Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 157: Elenaris - The Kingdom Of Absurdity

The night was over and the party was back on track. Wearing the poison immunity ring seemed to work in keeping them from getting weaker, but they still had to find a way to get rid of the curse entirely. However, for now, it was time to venture to Elenaris, better known for being the kingdom of absurdity.

”So what do you think this place is like?” Asked Mel, her hand hugging tightly at Raven as they walked.

The sight annoyed Amedith, but ignoring it he kept following their leader with Liliyana and Will-O walking right beside him. Aria and Erika followed right beside them in a group as well, all the while the two monster girls were staying inside Ravenʼs bracelet.

”All I know is that Athenia and Elenaris used to trade before the land of corruption sprouted between the two,” Raven replied to Mel, although that still left her question unanswered.

”If thatʼs the case why didnʼt we ever see anything from this kingdom on our own?” Aria asked, however, unsurprisingly nobody had an answer.

Being sheltered kids inside of Athenia, they knew only what was told to them through tales. And though Elenaris was a place of great beauty in their head, how it actually looked remained to be seen. That is until they walked out of the swamp and ran into a steep cliff.

To their front was nothing but a sea of clouds stretching until the horizon, and even looking down the massive drop all they saw were murky clouds.

”All this time weʼve been on a fucking plateau?” Being the first to realize it, Ravenʼs words left everyone in shock.

Their home was a plateau that tore through the clouds, and yet none of them knew, they didnʼt have the slightest suspicion. Yet here they were living on the tallest peak in all of Atlaria, the closest to the stars and the furthest from the ocean and the Infernal. However, as the initial shock slowly subsided, Erika finally posed the question that would leave everyone stunned.

”How do we climb down?” Glancing down the cliff, she couldnʼt even see the ground so climbing down by hand was a definite no from all of them.

”Iʼm already dizzy just looking down, donʼt you dare make me climb down with my hands!” Fearful of heights, Aria timidly glanced down the cliff before quickly rushing back in fear. ”NO! NO! NO! FUCK NO!”

”Mhmm?” Stepping forward to judge the height they were at, Liliyana gauged whether she could grow large enough to carry them all down. But just looking at where they were was enough to convince her that there was just no chance. ”Maybe, we can fly down?”

Glancing at Will-O floating on her side, she gently caressed its glowing body and the wisp flew above Liliyanaʼs head and puffed up into the same size as the fae-child. Fluttering its near translucent wings, its voice rang like a tweety until Liliyana reached for its body and her hand got safely locked inside its fluffy body.

”I can take you guys down one by one, maybe?” She suggested glancing across at everyoneʼs faces.

Not wanting to associate with the fae, Raven conjured a pair of fleshy wings of darkness and took to the air. Amedith did much the same, although instead of dark he used light magic to summon his angelic wings. Fluttering himself off his feet, he glanced across the girls who didnʼt have a way to travel down just yet.

”Mel can walk on air with her woodland magic, Iʼll carry Aria, as for Erika–” Interjecting Raven as he spoke, Erika turned herself into a translucent crimson fog.

Without her even saying anything, it was clear that she had her own way of traveling down. Aria, on the other hand, not only had no way to get down but also seemed hesitant to grab Ravenʼs hand so he could fly her down.

”Thatʼs too fucking high! What if your hand slips!” She screamed, laying on her butt with her hands folded together so nobody could forcefully grab her.

Quickly flying over to her, however, Raven looked her in the eye before carefully reaching for her arm. Using his charm with the slightest touch, he quickly rewired her mind to forget about her fear of heights.

ʼIt wouldʼve caused a problem along the lines anyways, so this is probably for the best.ʼ Left confused about why she was freaking out about heights, Aria stared at Raven for a bit before giving him her hand.

Taking flight once more, the party began their descent. Raven with his wings of darkness flesh, Liliyana with her familiar Will-O, Amedith with his summoned wings, Mel with her magic, and Erika with Asmodiaʼs abilities. The sight of the group competing down the plateau, especially with the ball of light wisp and the spiraling crimson of Erikaʼs ethereal body–was as entrancing as it could be.

The descent itself, however, was far from fluid as the strong winds, the tiring wings, and the lack of enough mana were draining them all quickly. Leaving them no choice but to take breaks into caves at the edges of the plateau walls. Even while trying to rest there, mangled monsters lunged at them from within.

A creature that looked like a man with multiple other animal faces growing out of his own was the first creature they struck down, and the abnormality of their encounters only ever grew.

But nothing couldʼve prepared them for what they would encounter next. It wasnʼt a monster, or an abomination, or even a horror, but a well-suited humanoid pigeon. Wearing a small blue cap he stopped the party in mid-air and continued searching for their names in his notepad.

”Do you have a reservation?” He asked, but nobody had a clue what the hell he was talking about.

That is until a flying train breezed past their faces out of nowhere. Disappearing once again, the train was gone as quickly as it had appeared, although having never seen such a vehicle, the entire party assumed it to be a monster.

”GET HIM!” Raven screamed, his finger pointed at the conductor pigeon.

”WAIT! WAIT! WAITTTTTT!” He hooted, knowing instantly that he or at least the train had fucked him up.