The dragon's harem

Chapter 28 The Dragon’s First Team Fight.

After walking for a bit, Alcott stopped lifting his hand. ”A monster is ahead. Everyone takes an arrow formation.”

”Whatʼs an arrow formation?” Arad asked, lifting his staff.

Ginger stared at them. Alcott in the front, me and Arad on the same footing behind him, and then Aella followed by Jack. Like this [-=--]

-(Alcott)=(Ginger and Arad)-(Aella)-(Jack)

Alcott looked back, ”I could clear it alone, but Ginger and I will pretend to be weaker to allow you some space.” He smiled.

The fight started silently. Alcott approached the corner slowly and peeked around. A massive frog-like monster sat there, staring into the caveʼs depth.

Alcott grabbed a stone from the ground and looked back at Ginger.

Ginger nodded with a smile. Arad looked at her, confused. What did he mean?

Alcott threw the stone toward the monster, drawing its attention.

When the monster turned, Aella pulled her bow and fired three arrows. The first arrow hit the monsterʼs right eye, the second in the left eye, and the last in the mouth.

Alcott smiled.

Ginger lifted her want and poked Arad, ”Now!” [Firebolt] Both fired immediately at the frog, flashing a bright crimson light to the cave.

KA-DON! KA-DON! As the fire burned the frogʼs skin, Alcott charged at an incredible speed, stabbing his giant sword onto the monsterʼs guts.

”JACK!” Alcott yelled.

”Donʼt have to tell me,” Jack fell from the ceiling, stabbing the frog in the head. ”Die, thank you. My ass is all slimy now.” Jack Twisted his dagger while sitting on the frogʼs slimy, non-existing neck.

”Nicely done,” Alcott smiled, pulling his blade from the monsterʼs chest. CRACK! The frog fell to the ground with a loud crack, and Jack leaped away, shaking the blood from his dagger.

Alcott stared back at Aella, ”Those were some nice shots even though its dark,”

Aella walked toward the frog to retrieve her arrows, ”Iʼm an elf with night vision and a fighter on top of that,” She smiled, grabbing one of her arrows.

At that moment, a tongue jerked from the dark, approaching her in the blink of an eye.

Thud! Alcott stepped forward, catching the tongue with his hand. ”Monsters, you have some guts today.” BAM! With a stop, he swung his arm, pulling the cow-sized frog toward him at an incredible speed.

Alcott swung his greatsword with his other hand, cutting the frog in half from head to groin. CLANG!

As everyone stared in shock, blood splattered across the cave as Alcott exhaled. THUD! Ginger chopped Alcottʼs head, ”Idiot, you hit the ceiling. What if the cave collapsed?” She glared at him.

Alcott stared at the ceiling. He could see nothing.

”Sorry, I might have miscalculated the distance.” He scratched his head with a puzzled face.

”Sir Alcott, what was that?” Jack gasped, staring around and trying to touch the frogʼs corpse.

”Great weapon fighting, wrath stance. But That was a botched one-handed variant.” Alcott looked at his greatsword, ”I should have used two hands,”

”Iʼm sure that isnʼt what he meant.” Arad sighed, ”What level are you?”

Alcott looked back at them, ”Level twenty, Iʼm a maxed fighter.” He scratched his head, ”But that doesnʼt mean I can do everything a fight should be able to do,” He smiled.

”Heʼs bad with horses, so he canʼt be a knight,” Ginger stared at Arad, ”But heʼs good at riding camels and donkeys.”

”Camels?”

”Desert horses are big and have a mean personality.” Ginger looked at the monsterʼs corpse. ”Letʼs proceed. The noise is bound to track more monsters.”

All of them walked away, heading deeper into the cave.

As they walked, Ginger stared at Arad, ”That was some quick casting. You matched my speed,” She smiled, her fangs almost showing.

”You impressive!” Jack commented, ”To think you will match Ginger in spell casting.”

Arad smiled bitterly.

^That isnʼt even a human. She is a vampire,^ Arad thought, and Mom agreed. [Matching a vampire can never be a good thing. Letʼs hope she doesnʼt start seeing us as a threat.]

^Alcott is keeping her in check, right?^ Arad thought, trying to make himself feel better.

[Vampire thralls look like ordinary people. Alcott could be already controlled, donʼt drop your guard around her.]

Not knowing the extent of Gingerʼs power has started to worry Arad. The mere idea of her manipulating Alcott, the monstrous adventurer, is horrifying.

”What are you thinking about?” She looked Arad in the eyes. A faint red flare gleamed in her eyes. She sighed, ”Canʼt see a thing. Youʼre an empty shell.”

Arad stared at her, confused, and Jack was the one to ask, ”What do you mean?”

”I canʼt read his mind with magic, as if he has a mind-blank spell active. Or like a monk who attained enlightenment.” She lifted her hands, her shoulders dropping.

”Chief, do you know the mind-blank spell? Are you a trained monk?” Jack asked with glowing eyes and a wide smile.

Arad shook his head, ”No, Iʼm but a sorcerer. She didnʼt try hard enough.”

[You are a Void dragon. Your inner mind is an infinite void. Reading it will be a tall order for most people.] Mom said, her voice slowly shifting, [And those who can, they shall face me first.] PING! Something clicked inside Aradʼs head, and Momʼs presence inside his stomach intensified for a moment.

^What do you mean?^

[Iʼm the last line of defense to protect your mind. I will erase anyone trying to peak into it. And I shall leave them disabled, if not insane.]

^Youʼre amazing,^

[I mean, Iʼm a fragment of the consciousness of the great wyrm void dragon. But I can also guide people in your head if you need help.]

^How will that help?^

[If you lost your mind, became too angry, or clouded with hatred. I can always get people inside your mind to pull out.]

”Jack, how did you get the frog?” Alcott suddenly asked, looking back at Jack.

”When they cast their spells, I saw the caveʼs layout for a moment. That was enough for me to move.” Jack replied.

”And what if the monster moved?” Alcott asked, waving his hand.

”Unless they are entirely silent, I can guess which direction they moved just by sound.” Jack smiled, ”But I donʼt have your skill to tell much details.” He sighed, ”Will you teach me?”

Alcottʼs eyes sparkled, ”You will learn?” He turned around, excited.

”Yeah, but calm down a bit. Youʼre intimidating with your massive size.” Jack lifted his hands.

”Very well, start clicking like me and listen carefully,” Alcott said, looking ahead.

”Listen to what exactly?” Jack stared at him with a puzzled face.

”The returning echos of your voice. Use the time it took to return to calculate the distance.” Alcott explained.

”And how do I calculate it exactly?”

”With your guts, error, and trial. Just start practicing, and you will understand it.” Alcott stopped walking and lifted his hands, ”Everyone stop and donʼt make a noise.”

Everyone stopped in their track, ”Now, Jack. Try it,” Alcott said with a smile.

”What are you doing?” Arad asked.

”One of the reasons why joining your party is beneficial.” Jack smiled, trying his best to milk Alcott for knowledge and skills.