Universal Sign-in: Ascending to Godhood With My 10x Rewards!-Chapter 34: Screeching Ferins

Ignoring the advice of the panic-stricken soldiers, we headed toward the ruined mall.

This time, our pace was fast and hurried. We had a single objective, albeit a stupid one.

Okay, we had different objectives. But the process of achieving our objectives was, in the end, the same.

To kill monsters.

But the thing was, I felt we were being stupid. The soldiers clearly mentioned the presence of ’flying monsters’ around the mall area.

And there was only one flying monster we’d come across since the beginning of this apocalypse.

The Endorath.

That unholy reaper grade monster.

Just thinking of the ghastly green flames it breathed out made me shiver slightly.

But still, there’s one thing that I’m most certain about...

"We’re here." Marcus calmly declared, halting as he gazed at the still-intact large metal frame of the mall’s building.

We halted, standing about fifty steps away from the glistening, fallen structure bathed by sunlight.

Jerry nodded, calmly putting his hands in his coat pockets. "Yeah."

...The flying monsters here aren’t Reaper Grades.

I took a step forward, walking past both Marcus and Jericho.

And why do I think so?

Screech––!!

A screeching sound echoed from above.

As I heard the sound, I stood and raised my neck, gazing skyward as I narrowed my eyes.

Because all those soldiers would’ve met their ends had it been they stood face-to-face with an Endorath.

Several bird-like figures flew above, their wings flapping as they circled the mall and every other ruined building in this block.

I squinted my eyes, taking in the odd sight.

They were shaped like birds, but they were far larger than the average man, and blacker than charcoal.

No, they weren’t just black. They were barely visible, possessing the features of a creature slightly more visible than a shadow.

Even the sun rays that fell on them passed through their bodies as if they were intangible.

Screeech––!

Their loud, eardrum-piercing screeches filled the air.

I scanned and surveyed.

Their numbers far surpassed that of the average Rethon pack.

Just above the broken mall, about fifty floated around. And the ones that floated around other buildings... I couldn’t count them.

Marcus let out a wary breath, cracking his neck. "So these are the flying monsters, huh?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yup.

"I need a smoke." Jerry groaned.

I activated all-seeing eyes.

The red status window floated on the heads of every single monster present, and they read:

[Ferin. Tier 3 Dormant Grade Monster.]

They were all tier 3.

Tier 3 Dormant Grade, huh.

"Ferin," I muttered.

"Huh?" Jerry hummed, "Fer what?"

"Well, fellas." Marcus intoned. "What do we do now? We can’t fly toward them."

I turned, staring at Marcus, who stood with crossed arms at an arm’s length away from Jericho, who calmly observed the flying monsters above with a comprehensive expression.

"Now," I looked upward. "We attract them."

"I... don’t think that’s necessary," Jerry replied.

Hm?

Wait a minute.

I squinted my eyes.

I think he’s right.

"They’ve noticed us."

Well, shit.

Screech––!!

From high up in the sky, three Ferins made their way toward us with a speed that I couldn’t fully comprehend.

So they’re speed types, huh.

Figured. They fly.

I immediately crouched, gritting my teeth as I turned toward Jericho and Marcus.

"Brace yourselves!" I yelled out, narrowing my eyes.

Fuck, we should’ve probably thought out a proper plan.

What kind of fools go for a ’monster raid’ without a proper plan?

Marcus’s eyes trembled, but he shook his head and breathed out as his chest deflated. He crouched, clenching his fists.

Jerry narrowed his eyes, entering a peculiar combat stance, raising his fists high.

I turned toward the Ferins.

They weren’t far from us now.

Screech—!

Even that unpleasant screeching sound speedily approached.

I turned, glancing around for something I could use as a weapon.

They’re just dormant grades.

There, in a pile of ruins, improperly buried around heaps of fallen blocks, a pipe lay, dusty and rusty.

A steel pipe.

My lips widened, and my blood began to pump, rushing through my veins toward every single part of my body.

I should rack up enough Exp with them and get strong enough to challenge a reaper grade.

"As soon as we deal with those three bird monster things, just know that there’ll be more incoming. So waste no time and run toward the mall, because even though we came here to test our strength, our main objective is food." Jerry declared in a low voice.

He’s right.

Marcus exhaled. "Got it."

I nodded as I hurriedly ran forward and dragged the steel pipe out of the pile of ruins.

Dust rose from the ruins and soared high, clouding my surroundings as I clenched the steel pipe.

I coughed a bit, clearing my throat as I shook my head.

The dust from the pipe stained my palm, but I paid no mind.

My smirk deepened.

Finally, a weapon.

The steel pipe felt less durable than the one I used before, and it was also thinner.

But it’ll do.

"They’re here!" Marcus screamed out.

I shielded my eyes immediately, jumping out of the cloud of dust and back to the area where Marcus and Jericho stood.

I twirled the steel pipe with my fingers, bulging my calves as I prepared to leap.

The three Ferins reached where Marcus stood. And he wasted no time, leaping from the ground.

In the air, he pivoted his waist, dragging his fists backward as he prepared to release his punch on one of the Ferins.

I landed right next to Jericho, still twirling my steel pipe. And at that moment, Marcus’s punch connected with the Ferin’s left wing.

Jericho remained crouched in position, calmly eyeing the two incoming Ferins.

I bent down, my knees almost touching the ground. One palm rested on the ground, and the other palm clenched my newfound pipe.

–Leap

Let’s see what a tier 3 dormant grade can do.

I streamed through the air, clenching my pipe as I dragged it backward, pivoting my waist.

I clenched my teeth, bulging my biceps.

I swung, aiming at the head.

Bam–!

The monster fell down to the ground immediately, its dull and lazy screeches resounding in the air.

I, myself, landed right next to it.

On the ground, it quivered as if convulsing. The one hit stunned it.

So it’s actually stronger than a normal Rethon.

That hit would’ve killed even a Tier 3 Rethon.

I leaned down, staring at it.

Finally, I got a closer look at the monster.