How things are
Damn it! Because of me two people have already died and I don't even know why! If I find out who is behind this voice...
- Lyunil! Focus!! Or if we're not all going to die!!
- I can't…
Raild pulls me by the shirt and punches me hard in the face!
- OOUUCHH!!!
He didn't hold back, but from the expression on his face I already understood what he meant by that.
- Concentrate on hitting that skill of yours the other time! We can't give up yet… We have approximately fifteen seconds before Kaule stops breathing for good!
I see, the next move is more than decisive...
I hold my sword, but this time in a position to attack.
- I distract and you get it.
The light started to shine again towards Raild, he will attack! And I need to get the timing right with the skill, but I still can't...
- Ten seconds!
Please help me this time, voice!
I try to recreate the same conditions as before. The sword starts to glow brightly, but it's still not enough!
How do I make this work?!
- ...seven, six...
The enemy appeared instantly!
I tried to swing the sword towards it, but it's no longer bright and when my attack tried to get close to it, it vanished again, but this time...
- … four, three …
He appeared in front of me with his sword going towards my neck, I won't be able to defend in time...
- Supreme Healing! Ultrasonic Shot!
- … two, one!
When I opened my eyes again, the monster was gone and I realized it was still alive.
When I looked around to see what happened, I saw something that almost made me believe this was all just an illusion! Kaule's body was whole again!
- Let's get on with it, child! If we continue like this, there will only be corpses left!
Suddenly my eyes lit up again when I heard these words from a familiar voice... but... wait...
- Dr. Arcane? How are you alive?!!
- Don't underestimate me, child! Dying is part of my job! But I confess that if it weren't for a miracle I wouldn't be here… but now let's focus on the enemy!
- Right!
- Did good, old man! (Raild)
- This spell is mostly used by people in the Legios division, especially assassins. It is a type of activation according to keywords that makes the user appear at the times when they were activated, very useful for quick work and without leaving a trace. But as the enemy has no ability to use words, he must be adapting in another way...
- So that's why he keeps disappearing… (Raild)
- It means that when he disappears, he's being transported to some place he's time-marked with some kind of activation key… (Me)
- Almost that… but I imagine he has markings in this entire room or even in this entire dungeon… but by the time it takes him to appear, it must be the time he needs to activate the switch… (Dr. Arcane)
- And how can we finish it? (Raild)
- I don't know, but that skill from before you were trying, kid, seems to be a pretty strong attack because of the accumulated energy level, but from what I observed in a short period of time from the room it seems that it was still incomplete! .. (Dr. Arcane)
- I still don't understand how it works right, but every time I try to use it, it seems to be missing something to fill…
- Fill?!...
- I can't explain it well, but…
The sword began to warn of the enemy coming towards Dr.!
- Doctor, get out of there!
But this time the enemy was starting to act faster and faster! Luckily, Raild managed to keep up and defended him before he hit him, but the enemy vanished again and reappeared behind Raild! I almost couldn't keep up, but I had time to stop him from hitting, but he started looking elsewhere… it's as if he wasn't interested in hitting us…
Wait…
Is he looking… at Kaule?!
This is a distraction for…
- You miserable coward!
He disappeared again and surprisingly now he reappeared a third time, this time in front of Kaule's body, with his sword ready to slam into the ground with force!
- Your…
I knew I wouldn't be able to stop that thing in time, but I refuse to let him try to kill Kaule a second time and even more like this!!
But before I could reach it, something unexpected happened!
Who stopped that thing from hitting Kaule in time was Adrick! From the ground he hurled his ax towards it and made it disappear again.
- You cowardly heap of iron! (Adrick)
- That was close! That plague must have made the enemy act in this treacherous way! Lyunil, I think I understand what… Lyunil?!… (Dr. Arcane)
- Lyunil?! What's happening with you?! (Raild)
I will…
- Tell me what I need to do, Doctor! (Me)
- Your hair… turned black… (Raild)
...Finish you…
- This aura… is more intense than that of the enemy himself… (Dr. Arcane)
- Boy, you better calm down before you end up killing us too! (Adrick)
… until there's nothing left!
- Lyunil… (Raild)
He placed his hand on my shoulder.
- Please don't touch me, Raild…
He took his hand off my shoulder and stepped back.
- I'm going to end this right now…DR.! (Me)
- Y-y-yes?! (Dr. Arcane)
- Tell me quickly, please, what I need to do!
- R-Right! The magic can either have an internal origin coming from the user itself, or an external origin coming from the environment or other individuals... As in your case, when trying in one half, magic works in half, so it probably needs both sources...
- Two origins?! Isn't that dangerous for the user?! (Raild)
- Yes, theoretically! It can cause an overload and end up killing the user, but in his case I don't think any rules work… (Dr. Arcane)
- Got it… Thanks for the help! (Me)
- You're welcome, I think... (Dr. Arcane)
- What will you do?! (Raild)
- Just see… (Me)
For some reason, I got a better understanding of how it works because of the explanation. And I feel like I now know what I need to do and not allow any of that to happen again!
I no longer need the sword to know the enemy will attack.
I prepare my sword.
The moment he appears I need to be faster than him and hit everything!
As if I had the...
- Lyunil! The enemy… (Raild)
Speed of light!
…
Everything around started to move slowly! It seems like a new kind of skill!
The enemy is in front of me moving so slowly it seems to be standing still!
Now it's your turn to taste the same poison, you cowardly pile of garbage!
- RADIANT…
And I'll make sure you enjoy it!
- … CUT!...
- ...TEN CUTS!...
- … TWENTY CUTS!…
- …THIRTY CUTS!...
Even though my anger is directed at you…
- ...FIFTY CUTS!...
- ... SEVENTY CUTS!...
I know the real culprit is not here...
- ...NINETY CUTS!...
So thanks for letting me spend all my anger on you. Because I don't want to hurt anyone here...
Looks like the time for the new skill is over! Whoever you are that's chasing me and putting my friends in danger… I'll make you pay for everything you've done to us!
- ... A HUNDRED LIGHT CUTS!!!
- …is it right in… your… front?! (Raild)
Wait for me, I will finish you at your own game!
I tucked my sword into my waistband and headed towards Kaule to…
AARRRGGGHHH… What a headache is this?!
- Lyunil?! (Raild)
It's a very strong pain, if it continues like this I will…
…
/Tompt!/
***
PoV - Raild
What's up with Lyunil? His hair changed color and he started to expel an extremely intense and cold aura! The first time he got mad I knew he was someone you couldn't piss off for no reason.
When he pointed the knife at my neck that time we met the first time, I could feel those eyes were those of someone who had a hidden grudge, so strong that even he shouldn't have been aware of it...
But now it's something totally out of the ordinary…
Damn, the enemy has appeared right in front of him and he has his eyes closed! What he is doing?!
- Lyunil! The enemy…
- ... A HUNDRED LIGHT CUTS!!!
- …is it right in… your… front?!
What?! What happened!! It was too fast, how did he manage to do this with just a simple explanation that…
Damn… Who is this guy?!… Is he so powerful and pretends to be so weak? Or has he forgotten how his power works?
He created a crater in the ground, a hole in the ceiling and the direction he attacked is completely destroyed… the enemy must have turned to dust… only the sword remained…
And... I couldn't... do anything...
Lyunil is heading towards Kaule… not even after he's done all that… wait, it looks like he's in some kind of really bad pain…
- Lyunil?!
Damn, he passed out! He must have used a lot of magic at once!
I walk towards him and arrange his body so that he is lying in a better position.
That's great, now I'll have to carry three…
/Sigh!/
At least it's the least I can do to...
- HEY! BLONDE BOY! BEWARE OF… (Dr. Arcane)
Huh? Me?!...
/Swwiinnngggg!!!!!/
When I look behind me, I see the dwarf's ax flying towards the sword... stopping it from hitting me...
- What?...
- I think it's good for you to thank my ax!...(Adrick)
- It seems that the sword was also part of the enemy, but now that it has been destroyed in several pieces… (Dr. Arcane)
- You owe me one now, lazy boar! (Adrick)
I let my guard down… it almost cost me my life…
- I said that was the least this ax should do, you noisy runt!
That way I'll never be able to fix what I did...
I…
- Thank you... anyway…
- Hehee! (Adrick)
...have to get stronger!
***
PoV - Lyunil
Is that you! Why did you take so long to show up?... Wait, I'm not using my mouth...
You showed up too late! Because of this…
No… I can't blame you for my mistakes…
Because of me… everything that happened… I ended up throwing all responsibility on you…
Forgive me…
Yes he has! Because I can't do anything, because of my mistakes in the past and now, I'm depending on others while I'm the one to blame for them getting hurt...
I think that's why I stuck myself in that miserable life...
Lonely… but then I wouldn't hurt anyone!
But everything that has happened to them... until now!...
But I was about to give it all up! If not for Raild…
But they almost died because of me!!
But I'm sure none of that was me! Deep down this was just some miracle that I'm sure you were the one who did all this... No need to try to comfort me with false expectations...
I don't know why I was chosen to do all of this and Scaren was right when he said there's no point in me being here… with all the events that have been happening I started thinking I was someone special, I got too smug and now they got hurt again because of me!
The amount of people I made suffer by being here has already gone beyond the limits that a weak person like me could withstand...
I don't even know who you are or why you started talking to me, but I'll go ahead and say you're wasting your time with the wrong person!
< Who is wrong is this your thinking, Lyunil! What has happened so far have been acts much deeper than just sufferings and tragedies… the meaning behind them all blooms the most beautiful flower of any garden that could exist… and this could only happen because you exist…>
It's because I? There are many other better people for that, or am I the worst one I could have chosen...
Please don't make fun of me, my situation is already pretty bad...
…
You seem to know more about me than I do...
You're right that I don't want to ask you anything about me, but could you at least tell me what my mission is?...
< You already know what it is! Just realize…>
I don't understand what you mean, but I think I'll try to think better then...
And thank you…
I know I got pretty sentimental and said unnecessary things, but talking to you always comforts my heart, especially at times like this...
What does that mean…
***
When I woke up, I saw Dr. tinkering with some weird stuff. It feels like I'm lying on some kind of bed and on the other side of the room is Kaule lying down too. During combat I had forgotten, but now I could feel better those devices that were in me. I could also feel my body totally aching…
- What happened?
- I see you're awake, child! She looks much better and her hair has turned gray again. I must say you are quite an interesting creature!
- Where are we?
- In my experiment room! But right now I'm just treating your injuries.
- Where are Raild and Adrick?
- For someone who was unconscious a short time ago, you ask a lot of questions!
- Are they safe?
- Yea! The blond boy didn't have any injuries, but said he wanted to spend some time alone. The other one I asked him to help me by picking up some things for me!
- I see… Thanks…
I decided to relax for good. I really must have exaggerated…
- Luckily the equipment managed to remain intact during the fight and we had a complete analysis of the situation!
- And what did you manage to find out?...
- That you something that transcends everything that exists in this world!
- What? Like this?...
- I begin to doubt your human nature. Just the simple act of you existing makes my studies so far child's play.
I don't think I'll be able to get used to this kind of phrase anytime soon...
- Is something wrong?
- Your magical energy levels reached the levels of cosmic explosions and at the same time were so controlled that it looked like you could easily cover the sun with your own hands and it wouldn't hurt anyone. Of course a small part of this is involving the sword, but I would say that you alone would be able to create more energy than the planet you live on!
- How is this possible?
- I don't know, but for sure I would be extremely happy if you let me...
- Sorry, but now I'm going to concentrate on reaching the top of the Tower with my companions...
- What? But didn't you tell me you wanted to know more about your class and abilities?!
- Just what you said (and a little outside help) is enough for me to keep going!
- But…
- Don't worry, when I finish what I need to do, I can visit you so I can research more...
- Hmm! Until then I'll figure it all out on my own then!
- I wish you luck hehe… By the way, you said that a small miracle saved you at that time, what happened?
- When the enemy entered my room, he cut me in half diagonally and I started losing blood very quickly! I've had death issues because of some experiments I've done, so I always try to keep a resurrection totem with me in case something happens, even though these items are very expensive and hard to get! But this time I didn't have it in my pocket and it was on the shelf… I couldn't reach it… but I don't know why it was the aftershock of the battle or some kind of malfunction at the right time, it was like the totem was pushed out of the bookcase and ended up falling next to me and luckily I ended up coming back to life...
Pushed, right? Now I understand… More important than I used my ability at that time, was to make the Dr. survive and thus manage to heal Kaule, besides being able to teach me how to use my ability… I really owe you a lot of apologies, I'll have even more faith in you from now on...
- I'm glad everything worked out in the end!...
I try to get up little by little.
- By the way... do you know the person behind that voice?...
- I've never seen him in person, but he claims to be the deputy master of the Tower...
- Deputy master?
- Apparently yes, but I'm not sure… he annoyed me by asking me to research some things in the past… I don't know your relationship with him, child, but be careful… he's extremely dangerous!...
Suddenly someone opens the door to the room...
- There, old man, I brought everything you asked me to bring… OH! Are you awake, boy?! Glad you haven't died yet!! (Adrick)
- What do you mean by that?!
- Very good, brutes! Pass these crystals to me! (Dr. Arcane)
Adrick gave the crystals to Dr. and he macerated it along with a plant. He put it in a liquid that appears to be water and entered me...
- Go ahead, drink it all!
I didn't want to question it and drank it all, despite knowing that he used crystals here...
- This will stabilize your body in relation to the overload you had...
- Thanks…
- Don't get it wrong kid! I'm not your friend and if I didn't have your companions I would have trapped you here with me, besides my panel broke and I'm not in the mood for trouble...
- Deep down I know you meant "you're welcome".
- Don't piss me off, child! Since you're not staying and you're feeling better, go soon, with your friend, away from here, I have a lot to do!
***
After we got ready, Adrick and I, with Kaule being carried on my back, walked to the dungeon exit with the Dr. guiding us. When we got to the exit door, outside was Raild waiting for us.
He confirmed what the Dr. had said and said he just wanted some time alone to think about some things, but he still has the key we need.
Before leaving I called the Dr. to ask one last question.
- Dr. Arcane, I still have one last question from those four...
- Be brief, child!
- Are you also an inhabitant of the village?
- … No. I'm something different from them… Let's say I was what you are now…
- So you've already participated in the Tower challenges?
- No more questions, child! You said that was the last!
- You're right… Thanks again for all the help you've given us…
- Don't thank me, it wasn't my intention! But let's say we're even for you showing me new stuff today…
And so, we said goodbye to him and headed towards the village.
Before heading to the Tower, I told them to wait a while in the village to rest and prepare. Something tells me that once that door is opened there will be more challenges...
We left Raild to look after Kaule at the inn, while Adrick and I went shopping for a few things at the stores, including food…
During that time Adrick told me:
- Hey, boy! For you!...
And he threw me a small crystal pebble like the ones we saw in the dungeon.
- Like you…
- At that moment you were waiting to ask, I decided to take a look at the place and tried to get some. But it's like that guy with the trinkets had warned! It's very difficult to get them without losing their magic… I had got some, but during the battle they ended up being lost. When you were sleeping I tried to get more, but the pickaxe had lost its enchantment… this is the only one left and I want to give it to you!
- Wow! Thank you so much, Adrick!
- The next challenge will be much more difficult, so use it well.
- Certainly!
Looks like I'm not the only one who's suspicious of that door. But I had an idea what to do with her!
***
After returning from shopping, we went to check on Kaule and he was already awake. But he said that he had a strange dream in which he had been cut in half and started to ask what happened... But we'll leave to comment another time...
So I went to talk to Raild about the plan I had for the next challenge.
After everyone was ready and with renewed energy, we came back to the floor and now we are in front of the big door.
They gave me the key so I could open it. I looked at everyone and they waved back to me, so I put the key in and unlocked the door...
When I opened...
In the middle of the room there was…
A woman?!
- Hello guys! Don't you know that it's impolite to keep a woman waiting?...
For this I did not expect. She has long hair and red as blood. He has a well-defined body and because he uses few pieces of clothing and equipment, he must be a very agile person...
- Want to have fun with me, my gray-haired prince?...
On second thought, with all these gestures, looks and comments, I think the intention is something else...
- Do you know her, Lyunil? (Kaule)
— I've never seen it in my life...
"So you don't have anything to do with her, do you?" (Raild)
From the way he asked me, it looks like we already have her first victim...
- Looks like you forgot about our agreement...
That voice… So it's him!
Scaren fell from somewhere in the ceiling and when he got close to landing… he…
- …you treacherous thing! (Scaren)
...BURIED HER HEAD IN THE GROUND?!?!?!?
Through the hole in the ground she must… wait, where is she? After the dust dissipated, her body disappeared...
- Don't worry about that thing! I sent it to another place, so it won't bother us… (Scaren)
[Level 1 - Floor 05]
[Combat Floor - Promotion]
- Welcome to the top floor of Level 1…
[Be approved by the evaluator]
- ...and I'm your challenge!
What I feared most actually happened...