TRAPPED IN GREAT HERO ONLINE

CHAPTER 07

Eldric quickly opened his [Menu Bar] and drew his [Mald Arrow] to face the Plantazel before him. The aura radiating from this Plantazel was entirely different from the one he had encountered in Aldora City. It felt like an intense, killing aura.

"Reast, I'll take care of this monster. You need to protect that girl," Eldric said, calling Rylan by his agreed-upon [Hero] name.

"Ha—Dyne, are you sure you can beat it?! This one looks far more dangerous than the Plantazel in Aldora City!" Rylan responded anxiously.

"If I manage to defeat it, we’ll gain an advantage from this battle, Reast. Remember how I made money before?" Eldric retorted confidently.

"You beat the last Plantazel by sheer luck! This one might kill you! We should retreat, Dyne!"

"Enough! You can’t do much right now, Reast. That’s why you need to focus on what you can do..."

"Damn it! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!"

Eldric understood Rylan's concerns. Even as [Great Hero Dyne], he still didn’t fully comprehend the potential of the [Mald Arrow]. Moreover, losing or dying here would endanger the elf girl and Rylan. Eldric's only chance was to retrieve the healing potion from the monster.

He couldn’t believe he was facing a talking Plantazel. Truthfully, he doubted his chances of winning. Yet, he had no choice. The lives of two people rested on him. If this monster knew the secret behind the Plantazel species, the information could prove invaluable.

“Before we fight, I need to know who you are,” Eldric asked the monster before him.

"Ah, a proper [Hero]. Very well, I’ll comply. My name is Evil Gamma. As you can see, I am unlike any other Plantazel," the creature responded.

“Evil Gamma? How can a Plantazel talk and look so humanoid?”

"You won’t force me to answer unless you defeat me," Gamma replied smugly.

"Fine. My name is Dyne. I am a [Great Hero]."

"I can tell. The power radiating from your weapon is extraordinary. This is my first time facing a legendary [Great Hero]. If one of us wins, the victor deserves a reward from the loser. Does that sound fair?"

"I accept. But don’t harm those behind me until our fight is over."

"I give you my word, Dyne."

Thus, [Great Hero Dyne] faced off against Evil Gamma. The stakes were high, yet the battle's outcome was unpredictable. Rylan could only watch, uneasy about the fight’s proximity to him and the injured elf girl. A misplaced attack could endanger them both.

"Reast, right? Find somewhere safe. I won’t be held responsible if my attacks hit you," Gamma warned.

"Just do it, Reast. I’ll handle this," Eldric added firmly.

"Damn it. I know. Don’t do anything reckless," Rylan muttered, his worry evident.

"Trust me," Eldric reassured him.

Carrying the injured elf girl, Rylan cast a glance back at Eldric, who was preparing to battle Evil Gamma. He could do nothing but protect the girl and pray that Eldric survived.

"Now then, will you hold back, Dyne?"

"Stop joking! You should worry about yourself," Eldric snapped, readying a magical arrow.

"You act tough, but you can't match me yet. You don’t even understand your weapon's true power."

"Shut up! I’ll uncover all your secrets!"

"By all means, try," Gamma taunted.

Eldric loosed a magical arrow at Evil Gamma. To his surprise, the monster didn’t dodge or retaliate. What was it planning?

BOOM!

The arrow struck its mark, causing a small explosion. Eldric assumed that Gamma couldn’t have survived such a hit. But then he realized something.

"Ah, no! The healing potion it carried must’ve been destroyed too!" Eldric exclaimed in panic.

“Is this all the power of a so-called legendary [Great Hero]?”

"Huh?" Eldric looked up to see Gamma standing, only slightly injured. Not even one of Gamma’s roots had been severed.

Rylan watched in disbelief. Eldric’s strength should have been enough to destroy a Plantazel’s body, but Gamma was clearly no ordinary foe.

"Why...?"

"I told you, didn’t I? You can’t defeat me yet," Gamma sneered.

Frustrated, Eldric poured more power into his [Mald Arrow]. This time, a sharp white arrow materialized—similar to the one he had used to defeat the Plantazel in Aldora City. Eldric clutched the arrow tightly, aiming at Gamma with renewed determination.

BOOM!!

The explosion was massive, damaging the surroundings and sending shockwaves toward Rylan. It was a terrifying display of power. Eldric and Rylan were sure that such an attack must have defeated Gamma.

"Not bad, Dyne..." a voice echoed from the smoke.

"N-No way..." Eldric’s eyes widened in shock.

Gamma emerged, barely scratched, with only a slight crack on its mask and minor damage to its roots.

“You have potential, but you’re still far from mastering your weapon,” Gamma stated calmly.

Eldric was overwhelmed. His strongest attacks had barely affected Gamma. What kind of monster was this?

Eldric quickly opened his [Menu Bar] and drew his [Mald Arrow] to face the Plantazel before him. The aura radiating from the Plantazel he encountered this time was completely different from the one he fought in Aldora City. It felt like an incredibly strong killing aura.

"Reast, I'll fight this monster. You need to protect the girl," Eldric said, calling Rylan by his [Hero] name as per their initial agreement.

"Ha—Dyne, are you sure you can defeat it?! It looks far more dangerous than the Plantazel in Aldora City!" Rylan responded, clearly worried about Eldric.

"If I can defeat it, then we’ll gain an advantage from this fight, Reast. You remember, right? How my money increased before?" Eldric replied confidently.

"You only managed to defeat the last Plantazel by luck! This time, it could kill you! We need to leave, Dyne!"

"Shut up! You can't do anything right now, Reast! That's why you need to do what you can do..."

"Damn it! Don't say I didn’t warn you!"

Eldric understood what Rylan was saying. Even as [Great Hero Dyne], he still didn’t know the true potential of the [Mald Arrow]. Furthermore, if he lost or died here, it would put the elf girl and Rylan’s lives at risk. Eldric’s only chance was to seize the healing potion from the monster.

He still couldn’t believe he was facing a talking Plantazel. Honestly, Eldric wasn’t sure he could win this duel. But he had no choice. This battle determined the fate of two others. If this monster knew the secrets of the Plantazel, the information it had might prove invaluable.

"Before we fight, I need to know who you are," Eldric said to the monster in front of him.

"I see. You are an honorable [Hero]. Fine, I'll tell you. My name is Evil Gamma. As you can see, I am a different kind of Plantazel compared to others," the Plantazel replied.

"Evil Gamma? Why can a Plantazel talk and look human-like?"

"You can’t force me to tell you unless you defeat me," Gamma replied to Eldric.

"Fine. My name is Dyne. I’m a [Great Hero]."

"I can tell. The power radiating from your weapon is unusual. This is my first time fighting a legendary [Great Hero]. If one of us wins, the victor is entitled to take anything from the loser. Does that sound fair?" Gamma offered.

"Fine. I accept. But don’t hurt those behind me before the battle is over."

"I promise, Dyne."

[Great Hero Dyne] faced off against Evil Gamma. Both had agreed upon the terms of the battle, but the outcome was uncertain. Rylan could only watch, worried about the proximity of the fight to him and the injured elf girl. A missed attack from Eldric or Gamma could easily hit them.

"Oi, your name is Reast, right? Find a safe spot. I won’t be responsible if one of my attacks hits you," Gamma warned Rylan, who was trying to protect the elf girl.

"Just do it, Reast. I’ll handle this," Eldric said to Rylan, who was visibly anxious.

"Damn. I know that. Don’t do anything reckless," Rylan replied, his worry clear.

"Trust me," Eldric reassured him.

Rylan picked up the injured elf girl. He glanced back at Eldric, ready to fight Evil Gamma. Rylan knew there was nothing he could do except protect the girl and pray Eldric would survive.

"Now, you won’t hold back, will you, Dyne?"

"Quit joking! Worry about yourself," Eldric retorted, preparing to fire a magical arrow.

"You act tough, but you’re no match for me at the moment. You don’t even understand your weapon’s true power."

"Shut up! I’ll uncover all your secrets!"

"Go ahead and try," Gamma taunted.

Eldric fired the magical arrow at Evil Gamma. To his surprise, the monster didn’t dodge or retaliate. What was Gamma planning?

BOOM!!

The attack landed squarely, creating a small explosion. Eldric thought that Gamma couldn’t have survived such a hit. But then something dawned on him.

"Oh no! The healing potion it carried must have been destroyed too! What now?!" Eldric said, panic rising in his voice.

"Is that all the power a legendary [Great Hero] has?" Gamma mocked.

"Huh?" Eldric’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The figure standing before him was still Evil Gamma, and despite the attack, Gamma appeared only slightly injured. None of its roots were even damaged.

"Why...?"

"I told you, didn’t I? You can’t defeat me yet," Gamma sneered.

Frustrated, Eldric focused all his energy into the [Mald Arrow]. A sharp, white arrow appeared. It was the same kind of arrow he had used to defeat the Plantazel in Aldora City. Eldric tightened his grip on the arrow, aiming at Gamma with a renewed sense of determination.

BOOM!!!

The explosion was massive, shaking the area around them and sending shockwaves all the way to where Rylan was. Eldric and Rylan were sure that such a powerful attack would defeat Evil Gamma.

"Not bad, Dyne..." a voice came from the aftermath of the explosion.

"N-No way..." Eldric’s eyes went wide.

Gamma emerged from the smoke, only slightly scratched. His mask was barely damaged, and only a few roots were harmed.

"You’ve got potential, but your power is still too weak for the weapon you’re holding," Gamma said as he casually touched the scratch on his mask.

"What kind of monster are you?!" Eldric shouted in disbelief.

"I told you already, didn’t I? I’m a Plantazel, Evil Gamma. But I’m a little different from the others."

"Tch."

"Your expression isn’t bad. Do you hold a grudge, Dyne?" Gamma asked with a smirk.

"A grudge?"

"Yes. You must understand that grudges are common in every race, especially after the [Fillia War]." Gamma explained to Eldric.

"So, what does that have to do with this fight?" Eldric asked, still confused.

"It’s obvious, isn’t it? You won’t be able to use the full power of your weapon with such a weak grudge, Dyne. What you need is the drive to gather enough power to defeat me."

"What are you saying? Why do you—"

"Also, the magic you used in your last attack. That was pure magic from you, wasn’t it? Is that the magic that every [Great Hero] possesses?" Gamma interrupted.

"I don’t know. If that’s true, what about it?" Eldric replied, frowning.

"Ah, I see now. You gained pure magic directly from the weapon you’re holding. Not bad for now. But it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t defeat me, Dyne," Gamma said.

"I still hurt you, didn’t I? If I used the same arrow from before, you’d be a withered plant by now," Eldric threatened.

"Not bad, Dyne. You have strong determination and emotions inside you. But your magic has reached its limit. Don’t you realize your current state?" Gamma said with a knowing smile.

"Huh?"

Eldric began to realize what Gamma was saying. His body felt heavier than before. His arms were trembling slightly after using the last arrow. Was this the side effect of using the final arrow? Sweat began to pour from Eldric’s body, his breathing becoming irregular. His stamina had dropped significantly. Eldric and Rylan had to defeat Evil Gamma.