"They are stingers there, they followed us all the way here before the hover showed up. It too dangerous to go back" The archer added.

Bell was not sure which plant was the herd that Astoria told him to pick so it was better to take them up on their offer. But he couldn’t wait any longer.

"I’ll risk it"

.

.

.

As the party approached the pond, the leader signalled them to hide. Bell followed his order, as he moved into the bushes, he saw monster which had attacked the party hovering above the colourful flowers that were close to the pond, each of them hovering from flower to flower before flying away then coming back few seconds later.

"Those monsters are level five stingers" the leader said, pointing at the monsters. "They take pollen from the flowers and take it to their leader"

_i know how bees work_ Bell found himself thinking. _wait, what are bees?_

"Is that the hover we killed or is that another one?" Bell asked and pointed at the monster.

It stood several metres above the rest, as if it was watching over them.

"It’s a different hover" the archer replied. "They serve as guard and watch over the stingers while they take nutrients to their queen"

"If we let the hover see us, it’ll be bad" the healer said.

"That why Richard and I will go around it, the strange guy will attack from the front while Derrick and Rose will provide support for him"

Bell wanted to argue about being called strange but that will only make him be forced to tell them his name so he nodded. The rest nodded and spilt up, with Bell going with Rose and Derrick.

Bell suddenly stopped and quickly looked behind him with his dagger ready.

"Is something wrong?" Rose asked.

"No" Bell replied and kept on crawling through the bushes. "I thought I saw something"

...

Derrick aimed directly at the hover and shot an arrow into its eye. The monster spun around violently, alerting the rest before the leader and Richard jumped from behind and stabbed it other eyes.

Before the stingers to react, Bell rushed out of his hiding spot and slit them in half. By using his [Dash] skill, he was able to move faster than the stingers could see and cut before they could even see him.

The leader and Richard cut down any monsters trying to run away while Derrick shot down anyone that flew too high, and thanks to Rose restore skill, Bell didn’t fell tired neither did his mana run out.

And before long, the fight was over. It was more of a massacre since the monsters had no way to fight back.

The pond and flowers were covered with green blood of the monsters and so did Bell body, unlike the rest of the party, he was the only one In the middle of the fight.

[Player gained 420 exp]

[Exp: 15/200]

[Player’s level has risen to 10]

[Player can now choose a class]

"That was awesome!" The Derrick said as he walked to Bell to hug him but stopped. "On second thought, I’ll just say thanks"

"Thanks for your help" Rose chipped in.

"We would have never been able to fight those things in our own" the leader said. "I’m cliff by the way, I never got to tell you, did I?"

"I’m Bell" it was only fair he introduced himself.

"Thanks again" Richard said.

"Well it’s getting late, and we didn’t even eat breakfast. I’m hungry" Rose grumbled. "My tummy’s growling~"

"Yeah, let’s make something before Rose get grumpy. We wouldn’t want that now" Derrick said in a mockery manner and the rest laughed while Rose tries to defend herself.

Bell stomach growled in the midst of the laughter and they all kept quiet.

Cliff sighed to get Bell’s attention. "Are you sure you want to reject a free meal?"

"I guess not"

The party set up a campsite not too far from the field while Bell and Rose went to pick up some herbs.

"Can you help me pick those, please?"

Bell looked into the distance, deep into the forest. He couldn’t quite see it but he was sure someone or something was there watching him.

"Mr. Bell" Rose said a little more audible as she held his shoulder which made Bell startled.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?" She asked a slightly worried.

"No, I mean yes" Bell sighed and reached out to a mushroom that was closed by. "For a moment, I thought I saw someth..."

Rose suddenly bumped into him and held his arm.

"You shouldn’t touch that. It’s poisonous"

.

.

.

As bell and Rose sat with the rest of the party, he opened his system. One thing he had learned while being with Astoria was that no one else could see it, so he didn’t have to worry about hiding it.

{CURRENT QUEST}

{Find a cure for Ryu and Astoria} 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

{Time left: 20:17:46}

"So you said your name was Bell, right?"

"I’m sorry but as much as I would have love to chat, I can’t" Bell said as he lay against a tree. "I’ve had a long day and I need to leave early"

"Oh, then you can have your rest" Cliff said as he lay down on his sleeping bag. " We’ve all had a long day"

"Oh, understood. Get some rest then," Cliff said, crawling into his own sleeping bag. "We’re all exhausted."

Hours later, in the dead of night, two figures crept forward. Bell was fast asleep as the shadows walk over him, one of them raised up his sword above his head and brought it down with great force aiming at Bell’s neck.

Bell eyes suddenly opened as he pulled out his dagger and blocked the attack, Richard pushed his sword harder as Bell try to push him back.

"Richard , what are you doing?" Rose asked as he woke up.

Bell used to opportunity to push Richard back and jumped on his feet.

"Why are you attacking Mr. Bell?" She asked as she walked closer towards them. "He helped us"

"Rose, stay away! He’s a monster" Cliff yelled at her, he pulled out his sword and pointed it at Bell. "He killed Derrick, he poisoned his meal. We can’t let him live after he killed your brother"

Rose was shocked, it showed on her face. She looked toward the sleeping bag which Derrick had lay on few hours earlier, he was still there, but he wasn’t moving. Rose walked slowly to him and tapped him.

"Derrick?, wake up"