A delicate balance 1.26 - ING. VERSIÓN

When Viggo reached the fifteenth floor, he ran into several packs of dark-furted wolves with red eyes. They moved in groups of eight or ten and attacked anyone they encountered in their territory. However, Viggo was looking for this kind of challenge and ran in the direction of them. The wolves opened their jaws and threw puffs of fire. Viggo dodged to the side, rolled, and rejoined to keep running. He arrived in front of the first wolf who jumped to bite him, but Viggo stopped him by throwing an ascending axe. The wolf's jaw creaked raising its head, but Viggo's attack continued and once the axe was raised, he dropped it to connect another blow to the skull. The wolf let out a pitiful howl and was stunned. Viggo followed with the following wolves, attacking the legs or the body. On the other hand, when they attacked, Viggo repelled them with his fists in the jaw or with forceful blows from the axe.

Once he finished killing all the wolves, Viggo was panting and breathing. With a bite on the left arm and another on the right. Nothing that incapacitates or limits him, but it hurt anyway. He frowned and tried to ignore the pain. Then he began to collect purple crystals and pour them into a bag that he had tied to his waist.

-We can help you with that- said one voice.

Viggo stopped the crystal collection and looked to his right. He smiled and saw a human in his 20s come out from behind a large rock. Then five other humans appeared from behind other rocks. Everyone had malicious looks and full of disdain. Viggo smiled at them back and stood up. Carry the axe was holding with his left hand to his right hand and take it with both hands.

-You took a long time- said Viggo -you have been following me for three floors-

-Actually, many more floors. You were not our prey in the beginning, but only two floors ago we decided for you. Now, be smart and deliver that bag-

Four of the five adventurers drew their swords and only one drew a bow. They let out a mocking chuckle as they looked greedy at Viggo's bag.

-What do you want it for? It is of no use to the dead- replied Viggo, advancing one step at a time.

The guy raised his shoulders indifferently and said in a mocking tone -anyway, we were going to kill you- then his face took on an intimidating appearance and screamed –kill him!-

Viggo began to run with all his strength, the archer of the other group shot an arrow and Viggo hit in the air with his axe. Average, he thought, the arrow barely had strength. They rightly assaulted the lone adventurers in groups. They were a bunch of. Viggo let out an animal scream, increased his strength, and jumped to the first adventurer. He protected himself with a shield, but it was of little use to him. Viggo threw an axe so powerful that the impact took off his arm. His low guard and Viggo attacked again, cutting off his head in one fell swoop.

Everyone was frozen to see their dead friend, but when they saw Viggo running in their direction they were filled with anguish and began to fight together. Viggo was cutting them.

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These words reverberated in Viggo's mind and prompted him to concentrate on combat. It was him or them at this time, and later he would have time to lament or feel that he was right. He just had to be focused on cutting, hitting, and breaking.

At the end of the match, Viggo ended up even more tired and stood, with the corpses around him. Everyone was missing a limb, whether it was an arm, a leg or the head. He thought about how many hours he had been exploring the dungeon, then looked at his own body. He had several cuts and bites on his arms. A cut on his left thigh and intense pain on his right cheek.

-You've improved a lot, Viggo- said a youthful, calm voice. From behind a rock behind Viggo, a boy came out a little taller than Viggo. He was dressed as an average adventurer, but on his back, he wore a sword as big as he was. On his head stood two round ears like a bear. He had a firm and slender constitution, a product of his ten years old. At his side was a woman of great stature and stocky build. She wore her hair tied in a ponytail and occupied a metal breastplate. Like the boy next to her, she carried a sword almost as big as her.

-I see you much more lived, brat- said the woman named Mia Grand in a good mood.

-Oh!- said Viggo with a big smile -it's been long time Ottar, Mia-

Ottar smiled and walked at a slow pace until he stopped in front of Viggo, stretched out his arm and offered his fist. Viggo smiled and bumped fists with Ottar. They both smiled like good friends.

-What brings you here?- asked Viggo.

-Lady Freya said you were back- replied Ottar -I was hopeful that Viggo would have returned to the same as before-

-What a pity- Viggo said with a big smile -I'm not the one before, I'm better, ten times better-

Ottar just smiled and nodded contentedly.

-Eeeehh- Mia said, approached Viggo, squatted down and took his face in a sharp gesture -I see the same smug brat as always. You hurt yourself by fighting, you can't continue-

-Yes- said Viggo blowing his answer, Mia had his cheeks pressed -I had already planned to return-

-You had a healing ability similar to mine, why don't you occupy it?- asked Ottar.

Viggo patted Mia's hand, mia gave a chuckle and let go of his face. Viggo stroked his face and frowned –I no longer occupy it– he said –I was told it was counterproductive and too dependent on it-

-It's true, you brats at the slightest wound you make immediately resort to your power- Mia Grand said as if she were disapproving of such a practice.

Ottar be sly and his cheeks turned red –Should I do the same? – he asked, raising his gaze little by little.

Mia smiled at Ottar and said -let's check with Kain and see what to do-

Ottar nodded with a smile and then looked at Viggo -you are very injured, we help you- he said, then took out a bag that he was carrying tied around his waist.

Viggo was going to refuse, but looking at those big brown eyes of an abandoned puppy, he couldn't refuse. Then when he took the bandages, he remembered how he behaved with Ottar when he beat him and felt bad. He looked Ottar in the eye and said -sorry, I, I was a lousy friend. I, those things I said, seriously, I didn't want. Sorry-

-Okay- Ottar said with a smile -Viggo was just sad, that was all-

Viggo looked up with a smile full of hope, but he received a powerful coscorrón that left him looking at stars. He croung on the ground and grabbed his head with both hands as he dropped the bag of medicine.

-I don't forgive you!- Mia said in a stern voice -you went overboard that time, Ottar hadn't done anything to you and even if they were training, he never really hurt you. But you were an ungrateful dog, spitting out curses and offenses. I will never forgive you Viggo Dragonroad and if it weren't for your father, I would have already beaten you to death-

Viggo looked up and saw Mia emitting an intimidating aura, with a stern and hateful look.

-Mia, we've already talked about it- Ottar said, raising his hands to stop her.

-I know, braz, but I won't let anyone mistreat you-

-That...-

-Okay- said Viggo, standing up and pulling his hands out of his head -I deserve it. Actually, I expected you to be the one to hit me for what I said. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry-

Mia turned her back on him and sneered indignantly. For his part, Ottar let out a sigh and looked at Viggo, who had a thread of blood running from his head to his cheek.

-I doubt that I am as strong as you- said Viggo -but next time I'll be up to the task and we'll fight like in the old days-

-I hope so too- Ottar said with a smile.

-Now help, your mother hits like a mountain-

-I'm not his mother!- roared Mia and turned around, keeping her face grumpy. She approached Viggo and picked up the bag with medicine. Then take out some cloths and a bottle of the bag. I smear one of the cloths on the contents of the bottle and then took it to one of the wounds Viggo had on his arm. Viggo had never screamed so loudly in his life.

On the other hand, Ottar watched his friend make all kinds of expressions of pain and laughed silently.

When it was six in the afternoon, Viggo, Ottar and Mia were leaving the dungeon. Once they reached the square that preceded the entrance, they met Flora and Tatsumi. Both seemed to be watching all the adventurers coming out of the dungeon. Once Flora spotted Viggo she smiled, but when she saw Ottar she put on an uncomfortable face. Then she looked away, folded his arms and snorted.

Viggo and Ottar also saw the gesture and laughed somewhat uncomfortable. It all goes back to an unfortunate comment Ottar made years ago. It was true and still is: for Ottar, Freya is the most beautiful. However, Flora could never tolerate such words. She became so angry with Ottar that to this day she resents him.

-I'm sorry for always having the same show- Viggo said in an apologetic tone.

-No problem, I've gotten used to it- Ottar replied -as your brothers are waiting for you, I will leave you alone-

-Thanks for the bandages-

-And let you say it-

Ottar raised his hand to greet and say goodbye to Flora and Tatsumi. Flora kept ignoring him with red cheeks while Tatsumi smiled and raised his hand to say goodbye. Ottar left with Mia and Viggo advanced through the adventurers who were standing in the square until he reached in front of his brothers.

-Viggo, you are wounded on all sides- Flora said as a scolding.

Viggo looked at his body, his arms were almost completely bandaged and some patches on his face. He smiled thinking that if Flora could see under his clothes, she would be shocked. This was the price of error and carelessness.

-I'm fine- Viggo said with a big smile, took his left hand to the bag he was carrying hanging from his waist and showed it to her.

Flora opened her wide eyes at the sight of such a fat bag and took it off, opened it and saw the contents –Where did you get so many?– ask shockedly

-I just kept moving forward until I reached the 15th floor-

-Lie?! - Flora said full of disbelief, but when she saw Viggo smile with satisfaction she was convinced. On the other hand, she and Tatsumi seeing Viggo smile so happily, they felt satisfied. Flora pounced on Viggo and hugged him with all her strength. Viggo complained about how strong the hug was but was quiet as he saw Flora smile with her eyes closed. Then he looked at Tatsumi in front of them who was also smiling and finally thought calmly "Yes, I'm at home."