Chapter 7: Vampire Mosquito Bat
“So what do we do now?” Brat took the initiative to ask. Concerning the Magic Net, he subconsciously thought that a knowledgeable Wizard would have more insight.
“Your idea is fine. Underground Creatures mostly dislike light. We’ll hide on Dust Eagle Mountain tonight, but we can’t stay in Baldur’s Gate for long.
The underground is barren and cruel. Once the Duergar come up, they definitely won’t leave easily. The sentries won’t leave the Upper City, the Flame Fist may not be reliable, and we must escape from here. Passively waiting might be even worse.
Tomorrow we’ll go to Dragon Bridge. There’s a Flame Fist Fortress there. Once we cross the Chongsa River, we’ll be safe.” Anse pondered.
“I’ll follow your lead.” Brat nodded slightly. Leaving was indeed safer.
Dragon Bridge is southeast of Dust Eagle Mountain. For Underground Creatures to get there, they must circle most of the way around the mountain from the north, passing through several Outer City areas, which is impossible so quickly.
“However,” Anse changed the subject, his expression complex, “before that, I need to go save my parents first. They’re in the Sow’s Hoof District. You don’t need to come with me. We’ll split up tomorrow morning.”
He didn’t have much feeling for the original owner’s parents. The memories were like slides, not complete, making it hard to empathize with the original owner’s emotions.
But if there was a chance, he still wanted to try to save them. Ignoring it completely would leave a knot in his heart.
However, if they encountered danger, he would definitely prioritize self-preservation.
“I’ll go with you.” Brat didn’t hesitate. “The Sow’s Hoof District isn’t far from Dragon Bridge. They should be fine.”
“I hope so. How are you recovering?” Anse felt a trace of urgency. The darker it got, the worse it was for them.
“No problem. I can fight and run. Don’t underestimate a Warrior’s recovery ability.” Brat tied his hair with a rag strip, looking spirited and capable.
“Let’s go.” Anse stood up, grabbed his Staff, and walked outside.
Brat voluntarily picked up the Bundle, secured it, overtook Anse in a few steps, and walked ahead holding his sword.
Night had fallen, cold moonlight spilled down, making the Chongsa River sparkle, but the surroundings were ruined walls and debris everywhere, littered with corpses, like hell.
“Don’t go through Cliff Gate. Follow the Chongsa River into the Rolled Area.” After hurrying dozens of steps, Anse reminded in a low voice.
Brat understood and immediately turned south.
Duergar are a Sentient Race and very likely to occupy key intersections, waiting for humans to deliver themselves.
These fleeing crowds usually carry valuables and Food, saving the time for looting and packing.
Advancing several hundred meters, the Buildings became sparse, lacking cover. A mostly collapsed City Wall lay ahead.
At the largest gap, Brat suddenly stopped, sniffing, his gaze sweeping over the sticky dirt on the Stones, his eyes full of Vigilance.
Anse also Perceived something unusual: “Change spots.”
Brat nodded slightly, held his sword, and slowly retreated. After leaving more than ten meters, he continued south along the City Wall.
A few curses came from the Darkness. Both quickened their pace. Escaping was urgent now; they couldn’t tangle with them.
Where there is Calamity, there is human disaster. What could be worse than people?
With this Experience, Brat deliberately chose a half-collapsed City Wall section, littered with rubble, uneven, hard to traverse, but safer.
Brat was indeed a Warrior; his Athleticism was far superior to Anse’s. Carrying a large Bundle, scouting the path, climbing and jumping, and occasionally stopping to stay Vigilant, while waiting for Anse.
Anse secretly mocked himself, admitting he had been fooled by Brat’s initial wretched appearance.
In the game, you could become a Professional even with poor Attributes, but reality is different. Without Talent, it’s impossible. Nobles and major Organizations won’t waste precious resources on wastes.
Unless you’re lucky enough!
“Careful!” Brat’s voice was urgent.
Anse instinctively dove and rolled.
The next moment, a black shadow whizzed over his head, so fast it was invisible, leaving a faint bloody smell in the air.
【You are attacked by a Mosquito Bat, miss…】Combat log flashes by.
Anse was startled. Mosquito Bats are gregarious Creatures.
He gripped his Staff tightly, scanned around, but didn’t spot a swarm of Mosquito Bats, only hearing faint wing flaps from above.
“What the hell?” Brat was also attacked, but his Perception and Reaction were faster.
He dropped the Bundle, jumped to Anse’s side in a few steps, and stood back-to-back on Vigilance.
“Mosquito Bats, blood-sucking gregarious Creatures.” Anse drew a Wooden Stick enchanted with Light from his bosom but didn’t uncover the black cloth.
Brat looked up and observed for a moment, finding no other danger: “Seems like just two.”
“They might have gotten separated, or maybe they’re blood-drunk.” Anse speculated.
Mosquito Bats live on the fresh blood of living Creatures, with little intelligence. After coming to the surface, seeing humans so easy to bully, it’s no surprise they’re rampant everywhere.
“They haven’t left.”
“We’ll go. You seize the opportunity.”
“Got it.”
The two advanced slowly. Brat carried the Bundle behind Anse, waiting for the “opportunity” to arrive.
Anse was calm. Mosquito Bats are weak, their attacks not lethal, and he had Shield. The moment he was hit, he could trigger Force Shield.
Just as they were about to enter the Dust Eagle Mountain area, the two Mosquito Bats could no longer hold back and pounced from the air almost simultaneously.
Brat paused: “Here they come—”
Before the words finished, Anse yanked off the black cloth. Light instantly dispersed the Darkness, illuminating two strange species like a mix of large bats and large mosquitoes.
Mosquito Bats fear light. The sudden brightness startled them, forcing them to change their Flight maneuvers to escape.
“Swish—”
Sword light flashed, slicing one Mosquito Bat in two, blood splattering in a trail.
（Ray of Frost）
A white Ray shot from Anse’s palm, instantly hitting the other Mosquito Bat.
The Mosquito Bat stiffened, white frost spreading over it. It thudded to the ground, wings twitching twice, then still.
【You cast Ray of Frost on the Mosquito Bat. The enemy is in startled status. Mosquito Bat hit, takes 4 Cold damage, critical hit, Target Death. Gain 25 Combat Experience…】
Brat, not reassured, stepped forward and pinned it to the ground with a sword thrust.
“So ugly.” Only now did he see the Mosquito Bat’s full appearance.
Shaped like a bat, but with a needle-like long beak, entirely scarlet red, black fuzz on the head and back, many claws, and a long tail.
Anse rewrapped the glowing Wooden Stick tightly and tucked it into his bosom.
“Hurry, let’s go.” With that, he picked up his Staff and walked.
Light aids Combat but might attract danger.
“Sigh,” Brat glanced at the Mosquito Bat corpses on the ground, sighed, picked up the Bundle, and followed.
“From my Adventure Experience, Mosquito Bats are definitely top-notch Magic Materials. It’s a pity to leave them.”
“Survive first.” Anse felt it strange. He hadn’t expected the cautious and careful-looking Brat to be quite greedy. Was it an Adventurer’s common ailment?
“You don’t understand. Without money, you can’t take a single step.” Brat thought of his entire fortune turned to bubbles, his heart aching.
“We’ll figure out something tomorrow.”
“This… I hope we don’t run into the Flame Fist. They never listen to explanations…”
Over the collapsed City Wall was Dust Eagle Mountain. At the foot was the Outer City-Rolled Area. They walked the whole way without lights or people.
One day after the disaster, those who could run had already fled.
Anse didn’t go deep into the City District but followed the Chongsa River east, finally finding some refugee crowds at the cliffside cemetery.
The two didn’t stop, entering Dust Eagle Mountain, crossing a ridge, and stopping in a hidden Mountain Hollow at a high point.
There was a small Woodland here, plus the mountain blocking, enough to obstruct other Creatures’ Gaze.
Anse used his Staff like a stick to check for snakes in the grass, then dropped his Backpack, plopped down on the ground, and exhaled heavily.
“Should be safe now.”
Brat placed the Bundle beside him, held his Longsword to clear the area, and cut branches to make simple Alarm devices.
Anse had Survival Skills and some Wilderness Survival knowledge, but he didn’t move.
Now he just felt hungry, tired, and mentally exhausted. Casting Cantrips wasn’t without cost.
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