Bro, I'm not an Undead!

A crisp slap had brought about the repentance of a certain burly man who wore a deep smile that almost split his face in half!

Stylla and Fore were lost for words.

What manner of bizarre skill was this?!

Even though they didn't have time to waste with questioning this, their faces said it clearly.

It was natural to assume that something had happened to him but trying to figure it out now would only serve to distant them from the incoming enemies.

Bron just stood there like a statue, his flightless hair doing loosely nested on his head while he he nothing else but show a happy expression.

The surprise in Skullius was even more palpable as when he looked at the status of the smiling man who looked to had been baptised to a new faith, he saw something more or less unnerving.

~~~

[Inv. Status : At peace]

~~~

Just like the ever calm Mountain Sage Monkeys, Bron was now 'at peace'. Whatever that meant.

Stylla didn't remain still for long, gaping at the sudden change as she dashed to rip apart the weaker Monkeys without mercy before the Tier 3 ones arrived.

Frankly, while she was concerned about the fate of her partners, it was supercifial, with more of the emphasis lying on Skullius, whose value was greater than the other two.

She turned to him who was also being assaulted by the monkeys and narrowed her eyes. She would keep him well within her sights despite the bullshit conditions he proposed. He was important to her now despite her declaration at the Association. She needed his help now that she knew his potential.

Blood rained under the eyes of the Tier 3 Monkey Sages who split to attack Stylla, Skullius and Fore!

Stylla's eyes blazed as the mana around her roared ferociously!

Tens of the stronger monkeys ran towards her with eyes that depicted the coldness of true, untainted belief, eager to deliver repentance with but a slap!

Their mouths moved with incomprehensible words coming from them but one would assume that they were chanting, "You too shall know the slap."

'These ones seem to have a skill that negates damage instead of redistributing it. I assume its a stronger version of what the smaller monkeys use. While it is a gamble.... I feel like it's worth it... if these beasts are that confident in their skills, then I'm confident in mine!' Stylla thought as she seized bullying the weaker Monkeys and rushed to meet the incoming wave of Tier 3s.

The one in the lead leapt with its hands linked together, the others following at full speed with glares of rebuke.

Stylla came to a halt and wielded her sword with both hands, brighter shades of red and blue lighting up on her sword beautifully as thick billows of steam erupted with a resounding 'pfffssssss'!

The hot white steam blew outwards and the sheer intensity of the scorching moisture and the pressure it bore destroyed the white vegetation around and outright killed the weaker Monkeys with its sudden emergence!

The Tier 3 Monkeys rushed into the expansive steam fearlessly, the one leading the charge suddenly shuddering as with its entry, it saw a saber coated in blue and red swipe down at it!

The speed of strike was incredible, guaranteeing that it wouldn't be able to dodge.

So, the creature stood there and tanked it like a Sage while locking its fingers desperately!

VWOOOOSH!

Instead of the crisp cracking of the ground underneath being heard, the expansive steam from which this fight took place was the one that screamed and drew back with greater intensity!

The result of Stylla's attack was less than desirable, the lead monkey that had just taken the attack having nothing but a daunting, bleeding red line from its mouth to its belly; a shallow cut from Stylla's powerful sword slash!

Most of her attack was negated!

"Ha..." Stylla sighed as she drew back within the thick mist that made her figure with red, curly hair more extravagant.

She swiped her sword left and right while thinking of the best way to salvage the situation..

'Guess I can't keep holding back then...' she thought as the qualitative change in her mana took effect.

On the other hand, Fore had rushed off in a different direction, wanting to steer clear of Stylla's steam which could do him harm.

Some of the Tier 3 monkeys dashed towards him, attempting to do what they did to Bron, to him.

'Damn it! I hope that bastard is alright. Hopefully killing whichever of these did that to him to will bring him back to reality...' he thought.

He and Bron had been friends for a while, having joined Stylla on her request for a temporary party up just recently.

In that short time though, he had understood what kind of person she was and their teamwork would be considered decent, especially with the addition of Skullius, though he preferred to be distant.

The tall and thin man suddenly stopped, turned and stretched out his hand towards the monkeys!

His eyes opened wide as he exerted the strength of his mind over the group of monkeys!

The ground shattered as a force akin to ten fold gravity pummelled the monkeys into the ground, making their bodies crouch under the weight!

'Here it comes!' Fore growled in his mind as he was bashed by a portion of the feedback as among the monkeys included in his attack, some were the weaker ones redirecting the force of the attack!

The monkeys had their movements restricted but the Tier 3 ones tensed their muscles as they resisted, gazing forward as they shook their heads, withstanding much of the force!

However, this was enough for Fore who burst ahead, pulled his other hand towards a rather lean tree which then swayed in his direction, tearing off from the ground and flying over to him with psychokinesis before he wielded it and smashed it towards one the Tier 3 monkeys!

A horrendous air force blew as the trunk of the tree met a monkey's face, the structure shattering into many fragments!

The monkey resisted!

However, Fore wasn't disheartened!

The dispersing parts of the tree were suddenly pulled together, especially the particularly sharp ones, raining down onto the monkey mercilessly!

Hundreds of sharp spikes fired towards the monkey which kept its hands together confidently!

Another one of the monkeys took the chance to dash towards Fore and attempt to slap him but he was aware of his enemies' positions and dodged!

The thin man breathed out a sigh, his bangs jutting up.

'I wish the merits of my choice to strengthen both my mind and body would show already. My mental attacks are pathetic...' he thought as his body surged with mana. 'Oh well... might as well hit them hard with what I got.'

The Discount Human on the other hand was relying heavily on [Great Rush] while scaling down the mountain, several of the monkeys hot on his tail!

The look on his face didn't hide what he was feeling; wide eyes taking in every detail with his teeth clenched in tension.

He was anxious.

'This is not how I thought this would play out, damn it!'

Skullius had been of the mind that this would be a slightly harder than normal Cluster given that it was classified as a weak one.

However, the gap between this one and the Sunlight Shooters Clusters was vast.

The Cluster General hadn't even shown up for skull's sake!

Skullius peeked behind him where his enemies were rapidly closing in.

'Should I use [Revenant Flames of Ecstasy]? No, that probably won't work! If they can redirect the damage or negate it completely then.... wait! No, the flames can't hurt me! But still... I might end up wasting mana with no results!' Skullius thought.

At this current moment, he had over 550 points of mana with the Mana Band on which would be cut up if he wasted them on such a skill.

The Discount Human quickly scrolled through his options but was disturbed by the sudden lunge of a monkey whose crusty hand blew towards him intending to deliver a righteous slap!

Skullius immediately had [Artless Dodger] active and his speed was boosted as he ducked and struggled to keep his body balanced for a prolonged run!

'That was close!' Skullius exclaimed as he subconsciously took in a deep breath.

All his offensive moves were useless in the situation.

Most of them couldn't measure up to what he had seen being negated or redirected by the Sage Monkeys.

What was left?!

His party members couldn't come to his rescue even if they wanted to. Probably.

Then what...

'Wait... Gah! I can't afford to think about this anymore! I'd rather survive then try later! That's how a human should think right? Flesh the Task!'

Skullius turned and locked onto a target.

It was worth a shot!

The same monkey that had tried to slap him lunged at him again and in that exact moment, Skullius activated his skill.

[Basic Evil Invasion]!

Ripples of darkness roared from Skullius' body as unlike his previous experience with the skill, he didn't just end up in a different body!

His vision sped towards the head of the subtly aggressive white furred monkey and he felt his consciousness penetrate a thick and murky space that resisted him!

It was vast scape with varying colours that collided, many branches ending in starry sparks that had moving images visible within them showing.

Skullius felt raging emotions of the mind he had invaded and before he even made progress, he was beginning to get pushed back!

"Come on! Wasn't it convenient the last time I used it?!" Skullius roared frustratedly into the darkness.

A mini version of the Mountain Sage Monkey appeared in the far distance, being a silvery outline that looked down on Skullius arrogantly!

"Flesh you!" Skullius roared as he felt the monkey's gaze emitting a force that repelled his consciousness back.

'Not yet!' Skullius thought.

He wouldn't let this life-ridden heathen get a kick out of seeing him fail miserably.

Not like this!

In a spur of the moment action, Skullius roared as he called for help in an all or nothing, risk abundant move!

"Crude World Projection!"