We were already inside of the final cell on the 2nd floor by the time Jake finished his explanation.

“Think we might want to back track a bit aye? Something not smelling that good here.” I guess he didn’t really notice.

“I see, so you guys didn’t notice it. You’re right Jake, something is off here, I’ve been paying close attention to the terrain ever since we fought the mutant, somebody else is in this dungeon with us.

I also believe they use mice to track us somehow, probably some type of Seal.

There’s a small chance they will try and fight us here, from my observation their trap is set up wherever the scouting group managed to get to, my assumption is they didn’t want to risk taking on bigger challenges in the dungeon and there’s probably also terrain advantage.” Another thought I didn’t want to say out loud was, there’s someone close by who’s waiting for a good moment to attack.

“I’ll also add, it seems they only have vision on us.” Jake looked at me suspiciously as I just winked at him and took a step back to assume my position.

Hopefully he catches on to my plan.

“Right then, ’veryone, up your guard from here on out, we’re moving towards the 3rd floor, Lifes is responsible for our backs.

Us three keep the same formation as before.” The party leader sent me a wink back and started walking down the stairs.

As soon as we entered the 3rd floor, a rumble was felt, a mouse was running towards one of the stone tables that were scattered around the room.

A soft grunt came from behind us. A woman in a gray cloak put both palms on the walls of the entrance we just passed through while activating her Seal.

It looked as if she’s trying not to fall down.

I already predicted this situation though, I threw one of my knives at the girl and dove into a black puddle of darkness nearby. She managed to avoid the knife at the cost of taking her hands off the walls.

Appearing behind her, I hit the knife’s blade with my Sy coated palm, trying to control the power so it doesn’t hit the ceiling. It’s a variation of the move I used against the teacher knight, that’s how it should be used.

I spun on the spot and sent a heel kick to her head. My sudden appearance did surprise her but this girl’s reflexes were good.

The cloaked bandit swiftly dodged with a slight lean backwards and snapped back with a punch to my face. I took a page out of the bald teacher’s book and used her momentum to make her fall to the ground while regaining my balance as I caught the arm trying to punch me with one hand, locking her hand behind her back, under my knee as I caught the knife on its way down with the other hand.

It was all over in a matter of seconds, I had her arm locked behind her back as I kneeled on her shoulder blades and held my knife to her throat.

My hand was shaking and I was neaouses, this thing needs to end quickly!

I closed my eyes and let muscle memory take over.

“W-wai, hold on plea-” it was too much for me to watch another person’s horrified face as my knife sliced their throat.

The symbols of ‘רעידה’ in Yirmish, which apparently meant ‘Tremor’ flashed inside my mind.

The ground underneath me shook for a second and my balance was disturbed, I fell on my ass and heaved once again.

Wait, what about the others? Looking back George’s shoulder was pierced through with a big spike made out of some stoney material, that of which now encircled all of us like a big wall.

Jake and Viktor also suffered minor injuries, I guess there’s another Seal user on the other team. There was a clear oversight in the enemy’s plan though, they didn’t account for anyone using the aerial battlefield.

I focused Sy energy into my eyes and looked through the walls the Seal user created, 3 people.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

I can’t see the other 2 as well as their Sy emissions are very faint, but the one in the back is clearly the one I need.

My arrow was pulled back with just enough force to reach the target in the back, this first one will be bait. The second one is going to be tricky to hit.

Everything around me slowed down as I breathed in deeply, my vision sharpened and my hands shook less than before, the air around me was stale, heavy, and warm; As if the environment itself was protesting my actions.

I was extremely calm.

The feathers on the arrow cut my cheek as it flew with great power, I sunk into the darkness around me and appeared on top of one of the chandeliers above one of the bandits. The light source immediately collapsed under my weight and started falling down.

My first arrow was easily blocked with a small piece of stone from this guy’s Seal but I had already shot another one from above and dove into the shadow of the guy underneath me.

The Seal user just fell to the ground with a thud, alerting his 2 friends, 1 of which had now been crushed by a big chandelier and the other one turned around to face a cowardly, shaking murderer…

I couldn’t drive my knife into the back of his neck. I couldn’t even hold my knife at all.

The bandit lifted his arms and yelled something I couldn’t even understand, it was impossible to grasp what was going on around me, is this how I die?

***

“Shiawasu and Inoshi, have you thoroughly prepared for your mission?” My master looked at me and Ostel with a serious expression. I remember this day all too clearly…

“Masta don’cha worry so much I’mma clean the cache all on my own.” Ostel said and then turned to me and proudly announced “Inoshi broyo, your master thief title is mine today!”

Kiyoko clapped loudly and added “I have deemed it a necessity for you to be joined by both Kashikowai and Esemoniya.”

“Wait master, I can understand Snoopsi but why do we need the witc-Niya with us?” I retorted, which earned me a death glare, master hates it when I call this maniac a witch.

“Inosh-Lifes! Lifes! Hey kid, wake up!” I opened my eyes to see the party leader leaning over me. Right, we were in the middle of a fight.

“Good, you’re awake. Thanks to you we all came out with just minor injuries, but what happened back there? He almost killed you.” Jake’s head turned towards the body of a young man who had nails sticking from his wrist and throat.

“Oh, thanks Viktor, you saved me I guess, did you guys find out who those guys were? I think they had to have been with the group at the entrance.”

“Boya is right, those meanies are together, you think so too, right Vikky!?” Is he asking or declaring?

The 2 brothers linked hands and flexed their biceps before Viktor yelled “Yes Georji!”.

“Why do those guys always act so flamboyant?” I asked Jake who was just smiling bitterly back at me.

“Used to wonder much the same d’yaknow, apparently it has to do with their upbringing, violent parents and all that. I think the academy nowadays calls this type of thing a coping mechanism.

Regardless though, we’re already done with this part of the dungeon, the rest of it is probably not going to have a lot of people in it as it took us all day just to get here and the first 3 floors were cleared already.”

He also concluded that this dungeon continuously gives birth to more wolves so it will be tough going forward.

“By the way, how do you know a full day has passed?” I seriously can’t get a grasp on the time in this place.

He took out a small stone that had a peculiar shape, it was half a circle sitting on top of a square, the half circle also had lines on it and was a bit dirty.

“That’s a Sun Stone, no matter where you are, if you put some dirt from the earth on it, it will shine the position of the sun in the sky.” Oh so that’s how a Sun Stone looks… I’ve only ever heard of it, only seasoned adventurers and royalties can usually get their hands on these.

“On ’nother note, kid, are you up to keep going? like I said we’re unlikely to run into more people here. Won’t force ya though.” Jake said.

“Yeah boyo, you’re not looking good, you passed out right after killing the other 2 and almost got your head cut off.” Viktor added.

“Honestly, I don’t know… The side effects from the Seal are making me completely overwhelmed when I kill people recently.” I’m such a fucking loser.

“Recently? How recent? Your reactions don’t seem like a Seal side effect to me.”

What is this old man saying? How recent? How recent…

“Maybe ever since I killed the student in Mil-Ansk.”I responded.

“Right, you killed a student did ya?” Oh, woopsi… Well he knew I was a Slayer so that wouldn’t matter too much.

“ ’ssuming that happened right before you got to Silka, was it about a week ago? Why’d ya even kill a kid in school?” His expression and tone were more investigative and curious than accusing, guess he’s trying to help me?

“Now that you mention it, I wonder why… I can’t remember much of it at all.” It’s the same as my last mission with the other Slayers where Ostel died. Wait… It was the same! The magic word bullshit, the thirst for blood, the fragmented memory, it was all the same as the time I killed Ostel!

“-id! Hey kid, are you with us there? Looking like ya saw a ghost.”

“Huh? o-oh, sorry… Well, something like that. Just a bad memory, forget about it.

Anyway, I think I know what happened, we can just keep going, I’ll be fine.” That’s a lie, I can’t even piece together what’s going on right now, let alone understand why I can’t handle killing people.

I’ve killed so many people before without feeling anything, but everytime I do it now, I can’t handle it. Sometimes I just see Ostel’s face and hear his voice.

“Jakey, let’s just rest here for a bit, we’ve been doing all those manly things for the entire day now.” George said while clasping his hands in front of his chest.

“Sure, we’ll stop here for the night, get some rest, kid, goes for you too, Vik, Jo Jo.” Jake concluded the day with that and set up a small campfire.

He said the smoke will get out of here as dungeons are very well ventilated due to all the secret passages.

Guess we can relax for now.