Neptune stared in terror at the monster in front of her, with shaking hands that felt cold to the touch, she was in other words scared. The fear that the goo was giving off felt like she was suffocating, it was way too heavy. Neptune didn't actually think that she was actually facing death itself. It's level easily surpassing hers made her even more hopeless.
Could she even run at this point?
"S-Stay back!" The purple haired girl had snapped out of her own world to find Gira trying to crawl her way out of the ooze's moving form, as her bleeding left foot and burnt right hand caused by the goo's corrosion had left her handicapped. She must've tried to save her companion. Kyro was long gone, the only thing indicating that he had even existed was his double edge sword lying on the ground. Neptune stood still, she can't even move her feet, as she only watched the other girl back away.
Gira turned her head back, her gaze finding Neptune who looked at her in her frozen state. "N-Neptune! Help! Help me!" She cried, tears were starting to spill in the corner of her eyes. Neptune stood still. She wanted to help. But she can't. Her feet wouldn't move. The ooze's intimidation made it feel like her feet was rooted on the ground.
Purple eyes stared unblinkingly, her gaze noticing the ooze creeping slowly towards the girl who kept calling out to her. Gira had noticed the ooze coming her way, she clawed desperately, ignoring the unbearable pain seeping though her left foot and right hand. "No, No! GET AWAY! NEPTUNE! NEPTUNE!" The purple haired girl tightened her grip on the sword in her hand, as she terrifyingly watched those fear filled eyes.
'Neptune, get a grip.' A voice called out, the same voice that she had been hearing even when she was still in the previous world. But those words. It had made her realize. What in the hell was she doing here and doing nothing?
Move Neptune.
The Distorted ooze gave a loud howl, a part of it about to touch the desperate girl on the ground.
MOVE.
Neptune bolted towards Gira, with quickstep activating, she had managed use her bokken as shield, but hissed when some of the substance managed to splash on her wrist. The ooze wailed angrily as it easily melted the wooden sword, while the purple eyed girl grabbed the girl away from the monster's line of sight, albeit struggling at her weight.
"Hnnk!" Neptune groaned as she looks at her burned wrist, blood slowly seeping out of it. The other girl panted, her heart beating wildly at the sight of death just moments ago. Sweat rolled on both their faces, Neptune was struggling to stay put as the pain coming from her wrist was nothing like she has ever experienced before, sure she had felt being burnt but those were first degree burns. The purple haired character felt tears well up in the corner of her eyes. The pain, it made her realize how helpless she was. No sword. No potions. No nothing. She's going to die. She's going to die through melting.
Neptune felt her lips quiver, she sobbed. How did it come to this? It was just yesterday when she came to this world and now she's going to die? What a really warm welcome. Gira composed herself, resting her back on the tree that shielding them from the monster's sights, she heard a sob. Looking to her left, she saw the other girl clutching her burned wrist as she tried to stop herself from crying.
This girl, Neptune, she came back for them despite her level gap. Although a bit late, as Kyro had unfortunately fell to his demise, she had managed to save her. A level 3, while she was three levels higher than this kid. Gira furrowed her eyebrows, she scooted closer to the other girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. They were shivering. She must be really scared.
"Nep-"
"I'm sorry..." Gira looked confused, what was Neptune apologizing for?
"I didn't save Kyro, he would've lived if I was fast enough." The black haired girl didn't know why, but through the purple haired girl's words she felt immense anger. Grabbing Neptune's collar, she forced her to look at her in the eyes. "Don't you fucking say that! Don't you fucking dare! You make us sound so weak! We trained and trained until our bones fall out of their sockets, and now you dare say Kyro would've lived if you were fucking here?! Who the hell do you think you are?!"
Purple eyes widened at Gira's outburst. She's right, even if she was there she still wouldn't be able to do anything. Neptune stared as the black haired girl finally let go of her collar, then created a distance between them as she pointed her open palm on Neptune's injured wrist, as it glowed a dull green, the pain that was searing a moment ago now soothed by a healing spell. The purple haired girl bit her lip as she saw Gira slumped back to the tree, not even sparing a glance.
"I'm sorry, I thought-"
"You thought what you thought."
"I'm sorry-"
"Stop apologizing, doing so won't get us out of this situation." Neptune could only nod at the other girl's realistic responses. She needed to think. Which she still wasn't good at. The purple haired character shifted her gaze away from Gira, she peered through the tree and saw the ooze looking for them desperately. It wailed and made corrosive shoot out of it's body, melting anything it touches. She furrowed her eyebrows, hiding behind this tree for too long would put them in terrible position, they needed to act fast. But how?
Ok.
Just, just think of what's important. A way out.
Neptune nodded to herself as she looks at her surroundings in hopes of finding a way out without running into casualties. Trees and vines, everything was green, everything could be easily be affected by the monster's corrosive substance, if only there was-
Purple eyes perked up once her gaze found two boulders leaning against each other, creating a gap leading to what seems like the exit. Neptune blinked in disbelief mixed in relief, she found it. Stone could still be melted but it would give them time to at least escape.
H-How convenient.
The purple haired girl returned to her position, resting her back on the tree, as she looked at the other girl beside her, who had just finished tending to her injured foot.
"Gira, I-I've found a way out." This seemed to catch Gira's attention, pausing briefly before shifting her gaze to the other girl. "It would require us to run and dodge, a lot."
"Neptune, that's- that's to be expected." Neptune scratched the back of her head and giggled. "Yeah, silly ol' me, of course. I'll show you where." The purple haired girl gestured for the black haired girl to move beside her. "See those boulders over there? That's our way out. The Ooze's corrosion would still melt it but it would take time, it would give us probably a few minutes before it completely does."
Gira contemplated for a moment then she nodded, she looked at Neptune and ruffled her head. "Good job Neptune, once all of this is over want to form a party with me?"
"What?" That was out of nowhere.
"Form a party. It would be fun, we'll train together and then we'll find other party members, all of which would be able to have fun and all that." Neptune watched as the black haired girl's expression slowly turned into pain. "And then w-we'll be able to defeat stronger foes effortlessly...and...and...I don't want to die." Gira sobbed, her shoulders quivering as tears freely rolled down her white skin.
Neptune gritted her teeth, she removed shifted her gaze away from the crying girl and stated. "We are not dying, not on my watch." Her words echoed through her. She doesn't sound like...well... her. And it confuses her. Gira could only stare at Neptune's back as she said those words, and could only nod her head as she stood to her feet. Hissing when she could still feel the burn on her injured foot.
"Gira stand up, we're moving." Neptune commanded, gone were her childish expressions as pure seriousness adorned her face. She peered through the tree and was surprised when out of nowhere her stats popped out of nowhere.
Neptune
Level: 3
Class:?
Race: ?
Skills: Appraisal lvl 4 (active) Quick evade lvl 2 (passive), Quick step lvl 3 (passive), +Corrosion resistance, +Fatigue resistance
AG: 11 STR: 14 INT: 12 DEX: 20
Neptune's eyes widened, some of her status just doubled, but that's not the reason she was surprised. Corrosion resistance. Those words had made her quite happy. She's earned it, was it when she was hurt by the monster's corrosive substance? That must've been it, then if she were to get hit again it would strengthen her resistance.
"Neptune, we should go." Gira's voice snapped her out of her own world and could only nod at her. She shook her head, just a moment ago she was just thinking of getting hit by the goo, purposefully of course, to heighten her resistance level. But that's crazy thinking, she might end up like Kyro so that was out of the question.
The ooze howled in annoyance as it shoots out bluish liquid out of it's body, desperate in finding them. It bounced and it's movement creating a loud thump, the ground giving a slight tremor. Neptune looked at her companion and nodded, Gira nodded back. They both waited on bated breath, then they ran. Gira went to where the boulders were located, dodging some of the substance the ooze shoots out, while Neptune lagging a few feet behind her. The goo was confused as to who to target first, growled when it settled it's sights on Gira and bounced to her directions, it's saliva dripping out of it's mouth as it gave a mighty roar.
The roar caused the ground to tremble terribly causing both Neptune and the black haired girl to struggle to find their footing. Unfortunately, the purple haired girl tripped and groaned at the impact. Her head throbbed as it hits the ground, her vision was slightly blurred and then she heard a scream. Purple eyes instantly widened, she whipped her head to where the scream came from and saw the distorted ooze had cornered Gira, as she released spells through spells but all it did was irritate the ooze.
No. No. NO!
She was so close!
She needed to save her!
Neptune's sight was intercepted by a glimmer, she immediately whipped her head to where Kyro's sword lay. Not wasting anymore time, she got to her feet and ran to where the sword is. Lifting it up and struggling with it's weight, she gave a feral scream, hoping to remove the monster's attention on Gira.
Neptune's eyes then noticed a translucent vein on the ooze, it doesn't look visible when you just simply look at it, but now that she was staring at it intently, she could see it as clear as the day.
Then she remembered the smith's hint. There are certain areas of the goo's body where you could cut them successfully and get their hearts. It must be it, but this one had multiple pulsing veins, she doubt only one slash would slay this beast.
The purple haired girl's shout had apparently took the monster's attention away from Gira, and turned her attention towards her. It growled, it's saliva dripping out of it's crooked razor sharp teeth, melting the ground as it hits the ground.
"You think a little ooze like you can defeat me?! YOU?! DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!" She shouted, her eyes dilated. The monster's growl intensified, it roared in anger and bounced towards her at an amazing speed.
It released spikey tentacles her way, intent on making her into a kebab.
But Neptune didn't falter, she made a stance, unfamiliar but familiar at the same time. She removed her left hand out of the blade's handle, ignoring the sudden weight on her right. Then she quick stepped, she dodged the goo the ooze was shooting out, she jumped and twist, all the substances missing her completely.
Neptune continued advancing forward, running, dodging, it was a cycle. The goo made an loud roar once again, but this time, the purple haired girl embedded her sword on the ground, preventing her from falling. Once the tremor stopped she made quick stepped once again and jump forward.
"AGHHHHH!" With a battle cry, Neptune slashed the first weak point and then the second, closely followed by the third. Neptune gripped the handle of her sword, she experimented a move on her next four attacks, channeling quick step on her attacks, creating a flurry of slashes.
Seven weak points seven slashes.
"CROSS COMBINATION!" Neptune shouted as she finished her attack, she panted and her legs felt like jelly. Her arms felt like they were about to fall off, her lungs and heart felt like they would explode.
The Distorted Ooze froze, it's mouth were wide open and it's eyes were empty. The purple haired girl watched, her chest heaving, then her heart dropped as it rattled.
It rattled tremendously, it gave a groaning sound and the ground rattled along it. But then it shattered, with a loud bang, causing Neptune and Gira to shield their eyes. Neptune slowly remove her arm out of her eyes, relief instantly washing over her as she looks where the monster had once stood. She dropped the sword, then she let her legs give out.
Skill Unlock: Cross Combination (active)
Skill Unlock: Pin point (active)
Skill Unlock: PRIDE (active/passive)
REQUIREMENTS MET, READY FOR LEVEL UP
Skill: Quick Step (passive) lvl 3 lvl 4
Skill: Quick Evade (passive) lvl 2 lvl 3
REQUIREMENTS MET, READY FOR LEVEL UP
Skill: Quick Step (passive) lvl 4 lvl 5
Skill: Quick Evade (passive) lvl 3 4
REQUIREMENTS MET, READY FOR LEVEL UP
Skill: Appraisal (active) lvl 4 lvl 5
*Appraisal skill could now be used to show enemy weakness
*Pin point shows enemy weak points
*Cross Combination: A seven hit combo that was said to be a move once used by the gods. Could not be interrupted. Extremely lethal with quick step.
*PRIDE: ?
Three skills appeared before her eyes. What's more was that she had leveled up three times! What in the blood? If this is what fighting a monster that was way stronger than her, then wouldn't that boost her up into the big leagues?
Neptune, your head's getting bigger again.
The purple haired girl shook her head.
Is-
Is it over?
Yes, it's over.
"I'm glad..." She whispered, a smile forming on her lips. Neptune weakly look at the ooze and saw something on the ground. It was glowing dully, and it was moving. It was thumping slowly.
The heart.
Neptune stared at it for a few more seconds before crawling to where it lay. She left the sword on the ground, as she clawed through the ground to get the item. She stopped when someone stood in front of her, she looked up and saw Gira's face and watched as she took the item. It was all she saw before completely blacking out.
