Endless Fog Monkeys and the Turtle's Desperate Spin
"Fog Monkey." Hearing that name, I clicked my tongue. They were quite infamous magical beasts. They dwelled in thick mana-infused fog, slaughtering anything that entered without mercy. They weren't particularly strong, but their nature made them notorious. Just like the corpse that vanished moments ago, as long as the fog persisted, the monkeys would revive endlessly.
Fighting beasts that kept assaulting from the mana fog without end was no easy task. And when there were not just one or two, but hundreds or thousands? Even more so.
"Judging by the fog, there are at least thousands. Everyone, stay alert." Hongryeong said coolly.
Everyone released their mana. Sensing the movement, cries and killing intent began rippling from the fog.
But the monkeys didn't charge recklessly. Having seen they couldn't harm the turtle earlier, they seemed to be probing for an opening.
There were two ways to deal with these endless monkeys. First, clear all the fog. Without it, they couldn't revive. Or second, punch through and escape. They wouldn't be able to pursue us then.
The easiest and fastest was to just break out now. I urged the turtle faster. No more delays. We had to escape this fog no matter what.
"Ebron, what's the most vital part of this doll?" Hongryeong asked.
He must have had the same idea. He seemed to sense our time to choose was running out in this fog.
"Ignore the shell. Just protect the legs and head."
I answered through the doll beside him. I also channeled mana into the turtle. Its speed picked up steadily.
Only then did the monkeys grow frantic, starting to swarm. Had their scouting ended? Dozens, then hundreds leaped from the trees, clinging to the turtle's body.
No time left.
"Then I'll take the front. I'll guard the head and front legs." Hongryeong said, riding his wind fish. Without waiting for replies, he headed to the turtle's head.
Hovering near it, he calmly scanned the surroundings.
"Hmph, I hate dealing with these. But it's the exam, after all."
Eily turned and headed to the rear. Blood seeped from her hands like a waterfall, forming a small pool. Satisfied, she returned to her spot.
These two exuded leisure even in this chaos. No way their sections would breach.
That left dealing with the hordes clinging everywhere.
"You two, cover the flanks?" I said through a doll to the remaining pair.
Shaking Rope and Siger split without hesitation, heading to the sides.
The monkeys surged all at once. They first tried clinging to the shell and charging blindly but gave up on its thickness.
Instead, they targeted the obvious vulnerabilities—the head and legs, just as I'd feared.
Damn. With more budget and time, I could've made it ignore that and plow through.
Groups climbed the legs to halt its massive momentum; others lunged at the head. With every step, black swarms intensified around it.
Hongryeong at the head repelled Fog Monkeys with wind magic while slashing with blades of air. Monkeys on the legs lost limbs to those blades.
Since killing them was pointless, it was a brilliant way to dislodge them.
"Try not to kill if possible—just suppress. They'll revive anyway." Hongryeong relayed the strategy through a doll to the team.
"Hmm, not killing is tough. But I'll try." Eily whined.
A doll poured her tea, which she sipped before flicking her fingers. Mana bloomed from her fingertips, drawing a rose-shaped magic circle that sank into the blood pool.
Empowered, the pool turned slimy. It clung to a leg, growing as it engulfed monkeys, melting them instantly.
"Ah, oops. Killed 'em." Eily flicked again. Smaller roses bloomed and settled in. The pool shuddered, splitting into tiny blobs that spread, dissolving limbs.
Cold sweat trickled down. Horrific. If that magic turned on the turtle? The shell might hold, but legs or head would melt.
"So, when do we break out?" Siger shouted, battling climbers on the flank. Military-honed, he wielded body strength and practical spells masterfully. His massive spear—pulled from who-knows-where—swept monkeys away with heavy, decisive force.
I roughly calculated. They swarmed only after the fog thickened enough. If this was the center, we'd need to cover the entry distance again to escape.
Fog appeared about an hour ago, but with the turtle absorbing my mana, time was cut.
"Fastest thirty minutes, latest an hour!" I yelled through the doll on him.
"Haha, easy then. Good warmup!" Siger boomed, laughing heartily as he swung.
His side seemed secure too. That left Shaking Rope.
She just stood there. But monkeys around her trembled and collapsed.
What the...? I blinked. She grinned maniacally at black smoke from her fingertips. No trace of her earlier timidity.
The smoke devoured the surrounding fog. Inside, monkeys aged, went blind, fell ill—instantly. Potent curse. Her side was a joke; monkeys seemed pitiful.
Good so far. Everyone held firm. Just endure till we escaped.
Time passed. All leisurely repelled monkeys from their posts. Limbless ones rained off the turtle. Fog thinned; numbers dwindled.
Almost over? As tension eased—
The front leg sank into the ground with a thud. These monkeys dug traps. Smarter than expected. Unable to breach our plan, they changed tactics.
The leg twisted; the massive body tilted forward. The turtle toppled. Ground quaked; it bellowed.
No—my precious baby!
I'd been overconfident knowing the path. Focused on fog density, ignored the ground. My huge oversight.
Instantly, overwhelming monkeys swarmed. Their new plan was clear: the height atop trees hindered attacks. Trap lowered it, letting them pile on.
Frowning at the monkey deluge blinding the front.
Defenses breached. No point suppressing now—Hongryeong unleashed wind blades in a frenzy. His mana roared fiercely.
But monkeys feared no death, charging fiercer against the gales. Ignoring lives, they clung to legs, ripping scales to prevent rising.
This was their final push: trap us, then sacrifice all.
Monkeys poured like rain. We held, but time would doom us to failure.
Turtle tried rising but slumped heavily. Leg wounds weakened it. No more movement.
Hmm, have to use that. Hated wrecking the turtle so much, but no choice.
"Everyone, gather by Eily. We're breaking out fast."
Hesitation brief. Relayed to team.
Siger voiced concern. "What about the monkeys?!"
"Leave 'em."
I replied calmly. They swiftly abandoned posts, converging.
"So, what's the plan?" Siger asked, wiping sweat. A doll offered a wet cloth; he stared, then took it, cleaning his face.
"One sec—protecting turtle first. Then come to me; relax."
I maneuvered. Head and legs retracted into shell. Monkeys pursued, but I sealed all holes by morphing it. No breaching that wall.
Simultaneously, their floor dropped, ushering them inside the turtle—to my workshop.
Never planned hosting here... Bitter smile. My carelessness caused this. No traps, no ordeal. My responsibility.
Unavoidable.
They entered soon, eyeing surroundings. Eily inspected my recent dolls curiously. Others approached me sipping tea by the workbench.
Servant dolls offered chairs. They sat naturally; dolls poured tea.
Siger scowled. "While we slaved, you lounged."
I waved it off. "Misunderstanding. I was steering till now. Just resting since no need."
Siger tsked, displeased.
"Why gather us?" Hongryeong asked. Despite massive mana output, no fatigue showed. He could escape solo now, his poise said.
"Fog's nearly done. My senses say ten minutes."
"Split up?" Hongryeong raised a brow.
I shook head. "No—my fault, so I'll get you out."
"How? Dolls wrecked?" Siger asked, intrigued.
"These show just some functions. Securing you—it's bumpy ahead. Or skip; just bracing."
Dolls showed soft cloth. With permission, bound them to chairs. Finished dolls melted into one wall—bracing for frenzy.
Hearing shell thumps, I rocked the body fore-aft. Ignoring attacks, it tilted like waves.
Then, momentum flipped it sideways. Workshop tilted too.
"Dizzy? Stabilize innards with mana." I warned ahead. Faces showed varied dread imagining it.
Turtle spun like a top. Deep trap kept it pivoting fiercely. I ramped speed heedless.
Finally, it burst from the pit, rolling, pulverizing all—trees, rocks, monkeys.
How far? Fog suddenly cleared. End neared.
Farther, fully out—I released them outside.
"Urk... stomach..." Shaking Rope bolted to a corner, vomiting pent-up nausea.
"Haha, fun!" Siger roared laughing. Eily nodded agreement.
"Why not use sooner?!" Siger teased.
Emotions plain on his face, actions. Experience taught me.
"Haha, too consumptive. Unstable too, as felt. No leg injury, no need."
Smiled outside; inwardly wept blood. Seedling wailed sadly. Intense spin wrecked shell magic badly. Full fix? Day's focus.
Steep mountains still ahead. Halfway only.
Checked time: six hours since start.
All smiled bitterly. Task far from quick.
Refocused on turtle. Extended hidden head, legs. Thud shook ground. Battle scars clear: scales half-torn, innards gouged to circuits.
"Can't move now?" Siger asked.
"No, quick fix. Rest easy."
Ample materials—trees everywhere. Mobile soon enough.
Defense weaker now. But speed fine.
Turtle spat dolls. They efficiently reset table, chairs, snacks.
Eily plopped, sipping happily—face said so.
Hongryeong sat slowly, enjoying.
"Hm, time left—rest fine." Siger said. Others joined, relaxing.
Deep sigh, inspected wounds. Collect nearby wood, repair piecemeal.
Who knew how many more incidents till goal.