World's Best Protagonist [BL]

A pair of eyes were fixed on Allen and Jade without them knowing. Eyes that stared deeply into Allen’s face, trying to dig into his intentions. Those eyes furrowed after they witnessed Allen bringing Jade’s hands on his cheek affectionately.

He was about to say something but then, the other two members always bickering with each other arrived, tearing his eyes apart from the two.

Noir and Terrius came back after an hour. The latter carried the former in his back. As soon as they landed on the surface, Terrius threw Noir down and sat next to Lexie without a word, looking annoyed.

"What happened?" Lexie asked, her curiosity etched on her face. Terrius just glared at Noir but did not answer.

Noir chuckled, amused. He patted his buttocks, stood, and then crossed his arms. "It doesn’t concern you, Lex. Anyway, listen, I watched the monster boss for an hour, and it’s moving up. I think we don’t have to lure it, it’s coming out of the water."

"Did it realize its territory was invaded, or something attracted it?" Jerome asked.

Noir shrugged his shoulders. "I don’t know. We will see if it attacks something as soon as it appears on the surface." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"How fast does it move?" Claude asked.

The Charlie team had gathered around them, listening attentively to Noir. They all sat behind their captain.

"Approximately half an hour. Its body is massive, bigger than that beast," Noir pointed at the dead monster octopus. "It has a translucent, bioluminescent body that shifts and writhes unnaturally; rows of moving teeth and splitting jaw as it breathes; and dozens of eyes on its slimy black skin. It has tendrils, instead of tentacles."

"How are we going to defeat it?" Someone from the Charlie team whispered, sounding defeated already. He earned a glare from his captain.

Claude asked again, "How do you think it fights, Terrius?"

Terrius stopped wiping his lips as though it was dirtied. He fixed his gaze on Claude and replied, "Vortex monsters aren’t that intelligent. They fight according to their means, their sizes, and appearances. Its tendrils are similar to tentacles, though we don’t know if it’s toxic, fighting the way we did earlier will work. The problem is the bioluminescent and translucent body. It could camouflage itself in the water, or blind us by its glow, or maybe it’s something that attracts other monsters. And let’s not hope this one doesn’t regenerate faster."

"If it does, we’ll have a hard time. Let’s form a strategy," Jerome remarked.

Everyone nodded in agreement. The team members exchanged knowledge of their abilities and brainstormed on how to defeat the boss monster.

With only twelve Seekers present, one unconscious, they allocated roles to everyone.

Claude will command the team and is in charge of analyzing the boss monster’ movement and adjusting strategies on the spot.

Terrius and Jerome will be the tanks and protect the team against powerful attacks. Lexie, Noir, and three members of the Charlie team will be the damage dealers. Each of them was specialized in high-damage attacks, either melee or ranged.

Allen and one Charlie team member will be the support, buff their allies, and weaken powerful attacks. Then, Etienne will stay behind, watching Jade, and looking out for injured allies to provide treatment as soon as possible.

Everything was prepared, except Jade’s and Etienne’s safety.

"Let’s move you out of the way. Noir, can you find a place for them to hide?" Allen inquired. Noir rolled his eyes at him. Allen grimaced.

"Etienne needs to stay close to us to provide us healing even in the middle of a fight. Now, for Jade," Noir looked up, pondering where to stash the poor Jade. His face lit up after an object caught his eye. Grabbing it, he measured the item and asked with all seriousness, "Do you think Jade will fit here? I think he will if we twist his body a little bit—ow!"

Claude smacked the back of his head and snatched the spatial suitcase.

Noir grumbled, "It’s the safest place for him! We’re not even sure if the monster boss doesn’t have intelligence or not, but what if it has? The healer is always the one attacked first in every team to deal irreparable damage to them! Isn’t it better to put them in a separate place? If worse comes to worse, Allen will certainly abandon the fight and save Jade, captain."

Allen flinched.

Claude’s jaw clenched. He looked away from the two and ordered Noir. "Then, find a safe place for Jade to hide and put him there. The rest of you, take your position."

Everyone obeyed. They headed to the sinkhole and prepared for battle. Noir approached the lying Jade and crouched down. He was about to carry him when his arms were grabbed by Allen.

"I’ll carry him. Lead the way."

Noir grinned. He saw something in Allen’s eyes that seemed interesting. "Okay, fine." He moved out of the way and let Allen carry Jade.

The whole city was flooded, and there was no ground in sight. Noir pointed at the two ruined structures leaning toward each other. They created a cave-like space in the middle, which was large enough for the group to camp.

Allen jumped on the surface and secured the place. Once he was certain it was safe inside, he lay Jade on the cold floor and covered him with his coat.

Noir sighed. "He’ll be fine. That guy’s tough and special. He won’t die easily, I bet."

Allen did not answer. They returned to their team and took their positions. However, everyone was momentarily stunned seeing the circle shape, instead of a diamond-shaped screen, above Allen’s shoulder.

They all knew what it meant.

Infinite fortress.

Allen had used his most powerful, indestructible, card to Jade. Nothing will be able to break through it. Not even a boss monster. Not even himself.

The water stirred, and the sinkhole darkened as a massive shadow was getting closer and closer to the water’s surface. Everyone held their breath and attacked as soon as it appeared. The battle began.