Chapter 5: Vulnerable

Tanaka Yumi.

For a girl no older than 13 she's quite composed in this situation, at least, far more than I would expect any child to be.

To have the courage to go up and face these monsters is extremely impressive. Even if her awakening gave her a confidence boost it's still worth praising her.

In fact, the reason I ever decided to do something in this horrifying place was due to her. She really is worthy of my respect and gratitude.

But I would only say that if this was 10 minutes earlier. Now she's in an inferior position than me, her stamina is exhausted and she no longer seems to be able to use her awakening as much as before.

At this present moment my chances of surviving of much higher than hers, that may change in just a few minutes but it still holds true now.

Normally in a situation like this I would genuinely try to help this little girl but it better suits my survival that I bring her to my side as a companion rather than just a temporary ally.

Engraving my being as something necessary for her safety is something that is absolutely crucial. Doing so will guarantee me a partner and someone I can trust here where I know no one.

"Move to the left."

My voice reaches her a bit too late and a flying axe cuts off a large portion of her smoke arm that falls to the ground.

The smoke arm reforms two seconds later where it was injured previously.

The hyloch obviously noticed it's attack did nothing as it once again swings it's axe towards Yumi's arm.

"Watch out."

The cold sheen of my axe intercepts the hyloch's arm, cutting it off in a light drizzle of blood that stains my weapon.

"AAARRGGH!"

Before it can recover from it's pained muddle headed state I step forward and dig my blade deep into the monsters right leg where a chink in it's armor is exposed.

It's falls over from the loss of it's leg and I chop it's head off in one fell swoop.

[One hyloch has been killed. 10 exp has been awarded.]

[A new level has been reached. 5 stat points have been awarded. 1 skill point has been awarded.]

[Stamina has increased to 15.]

Yumi staggers to the ground with heavy breaths that seem to put her in a bit of respiratory pain. The blood loss from her previous injury also seems to be affecting her more as time progresses, this is actually bad.

"Yuri, are you having trouble breathing due to your awakening?"

The little girl's eyes widen as if she had gotten caught doing something bad.

Looks like I guessed correctly, the smoke produced by her is also harming her. It seems she doesn't have enough control over her ability to manually expel it from her body.

She also can't heal her injuries when her injured body part turns into smoke, it just keeps the original state it was in before it was turned to smoke.

"Do you have any free points you could put into endurance or stamina?"

She lightly shakes her head with a pained face as she grabs onto her bleeding arm with a sense of desperation in her eyes.

That look intensifies once more and more hyloch surround us.

"Don't worry kid, I won't abandon you if that's what your thinking. Come on, get on my back."

I turn around and lower myself so she can grab onto me.

"I-I, can I really do that?"

I turn back my head and give the most genuine looking smile I can possibly fake.

"Yumi, I won't leave you behind, I promise."

That seems to be all she needs for confirmation as she latches herself onto my back and I easily carry her up with me.

"Don't let go because I'm about to rip through these monsters."

She doesn't show any confidence in me but she does obediently listen to my instructions.

With an attack bonus of 5+ and a base strength stat of 15 it's possible to kill every one of these hyloch in one strong strike as long as I hit them in a vital area.

This would usually be extremely difficult to do but thanks to my awakening it should be possible.

"Grrraaeee!"

A hyloch swings it's axe down to meet my shoulder but I side step into range where I swing my blade up into the monsters neck like a baseball bat, successfully sending it flying with one attack.

[One hyloch has been killed. 10 exp has been awarded.]

Oh, that is disgusting. Seeing a decapitated head roll on the ground is much more disturbing than I thought it would be.

But this does seem to be the most effective way to kill something so this is the best option. Letting my disgust get in the way while I'm fighting is something I need to erase as soon as possible.

I must desensitize myself to these traumatizing situations immediately otherwise my hesitation might led to my death.

It's fine now because these monsters are much slower than I am but eventually they won't be. Just Org can one shot me with a single attack, and he's only the boss of the tutorial.

What will I have to face in the future? A dragon? A lich? Some other type of mythological creature?

Weakness will get me killed, the reason I'm still alive is because I'm lucky that Org has a slow speed stat.

And that is probably on purpose so that not everyone dies from him and some people can survive, mainly the awakened.

Otherwise it would be impossible for any of us to live besides Yumi, and even she would only last for a little while longer.

To surpass Org the various weak points that I have need to be taken of, especially my endurance. My durability probably comes from this stat so increasing it is very necessary.

Specifically specializing in a certain way of attacking is not possible right now, I simply cannot afford to assign my stats like this is an RPG.

I don't know when I unlock a class but I'm hoping it's at level 10. If it isn't then I'll need to get an insane amount of levels to kill Org.

I'll need exp to do that so hunting monsters is the only option.

Blood rains down onto the floor as I cut down two more hylochs. Another tries to attack me but I just smack away it's axe with a light push.

Blood lands on my face as I split it's body into separate sections, it's crazed cries of pain echoing in my ear, overlapping with the image of that bald man getting cut in half.

"...Shut the hell up you disgusting creature."

[One hyloch has been killed. 10 exp has been awarded.]

[One hyloch has been killed. 10 exp has been awarded.]

[One hyloch has been killed. 10 exp has been awarded.]

[5 hyloch have been killed. A new addition has been added to the bestiary.]

[Hyloch]

[A race of humanoid pig monsters that are ruled by the strong. Unlike more primitive monsters hyloch have a social hierarchy built around strength. All hyloch are natural blacksmiths and craft the weapons they carry. Said to be created by an ancient god they have a special talent for both blood and fire magic.]