CH05: Governor's Lair (2)

Exhausted and gasping for air, Shinji collapsed onto the ground, his body still reeling from the intense fight with Governor. He had been so focused on the battle that he didn't have time to catch his breath properly, and now his lungs burned with the effort.

With one hand pressed against his stomach, Shinji struggled to steady his breathing. He looked up, surveying his surroundings wearily, trying to gather his strength before he could even consider leaving. His eyes scanned the area, searching for any signs of danger, but all he saw was the aftermath of the brutal fight that had just taken place.

Eventually, Shinji summoned the last of his energy and slowly rose to his feet. He picked up his sword, which was stained with blood, and began to brush off the dirt and grime that had accumulated on his robe during the battle. As he worked to clean himself up, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of frustration.

Shinji: "How am I going to explain this to mother now..."

He ran his hand through his hair, racking his brain for an excuse that would spare him from her wrath. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of anything that would satisfy her.

[ Oh well, no use thinking an excuse! ]

He finished his worries and after some stretch, he begin to head towards his goal of this raid. The only thing that keep him going even his life on the line.

The Hidden Stage were open the entire time now it inside was full of small debris and rocks. Shinji tried not to step any rocks while entering the Hidden Stage. The entrance of Hidden Stage is just an hallway with at the end is where " Light Ball " located.

When nearing the artifact, he had to squint his eyes because the light block his vision. The artifact where in a glass square box on top of an short stone pillar. It was an amazing sight for Shinji.

Shinji: " Finally.. "

Shinji: " Light Ball is mine!! "

Shinji screamed full of relief since he had fought Governor previously, and it had made him exhausted. He lightly touched the ball, which was originally pure white, but when he touched it, it changed its color to light blue.

Shinji: "What? It reacts to my aura?" he said with surprise.

Shinji: "Even I didn't know that! Cool!"

Shinji spoke with excitement in his tone, unable to wait to use it. He then held the ball, and it shrank from the size of a soccer ball to the size of a tennis ball.

[ It turned small?] he thought.

[ This is convenient! Now I can carry and hide it easily!]

He was happy now that he believed he could actually learn magic. Since he wasn't talented in magic, he had to get this artifact to boost his magic power. It greatly boosted his stamina, strength, and magic power. It was like a total cheat item for a beginner to have!

After he was done looking at the ball, he slipped it into one of his pants pockets and turned around, wanting to leave the Hidden Stage. After leaving, he made sure to look around at the mess he had created.

He didn't react and proceeded to head back to the Dungeon entrance. He walked slowly since he was low on stamina and couldn't run consistently. He took this moment of silence and kind of peaceful atmosphere to think about his future.

[ Knight? Or Mage? What about a magic knight? That's pretty cool,] he thought.

But suddenly, his jaw dropped when he saw that the entrance was blocked by a boulder.

Shinji: "This must be Governor's fault! AHHHH!" he exclaimed in frustration.

Shinji didn't know what to do. He quickly calmed himself down and decided to think of one or two strategies. First, he tried to lift it, but he failed.

[ This thing...is heavy,] he thought as he struggled to lift the boulder aside.

After failing to lift it, he moved to his second strategy, which was to bust through. He wasn't going to do it if he were in the same state as when he entered the dungeon. But now he was confident since he had the Light Ball.

[ With the Light Ball, I will increase my strength and stamina!] he declared.

He pressed the Light Ball in his left hand while holding his sword in his right. He concentrated on the sword, hoping to summon the blue aura. Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice could be heard behind him.

???: " Don't bother, kid "

Shinji was surprised and turned around to see a woman with long black hair and violet eyes grinning at him. She appeared to be an adult, based on her height and tone of speech.

???: "I have a lot of questions, and I'm sure you do too, right?"

???: "Shall we ask each other? But only one question can be asked."

Shinji was slightly shaking, knowing that he couldn't stand a chance if he were to fight someone with his current state. Despite this, he led out a light smirk towards the woman, surprising her.

???: " Huh ? You smiling ?? "

Shinji hesitated for a moment, but then spoke with confidence.

Shinji: "Then, let me start. Did you see everything?"

He asked while keeping a deadly stare at her.

???: "Ah, that? I thought you were going to ask who I am, since most people would ask that first."

Shinji remained unfazed, and his eyes didn't move at all as he continued to stare at her.

The woman tried to joke around, but it turned out that Shinji didn't take it. Her face showed a bit of disappointment as she let out a light sigh and spoke.

???: "Fine...fine. Yes, I saw EVERYTHING."

The woman revealed that she had been watching him from the beginning.

???: "Then it's my turn-"

But before the woman could finish her sentence, Shinji rushed at her, swinging his sword with great force. The force should have knocked her out with one blow, but she reacted just in time and was able to dodge, being hit only in the shoulder.

She then placed her hand on the injury and looked at Shinji with a look of deadly intent. Her face showed how much Shinji had angered her.

???: "I asked you peacefully and I get this?"

Shinji: "Don't consider yourself lucky. Your fate was already decided the moment I left the Hidden Stage." Replied Shinji confidently.

???: "What, hidden stage? "

Shinji sighs.

Shinji: "That's right, you don't know, aren't you Ayame, The Black Thief?

The women were shocked, he was absolutely shocked that their identity was revealed by a kid.

Ayame: " Kid. How do you know who I'm ? "

Shinji: " The NPC should just stay put. "

Shinji grinned confidently as he continued to stare at the woman. He knew he had surprised her with his sudden attack, and he was ready to finish the job.

Shinji: "You should know better than to underestimate me. I've been through a lot, and I'm not going to let anyone stand in my way."

The woman stared at Shinji with anger and frustration. She knew she had made a mistake in neglecting her protection, and she was determined to make him pay for it.

Ayame: "You're nothing but a child! You have no idea what you're getting yourself into!"

Shinji: "Don't talk down to me like that. I may be young, but I'm not naive. I know what I'm capable of, and I'll not let anyone tell me otherwise."

The woman gritted her teeth in frustration. She knew she had no choice but to fight back.

Ayame: " I had no idea how you found me out, but "

Says Ayame as she walks towards Shinji with her steps getting faster and faster.

Ayame: " Don't blame me if you die! "

The woman charged at Shinji with incredible speed, her hand glowing with a dark energy. Shinji raised his sword to block the attack, but he was thrown back by the force of the blow.

Shinji was unable to react and was hit hard by the blow.

Shinji: "Ha, that's nothing. "

Shinji grins as he pretends to hide his injuries.

Ayame took a step back and took out her whip. It was a magic whip covered with a magic artifact.

The woman quickly countered with a magic whip that appeared in her hand and struck at Shinji with it. He managed to deflect it with his sword, but the impact caused him to stumble back. The woman pulled him closer with the whip and tried to hit him with a kick.

Shinji reacted quickly, however. He used his ball of light to increase his speed, dodged the kick, and then swung his sword at the woman's head. She was able to dodge the blow and countered with a punch that Shinji blocked with his left arm.

The two continued to exchange blows, with the woman using her magic to increase her power and speed. Shinji struggled to keep up, but he refused to give up. He kept using his light orb to enhance his physical abilities, hoping to gain an advantage.

[This can't be true!], Ayame thought.

Ayame: " You're using an artifact, you punk! "

Shinji: " I'm pretty sure there are no rules in fights. "

Finally, he saw an opening. The woman had overbalanced herself with a blow, leaving her vulnerable. Shinji took the opportunity, swinging his sword with all his might, aiming for her neck.

The woman managed to dodge, but Shinji's attack grazed her cheek, leaving a small cut. She stumbled back, surprised by the force of his blow.

The fight had dragged on too long, both Ayame and Shinji were exhausted.

[ With all that injury, he still able to withstand my attacks? ]

[ There's no doubt about it ], she thought, confirming his suspicions.

Ayame: "You're stronger than I thought. But how long will that artifact last! "

Shinji: "Well, I guess you'll have to find out, yourself!"

She gritted her teeth and once again charged at Shinji, her whip crackling with dark energy. Shinji raised his sword to block, but this time, the force of the attack sent him flying back. He crashed at the dungeon wall, his sword falling out of his hand.

Ayame approached him slowly, a sinister smile on her face.

Ayame: "It's over, kid. You should have never pick a fight with me in the first place. "

Ayame glared at the young boy, Shinji, who was grinning at her. She was seething with anger and couldn't believe the audacity of this child to pick a fight with her. She decided to intimidate him by showing him the small, sharp knife she had in her pocket.

Ayame: "Hey, kid, tell me what you know about this dungeon," she demanded, brandishing her weapon.

But Shinji remained unfazed, smiling and laughing at her actions.

Ayame: "You think this is funny?!" Ayame shouted, her frustration boiling over.

Shinji: "No," Shinji replied calmly.

Shinji: "I just pity you."

Ayame's face turned red with rage. She didn't care anymore if the boy lived or died. She raised her whip, ready to strike the final blow. But before she could do so, a voice interrupted her.

???: "Stop right there!" a group of warriors called out.

Ayame was surprised and glanced back to see the warriors behind her. Her face turned pale and she started shaking profusely.

Shinji: "Well, look how the tables have turned," Shinji said, keeping his evil smile.

Ayame: "You...you!" Ayame stuttered, before the warriors stopped her and detained her.

Ayame cursed under her breath and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Shinji behind. The players approached him and offered him a helping hand.

???: "Are you alright, kid? That was a close call," one of the warriors asked.

Shinji: "Thanks, you were later than I thought," Shinji replied, brushing himself off and adjusting his arm.

???: "We did save you..." the warrior said, confused by Shinji's response.

Shinji: "Ah, pretend you never heard that. I was just talking to myself," Shinji said dismissively.

He saw that the entrance was still covered by a boulder and decided to take action.

**

As the warriors stood guard outside the dungeon, one of them turned to his comrade and asked,

???: "Did you check on the kid?"

???: "I did, but he was kind of ungrateful," another responded, his eyes darting nervously around the clearing. "He's over there--"

But before he could finish his sentence, the group realized that Shinji was nowhere to be seen.

???: "I was sure he was right there," the warrior muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

???: "DID YOU LOSE THE KID?!" The leader of the squad bellowed, his eyes flashing with anger.

The warrior who had spoken to Shinji quivered under the weight of his superior's gaze.

???: "No sir, I'm sure he just went back home," he stammered.

The warrior sweating as he were question. Trying hard to surive the situation.

???: "Did you see that kid? I suspect he's below ten," the leader continued, his voice quieter but no less menacing.

???: "We have to catch him and question him at once."

Suddenly, one of the female warriors who had been scanning the area spoke up.

???: "Um, Leader, I found something," she said, her voice calm and measured.

The leader turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "What?" he demanded.

???: "This, sir," she replied, pointing at a hole in the wall near the scene. It looked like a stone wall had been breached.

???: "A secret pathway?" the leader muttered, his eyes scanning the area.

???: "I don't remember seeing this when we entered."

???: " Is just a theory but I think I know what happen here. "

???: "It's just a theory, but I think I know what happened here," the female warrior explained, her voice confident.

She went on to describe how Shinji had likely been able to enter the dungeon from another entrance, unlike them.

???: "No way," the leader breathed, realization dawning on his face.

???: "But that would also explain the confusion."

Shinji had been able to escape while they weren't looking and had used a light ball to create a hole in the boulder that had been behind the stone wall. The sound of him breaking through the boulder had been muffled by the wall, so it wasn't surprising that they hadn't heard him.

Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the dungeon,

???: " AAAAAAAAAAAH "

The loud scream causing all of the warriors to startle and rush towards the source of the sound. There, in a nearby room, lay the corpse of a boss monster, its putrid smell filling the air.

???: "This... This is...!" one of the warriors trailed off, his eyes widening in shock.

**

[ END CHAPTER 5 ]

author's note: If you enjoyed it, a feedback is appreciated.