HE DOES THE UNEXPECTED

"Camouflaged Grass Ants!"

Had it not been Linda's high alertness, Muro would have been reduced to a cripple barely a minute into their mission.

She had quickly spotted those grass-like monsters that had perfectly laid their trap just at the entry point of the zone! These ants were very poisonous! Once you stepped on them they would bind your feet and whatever material covering it will corrode within seconds! They burnt up a person to the bones using their internally secreted acids!

"Stand back!" she ordered as she took out a bottle of handheld spray!

"Chwuu!" she splashed on the ground and immediately all the ants dried up. Their bodies lying paralysed on the ground now revealed their true shapes. The camouflage was already gone and their bodies which resembled a centipede could be seen.

Fear could still be seen in Muro's eyes even after Linda had declared that they were now safe to cross. He took the step only after all others had crossed over. From there, he walked at the back of the group.

"I can't believe only one incident is enough to shut him up," Claire whispered to Linda as they walked. They were following Joe and Frank who were now leading. The two guys were already friends just like the two ladies. Only Muro found himself isolated. Joe was telling Frank how before he arrived Muro had lectured them on how they should obey him inside the forest.

"He said he was the oldest in the team and most experienced. In fact he was remaining with only a few points to breakthrough to beginner!"

Frank snorted at this. He obviously knew the truth but didn't say. He just pitied the man.

"Anyway, let us be alert," he motioned to Joe asking him to lead the way.

He stopped as he wanted to talk to Linda about something then heard her telling Claire something interesting.

"You know what, I think we should all strive to kill our own monsters apart from what the mission is! I have just received 2 points increase on each of my attributes after killing those Ants!"

Frank was stunned. Linda had already earned 6 points more! Going by what Zu Shi had told him earlier, then Linda was having a total of 32 points, two more than his! He had stopped so as to quietly ask her about her intelligence points because she could not have perceived the presence of those ants without a higher intelligence. His was at 11 yet he had not spotted them? Or was it a different ability?

"Oh Linda did you just say that you earned more points by killing those Ants?" he finally managed to ask.

"Yes! And as I was just telling Claire I think we should all try and kill more beasts. That is, if you care for more attributes!"

Joe had also stopped and listened to them .

"Who doesn't want an increase! Let us go kill these motherfu**rs!" he shouted. With a new deal and spirit the team moved deeper into the forest.

Primary 1 monsters were not that dangerous and difficult to kill. They encountered many different species which they fought together then when it was about to die, they would leave it for one of the team members to actually finish it off. By so doing each got their own kills. Consequently every animal they killed one got a 1 point increase in their attributes. Only Muro was somehow uncooperative with the team. He didn't fight as valiantly as others. Yet they still spared him some animals for him to finish off and earn his points.

Frank then informed them that they had reached the area with the said ostrich nests. Luckily for them, the first five nests were abandoned and they simply collected the eggs! Each nest had three of them.

"Great! It is only midday and we already have fifteen eggs! Only 10 to go!" Frank noted.

" I hope the luck holds!" Joe added.

"Oh no! I wish we could fight some ostriches! It seems there are no more monsters and my points are just 40!" Claire cried.

" I like that spirit! I am at 60 now but I really want to fight those huge birds!" Linda answered her!

"What! How did you get at 60 that first?" Joe was amazed. But Frank didn't show any surprise. From time to time he had been observing Linda and found her somehow unique. Zu Shi had also constantly reminded him when he was leading I attributes and when he lost the position. Funny enough at this moment they were tying with her both at 60!

"What is your value Joe?" Frank asked.

"Well, I am just at 49," he didn't sound so offended. At least he had gained more than double from a mere 24!

Just then a crackling sound was heard. Looking up, three extremely huge ostriches had surrounded them!

"Back to back! Let's face them! Do not fear we can handle them!" Frank shouted as they fell into formation. All of them including Muro gathered at the centre standing back to back and using their weapons. Linda whose back was against Frank used her arrows and bow to keep the two ostriches directly in her line of view, out of reach. Frank and Joe handled one ostrich together. They both had swords. On Claire's and Muro's side's was a little peaceful and they could only support either side.

Luckily the battle didn't last long and they had managed to kill all the ostriches. However, no one received a notification and they only went ahead to gather the eggs. It was three in the evening when they had a total of 26 eggs.

"Everyone has the special bag for the eggs! Let us take 5 each."

They did and Frank carried the extra one. They headed back towards the outside of the forest to return to the Government service centre. Just before they crossed the point where they had come in earlier, the morning incident rang in their minds and they all remembered Muro.

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Where is Muro?"

"He was always walking at the back. I don't know when he disappeared!"

"Oh no! He has those 5 eggs!"