Bloodied Mine

"Now, Noire!" I said.

Noire growled and ran towards the panicking crowd. Noire uses her Dark Magic to make multiple shadows of herself and followed her. It's as if a army of Black Wolves has come to hunt the prey.

Noire jumped and gnashed upon the bandit's forearm which was in her way. However, it only prolonged his demise.

*CRUNCH!*

A sickening sound echoed in the mines where bone has been snapped like a twig.

"Aaargh!!" the bandit screams in pain, but Noire continued the assault and chomped on his throat.

The bandit who kept screaming was swiftly silenced as Noire crushed his throat entirely, killing him.

[D rank target slain. 30,000 EP acquired.]

The shadow clones of herself followed suit thereafter and terrorize the bandits. Their screams of pain and fear fill the air as Noire's clones tear their flesh and break their bones. It shortly continued until their throats were torn out of them.

[18 D rank targets slain. 540,000 EP acquired.]

"The hell? Already!?" Grundel said as he looked at the bloody path of his dead lackeys. Noire stands at the top of these corpses, menacingly. Her jet black fur has been stained with blood of her enemies and her purple eyes stare onto Grundel, growling.

"Like I said, big guy. You should've walked when you had the chance." I said.

Grundel growled and pulled out his Axe.

"DO YOU THINK I'M SCARED OF YOU FUCKERS!?!?" Grundel roared. He swung his axe downwards at me, his axe is double sided with his long handle meant to be used with two hands.

I dodged effortlessly, resulting Grundel striking the ground. Bits of the earth shattered, scattering fragments of stone all over.

In that moment, I commanded Gris to attack.

"Gris, use Wind Cannon!" I said.

Gris growled, summoning a whirling ball of wind that is 24 inches in diameter. He snarled at Grundel, turning a ball of wind into a tornado.

The wind roared furiously at Grundel, pushing him back off his feet. He tumbled backwards at the corpses and Noire.

Thanks to Noire's unique skill, Shadow Sneak, she melded into the darkness, avoiding any incoming attacks completely.

Grundel tumbles outside of the mines to a good distance from the entrance. 80 feet from the entrance.

Since I made distance from him and me, I use this chance to go on the offensive. I better prevent him using Fighter's Spirit.

"Gris, Noire, Schwarze, Paura, after him! Don't let him recover!" I yelled. My four monsters began running on my command.

Noire appeared from the darkness and dispelled the clones. She then ran outside the mines.

Next is Schwarze who is on the ground began flapping his wings and flew to the entrance.

Thirdly, Paura screeched and jumped on Gris's back and screeched again to start moving.

Lastly, Gris howled ran and at speed faster than before. As he ran, a gust of wind bursts behind him. While he ran, I could see wisps of wind trailing behind him.

"Kain!" Hyoran called out to me. I looked to see Hyoran is handing me the sword I crafted. I was gonna get it anyway, but it's nice of her.

"Go get that mean orc." Hyoran said with a serious look. I smiled.

"That I will." I said. I took my sword and ran towards my enemy. To increase my chances of winning. I'm gonna increase my rank.

"I wish to rank up."

"Do it."

[Acknowledged.]

At that moment, a surge of power flowed through me. An entirely different feeling when my body was being torn apart like I was about to explode from with in. Also, I don't get to be tired anymore. This is great! The skill Compensator helped me out!

[You are now Rank B.]

Grundel got up and see that the four monsters are out for his blood. The first to attack is Gris and Paura. Gris uses Wind Blade at Grundel to start off the attack.

Grundel pulls out his axe to intercept. He swings his giant axe to destroy that projectile that could slice his flesh apart. However, Gris is still on the offensive.

Grundel isn't a pushover. He raises his axe to cut him downwards along with Paura, but Gris was simply too fast for him to get caught. Gris speeds by and imbued his front left claw with wind and swipes at Grundel's right leg.

*Slash!*

During that instant, Paura turned his forelegs purple, doused in poison and sliced into the same wound.

*Slice!*

"Argh!" Grundel grunted in pain, but that's the least of his problems. Noire summoned 5 shadow clones of herself and all of them including her pounced on Grundel, gnawing him at his arms, legs, and torso.

"Annoying mutts!" Grundel growled and grabbed Noire in the neck. However, that was the wrong one.

Schwarze flew up to Grundel and launched his feathers at him. Although it deals little to no damage, it turns the target's vision black. The Blackout curse. The curse in itself isn't deadly, but when it comes to treacherous territory, losing sight can be a death sentence.

As the feathers hit Grundel, his eyes turned completely black, blinding him. Schwarze continued the attack by slicing his face with his talons.

For me as I am the last to come, I brandished my sword to decapitate Grundel. Orcs are definitely more resilient than humans, but it don't matter if one is headless.

As I close the distance, I see Grundel turning his axe head downwards to the ground. That's when it hit me. He's about to use Fighter Spirit.

"You useless mutts...!" Grundel said. He raised his axe and it is bad news if anyone gets caught in it.

"Shit! Everyone, get back!" I yelled. I skid to a stop and yelled again. "Get back to me!"

The four monsters knew what I was saying and they retreated. As soon as they did, Grundel slammed his axe down and a red aura emitted from him. Next, a red dome emitted from him and reached 15 feet around him.

Even if it's an entry level aura skill in Unique for melee classes like Warriors, Knights, and Berserkers, it's still dangerous just as I remember it when I was a E rank monster.

The strengths of using that is that it strengthens the user all-round, makes them immune to morale draining status effects, and weakens the opponents inside the range.

The weaknesses however is that it does nothing against magic projectiles, have limited range, useless against higher tiers of Fighting Auras like Warrior's Spirit and higher, and loses effectiveness against enemies who are at least two ranks higher than themselves.

My four monsters returned to me safe and sound. As long as we're outside of his range, the aura will not affect us. However, once he moves, the dome disappears, but he still keeps his boost.

"You knew what was coming, huh? You're no ordinary kid, I'll give you that much." Grundel said. "You got good instincts."

"You're pretty durable compared to your boys back there and back then. I take it you're that blonde haired's superior?" I said.

"Freddy? Yeah, I knew how you killed him. You used your mutt's wind and your lightning, killing everyone in the camp." Grundel said. He gets his axe ready as his aura is still active.

"Forget those two Beastkins. You and your pets are dangerous and I want you dead." Grundel said. I point my sword forward to get ready.

"Well, I can't let that happen now, can I?" I said.

"Did the poison activate?"

[The poison has failed due to Poison Resistance and the target's rank.]

It was worth a try.

After a short moment passed, Grundel started sprinting, he became a bull wanting to flatten me to the ground with his sheer size and strength. He's quickly closing the distance which isn't gonna let me escape.

Not that I want to anyway.

"Stay back! He's mine." I said and the four monsters scattered away.

Grundel swing his axe horizontally and I braced for impact for my sword.

*CLASH!!*

Our two blades clashed, but his great strength sent me flying to one of the trees. In midair, I flipped and twisted in the air to land on the tree with my feet.

*Crack!*

The tree cracked when I landed, but also something else cracked as well.

[Warning. Your right leg has fractured. Now regenerating.]

System said that my leg broke and yet I didn't feel pain. Pain makes me aware of my body, but I can't let it hold me back. At least my leg will heal.

I used my Wind Magic to propel myself faster than what Grundel sent me to retaliate. I swing my sword to strike at his neck.

*Clang!*

He blocked it easily with his axe with one hand. This body of mine is the only thing is holding me back. But I can't stop here.

I used my wind to propel myself back to the nearest tree and propel myself harder than before.

*Clang!!*

The clash was louder. However, Grundel reached his hand to grab me to either crush me or yeet me across the field. However, I used my wind to propel myself upwards.

Grundel used this chance to launch multiple fireballs at me, thinking I was defenseless. I took my sword and cut down the projectiles. Next, I summoned a Tier IV Lightning Magic called Lightning Spear. I threw it downwards to retaliate.

Grundel dodged the lightning and then I summoned a war hammer out of Earth Magic in mid air. I threw my sword at him first. It spun in the air towards at a speed it looked like a pink wheel of death.

Grundel blocked my sword, bouncing it to the side.

I held my earthen war hammer with two hands and gave myself a twist multiple times to generate more force.

*BOOM!!!*

I struck hard at Grundel, hard enough to make it sound like an explosion. Sparks and bits of stone fly upon impact. Grundel grunted from the force, making him to take the knee. He pushed me away from him, launching me back to my sword.

I grabbed my sword, but before I react, his axe was getting close. I blocked it, but his strength sent me flying to the side. I skid along the ground, leaving a trail of dust. I come into my crouching position like a tiger waiting for prey.

Grundel dashed forward to slash vertically to cut me in two.

I put Wind Magic into my feet and exploded forth. Grundel swings his axe horizontally downward to shut my attack down.

*Slash!*

I managed to cut Grundel in the abdomen before his axe grazes me. I stopped myself on the tree and suddenly, I fell clumsily.

*BREEP!!* *BREEP!!*

[Warning. Your left foot has been severely damaged. You are bleeding.]

"My foot?" I thought. I looked down to see that my foot has been fucked up. My bone has been exposed, blood spraying everywhere, I can see my veins and arteries in there. Grundel nicked my foot as I cut him.

"Did I poison him?"

[Poison successful. However, due to the target's poison resistance, its effectiveness has been reduced.]

"It's better than nothing. How's my foot?"

[The bone, veins, and arteries are no longer exposed. Healing in progress.]

Due to my Accelerated Regeneration skill, my foot is no longer hanging by a thread.

"Urgh...poison." Grundel said as he staggered. He turned to me, but I landed another blow before he could properly react. This poison sword has dulled his senses. However, I'm gonna end this now before he gains Poison Nullification.

"Let's end this." I said.

I ran forward to his side so I could decapitate Grundel.

"Don't..." Grundel began emitting the red aura. At this distance, I won't make it even if I used Wind Magic. I skid to a stop.

[Caution. You are within range of Fighter Spirit.]

Not good, I can't stop with my injured foot!

"DON'T SCREW WITH ME!!" Grundel roared, emitting the red dome again. But this time, I was caught. My body became stiff and heavy, it's harder to breathe as well.

[Warning, you are affected by the Fighter Spirit skill. Physical and magical capabilities are reduced.]

"Rgh...no shit." I said to the system.

"To think I have to use it not once, but twice on a kid no less. I won't be able to live this down as a warrior." Grundel said. "No matter, since you're caught, it's game over for you."

Grundel trudges over, seemingly unaffected, but that poison is slowly killing him despite his resistance.

"Oh no, Kain!" Hyoran yelled, but Ezo stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Let go! Kain is in trouble!" Hyoran cried in desperation.

"If you go there, you'll be affected by the aura." Ezo said.

"But...! Can you go there and save him?" Hyoran said.

"I can definitely save him...but I'll be preventing him from growing as a adventurer." Ezo said.

I slowly twist my body and tried to emit Wind Magic, but it's faint because of that aura. I tried to brute force my way out, but this guy is an A rank while I was at B rank. It's a miracle I can still move thanks to my Tenacity skill.

[Aura exposure threshold reached. Intimidation and Tenacity has reached threshold.]

[Now evolving Tenacity and Intimidation...]

[Notice. Bravery and Menace acquired.]

[Notice. Unique skill Fighter Spirit acquired.]

[Due to the evolved skills Bravery and Menace, Fighter Spirit will undergo forced evolution.]

Grundel walks forward until I was in range of his axe swing. He lifts it up and prepares a fatal blow.

"You're strong for a human child. Any last words?" Grundel said.

"Not good!" Ezo said and began to run.

I grinned. "Uno Reverse."

"What? Whatever. Die." Grundel said and began to swing his axe downwards.

"Oh no, I'm not gonna make it!" Ezo yelled internally.

[Unique Skill Warrior Spirit acquired.]

With that moment, I imbued my sword with Wind Magic and swung my sword at his descending axe.

In a purple green flash, Grundel struck down his axe. However, he realized that his weapon is shorter. A lot shorter. He then looked to see that his axe head has been separated from his handle.

"My axe? Broken?" Grundel said.

"Yep, and we're done here." I said and thrust my sword into his chest, impaling him through the back. Grundel vomited blood as a result, staining my shirt and the ground.

Grundel fell on his knees with my sword stuck inside. He gritted his teeth to force himself to move, but the poison and the impalement prevented him from doing so. He couldn't imagine himself dying to a young child. His rage boiled over thinking that he'll be dying.

"Damn...you. I'll kill...you." Grundel said, reaching over to strangle me to death, but I pulled my sword out.

"Like I said, we're done here." I said and swiped my sword at his neck, decapitating him cleanly.

[A rank target slain. 250,000 EP acquired.]

I swung my sword to wipe off the blood and placed it on the ground. I turned around and suddenly Ezo hugged me tightly.

"Dad?" I said.

"You're crazy, you know that? But I was crazy too when I let you fight a person much bigger and stronger than you. What was I thinking?!" Ezo said with conflicted feelings.

"It's fine. I'm okay." I said.

"Kaaiiin!" Hyoran yelled, running with tears in her eyes. She dived into my chest head first, knocking me down.

"I was so scared that you were going to die!" Hyoran said with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry that I scared you, Hyoran." I said, patting her head to comfort her. Monsters Gris, Noire, Paura, and Schwarze flock to me.

"I'm sorry that I scared any of you." I said. I pet every single one of them.

"So, what should we do with the bodies?" Ezo said.

"You should take credit." I replied to Ezo. Ezo raised his eyebrow.

"Even though you and your monsters killed all of them?" Ezo said.

"If I claim it, they won't believe me, a kid who's a Stone Rank. If it's you, they'll believe you." I said. Ezo thought about it briefly and came to a conclusion.

"Fair point. I'll take the credit and see what bounty we'll get." Ezo said.

"Oh! The quest! The snakes!" I exclaimed that I can't go back empty handed. "Paura, Gris, round up the Black Serpents and I'll get the Black Shroud Serpent."

Gris, Paura, and I went back to the mines to get the evidence that we took care of the serpents.

With the Black Shroud Serpent's severed head, I took the fangs of the serpent since the tail was used for my sword. Also, I need a sheath for it so it won't get dull. Paura's webs will do for now.

"Paura, wrap your web around this sword." I said.

With that, Paura went to work, wrapping my sword around with his durable web. He wrapped my sword evenly and completely so that no dirt or water would get in. I placed it on my back and it stuck to me like glue.

We returned to Hyoran and Ezo holding a cluster of dead snakes wrapped by Paura's webs and the 6 inch long venomous fangs of a Black Shroud Serpent.

"Let's head back." I said and an alarm went off.

[Caution. Hostile detected. Located East.]

"Crap, we got another bandit!" I yelled and everyone went on high alert. Gris and Noire began growling to where I'm facing, Paura screeched with malicious intent, and Schwarze flew on my arm and spread his wings to prepare to attack. However, there is no one there.

"System, check again."

[Scanning...no hostiles detected. Last known hostile has went beyond maximum range.]

So someone gave me a blip on my radar and went dark? Is it another bandit? If so, this will be a pain in the ass. I'll better find more flying type monsters like Schwarze to have more scouts in the air.

I'll have another monster who can use Fire for the time being. The more the merrier.

"False alarm, no one's out to get us." I said, dismissing the alert. Everyone relaxed themselves. "Let's get going, I don't wanna stay on edge for too long."

We start walking back to turn in our quest.

{Meanwhile...}

In the distance inside the forest lay a cloaked figure standing on the thick tree branches. The figure thinks to oneself for what happened recently.

"Despite exercising caution, that child briefly caught my presence. Neither Ezo, Hyoran, nor his four monsters noticed except him." the cloaked figure thought. "I'll have to be even more careful for now on."

The cloaked figure then dashed away and disappeared into the forest.