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"ZION WAKE UP!!"

The sound of screaming outside of his mind had his adrenaline spike as he couldn't fathom the flightless feeling of being thrown!

Zion didn't have enough time to react as a bolt of lightning went past his face, so closely in fact, it drew blood from his right cheek!

From blurry vision to the scene infront of him, a Malax grabbed one of his legs getting ready to drag him!

Only to be pushed off of him by Chris's wave ability and water manipulation.

Rushing to his feet he pulled out the dagger he was given by May and simply swung it around.

No training after all, one would think he lost his mind- again. (Counting his many attempts at getting back to his old world).

"Zion move back!" Pushing him out of the way May kicked a medium Malax in the face with a high kick. She then used the force to propel off it and sent an arrow flying straight through it's eye! The shot was an instant kill, directed through the eye into the head with sheer force of her ability combined.

No matter how many times he saw it, the kids of this world were uncanny. Sure these Malax's weren't the massive ones they'd taken down on floor 1. But a medium sized one is still a feat for anyone to take on alone. Let alone kids of just barely 8 and under.

"Shit, there's too many!" May yelled, semmi protecting Zion, they had been about 12 of them at the start, now only 5. She knew all too well he couldn't fight.

Her keen eyes left nothing unnoticed, it was clear Zion was a late bloomer if not heavily sheltered.

It wasn't uncommon that a child of high standing is sheltered as much as possible from political standpoints or war.

Countless issues were on the rise thanks to the Empires greed to rule all the Nations and Sectors within them. The Capital was a stand alone but had loyal adversaries in its walls. So it was mostly free from the famine, culling and whatever else the Empire pressured.

Another jab to her side made air force out violently, before May punched it in the jaw as water rised up behind it grabbing it's hind legs.

Subcategories for Malax's, land, air, water, demonic, angelic, ghost, death, fire, poison, etc. Those just a few, it was clear those that attacked them were supposedly land Malax's although their nature was uncertain?

Even though Subcategories would determine some proficiency, if any. Combinations of more than one category became more troublesome, hence ranking and tier systems. Tier would be size ranking and the overall Rank would be it's classification = how hard is it to kill?

For the ones they just faced = tier medium, rank 3 and 2, (lower ranks), land, probably mixed Subcategories.

Eg. Land x water (able to move on land and in sea.

It would make sense considering the finned spikes along their backs and gill flaps around their necks. Their tails also looked edged to make tight turns when hunting in water.

Question was, why were they here?

Although drowning them wasn't an option, Chris's abilities were much more then simply waves. He could manipulate water to a degree that allowed movement like hard rapids to slice, cut and break. Depending on what the situation called for especially that Malax which hind legs were at his mercy.

No matter it's Subcategories, it would suffer.

Water sliced off its head in one quick motion before Chris collapsed. Immediately he went to hurl from the over use of his abilities. If he was older, this much wouldn't have been so harsh on his body.

It was the same for May, even though she was standing, the trembling and clenching of her bow made it pretty obvious her exhaustion.

"Shit- I've exhausted my magic capacity..." coughed Chris as May slowly dropped to her knees.

Survival of the fittest, it hadn't changed just because they managed to clear a floor. 8 floors remaining, 9 if you included the one they were on.

"May, Zion, are you injured?" Chris asked as he vomitted again, not being able to hold in the intense sensitivity of motion.

"N-no, I'm okay, that Malax simply winded me a bit" May breathed out a little harshly as well but it seemed like she hadn't used her abilities as much. It would make sense given the nature of them, that and her ability to control it.

Zion remembering the feeling of being cut from her arrow on his right cheek, brought his hand up to feel for the wound.

Only there was nothing there?

His fingers traced along before both his hands were inspecting his face. Nothing, not even a bruise?

Had he imagined it?

No, because he couldn't mistake the slight tinge of pain from it.

But there was clearly no wound.

"I think I'm good too" Zion hesitated with his reply but Chris simply nodded not wanting to risk his stomach launching up again.

"What are these guys even doing here? It's clear these Malax's are more water dominant than thier land counterparts. Not to mention-" Looking at the head of the one Chris had severed off before it's body. The clear size difference was evident. "-They're malnourished, nothing but skin and bone nearly" she finished as Zion stared at the corspes as well.

She was right, they were already weak. Probably why they were able to even survive this encounter. If they had been healthy with those sheer numbers alone- he dreaded the thought.

They hadn't even gotten a decent rest yet, so they're magic was already running on low.

"W-we should move locations before the rain starts again- it's clear that this cave is a den for them. I highly doubt this is all of them" Chris spoke in a slow and disgruntled way as he tried to steady his shaking body to comply to stand up properly. "Dammit- if only we had potions or arrays-" he hissed as May too slowly got up again, Zion tried to aid her buy she refused it.

'She's really got a thing against being useless' Zion thought as he watched her struggle to stand.

"As much as I agree with you, can you two really move in your condition?" Zion enquired as silence followed. Yeah, he didn't think so.

"You're going to have to move us" Chris finally said after some thought. "There are massive leaves, sticks and vines in this place capable to support our weight. You'll have to build a raft and drag us behind you, you're fast as well- you're really our only option Zion"

There's no way he could do it, Zion was too weak for that, sure he was fast but how fast could he still be dragging two people behind him?

Searching for leaves and vines wasn't the issue, the floor they were in was particularly covered in it. But obtaining branches able to support they're weight? He couldn't even lift a sword provided by the Maze, how was he supposed to carry a branch with capable structure?

Not only that but while he searched, the others were practically defenceless- not that he could protect them anyway. It seemed like he was more the burden then their only option.

'If Marcus was here, he'd probably laugh at me' he thought in disdain. All because of him he was here, without notice or preparation.

If it wasn't for his curiosity he'd probably have no idea of even the most simplest things required day to day.

As much as going to Marcus's Mansion left a foul taste in his mouth, it also came with the after taste of knowledge.

Besides it is what he sought after the most all things considered.

Using his legs he pushed through his heels as he lifted up a few branches that seemed like they would hold their own.

But it was no easy feat, as Zion hissed through his teeth and push forward. This was the final thing he needed, the others may have already made the main parts of the raft.

Gritting through the weight he heaved on back, one foot after the other, steady and easy going. He could hear his heart beat in his ears. As if it wanted to burst out everytime he breathed out!

------

"That's surprising"