Labyrinth of Illusion (2/2)

Huff... Huff. Shit!

BAMMM!

The ground shattered with blood splashing over the air. Quickly looking up, he discovered the figure that attacked him quickly crossing the path to the other area.

"Wasn't that a... human?" He thought in confusion. "Why attack me?" Instantly, the words of the automated voice played in his head. "That's right. We are free to act in whatever way if we come across each other."

He didn't have time to think now as their clash had awakened the skeletons. Holding his injured side, he braced himself for the battle ahead.

I'm must survive! That was his thought as he charged forward his dagger clenched tightly.

***

Humans... humans are dangerous creatures. When desperation sets in, that's when their true nature are revealed—raw, primal and unbridled. Which could be both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

"The left..." Rolling across the ground, Blake evaded the masisve sword, which struck his previous spot. Slashing upward, his daggers tore through the bony arm, cutting through it.

Flipping backwards, he evaded the arrows shot at him. Quickly wiping the beads of sweat off his eyes, he scanned the area, his eyes on every move of his opponent. A few skulls and bones littered the ground, yet the skeletons still alive were much.

"I would have been able to escape, but those archers at the back are quite the headache. Turning my back on them, I don't know if I'll be able to reach the next corner without getting hit." Also, the skeletons were mixed with a few level four monsters, causing quite the headache for him.

One thing he noticed was that after getting injured, the effects of the toxic seemed to have multiplied.

"This counts as damage, right?" He thought, dashing towards one of the skeletons. Swinging down, he cut through the head of the skeleton. And then, leaping to the side of the wall, he exploded forward, cutting through another set of skeletons.

SWOOOSH! SPLATT!

"Ughh. Dammit!" Pulling the arrow stuck on his shoulder, he rolled across the ground, evaded another couple of arrows, and then exploded towards one of the archers nearby.

"No wonder they're quite the headache. They're level five monsters." Leaping high, he swung his dagger down at the head.

CLAANG!

"Shit! I was unable to cut through! Moving backwards, he barely avoided a wide swing from one of the skeleton from the sides and then twisted his hip. "If my dagger isn't able to cut through, then I'll just use my body!"

Swinging his leg, the head of a skeleton was seen soaring through before slamming into the wall. Stomping the ground, his eyes let out a strange glint. "You won't get away!"

Using the Invisble Dash skill, he was able to cover the distance between the archer, which had retreated backwards. "I also get to test out that new skill." Appearing before the skeleton, he grabbed its face and slammed it to the ground.

---> Damage Inducement: Can induce physical damage on targets through physical contact.

"Explode!" He muttered while watching his back. He felt a strange energy bubbling from within before surging towards his hand placed on the skeleton. The head of the skeleton exploded, leaving a headless body that slowly turned into dust.

The yellow orb of light entered his body as he rose from the ground, his eyes fixed on his next target.

"Damage Inducement, a skill that enables me to cause any kind of damage on the target." Activating the invisible Dash once again, he easily passed through the lot, appearing before the second archer. His hands slammed into its face, and then, just like the last one exploded.

"That's two... down. This..." he muttered, staggering forward. "Why do I feel weak all of a sudden. Dam...mit!" Raising his hand, he was just in time to block the mace heading right at his chest.

The force sent him stumbling backwards with his hands a bit sore from the impact. "This feeling... is it the backlash from the skill or the effects of the toxic getting stronger?"

"I need to get out of here!" Stomping the ground, he dashed forward his hands behind and in the form of a claw. "Invisble Dash!"

WHOOSH!

His form sped through the skeletons and managed to make it through the bend. "That's what I could I've done the first time," he thought with a frown. Not wanting to stay within the area, he continued forward. "I have to be careful now with the skills I use. My mana is quite low."

Ensuring he was far away, he stopped in his tracks, deciding to rest.

"You're still weak." The voice fleeting and distant flowed into his ears. Jumping up quickly, he stared around in confusion.

"That voice... I know that voice."

"You're not going to survive this if you continue this way. You won't be able to protect Lucian and Claire with this pitiable strength of yours."

Finally, he could see the figure. "You... is this real. Dad... is that really... you? Again?"

"Or are you just going to run away like last time and leave them to fate." The voice now sounded cold with a chilling mist spreading over the area.

"No! That's... not true. I never ran! I tried my best to get there... but I couldn't...! What could a ten year old kid do after all!"

"Excuses! You could have been there... to feel what we felt! You're the cause of it all."

"NO... take that back! You're not even rea! " With shaky hands, he pointed at the figure tears streaming down his face. "My dad won't ever say such! You're not real!"

"HAHAHA! And what if I'm not real? You and I know you're the cause! You were supposed to be the one to die."

"Arghhhh! Get out of my head!" Falling to his knees, he began to slam his head to the ground. "Get... out... of... my... head!"

Minutes passed by with Blake still in that position. Finally raising his head, the area had returned to its normal state with no figure present.

Drip! Drip!

With trembling legs, he rose from the ground, ignoring the blood dripping to the ground from his head. Wiping the blood with his hands, he slowly continued in his journey using the wall has a support.

CREAK~

"What's that." Looking at the ground, he discovered he had stepped on a hidden trap. Quickly leaping forward, he dashed towards the ending of the path with wide eyes.

"Almost there!" He thought struggling with the banging pain in his head. "Hold on! I can't feel the ground!" Looking down, he discovered the ground had disappeared with a dark bottomless hole staring back at him.

Instantly, he began the descent. His body quickly fell through the hole, crashing on a hard surface.

"Ughhh,' with a groan, he struggled to his feet. "I can't see a thing!" He thought, staring around. "What's that sound!" Quickly bringing out his dagger, he lowered his body slightly.

"There!" Swinging his blade, it connected with a hard surface with a spark lighting up the area for a moment.

Just from the spark, he could tell instantly he was in deep trouble. Finally, he could see the pair of dark red eyes staring at him with a hissing sound echoing over the area.

"My dagger, it couldn't leave a scratch on it! Dammit! It's definitely a higher level beast! And... this darkness... I can't see a thing!"