I stood before the large, two-story building, a grim smile on my face, feeling like I was about to step inside a lion's den. A heavy sigh escaped through my nose as my gaze lingered on the entrance, taking in the bustle and raucous noises coming from within.
It had to be done. I couldn't avoid the Hostess and Freya forever.
My feet moved, taking one step after another, the glow of sunset illuminating my path.
Even without that promise, I did not want Freya getting too impatient and cooking up some crazy scheme of hers. It might hurt my wallet in the short term, but I made around four thousand farming on the fourth and fifth floors today.
I could spend a thousand or two to give Freya some attention and hopefully keep her cray-cray at bay. It would set me back a day or two, but, once I finally got those ten thousand, we'd be raking in the cash if my idea bore fruit.
The noise got louder as I neared the threshold, and, straightening my back, I stepped inside the lion's den, head held high.
Not even ten seconds after I walked in, Freya–currently Syr without makeup, popped up from deeper inside the pub like a ninja, still dressed in her maid outfit and with a warm smile on her face.
"Jack!" she exclaimed from halfway across the pub, drawing some curious looks as she rushed to intercept me. "You came!"
"Good evening, Syr."
Her smile grew a little wider, and she quickly took the lead, a light sway to her hips that captured my gaze as I followed. She showed me to a nearby table, taking the seat across from me with the grace of a prim and proper lady.
Hands resting on my knees, I gave her a playful smirk. "Not going to take my order?"
Something flashed across her eyes before her lips quirked teasingly. "I told you I'd be taking the evening off. Did you perhaps forget?"
"Not quite. Our chance encounter is still fresh in my mind."
She made an intrigued sound, leaning ever so slightly in her seat. "Is that so?"
I held her gaze steadily, smirk still in place. Maybe I couldn't out-tease the tease, but I could make her work for it.
"It's hard to forget such a pretty face."
Syr propped her elbow on the table, chin resting on hand as she arched a brow. "Am I just a pretty face to you?" She pinned me with a glare, seemingly affronted, and I would've believed it, too, if her eyes weren't glittering with so much mischief.
She was enjoying this even more than me.
"The banter is also great. I like a girl who knows how to have fun."
Syr blinked, that cheeky smirk returning to her lips. "You enjoy it that much?"
I opened my mouth, ready to fire back, but, just then, a lithe figure caught my eye as she approached, turning heads along the way. Her short green hair framed a heart-shaped face, delicate features that no amount of artwork could ever do proper justice seemingly frozen in a mask of indifference.
Damn. I could see why people called them fairies.
Amazons were still better, though.
I caught a brief, smug look from Syr as she leaned back in her seat, before that prim and proper mask slid back on her face.
Cheeky brat. She could enjoy her small victory, but the fight was far from over.
Ryū stopped next to our table, that stony look on her face making her look just like a doll. Her eyes softened as they landed on Syr, only to sharpen yet again as they met my gaze, a brief shiver crawling up my spine.
Level four, huh? She could probably kill me in the time it took me to stand.
"May I take your order?" Ryū spoke curtly, voice as flat as her expression.
Poor, overworked elf.
A beat of silence passed as Ryū watched me expectantly, but I simply gestured with a hand at Syr. "Ladies first."
"A gentleman, too?" The goddess-in-disguise smiled while Ryū kept standing next to our table like a statue. "Then I'd like a cider and a fish fillet with home fries."
I blinked. Wait, they had cider here?
"Very well," Ryū said, her sharp gaze shifting back to me as I considered my options for a moment.
They had a menu next to the counter, but I wasn't reading through all that shit. I just wanted something edible, and preferably cheap.
"Two roast chicken legs with home fries, and a cider, too."
Can't go wrong with a classic. And it shouldn't even be that expensive either. Chicken was the most affordable of all meat, and potatoes were dirt cheap.
"Anything else?"
I glanced at Syr, the vixen briefly shaking her head with a smile, before I turned back to the elf statue.
"That's all."
Maybe I'd get a dessert later.
"Very well. It shouldn't take too long. I'll get your drinks in a few minutes." Ryū said, taking her leave, a captivating grace to her every step as I watched her disappear inside the kitchen.
"Enchanted by her beauty?" Syr's honeyed voice drew my attention back to the table, her lips quirked playfully. "I'll get jealous if you keep looking at her like that when you're with me."
I matched her smile, holding back a scoff. Really, Freya? Really? I wasn't even staring this time.
"She's certainly stunning, but elves aren't really my type."
"Oh?" Syr's dainty brows arched ever so slightly, a flash of mirth dancing in her silver eyes. "Don't let her hear you say that. She might get quite upset."
I seriously doubted that. That woman was ice cold before Bell worked his protagonist magic on her. She had enough baggage to fill up a whole room.
"But since you brought it up," Syr spoke again, a teasing lilt to her voice as she looked at me between her lashes. "I wonder what kind of woman you would consider your type."
Very smooth, Freya.
I looked the vixen in the eye, enunciating my next word as seriously as I could. "Amazons," Her smile dimmed at my answer. "And sometimes girls like you." Only to quickly return, though a little bashful.
"I didn't think you'd be so bold." Syr averted her gaze, a slight dusting on her cheeks as I watched her with a deadpan.
She had to be acting, because no way that line worked on a goddess, especially one like her.
"But I'm not that easy of a girl."
Saywhat?
I did my best to keep a straight face, mouth twitching with barely suppressed laughter, because no way she just said that. Like, this goddess probably had a higher body-count than my whole line of ancestors. She wasn't fooling anyone with her coy act.
"Adventurers must be bold."
Syr tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, tongue poking out to brush her lips. "Most don't seem to share that sentiment."
And that's why they'd never rise above Level One plebs.
"It's their loss." I shook my head. "But I'm not going to let their opinion stop me from getting to the top."
"Oh?" Her brows rose slightly. "Are you aiming to become a first-class adventurer?"
"That, and more." A tiny, self-assured smile curled my lips. "I'm going to surpass The King and reach higher than anyone ever did."
Syr went quiet for a moment, hands folded atop her lap as her gaze pinned me with uncharacteristic intensity. Then, she leaned forward in her seat, an inscrutable gleam in her eyes.
Of course that'd catch her interest.
"That's certainly a bold claim. Most would just laugh in your face, but I'm curious to see how far you will get."
My smile grew a little wider. "I'll make sure to put on a good show for anyone watching." I couldn't say for certain without more testing, but her presence back then had definitely contributed to my second Skill.
Freya was bound to bring me inevitable headaches, but she might actually be the best thing for my growth. And Syr was also pretty fun, so… maybe dealing with this thirsty goddess wouldn't be that bad—
A flash of movement to the left drew my attention as Ryū came back with our drinks, placing them silently on the table before leaving just as swiftly.
Yeah, I was gonna let Bell deal with this one. I had plenty of things on my plate, and I also sucked at helping people work through their trauma.
Syr picked up her cup, raising it in a familiar gesture as she looked at me expectantly, a faint smile on her lips.
A toast?
I raised my own cup, bumping it lightly against hers, the amber liquid inside sloshing a little.
"To new beginnings."
"Interesting choice of words." Syr brought the cup to mouth, lips curling around the rim as she took a quiet sip.
She was reading way too much into this.
"It's fitting," I said, taking a sip from my own drink, eyes widening as the sour-sweet liquid prickled lightly at my tongue. I quickly took another, longer sip, enjoying the taste.
Not bad.
I might come here again, just for the cider.
I took another, longer sip, eyes wandering idly around the tavern, people of all ages and races filling the place, eating and drinking merrily.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
My attention went back to Syr, that curious glint in her eyes giving me pause as I placed my drink on the table with a wooden clack. She'd noticed something with that speshul soul sight of hers, didn't she?
"What makes you ask that?"
Syr traced the rim of her cup with a finger, lips quirked knowingly. "There's a look of wonder in your eyes that many newcomers have."
My brow raised ever so slightly. If anyone else told me that, I would've called bullshit. With Freya, though… yeah, I could buy that.
"You have an eye for detail, don't you?"
A warm smile lit up Syr's face, the most earnest one I'd seen so far. "I enjoy watching people. There's always something interesting to learn, especially when meeting someone new."
Very subtle, Freya.
"Working here must be the perfect job."
"I don't think I'll ever get tired of it."
I wasn't sure what to say in response, so I just smiled politely. Syr was quick to fill the lull in our chat, though.
"Where do you hail from?"
I regarded Syr for a moment, that same intrigued look from before coloring her face. I'd expected this question, but the curiosity must be itching her rather fiercely.
"A place far, far away."
Syr's brows raised ever so slightly. "Playing the mysterious angle?"
I shook my head, smiling thinly. "You wouldn't believe me anyway."
"I wouldn't be so sure," she said, a cryptic curl to her lips that made my stomach flip.
She definitely noticed something. Maybe some weird soul metaphysics that made me someway different from the locals?
That'd explain why she homed on me like a guided missile. She was like those gacha whales when a limited-edition banner popped up out of nowhere.
A shiver crawled up my spine as she kept watching me with that smug, little smile on her face.
Fuck, I might even have it worse than Bell.
Thank god I made a move before she went full Gollum on my ass.
"I remember you asking me about that pass parade from yesterday," I said, hoping to change the subject.
Syr reached for her cup, taking another sip cider, mirth dancing in her eyes. "Yes, I'd like to hear that story."
She might be onto me, but she'd have to work for it if she wanted to learn more.
I took a swig from my own drink, tapping a finger on the table. "I'd just finished a fight in a cavern close to the fifth floor, when a hooded figure suddenly passed by the entrance." My lips pursed slightly at the memory. "Right after, I heard the growls and footfalls of approaching monsters."
I watched Syr's face for a reaction, her eyes widening slightly in surprise, but nothing else. I didn't want to be too paranoid, but Freya had done some sketchy shit in canon. I wasn't going to start blaming her without any evidence, though.
Sipping another mouthful of cider, I regaled Syr with the story, telling her in detail of my epic fight and how I beat a War Shadow. At one point, Ryū arrived with our food, but Syr was so engrossed in the tale, she only briefly acknowledged the elf as she laid the plates in front of us.
The smell was amazing, my mouth watering at the aroma and the sight. I'd had some doubts, but Mama Mia just smashed them all to bits with these brown-crusted, juicy-looking chicken legs and those golden, herb-seasoned home fries.
Ignoring Syr's amused glance, I took a full bite out of a drumstick like a caveman, the flavor exploding on my tongue as I chewed.
Finally, some good fucking food.
"I wish I could've seen your heroic stand. It must've been a sight to behold," Syr said, cutting her fish neatly while I was busy stuffing some home fries in my mouth. Fuck the table manners, I was hungry. "But how did you slay the War Shadow?"
I could see genuine curiosity in her eyes at the question, but I'd still bet she already knew about it, what with that magic peeping hole of hers.
"I punched it really hard."
That got a short, quiet giggle out of her, and I found myself smiling along. It was easy to forget that behind this sweet face lay the most dangerous goddess in the world.
"That's certainly one way to solve a problem," she said, voice light with mirth as my smile widened. She even had a great sense of humor. "You must've been adventuring for a while to get this strong."
That last part gave me pause. Did she really not know yet?
She obviously had the means to check when I signed up as an adventurer, didn't she?
"Not as long as you might think." From what Misha told me, most people took maybe a month to even see their first War Shadow. Unless they had a death wish, of course.
"Really?" Her brows arched slightly. "When did you start then?"
Syr popped a piece of fish in her mouth as I pretended to think, eyes wandering from one neighboring table to another. Did she seriously expect me to answer honestly in a place like this?
If she was that curious, she could find out on her own.
"About a week ago," I said, watching her face for any signs, though, aside from a flash of surprise, nothing changed at my blatant lie. As expected of Freya's peerless acting skills.
"An adventurer for only one week, yet you managed to slay a War Shadow? Your god or goddess must be impressed."
Well, a week to fifth floor was probably close to Aiz's own level-up record. Impressive for sure, but nothing to imply a growth Skill.
"I'd say Lord Miach seemed more concerned over my recklessness." My mouth twitched with a smile as I recalled his dad moment. Miach was the best god I could've hoped for, second only to Ganesha, maybe—
"Miach Familia?" Syr pursed her lips, an uneasy look crossing her face.
"Yes, why?" The hell was this about?
She leaned closer, lowering her voice as she spoke, "I've heard a rumor that Miach is heavily in debt to Dian Cecht."
I blinked, smile vanishing at the reminder.
With how that jackass rubbed the debt in Miach's face, it was surprising how half the city didn't know about it by now.
"It's not just a rumor, is it?" she said, spearing a home fry with her fork and dropping it in her mouth.
What was even her angle here?
"Unfortunately, not."
Syr offered me a commiserating look. "I'm surprised you still joined him. Most would normally shy away from such a downside."
Well, I wasn't most people.
"I'm interested in learning alchemy, and Miach seemed like a great god, even with his debt."
Syr took a sip of her drink, that intrigued gleam once again swimming in her eyes. "Is he your favorite god, perhaps?"
Definitely. Though I never bothered making an actual tier list.
Maybe I should've.
"He is. I've considered other divines, too, but my goals aligned the most with Miach."
"Do you have any other favorite gods or goddesses?"
Ah. I blinked, lips thinning. She was leading up to this all along, wasn't she?
Sly vixen.
I thought about it for a few moments, several names and faces quickly popping up in mind as Syr kept eating.
"Ganesha, Takemikazuchi, Hestia, Demeter, Kali, Ishtar, Freya." Favorite could mean a lot of things.
Syr reached for her cup, but I didn't miss how the corner of her mouth twitched ever so slightly at the last name.
"And if you had to choose one?"
Very subtle Freya. Very subtle.
"God or goddess?"
"Both," she said, lips curving around the rim of her cup.
Okay, maybe she wasn't that obvious.
"My favorite god is Miach, by far. It's why I chose him."
She nodded along, her lashes fluttering enticingly as she looked me in the eye. "And the goddess?"
Feeling my mouth go dry, I sipped at my drink while Syr took another forkful of fish and fries, watching me expectantly as she chewed. Our conversation lulled as I steepled my hands atop the table, staring ahead blankly.
Kali was a choco brat one step away from mesugaki, and that nearly gave her full marks. If she wasn't so small, she'd win hands down. Ishtar fit perfectly in my amazon wet dream, but she scored a bit too high on the bitch scale to get that top spot. They each tickled a different pickle, but both lacked something to reach that pinnacle.
Freya looked nothing like an amazon, but she was still unbelievably hot. And she was a yandere. If she ever got herself a suntan, she'd be perfect.
A threesome with Kali and Ishtar would clearly be a religious experience, only topped by a foursome with Freya, but Syr wanted me to pick one, didn't she?
A smile crossed my lips. I'd take all three, no question, but if I had to choose…
A bronze skinned Freya with tan lines would most certainly make me act unwise.
__________________________________________
"Freya." Truth.
The name caressed her ears, a pleasant shiver trailing along her spine as she watched Jack with her usual smile, the drumming in her chest the only thing that betrayed her act.
She was his favorite?
A flash of warmth filled her bosom.
Ah, but of course she was. Why wouldn't she be his favorite?
Breathing in quietly, she mustered her self-control, smothering the urge to claim him right here and now.
This wasn't the right time. He wasn't ready yet. She needed to see more. Like a gem that needed polishing before it could adorn any jewelry. His wonderful, otherworldly soul could lose some of its luster if she forcibly took him away from his path.
She'd waited for so long, what were a few more months, even years? Of all goddesses, he already fancied her the most. If he was truly the one—her Óðr… for him, she could wait a little longer.
She set her fork on her plate, a playful curl to her lips. "It took you a while to decide."
Jack pinned her with a look that sent another pleasant shiver up her spine, the ghost of a smile on his face. "The hardest choices require the strongest wills." Truth.
Those awfully sober words hung between them for a quiet moment, her hand quickly coming to her mouth as a peal of laughter slipped past her lips. She couldn't help it, the surprised look on his face only adding more fuel to her mirth.
She folded her hands atop her lap, unable to keep the smile off her face as she leaned on the backrest.
Yes, she could wait a little longer. She could claim him whenever she wished. And he might even come to her on his own given more time.
"Was it that hard to choose?"
"Well, I haven't considered ranking my favorite goddesses until now." Truth.
And he wouldn't be the only one. Most mortals respected the divine a little too much for that.
Perhaps it was different in his world?
A shame he wasn't willing to share his story just yet.
"What makes her your favorite?" She sought his gaze, eager to hear his answer.
"Aside from the obvious, which is her beauty," Truth. Oh? He saw more in her than just her beauty? "From what I've heard about her, she seems passionate and driven, and I like that in a woman."
A smile came unbidden to her lips, warmth spreading through her chest. It has been a while since she'd heard an honest compliment about anything other than her beauty.
"Driven?" she asked curiously, and Jack drummed a finger on the table, a thoughtful look on his face.
"Driven, as if she's pursuing something intently." Truth.
Her brows rose ever so slightly. Did he…?
"What makes you think that?"
"She has a familia full of talented, maybe even unique people. It makes me wonder if she's looking for a certain kind of individual." Truth.
"That's an interesting perspective." Her smile grew the tiniest bit wider. "Who would you say she might be searching for?"
The drumming returned as he looked ahead, eyes turning distant.
"Knowing her domains, probably a capable lover." Truth. He shook his head, smiling sheepishly. "It's just a wild guess, so don't quote me on it." Lie.
Oh, he was certainly sharper than she thought. Even better.
"I wouldn't call it wild." She couldn't stop the mirth from seeping into her voice. "You never know, with how fanciful some gods can get."
His mouth quirked slightly at her words, a knowing look in his eyes. He must have already experienced it.
Miach was among the milder ones, but plenty of gods made a spectacle of themselves in public.
"Still," she said, a note of curiosity in her tone. "If Freya is your favorite goddess, why didn't you join her Familia?"
The question seemed to take him a little by surprise, his mouth drawing a thin line.
"Honestly? Aside from having interests better aligned with Miach?" Truth-Lie. Oh? "I would've had some trouble living in Freya's Familia." Truth.
Her lips curled with the ghost of a frown. Trouble?
Was he concerned about the others? Nonsense. They wouldn't dare try anything once she made it clear.
"Trouble, how?"
"Lady Freya's beauty is peerless even among the gods." Truth. "Being around her for too long might have me act unwise." Truth-Lie.
Ah. Was he wary of her Charm, then?
How cute.
She wasn't so frivolous with her power, unlike others.
"Afraid you'd fall prey to her charm?" She smiled teasingly, getting an amused shake of the head from Jack.
"More that I'd lose sight of certain things in favor of others." Truth-Lie.
Her brows arched a fraction. "How so?"
"For now, I'd rather focus on becoming stronger." Truth. "I can think about love and women once I'm level two, at least." Lie.
Her mouth twitched with a suppressed chuckle. It was starting to make sense now.
"Sounds like you might be celibate for a while," she said, drawing a tiny chuckle from him.
"The Sword Princess reached level two in one year." Truth. "It wouldn't be that hard." Truth-Lie.
That boring doll? She used to be more interesting back then.
Freya smirked. "Dreaming big, are you?"
A small self-assured smile settled on his face, despite the teasing. "It's only a dream until you make it happen." Truth.
Ah. Her lips curled in satisfaction.
He was already set on the right path.
"Then I'll hold you to that."
His smile didn't waver at the challenge, holding her gaze confidently in such a way that sent a pleasant shiver up her spine.
The hero's journey.
She could hardly wait to see how bright his soul would become. He'd grown much in the span of merely a couple days, but he could do even better, couldn't he?
Especially if he aimed to impress her.
__________________________________________
The displaced air tickled my face as three, pitch-black claws whistled by in a wide arc. I quickly dodged the follow-up swipe, grabbing the overextended limb and twisting around as I yanked with a savage grunt.
The spindly arm snapped like a dried twig, and I mule kicked the Shadow to the floor as a flash of movement from the right had me pull my body to the side, just in time to avoid the long, muscular tongue that shot past me like a bullet.
The other Shadow lunged at the opening, but it moved too slow as I dove around the telegraphed strike, jabbing the monster in its ugly mug, the hard skin cracking under the force as the bastard lost balance and tumbled down to the ground.
Leaping away from the downed War Shadows, I drew the knife at my waist, throwing it to the left side in a smooth motion.
A wet sound and strangled croak reached my ears, and I took my eyes off those two bastards, long enough to glimpse the dying frog monster, dagger sunk hilt deep right in the middle in that huge bullseye.
As I looked back, one of the War Shadows was already back on its feet, a hateful glow in that lone, red eye as it blitzed forward in a burst of speed.
I dodged its lunge by a hairsbreadth, twisting sideways, the momentum adding to my downwards swing as my spiky knuckles crashed into the back of its head, leaving the creature staggered as I spun fully around it.
Sharp claws swung blindly at my chest, barely grazing the armor as my other hand lashed out like a hungry snake, jabbing the Shadow squarely into that blank mug, the spiderweb cracks spreading a little further.
The monster quickly went for another slash, but I simply tilted my head to the side as the claws sailed past, grabbing the hand and snapping it like a matchstick with my momentum.
Dodging a hasty claw swipe aimed to disembowel me, I grabbed the War Cripple by the other arm, dragging it around like a meat shield just in time to block a lunge from the other cripple, those sharp finger blades ripping through the monster's upper back and splattering dark ichor all over my front.
My eyes flew wide as the Shadow in my grip suddenly burst into dark motes of dust—fuck—and I twisted my body to the side, the claw thrust adding another thin furrow to my breastplate.
Dodging the follow-up downwards swipe, I gripped the offending limb and snapped it with extreme prejudice, leaving the War Shadow with both arms flopping uselessly at the side.
The monster's bright eye glowed even more balefully, face suddenly splitting open to reveal a gaping maw as it dashed forward with an angry snarl.
Quickly shaking off my surprise at the unusual sight, I weaved around the Shadow's biting attempts, jabbing it in the mug with impunity, head snapping back as the inky flesh cracked like a spiderweb.
I'm left.
It tried biting me again, only to eat another punch, face cracking even further.
I'm right.
Another lunge, another dodge, another punch.
I'm left.
And another one.
I'm right.
Dodge. Punch.
The monster staggered backwards, shaking its head in confusion, and I grinned.
Goodnight.
The hard flesh yielded with my next punch, that ugly mug finally breaking like an eggshell, the monster falling backwards with a lifeless thud, dark liquid seeping from its ruined face.
The cavern going deathly quiet, I stared flatly at the corpse, catching my breath. Was this considered bullying—
The sound of cracking stone had me spin around on a dime, gaze landing on the lone War Shadow quickly emerging from the wall.
Only one?
Did this bitch run outta juice already?
A smirk pulled at my face as I dashed to intercept, dodging the telegraphed lunge and punching the mob squarely into the jaw, the space around my fist twisting and flashing with black sparks.
"Kokusen."
As the special effects quickly cleared, the monster fell backwards with a lifeless thud, half of its head gone.
The wave of exhaustion hit me like a physical blow, yet did nothing to wipe the smile off my face as I stared at my handiwork. I was never gonna get enough of this stuff. It was just as epic as the first time.
Glancing around the now empty cavern, I slipped off my backpack and fished out my trusty rag, third of his name, cleaning the blood off my hands as best as I could. I was going to get dirty again soon enough.
Grimacing slightly, I walked up to the dead frog and retrieved my knife, stashing it at my belt. I was going to buy some more when I had the cash. Three thousand valis for a throwing knife was kinda pricey, but they were useful to have.
At least I was finally making some decent money. I'd hit five thousand on yesterday's haul, and, even with that splurge on extra gear, I'd still have those ten thousand by tomorrow.
Kneeling next to the corpse, my eyes drifted to the curved plates covering the front of my thighs as I pulled out the carving knife. Eight thousand for two, finger-thick slabs of metal with a chainmail lining? Fucking highway robbery.
Shaking my head ruefully, I got to work, slicing up the frog's belly and digging inside the slimy innards for the magic stone. Once done, I moved to the nearest War Cripple and repeated the process.
The sixth floor was great for farming War Shadows, and now that I finally hit those Gs in my main stats, these black bastards turned from dangerous to minor nuisances.
As I finished harvesting the crystals, I took a seat on the ground, backpack at my feet. Rummaging inside, I fished out a nicely wrapped package, complete with a cute, little bow knot at the top.
Ever since my little chat with Syr from three days ago, she'd been popping up to greet me every morning as I passed by, today even handing me a packaged lunch. Quite endearing, but…
I unwrapped the food and took a small bite out of the first sandwich, chewing slowly. Ham and cheese.
My face scrunched up at the taste.
The ham was too dry and the flavor of the cheese was too strong. Five out of ten, but I kept eating. Free food was free food.
I took another bite out of the bland sandwich, chewing mechanically, feeling like this might turn into a common occurrence. The sentiment was nice, but…
I could only hope that Freya's cooking skills would improve with time. She had plenty of motivation to get better, after all.
It took me a few more minutes to work my way through all the sandwiches, and, once done, I dug a hand inside my backpack, pulling out a potato puff. I took a hearty bite, chewing happily as I washed off the aftertaste of that goddamn cheese.
These things were pretty good even cold. I could see why Aiz enjoyed them so much.
As I nibbled at my hash-brown, the sound of heavy footfalls suddenly cut through the silent atmosphere like a knife, those eerily familiar noises sending a shiver down my spine. Muscles tensing, I jumped to my feet, stuffing the last bite of the potato puff in my mouth and slinging my backpack over my shoulders as I made a run for the exit.
Not this shit again.
__________________________________________
He ran as fast as he could, legs screaming in pain and chest burning with every breath, taking another look over his shoulder, stomach sinking even deeper. A whole damned floor, and the monsters still kept giving chase, their footfalls and loud snarls sticking to his back like a shadow.
Ravi swore under his breath, sweat pouring down his brow and even more drenching his back. The dungeon saw him tired and was going in for the kill.
Only four Ants remained on his tail, but with all the Rabbits and that damned Moth, he had no way of winning. All he could do was run and hope they gave up soon. If they didn't, and these bastards got past the fifth—
Further up ahead, a bald guy suddenly came out of a room, stopping in the middle of the hallway, staring dumbly at the monsters instead of turning tail.
"Run for it, brother!" he shouted, but the man didn't move, fists clenched at his side.
"Stay and fight! We can take 'em!"
What? Was he crazy?
"Too tired!" Ravi yelled back, but the man stood his ground, chin raised while glaring at the approaching horde defiantly.
Their eyes met, a treacherous thought entering Ravi's mind. If this guy kept standing there, plenty of monsters should break off and go after him—
Ravi banished the thought, jaw tensing, teeth grinding.
No.
Only cowards did that.
He was a proud member of the Ganesha Family. His was supposed to protect people! This brave man wanted to stop the monsters before they could get any higher, willing to risk his like to protect the weak.
He had to do something, too!
Fists clenching in resolve, Ravi skidded to a halt next to the fellow warrior, readying his axe and shield as he faced the incoming monsters, though a chill shot up his spine as he finally took proper stock of their numbers.
This guy better have a good trick up his sleeve, or they might be done for.
"You level two?" Ravi looked to his right, a sinking feeling pulling at his gut when the man shook his head.
Crap.
"Level one, but I'm strong."
His gaze lingered for a moment longer, but he couldn't see a hint of fear in the man's eyes. They were hard like steel.
Ravi's grip tightened around his axe. Good. He must have something up his sleeve.
They had a good chance to win.
Ravi jerked his chin ahead, glaring at the purple-winged monster in the middle of the pack. Could they even get to it in time?
"Can you get the moth?"
If they got poisoned, it was over.
A confident smirk on his face, the man simply drew a dagger from his belt, eyes fixed on the moth as he wound back his arm and threw. The knife flew like an arrow, finding its mark in the moth's head, the creature kicking poisonous dust all around as it fell to the ground.
Crazy aim.
The poison cloud stopped half of the monsters from advancing, the screeches getting louder as only the Ants, a few Kobolds, and some Rabbits had slipped through.
"Good work."
This looked a lot more doable—
The man stomped forward, planting one foot heavily on the ground, arms spread out as he released a savage roar.
To Ravi's surprise, the Kobolds and the Rabbits faltered in their step, giving him time to grab a healing potion from his pouch and quickly chug it down.
"Berserk skill?"
A flash of warmth shot through his body as he dropped the empty vial, lungs burning a little less and some of the pain in his legs easing up.
"Nah, man, I'm just fucking crazy."
Ravi wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand, taking a loose stance.
"They're comin'."
The man gave a small, confident smile, eyes lingering on the shield. "You got a shield. Keep the ants busy, and I'll kill the rest."
Before Ravi could give an answer, the guy suddenly burst into motion, rushing ahead like a maniac, a grin on his face. He dodged a Needle Rabbit, grabbing it from mid air and wielding it like a knife to impale another Rabbit, right before it could've skewered him.
Crushing the monster's neck, he quickly threw them away, somehow weaving around the four other Rabbits as they jumped past, snatching yet another one and using it to stab the nearest Kobold in the eye.
Damn, brotha.
Ravi couldn't help but stare, jaw a little slack, as the man twisted around the swiping claws and sharp horns, each time avoiding injury by a hairsbreadth and striking back at every opening to put down another monster.
A low whistle escaped Ravi. This guy wasn't lying. His Agility and Dexterity had to be in the Es, maybe even higher, and those crazy moves—
Chittering noises snapped Ravi out of his gawking as the four Ants broke off the main group, one of them rushing towards him while the others headed after his comrade in arms.
Letting out a war-cry, Ravi dashed forward to intercept, his axe sinking in the head of the nearest Ant, though not deep enough to kill it in one blow. As he went for another strike, the Ant's dying noises quickly drew all three others towards him.
Good.
Dodging around the first Ant, he raised his shield to block the claws of the second one before bringing his axe down on the third one with all his might. The heavy blow managed to snap the monster's neck, but, just then, a flash of movement on the right sent a chill through his veins as the first Ant dove in with an angry chitter.
Bashing the Ant on the left with his shield, he twisted around in a panic, parrying the other monster's claws with his axe, right before they could've mangled his arm.
He realized his mistake a moment too late when the other claw swung down on his weapon, snapping the wooden shaft like a matchstick, leaving half a broken handle in his grip.
"Fuck!"
Dropping the useless stick, he ran away from the Ants, holding his shield protectively at the front while catching his breath.
"They broke my weapon!" he yelled, looking at the group of monsters in the distance. "We gotta run!"
"Just keep 'em busy for a little longer!" The man shouted back while weaving around the Needle Rabbits and Kobolds, killing one monster after the other with brutal ease.
Keep them busy?!
His grip tightened around the shield, sweat dripping down his brow and legs shaking from exhaustion as the two Ants skittered angrily towards him.
Could he even get away at this point?
Reaching into his pouch for another potion, his stomach sank when he only found an anti-venom. Shoving it back with a quiet curse, he quickly broke into a run before the Ants could get any closer, going around them in circles while keeping an eye on his comrade.
Soon enough, only a Rabbit and a Kobold remained. Just a little longer, and—
His left leg suddenly gave out, sending him down to a knee, shield scraping the ground as he barely stopped himself from eating dirt. Fuck! He scrambled to get back to his feet, but his leg felt like a piece of lead, shaking uncontrollably, his other leg also folding under his weight.
Fuck!
He punched his legs to no avail, the Ants quickly catching up, chittering ominously as they loomed over him like death.
"Fuck!"
He pushed himself to the side, barely rolling away in time from a claw, hastily raising his shield to block the other, but she second Ant crawled on top of him, pinning down his arms and legs. He struggled under its weight, but the monster didn't even budge.
"Run, brotha! Save yourself!" he yelled, heart hammering in his chest as he watched those sharp claws slowly rise above the Ant's head.
He was going to die.
Terror gripped at his chest, yet, just as those spindly arms reached the apex, a hand came crashing from the side, space stretching around the fist as it struck the monster's head.
"Kokusen."
A shower of black sparks exploded in Ravi's vision, blinding him for a moment.
What the—
As the light cleared away, the Ant fell lifelessly on top of him, half its head a mangled mess.
Wha… no-chant magic?
Who was this guy?
"Hang in there, brother!"
His comrade grabbed the other Ant by the arms, an iron grip as he forcefully dragged away the monster with a snarl. Heaving a harsh breath, he threw the struggling beast at the charging Kobold, sending them both to the ground in a tumble of limbs.
The man turned around, hauling the carcass away as Ravi let out a relieved breath—
"Behind, watch out!"
Ravi's eyes widened as the man spun around, arm snapping up just in time to snatch the Needle Rabbit by its horn, a mere inch away from his face.
Whoa…
Ravi opened his mouth, only to close it as no words came out.
Breaking the Rabbit's neck with the other hand, the man adjusted his grip and threw the corpse like a spear, nailing the Kobold right in the eye as it struggled to get up.
Ravi stared, jaw slack.
How the fuck?
An accuracy Skill—
Chittering noises drew closer as the last Ant skittered towards them, the man dashing to intercept, dodging swiftly around the claw swipes before jabbing the monster in the face.
"Kokusen."
Black sparks once more erupted with his strike, the Ant dropping dead, head caved in and cracked like an eggshell.
Damn. This was one hell of an ace.
He'd only seen Level Twos break these Ants like that. This guy was awesome.
Ravi watched as his comrade hurried back to him, breathing heavily as he held out an arm. Gripping the offered hand, Ravi grunted in effort as the man helped him back to his feet.
Some strength had returned to his legs, but they were still shaking like jelly. He could barely stand, let alone run—
"Drink."
The man pushed a potion in his face, Ravi staring at it for a moment, before taking it with a weak smile.
"Thanks, brotha."
He quickly drank the healing potion, a bit more strength returning to his legs as they no longer shook like a leaf.
The man then drew a carving knife from his hip, handing it over as Ravi took it with a wordless nod. Not the best weapon, but it would do against the small fry.
Adjusting his grip on the shield, Ravi stood next to his comrade, looking ahead as the poison cloud finally settled. His body tensed as the other monsters rushed in, just a dozen more Needle Rabbits and Kobolds.
Spreading his arms widely, fists dripping with blood, the man glared at them fiercely, and, it could've been Ravi's imagination, but the monsters seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Jaw tight, Ravi tightened his grip on his shield and knife, ignoring his screaming legs.
They could do this.
They just had to keep fighting for a little longer.
__________________________________________
I sat on the back of a dead Killer Ant, my comrade in arms lying on the ground to my left, breathing heavily, mangled corpses littering the place. Excitement brewed in my stomach, despite the aching muscles, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
This single fight likely got me more xp than a whole day—maybe even two—of cracking skulls.
I held back a chuckle as I watched this bronze-skinned, beefy guy gasp for breath like he'd just finished a marathon, his soaked, red headscarf nearly covering his eyes.
It hadn't sunk in earlier because of the fight, but he kinda looked like that tanned guy from that dancing meme.
Mouth twitching with suppressed mirth, I retrieved a potion from my pouch, popped the cork and chugged it in one gulp. A rush of energy coursed through my veins, the scratches littering my arms itching for a bit before quickly scabbing.
Good thing I'd bought four more the other day. Not being dirt poor was great.
"Looks like we'll live to tell the tale." I joked, getting a weak chuckle from the guy as he adjusted his bandanna.
"You're crazy, brother, but that was awesome."
Parts of the fight flashed to mind, a chuckle escaping me. It's really been epic as fuck. "I'm Jack, by the way. Miach Familia."
"Ravi, Ganesha Familia."
My eyes lingered on his getup, lips twitching in amusement. Yeah, that definitely checked out.
"Well met." I said with a smirk, drawing a quiet snort out of him.
"Yeah."
Grunting in effort, Ravi slowly pushed himself upright, arms propped on his knees as he sat there, his breathing almost back to normal.
"Want another potion?" I fished out a healing potion, holding it next to his face. I still had two more, so it was good.
"Yeah. I'll pay you back," he said, taking the vial as I shook my head with a smile.
"No need, you did plenty to help me. Just buy me a drink, and we're good."
Ravi smiled back, popping the cork with a thumb and drinking the potion. A relieved sigh escaped him as he stretched his back. "Ahh, my sweaty abs quiver with such pleasant soreness."
Okay…?
Rising to his feet, he removed a kink from his neck, giving me a smirk. "You sure you don't have a Berserk skill? You went full Amazon back there."
I smiled at the compliment. "Nah, I just got really pumped."
"You like fighting that much?" His brows climbed up a fraction, a gleam in his eyes.
Oh? Could it be?
"Yeah," I said, and a grin broke on his face.
"Me, too. Ain't nothin' better than a good fight that makes you stronger."
Awesome. Ganesha sure knew how to pick 'em.
"What about a good fight alongside hot Amazons?"
Ravi blinked, mouth pursing slightly. "I'm more about the cat people and elves, but I get you, brotha."
I stared at him for a moment, lips quirking slightly.
Yeah, I could respect that.
"Cat-girls are great. Elves are fine, too." Ryū and Riveria, at least.
"They really are." He nodded sagely, and I couldn't help a grin.
Have I finally found one of my people?
Truly, the dungeon worked in mysterious ways.
"So, Ravi, you ready to harvest this?" I gestured casually with a thumb at the carnage around us.
"Yeah, but you can keep calling me 'brother'."
I cocked an eyebrow, and he smiled, tapping a meaty hand on his broad chest. "You saved my life, and we fought like comrades. We're battle brothers, aren't we?"
Well, that made sense.
"Yeah, brother."
I stood up, watching as Ravi walked around, as if searching for something. At my curious look, he picked up his broken axe, holding it by the small piece of wood left of its shaft.
"My knife broke earlier, but I can still use this thing to hack open some corpses."
He quickly got to work on the nearest Kobold, and I turned to the Ant behind me, lips pursed as I pulled out my knife. These things had their magic stone in the upper thorax, didn't they?
I crouched next to the corpse, inspecting it closely. There was enough space between the carapace segments to slip a knife, and maybe I could just wrench it apart with my hands?
Shrugging, I also got to work.
It took me a few attempts, but I managed to reach the magic crystal, the Ant bursting into dark motes as I pulled it out. Dropping it in my pack, I moved to the next mob, keeping my ears open and throwing an eye around the cave every now and then.
As we kept harvesting, Ravi suddenly broke the quiet. "That was one hell of a spell you used to kill those Ants." He shook his head with a smile. "No-chant magic? Crazy stuff, brotha."
I looked up from the corpse, meeting his curious gaze as I considered my answer.
"That wasn't magic. It's from my Skill."
The cat was already out of the bag, but having a Skill at Level One was a bit less crazy than having a no-chant magic.
Ravi stashed a magic crystal in his pouch, mouth opening in realization. "Ahh, makes sense. Gotta be a pretty strong Skill to mulch through Ants like that."
"Not really." I shook my head, idly digging through Kobold innards with a hand. "It's kinda unpredictable, actually."
Ravi blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
I pulled out the stone, lips pursed as I moved to the next corpse.
Maybe I've acted a bit too rashly there, but I couldn't let this dude die just to keep my super punch a secret for a while longer. That wouldn't have been cool at all.
The black sparks were meant to be seen anyway.
What was the point of a cool, flashy move if you didn't show it off?
"That's just how it works. Sometimes, I get faster and I can do those black flashes."
"Ah, so it boosts your Agility, and you hit harder." Among other things.
Good thing this guy didn't seem very bright.
"Yeah, but it triggers randomly."
"It's still hella cool, brother."
I nodded, smiling. Couldn't argue that one.
"It's a little weird, though," he added, brow creased. "Skills are usually very specific."
Okay, maybe he was smarter than I'd thought.
"I only got it recently." I shrugged. "I probably just didn't figure it out yet."
"Makes sense." Ravi nodded, seemingly satisfied with that. Good.
"By the way," I sent him a curious look. "How did you end up with all those monsters chasing after you?"
Ravi frowned, scratching at his leg idly. "I'd just called it a day and was coming back from the ninth floor, when I heard a guy screaming for help, deep in the seventh." He shook his head, grimacing slightly. "I went to check, but I was too tired, and monsters were already swarming the place. Fool must've used bait."
I couldn't help but shake my head. Bruh. What kind of idiot used bait on a Killer Ant floor? They should put an IQ limit on people entering the dungeon.
My gaze wandered to Ravi's broken axe. "Can you make it back to the surface without a weapon?"
He stared at his hands, frowning as he shook his legs a couple times. "Yeah, but it will take a while."
I sliced open a Needle Rabbit, rummaging through its guts as I sent Ravi a smirk. "I'll help you get to the fourth floor."
"You don't hafta, though."
"Didn't you say we were bros? I'm kinda tired, too, so I'll just hang around the fourth before calling it a day."
I still had enough gas in the tank for maybe another hour of cracking skulls, but I was gonna stick to dogs and midgets, just to play it safe.
I pulled out the magic crystal, looking around briefly, only to notice there weren't any other corpses left.
Ravi also finished looting his last mob, stretching his arms and back with a tired sigh. "It's times like these I wish I had an iron mace or something, but I just like chopping things, y'know?"
A quiet snort escaped me. "I get you, bro. I really like punching things, too."
Smashing things with a hammer would be fun, too. I couldn't wait to finally get more money and buy myself some nice toys.
As I sheathed my knife and slipped on my backpack, an idea sprang to mind, my eyes drifting back to Ravi.
"Say, you wanna team up with me?"
I'd probably have to tackle the Ants after my next update, and Misha shouldn't have a reason to worry if I went in with a party.
Ravi paused, staring at me for a quiet moment, brows raised slightly.
"You made short work of those Ants. We could easily kill stuff on the ninth together."
A smile came to my face. "So, you're up for it?"
"Yeah, brotha," Ravi grinned. "I have a feeling we'll make a good team."
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