I awoke to the stone-cold ground and a repugnant, musty odor. I struggled to move or see at first, but after a few seconds, I was able to get into a sitting position. The room was dim. There was a large wooden door with metal outlines. It had a barred circular hole, and faint orange light was emanating from it.
"...Where am I--cah!"
I suddenly broke into a coughing fit. The air in this room was nigh unbreathable. Upon closer inspection, I noticed a rusty metal bed frame and moss and other greenery growing in the corners.
I was in a ramshackle prison cell.
"They could've at least put me on the bed frame."
I stood up and rubbed my head, wondering how it is that I even got into this mess. Then I remembered the beast, and the haze, and how Kim passed out in battle. The same must've happened to me.
But that raises the question: where is everyone else?
I walked up to the door and squished my face against the opening.
"Hello! Anyone there?"
I waited a minute. No response. Crap.
My first instinct was to bust this door down, but I stopped myself. If I were to make a ruckus, then that guy with the monster would come down and corner me. I couldn't escape the place by breaking through a wall either, since I was likely underground. If I were to escape, then I'd need to do it quietly. With that in mind, I let out the tendril and grew a miniature Dragon-Maw.
"Alright Dragon-Maw, serve me well."
Dragon-Maw Jr. did as he was told. He immediately shredded through the bars and then went for the wood next. Three minutes later, only the edges of the door remained. I stepped over the little piece at the bottom.
Where did all the wood and metal Dragon-Maw ate go? I didn't care. I was now in a narrow hallway with similar doors. I checked them one by one through the hole, and only when I reached the third one did I see somebody.
It was Victoria. She was lying on the ground, likely knocked out. Crap, that means the haze got to her. And Flinty.
Wait, where is Flinty?
I checked the other doors. Flinty and Kim were here. They were unconscious too, but I was relieved to see them. I let Dragon-Maw Jr. shred the door to Flinty's room and ran in.
"Hey. Hey, wake up."
I gently shook her. She moaned as she opened her eyes and let out a big yawn.
"Huh... Kenny? Where are–"
Suddenly, she broke into a coughing fit. I patted her on the back a few times.
"We're in some type of prison. Vikky and Kim are nearby, let's go get them."
"P-Prison?"
I released and woke up Victoria and Kim. They were disordered, and they also had coughing fits, but a few minutes later they were up and healthy. Kim was missing her sword, but otherwise, we had all our belongings.
"What do we do?" Flinty asked.
"I think we should assess the situation before we leave here," Kim said.
"Do we even know how to get out? And what about that m-monster, how do we take care of that?" Victoria asked.
"We'll find an escape route after the assessment."
They were taking being locked in an underground cellar surprisingly well. No, only Kim was. Victoria was chewing on her nails and Flinty looked distressed. Victoria walked up to me and put her hands on my shoulders.
"W-Woah."
"Kenny. You're a mage, right? You have those weird plants, right?"
I nodded.
"Please, bust us out of here. The air is one thing, but that monster..."
She began to shudder.
"I'd happily bust us out, but–"
"Then do it! DO IT!"
She started to shake me. I had to put my hands on her shoulders to get her to stop.
"Hold on, Victoria. If we do anything rash, then we'll make a lot of noise."
"I don't care! I want to get out of this forest, and I want to do it fast! I mean, Kenny, you saw that thing, right? Right?"
Indeed I did. The creature was the stuff of nightmares, I couldn't deny that.
"It's because of that creature that I want to be quiet!"
I raised my voice and Victoria stopped shaking. She slowly let go of me and slapped her cheeks.
"Sorry. I was freaking out."
"It's fine. Let's just find the exit."
She nodded. Victoria looked at Flinty and apologized to her. Flinty could barely get a response out, but she still had that determined look on her face.
With that, our investigation commenced. The first order of business was to find escape routes. We found one almost immediately. It was a metal door with a keyhole but no knob. I put my ear against it and knocked on it, and I could tell that it was dense.
Busting through this thing would require a considerable amount of firepower. I could penetrate it with my earth magic, or freeze it and try to break it that way. Kim also proposes melting it, but thirty seconds of keeping up fire magic gave us the impression that it was burn-proof. Considering how both actions I could take were noisy, we held off on escaping through the metal door and searched for alternatives.
Looking through the remaining cells revealed virtually nothing to us. There were a few metal poles inside one of the doors. I proposed the idea of lockpicking with it, but that obviously couldn't work.
Flinty suggested drilling ourselves a hole to escape via earth magic. I tried it, and though it was working, it was obvious that we would die before ever reaching the surface.
We were in a deadlock. We waited beside the metal door in silence until Flinty spoke up.
"I think... we should try breaking the door down."
"What?" I replied, "But then the guy and the monster's just gonna run down here!"
"I'm with Flinty," Kim said, "it's either we bust it down and get out or wait for someone to open it on the other side. The latter is unlikely to happen."
I wanted to continue my rebuttal, but I sighed instead. Victoria took their side as well, and now the three of them were looking at me with anticipation.
"Can we... compromise?"
"Compromise!?" Victoria said, "What compromise? Let's just get out of here!"
"I-I get what you're saying, but maybe just wait another half hour and see if someone shows up? I could also keep... fine, I'll do it."
I couldn't keep talking under the pressure of their glares. As much as I didn't want to do this, I didn't have much of a choice. I stood before the door and cracked my knuckles, then stretched my fingers for good measure, and began mana expulsion. And then, something made me stop.
I heard rattling from the other side of the door. Someone was mumbling to himself. I heard a click, and then the slow metallic creak of the door being opened.
I walked back. I was beside the others, channeling my spell with bated breath. I stared at the door as it slowly opened. A shoe appeared from the little opening, and following a grunt, the whole door swung open.
I was just about ready to shoot, but Victoria of all people put a hand on my arm. The man who opened the door was panting. He didn't notice us yet.
"Alright, is anyone... awake?"
His eyes were wide open and his mouth stood agape. He stuttered as Victoria walked over to him. And then, in a flash, Victoria punched the man in the gut, turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and flung him over her shoulder.
The man hit the ground with an echoing slam. He groaned and whispered "sorry" over and over. Victoria's mouth made a V-shaped frown. She brushed her hands together. As she walked towards us, she kicked the man in the shin and muttered "freak" as his groaning grew louder.
I skidded a few steps away from Victoria.
"So, what do we do now?" She asked.
Kim stepped up to the man and crouched beside him. She dangled a bottle of green elixir over his head: a healing potion.
I started to feel bad for that man.
"If you talk and get us out, I'll happily make your pain go away. Otherwise, she'll keep doing that until you bleed."
The man lifted his head and gazed at Victoria. She punched her open palm.
"A-Alright, I'll talk."
–
–
–
I took no part in the interrogation. Neither did Flinty. She seemed to be just as intimidated by our teammates as I was. At least they were on our side, right?
The man had no hesitation in complying with our demands. In fact, he apologized for putting us in the cells.
"I-I thought that, should you recover, then I'd be arrested and e-executed."
It was an exaggerated fear, but I couldn't help but understand it. After the interrogations were over, he agreed to escort us out of here, but under obvious conditions.
"First," Kim started, "you need to vow to never participate in monster-creation magic and abandon the forest. Second, you must either learn to control or eliminate the beasts you've created. And third, you must disclose all your research to the Kingdom of Zariel."
The man nodded to all conditions, but he still had a nervous expression.
"I-I'd happily comply, but there is one slight problem."
"What is it?"
"I'm not doing this alone, and my partner is... a bit difficult."
I understood immediately. We have a psychopath on our hands, don't we?
"Then, how do we deal with him?"
For some reason, his face relaxed when he was asked.
"Oh, you four are my heroes. But, be warned, he is a dangerous individual."
"So how do we deal with him?"
"Well..."
–
–
–
We finally made it out of the underground cellar. A spiral staircase greeted us. I was walking at the very back behind Flinty.
According to the man– whose name was Ng, spelled exactly like that –we were in a structure akin to a compound, just much wider in scale. His partner, whom he refused to name, was currently on the highest floor of the building.
The mission was simple: get to the top, get the man, and have him arrested. Ng would be exempt from any punishment.
Of course, I claimed it was simple, but there were too many hidden factors that worried me. For starters, Ng agreed to cooperate far too quickly. He gave this whole story about how terrible his partner is and whatnot, and though he sounded distressed, it was still suspicious. Secondly, Ng made little mention of the monsters, claiming he would simply "handle them."
I wasn't alone in my doubts. Kim was practically breathing down Ng's neck the whole way up the stairs. She seemed like a capable fighter, so some of my stress was alleviated.
Now that I mention it, I was acting far too calm in this situation, wasn't I? Well, that was thanks to Flinty.
She was gripping one of my hands as we ascended the stairs. It was cute, sure, but she had a very assuring grip. Though I'm sure she was doing it more for herself than me.
"We made it to the top," Ng said.
We were on a flat surface. Ng took out a keychain and opened the door. Exiting the staircase, I found myself on a grassy field surrounded by trees. Just how deep underground were we?
"Alright, just follow me now. Be wary of any stray beasts, they've been escaping more and more frequently."
We traveled down a path and arrived at a fence. There was an imposing gate before us. Ng advised us to hug the walls and we did. He loudly knocked on the gate.
"This is Ng! I'm returning from prisoner inspection!"
Silence ensued. Ng was impatiently tapping his feet on the ground, which I thought was a strange gesture considering his situation. But, on second thought, he might be trying to come off more naturally.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhakN9tQhZy
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Kim, Flinty, and Victoria leaned over to watch the scene. Ng, sensing no response, knocked on the door again.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRztM8edfE
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"HEY! OPEN UP!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokPNZBXuZ1
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He was acting quite bossy for someone so afraid of his associate. My trifling suspicions were turning into full-fledged doubts.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKi5SAgfKN
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"Something about this is fishy."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1cQzdoNp1
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I looked at the other three. They nodded in agreement.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEBdhxSkis
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"What should we do then?" Flinty asked.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIRWliPWqF
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFgCJuRLGy
"Kenny," Kim started, "take out your tendril. Prepare for anything unexpected."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPP6W6eopJ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqH85GCRbu
I did just as I was told. I eyed Ng intently. He started rubbing his forehead and then looked at us. Right as he opened his mouth, the earth shook below our feet.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75PjCHYM6h
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It happened again. And again. I realized quickly that it wasn't an explosion or something else, but rather, something big was walking. The image of the monster from before entered my mind.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3YZTzBoUg
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJaeLLypVo
"Oh, that's Jeremiah. Jeremiah! Open the door!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9QMHMiK8i
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXXM1aYIrz
Jeremiah? Naming something like that, is that some type of sick joke? I would've cackled if it wasn't for me trying to be stealthy. The walls were tall enough to where I couldn't see what was on the other side, but I could already imagine. The gates slowly opened, and Ng fixed his posture and had his hands behind his back.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaxnWmV81J
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b2tpSem4u
And then.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6lxroBzbi
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B3fJKxPxq
**SMASH**87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrxRQHpGDw
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv6j5uz1L6
The gates burst open. Dust and debris scattered throughout the field I was thrown into an intense coughing fit. I couldn't see anything concrete, but I could see silhouettes, and I saw the figure of Ng being grabbed and pulled.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D3sEoDACf
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4JzwVp4aw
"AH! WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU– NO, HELP! HEEELP!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKW0Pl644r
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ987gzVyJj2
His wails ceased upon a distant slam. Looks like he made it into the compound.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogsRxo4Aws
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"..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP4meJq2FN
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What just happened? I looked at the others, and it was clear from their faces that they didn't have any answers.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOFzx7phpn
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoLgGtWOw8
When the dust cleared, I took a deep breath and crept to the busted gates, then leaned over the edge of the wall. All I saw was the building, standing three stories tall. Nothing was unusual about it. But then, the front door sprung open, and a four-legged beast resembling a wolf sprinted across the field. I quickly hid behind the wall, almost tripping despite barely moving, and I saw the wolf dash past me and run into the woods, howling more like a twisted man than an animal. And then, there was silence.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLwRNTjsX7
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7ffNNwXR6
"..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRtGVNaOwg
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I looked at the other three. I struggled to keep a clear line of sight; my body was practically convulsing. I eventually noticed the looks on their face. All but Kim's, of course. If I had a mirror, I'm sure mine would've matched theirs.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SDPFFMzBh
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I looked into the woods. Dozens of trunks were separated from their trees. The wolf beast was gone, but the destruction it brought to the forest made his presence known.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfJ3EaUpNn
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I took a deep breath. With the wall as support, I got back on my feet.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnazZj3MMO
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcKmg6cVjd
"We're getting the hell out of this forest."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBizAz7quY
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I walked back to the group. Flinty was shaking on the ground. Victoria was surprisingly standing. Kim was the same.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU68vTl9XHF
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"We need to leave. This is– whatever just happened, it's out of our league."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCWiORzXKW
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ca8lUJ30D
Victoria nodded with me. Kim looked at me and began to speak.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NZjgr5wx5
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"Before anything, let's get away from the compound and formulate a plan."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsfpVENMPU
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ugYH5ATUJ
For once, I heard a little fragility in her voice. Victoria picked Flinty up and hung her on her shoulder. Kim led us to the nearby trees. We walked for about five minutes before Kim stopped us. We settled down, taking off our bags. I turned my head around just to make sure the wolf beast wasn't nearby, and sat down, rubbing my face.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDRICQMPao
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLMIhSeJGX
Shit. This was too much. Nothing could've prepared me for this. So many thoughts were racing through my mind– where was the wolf? How do we leave? Was Ng's partner a maniac? How much danger were we in? I couldn't pause to even ponder the questions. My mind was in a numbing haze, and all I could do was stare at the grass as I breathed.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutxdihrsVm
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"-enny. Kenny. Kenny!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrR8LLvndA
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluuhld75Kz
"Huh?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVOYO9athW
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Kim was calling my name. It brought me back down to Earth.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dnkdgmDgQ
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"What is it?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvABvDiW2xP
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0uckgHLPO
"You're the one who has the most firepower out of us. I know what you're thinking, you want to get out of here, don't you?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLjt22fOQX
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAPpaK2C82
"O-Of course. Not just for my sake, but because Flinty shouldn't be here anymore."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2DZtY1Ghf
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Kim nodded. Victoria budged in.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedqOSA9hF4
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"I-I agree with Kenny. I thought we were just finding and arresting some crook, but it's a group we're dealing with, a-and the monsters..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaaJ2nQMRq
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She stopped talking and looked at the floor, clenching her fist.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm367FKjdMD
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"I understand your concerns," Kim said, "and I agree, from what we've seen, this is probably too much for Flinty. And Victoria, you're good in hand-to-hand combat, but these monsters are inhuman. They aren't your specialty."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSjtAgsQTj
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"Never in my sixteen years did I see something like that," she replied, "I don't even know how to start fighting it."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Nny2eR16S
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Kim nodded. She sat criss-cross and put a hand to her chin.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlUApPHUo7
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"I know you two will disagree with this, but I think we should still try an infiltration."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMw6eP8Yt3
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXyqvRTZ9c
"W-What?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07YhSOZPfF
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyPCpNqwPj
"Are you crazy!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5YcvMAlUx
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We both yelled. Victoria continued.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMFcxG6SQZ
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"I'm not going inside a foreign building where that giant and god-knows-what else is calling home! I-I mean, even if we do, what are we going to do about Flinty? I'm completely against it, we need to get out of this forest and get reinforcements."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXNcfFilCU
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I nodded to her reasoning. The idea was absurd. But Kim immediately started her rebuttal.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelscD73c2W
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"Getting out of this forest might be more dangerous than getting in the building. Whatever that wolf monster was is in the woods, and outside of the compound. Just judging from the destruction, it's a much more difficult threat to handle than Jeremiah."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRDt8Fv3IQ
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God, Kim, why were you calling that thing by its name?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsfwz9aI2P
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssRPMZXrZq
"The two men responsible for these creatures are weak themselves. Maybe Ng's partner is a bit more formidable, but considering how rampant the beasts are, he shouldn't be strong enough to sedate them, let alone control them."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgOMnEWXgo
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IQNvOdyaX
"Are you saying we really have a fighting chance?" I asked.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgDEl6OLmk
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"I'm saying we have much more than a fighting chance. We could obliterate the compound right now if we use your power, Kenny."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUIkuIpUTk
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX03VYCLZT
"I think you're severely overestimating me. I have nothing in my arsenal that can level a building that sturdy."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQns8bhBjUo
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHK1Ys25QF
"Maybe not level it, but you have something that'll encase it, don't you?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVSRV1DeAZ
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I tilted my head in confusion.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KERxku1CM
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"Your ice. I'm sure if you tried, you could cover the whole thing in ice. Alternatively, we can use it to get straight to the third floor, where Ng's partner is supposedly hiding."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqsR4RkdcL
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Nothing about this was sitting right with me.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy58yGtSkf
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"W-Wait, Kim, we don't even know if Ng was telling the truth! For all we know, that whole thing was just an act set up by Ng to get him back in the base!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdvtLEgjhh
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94HJCbEhU5
"Do you really think Ng has any ill will towards us?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wAxYtFuUm
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplC9VtGEic
"Of course I do!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8aKnB6EeE
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMYCY4l52M
"You're wrong. When he went down to the shelter, he didn't bring anything with him. No weapon, no potion, no wand, no monster, nothing. Either he's a complete moron or someone who truly felt sorry about what he's done. And I've dealt with enough morons to distinguish the two."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oH5eLV0lx
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D14ifsFDP
"Y-You... Victoria, back me up here!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4ngbAwdrE
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"Right! Even if Kenny could destroy the building, or get us to the third floor or whatever, what about the monster? You two tried killing it and passed out entirely!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftW8DjSVLR
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOadKe5dfAl
"But Kenny didn't use his ice. That was because of me, right Kenny? That was because I was in your line of fire."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePIJwEUPxU
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I didn't respond, just averted my eyes.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplipknBua0
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERN1H7u9Ql
"B-But why don't we just leave the forest, huh!? And what about Flinty?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATp62sZhpB
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNtHZq9BpN
"If we leave the forest now, then we deal with the wolf, and we risk the chance of more dangerous monsters festering. It's best if we strike now and capture and eliminate what we can. As for Flinty, I believe she's been on my side since the beginning."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk3JJMjF4U
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg3Y0GoZWg
"Huh?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyg7y9Yfe1
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSvq1KwwzB
I turned my head to her. She was still shaking, and yet, her eyes. Her eyes were the same as before. She raised her head and looked at me. No response, just a singular, stern nod.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Qp0T5aJs
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNvhd3qbiB
"Flinty? Are you serious?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTk1eAxJFm
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bFR3TbqwL
"I-I know I won't be very helpful, so I'll try to stay out of fighting. But, at the very least, I want to support you all."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi43TYCTbL
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhCv5zug7o
She stood up and slammed her chest a few times.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjftRpm60lZ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcudUVf22Q
"Leave me in charge of our stuff. I'll defend it, I promise. A-And if anything goes wrong, then I'll just yell really really loudly."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDb5S7FDaaf
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpZccXAwNt
She stopped shaking. Sweat was running down her forehead, but her words were earnest. I couldn't even believe it. Who did this? What happened to Flinty?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO6WiO1F2F
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Xyyijm3F
"B-But, Flinty... what if... what if..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPejv5Cc08
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPsWj1FKUu
Victoria couldn't voice any rebuttal. Flinty was the final nail in the coffin.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMoGnCXPZE
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7OBSS8Uws
I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up. It was Kim.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnarxEailoS
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok3OfJDJ0W
"Kenny, all of this hinges on you. I know you're inexperienced, and I know you're frightened, but success can only be achieved with you. Please."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkf7ECd8x0
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcxr57nBE1
Adding pressure to this already stressful circumstance wasn't what I needed. All of this hinged on me, huh? Something about that thought brought back ugly memories. Regardless, I nodded.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6hZvbiVtF
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0B4squQ5LY
"You and your words... I was right about being suspicious of you."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkygw6YBW7
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhmDF1qIn9
"I'm sorry. I promise you'll be compensated for your efforts."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhL9jCXZTIq
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr6oS2gQdN
"...With money?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIxBunWNwG
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGflswdoML
"With money."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiV9Iaabmc
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRKU2kyD3Z
"...I can't say no to money."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPQSeAas3C
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1TrNYqD2U
For a second, I caught a smile from under her cloak. She offered me a hand and helped me stand up.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMAPSo1TF5
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3WlDj6OCb
"Then that's settled. What about you, Victoria?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEv75habAs
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFbPUcQHqb
She was still on the floor, giving us a pensive look.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOnRbMLwvq
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLdl2epOXY
"...If we're doing this, then I'll fight anything that isn't the blob."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWwTUidGTu
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpiNxeoILu
"Alright. Then Kenny and I will help."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddIPRJlKo1
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHqKv96j4B
Kim helped Victoria to her feet. I felt something touch my back. It was Flinty, she slapped my shoulder.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamlMNq60S5
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd4oRUsu8F
"Let's do our best okay?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ZzIQrAaN
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGPNmOoLBu
"..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudMAchC0h7
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOAwezAkK8
I still had one more concern.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzf5JBXTuN
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqlFB6BCEZ
"Flinty, if the wolf gets to you while we're inside, what will you do then?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCj0pZYDhP6
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOkdWp6TmX
She averted her gaze.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBNNqfanZT
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtoAjb2Vyc
"I'll... if I need to, then I'll use the fireball. I'll use one like the one at Mister Freed's shop."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sp8HPsrtT
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFYglzpxIg
"I see."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaWrQR99Dl
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDqPQdUSc7
I unbuttoned my coat, took it off, and offered it to her. She looked it with apprehension, awkwardly raising a hand to her mouth.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgvzPqe4SM
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BsfOy9MM5
"K-Kenny? Are you sure?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib3QoWMU3N
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9cgNpI7GY
"Uh..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhom7ys1WG
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVyC0DU4fw
Crap. My cheeks were tinted rose.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRxdCuoJe1
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0IGCITQsa
"I-If you're going to use fire magic, then take this, since it's fire-proof. Cover your head with the hood when you do. I don't think your fireball would be strong enough to blow any limbs away, but I think it's fine if you just lose your legs."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGPmjOwClK
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB1rreCccH
She nodded and accepted my coat. It was a size too large for her, so a lot of excess cloth covered her legs. Perfect.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNuUtSsUFy
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DECnh7ZGH
"This is really cozy, no wonder why you always wear it."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zSn3Yfy8v
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoexIk9Fn5
"Heh. Anabelle is a good weaver, isn't she?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUEMVhnUzJ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC3SpdftkV
She nodded. I felt slightly naked now, but I still had long sleeves covering my arms. I would be fine.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNYq7tD1D9
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIgw81LbQo
"Alright," Kim said, "are we ready to form a plan?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypZ7gmF6jv
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDr5AI8sqG
–
–
–87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVU7gtOFC1
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMUhDkttjH
Stationed behind a tree, on the left side of the compound. I had a clear line of sight on the third floor. There was a large opening before the balcony, likely there due to carelessly leaving the door open. Victoria was behind me and was carrying a healing potion in the breast pocket of her dress. Flinty was ten meters behind us, guarding our supplies as she said she would. I've been in this position for ten minutes. Kim just returned to our position.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFCs2mrwrE
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlYMCMnap1
"How does it look like?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCpiOwPwYn
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCO8DqewV8
"Clear. I heard some ruckus coming from the building. They're likely occupied with whatever that is."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOk3LiDkTq
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuf4Gl26Hc
Ideal conditions have been met. I took in a breath and released the tendril. A Freeze-Dry bloomed from the tip.
"Are we ready?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZW629viNx
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSixVGLVDK
"We're ready."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWZOH2cURq
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDRVI6hv3C
I never imagined myself taking part in a siege mission. I would make peace with it later.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiUFftu0KQ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl9BUP27ft
The first order of business: infiltrating the third floor. I carefully started making a ramp of ice but got smacked in the head before it got a meter tall.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpicYdA0oo
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpfj8emhWZ
"How are we supposed to scale a ramp of ice!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuofyRlBAv
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mD4OYep7O
She had a good point. I was a bit flustered.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEwuAVoelU
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRujZn3RKs
"Then what do you propose I do!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVEttCLgyD
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpVY7rTqC0
I could see Victoria's brain at work. I racked my mind for a solution.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqkzH29cco
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG01N4A425j
"Just make little steps," Kim interjected, "and as we hop on them, make the next one bigger."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidjiZybvfc
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJC9latvPT
Genius! I did just as I was told, and though it took a long time, we eventually made a bloated staircase to the top. We hopped over the balcony. I was ready to rush in but was stopped before walking through the doorway.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJQGUhMWRe
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd1CEIAhQL
"Before we enter, let me inspect how it is inside."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxF6uku9bk
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT2GKKrgcy
Kim leaned over the edge. She motioned us to move in and went inside. Of course, I made sure not to be too loud. The room we found ourselves in was spacious. The floor was surprisingly made of wood, and there were a couple of blankets and pillows, but otherwise, the room was empty.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXBgMoE7ni
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhrPWEdCWZ
They slept in conditions like this? They didn't even have a mattress. I almost felt bad.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Nej0SvKL
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEt7GghSNcx
Since the room was clear, our infiltration continued. We found a door and went through it. The room was large and coated in sunlight. One look at the left told us why; up a wide set of steps, a giant oval window was right before a flat surface. Standing beside it were two men. One was kneeling, and the other was standing in front of him. Immediately recognizing who they were, we went low and closed in.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4LrwtaZMd
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFz9Yht211
"Ng, come on. I know you know better."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gGM4DJP6m
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPHOh82gJL
The guy in front of Ng had a raspy voice. He sounded old, and he also sounded like a drunkard, but that was neither here nor there.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhOrAYdOBB
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsoYpn6J36
"Y-Yeah. I know."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcZqJMgATX
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWEH4OW0De
I was in range. I stuck my hand out and began expelling mana. A stone formed in front of my palm. I aimed it at the head of the guy.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo4AdO9vH3
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7JdkvdjNA
"Then why did you let the prisoners out? We can't have our location disclosed to–"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBA1XX0Rdj
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6p10ZkTx5
**SHATTER**87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8A3gZGSnb
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rVWy1zHSr
I fired the stone. I made sure to put enough power to where it wouldn't kill the man, but at least incapacitate him.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3CaTRhJl6
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar1NIzD7BT
I missed and hit the window, shattering it completely.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDJ4QIlMaL
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJYcdD6Lgm
Ng and the man turned to us. I didn't have anything to say, I simply returned eye contact.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1WoBLGD2y
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua0ZXadc4x
"Now!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kJKqm5gSs
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu8fs0SOCx
Kim and Victoria rushed ahead. The two men didn't fight back, they started running away. I knew Ng was in on this!87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZOZBAUhvN
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtb8D3VIPC
The two of them were racing down a wide staircase. Kim stopped at the top, took a wand out, and began creating fireballs while Victoria kept rushing at them. I followed Victoria, creating another stone bullet to fire as we made it to the second floor. Kim reached it and fired her fireball, but The two men split up and entered opposite doors. Victoria followed the man, but I was stuck at the crossroads. Kim stopped right before me.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLL3SupnzZ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTENjtkup43
"What are you waiting for?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeduEBA2pG
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt69WVud5oT
"I still don't trust Ng."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqrRjx47VV
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgdcW3CvQ3
"Fine, then go after him!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW9H0RbAZi
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWzSnhgl91
I nodded and rushed through the other door. I saw another set of stairs and Ng was already making his way down them.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuxRgCdqYT
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahliVlxl9F
"Stop moving!" I yelled. He didn't comply. I ran down the stairs myself. Now on the first floor, Ng was running to the front door. I shot my bullet before he made it. I missed it again, but when he noticed it whizzing by him, he stopped in his tracks and turned to me.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I3dloBvD2
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdRIYrIbf1
"O-Okay, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Just don't hurt me!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqTGVKveMu
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqclZq9ZbNx
He was already down on the ground with his head glued to the floor. I rushed towards him. Ng was... crying?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DW1ocy2Ne
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyqa4GwVkb
"Are you seriously crying?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC5cJwGeEI
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dMEAxDpgY
"Huh?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKCHiK6if9
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RYC5Xrk0X
He tilted his head up to me.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb9VJJDMCw
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpb78PNaTv
"N-No, I'm not crying. Aren't you going to kill me?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K4U0AdEPy
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv04p66SzAp
"K-Kill? I wouldn't go that far... Geez, get up already."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLFVh1VZJU
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy16eyiOhq8
He did as he was told. He had a look of sincere confusion on his face. I didn't let that fool me, though.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerU4OFIbLn
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajAiw5pW57
"You, are you really on our side?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBbbs2ECy2
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZJ9LXfken
"Of course I am! If my words aren't enough, then I'll happily take an official oath!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJxhGcj7NV
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg80FgXozw
"Nobody's here to witness it, you moron! Nevermind this, just take me to your teammate already!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb2GoYCm7i
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFN1m6qDJ3
"Yes sir!"
Ng took me back up the stairs. Before entering the main room on the second floor, Ng nudged the door open and scanned the room.
"What are you being so careful for? I thought you could control the beasts."
"Control? Oh no, I can't control them at all. It would be better to say that I just make suggestions."
I nodded. Apparently, the coast was clear, so we entered the room. We were walking to the opposite door until it suddenly flung open.
"Ha! Ah, Kenny, so you caught that guy too!"
Carrying the man on the side of her stomach was Victoria. The man looked to be on the brink of unconsciousness, but when he saw Ng, his whole demeanor shifted.
"Huh? Ng, what are you doing!?"
"...I'm sorry, Panz, but I can't keep going like this. Especially when unrelated people are getting caught up in this mess."
"Unrelated!? But they're from the Zariel kingdom! They're all– ack!"
Victoria struck Panz in the neck, and his rant was over. Kim appeared from behind Victoria.
"I'm sorry, but if children are involved, then we've gone too far."
Ng crossed his arms and blew through his nose. Despite his awkward bowl cut, he looked cool. I need to say something like that in the future.
"So, is that it?" Victoria asked.
"Let's leave quickly," Kim said. I nodded at her suggestion. We walked up the stairs. Before returning to the first room we infiltrated, I spared a glance at the window I broke. I didn't think my accuracy was that bad. I blamed it on the pressure of the situation and gave myself a satisfied nod.
"What are you doing, Kenny?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzmPjaOptH
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oej46NiV4
I rushed back to the others. We all stood before the door, but only Kim moved to open it. That is, until Ng put a hand on her shoulder.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8wro2BiGe
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskHy09EvTG
"Miss... I advise you to not open that door. It's best if we step away."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPQPMgmUfL
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQgPYWkJRh
No questions were asked. I felt as if we all knew what he meant by that. Suddenly, a giant thud resounded from behind the door.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7EolMGGeh
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNURGN5FXj
"Panz! You, what do you think you're doing!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUilizTTtlb
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxi17SMBaR
Panz, who was apparently still awake, feebly lifted his head and cackled.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYGaBcVL9x
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo3bxRgqP5
"As if I'd let you betray me like this so easily! I'll make you pay, Ng– ack!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb48kF1TWG8
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx2TJSkHVq
Panz was struck again, and it looked like he was finally out cold. With him out of the picture, I eyed the door as the thuds shook the building.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvEsK61K67
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzQG3ZENNw
There was a pause. It wasn't silent though; there was foul snarling on the other side of the wall. I tightened my fist and grew a Sunlight-Blossom and loaded a seed.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEviVVRdpJ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqRVCuUqnW
And then, suddenly–87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtmC2Pk8fx
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAI85oQHoY
**SMASH**87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLcvtvsfQZ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fPxEjXezx
A beast nearly twice my height burst through the wall with an overgrown leg. The creature, of gray fur, had a head in the shape of a deer skull.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJxs0v6u6F
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsUcHmxnD1
By all accounts, it was a demon. Immediately, I shot the sunlight blossom at the creature's head. Half of its face was blown away but the screeching didn't stop. The creature stomped the ground with its oversized legs, and I noticed a crack forming in the stone floor.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfexbrbMbcn
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3eosdpBbn
"Crap! Everyone, be careful!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMfr5AJw1u
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xzVgE86fK
Kim rushed in and started slicing at the beast. As formidable as its size was it was sluggish, and Kim had exceptional agility. She cut its chest, and the beast swung its arm and missed. And then Kim cut its arm, not quite decapitating it, but inflicting a wound severe enough to where the beast had to console it. And then Kim tried striking at its left leg. Her sword shattered immediately.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWSBuvb7UV
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"H-Huh?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rk9Q9I4Nh
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QRa9v6ODf
The beast lifted its leg and tried kicking Kim away. She narrowly avoided the strike. As the beast was about to follow up I struck it with another Sunlight-Blossom seed. I loped its left arm off and eviscerated its shoulder. The beast wailed and struck the floors again. At this rate, the third floor would break apart entirely. Kim noticed this too.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JmvUHLkOM
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YWW2xJe71
"Victoria! Kenny! Ng! Head to the second floor!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0I2G8SDiY
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhsNijofk6
We did just that. The beast kept rampaging, and as we made it to the second floor, we heard the sound of the floor giving way. Since the second floor wasn't aligned with the third, the beast didn't fall to us. I quickly ascended the steps to access the beast. He was stuck in a roofless concrete box. The beast looked up, and we made eye contact. I shot another Sunlight-Blossom seed at it but he lifted his leg and blocked the bullet entirely. And then, he crouched. I knew immediately what was going to happen.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPslT4V3unY
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmEqSRgHEN
I began to run down the stairs. I felt the beast leap from behind, and the place he landed was just a foot away from where I was. I tumbled down the steps and landed awkwardly– I might have sprained my ankle. I looked up at the beast and Kim had begun flinging fireballs at it. I loaded another seed and began accumulating power.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4coOLm1L4a
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10kqr85byV
"Ng!" I yelled, "Can't you control that thing!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7elXUfaCpT
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNR5LWxz4I
"No! I am unable to resummon the creatures Panz has created, I can only do ones I have!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7MOmnF6kt
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABkausLpUD
"Like what!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHcUFZDlZg
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK8QeG6n0t
"They died last night!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWGczax46p
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9Zyeiaw1o
Oh. I knew what he was talking about. This situation was growing dire. The beast slowly descended the steps, seemingly unbothered by the barrage of fire. I shot another seed at it and claimed its left arm Crap, I missed the nick. The beast wailed yet again and jumped in place, destroying the staircase instantly. Our escape route was now blocked off.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GZCj3UhU3
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm88IXmWfa
Wait, escape route, of course!87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnUQtz7EL4
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaNMHOvIbs
I produced a Freeze-Dry from my tendril and began mana spinning. The beast was keeping still from the constant attacks. I let immediately let out as much ice as I could. In a flash, half of the entire second floor was covered in ice, and the beast was immobilized.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SOnof8CO2
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"...Did I do it?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV1ilSXjif
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTE9sXAIYu
Kim stopped hurling fireballs. The beast stopped moving. Being covered in ice like that shouldn't have killed it. Considering the girth of its legs, it should be able to break out easily. I remained vigilant and eyed the frozen beast, but a nudge from my right broke my focus. It was Victoria.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMj0nL84KD
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"H-Huh?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNvqT4XbKK
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP55Y8CfuC
She offered me her healing potion.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtGh8iD2KY
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwoUegkxOV
"Here. For your foot."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMl8DHPV8EM
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHp6CHG68g
"A-Ah, thank you."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXeqGNOg3D
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6w3NFWJpx
I took the glass and gulped it down. It was the most effective intake for injuries like sprains, though the taste admittedly made me want to vomit.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExafAs29s0
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4uHnc6FDj
"Haaa, ugh."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkijDf19RSv
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6iWwuCUn2
I stood up with help from Victoria.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CmiOiCDnc
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90qEkSQi5j
"Sorry. I didn't do anything."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp1iPrEw2E
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U6zMMRl3i
"Please, don't be. Even I don't feel like I did much."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ1PkVHcBs
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH43StMPCU
"Haha, you're too humble, Kenny."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotUrMjz7NC
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDzS3Ho3B4
She was noticeably shaken. Still, she held onto the unconscious Panz like it was nothing. I was beginning to relax.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxIJWurhym
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NaiLf0SuP
"Don't let your guard down yet."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOVjyaWoch
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnquNFfo8TL
I looked at Kim who was pointing a large ball of fire at the beast. Looking at the encased monster, I noticed it fidgeting.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrSnaKRAWN
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"Crap. Crap!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlB8CLgWUj
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXSP5Ah6xi
The Freeze-Dry was a dud. With the Sunlight-Blossom and Freeze-Dry already used, I switched to the last combat plant I had in my arsenal; Dragon-Maw Jr.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy3Z4GyRTI
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpq0c2HgjB
I didn't wait for the beast to unfreeze. I ran closer and extended my tendril. Dragon-Maw Jr. snapped at the thing's head, but it was too big for him to encompass it. Still, Dragon-Maw Jr. was able to tear off a chunk of the beast's face. The instant he did so, the beast broke out of the ice and screeched. The yell made my ears ring. Dragon-Maw Jr. Bit at its chest and tore off a sizeable chunk from there. The beast, at a speed I didn't think was possible, kicked at Dragon-Maw Jr. A portion of my tendril soared across the room and collided with the wall.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUwI76WdBa
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJogiUAK9Q
Even though it was separated from my body, I felt a sudden sting coarse throughout all of it. The tendril retracted immediately and I fell to the ground.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdbQBPshZh
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDlsfYUKxJ
"K-Kenny!? Shit!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNoJFJtNY3
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnw62moRC5
Victoria grabbed me by the shirt and hung me over her shoulder. She yelled at Kim, though I struggled to decipher it. My vision was fading in and out.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeDCvb06UO
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA73g72PEw
This pain... it was like my own arm was ripped off. I was more shocked than anything. I let out a weak laugh. I had no idea the tendril was this intertwined with my nerves. I felt a liquid permeate my shirt. I reached into it. It was coming from my chest. When I looked at my hand, I didn't see blood as I thought I would, but a deep purple.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnB4E6Qx06
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A sinister curiosity crept within me. It was awfully nostalgic.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0JLwR4rTX
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmupAlsh3m8
"Kenny! Kenny, are you awake!?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lifmcTKSt
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqgDiLFyeo
"Huh? Y-Yes!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPSGzgdHOZ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIs7LqqUGy
"If you can, support Kim!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JWucnSeMW
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3JmqVHNaz
Victoria dropped me on the ground. I grunted but regained my focus as I saw Kim. She was in an inelegant dance with the beast, dishing blows while narrowly avoiding receiving any, and each subsequent counter-strike from the beast only grew closer and closer to hitting her. I could tell that she couldn't keep up. I began to form a rock in front of me, then made it bigger, and bigger, and then thinned it and turned it into a spear.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnXyKrwlzJ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYElIlQWZ8
"W-Woah..."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpEIpUcwYM
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr4ZWQS4mJ
I spun the spear. I could swear I saw smoke emerge from the tip. I didn't think anything of it.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyGz2DW61C
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSywHmWKYKg
"KIM!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwfXeztJHQ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6pea70SnW
"Right!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkBClRoW9C
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6LmgSZRgW
She backed off. The beast was entirely by itself. At this rate, I didn't care about being accurate, because I knew it would be obliterated the moment I hit it.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqQ1h85yq0
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And so, I released the spear.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNQrp0hjGg
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKhjcMTJiF
**SMASH**87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0LWot1sbE
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrradxh5ZR0
The spear traversed the room in a blink of an eye. I struck it square in the chest. A hole formed in its chest, and it grew to such a size that anything from the shoulders up separated from the rest of the body. Then, the wall behind the beast was torn down, almost as if it was blown up.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J3wKLvCZ9
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Needless to say, the beast was slain. It faded away a second after. Right, it was made of mana, wasn't it?87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD4t7UOirb
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhwpWrwaog
"...Good job, Kenny," Victoria muttered. Kim ran towards me. I was still wincing, and that purple goop was still being expunged from my chest.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklig0rEt1W
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcSpGGmLHm
"Kenny, out of curiosity, what is your earth magic grade?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1tgsmKGLV
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqtO590x6C
Was now seriously the time to answer such a question? She sounded giddy asking me, so I decided to humor her.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m4X84NLnx
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhLxFLBEDn
"...Three. But, as I've learned today, my accuracy probably lowers it."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38mRXulz1J
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz6xf0TBW6
"No, what you just did was incredible."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68zBKZn2wL
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdi2MRaqxs
"Okay, fine, thank you, geez."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fQYdOvqal
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbiC2mfiWj
I averted my eyes in a pout. Using the tendril for so long, abusing the Freeze-Dry so, and then creating such a powerful earth spear almost drained my supply. At least we were–87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsFZus6Q45
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiT6rwGgeO
"I'm afraid that wasn't the last of them," Ng said.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzqUb9Hm2F
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JCeaAeLXZ
"Huh? Are you serious!?" Victoria yelled.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQC8OU0yiU
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74J32d7jwa
"Unfortunately."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GVgBHr55Z
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4upP2LTXt
I shouldn't have been surprised. But, what did surprise me was the speed at which the next monster struck. Instantly after Ng's utterance, a putrid hand burst through the floor. It slammed its palm on the floor, and it just so happened to hit Kim. The arm wrapped its fingers around her and retracted back into the ground.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ0LtSeLR1
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"Kim!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmvN8HwBBz
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0chc4kpgt
Victoria dropped Panz and rushed to the hole, but backed away once she looked inside. The arm returned and tried to grab her. I released my tendril and smacked at it. Somehow, it was enough to ward it off.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJX02dFNie
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The tendril was bleeding purple.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z9BbJLW6u
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0QsFD3WD2
"Kim! Ah, Kenny, we need to–87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLB5WjF0rf
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUhRwERbyX
**SMASH**87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmsfi1QfKs
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMvEDYfB9T
The hand created another hole, and this time it slammed the ground right beside me. I thought I was lucky to narrowly escape it, but really, it was just grabbing onto Panz.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4U3ytQ14t
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp5o20iE3C
"It's Jeremiah! Kenny, you need to–"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpG7f4im8D
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxOJp8OgDN
I looked Ng in the eyes. He stopped talking. I still couldn't stand. I could hardly form a spell. I could hardly even keep myself awake. I couldn't even keep the tendril out before I succumbed to an oppressive pain.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gyADlra9Y
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvitBaaEEmg
If I had to guess, Ng could make all of that out from my gaze alone. He grabbed a hold of me. I coughed out some of the purple goop. Victoria was standing around, dazed and lost.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkI7n5EynQ
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab4HXLgUkN
"Victoria!" Ng yelled, "We need to escape! We can't fight Jeremiah now!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmDjwxq0nm
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHOinfeSpH
Victoria didn't fight. She spared one look at me and nodded. The stairs leading up were broken, so we had to leave by another means.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6GbPmWy4y
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj7vVrmgv3
Ng carried me to the room from before. We ran down the stairs. Jeremiah was there with two human-sized arms gripping Kim and Panz respectively. It had no eyes, but I could tell it was looking at us.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6E14CbRbh
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"...Ngh."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWvPjSHbBj
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloF9TrFgcj
It was moving at us. With the last of my mana, I created a ball of fire. It was hardly anything, but I shot it anyway. It was enough to stop the monster in its tracks. Victoria busted down the front door. We ran across the field. Jeremiah slid a few meters out of the entrance but then receded into the compound. Ng and Victoria stopped running. They were panting profusely.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjWRD0v2kw
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXugSUk27eg
"Haaa, haaa, shit, shit! Shit!"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0hnhwPfWe
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX9pNtdx5E
I knew how she felt, that Victoria. I couldn't focus at all, though. I had too many afflictions, I had too much fatigue, it was overbearing, everything was overbearing. I almost began to cry.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzxVjbYvH1
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD8eibldog
But, through the stormy mess that was in my mind, one thought came to the forefront.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBz8EAI0Wz
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9evt7QzgSM
The infiltration was a failure. Our ally was compromised. I failed completely.87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWhIRTaT4O
87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJodRUEaG8K
I felt like I was going to die.
