Oops, I'm a Monster with a Too Long Prefix!-Chapter 28: Died Dumb and Brave

The third wave of Elite monsters charged straight at Isaac and his pack of four.

There was no time to breathe, no room for delay. Isaac shot to his feet, barking commands.

"Damn it, again?! Red team, on your feet!"

"Red One's not full HP—Red Two, you take two spiders this time!"

Just over three minutes later, the third Elite Forest Venomspider let out a screech and crumpled into a heap of legs, bursting into XP Orbs.

[You have slain Forest Venomspider (Elite). XP Orbs +200. Tier 3 Talent Shards +1. Star 3 Quality Evolution Point +1.]

[Ding! You've obtained: 'Venommist Spider Silk Legwraps' (White). Durable Spider Silk x2.]

Not exactly a gold mine, but at least it was another piece of the Venommist Set.

As his companions' poisoned status slowly faded, Isaac immediately ordered Red team to recover health and stamina. Meanwhile, he took a closer look at the new loot.

[Venommist Spider Silk Legwraps (White - Common)]

[Defense: 5 | Poison Resistance: 4]

The defense was a little underwhelming, but that poison resistance mattered more now than ever.

"This forest's not playing around... time to stack poison res." Isaac didn't hesitate—he converted some unused materials into Reputation points.

"Unlock fifth equipment slot. Assign: Legwraps."

Once equipped, his physical defense jumped to 44, and with the set bonus from two Venommist pieces, he gained +3 more poison resistance. His total poison res hit 10.

Isaac had barely gotten the gear equipped when the fourth wave hit.

Red One and Red Two, still recovering from earlier fights, had only regained around 70% health. Red Three, being the "Special Sturdy" unit, had better physical defense and slightly more stamina remaining.

Isaac didn't gamble this time. He handed each of the Red team a healing potion.

As for himself—he was holding strong with high poison res and boosted defense. The Forest Venomspiders barely scratched him.

The spiders came crashing through the underbrush.

"Venommist Forest, huh? Let's see what else you've got. Red team—engage!"

"Everyone, take one spider. I'll tank one normal plus the Elite. Focus your fire on mine!"

His damage output was far beyond the Red team's, so no danger of pulling aggro off him.

Spiders leapt in.

-1, -1 (Poison)

"Huh? Their poison doesn't even work on me anymore." Isaac cracked a grin, tension bleeding out of his shoulders.

That changed things.

The Elite still did some damage—around 20 physical and 10 poison per hit—but that was manageable.

"Red team, change of plans—leave the trash to me. Focus fire on the Elite!"

He took all four normals and the Elite alone while the team burned down the Elite fast.

[You have slain Forest Venomspider (Elite). XP Orbs +200. Tier 3 Talent Shards +1. Star 3 Quality Evolution Point +1.]

[Ding! You've obtained: 'Venommist Spider Silk Legwraps' (White). Durable Spider Silk x2.]

Another pair. Isaac pocketed them and barked, "Wipe the rest!"

[You have slain Forest Venomspider (Lv.8). XP Orbs +75. Tier 0 Talent Shards +1. Star 0 Quality Evolution Point +1. Spiritual Energy Extracted +1.]

They were barely halfway through when silken threads began falling from above again.

More spiders.

Ten of them this time—double the last wave.

Isaac stared, wide-eyed. "Are you freaking serious?!"

Unlike before, these didn't wait for the Elite to die. They were already swarming before the fight ended.

And among them—four Elites.

He barely had time to think. "Do they spawn based on Elite deaths...? Whatever!"

He was in deep now—eleven normals, two Elites. No time to test theories.

"Everyone on me! Focus the Elites!"

His screen filled with status icons. Too many to count.

"Damn, now this is what they mean by 'green on top'..." Isaac popped a potion. No time to play smart.

They finally downed one Elite—Isaac's HP hit 700.

"Clear the small ones!" he roared, holding on to a sliver of health, another potion already uncorked.

But the swarm was too much. Even with low attack values, sheer volume wore them down. An Elite still hounded him.

His HP plummeted—200 left.

"Red One! Take over!"

Red One did—but his stats weren't close to Isaac's. Worse poison resist, weaker armor.

He started melting.

"Red Two, tag in!"

He barely lasted a moment.

"Red Three!"

But it wasn't enough.

[Your unit 'Sturdy Agile Special Robust Hyenaman' (Lv.7) has died. Legion Recruitment Order (Three-Unit): +1. Total available units: 1.]

"Damn it... Red One..."

[Your unit 'Sturdy Agile Special Robust Hyenaman' (Lv.7) has died. Legion Recruitment Order (Three-Unit): +1. Total available units: 2.]

"Red Two..."

Isaac gritted his teeth and ripped through the remaining mobs. When he turned to check on his final unit, Red Three, he saw it falter and collapse where it stood.

[Your unit 'Special Sturdy Agile Robust Hyenaman' (Lv.7) has died. Legion Recruitment Order (Three-Unit): +1. Total available units: 3.]

"You bastards!" Isaac shouted and charged the final Elite.

He didn't stop until it, too, collapsed into a heap of legs.

Dragging three limp Hyenaman corpses behind him, Isaac stumbled back toward the stone marker.

[You have left Venommist Forest. Now entering: Starter Zone.]

He collapsed against a boulder, watching the still forms of his companions. Their bodies would vanish in seconds.

The last pair of Elites had dropped another bracer, but Isaac didn't even glance at the loot.

Red team was gone.

He'd expected to feel regret for wasting materials or frustration at losing good units. But as he stared at their motionless bodies, something unexpected rose in his chest.

Grief.

They were just summoned NPCs—mindless, emotionless AI monsters. They didn't even have names.

But they'd followed him since level 7. Fought beside him all the way to level 10.

They never questioned his commands, never hesitated. Eight hours straight, day after day, grinding at his side.

When Daffino spawned, they'd nudge him awake. When he stood idle, they stood with him.

Even bleeding out against a superior enemy—they never backed down. Just dumbly followed his orders... until death.

Isaac sat in silence, watching their bodies fade into motes of light.

Then, softly, almost too quiet to hear, he whispered:

"...Red One, Red Two, Red Three..."

"...I'm sorry."