100 wp
•power up : 100 wp
•*locked*
-*locked*
•*locked*
+++++++++++++++
With his total of 20 wp, Bang still couldn't buy anything useful from the store. He wondered why the system was so narrow minded.
+++++++++++++++
QUEST
-Main Quest
•Save your future crew member
# Talk with the supreme leader of the 'muscle heads'
+++++++++++++++
A new quest popped up in his brain. The system also used his nickname for the muscle heads since he didn't know the official name of their group.
As they neared the town, Bang could see a faint outline. The most prominent feature was the four tall buildings surrounding the town. They all had different in sizes and shapes. The only thing they had in common was their grandiosity.
As they walked, Bang could see stone palisades surrounding the town. It must have been more than 10 meters high and circled the whole town. A big accomplishment in engineering, especially when the technology here was so primitive.
The tall building nearest to them was a small mountain. Except, it wasn't filled with grass and greenery but huge rocks and stones. Rocks and minerals were scattered all over the small mountain as a form of decoration.
Bang noticed that they were going in that direction. It must be the base of the muscle heads.
The journey going here was strangely safe. For the first time, there were no life or death situations that popped up. The system also kept quiet and didn't give any weird suggestions.
As they passed the gate, the guards saluted by flexing their biceps. Tarim was only focused on the essence and didn't acknowledge their presence.
The guards noticed the reason why Tarim was so preoccupied. They were shocked to see such a treasure here out in the open. They could only marvel at the might and luck of Tarim to obtain such a treasure.
The small mountain was even more impressive up close and personal. Bang could only wonder at how they built this tower.
The entrance of the mine was brightly lit with torches. It filled the whole room. Contrary to expectations, it didn't feel stuffy and hot, it was even cold in here as they felt a breeze
The floor was made with chiseled cobblestone while the walls maintained a sharp crystal-like structure. It's color was the same luster as gems of all colors.
The ceiling was a long way up and was littered with stalactites. These were only found in caves built from millions of years of natural phenomenon.
They went through different hallways and rooms, all made out of walls that were shining like a gem. The difference was that these had more craftsmanship than the entrance.
If the entrance were to be compared to some of these rooms, it would be like comparing a crude stone to a polished gem.
They finally stopped at the biggest door they have seen yet. It was made out of gold and decorated with gems and line decorations.
As a whole, it made an abstract picture of muscle fibers that the muscle heads yearned for.
Opening the door, one could immediately see the enormous chair placed at the center of the farthest place in the room.
It was different from all the thrones from medieval ages where the throne was more rigid and rectangular in shape.
This throne was different in every aspect starting from the way that it was shaped. It didn't seem like a chair but more of a bed and couch.
There were different mounds decorating the surroundings of the throne. Upon closer inspection, it can be interpreted as muscles surrounding the throne.
The most surprising thing about this room was not the throne, but the man sitting inside it.
He had a short but stout nature that is very weird in proportion to the size of the muscles this guy had. It was actually like a suit of armor that was surrounding him.
Before they could judge even further, they heard the man speak.
"Why shouldn't I kill you right now?"
