The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 101: Pay Attention to Me, Yes, but Not Now!

Chapter 101: Pay Attention to Me, Yes, but Not Now!

Just like Damien had said, the scale of the dungeon break was unexpectedly large. In the case of monsters crossing the Gate due to the Mana fluctuations in the environment outside, they typically traveled in small packs, sometimes alone, depending on their habits. And, as it was a normal, everyday type of event in the Forbidden Zones - into one of each the Restricted Zone was slowly transforming - no one really referred to it as a ’dungeon break’. A true ’dungeon break’ was when the dungeon was left uncleared for too long, and the monster population grew too large to be sustained by the dungeon’s limited environment, so the monsters stormed out in waves, rushing into the outside world in search of food...

It wasn’t something that could happen to a freshly emerged Gate. Or, wasn’t SUPPOSED to happen. And yet, before the Gate even came into view, Lane and Damien already ran into a blockage set on the road, with a group of Espers from the Association fighting hard, struggling to defend against the swarm of monsters.

"Everyone, step back! Those with shielding abilities, try to slow the monsters down, the rest deal with whichever manages to pass through! I will take the lead!" Damien commanded, jumping over the blockade and landing in the middle of the crowd of monsters, slashing through a bunch with a single swing of his long, heavy sword.

The group jointly exhaled with relief. They were just mere cannon fodder, low-ranking Espers who were forced to go fight monsters far above their league just because they were currently on shift, and there wasn’t anyone better available, or at least not enough of them. Just like when the dungeon break a few blocks away had happened. It’s been months, but things didn’t get any better.

Lane only gave them a passing glance, before following after Damien. How could he let the man have all the fun for himself? He wanted to fight as well!

"You..." Damien glanced at him, his brows furrowed in exasperation. "I told everyone to stay back!"

"Oh, I thought you meant just them?" Kicking off the monsters charging at his calves, Lane twirled his daggers, his lips curved up in a grin. "Come on, you know I have some skill! Haven’t you seen me during the raid?"

"But that was a C-rank Gate! While this is..." Damien paused, stabbing his sword around. It was hard to have a conversation when they were under constant onslaught.

The monsters this time were fairly small, like a beagle, perhaps even smaller. Dog-like in build - although extremely ugly, with bulging eyes and long snouts filled with long, thin, sharp and uneven teeth, two or three rows of them - all covered up in sickly yellowish fur, with rotten green patches. They even stank terribly, like a skunk. And their... barking? sounded even worse, like a mix of fingernails scratching a blackboard with choked, high-pitched shrieks. It was distracting, to say the least.

And their small size wasn’t a good thing for Damien and Lane either. It was hard to fight them with their weapons, especially Lane’s daggers, when they were all at the level of the men’s calves. How was Lane supposed to slash them, get on his knees so that he could reach them?

An even bigger issue was the number of them - although small, the pack was so large that it filled the whole street, and more were still coming. Not to mention their regenerative abilities... Even when cut, their flesh would soon heal, as long as the wound wasn’t fatal.

"It’s too dangerous!" Damien glanced back at Lane again. "You should- Ugh!"

As he was focused on Lane, one of the dogs managed to bite into Damien’s calf. The man instantly stabbed it through the head, releasing his leg from the sharp teeth, but it was left all bloody, with countless tiny but deep puncture marks all over.

"Yes, it’s dangerous, so we should both focus on the fight!" Lane’s brows furrowed, his eyes twitching. Yes, he liked Damien’s attention, he relished basking in it - especially now that he no longer had to worry about Damien suspecting his identity - but perhaps not now?! He didn’t want the man’s sexy body to get damaged! It could all be healed, of course, as long as he didn’t lose a limb, but still...

He stuck one of his daggers behind his belt, opening up his hand and sending a whole wave of Toxic Ooze, spreading it in the air and covering a large patch at once, so that the monsters had no space to dodge. The shrieks that followed made him wince - really, earplugs would be more than useful in such a situation, or an ability to block the sound. Too bad Lane could only enhance his hearing, not turn it off - but at least it showed that it worked. While the ooze wasn’t enough to kill the monsters, it caused them a lot of pain, slowing them down and distracting them.

Next, with his targets too busy trying to shake off the Ooze, Lane crouched down, and raised his dagger, dripping with the glowing sludge. And then, he stabbed every monster within his reach, one by one. With the Toxic Ooze getting deep into their flesh, and the good aim of Lane’s stabs, they were slowly eliminated, one by one.

Even the most tenacious monsters could be defeated, as long as you had a good method (and enough strength and skill to execute it, of course).

Lane wanted to brag to Damien, show off his expertise... But just as he opened his mouth, about to speak, he changed his mind. Wouldn’t that only distract Damien further? Even without it, Lane could tell that despite his earlier words, the man still couldn’t help but look his way in worry often... Like, every minute or so type of often. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before something happened...

And sure enough, before Lane even finished with his first group of sludge-covered monsters, another "Ugh!" reached his ears, barely audible, drowning in the overwhelming screeches. Another dog had tried to get a taste of Damien, this time jumping up and sinking its teeth in the man’s arm.

Shaking his head with a sigh, Lane waved his hand, and a dark blob shot through the air, hitting the monster and causing it to release Damien’s arm, as it writhed in pain. Its body never got to hit the ground though, landing on the tip of Lane’s boot, shot high up into the air, and then, falling down again, found itself skewed right onto Lane’s dagger.

"And who told me to be careful again?" Scoffing, Lane tossed Damien an annoyed glance. "Take care of yourself first."

Damien was his prey, the treat he was going for, after all! Although Lane didn’t have anything against scars... And those were just some minor wounds... He still didn’t like it. Damien should take better care of himself, at least now, that he was sort of seeing Lane!

He glanced at Damien’s arm, his eyes darkening at the sight of the rows of tiny punctures and the blood-soaked material. He’d had worse, seen worse... And yet, it had never been as frustrating as that.

Damien would have to make it up for him later, for making him... worried?

Inwardly scoffing at the ridiculous idea, Lane shook his head. Nah, he couldn’t be. Why would he be worried about the man? No matter how hot Damien was, or how fun he was to mess up with, it was still just a fling, no?