Whose Grave is This? Pt.2

"You know, you're supposed to take out the strongest fighters first. Otherwise, you run the risk of pissing them off." Nick wasted no more time as he dashed towards the dead warriors.

He had 1,442 bones to sever.

His sword met the one pulling at Amelia's head first. Within a second, it met the same fate as its predecessors and felt the death of 206 cuts.

There were 6 more of them though, so Nick didn't even think about slowing down. They were doing their absolute best to tear Amelia apart so every instant was vital.

Turning around as the severed bones crumbled to their grave, he saw that the remaining warriors were looking to fight. After seeing their comrade fall, they must have realized that he was far too dangerous for them to continue attacking Amelia.

"Good. Come at me then, if you wish to be reminded what death feels like."

The remaining warriors roared in defiance, refusing to be subjected to terror at the hands of a mere heir, someone who didn't earn their place as the [King of the Cosmos] at all.

Nick let his weapon do the talking–and it liked to have the final word. The king beheaded his subject in one swift movement before turning to its accomplices.

1,030 bones left.

They ran out in every direction, looking to flank him.

As if such a movement would stop an [Emperor's Slash].

2 more warriors exploded just as a byproduct of his swing, and the survivors staggered against his might. 618 bones left.

Even as they saw that defense would be useless, their primal fear stopped The Fallen from pressing the attack. They knew they should attack, that they had to. They knew that if they went on the offensive they'd at least have a chance.

Maybe the false king would trip and one of them would be able to slice apart the heretic. Or maybe they'd just defeat him in battle regardless. Either way, it was obvious that they should attack, that their continued existence hinged on attacking.

But a King wasn't his soldiers–even a False King.

It wasn't exactly a primal fear that stopped them. In actuality, it was hopelessness. There was nothing in existence that suggested attacking Nick would work, so what was the point in trying?

Whether they swung their sword a thousand times or just one, the outcome would never change.

206 bones. 206 bones. 206 bones.

[Wave 1 Completed]

[12 D-Rank Fallen killed]

[Experience gained: 1,200]

[Leveled Up!]

+--Loading--+

[Level 3; Experience: 238/2,000]

[5 Ability Points granted]

[Stats that can be upgraded with Ability Points: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence]

'It would be best if I put all my attributes into Strength right now. I have no spells, so I need to build myself around the [Fang of Finality].'

[Strength +5]

A wave of energy coursed through Nick, giving him a noticeable increase in strength just like before. He waited for a few seconds to see if he had obtained any rewards but no other notification appeared.

The rewards really didn't seem to match the effort. His entire squad almost died, and if it wasn't for...

'That's not important.'

Putting aside the system notification, Nick made great haste to Juliana. 'She'll be fine. A bit scorched up but otherwise fine...' He thought, even knowing he was probably wrong.

But she had to be fine... even if they basically just met he wasn't ready to go through the pain of losing someone again. As he walked towards her he created a mental image of her in his mind, perfectly healthy if a little scratched up.

The actual sight was far more harrowing. The fire that had hit her ate through her clothes and skin, melting the surrounding dress into her skin as well. It was a miracle that she was even alive.

'Juliana...' Nick thought as he continued ignoring the system, instantly springing into action. The first thing he had to do was raise her belly above heart level.

He situated her legs onto his before looking to see if either Fynn or Yck were still conscious. There was some small comfort because Fynn was the one conscious. Even if it was necessary, he didn't want Yck near Juliana.

"Fynn, can you walk?"

The archer was lying down, barely breathing. With a small smile, he asked, "What happens if I say no?"

"Juliana dies"

Fynn's smile dropped as he hurried to Nick and Juliana, doing as Nick instructed. After Juliana's hips were placed on his legs, Fynn looked at Nick with a slightly raised brow. If his stick wasn't burnt to ash, he'd be biting it.

"You seem to know a lot about first aid, way more than a warrior should."

Nick nodded as he stood up, listening for any running water. "Yeah. I wanted to be a doctor once, before I realized I was no good at saving people."

Fynn looked at him for a second before turning to the other members, barely clinging to life but still given a chance. "You seriously believe that?"

"Yes. But I'm trying to do better."

Nick left, keeping his ears open for any running water.

...

The dungeon was much larger than he anticipated. He had left with a small hope that somewhere in the small confines of a dungeon there'd be a stream of water, but even after running for several hundred yards, the only thing he found were graves.

Because of the vast improvement to his stats, he was much faster, but he still knew time was running out for Juliana. There was no telling how much cool water could help, especially if it wasn't entirely clean, but still... he had to try.

The system kept blaring, becoming more and more forceful with its attempts to gain Nick's attention.

Every time it flashed, he shook his head, refusing to be distracted from his current task. Juliana's death wouldn't be on his head... not like his father's.

'Don't let your mind wander, idiot.'

He ran past rows and rows of graves, multiple cemeteries placed right next to each other and giving no room for life to grow. The entire vast landscape was homogenous and desolate.

Grey sky, grey headstones.

It was so cold but at the same time inviting. As if it would claim them any second.

He traveled past another set of cemeteries with no hope in sight. Just when he was about to give up, he reached the boundaries of death. And at its precipice was a single stream that flowed off into the distance.

Something told him that the river formed a circle that surrounded this singular gravesite. Looking across the river he saw a sort of paradise–a meadow filled with a plethora of flowers, far more than he ever knew existed.

'Elysium.'

He didn't know where he knew that word from, but it seemed so perfect.

[Juliana is in critical condition]

[Juliana's HP is at 2%]

2!

There was no time to think of anything. Taking off his tunic in a hurry, he cut off 2 large strips. The first he dipped into the water, which was surprisingly clear.

Still, he didn't trust anything from this land. It was a cold, deadly place so why would its water be nourishing?

It wouldn't.

After the first strip was filled with water, he quickly wrung it out so it was still wet and cool but no longer dripping. Then he covered it with the second strip, which he hoped would act as a sort of filter.

Then he ran back faster than he had ever run before. Graves became a blur as he raced against death.

Juliana's breathing was becoming slower and more labored by the second.

The instant Fynn saw Nick he exclaimed, "I- I'm trying! I- I don't know what to do!"

Nick forced himself to be calm as he knelt beside Juliana, hands shaking as he applied the makeshift coolant.

"It's ok. Just hold this to her. I'll complete the rest of the dungeon myself... hopefully, she'll still be alive, and we can get her a real healer."

The system could no longer wait to send Nick its message. His head flared with pain as a notification appeared within his eyes.

[Dungeon Boss: C-Rank Ethos, Apostle of the Remembered appears in 0 seconds]

Then every grave in the land of death cried.