268 [BONUS] The End of the Deal

Sharina quickly pulled out her knife hidden in her boots. The pointy end of the blade struck her throat just in time for Zukulum to strike Sharina's hand with her staff, which prompted the latter to let go of her blade, saving her life for a new hollow day.

"Leave me alone, Zukulum," Sharina said it as a command, but it came out as a plea.

"Killing yourself is not the answer, Sharina."

"I have nothing more to live."

"Yes, you do . . . the clan needs you. Now . . . more than ever."

". . ." Sharina's lifeless eyes shot to the Orcs that were staring at her with looks of pleading, expressions full of hopeless grief.

A pulse of pain numbed everything around Sharina, and her heart went colder than ice, leaving her unable to feel anything. It might be a good thing. It would help in the days to come.

Through shallow breaths and sweating brows, Sharina struggled forward, the numbness in her limbs begging her to stumble, and the only thing that pressed her to move forward and face a future without her kids was her clan members.

And it was that time that they had defeated the Night Thing that Ragnar emerged from the dead. Since they had completed the quest, he could now revive in town.

"Thank you all for your help," Sharina said to Ren and the others without an ounce of energy left. If she weren't breathing, the others wouldn't know that she was alive.

With the death of her son and daughter, she seemed like a walking corpse, and the once proud Orc would never be the same again.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't give you the reward you so deserve . . . we are . . . currently facing so many problems at this time. But you're free to visit our clan anytime in the future."

[Your relationship level with Sharina has increased to FRIENDS!]

[Your relationship level with the inhabitants of Twin Moon Axe Clan has increased to FRIENDS!]

<REWARDS:

❶ 100,000 EXP (Sharable)

❷ 100,000 Gil (Sharable)

❸ Crystal Chest x1

❹ Platinum Chest x1

❺ Gold Chest x2 >

<YES>

<NO>

The three immediately pressed <NO>.

[ CONGRATULATIONS to player **** on getting first blood from defeating the Hidden Boss, THE NIGHT THING! ]

Came the notifications were loud noises in the chat room. Ren, Evie, and Ragnar didn't mind it since they were busy with their loot, the EXP, and Gil they got.

The three agreed to open the chests, and what stumbled before them were recipes, scrolls, potions, pieces of equipment, and items.

The most valuable was, of course, the [Skill Book] in the Crystal Chest. The [The Crimson Crawler] and [Savage Scavenger] in the Platinum chest that only Orcs could equip.

The [Crimson Crawler] was an armor set made from the Night Thing's thick scales. Its shoulder blades, as well as its boots, were like a centipede crawling onto your arms and legs. It added a boost of +500 HP, +70 DEF, +20 MDF, +10 AGL, and -5 LCK.

Whereas the [Savage Scavenger] was a terrifying weird-looking axe. It had a thick log as a handle with a bone of a dragon on top. Its blades were like jagged, sharp feathers lining half its length. As weird as it was, it added +40 STR, -10 INT, and +10 LCK.

It was a sick armor and weapon to have at this stage in the game.

It looked like Ragnar would have a major upgrade in equipment.

Of course, since Ragnar was the client, all chests belonged to him. But he decided that the recipes, scrolls, and some items should be shared amongst them.

"Where's the mask?" Ragnar asked, confused with a frown on his face. There was no mask in the list of items they received.

Ren fished the [Blood Rage] inside a vial container from the items and showed it to Ragnar. It looked like blood inside a crystal jar and felt ominous and foul. "We'll get that mask. Let's just wait."

"We better. Because I don't want all this trouble and these items, I just want the mask."

"Then give me the equipment and book," Ren grinned.

Ragnar gave him a pointed look. "I'd rather sell it than give it to you."

"You're so rich. You don't need the money."

While the two argue, Evie noticed that there was a weird shadow moving in the forest after the Orcs left the area.

"That's . . ." she gasped when she had a clear view of their new companion, and she jabbed a finger toward its direction.

"Ah," Ren released a large breath, "finally! We can finally be done and over with this quest."

Ragnar's guard went up. "That's . . . the Old Hag."

"Are we going to defeat it?" Evie didn't like the prospect one bit. The Old Hag was more powerful than the Night Thing, and not even a group of Orcs could defeat it.

"Relax." Ren stepped towards the Old Hag, and the latter's creepy smile almost tore its face in half, opaque eyes in the vial that Ren held.

"I see that Shurna failed to get her wish," she said, voice throaty and happy at the outcome.

"Aren't they all?" Ren replied without care.

At that point, the Old Hag's eyes shot to Ren, and her face went serious. "That vial you hold is invaluable in your hands. But in mine, I could turn it into something . . . dangerously beautiful."

Her voice was like that of an old lady with one foot in the grave, but it felt weirdly energetic.

"Is that so?" Ren pretended to look at the red potion in his hands and shrugged. "Then what will you trade me for it?"

Evie and Ragnar looked at each other. Both couldn't help but be on alert in case there was an [Engaged] prompting on their screen.

But against all odds, the Old Hag only laughed while the foul liquids on the cauldron on her back swayed and splattered on the ground.

Evie and Ragnar were about to launch an attack, but there were no golems that emerged on the ground, and they held their stance. They didn't let down their guard, though.

"I like you, Sprite." The Old Hag laughed a bit before saying, "For you, I'll trade it for one of my best creations. Take a look and pick your poison."

"I want the maw," Ren said without a second delay. The other items were enticing and all, but he had a promise to fulfil.

The Old Hag peeked under her white lashes with one eyes bigger than the other. "Hmm . . . are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Done." The Old Hag snatched the vial in Ren's hand.

After giving the maw to Ren, the Old Hag was too focused on the red vial to even care about them. All it wanted was to get to her lair and do some . . . brewing and experiments.

Laughing creepily, the Old Hag went the opposite way, shoulders shaking and muttering to herself like a crazy person until its body steadily disappeared into the darkness.

Ragnar took a deep breath. "I don't want to see her again."

Evie nodded. "Same."

"Here." Ren threw the maw in Ragnar's way, and the latter caught it without a hitch.

"I held my end of the deal. Hope you held yours."