There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 578 - 572. Chipping the Rotten Tree

Chapter 578: Chapter 572. Chipping the Rotten Tree

For a while, none of them could say anything; staring blankly at the several swirling gates they could see around the forest and the desert--even some on the canyon. The discrepancy between the joy and the dread got them speechless, and suddenly everything felt so tiring.

It hadn’t even been ten minutes since they were celebrating their success.

Some were on the verge of cursing out loud, but a loud clapping sound reverberated through the ruin.

"Alright, let’s get ourselves together," Radia clapped his hands and shifted their attention from the dungeon gates. "It’s just dungeons; they are miles better than the Deathzone. You can even think of it as a vacation inside, yes? Fresh air and whatever."

They couldn’t help but chuckle. When they thought about it, the condition inside the dungeons was actually better than the Deathzone. Some even had blue skies and weaker beasts.

"They don’t seem to be high-level dungeons too," Han Joon added.

"Naturally, since it’s something that was conjured up quickly in anger," Zein said while trying to stand up. Bassena quickly supported him by holding his waist and shoulder, frowning in concern. "Remember the mass dungeon breaks that one time?"

Of course, it wasn’t something they could easily forget. It was one of the anomalies that got them to investigate the activity in the Deathzone. They also remembered that the dungeons appearing at that time, despite many, were most in yellow or green, with only one or two cases of orange dungeons. They could assume the same thing happened this time.

For them, who had used to the Deathzone’s high-level threats, these dungeons shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. The problem was...

They looked at Zein. Yes; the problem was they lost their seven best guides--basically half their force.

"Dheera, call every guide and have them come here right away," Zein said. "Every one of them, no exception."

Dheera snapped and nodded again, running to the desert camp to gain a better signal for her commlink. Bassena, still frowning, looked at Zein in disapproval. "You can’t even stand properly."

"I can’t guide, but I can still use my mana," Zein took out the staff that he had just retracted not long ago. "Heh--this works as a walking stick too."

"Haa..."

"Stop sighing and get to work," Zein flicked the esper’s forehead--it seemed like he still had the energy for that too. "You are still the Field Commander."

"Yes, you are," Radia smirked at Bassena’s flabbergasted face. "Go organize the task force, Commander."

Bassena still looked at Zein with a heavy heart, but the guide arched an unimpressed brow in return, sending the esper scooting away with pursed lips and a pitiful gaze. Zein rolled his eyes and sent a bit of lifeline.

"Get it done quickly so I can have my dinner."

"Kei," the reluctant Commander suddenly sprang up as he walked out of the ruin while calling his deputy. "I want the scouts to make a comprehensive report on every gate--use the guild standard format. You have thirty minutes. Jock, you’re with me..."

Zein shook his head and chuckled softly as he watched Bassena walk away, finally doing his job. The espers followed him, and there were only the VVIPs left there; Radia, Han Joon, and Tian Yu.

And Cohen, who was setting up a sitting area with Nyx for their masters. "Let’s set the camp here while we’re at it," Radia said while taking a seat, snapping his fingers to summon three more ’secretaries’.

Zein exhaled slowly as he let himself sink into the chair. It would take some time for the guides to arrive so he let himself some more rest, digesting the miasma and turning it into mana. The shard, who was hovering around him moved to the podium where the black shard previously was, keeping the ruin bright and purified.

"What do you think about this, Zein?"

Zein leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Contrary to his tired face, however, his lips curled. "It’s great."

Radia laughed, while Tian Yu tilted his head in confusion. "How much power do you think the Fallen Star used for this?" the summoner asked.

Zein shrugged, still closing his eyes. "Who knows? Must be quite a bit."

He hoped so anyway. He could tell that this mass dungeon generation was on a greater scale, at least in number. Sure, it was in the Deathzone rather than the higher zones, but it should still cut a considerable chunk of the Fallen Star’s power.

"And we can even try to track the source of energy," Han Joon smirked, staring at the empty air. In the eyes of a trained hunter like him though, there were threads of unknown energy going from the many newly generated dungeon gates to somewhere.

Of course, the energy thread could be connected to anything but the Fallen Star, but at this point, it was unlikely. Even if that was the case, it would still lead to something connected to the Fallen Star so...

It was still a win.

"What a gift."

"Indeed."

Zein curled his lips again, feeling even more relaxed. If anything, finding the Fallen Star quickly meant they could find the poor eaten shard quickly too.

"I see..." the old man who had been trying hard to follow the conversation finally received enlightenment. "Okay, I’m starting to get it," Tian Yu snapped his fingers. "So you want that Fallen Star thing to use more and more of its power so we can have an easier time facing him in the end, don’t you?"

"Yes," Zein finally opened his eyes when he smelled the scent of freshly brewed coffee. "And it’s not even a hard challenge this time."

"It means the Fallen Star is starting to get anxious and impatient," Radia said calmly as he received the first cup of coffee that his secretary brewed.

Zein looked at the dark horizon beyond the canyon and sneered at someone he couldn’t see. "You should have focused on dissolving the shard’s cocoon, instead."

Radia chuckled at the taunt and sipped his coffee in an even more relaxed manner than Zein. The camp quickly set around them as the center, thanks to the highly efficient summons who even went as far as providing coffee and some snacks.

"It’ll be good if we can find the Fallen Star and attack it, right?" the Supreme Commander who did nothing but lounge around said while looking at the progress report on the hovering screen above him.

"Mm," Zein nodded. It would be good if they could attack the Fallen Star while Its power got chipped from throwing a tantrum like this. Ah, but they also had to consider their own condition. Zein turned toward Radia. "What’s the update on that...who are you calling again?"

Radia laughed quietly. "The item is on its way, so we can have her the day after tomorrow at the fastest."

"Right on time," Zein nodded in relief. Of course, there was no way they could be ready in two days, since they still needed to recuperate from cleaning the dungeons.

Still, it was fast nonetheless. What important was the fact that the additional firepower was ready.

"How much did you fork out?" Tian Yu, who knew the Eastern Sun a little bit, asked curiously since there was no way the item that woman requested would be cheap.

No--expensive was a natural, but the item would probably be in a category where the word ’expensive’ would feel inadequate.

But Radia only shrugged. "That’s for my financier to peruse."

"Heh," the old man cackled.

"Just need to make sure I get everything back in the end," the summoner said with a calm smile.

"In the end..." Zein muttered the word quietly. It sounded like something final. Like the light on the other side of the dark tunnel. The same smile carved on his lips/ "Yeah, let’s get everything back in the end."

* * *

The throng of guides arrived when Zein was in the middle of enjoying a tropical fruit that Radia’s secretary peeled and sliced for him. Looking at their Captain lounging on a comfortable chair with sliced fruit, cakes, and coffee, the guides tilted their head in confusion.

Wasn’t it an urgent summon? It was definitely an urgent situation with all the dungeon gates, but...what was with this vacation vibe? They looked around at the bosses who definitely looked like they were in a VVIP lounge.

"Ah, I can’t walk yet, so you guys gather around me," Zein waved his hand to beckon them closer. Like the good chicks that they were, the guides plopped down around him; more curious than confused now.

Chuckling inwardly, Zein took out his white staff and the guides parted their lips in amazement. "Oh! That’s the one? The Saint’s staff?" they clamored excitedly, aah-ing and ooh-ing around Zein while the older espers watched them amusedly.

"Yes, yes--calm down for a bit," Zein raised his hand and the guides instantly quieted down, even straightening their back in attention. He couldn’t help but smile, realizing it had been awhile since he was with all of his kids.

Well, the other six guides were recuperating in the tent behind them, so it would still count.

"Listen," Zein shifted to sit a bit better. He didn’t have to do it though, since all of them had already been listening. "As you can see, there are a lot of dungeon gates that need to be cleared. The only guides who can work for now are you, however, so you have to work hard and being smart about it."

The guides, young and sincere, nodded.

"From now on, you’ll bear the responsibility of keeping our espers clean," Zein channeled his mana to the staff and a warm light enveloped the surprised guides. The blue eyes swept across them one by one, and Zein ended his simple pep talk with another boost. "I trust you."

"Yes, Captain!"

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