Chapter 72: Level Four
Kirito:
Hand blurring, Kirito deflected the nearly three equally timed slashes. The soft clack of wood on wood from the practice weapons collided filled the yard.
As he pushed Rain and Philia back, Strea lunged. Her heavy blow took a concerted effort to steer aside. Coming in on her heels was Leafa, low blade almost taking Kirito in the side of the knee. It was only at the last millisecond that the tip of his sword caught the blow.
They're overwhelming me… Kirito realized with awe. He could no longer stand in place at hold them off with sword swings alone.
It was at that moment the last member of the combat group's attack struck.
"Distorted thrust!"
Through Sachi's magic, the distance between them became meaningless and her blunted spear tip threatened to stab him in the shoulder. Left hand flicking up, Kirito blocked the thrust with his palm. It stung. If that had been a true weapon, it would have split through his hand.
"Good… Good…" Muttering to himself, Kirito stepped to the side as Rain lunged again with her right blade.
"What!?"
It was the first time that he had moved a step. Now freed from his condition, Kirito freely danced with girlfriends in this deadly dance. Getting inside of Philia's thrust, Kirito flicked her on the forehead and kept moving as Strea tried a wide horizontal swing. Ducking underneath it, he flicked her too.
Leafa backed up warily as she saw his counterattack. Smiling at her, Kirito lunged.
"Don't forget me!" Coming from the forge, Lizbeth announced her surprise attack with a very real mace.
Leaving her in the fight for a bit longer, Kirito walked around her, letting her body interfere with some of the other girls. Instead, he continued to target Leafa who had engaged in a battle formation with Sachi.
They attacked with perfect coordination. Sachi's thrust forcing Kirito to parry high while Leafa swung at his exposed flank. That perfection made it predictable. Stepping through the thrust, Kirito avoided the attack and got to flick their foreheads in short order.
"Two left…" Turning Kirito stared at Liz and Rain. "Well, should we call it there?"
"Like hell!" Rain spat.
Liz took her at her word and lunged. Her attack would brain him if Kirito let it hit. However, Liz also had the lowest status here and Kirito easily dodged and flicked her.
Now just… What!?
Rain was already beside him. Her right blade aimed for his head with incredible speed. The collision sent shivers through his right arm.
But that means…
Kirito had no weapon to deal with her other blade. With no way around it, Kirito caught the weapon with his free hand.
"Hey!" Rain protested.
Smirking, Kirito leaned in and finished her off with a quick kiss on her forehead. "That was incredibly well done. I can hardly keep up with all of you. Maybe in another week we can start thinking about reaching level four!"
Almost as one, their faces fell. They were bearing serious, determined expressions. The spark of enjoyment in their eyes during the sparring had faded.
"We aren't waiting another week," Rain said. "I'm grabbing the new equipment Liz has made and going to the dungeon. When I emerge, I plan on being Level four."
"Rain…" Looking around at the others, Kirito stared into their resolute eyes. "Hold on. I don't have time to go on an expedition right now! And what about the others in the dungeon? What are you all even planning!?"
"We go to the eighteenth and then split up." Philia summarized.
"SPLIT UP!?" Kirito erupted. "What the hell are you saying!? Have you not heard the stats? Only about half of you will succeed!"
"…Maybe," Strea said, approaching him with an inquisitive face. "Is that a problem?"
"Is that…" Kirito briefly wondered if they were playing a joke on him. "I refuse to lose half of you! Be serious for once. This plan—"
"Onii-chan!" Leafa cut him off. "We are all willing to take these risks. Do you know why?"
"Of course I don't!" Kirito bit back.
"Because if we don't…" Liz answered quietly, "you will have to save us again. It will be your life at risk again. And we will be helpless… again."
"That isn't true!" Kirito protested. The words felt hollow in his mouth. They weren't the only things feeling intimidated by the power surrounding them in his city. "Even if it does happen, it's fine. After all, your lives are more important than…" Kirito trailed off as the glares turned hostile.
"Kirito," Sachi spoke up, a rarity for her when everyone was around. "I know you think this is reckless but isn't trying to slowly build power with so many dangerous people around even more so?"
"…What do you mean?"
"I got a firsthand glance of some of the returned evilus members. They are first-tier adventurers."
"Also, can we even trust some of the familias?" Philia growled. "Freya is not helpful in the least."
"This is still too risky," Kirito continued, unassuaged. "I'd feel better if you worked in groups."
"Oh, well, I suppose if you insist," Rain said quickly. "I guess we can agree to those terms."
"Hold on…" More than one girl avoided his gaze, staring at the floor guiltily. "This was the plan the whole time!" Kirito protested.
"Hehe, love you Onii-chan!"
"Thank you!"
"Bye!"
"H-Hold on!" Kirito repeated himself. It was a useless gesture as the girls were already cleaning up. The only one that stayed behind was Strea who gave Kirito a seductive smile.
"You know… I wouldn't mind staying behind."
"Really?" Kirito asked hopefully.
"Mhmm," Strea leaned further forward, her white training shirt hanging low enough to show a prodigious amount of cleavage. "If you want me to stay here… then at night… maybe we can…?"
"If you want to," Kirito answered evenly. Looking away from the appealing sight, he stared desperately after the girls who were already breaking into small groups and discussing the last preparations.
"Huh?"
"I thought Silica told you," Kirito flashed Strea a smile. "I want to give you everything that you need. If that's my body, then that's fine."
"Ahaha… Maybe I should stay behind…"
I could probably get her to…
Unsure of which was best, Kirito paused just a moment too long before Philia grabbed her arm and sent Kirito a glare. "Don't seduce my group member away from me."
"I…" Shaking his head, Kirito sighed and looked over the groups. Rain and Philia had taken Strea with them. That left Leafa, Sachi, and Liz in the other.
That group is a problem. "How many magic swords do you have?"
"I have enough to bail us out," Liz frowned. "I can see that you're worried about us. Honestly, I would be too if we weren't collecting Silica on our way down."
"So, you haven't lost all of your wits," Kirito sighed, rubbing a face on his hand. He didn't want to be dramatic, but the terror constricting his chest moved him. Bending down, Kirito prostrated himself on all fours before the girls. "Please. Please come home."
Voice breaking, Kirito's tears began to water the grass. He couldn't move as emotion overcame him. Fear was there, but also regret. If one of them didn't come home, Kirito would be unable to claim that he didn't wish he had more time.
His wish was to make them happy, but each day revealed that it was so much more than that. They made him happy. Each of his girlfriends had become an irreplaceable part of himself that provided him with the power and willpower to keep moving every day. To grind through paperwork and try and become the best familia leader that he can be.
"Please get up."
Kirito was not prepared for the tears in Rain's voice. He looked up as he heard someone fall hard to their knees before him. "Rain…?"
"This is my plan. I swear. I'll do everything I can to bring them back. I-I know this hurts but we have to. I'll stay if you command us to but… But!"
As his co-captain began to bawl, Kirito finally understood. He had been so wrapped up in his own power that he had never really been in their situation. Desperate to be able to save the ones they love.
"I just want you all to know, that I love you regardless of the strength of your arms," Kirito choked out. "Please know that if you give up at any moment, I'll be waiting with open arms."
Receiving gentle agreement from the girls, Kirito slowly wandered back into the familia home alone. Waiting there was the only member remaining.
"It's hard, isn't it?" Hestia sad sympathetically while leaning against the wall, staring at nothing.
"Ahh, goddess, it is. How do you do it?"
"Hmm… I think it's easier for me. To a goddess all of you are almost dead already. A blip in my eyes… Each day is a treasure. You're the one that taught me that, Kirito."
Left alone with goddess, Kirito finally asked the question that he had been wondering for awhile now. "Goddess, no, Hestia… Do you love me?"
"Of course I do."
"EH?" Kirito reeled in surprise as the diminutive girl approached with a teasing smile.
"Surely you can't be surprised. I love all of my children."
"Oh, r-right…" Deflating, Kirito wiped his brow. It was both a relief and disappointing. As her first child, they had been through a lot together with no support.
"However…" Hestia whispered, leaning in to whisper in Kirito's ear. "You'll always be special to me. No matter how many thousands of years pass. No matter what world your soul returns to."
"Thank you, Hestia. Being invited into your party was the best thing that happened in my life."
"Hehe, thank you, Kirito. Funnily enough, you joining was the best part of my extended life, and likely always will be. You turned me from a freeloader into a goddess that people can be proud of."
Embracing Hestia tightly, the two of them shared a tender moment, praying for the safe return of their mutual loved ones and reminiscing about their long history together.
Rain:
"That sucked…"
"Again," Philia added.
Rain nodded. It was very similar to the last time they had left Kirito behind to level up.
"Urgh, I just know that I'm going to spend all night lamenting about what I could be doing."
Rain nodded along to Strea's horny words. For her, it wasn't a lust but still… she wanted to have experienced it. "This could be the end… I should have done it with Kirito."
Philia and Strea did not have to say anything for her to hear their silent agreement.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke her determination into being. "When we get back and I hit level four, I'm sleeping with him."
"Same," Strea added instantly with an intensity that the silly girl rarely displayed.
"Rain… Can we talk about that at some time?"
Hearing the hesitation in Philia's voice, Rain knew instantly what it was about. Shooting her a silly smile, Rain confirmed her friend's unspoken question. "Don't worry. We'll do it together."
"Urgh," Philia blushed as Strea giggled at her.
"Come on." Rising, Rain jumped down to the main path of the nineteenth floor. "I think we can make the twentieth before stopping for the night."
Her internal clock told her that after their slow start it was nearly ten at night. Despite that, the floor shone brilliantly at max radiance. It was almost a completely desynced day.
When we get to the twenty-fifth it will stop mattering…
Because the cycle only existed from the eighteenth to the twenty-fourth, there was no point in adjusting to it. However, that did mean that their sleep tonight would be atrocious.
Blocking their path was a group of lizardmen. Drawing her blades, Rain cut down two as she burst through them. The rest followed her, claws raised in anger. From behind the foolish monsters, Philia and Strea cut the rest down.
"Too easy," Strea sighed. "Not even worth a warm-up."
"Consider it a cool-down," Philia replied. "good final stretch before lights-out."
"Hehe, you're so clever, Phili-chan! Come here!"
"Oi! Don't shove your massive chest in my face!"
As Philia was getting assaulted, Rain's ears pricked up. The delicate half-elven tips were twitching in time with the sound of distant thuds.
"Something big is coming, stop fooling around."
As they settled down, the noises increased. In moments, the source was revealed to be a horde of Mammoth Fools.
"The hell?" Philia cursed. "These don't spawn until floor twenty-one."
Rain readied her blades and threw herself into her chant. "Blades of fire, Blades of Ice;Obey your mistress and dance."
"Hehe, now this is more like it!" Running forward as their sole vanguard, Strea's blade cut through the first one's swung tusk. Stepping into that gap, she punched the monster's leg, snapping the bone and sending the monster toppling.
As the charge's momentum broke, Philia darted in, face furrowed. She disliked fighting non-humanoid's, Rain knew. Her fighting style and skills were all designed for either finding things or breaking weapons.
"Sing. Swords of Air Swords of Earth; Obey your mistress and sing."
Strea looked to barely need help as she began slaughtering the massive monsters. Her sword and body were stronger than the monsters as they futilely began to swipe at her.
"Come and multiply, blades of light. Appear and fall,"
Chant complete, Philia had to drag Strea away as their companion had no desire to leave a lane for Rain's magic. Silently thanking her closest friend, Rain unleashed her magic.
"Thousand Sword Rain!"
With her increased control over her magic, Rain selectively slaughtered the monsters—one blade each. Before she ran out, the horde was exterminated.
"No fair," Strea whined. "They were the first decent challenge we've ran into!"
"Monsters that can't survive a single blade isn't what we need, Strea," Rain whispered. "Remember why we are here."
That briefly sobered up the always happy girl. Strea, however, shrugged only a few seconds later as her smile returned. "Oh well, that's tomorrow's problem, come on!"
Getting lead by the hand, Rain shot Philia a helpless smile that was returned in kind.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Getting halfway through the twentieth floor before resting, Rain took the first watch. With only three people, they had decided on two-hour shifts. In six hours, they would be continuing down further.
Looking up at the ceiling of the floor, Rain cast her gaze beyond that to the surface, desperately searching for her boyfriend. "Oh, Kirito…"
She hugged herself, but it was no substitute for his touch or warm eyes, or gently teasing words. Down here in the dungeon, tired and ready for sleep on the hard earthen floor with only dry rations for food… It was hard to remember why she was here.
I can't let him down!
If Rain failed here, she would step down as assistant captain of the familia. That was only fair as the others overtake her. With her gaze focused on where Kirito would be lying down alone for sleep, Rain renewed her promise to herself.
I'll finish this tomorrow and return!
Bell:
"Should we… take a break?" Bell panted.
"Yes please," Mikoto groaned, already collapsing against the wall.
Bell joined her moments later. He did keep an eye on Haruhime and Lili who were finishing off a final injured lizardman.
It was odd watching them fight level two monsters as equals. Odd, but enjoyable. As it went down to a sweeping strike from Haruhime's new katana, Bell closed his eyes.
Nine days into his solitary expedition, he was beginning to get restless. His body had no time to recover and each day was a little harder. Mikoto and the supporters hadn't been fighting for as long, but with their lower levels, the fighting was catching up to them as well.
"We need to leave, don't we?"
"Soon," Mikoto agreed. "You sound disappointed."
"Yeah," Bell admitted as two began four again. "I haven't… done enough. I push myself hard, but I never dance with death. Sparring with Kirito would have resulted in worse injuries."
None of them contradicted Bell, which was damning evidence that he had failed. He would not reach level four from this adventure. Once again, as he ruminated on this, tears began to bring into being in the corner of his eyes.
"Why am I like this? Why can't I be a hero?" Like my parents, like Ais, like Lyu, or even… like Kirito.
"Master Bell…"
"You heard what Silica and the rest are doing, right?" Lili asked heartlessly. "Are you going to fall behind them?"
"Apparently."
"Lili thought you hated that you couldn't protect Haruhime and Lili last time."
Bell winced under the harsh words. "I-I'll come back! I'll prepare and—"
"If you retreat now, you will retreat next time," Mikoto cut Bell off, not looking at him. Her eyes were glassy as she spoke. "That is what Take Mikazuchi told me when he was teaching me martial arts. I think it applies here as well."
Bell looked around at the three girls. None of them showed a hint of fear despite what was being suggested. "Are you all sure?"
"Hmpff," Lili snorted. "Don't worry, even if you fail, we're here to pull you out again."
"I agree," Mikoto added on.
Haruhime stayed silent but gave Bell a bright smile.
"…Alright," standing up, Bell brushed the crushed grass off his armour and looked down at the main path. "We keep descending until we find an adventure."
The three girls—that clearly had caught an advanced case of battle fever—smiled at each other.
Bounding through the halls once more, Bell steered them towards the stairs down to the twenty-second. The dungeon was loud as usual with the screams and cries of monsters. It created a foreboding atmosphere of fear that a vicious enemy could jump out of the foliage at any moment.
Or at least, it should. By now, Bell was desensitized to the lingering threat. His senses were able to pick out the variety of monsters in those cries, and more importantly, their state. A loud roar that washed over their party was a lizardman challenging a leader for command of the group. That shrill cry was from a lone firebird, desperately fleeing a pursuing party.
Even the other three barely flinched. It was only Haruhime who stared after them, wondering if the monsters would find their way to the party. Lili was there to assure her with a stabilizing hand.
Proud of his party, Bell descended the dank stairs. The indent in the massive roots forming an uneven slope that lasted for well over a minute. Coming onto the next floor, Bell nodded at a group of adventurers lingering at the bottom. It was a group of four with clear roles. A heavily armored frontliner, a healer, an archer with traps, and then a scout. Compared to them, Bell's own party was severely unbalanced.
"Oi, look at that. Isn't he…"
"Aye, that's the one. Vesta's light."
"Bunch of pretty girls following him. Is he making his own harem?"
"Guess so… Really makes you wonder if their goddess is still a virgin."
That's too far! Whirling around, Bell pointed his finger at the haughty elf that had spoken. Her beautiful features carried a severe indifference. "Do not insult Goddess Hestia!"
"Ah, that confirms it," the front liner laughed. "No man gets that riled about a woman he isn't bedding."
"Ridiculous," the healer sniffed. "A goddess that fails to maintain her domain is no goddess."
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK!" Bell screamed at them.
All four silently rose, weapons out before them. "Look, we had a bad time on the twenty-fourth floor earlier today. Back down boy or I'll vent on you."
Bell paused instinctively. It took him a moment to realize he was waiting for the others to pull him away. Looking back at them, their faces were a mirror of Bell's own anger.
"You fled the twenty-fourth?" Lili taunted. "Bell can solo that floor. Are you sure you want to have a go at him?"
"We—!" Frustration and rage played across his face, but he made no moves to attack. Snorting, he sat back down. "Whatever, sorry about your goddess and what not. Good luck down there."
The adventurer backing down was eerier than a fight would have been. These people were shaken badly. Despite a desire to restore their confidence, they weren't stupid enough to attack him.
"Your apology is accepted," Mikoto said smoothly. "As fellow adventurers, can you tell us what scared you?"
"Scared us? The hell you talking about!?"
"Uhh, sorry. I meant what did you encounter that led to your umm… tactical retreat."
Good going, Mikoto! Bell cheered her on silently.
"Hah! You won't believe me…"
"Umm, why wouldn't we?"
"Fine… I saw a monster with weapons. Real weapons. Cut down a mammoth huge with ease. It was crazy."
"An enhanced species…" Bell breathed, eyes widening. Turning to the party, they understood without him saying anything.
Mikoto took another step forward. "Please, tell us. What part of the floor was this?"
Lisbeth:
"You're all so damn fast!" Whining out loud, Liz barely came to a stop as the fight finished. The three girls she was travelling with were sorting through drops quickly and would quickly be moving on.
I'm falling really far behind… Liz had to admit that. She spent too much time in her forge and her skills and stats were behind those of the other girls.
"Come on!" Leafa waved, leading them through the azure tunnels of the twenty-fifth floor. With no stops and no sleep, they had come all the way down. Looking back on it, they should have just braved sleeping through the light in the colossal tree labyrinth. On the surface, the sun would be rising now. Liz had been awake for well over a full day.
"What are our sleeping plans?" Silica asked.
Even with that short exchange, Liz was starting to fall behind. Their steps off the rocks were quicker, their footholds surer. Of the three, only Sachi looked back pityingly.
"Umm, shouldn't we be asleep already?" Sachi added.
"Fine, fine!" Leafa threw up her hands, bringing them to a stop. "Where are we sleeping?"
Liz joined in with Sachi and Silica in looking at Leafa. The black-haired swordswoman grew steadily more baffled as the awkward silence dominated. Mouth agape in a face of horror, she waved her hands before her—desperate to ward off the unfair expectations. "I didn't plan for any of this!"
"I think…" Silica sighed, "we may have relied too heavily on Kirito."
With the four of them standing there on empty stomachs and sleep deprived with no plan, Liz had to agree. "So, are we retreating then?"
It was a distasteful answer, but they could hardly consider continuing at this rate.
"Umm, hold on!" Sachi held up a hand. "I… I have floor maps of the water capital."
"Sachi!" Leafa drew the girl into a tight hug. "Thank you!"
Breathing a sigh of relief that she wouldn't be expected to run back to the eighteenth on no sleep, Liz took the moment to massage her leg muscles. There were no sharp pains, but that was potentially worse than the deep-seated tiredness of a full day's work.
"How are you doing?"
Looking up at Silica and her permanent living head ornament, Liz forced a smile. "I'm fine of course. Just a long day."
"Hmm… Us as well. But I umm…"
"Want to get it over with?" Liz finished.
"Haha, yeah exactly." Silica grinned. Then, she leaned in closer, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Also, the quicker you get back, the more time you have with Kirito."
"H-Hey, not you too, Silica!" Liz protested. However, she couldn't help but feel some envy. In many ways, she talked to Kirito more than most of them. After all, Kirito was constantly inquiring into metal prices and things that Liz needs to be a true blacksmith. None of those conversations were very romantic though. About the only time it was, was when she gave him a weapon that made his face brighten up.
"Actually…" Silica spoke seriously. "I don't think I can right now… I tried but… my body wouldn't stop shaking."
"HUH?" Legs forgotten; Liz gaped at the young girl. Her cheeks slowly heating, Liz inquired about the veracity of her claim. "Y-You mean like… all the way?"
Silica nodded. Her feline movements her filled with jerky, embarrassed motions. The constant twitching of her ears got on Pina's bad side as the feathery dragon huffed and took to the air.
"H-How far?"
"Nowhere," Silica said sadly. "If it did go beyond just kissing, I don't think I'd be able to sleep."
Liz smiled wickedly. Maybe she should have been more jealous hearing about her boyfriend getting hot with other girls, but the gossip was too juicy. "Ohh, we got to get the other two in on this and taaaalk."
Silica went even redder. "W-Why do we need to talk?"
"Because it will be fun!" Jumping up, Liz wrapped an arm around the younger girl's shoulder. "You don't understand Silica. The best part about boys is talking about them."
"But I like being with Kirito…"
Waving off her protest, Liz chuckled. "Oh, don't you worry. When you get engrossed in a real gossip sech, you'll change your tune."
"If you say so… Monster!"
Silica whirled out her grip with blurring speed. Liz's arm hung there uselessly; her body barely sure of what had just happened. Shaking herself out of it, she brought forth a lightning-attribute magic sword.
"W-What is it?" Sachi asked as Leafa and her rushed over as well.
"Crystalline urchin," Silica called out from the front. "What's the plan?"
"I can—"
Leafa cut Liz off. "No. We can't rely on magic swords to defeat a normal enemy."
"Urgh." Defeated, Liz slinked back behind the others and evaluated her position her. It's always going to be like this, isn't it? Liz would sit back and play caretaker for the party. If they got in severe trouble, she would be there with her blades to prevent the worst.
As an insurance policy, Liz watched frustrated as Silica's blade slipped off the crystal beast that crashed hard into the hallway wall. As it restarted its roll, Leafa jumped in, hitting it off balance. For the finishing blow, Sachi's spear jumped forward. The long reach weapon caught its unprotected throat.
Bleeding out, the monster staggered a few steps before falling to the ground dead. The sheer weight of its collapse cracked the rock pathway.
Tsking, Liz walked over as they dismantled it and extracted the magic stone. No drop item remained. Kicking the cloud of ash, Liz gave them a side eye. "Easy enough, yeah? Now, where are we sleeping?"
"Back the way we came," Sachi said. She sounded much more confident than Liz remembered the girl being. It really did seem like she had gotten over her fears from her last adventures.
"Alright," Leafa crowed, pointing her blade down the corridor. "To find a bed!"
With their leader in high spirits, they made it all of five steps before the wall let out an ominous crack.
"A monster is spawning?"
"No…" Liz couldn't be certain, but that cracking pattern. The way it continued to spread as if there was tremendous pressure on the rock. "GET AWAY!"
To their credit, the second-tier adventurers jumped back instantly, weapons at the ready. Weapons proved useless against what came through the wall—a river.
Gaping, Liz stood still as the azure current swept her away. The force of her impact against the ground pushed the air from her lungs. Clawing desperately, Liz tried to find a pocket of air. Right as her head broke the surface, and her lungs inhaled greedily, she was flung back under. Tumbling helplessly, Liz saw the other three coming along.
At least we're together…
It was little relief as they were tossed hard against a wall. After that crash, however, the flow of the water reduced sharply. Getting to breathe and swim, Liz pulled herself onto the shore.
Turning back, she grabbed at a distressed Silica that Pina was trying to help. Using her level three strength, Liz hauled the soggy cat girl free from the deluge.
Leafa and Sachi got themselves out as Liz looked over the topography. What had once been a dry tunnel was now a river that connected to this shared passageway. The old bounds of the river were completely overrun creating a shallow edge that could bait adventurers into danger.
"This sucks," Leafa put plainly as she set about dealing with her hair.
"You can tell me that again…"
Silica's voice was so sad that Liz thought the young girl may burst into tears at any moment.
"You really are a cat, huh?" Liz said as she rubbed Silica's head affectionately. "So, what now?"
"We need to dry off," Leafa said, voice confident. "Hypothermia can kill you as easily as—"
"Leafa," Sachi broke in, "we're level three."
"Uhh, right."
"I feel like I'm going to die," Silica hissed. Her efforts to drain the water from her fur appeared to yield minimal results. She needed a blow dryer.
Just like that our leadership collapses. Clearing her throat, Liz tried to look confident as she stood in front of the girls. She hoped that her soggy appearance wasn't too bad. "We should continue looking for a safe place. The dungeon has cut off our escape path. Sachi, were the maps ruined?"
"Umm, no! I guess they're water resistant, that's lucky!" Liz mentally cheered. "H-Hold on… I dropped the one for this floor…"
"Sachi…" Liz moaned. As the slender girl wilted, Liz forced a smile back to your face. "Alright, let's be upbeat. We just need to find the main path and—"
"RAAAWR!"
"Uh oh. Should we uhh, run?"
"No," Leafa shook her head as she rose, baring her blade before her. "This is the perfect time to—"
"Look at our party, idiot!" Liz barked. "We're all exhausted. What's the point of risking it?"
"The point?" Leafa replied, her voice breezy. "The point is to get strong enough to help Onii-chan. You think we can always sleep when we want? You think we will get the luxury of picking our battles? This isn't just about levelling up! This is about being worthy to stand by his side the next time he goes to the deep levels!"
Liz's throat closed up with emotion. Ahh, right. I'm being an idiot.
Resolve buoyed, Liz swiped away some more water and prepared herself for the incoming monster. What lunged out of the passage was a monster that Liz did not recognize. It walked on four legs but looked like a fish.
"I get the strange feeling that Kirito would say something really stupid right now," Liz mused.
The three other girls nodded once and then exploded into action. Leafa led the party, long katana slashing across the gaping jaw.
Silica followed on her heels, sharp knife aiming for an eye. The attack glanced off as if striking an invisible surface that covered the sensitive organ.
Sachi was last, going right into her magic. With her proficiency, she was able to finish the cast just as Leafa and Silica were pushed to the side.
"Distorted Thrust!" Sachi's spear skewered the fish right down its throat. It's bulk crashing straight into the sharp tip with speed. Letting out an awkward gagging noise, the large fish's inertia carried it deeper onto the spear.
"Urgh!" Sachi let out a grunt, buckling under the weight. With a loud snap, her magic faded leaving her with half a spear.
"Shit!" Liz cursed. She hadn't made the wooden haft, but it was supposed to be a really strong, magically enhanced wood. The good news was that the fish was now in a state of distress. Black blood flew like spittle from its mouth as it futilely attempted to shake the impaled tip from its mouth.
"That didn't kill?" Leafa protested. "The skin is too hard!"
"Leave it to me!" Utilizing its state of distress, Liz jumped forward and tossed her dagger into the constantly moving mouth. Its teeth bit down on the blade, shattering it. All of the energy in the magic sword exploded outward. Being struck by the exterior sparks of electricity, Liz collapsed to the ground paralyzed.
That was nothing compared to the fish that buzzed like a character from a children's cartoon. Unlike those depictions, its eyes rolled back, and it fell to the side, dead.
"Ow."
"Liz!" Silica rushed over. "Are you okay? Pina!"
"Kuh!"
Unable to reply. Liz's whole body felt like it had gone numb. The uncomfortable sensation of pins and needles coated her entire body. She struggled, but there was no relief until Pina's bubbles popped on her skin restoring sensation.
Gasping as life came back to her, Liz briefly shivered in fear. What a terrifying weapon she had made. And now it's gone…
Struggling to stand, Liz was greeted by Leafa's grumpy expression. "What. Was. That?"
"I killed it," Liz growled, not in the mood for the encounter. "We already lost one weapon to it. We couldn't risk another."
Leafa stared her down but sighed. "Fine. Sorry for my outburst. More importantly…"
Following Leafa's gaze, Liz found Sachi collapsed on the floor staring at her shaft in disbelief. They had no supporters so the only replacement they carried was a short spear. It was a weapon more designed for single-handed use with an off-hand shield. Not Sachi's fighting style at all.
"I'll fix it." Liz said unprompted.
"Huh?"
Kneeling down, Liz took Sachi's hands in her own. "I'll fix the spear for you. Don't worry."
"R-Right. T-Thank you very much, Liz!"
Taking the proffered shaft, Liz retrieved the other end. A brief glance showed that it was a clean snap. That was good. It would be easier to seal if that was the case.
"Liz," Silica whispered, leaning in. "That was very nice of you to say but… How are you planning on doing this?"
"I… I have some ideas."
Holding the broken weapon that she herself had provided to Sachi earlier that same week filled Liz with understanding. This is how I prove my worth. She would do her best to increase her status, but Liz's efforts would not lead to her standing side-by-side with Kirito. It would end up with her heart and soul being wielded in his right hand.
As a craftsman, I can't fail!
Strea:
"There's another group coming from the left!" Strea called out.
"Can't you deal with it?" Philia retorted. Her voice was strained with effort.
"Just hold on!" Rain added in. "I'll deal with these and use my magic to clear that nest!"
Nest.
Over the last ten minutes, Strea had learned to hate that word. Until now, she associated hate with being apart from Kirito and for people trying to hurt Kirito. This was, somehow, potentially worse.
The monsters flying toward her were a group of large wasps called Deadly Hornets. The five monsters had flanked around from an alternative pathway. Being nimble, flying creatures, they were exceptionally hard to attack.
Strea could do little but wait around for them to prepare and rush at her. Cutting one down that swooped at her, Strea turned to wait for the other four.
"More coming," Philia warned. Her throwing daggers were all gone, leaving behind only her short sword. "We need that nest gone, Rain!"
"On it!" Rain screamed back, diving into her chant again.
We're going to lose at this rate… Strea frowned as she cut down another hornet. This was the third time Rain was casting her magic since the living nest ambushed them. Each time she ran out of damage to destroy it due to a build-up of hornets.
Strea feinted at one to her right, forcing it back. Noticing her weakness, one to her left charged. The stingers were dangerous lances that could pierce armour.
Unable to simply let herself be hit, Strea dodged back, swinging her sword. Expecting this, the Hornet flew away, her swing barely scraping its flesh.
"Ugh, enough of this!" Turning her back on the hornets that were emerging from the nest, Strea charged.
"STREA!" Philia cried.
"Leave this to me!" Strea responded with a wild laugh. As she sprinted for the Bloody Hive, the Hornets responded instantly. In the middle of their formation, it was impossible for her to predict their attacks.
Her split-second decision was suicide for a level three. Well, any other level three.
From behind, a Hornet she couldn't react to got through. It's stinger, capable of piercing hardened steel, sliced her leather armour, skin, and slid off her rib.
Gasping from the pain, Strea's vision turned red. This was the crux of her idea as thought began to fade. Her new advanced ability, berserk, increased Strength and Defense with increasing anger. That power was multiplied by her second skill Corrupted Pulse. The Hornet's damage when it became serious activated Elegy of Darkness. As the black smoke began leaking from her, Strea smiled wildly.
Her vision had been reduced to small points. Each one was not an enemy worth cutting down. There was one, large, blob of red light that pulsed in front of her.
Aiming for the Bloody Hive, Strea shook off half a dozen injuries as the Hornets desperately swooped in to stop her. Each injury that she accrued only refreshed the duration of Corrupted Pulse and brought her closer to basking in true use of Elegy.
The hive pulsed and ejected a stream of paralytic reddish-yellow fluid. Strea swiped her blade through it, blowing it apart with the force of her swing.
At the same time, four hornets were biting parts of her body as she slowed down. Growling, Strea grabbed the Hornet on her right leg and crushed its head in her hand, leaving its dead body to twitch on the ground. Using her sword to cut off another two, Strea grabbed the one off her back and tossed it into the swarm, knocking some from the air.
Free of impediments, she attacked the nest. Her black-coated blade destroying the strands of protective mucus that Rain's magic had been unable to get through completely. Having a new entrance, Strea stepped into the Bloody Hive. Even in her haze of anger and pain, Strea felt a brief shock of surprise at her surroundings. It was her first time inside of a monster. It was a multi-meter monstrosity of honey-combed rooms. Right in front of Strea, three hornets were being born from mush.
Ducking around another shot of the paralytic ooze, Strea cut down the unborn hornets. Striding forward, Strea could hear the hornets outside returning to the nest frantically.
"Hehe, too late!" Laughing maniacally, she cut down another two hornets in front of her that lunged with their mandibles. In the cramped space, they couldn't utilize their stingers properly.
With each kill, Strea felt their energy becoming hers, fueling her berserk rampage.
A strong horizontal swing cut through the hive's fleshy walls, revealing the core of the monster. In the center of the monster, Strea could no longer avoid the paralytic fluid as it sloshed around her feet and splashed on her arms. With one last swift motion, Strea stuck her hand into the core pillar. Her left arm going dead as her hand closed around the magic stone buried inside.
Around Strea, half a dozen Hornets were rising from the muck. Each one was half-formed as the Hive rushed them out desperately. The magic stone was a warm presence as its energy desperately powered the birth of its spawn.
"Too late!" Laughing, Strea fell backwards. There was a slight resistance before her arm pulled free, magic stone clasped inside as Strea's body was submerged wholly in the muck of the Hive's interior.
The effect was not immediately apparent. The Hornet's began to rise, the walls pulsing along with a rhythm Strea could not understand. Then, as if the monster was only understanding half a dozen seconds later, the unborn Hornets shrieked with pain, collapsing. Walls of the Bloody Hive began sloughing off material that began to disintegrate into ash.
As everything slowly caught up, Strea's numbness began to fade. The material that kept her paralyzed was part of the Bloody Hive and turned into ash as it did. Extracting herself, Strea stumbled to her feet and looked around at the remains. The Hornets had not been completed in time and were bleeding out on the floor with their abdomens left unfinished.
Sensing no real energy remaining in the dying insects, Strea strode from the nest. Her form was surrounded in a fog of ash as the goo from the hive disintegrated. At the same time, her body leaked black fog from her injuries all over, her sword finally fully coated in Elegy's grip. In her left hand, the large magic stone shone with a dark purple light.
Only a handful of Hornets were still alive after Rain's magic had ripped through the horde. Somewhere in those insectoid minds, the Hornets learned fear. Taking one look at the aura leaking off of Strea, they fled.
Giggling to herself, Strea stowed her sword, allowing Elegy to begin to fade. As it went, the pain returned. Wincing, Strea leaned against the wall to keep herself propped up. This was the problem with her abilities. They kept her moving, but that didn't mean she should survive when they ended.
"Strea!"
"Idiot," Rain cursed as they both rushed to her side. "You could have died!"
"Ahaha, yeah… But how long could we dodge those rush attacks for?" Strea countered. "It forced an end."
Neither of them had an instant response to that. So, Strea rubbed their concerned heads. "Hehe, no wonder Kirito likes you two so much. You're wonderfully cute when you pout like that."
"S-Strea!" Rain blushed, pulling away.
Philia, however, saw through the ruse. "Oh no, you don't. Lie down nice and easily so we can begin healing you."
"Fine," Strea accepted. Struggling to lie down, her whole body felt stiff. Accompanying the lack of movement was a wave of building pain. The more her adrenaline and emotions faded, the worse it became. Letting out a groan, Strea pled weakly. "Tell me a funny story while you work, okay?"
"I'll do my best," Philia assured her. As she pulled out the hi-potions, she dove into a recounting of an amusing adventure by Kirito.
Bell:
"Umm, are we sure this is the area?" Bell's voice was weak and hesitant.
Lili's eyebrow twitched from where she stared at the floor map.
"Lili?" Bell asked.
"Grrr…" Lili began emitting a noise not too different from a Ligerfang.
"Bell," Mikoto advised with a whisper. "I do not believe that you should be bothering Lili right now."
"B-But as the leader, I need to make a decision!" Bell protested weakly.
"Then you find us!" Lili yelled, throwing the paper at him. "If you hadn't insisted on climbing down that root, Lili would still know where we are!"
"Urgh," Flinching, Bell didn't bother looking at the map. He knew that if Lili couldn't find them then he had no chance. Taking a steadying breath, he handed it back. "Lili, please continue trying to find the path as we walk."
"Is that wise?" Haruhime asked nervously.
"We need to try something," Mikoto countered. "If we stand around here, we will slowly get worn down and… this is clearly not the main path."
Following her gaze around the secluded, dark area, Bell agreed. It was impossible to even tell that this floor was supposed to be part of the colossal tree labyrinth. The walls were hard rock with only one root in sight. There were no crystals providing artificial sunlight from above. Instead, a bioluminescent algae that grew along the bottom of the walls provided the minimal light the adventurers needed to see.
"Come on!" Bell said, picking a direction and walking. The three girls slotted themselves into formation around him.
As he continued walking, Bell's mood brightened with his surroundings. The tunnel widened and a new light source was illuminating the area. "Oh, we must have found the main area again! Come on!"
Jogging ahead of the group, Bell turned the corner and entered a chamber of emerald light. His good mood died as his heart got caught in his throat.
He had found a large chamber with a large, beautiful tree growing in the center. Spread throughout the chamber was a brilliant field of manicured grass. Wrapped around the tree was a deadly-looking monster nearly ten mels long with bright green scales. A monster he had only heard about. "A green dragon!"
Bell's surprised gasp woke the monster up. Its languid head rising as its eyes opened, yellow reptilian irises locking in on Bell.
"Run!" Lili hissed from where she was, hidden in the shadows.
Bell could feel the creature's malevolence wash over him. It seemed to be agreeing with Lili. Bell could practically hear its thoughts in the stare it gave him.
Leave now, Boy, and I won't eat you.
Swallowing, Bell drew the recently repaired Hestia knife. "Stay back. I'll do this by myself."
"B-Bell?"
"I-I'll cast my magic!"
"No!" Bell rejected Haruhime's offer. "I need to do this by myself! This… This is it! My adventure…"
Alone, armed with a single weapon, Bell approached the large creature that rose to fight him. As it did, Bell gaped at the power and majesty of the monster. This… This is a true dragon!
The strongest class of monsters in existence. Any floor that they appeared on, they were sure to be the strongest. This monster could go toe-to-toe with a level four adventurer.
"RAAAAA!"
The dragon let out an ear-splitting shriek that sent Bell stumbling back, white faced. In his mind, Eina's calm voice sounded. A dragon's first weapon is its cry. It will paralyze anything weaker than it with fear. Shrugging it off takes confidence and mental fortitude.
The knowledge flowed through him and loosened Bell's limbs. He wasn't confident in his power, but in this situation, he refused to be stopped.
That saved his life immediately as the green dragon opened its mouth, billowing forth a cone of green mist. Where it passed over the grass, the plants withered and began to die.
Breathing in a whiff of it as he jumped away sent Bell to the ground. Hacking, his lungs were on fire and his eyes were watering.
So powerful!
Body already shaking from the glancing injury, Bell froze with fear as the powerful jaws shot out toward him. Arm up, Bell managed to avoid getting bit, but the jaws still ran into his body.
Getting bounced off the ground, Bell struggled up. In the first exchange alone, he had already been beaten down. Legs tensed, he watched his adversary warily and the green dragon returned the favor. Its eyes were taking glances towards the shadowed forms of Bell's party.
"Oh, no you don't." Bell growled. Raising his blade, he glared at the monster. "I'm going…. To take you down!"
Darting forward, Bell used his magic at the same time. Three firebolts scorching uselessly against the monster's head.
Utilizing the bright light and smoke that his spell created, Bell flanked the dragon. Successfully getting past the vision-impaired head, Bell swung down hard at the back-left leg.
With a horrible shriek like the ripping of metal, the tip of the Hestia knife skirted off the monster's scale, not even leaving a scratch behind.
Bell stared dumbfounded at his ineffective attack until the dragon's tail took him in the side. Bell would have screamed in pain if he had the air or presence of mind to do so. Rocketing into the stone wall, Bell felt the whole room shake as his body threatened to break from the impact.
Vomiting blood, Bell's instincts pulled him from the hole his body had created in the wall. The green dragon was puffing up again.
Shit!
Cursing, Bell did the only thing he could and stuck out his arm. "Firebolt!"
The magic met the poison fog in midair and ignited. With a loud whoosh of the air being consumed, fire filled the room.
Face reddening from the heat, Bell staggered back into the wall. In high level fights, a single second was a long time. Two, and three seconds passed as Bell watched the flames die down.
His opponent looked similarly shocked. The dragon had backed up to the other side of the chamber and was smacking its lips in a strange way.
Bell had no time to think on it as the green dragon roared again, anger redoubled, perhaps at having its special ability countered.
"Come!" Yelling at the monster that had no way of understanding him, Bell charged again. Keeping his knife low, Bell stared into the dragon's eyes as its back legs tensed.
Now!
Reading each other perfectly, Bell slid as the dragon pounced. As Bell's knife swiped up for its stomach, the dragon beat its wings once, pushing it up and over Bell before sliding and turning.
So nimble!
Bell rose with a smile. His opponent was incredibly powerful. It had the feline grace of a cat monster, the iron hide of a crystalline urchin, and the killing potential of a bloodsaurus.
However, in the face of his overwhelming disadvantage, Bell charged again. Fed up with missing, the dragon responded by lunging with its foreleg. The sickle-like claws shone with deadly light as they approached Bell's head.
Using his knife, Bell shifted it up slightly as he ducked. His arm went numb from the slight contact. The difference in strength between them was immense. Bell's only close stat was agility.
Using that to his advantage, Bell slipped in and stabbed the dragon's chest. It went as well as last time. The recoil put him in range of the snapping head. Somehow avoiding death a second time, Bell found himself once more peeling his body off the ground.
Oww…
Bell was quickly acquiring serious injuries. Testing his legs however, Bell found them operational still. Raising his arm, Bell fired out another three firebolts. It did no damage, but the smokescreen it created at least bought him some time.
Mind racing, Bell still had no ideas as the dragon emerged from the smoke, not waiting for its vision to return. Forced to dodge, Bell narrowly avoided first the head then its claws. Stuck running, Bell jumped the tail swipe and got behind it.
Here it goes!
Pushing his agility to its limit, Bell bounded off the floor and landed on the dragon's back. Running across the hard scales, Bell aimed for its head and leapt.
The dragon was rearing back, its long neck twisting to find Bell. He had counted on that when he jumped and successfully straddled the thin neck. Grabbing on with his left hand, Bell drove the Hestia knife down into the dragon's right eye.
"AHHHH!" Letting out a cry of pain for the first time, the green dragon thrashed, its head snapping down and then back up again.
Destabilized, Bell was left suspended in midair. With no way to protect himself, the tail swipe caught him hard in the midsection and shot him faster than an arrow into the rock wall.
"Gah!" Vomiting up a waterfall of blood, Bell's vision went dark as he collapsed to the ground.
"You can't even defeat this? Very well, leave it to me."
"Kiri…to?" Bell stared through his pain-hazed eyes as his black-cloaked leader strode forward, drawing Bell's father's blade. "No…"
Sticking out his left hand, the phantom in his mind disappeared.
"You did well. Take it easy now." Ais said as she leaned down and rubbed his hair.
"Yes, we will take care of this." Lyu added with a gentle smile.
Curling up pathetically, tears streamed from his face. Why can't I win by myself? Why can't I catch up?
Body broken from severe injuries; Bell could barely move. His lungs were almost definitely collapsed or filled with blood as his shallow breaths brought only pain. Hand scraping uselessly against the rock floor, Bell was helpless to move as the green dragon cried its victory.
But it wasn't just the dragon. It was every time he had every failed. From the most recent escape from Knossos back to Rose dying in his arms. Burning with emotion, Bell planted his hand on the ground.
"Not… Yet!"
Growling, he pushed himself to his feet. Body shattered and coated with blood; Bell glared at the dragon. His internal organs were crushed, his breathing failing, but none of it mattered besides the wall in front of him.
Once last chance. One more try to overcome his failings.
Bell could feel his body trying to go into shock from the injuries as he laboriously brought his knife out in front of him. Closing his eyes, he pushed his energy into the blade.
Ring, ring, ring!
The bell was the signal of the end. Instantly, the celebrating dragon locked back onto Bell. It charged toward him once more.
Cling, clang!
Two loud impacts: Lili's bolt and a spear from Mikoto glanced off the scales near its remaining eye.
"Grow. This vessel and this Power…"
Haruhime's chant could not be easily ignored. For a monster with the evil intelligence of the green dragon, it had to choose between which of the magics were more dangerous. After a two second pause, it chose Bell as its longtime opponent.
"Firebolt." Firing his magic into the growing blade, Bell pressed the burning bolts of energy into the Argonaut-enhanced Hestia knife. The shape of the blade had changed from a knife to a short sword. It cast a tantalizing array of whites, reds, and yellows as the three components roared to life.
After only charging for five seconds, Bell began to move. Meeting the dragon stride for stride, Bell watched as its neck coiled and struck like a snake.
Unlike the last times he had dealt with this move, Bell dove not to a side, but straight forward.
Howling with determination, he leapt straight into the jaws of the beast. Using one final chance, Bell jammed his sword forward into the dragon's throat.
"ARGO VESTA!" Screaming the words of his special move, Bell barely felt the teeth biting into his legs. Fire ripped down the dragon's throat and found what Bell had been searching for.
As the building poison gas in the dragon touched the spark Bell had introduced, it rapidly expanded into a fireball that the walls of its organs could not contain.
Bell's body was shot back out of the dragon as its body exploded in a ball of white light.
Ahh… I won…
Closing his eyes, Bell waited for a harsh landing again. Met with softness, Bell blinked open again, staring up at Haruhime and Lili who had caught him together.
"Bell! You… You're alive, right?"
"Ahh, I—Ach ach!" Coughing up more blood, Bell's vision wavered. "H-Healing…"
"On it!" Haruhime cried. In moments, Bell's vision fixed itself after a vial was poured down his throat.
As the pain started to fade, Bell noticed that his leg was still sending harsh, sharp signals to his brain. Looking down, he saw a long white fang buried in his thigh. Reaching out to it, Bell gritted his teeth and yanked it out. It was beautiful.
"Here," Mikoto said, placing something on Bell's chest. Lifting it up, he saw that it was a pile of the dragon's scales.
Green dragon scales and fangs are… really expensive.
Smiling, Bell passed out.
Lisbeth:
"Again?" Gripping the two ends of the spear, Liz ran with the last of her energy. "Leafa, save us!"
Sachi ran in front of Liz in much the same state. Twisting through the azure halls of the water capital with the translucent crystals and pure rivers should have been a beautiful experience.
Instead, with no more than half an hour of uninterrupted sleep, Liz began to think that she was cursed in some way. First the flood trap and the running fish, then it was a merman breakout, after that it was a cave-in. As time ticked on, it was approaching a hard forty-eight hours since she last slept properly.
"We shouldn't…" Sachi panted, "have sent them away."
"I know that!" Liz replied with a desperate howl. As the two weakest, they had been left to rest while Leafa and Silica had been searching for a kelpie. There was a drop item from them that Liz wanted to seal the broken spear.
"RAAA!"
From behind, the angry elder tortoise howled. For all the stories about the tortoise and the hare, and their different running styles, Liz had the feeling that the author behind them hadn't met this tortoise. Its brown-black shell rose to a dome three meters above the ground. Ringed with boney stubs halfway to spikes, it was an unassailable fortress of bulk with the speed of an elephant.
"They are… just past here, right?" Sachi yelled back.
"I think so." Liz panted back. Turning a corner, they reached the plunge pool on the twenty-sixth floor. It was a dangerous place, but the one that they were most likely to find a kelpie at.
There was a lot of activity at the plunge pool. Unfortunately, none of it was human.
For the first time, through her half-conscious daze, Liz realized that she was in real trouble. This was no longer a game with slight inconveniences.
"Shit! Sachi, get behind me, I'll…"
"Liz!" Getting tackled by Sachi, Liz had a good view of the tortoise's jaws chomping closed on where her head had been moments prior.
How did I forget?
Even as fresh adrenaline coursed through her veins, it couldn't completely wash away the fatigue that dulled her movements. Slow to drawing her magic sword, Liz did not hesitate to swipe it in front of her.
A wave of fire rolled over the open area. As she already knew, the tortoise was completely immune, but it kept off the other monsters.
"Give me that!" Sachi growled, grabbing the upper shaft from Liz's hands. "Distract the tortoise and I'll kill it."
"Got it." Doing something that she hadn't in ages, Liz unhooked her shield and mace. Lifting them before her, she smiled at the oversized beast. "Come on, you oversized land turtle."
"Umm, is that really your best insult?" Sachi muttered.
"Shut up and cast!" Liz howled. Emotions frayed with exhaustion; she charged the so-called land turtle. "YAAAH!"
With an impressive yell, Liz brought her mace down hard upon its scaly head. As she had expected, it bounced off with a sharp ting. The tortoise was, if anything, mildly annoyed.
"RAA!" Screaming back at her, its head darted out, trying to take a bite of her.
Sticking her shield in the way, Liz was spun around by the momentum but was otherwise unharmed. "Why you!"
Smacking it again on the head, they began a fight of annoying each other. Despite its size, the giant tortoise didn't pack the punch of a fourth level monster even if it had the endurance of one. Liz, despite her lack of fine-tuned skill, was more than a match for its attacks.
"Dodge!" Sachi cried out. "Distorted Thrust."
"Hey!" Liz protested not even getting a second to follow the command. A space less than a hands-length from her shoulder seemed to split as the spear tip she had wrought with painful effort was thrust into the tortoise's forehead. As expected though, even her best work left no more than a scratch.
"Kyaaa!"
The bird-like scream sent another shiver up Liz's back. Taking a step back, she stored her mace to draw forth a lightning blade. The fire wave was gone without a trace and the remaining monsters had been stirred up.
"S-Sorry," Sachi apologized from behind her. "I'll try again."
"Please do!" Liz responded as she parried the angry tortoise again. Eyes searching the sky, she could feel her limit quickly approaching. Overwhelmed, she missed the harpies on first pass. Their dark wings blending in with the distant ceiling.
With a haphazard swing, she sent bolts of lightning at them before focusing on the tortoise again. The delay in her action meant she was too slow to perfectly deflect the attack.
Slumping to the ground, the shield fell from Liz's numb hand. Unable to do anything else to protect herself, she swung her blade again. The bolts of lightning that had struck down harpies easily were deflected off the impenetrable shell.
It wouldn't be the tortoise that would kill her. But its unremovable presence constantly hounding them would allow the other monsters to finish her off.
"Sachi!" Liz huffed. "We need to—"
"Distorted thrust!"
"RAAAAH!" The tortoise, for once, felt real pain. Reeling back, the monster was partially blinded from a well-placed thrust.
"Come on, Liz!" Getting pulled back up to her feet by Sachi, Liz ran alongside her friend. Looking back at the plunge pool, Liz's face paled at the horde of monsters that they had drawn the attention of.
"This… is really bad…"
Sachi nodded along, her broken spear gripped tightly in her hands. "Sorry about the tortoise. I couldn't get the attack right with the broken weapon."
"No, you did great," Liz tried to assure her. "Hrgh!"
"Liz?"
"D-Don't worry." Holding her head with one hand, she tried to put on a brave face for Silica. That bravery was marred by her ugly panting.
She hadn't understood before she started adventuring how draining fighting was. Running, practicing, forging, none of it compared to the fatigue that could accumulate in even a one-minute fight. She had always found it odd how martial artists would be tired after three-minute fights while other athletes had to play for over an hour. She understood now. It just wasn't the same.
After fighting the tortoise, Liz's legs had become leaden. The rocky ground of the twenty-sixth floor was mostly flat, and she still began tripping.
"Liz!" Sachi cried again. When the small girl looked back, her eyes widened with fear at how slow Liz was moving.
"Keep… Running…" Liz huffed. "I'll…"
Be fine. The words were too much to get out. She couldn't even feel anymore. Things had been too much for her. I was… too weak to come along.
It was too late to regret. She could still protect Sachi.
Stopping sharply on one foot, Liz tightly grabbed onto the lightning blade in her right hand. Body coiled, she waited for the encroaching tortoise to lunge.
"YAAA!" Letting out her best scream, Liz shoved her right arm into the tortoise's biting mouth.
Crack!
Bone and armour broke beneath the incredible force. Her scream of rage morphed into a howl of agony. Just as she wondered if she was going to lose her arm, the tortoise staggered backwards, gagging to spit her out.
It was leaking black blood from its mouth but even taking a hit of her magic sword to the inside of its mouth wasn't enough to kill it.
Collapsing to the ground, Liz's blade crumbled as did her sense of pain. Everything was numb. She couldn't move. Could barely think. One truth weighed heavily on her mind. The magic sword hadn't had enough energy left in it. Her skill was still lacking.
"Fade Edge." The two calm words cut through Liz's mind fog. Silica's armor piercing magic showed its full power as she took off the tortoise's hind left leg in one swipe.
Screaming in pain, the tortoise tried to turn as it fell, mouth biting desperately for the person that had seriously injured it.
"Hiyah!" From above, a flying Leafa landed a kick to the tortoise's head, sending it to the ground.
Moving as if she had expected it, Silica reactivated her armor piercing magic and took off the head.
Ahh, so strong…
Eyes closing, Liz no longer felt anything.