Chapter 9: AQC pt.2

The leaves rustled as the wind blew softly. Only a tiny bit of sunlight was allowed to pass through the canopy of leaves as Matthew and Rose quietly moved under it. Their footsteps moved in the same direction as the footprints left behind by the zombies of last night.

“In the end, we followed them the next day…” Matthew muttered.

“Sh-shut up! It’s your fault for sleeping last night!” Rose strongly retorted.

“Yeah yeah, I wonder just who knocked me out last night hmm?” Matthew glanced at her with an unhappy expression.

“I already said I’m sorry!” Rose clenched her hands beside her and shouted.

“Well, at least they left footprints behind.” Matthew returned his focus to the quest at hand. “By how they were moving, these guys are definitely under someone’s control.”

Matthew kept leading the way that was left by the zombies as Rose followed him closely behind.

Matthew only wore some light armour, being a piece of chainmail that he wore under his shirt and jacket and a pair of gauntlets that he bought with the money he was given through monthly allowance. Of course, he had to repay them later on when he becomes a Hunter. His sword was not too long and was light. These were the only equipment that he bought to keep the budget to a minimum.

Rose also only wore a chainmail under her dress. Since she uses magic, she didn’t need weapons. And so, most of her budget was put into the rations and other equipment.

Riea had been watching them since they started. She suppressed her presence as much as she could to avoid being detected by the students. She had to be in a lot more focus now since last night.

‘He noticed me the second I let my guard down. This boy surely is good.’ Riea thought.

She was almost caught by Matthew when she was busy looking at the zombies slaughtering the giant buffalo. She had way more experience on the field, so she knew how dangerous the situation was.

‘They made the right to head out in the day rather than night. Those zombies are not as easy of a target as they seem. They clinged onto the buffalo and stopped its movements. That’s not something a wanderer would do.’ Her experiences were speaking out in her head. ‘But I wonder what happened last night?’

Nonetheless, she kept following the two students silently. After a few hours of walking, they finally arrived somewhere. There was a ruined structure in the middle of an open area. It was not big, but definitely mysterious.

Riea observed the structure. ‘What could that be?’

It was cuboid in shape. Its pillars had mostly gave out possibly due to age. The structure really does seem old. There was nothing there aside from an entrance that was placed on the floor.

Matthew and Rose approached the suspicious door. Riea tried to assess what it would lead to.

‘A mine? A dungeon? A basement?’

Matthew crouched down and tried to pry the door open, but was unable to. Next, Rose used some kind of magic on the door before she shook her head.

‘A magic sealed door perhaps? But she must’ve just used appraisal magic. So what now?’

Then Matthew pushed Rose away and rolled up his non-existent sleeve. Matthew once again crouched down and held the side of the door with both hands. With a burst of astra exploding from him, he tore the door off the ground and threw it aside with a boom.

Riea almost gasped if she didn’t remember her duty.

‘He really just pulled the door off the ground with his hands? Although not practical, I guess it works.’

Matthew interacted with Rose for a bit. It seemed that they got into a little quarrel. After so, they descended down the stairs. Riea followed them soon after.

Underground, it was only a simple basement or so it seems. There were some custom and poorly made furniture like a chair, table, and a simple bed. The room was pretty much empty without anything at all.

“Looks like a dead end.” Rose said. “Let’s head back out.” She turned around and was about to go back up the stairs.

“Wait.” Matthew said.

Rose glanced at him. “What is it?”

Matthew did not answer immediately. He stayed quiet as his eyes moved around. Then he closed his eyes and tried to focus his hearing.

Thought soft, he still could hear thumping sounds behind the walls. They were circulating around the wall. It was weird for them to move behind the walls. That was when he sensed using his astra, that what lies behind those walls, are what they were looking for and also he realised something.

“It’s a trap!” Just as he said that, the walls crumbled down in a boom and a large figure rushed towards him with some rubble in tow. The figure threw an uppercut at Matthew that launched him through the ceiling and outside into the sun.

Rose ran out up the stairs immediately when that happened. She saw Matthew was still in the air as he fell back down.

“[Water Bubble!]” Rose casted a water element magic.

BLOOP BLOOP!

Matthew's fall was cushioned by the bubble of water that Rose created. The bubble dispersed after Matthew had safely landed.

"Matt, are you okay?" Rose jogged closer to Matthew.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

'That was a strong punch. If I didn't enforce my body with astra it would've been worse.'

THUMP THUMP THUMP

Heavy footsteps came from the basement as a huge figure emerged from its depths. It's flesh was mostly rotten and moldy. Its eyes glowed red and magic was flowing throughout its body.

"It's one of the big ones." Matthew said.

Then, one by one another five smaller ones. A total of six.

"Where are the other five?" Matthew muttered a question.

"Could they still be waiting inside the basement?" Rose asked

"Can't tell. Well, we gotta deal with these guys first." Matthew stood up and unsheathed his sword from his waist. "Rose, I'm sure with your nerdiness you know what to do when you're a mage with a swordsman right?"

"Yes of- wait, what do you mean nerdine-"

"Let's go!" Matthew dashed forward.

'First, let me test how strong these guys are. Go for the leg!'

Matthew slid beneath the big one and slashed its shin before jumping away.

The zombie merely staggered a bit. The wound was not deep at all.

"A simple slash isn't even enough to cut through its flesh." Matthew said to himself.

Matthew eyed at Rose who seemed to be ready to cast a spell with her hands out. Then Matthew looked for his next target.

"That one!" Matthew shouted as he darted around for the small one that was furthest.

Rose got the signal casted a fire element spell. "[Fireball]!" The ball of fire the size of a yoga ball flew at the group and exploded in a blaze.

The zombies groaned after they were hit with the flames.

'Nice, zombies are weak to fire. This should stagger them for a bit while I…' Matthew firmed his grip on his sword. 'Kill this one!'

SCHWING!

Matthew sliced the targeted zombie in half. Its cut body dropped on the floor. Its upper part was still able to move and leapt at Matthew with its arms.

Matthew already expected this and sliced down on its head.

"Groaa…" The zombie let out one last groan before it died.

Matthew pulled out his sword from the creature's skull. "Just like in the movies. Go for the head." Matthew swung his sword to clear it off the blood of the zombie.

He proceeded to keep targeting the smaller ones first. Rose only watched since she casted the fireball.

'He's taking them down pretty quick.'

She didn't have to do anything as Matthew took down the remaining small zombies. The big one was not even able to keep up with Matthew's speed.

PLOP!

"Groa…"

"Phew~ that was the last one of the small dudes. Now… To deal with that guy." Matthew glared at it.

'He doesn't seem to be able to match my speed, but its durability might be trouble. Hmm'

"Rose." Matthew called out without looking at her.

"Yes?"

"Got any ideas how to deal with this guy?"

"O-oh. I could use more [Fireball] to weaken it or lightning spells."

"Then do so." Matthew lowered his body and was ready to sprint.

Rose quickly casted a spell. "[Lightning Bolt]!"

A yellow streak of electricity flew from her hand and struck the zombie.

"GROAA!!" The zombie roared.

Without wasting any more time, Matthew dashed for the attack. He knew normal attacks won't work on it, and so he charged up a part of his astra into his sword.

The zombie was too tall to go for the head. Matthew slashed the weak point of its lower body, its knee.

With his astra imbued into his sword, he was able to make a clean cut through its knee.

The zombie fell down on its stump of a leg. Staggered, Matthew took this chance to slash at its head.

CHIK!

"!!"

His sword was not able to cut through the zombie's head and was stuck in its skull. The zombie then turned its head around at Matthew.

Suddenly the zombie swung its arm at Matthew. Matthew was not paying attention at that time and was thrown away from it.

"Matt!" Rose shouted as Matthew flew.

Matthew managed to correct himself and land on his feet after skidding a bit.

“I’m fine!” Though what he was feeling was not fine at all. His body hurt after taking a blow from that large zombie.

Matthew looked at the zombie and noticed something shiny on its head. Yes, a part of his sword had snapped off and was stuck in its skull. Even with half his sword, he could still slash through it but then he’d have less range.

He was out of options, he might as well resolve to…

‘Wait’

“Rose!” He called her out. Matthew almost forgot that he wasn’t there alone. Rose was there too. Knowing Rose, he probably could’ve left this to her. “Can you take care of it for me?” Matthew asked with a smile.

Rose was dumbstruck for a moment, but then she clenched her hands and smiled back confidently. “Yeah!”

Rose turned her attention towards the zombie now. With Matthew out of the way, she could use a higher tier magic now.

“[Flame Arrows]!” Flaming projectiles came flying from a magic circle around Rose’s hand and towards the zombie.

“Groaa!!” The arrows stuck into the zombie’s body.

Rose kept casting more spells.”[Lightning Bolt]! [Arcane Blade]!”

The streak of lightning blew the other knee off the leg and then stumbled over. Before it could fall to the ground, its head was sliced by the arc of mana that was flying at it.

Dark coloured blood spilled out from its sliced head as it slumped on the ground. The zombie was now immobile.

“I did it!” Rose shouted as she turned to Matthew.

Matthew only smiled and gave a thumbs up. ‘Rose is not a support mage but rather a damage dealer. We’re both not really suitable as a standard team. Maybe we should find a healer?’ Matthew thought in his mind.

Nonetheless they had won this fight, or so they thought. A large figure suddenly appeared behind Rose and already had its arm up in the air to attack.

Rose had not yet realised it. Matthew’s time was as if slowed down, his brain instantly sprinted for options and he quickly chose the best one he could think of.

Matthew quickly cucked his hand that had the broken sword back and gathered astra into his arm. He threw the broken sword as hard as he could.

The sword flew with a whistle before hitting the zombie in the head.

“Groaa!” It roared when it was struck by the sword.

Rose finally realised what was behind her.

“Run for it Rose!” Matthew shouted.

“Matt, behind you!” Rose said when she looked back at him.

Apparently Matthew himself did not realise that he was in danger. The giant fist was only inches away from hitting him, but thanks to Rose’s warning, he had enough time to guard himself. He raised his arms in a cross to block the attack.

BAM!

Matthew was once again blown away by the punch. Luckily, he was then caught by a giant water bubble again.

“Thanks Rose.” Matthew said.

His arms tingle in pain. He looked around him to get an idea of his current situation. Two big zombies on opposite sides, and another two smaller ones at the back as well one more mysterious figure in hooded robes.

“That has to be the one controling them.” Matthew slowly stood straight. He glanced at Rose.

As if knowing what each of them were thinking, they nodded. They prepared for a fight that may have to push them further than they expected.