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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmwbyQxF9d
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Kim, Flinty, and Victoria leaned over to watch the scene. Ng, sensing no response, knocked on the door again.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrptH6ruMBq
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"HEY! OPEN UP!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7bkXOSpBp
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRibfmtsM0R
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"Something about this is fishy."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQUVTTmdqb
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I looked at the other three. They nodded in agreement.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4huJi2Qtp
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"What should we do then?" Flinty asked.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y8DXps7mJ
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"Kenny," Kim started, "take out your tendril. Prepare for anything unexpected."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT46GF5CGlU
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewwvppcbTq
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfDI0pv3yV
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"Oh, that's Jeremiah. Jeremiah! Open the door!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTE7zYU7Uy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC6lySSQjb
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoUZZgIkxZ
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And then.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYDpSEU6mo
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**SMASH**263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuyGVoAV73
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8S8Tzxc5d
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"AH! WAIT, WHAT ARE YOU– NO, HELP! HEEELP!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQqO4JCi5d
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His wails ceased upon a distant slam. Looks like he made it into the compound.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2jH1sbk5X
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"..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WcrrhugCU
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDiuSljegX
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lD8lqMmud
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"..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrgmqL64cm
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BeRBYV5bM
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRxTISaAuL
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I took a deep breath. With the wall as support, I got back on my feet.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo5eP3QNNJ
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"We're getting the hell out of this forest."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yTmY3ZWLg
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I walked back to the group. Flinty was shaking on the ground. Victoria was surprisingly standing. Kim was the same.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjRr5aYUwC
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"We need to leave. This is– whatever just happened, it's out of our league."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSgw1TDsqA
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Victoria nodded with me. Kim looked at me and began to speak.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkfj57oheK
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"Before anything, let's get away from the compound and formulate a plan."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70tHAg627p
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpU2qKd9Eg
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGneEAubytX
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"-enny. Kenny. Kenny!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEUSV5BleZ
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"Huh?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCqUIHHHg2
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Kim was calling my name. It brought me back down to Earth.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f0XIQkONH
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"What is it?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxPi6svvzt
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"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?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm0Jqns0VS
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"O-Of course. Not just for my sake, but because Flinty shouldn't be here anymore."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDwj7t3Pv2
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Kim nodded. Victoria budged in.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDoY1E0Ff5
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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..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLQ0T7jdnc
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She stopped talking and looked at the floor, clenching her fist.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe1dl5CLrG
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldBAGX7IgF
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakc4GSa9ER
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Kim nodded. She sat criss-cross and put a hand to her chin.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtpIc1iAZ1
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"I know you two will disagree with this, but I think we should still try an infiltration."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWie5v6BYK
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"W-What?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdQxfaWPN1
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"Are you crazy!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBzwdX4r8y
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We both yelled. Victoria continued.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqfegvYWUW
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDkp3kvCld
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I nodded to her reasoning. The idea was absurd. But Kim immediately started her rebuttal.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UGxjUs7Ud
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJL3UXGa0u
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God, Kim, why were you calling that thing by its name?263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs97dIxYPQ
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"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLj75CnyRG
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"Are you saying we really have a fighting chance?" I asked.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOqmwwe8FQ
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5BSFabqqk
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"I think you're severely overestimating me. I have nothing in my arsenal that can level a building that sturdy."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zexranFjj
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"Maybe not level it, but you have something that'll encase it, don't you?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNpnvixmNh
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I tilted my head in confusion.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNx259hkKR
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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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU30voOUS4
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Nothing about this was sitting right with me.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSthhS0cVnd
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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!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkh5uX8ehH
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"Do you really think Ng has any ill will towards us?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRqC6YqPtl
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"Of course I do!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a0QW3QwKA
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"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvo3iZJUPB
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"Y-You... Victoria, back me up here!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcU37db2fwO
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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!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVequ3KLoHC
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"But Kenny didn't use his ice. That was because of me, right Kenny? That was because I was in your line of fire."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFnBiLqtNk
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I didn't respond, just averted my eyes.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3qwotCLFA
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo2TE2WaGt
"B-But why don't we just leave the forest, huh!? And what about Flinty?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHajeniOl0r
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIOr1SzdJt
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmXNOgvOnL
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnIsRW6weB
"Huh?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5rgBh8KX9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrwWDByxoW
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKlEKXf7Vn
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w5ttX8C2i
"Flinty? Are you serious?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP62DkU1PS
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFfBAYgibO
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2UCRi8bFy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq6panrMGC
She stood up and slammed her chest a few times.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqmYrYD0mt
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhEHln8rN2
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3dDOpfLYe
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScXNLTE5ux
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?263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUQXSHLhaC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PFiVeomP4
"B-But, Flinty... what if... what if..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPZn5mZpB9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm2HBDNyuy
Victoria couldn't voice any rebuttal. Flinty was the final nail in the coffin.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq3k4NLwD8
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf46VwBoZU
I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up. It was Kim.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRYLjtzOsl
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlJnwnSWAq
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVD5fdGBIW
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB75zKEmc6J
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHs7mGUBax
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHU3uzMGlm
"You and your words... I was right about being suspicious of you."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZxWV5i2WD
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCyyftfytG
"I'm sorry. I promise you'll be compensated for your efforts."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffLqsqSAyM
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbheKNtvf4D
"...With money?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbRohUGHtf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPw34bHHx4
"With money."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzPSF9SwDm
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcbbqaRsiV
"...I can't say no to money."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vgKo7OTqv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yfFkjp3PY
For a second, I caught a smile from under her cloak. She offered me a hand and helped me stand up.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfx16uK2Pu
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWYUdt2crm
"Then that's settled. What about you, Victoria?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRrE8rcCrY
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTPpOpthKU
She was still on the floor, giving us a pensive look.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwBfQY9q6P
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSJ55ByoQp
"...If we're doing this, then I'll fight anything that isn't the blob."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wvMOQ5MN9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOseUCvU3Ac
"Alright. Then Kenny and I will help."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi7kFFyaTI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs1oY7KJV4
Kim helped Victoria to her feet. I felt something touch my back. It was Flinty, she slapped my shoulder.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjPUwuyBvS
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEXtG0k3Q0
"Let's do our best okay?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybT1jiCRQS
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKFCwXIMQH
"..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWyIF4yAPv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4sA7UGBFu
I still had one more concern.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGntM8fUZsk
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9C43uJIp7
"Flinty, if the wolf gets to you while we're inside, what will you do then?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKbh7chSWJ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8WER9LSYF
She averted her gaze.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkglbf7cke
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLjfUJkVNO
"I'll... if I need to, then I'll use the fireball. I'll use one like the one at Mister Freed's shop."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMdz0j3zVv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv71Hglmi9
"I see."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2xpODbwVU
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSVfUTKAC7
I unbuttoned my coat, took it off, and offered it to her. She looked it with apprehension, awkwardly raising a hand to her mouth.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqHYIyiovI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK1vd2NlZb
"K-Kenny? Are you sure?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9DG2Il8xr
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1QhEt6Ra6
"Uh..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS8HgH9qcI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOGjsbGNza
Crap. My cheeks were tinted rose.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4M4ZsGzLM
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwYsu0MgxP
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDW66wtiio
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ4G2s8qsJ
She nodded and accepted my coat. It was a size too large for her, so a lot of excess cloth covered her legs. Perfect.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H478QUQcW
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqwQNg5weh
"This is really cozy, no wonder why you always wear it."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7Rp5X8X5u
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS41O6K8hnv
"Heh. Anabelle is a good weaver, isn't she?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5gaSwQo69
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl9CtRHWvg
She nodded. I felt slightly naked now, but I still had long sleeves covering my arms. I would be fine.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybNDCkfWBS
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMkIZ2P7F8
"Alright," Kim said, "are we ready to form a plan?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRJm69jQCv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBSoZ2YwEF
–
–
–263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhAYbiPMow
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4NxVMj2pU
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDcxlv5htD
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dIfzjLom2
"How does it look like?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvp27hSf4x
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18jcDUv1TQ
"Clear. I heard some ruckus coming from the building. They're likely occupied with whatever that is."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlyPK8YqTd
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EaAgjahUZ
Ideal conditions have been met. I took in a breath and released the tendril. A Freeze-Dry bloomed from the tip.
"Are we ready?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oNMb18EKO
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqItZrLYMI
"We're ready."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGgxuS6lHN
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC1b5zw8nD
I never imagined myself taking part in a siege mission. I would make peace with it later.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWy55Z803CH
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDhR7HdfVR
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJPArvCoSM
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocRSyKfkcU
"How are we supposed to scale a ramp of ice!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6ithDpEtf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7rQj7CRmu
She had a good point. I was a bit flustered.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOQV0sLhdq
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KUCoc8gcU
"Then what do you propose I do!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H4cwrKBjv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwInNGprCeK
I could see Victoria's brain at work. I racked my mind for a solution.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIFYmTy4hY
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKclLID3zY
"Just make little steps," Kim interjected, "and as we hop on them, make the next one bigger."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwITTVywtEe
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd8jU693Ej
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma16odUhqn
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oljspoRhA
"Before we enter, let me inspect how it is inside."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmLsyZTf94
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6niybx1WCJ
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwe0JdskhO
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg674pvoop2
They slept in conditions like this? They didn't even have a mattress. I almost felt bad.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o2fPdnkMo
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6drgELKawj
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK9sPmdD5N
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBd3nt6beD
"Ng, come on. I know you know better."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu5dwMLkoA
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBfKqcCNsK
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc4cqyihUF
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4BNsLrMre
"Y-Yeah. I know."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2bTVqaE0V
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8WHG26pBv
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAm44IIuzW
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBmDlACJtB
"Then why did you let the prisoners out? We can't have our location disclosed to–"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitNxfj7ILf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLS4ynqIeT
**SHATTER**263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb9feKkDiw
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRbDYfWSO8
I fired the stone. I made sure to put enough power to where it wouldn't kill the man, but at least incapacitate him.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgGUMQd3i7
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwF6Jyq4Bu
I missed and hit the window, shattering it completely.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKs52Hw3SQ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMRULGC0hg
Ng and the man turned to us. I didn't have anything to say, I simply returned eye contact.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLJDroGuGy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oAHw89NXV
"Now!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12gy8uvtJh
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5EfgeVPim
Kim and Victoria rushed ahead. The two men didn't fight back, they started running away. I knew Ng was in on this!263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPptkt4y5zh
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5dJGYkgGa
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4oblBqzid
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2k3LrhT7D
"What are you waiting for?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39AruOM3fb
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49DaWJCe9y
"I still don't trust Ng."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTVmyEOYiz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8AxlMtG0G
"Fine, then go after him!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeeDU48aaY
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMajY1gCkU
I nodded and rushed through the other door. I saw another set of stairs and Ng was already making his way down them.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp8vQfPhNx
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49OD10Nhkd
"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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2wpZSfjvU
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RhpuF4mOT
"O-Okay, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Just don't hurt me!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfyiZSo3qq
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFirHZ3rLte
He was already down on the ground with his head glued to the floor. I rushed towards him. Ng was... crying?263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeQe1dVJP6
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8MHCSp4LW
"Are you seriously crying?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L6b1ySkx1
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcn49fYVDf
"Huh?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfFKVokKk9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIXDLYeD6N
He tilted his head up to me.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfzIWDATSs
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MiLXtHLzi
"N-No, I'm not crying. Aren't you going to kill me?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwwLxHPVuK
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0qD3aCjSY
"K-Kill? I wouldn't go that far... Geez, get up already."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoNxJCxsfw
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaxwTJEGQS
He did as he was told. He had a look of sincere confusion on his face. I didn't let that fool me, though.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAEKSH5lnI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazLNIKHkYv
"You, are you really on our side?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3uJMivfir
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Akz8eKNaX
"Of course I am! If my words aren't enough, then I'll happily take an official oath!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZyTTH3xZk
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUb4W54UYL
"Nobody's here to witness it, you moron! Nevermind this, just take me to your teammate already!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdpigAUdW6
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljCG8C4Xhy
"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."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoPDtyhfXs
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg96wUA5HgT
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3For1YEyy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDt0MzhAlE
"Miss... I advise you to not open that door. It's best if we step away."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb7mMOwrD9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLb52IcxWh
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQaH9V6w4u
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4Z9Qxidxm
"Panz! You, what do you think you're doing!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtKGUeelqC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIa16RGvX5
Panz, who was apparently still awake, feebly lifted his head and cackled.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9gNVSRjqu
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYywd1B53H7
"As if I'd let you betray me like this so easily! I'll make you pay, Ng– ack!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0txIGvQM1I
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37iFraoLGr
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x1tHWDFIf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHYUfNnImr
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6RCgcs1hu
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7XGlRUF42
And then, suddenly–263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq5Hjw0hTq
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GaxFX6Hyb
**SMASH**263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hUHi6s0gI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7RMXiBXLm
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZuJeRqnWZ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr2DdQeP3B
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4uTZTLYAe
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0zi38jKY5
"Crap! Everyone, be careful!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfi1k1p5t5
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y1DqxHQPk
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfnrjVYa5j
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl7jYpNQ4y
"H-Huh?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLivNWJpr6
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBKalEMdI5
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuo1c7QV7O
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvk1R8hmj1
"Victoria! Kenny! Ng! Head to the second floor!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UkhXczKZL
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O6NqDFD0N
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwBLprPIU8
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDtamefDvP
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoruIcAP09
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlw1PlFMvJ
"Ng!" I yelled, "Can't you control that thing!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1BX0g0Ond
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09cS1gznEh
"No! I am unable to resummon the creatures Panz has created, I can only do ones I have!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWO3gl8Hag
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v0ySlMBus
"Like what!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLioX97ASMd
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIawycPKY7
"They died last night!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrY3onCREy9
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLZe8uFW0R
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCd8gNq445
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKhKJHEB9w
Wait, escape route, of course!263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GtAEuYgnw
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb2iJTRTmg
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB30C2P6bR
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38fOWe1yFI
"...Did I do it?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjg4QrzfrI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8CZi37XZc
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXFigi2J5c
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5i7uoHgh6
"H-Huh?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ511T4dJAIS
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She offered me her healing potion.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF3LH1sMLJ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMH4LobIJm
"Here. For your foot."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizEhhCg0No
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEXBoS7ehG
"A-Ah, thank you."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15BQnA6fkb
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ealeixaJ
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjMlJYrzjZ
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"Haaa, ugh."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YJON3QXNg
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBkrC9RqMh
I stood up with help from Victoria.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTPuf4LYPl
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"Sorry. I didn't do anything."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF214Ksvfn
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcgUlAPb07
"Please, don't be. Even I don't feel like I did much."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT1PYeyufg
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdbvm0f0xz
"Haha, you're too humble, Kenny."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKw9YXufEJ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUsJ5e3jRQ
She was noticeably shaken. Still, she held onto the unconscious Panz like it was nothing. I was beginning to relax.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmzZ4lrZEx
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitRglblTGM
"Don't let your guard down yet."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPhoGQ6rxz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw92IHkYOY
I looked at Kim who was pointing a large ball of fire at the beast. Looking at the encased monster, I noticed it fidgeting.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm7faCRV0k
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9CMVzhiWF
"Crap. Crap!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iOB55WGc4
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaquxatqVV
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa5YjjTRAk
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHahixsqOV
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFYLQQl7tU
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKdpTijmNM
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmgyqzhUWW
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w7SaUpnpW
"K-Kenny!? Shit!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvR9Yco6Hy
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKlGi1OYJD
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2AQXiwi1x
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rUa1ilnhm
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7zLGrPqYE
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A sinister curiosity crept within me. It was awfully nostalgic.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9NUBlIMmD
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"Kenny! Kenny, are you awake!?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLeukd3Sxv
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf9q8e1IKl
"Huh? Y-Yes!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmFxNrprok
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"If you can, support Kim!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvn9WsCbKQ
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE9ydfrswm
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FoB15IP4x
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"W-Woah..."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg9BYlK1i1
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYHWwu3ym2
I spun the spear. I could swear I saw smoke emerge from the tip. I didn't think anything of it.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOr91byK1F
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTywmxBMCQO
"KIM!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HhFetPf1u
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"Right!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmb4DrFRp7
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcXLnuUM3z
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And so, I released the spear.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuy4BylSoh
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07lfRXzePj
**SMASH**263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar8LqvcEZg
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsghZqmuOmy
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnHBjX6PqR
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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?263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHw5dVhLAi
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD1xxXbUSR
"...Good job, Kenny," Victoria muttered. Kim ran towards me. I was still wincing, and that purple goop was still being expunged from my chest.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiUv5Jk2eA
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"Kenny, out of curiosity, what is your earth magic grade?"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0968c4fGWu
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh8TfFcLuw
Was now seriously the time to answer such a question? She sounded giddy asking me, so I decided to humor her.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyh1Dre6Ue
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"...Three. But, as I've learned today, my accuracy probably lowers it."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4PJvE30KD
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"No, what you just did was incredible."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStK6KsZyjh
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJWCDa71h2
"Okay, fine, thank you, geez."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswQm6DBVwz
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9j03jxpXZ
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–263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEr7OrgwpfI
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaBV5iU1BE
"I'm afraid that wasn't the last of them," Ng said.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD9Cfyrcbs
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgkEXChBlq
"Huh? Are you serious!?" Victoria yelled.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V19321qdV
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV6h6eq92T
"Unfortunately."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJE9KxlXAu
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL1Yb99Z5y
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"Kim!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bl736XYXK
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0R3vCQtsI
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAeQjZjugI
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The tendril was bleeding purple.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjsj16oxfw
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"Kim! Ah, Kenny, we need to–263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwHlf8UkOH
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB85FnD8a5
**SMASH**263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TaNYyotfj
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG39sN9CnS
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJjj2sEWCL
"It's Jeremiah! Kenny, you need to–"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbuLt0XFgf
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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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNifgCWJer
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4LgyQXRhW
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1CR3srFMC
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzInQNJFUWP
"Victoria!" Ng yelled, "We need to escape! We can't fight Jeremiah now!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mNYJKuXxk
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrmJf6NPit
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzyXCRM6pg
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDH0i77n0P
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks27WUA4RJ
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"...Ngh."263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYzs1uvMIf
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPRGxWHkdx
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0haQJ3C3Y
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTls56v9Eca
"Haaa, haaa, shit, shit! Shit!"263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh15vpbE7Vl
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzmoXoatsq
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.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfsucbT08p
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But, through the stormy mess that was in my mind, one thought came to the forefront.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWpd3jqHJa
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl45Jz7b40
The infiltration was a failure. Our ally was compromised. I failed completely.263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzTDMtPeGh
263Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQKuPA4S7P
I felt like I was going to die.
