Chapter 203: Chapter203-Heavy Casualties
Although most of the monsters had been slain, there were still some that slipped through the net.
John and his group efficiently cleared these remnants.
These monsters posed a significant threat compared to those in the logistics department.
Any delay in clearing them could lead to unnecessary casualties.
Surveying the bodies strewn across the ground, John couldn't help but sit down and gasp for breath.
The dizziness from the drunken debuff was still intense, making him feel as if the world was spinning, and he was on the verge of vomiting—an incredibly uncomfortable sensation.
Rosalind, after taking a short rest, came over to check on John, her relief palpable when she found no severe issues.
"Let's head back," she suggested.
"The cleanup crew will be here shortly, and it seems like the items dropped by the two elite monsters today might be quite valuable."
Taking a deep breath, Rosalind began to contemplate the situation, knowing some matters needed to be addressed promptly.
John stared blankly at her, having been running on adrenaline until now, he felt even worse after everything had settled.
"You... why do you have two heads? Are you a monster?"
Rosalind, perplexed by John's continuous staring, was just about to ask what was going on when she heard his bizarre question, prompting her to roll her eyes in frustration.
"I really shouldn't have come down to save you!" she exclaimed, walking away in disbelief.
She had risked her life to save John, and now here he was, spouting nonsense, leaving her utterly speechless.
The logistics team members, noticing John sitting there, dazed and chuckling foolishly from time to time, also found themselves torn between laughter and tears.
They quickly escorted John back to rest properly before beginning to clean up the battlefield.
However, the loot from the battlefield this time was indeed substantial—sixty energy stones dropped by the six elite monsters!
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Although they were only of common quality, they were certainly sufficient for their needs.
Archibald stood atop the high wall, gazing towards the direction of the other two fortresses, a wave of worry washing over him.
If there were six elite monsters here, did that mean the other fortresses might be facing elite monsters too?
They had managed to overcome these creatures thanks to John, but the other fortresses might not have the same strategy.
Should they go and help?
After all, they were in a situation where the fate of one was linked to the others.
A problem at one fortress could mean trouble at the others as well.
They absolutely couldn't let that happen.
But then...
Archibald glanced at John, who was being carried back still dazed, and sighed.
John was currently the strongest combatant they had.
Now that John was in such a state, even if they wanted to help, they couldn't.
They would have to manage their own affairs first.
John's head was spinning terribly, feeling as if everything before him was swirling around.
His tolerance for alcohol was actually quite good in reality, but he hadn't anticipated that the drunken debuff experience would be intensified in this secret realm.
Now, he was completely dizzy and disoriented, everything appeared blurry.
The worst part was that this buff couldn't be dispelled; he simply had to wait it out for an hour.
John decided to do nothing and just lay down on the ground.
The people around him tread lightly, seeing his condition, and genuinely wanted John to rest well.
He had never felt an hour pass so slowly.
He felt as if he had drunk counterfeit booze, dizzy beyond belief, yet there was no other remedy.
Finally, when the hour was up, he gingerly rose from the ground, holding his head.
It had to be said, the realism of this experience was uncanny; his head still ached.
He suddenly felt that he might never drink again once he got out—this feeling was just too nauseating!
"How are things now?"
Archibald had been standing by, so John asked directly.
"The situation inside the fortress is quite good, no significant damage, mostly just what happened this morning, but it's all manageable now," Archibald responded.
"We also found that the loot dropped by the six elite monsters is indeed better than ours; they gave us sixty energy stones. But I have a feeling that things might change tomorrow."
Everyone had a sense of crisis, feeling that this incident had already exceeded their expectations.
And they all somewhat understood that things would only get more challenging day by day.
"Should we keep the protective shield up then? Just leave it on," John suggested, though his tone was more assertive than inquiring.
It would only cost about twenty energy stones a day, but it could save a lot of trouble later on, which is actually a good thing for them.
"Don't worry, just the sixty energy stones we got today are enough for our needs," assured Archibald.
As long as no super bosses attack later on, there should be no problem.
John noticed a flickering blue light in the direction of the other two fortresses, signaling they were still under attack.
He wanted to help, but his current condition made it impossible for him to go there.
He asked in the group chat, only to find that the others were too busy to respond.
They had the help of monkeys on their side, and having dealt with the elite monsters, the monster tide had ended early.
However, the same might not be true for the other fortresses.
If they couldn't defeat the elite monsters ahead of time, they would have to wait until the elite monsters were dead to end the siege.
This was a crucial point for them.
He hoped the others would be smart enough to focus on killing the six elite monsters first.
Isabella, being a fire-based magus, should have an attack bonus against the Frost Giant.
He hoped she would notice something off that could provoke them into attacking each other.
Although John had voiced this, there was still no response from the others.
After resting for an hour, he saw that the other side was still in the thick of battle.
Unable to sit still, he instructed, "I'm going to check out what's happening at the second and third fortresses. Hold the fort here and contact me immediately if anything arises."
Archibald nodded, "Do you want me to arrange for some people to accompany you?"
After all, they all knew that John going alone could be dangerous.
It might be better to have a few more people with him for support.
"I'll come with you," Rosalind stepped forward at this moment, her eyes calm and without any particular gleam, yet her demeanor was resolute.
"No need, I can handle..." John began.
"I won't hold you back, and are you sure you can rely on your skills to cool down every time you're in danger?" Rosalind's simple statement effectively silenced John.
It seemed she had a point.
"Then come with me, don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you," John assured her gravely.
After all, a real problem now could be disastrous.
Rosalind's lips twitched slightly, "Just take care of yourself!"
She was never anyone's burden or hindrance; she was just herself, radiant and formidable.
Archibald watched as Rosalind and John stood on the head of the Thorned Rock Serpent, speeding towards the distance.
He couldn't help but worry.
Nothing must go wrong, he thought, or else the entire fortress would descend into madness.
As John was about to cast a Wind Shield for Rosalind to shield her from the chilling winds faced at high speed, he realized she had already prepared for the cold.