Chapter XXX - Swordsaint (part 1)

After confirming the enemy is dead, I dropped his lifeless body on the ground. 

I didn't realize the floor is now flooded with his blood. Luckily my boots were always waterproof, and I easily stepped away from him.

My eyes turned towards the destroyed room around me. There are tons of holes and craters from our fight, as if the room had seen a fight of two powerful monsters fighting each other. I have never been this far into a battle before, especially not at this level.

I peaked, right here. With this victory, against this opponent. And for some reason, I feel like I can go even higher.

All of this...

No, forget it. I finally gained something, after so long.

Ever since I came to this place, to this world, I have never gotten a single powerful lead. I looked at the people here, and I made a theory. The person who did this to me, they can't be just some third rate magician. 

They must be an overly powerful existence. Hence, some sort of god.

Because not even a normal White ranked adventurer is powerful enough to summon beings from another world. Though I'm not sure about that guy who was called 'The Greatest Magician', I'm sure that only the ones at the level of gods have the ability to use that type of magic.

And after fighting one, now I know that there are more of them out there.

Although, I'm not entirely sure Galar is an actual god. I mean he is very strong. No, he is actually much stronger than just this. The pressure he is emitting, it can't be just this. It was extreme luck that let me survive a battle against him and win.

He let his guard down, and he looked down on me. If only he fought seriously, I would've died a hundred times.

Today, I have obtained a conclusion. Thanks to Galar, I have found things I couldn't find before. The existence of beings beyond humans, the gods. And then, the most powerful god, the God of Death.

It is a little convenient how the most powerful god just happened to be called the 'God of Death'. And after living here, in this world for over a month, I have finally found a new lead. 

Gods. Just what are they? 

Where are they right now? Dungeons like these?

It was definitely pure luck that the three of us just happened to run into the God of Orcs. And for him to be the dungeon boss really confuses me.

Like, what is he doing there? Where is the real boss? And why is he there? For what purpose?

Getting some answers... apparently only gave me more questions.

I will find out more about these gods and how they are connected to the dungeons later. I hope the books in the kingdom's library have something to say about this. But for now, I am beyond beat.

Hod said once we cleared out the monster in the dungeon, we have to destroy the dungeon's brain, which is the crystal that is usually at the end of the boss room. And so, the three of us walked towards the end of the room, searching for the crystal.

"Is that it?"

Valey said while pointing to the crystal behind Galar's chair, on the back. It's a bright blue crystal, the same color as the lighting that is keeping the room lit.

"What should we do?"

Valey asked, and she has been normally conscious ever since the moment Galar was killed. I guess she truly couldn't withstand the pressure at all, because she was on the knee almost the entirety of the time.

"We destroy it. Then, the dungeon will be officially cleared."

"Hmm."

JREB!!!

Hod used his rapier and stabbed the crystal, all the way through the chair.

The crystal's light slowly dissipates. The lights on the room and ceiling glass crystals also fades. Only the blue fire from the torches in the pillars stayed lit, and it became the only light source in the room that barely lit up the place. This place was huge, after all.

"Let's get out of here."

For once, me and Valey agreed to Hod's idea. The three of us proceeded to leave the boss room, and we began heading out of the dungeon.

But... something else happened before that.

BRUKK!!!

Both Hod and Valey stopped their walk and turned their surprised eyes to me, who just sniffed dirt from the ground. My face is facing the floor, and my entire body is too weak to make any moves.

"... Oh crap."

Hod muttered while Valey quickly came to attend me. And after that, we continued our walk to the exit.

During our path outside, we didn't even encounter a single red orc. The path to the top is clear, not a single monster was in sight. I guess they are all mourning for the death of their so-called-god. 

"Hey... Eh, you two."

Hod looked at me, who was being carried on Valey's back. Valey couldn't just turn her head because I am behind her. I don't want to be in Hod's back.

"Is it okay... If I ask to keep that whole... thing... a secret?"

I asked while referring to the entire battle with the red orcs, the dungeon clearing, as well as the battle with Galar. Hearing such things, Valey and Hod looked at each other for a moment before answering.

"Sure... But, I do want to know, Rize."

Valey replied, and I think it's okay for these two to ask me questions. They helped me, and they were there the whole time. As long as I can keep the secret to a small number of people, that's fine.

"For you to be able to stand up to a monster like that... That orc god... How did you do it?"

Valey asked what is on her mind, and I'm sure Hod is curious as well.

"How I... stood up to him?"

Valey nodded while keeping her head to the side where my face is at. She looked at me on her right shoulder through the edge of her right eye by turning her head a little, and I wondered how I should answer her.

Clearly, the answer 'Because I'm Strong' is not the one they want to hear. It's something more detailed than that.

"Well, I read it in a book. If an enemy releases a heavy pressure, a way to counter it is by releasing the same level of pressure."

"So, you are saying that you were releasing the same level of pressure... as that guy?"

"Something like that."

I gave them my explanation, and they understood the answer perfectly. However, they also realized something else.

To be able to release the same level of pressure means that you need to have the same or similar level of strength. Magic points wise, pure strength wise, and experience wise, all of them need to be at a similar level to be able to combat the opposition, because those are the factors that determine magic pressure.

Pressure is different from aura. Aura is something that is released without effort, kind of like what a person's aura should look like. Magic pressure is purposely released and created, and it can oftentimes be a weapon.

After realizing something, Valey looked down to her feet walking. She is thinking heavily while processing all this new information that she just got, then she looked at me again with a serious face.

"Rize, how much are your magic points?"

"Oi, Valey-"

I lifted my hand to Hod as a sign saying 'it is fine'. She is very curious, if I let her alone, she might try to find out using some other ways. It's best to just let them know now, since they deserved it.

I wouldn't win that battle without them. I wouldn't even be at this place without them, considering it's impossible for me to take a Yellow ranked mission. They played a massive role, and they deserve all the answers.

I took out the small crystal magic checking tool that checks magic status. The same item I have been using over and over again today. I activated it, then gave it to Valey.

"... Wha--!"

Valey looked at the number in huge shock, and even I was quite surprised by the result.

754/7608

Woah, I racked up a bunch of magic points just from that battle just now. It was such a tight battle, after all. Life threatening and intense, situations that perfectly add to the amount of magic points I will obtain.

And yeah, I'm down to only one tenth of my energy. But, of course, that's not important, and that's not why Valey was shocked.

"R-R-Rize! The-The second number... is your... magic points?"

"Yep."

"That's insane... and... your current magic energy... was very depleted??"

"Oh, you noticed. Glad you understand."

After that fight, after we destroyed the dungeon's crystal, I fell down on the floor. Valey and Hod panicked, but it was a given considering I ran out of energy. Today might be the most tiring day ever since the first time I came to this world.

"That's insane, Rize."

Hod also adds from his side, and he doesn't look as surprised as I thought.

I turned my cold judging glare to him and wondered how many magic points that this guy has. From what I've heard, mages will definitely have a ton of magic points, because using magic consistently helps increase the amount of magic you have.

"Just how did you rack up that many magic points?"

"Not sure. Just before I fought Galar, that magic point was only seven thousand four hundred something."

"What...? So, you raised two hundred from a single fight??"

"Apparently so."

"Woah..."

Valey returned the tool back to me behind her after Hod stopped talking. I stored the item back after looking at it for a few seconds.

Should I ask Hod to reveal his number? I am kind of curious. Although, I don't think it's right for me to ask, since he wasn't the one who asked me to reveal mine.

I can ask Valey to reveal hers, but I can't ask Hod. I know that if I ask, he will definitely tell me, but that has the potential of changing our current chemistry. Knowing other people's magic points is like looking at their bank accounts, since the numbers that came out directly factors into strength. 

Instead, I should do something else that will further strengthen our chemistry. Something tells me staying close to this guy will help me in the future.

"Hey, Hod."

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For teaching me fire magic."

Hearing that suddenly, Hod turned his surprised face to me. Why is he so surprised? It's only right for me to thank him.

"That's... no problem. I did promise you yesterday, so I'm just keeping my promise."

"Hmm. Well, to be honest, the reason I was able to kill Galar is because he was disoriented. Because I used fire magic, and it clashed with your ice magic. The smokescreen caused him to be unable to see, and he let his guard down."

I pointed out what happened, and Hod remembers it quite well.

"Oh... That's... True."

"What? You think I could beat a monster like him fair and square?"

"Noo~, no. It's just..."

"So, you did think I couldn't beat him. Pessimistic bastard."

"What exactly do you want??"

Valey laughed after hearing our conversation, and I can easily feel her heartbeat on her back. It felt really weird, but I guess it's fine.

"Look, Rize. I tried... to help, but-"

"You did the best that you could. You saved me from receiving a heavy blow, as well as helping me disorient the enemy. And most importantly..."

I put my left hand on top of Valey's head and slowly stroked her hair.

"I couldn't bear seeing Valey get hurt."

"Aww~... Wait, what? Why me!?"

Valey pointed to herself. Hod just grinned from his side. I just put my cheek on her back and let myself fall to slumber.

This is getting awkward. It's not everyday that I talk to other people heart to heart like this. Though, I guess that is what a near-death experience does to people, so I shouldn't mind it.

And guess what? It gets even more awkward.