Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-1587

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"Genie", a mysterious entity that had begun to roam the Ankh Desert a hundred years ago. Many had connected the many disasters that had begun to appear to him. Apparently, it was said that he brought plague upon the plantations of the various villages and cities of the desert, bringing an enormous army of giant locust monsters that started devouring all the crops. It was also said he strengthened the power of dungeons and made monsters break out of their dungeons, invading nearby towns. And even it was said he provoked Sandstorms and the fury of the Desert Kings, who were often very peaceful monsters that lived within their territories and didn't bothered to hunt humanoids, as their preferred diets were big monsters such as sandworms.

"We lived in the small Village of Stoneville. We grew as twins in there and we were raised by our grandma. Our parents were said to be warriors that protected the village from monsters and died when we were still less than a year old." Sighed Ariant.

"We grew up to protect our home as well, we practiced our magic, hunted small monsters to level up, and all of that. This world's vast, I know, but we just wanted to stay in our village and protect it as the legacy of our parents. After all, they gave up their lives for it." Said Eriant.

"However… I don't know how long as it been, perhaps a week ago? An enormous tremor was heard, and then, a Desert King appeared near the village, causing a big commotion…" Ariant said. "It ate all our crops and then ran away, it was a smaller one, so we were able to fend it off…"

"But our crops were all eaten, and not only that, but small groups of Walking Cactuses began assaulting our place constantly, we were fighting with everything we had to protect our place…" Sighed Eriant.

"Ultimately, the people of the Kingdom stepped in, corrupt guards and soldiers began asking for higher taxes if we wanted to be protected, our village couldn't be any more poor…" Ariant said.

"And as if things couldn't get worse, a sandstorm hit when we were going out into a dungeon, as we were actively hunting monsters to make money, and we were engulfed by it." Eriant added.

"A-And like that, you ended in the middle of nowhere, huh?" I wondered. "I guess you've never meet the Genie."

"We did." The two twins said at the same time, scaring me a bit.

"You did?!" I asked.

"As we were engulfed by the sandstorm, we heard the laughter of someone within the sand… The figure of someone within the sandstorm laughing… It looked at us and said. "Move away, pest". In that moment, we fell unconscious, I believe." Ariant said as she was fidgeting a bit. Her beautiful golden eyes seemed filled with fear.

"Wait, what? He just showed up out of nowhere?"

Are these guys protagonists or something? How come they get caught by this overpowered Demon; I presume?

"Yes, he just showed up…" Sighed Ariant.

"We are not lying…" Said Eriant.

"Its not that I don't believe you, I guess this guy might be some sort of Demon Lord, maybe?" I wondered.

"Demons? There are a few demons in our village, but we lived in harmony with them." Said Ariant, the girl seemed to recall something. "I really liked a friend who was a demon… I wonder how he is doing…"

"We have heard about Demon Lords invading human and forest elves territories, but the deserts here had been absent of war for the most part, but the Genie has brought such calamities for whatever reason… I pressure he loves to see people despair; he might even get power out of it because he does it too much." Sighed Eriant.

"Hm, maybe… I fought various Demon Lords that gain power from emotions, so it is possible this bastard can do something similar." I wondered.

Well, whatever's the case, it would be better to get into their village and look for more clues for Elfina there- Wait a second, I think I can just speak to her through telepathy as her Summon. Also, can't she summon me to her side at any time? Why haven't I been summoned yet? Is she still sleeping? Maybe that's why I can't contact to her. Unless she's awake, I can't really get in contact.

She's definitely not dead as I can feel her life essence, she's still alive and healthy. I wish I could make clones of myself like before, I would had left a little slime in each one of my friends and would had been able to identify where they ended at more easily… Damn it.

Aside from the basic telepathy between master and summoner, I can't really communicate with Luminous, Fiere, or Sol otherwise. Maybe I should just spread out my sense and fly through the skies until I find something, but this desert is sure vast, and I don't want to stumble across another Desert King if I stand out too much in the skies.

Ugh, what to do…

I looked at the two Desert Elves that were eating their food happily, almost cleaning their plates. I guess I could accompany them back to their home and help them resolve their issues while I'm at it. Just so I can get to civilization and try to find more clues about Elfina and the rest. Worst case scenario, I'll have to complete dungeons to gain further EXP and Level Up some more, so there's not really any lose. But this sense of uneasiness still lingers within me. I guess it is making me recall how I died back in Genesis and practically got "lost" for all those people there. It makes me sad thinking how everybody in my party might feel after we got separated.

"Bubub!"

Bubu quickly tried to cheer me up, as he took out his big tongue and licked my face.

"Heheh… I guess now that I have you here I can't really show off that face, right? Alright you two, can you bring me to your village?" I wondered.

"Sure!"

"Alright!"

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