The Flying Carpet

From the other side of the peak where we lay hidden, nearly two thousand cave hellhounds appeared in a massive wave. Altogether, the hellhound population in this region might number in the tens of thousands, though they roam in divided packs, each defending its own territory. We had chosen a target on the outskirts: a large family of cave hellhounds, roughly thirteen to fourteen hundred in number. Between our assault and the student squad's prior skirmish, more than a third of their numbers had been eliminated. The weakened pack would no doubt tempt another group to encroach upon their domain, though we had no idea how these beasts were alerted to such territorial vulnerabilities.

As Wolf King warned us, another pack had begun encircling the area. "Damn it! If these two groups start fighting, we're sure to be exposed!" Snoke, a seasoned adventurer, quickly assessed the situation, then asked, "Should we retreat now?" Wolf King's face was etched with a grim sneer as he slowly exhaled, replying, "It's too late. Our hideout lies between these two packs; our only option now is to fight our way out!"

Lilith murmured, "We have a helicopter. We could still escape." Wolf King surveyed everyone, a derisive smile on his face. "The issue is, we'd have to leave in two waves. But as you've seen, those beasts are relentless. Whoever is left behind will be dead meat in no time!" Lilith's face fell as she realized the unspoken truth, her gaze drifting toward me. Who would stay? Who would go? It was a harsh decision.

"Three women, Jack, Bullet—you'll take this armory card and depart in the opposite direction. Once airborne, fly low to distract the hellhounds. I'll stay back with Wolf King, Hachii Shinfu, and Snoke. We might just carve a way out for ourselves." With a sly grin, Wolf King brandished his heavy machine gun, clearly unfazed. Hachii Shinfu's face was stern as he nodded his agreement, while Snoke cursed under his breath. "Damn it. Torn to pieces by these creatures, there'll be no chance of resurrection for me. But I'll take my chances with you."

As I handed the small armory card to Hachii Shinfu, Bullet, who'd been silent until now, muttered something under his breath, then reached out his hand to reveal an item. "Actually, there's an easier way to get out of this mess!" Every man's gaze sharpened, and Bullet, sighing, revealed his trump card. "This mission could be a breeze if we used this." 

Flying Carpet, a third-tier artifact with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and a flight ceiling of 150 meters.

Bullet read out its attributes, adding, "It can carry about 400 kilograms. As long as no one is as burly as Snoke or Wolf King, we should be able to fly five people out." 

"Hell yeah! What are we waiting for?" Wolf King's shout cut through the tension, lifting everyone's spirits. I boarded the Red Spider helicopter alongside Lilith, Hachii Shinfu, Jack, and Wolf King, while Melinda joined Bullet, Snoke, and Romia on the flying carpet. The carpet lifted off first, and though the helicopter took a moment to start, we soon rose into the air as well. Just then, a vanguard of dozens of snarling hellhounds appeared on the slopes below, sniffing eagerly at the scents we'd left behind before charging toward us.

Hachii Shinfu's long blade, Ancient Moon, flashed, and in an instant, he had slain three of the beasts. Meanwhile, Lilith, though busy piloting the helicopter, managed to free one hand and launch a bolt of lightning. However, she'd forgotten that electricity conducts through metal; I reached out and dispersed her spell's energy with a sharp Void Claw before it could damage the aircraft. 

"For the love of—don't use that spell! Helicopters can't handle lightning!" Wolf King roared, making Lilith, a fierce French beauty, turn pale with fright. Hellhounds were tough and ferocious, but they lacked the immunity to physical attacks possessed by the Nyxbeasts, allowing Wolf King's modern weaponry to shred them without mercy. Together, he and Hachii Shinfu turned the area below into a crimson sea.

Jack lounged in his seat, snugly buckled in, a sniper rifle raised. Though not a soldier by trade, his marksmanship was shockingly adept for a killer; one in every three shots found its mark, dispatching yet another hellhound. Seated beside him in the copilot's chair, I kept a close watch on Snoke's group, where a heated argument had erupted between Bullet and Snoke. Yet this did nothing to hinder their efficiency in fending off the hellhounds.

Melinda's fighting abilities were familiar to me, but Romia—this sultry, blonde Persian cat who had never lifted a finger in battle before—caught my interest. Romia's skill in combat was on par with Lilith's, though not as sharp as Melinda's. A seasoned military woman, she crouched on the flying carpet, golden hair flowing, her shooting precise and focused. I suddenly saw her in a new light. These three women each possessed elite military prowess, their skills in shooting, hand-to-hand combat, vehicle navigation, and general military acumen unmatched.

The organization they served had deep and formidable resources. I mused over this as I launched bolt after bolt of holy energy at the hellhounds, each beam obliterating its target on impact. With my task nearly complete, I turned my attention to a few particularly massive hounds—fierce, towering creatures unlike their kin. 

Experience had taught me that killing common monsters rarely yielded rewards, but facing these beasts, I had a hunch there might be something worth gaining.

However, these exceptional creatures often yield rare and extraordinary treasures upon defeat.