Author’s Note: I forgot to add in that Hide acquired the Monster Hunter title for killing the Dungeon Boss. I will add this into the the Epilogue if I have time, but here is the title panel.
Monster Hunter
You have either killed 10 Elite monsters or killed 1 Boss Class monster.
Effects:
+0.005 HP Regeneration
+0.005 Mana Regeneration
+0.005 Stamina Regeneration
The Wake of Desperation
With my new sword in hand, I quietly walked deeper into the pathway. Amidst the silent shadows and permeating darkness, further ahead of me, I could hear the persistent sound of soft footsteps. They were faint, yet purposeful.
Even with the darkness blocking my vision, I knew this sound originated from Kido’s childhood friend, Minakawa. She walked ahead of us, purposely isolated from the rest of us, and embroiled deeply in her own misery.
In contrast, I led the others forward. While the lingering sense of melancholy was hard to shake off, what with all of our losses and all, the faint budding excitement could not be suppressed. After all, the one thing that we had all risked our lives for, had finally been achieved. The gates of this hell had finally opened. We could now leave this god forsaken school.
As this thought quietly bubbled in my mind, I looked down at the golden hued vial in my hand. Even amidst this darkness, I could clearly see the contents of the vial sloshing around with each step I took. It glowed faintly with a trace of murky gold. Seeing the seemingly random undulations it gave off, a smile could not help but form on my face.
This vial was one of the Vitality Elixirs that the Dungeon Boss had dropped upon its death. Like me, the other four that trailed behind me also held a similar vial in their hands. They clutched it with fervent obsession, almost afraid that the elixir would vanish from their very hands at a drop of a hat.
I shot a glance back, and seeing their anxious sweat clad faces that was slightly illuminated by the soft glow of the vial, I could not help but wryly smile.
I knew exactly how they felt. Something like this, it was indeed worthy of such obsession.
After considering things for a moment, I immediately uncorked the vial before I unhurriedly drank the contents of the bottle.
Almost immediately, a warm sensation flowed from my mouth and quickly traveled down my throat. The warm sensation throbbed and undulated as it reached my stomach and began to rapidly spread out throughout my whole body. A comfortable feeling took hold of me as my flesh, muscle, and bone pulsed like a beating heart.
This sensation lasted for only five seconds before it rapidly began to fade. The warm sensation vanished, only to be replaced with a satisfying afterglow.
I smiled wryly to myself before I opened up my status screen.
Status WindowNameMayo HideAge17RaceHumanLevel45GenderMaleTitlesPioneer, Pyschopath, Dungeon Explorer, Monster HunterHealth20/540 (31)Health Regen.0.03 / SecMana
(unavailable)540 (16)Mana Regen.0.015 / SecStamina302/740 (316)Stamina Regen.0.055 / Sec-Strength120 (16)Agility167 (16)Greater Vitality90 (16)Dexterity125 (16)Intelligence26 (16)Wisdom62 (16)Leadership0 (8)Luck0 (8)Defense40 (16)Accuracy20 (16)Physical Resistance2(16)Magic Resistance2 (16)Endurance1 (16)Perception1 (16)Insight1 (16)-SkillsEquip (Active)
Identification (Active)
All Heal (Active)
Dissection + (Active)
Sensory Remapping + (Active)
Searing Armor (Active)
All Purpose Crafting (Active)
Butcher (Active)
Shadow Sprint (Active)
Amphibian (Active)
Body Maneuver (Passive)
Dagger Mastery (Passive)
Blunt Weapon Mastery (Passive)
Sword Mastery (Passive)Current Status Effect(s)Fracture
Physical Exhaustion
Bruise
SprainUnallocated Points78
(Author’s Note: The status screen does not show weapon/item granted bonuses)
While I stared at the panel with a look of self satisfaction, to my surprise, my brief moment of reverie was instantly interrupted by a sudden and abrupt ringing.
Ding!
Obviously triggered when I checked my status window, a new box of information appeared in front of me.
Due to meeting the required conditions, the title [Pioneer], has been upgraded.
[/winwindow]
Pioneer
You are the first person to experience the new change that has yet to come, may you pave a path for others to follow.
Effects:
+25 all stats
New stat created: Leadership
After seeing the improved bonuses of my Pioneer title, my expression turned awkward, before I immediately broke out in a quiet chuckle. Previously, this title had only granted a +10 boost to all my stats. Now, the effects more than doubled.
After allocating the remaining 78 (I previously spent 2 in order to gain Perception and Insight) unallocated points I received from leveling up and slaying the Dungeon Boss, I immediately checked my status screen once more.
Status WindowNameMayo HideAge17RaceHumanLevel45GenderMaleTitlesPioneer, Pyschopath, Dungeon Explorer, Monster HunterHealth20/540 (46)Health Regen.0.03 / SecMana
(unavailable)540 (31)Mana Regen.0.015 / SecStamina302/740 (331)Stamina Regen.0.055 / Sec-Strength130 (31)Agility187 (31)Greater Vitality90 (31)Dexterity125 (31)Intelligence26 (31)Wisdom76 (31)Leadership0 (23)Luck0 (23)Defense50 (31)Accuracy20 (31)Physical Resistance9 (31)Magic Resistance7 (31)Endurance5 (31)Perception5 (31)Insight5 (31)-SkillsEquip (Active)
Identification (Active)
All Heal (Active)
Dissection + (Active)
Sensory Remapping + (Active)
Searing Armor (Active)
All Purpose Crafting (Active)
Butcher (Active)
Shadow Sprint (Active)
Amphibian (Active)
Body Maneuver (Passive)
Dagger Mastery (Passive)
Blunt Weapon Mastery (Passive)
Sword Mastery (Passive)Current Status Effect(s)Fracture
Physical Exhaustion
Bruise
SprainUnallocated Points0
The most notable change was my Greater Vitality stat. Even though I did not purposely go out of my way to increase it, already I could feel a huge surge of energy from deep within my body. Instinctively, I knew that I could now probably tank a hit from one of those tentacles with little problem. In short, while the numerical value of my vitality stat did not increase, [Greater Vitality] improved their effect.
After looking over my new stats one more time, I nodded with satisfaction before I quickly dismissed the glowing blue panel.
From behind me, I could hear the sound of heavy gulping. The others had also used this opportunity in order to consume their Vitality elixirs and increase their stamina.
Like this, we slowly made our way deeper into the tunnel. With each step we took, we got closer and closer to the East Building.
***
The basement was dark and dreary, and at first glance, it seemed as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Of course, in the darkness, everything looked the same.
The group had long caught up with Minakawa, and together, we proceeded forward.
Kido’s statement, and implication from before filled me with a sense of dread. Back then, he had been driven into a corner. Led almost to the point of madness. A person like that- A person with almost all of his bridges burned and with no other support… those types of people were the most dangerous.
We soon reached the staircase that led up to the first floor, but instead of immediately going up, I walked past it. I proceeded deeper into the basement, towards the unfurnished classrooms.
I led the others forward, shining a beam of white light from the flashlight in my hand as I gazed out with scrutinizing eyes. Strangely enough, the once familiar setting seemed vaguely foreign. The scratches on the walls, the paint splattered on the floor, the broken doors and shattered windows… they were all images I had seen countless times, yet right now, I did not feel that familiar sensation of nostalgia.
Whether it was due to the realization that this dungeon had turned back into a regular high school, or whether it was because of the growing sense of foreboding I felt in my chest, the familiar scenes brought an indescribable chill to the pit of my stomach.
After what felt like eternity, my feet abruptly stopped as I stared blankly at the door in front of me.
Almost instantly, the growing sensation bursted forth, and all the pent up emotions I had kept bottled up surged forward. In the end, the only thing I could do was mutely open my mouth while my eyes stayed locked onto that familiar door.
The door was left ajar, the faint light of a lit torch seeping out from under the cracks.
This was the first thing I found odd. Normally, the person who guarded this room, she was a meticulous and organized type, especially when it came to the things she was most passionate about. This I came to learn with each brief interaction.
Even now, her sharp voice echoed through my ears, constantly reminding me to keep the door always closed.
“Their too young to go out alone by themselves.” She always said. “If something were too happen and they got lost somewhere in the dark… well, I’d feel really bad.”
As glimpses and brief memories of each brief interaction flashed through my mind, my feet unconsciously stepped forward. With a vacant glaze in my eyes, I slowly opened the door and shined the flashlight into the small square classroom.
Even before I saw anything, it was the smell that first hit me.
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The light swept past the cluttered room, and briefly lit up the mayhem that was inside. The puddle of green blood that had collected in the middle of the floor briefly glinted with light. It continued to seep out from desecrated tiny white bodies. With their thin exoskeletons cracked and splintered, the acidic blood flowed out like a broken dam.
Interspaced around the room were thoroughly destroyed eggs. From underneath the eggshells, a half developed Gila was revealed, its jaw hanging agape as its elongated tongue hung limply from the side of its broken mouth.
My expression darkened upon seeing this scene.
Without a doubt, the only thing that remained in this room was death.
“To think he even killed everything in here.” From behind me, a tired male voice rang out. The President walked forward, his steps slow and strained. He wrinkled his brow as he continually scanned the rest of the room. “Kido was very thorough.”
I unconsciously nodded, as I continued to shine the light across every nook and cranny of the classroom. After a few seconds, I could not help but sigh out in relief.
Despite all the newborn gila corpses, there was not a single human body. The possibility that she had survived… it was definitely still there!
“Check the nearby rooms!” I spoke out loud as I exited the classroom, and moved to another.
Everyone scattered, and complied with my order. In almost no time at all, we had almost looked through every room available, when Cher’s voice beckoned me to a sparse classroom near the end of the hall.
“There’s some signs that someone’s been here recently.” She spoke out loud as she pushed against the door with her whole body. The door swung backwards before it was immediately stopped halfway by something from inside the room.
Checking closely, behind the door was an unfurnished cabinet. A part of it was blocking the entrance to the door.
Seeing this, I could not help but nod. Someone had recently barricaded themselves in this room. Judging from how the cabinet was moved slightly to the side, the person who hid here had either been caught, or managed to escape.
There was nothing else in the basement, so the only thing left to do was head upstairs and hope for the best.
Just as this thought entered my mind, my ears perked up as I briefly allocated all of my senses into hearing. I momentarily closed my eyes, just as the sound of light shuffling entered my ears.
“Someone’s upstairs.” I quietly whispered as I reopened my eyes. “Someone’s upstairs. Someone survived.”
Upon this realization, I quickly led the rest of the group forward. Past the wooden staircase, and into the light of day. Past countless lockers and broken windows, past old classrooms and moldy blood stains, I led everyone towards a familiar classroom, one whose door had been left slightly open.
From inside the doorway, the sound of light sobbing could be heard. It wasn’t an overly loud noise, but rather purposely subdued, restrained even. With little hesitation, I followed the sound, and entered the room.
The most noticeable thing about the once familiar room was all the corpses. Several bodies, all with the same wound, a sword stab straight to the heart. The floor was stained with a heavy and bright red, while the bodies that rested on the chairs, tables, and on the floor, all had their vacant eyes open, staring up blankly at the space before them.
As I scanned through the whole room, my eyes came to rest on a small corner of the room. From that corner, the sound of light sobbing originated. A mass of quivering bodies, and tear stained faces.
While I had already expected a survivor, what was surprising was that there wasn’t just one, but two.
Strangely enough, one of the survivors, was a vaguely familiar looking girl. Her stature was small and tiny. Her normally twin tail styled hair was currently a mess, while traces of dried up tears stained her cheeks. Her eyes were desolate and blank as they stared at a growing puddle of blood on the floor.
She seemed lost in thought. Even when we had entered the room, she took no notice of our sudden presence.
“A-Ami!”
When Minakawa saw this familiar girl, her eyes unconsciously widened as she immediately rushed towards the corner of the room. She practically dove towards her, as Minakawa wrapped the small girl who looked like a middle schooler into her arms.
For the first time since we entered the room, the girl’s vacant eyes regained their light, as she turned to stare at her friend. Seeing Minakawa’s face break out into tears, the girl’s blank gaze slowly shifted.
Her mouth quivered slightly, before in a cracked and strained voice, she murmured. “K-Kido, he… Kido…”
In response to this, Minakawa’s hug tightened, as the tears continued to pour down from her face. “I know, I know…” She continually repeated, her voice equally as strained and cracked as her friend’s.
“Kido killed everyone… He killed everyone… everyone…”
“....”
I could see Minakawa’s expression tremble upon hearing this. She had known before hand the type of things Kido had done in an attempt to save himself. She had long known, yet somewhere in her mind, she refused to believe. After the confirmation from her friend, under all this false pretense, the last vestiges of Minakawa’s facade finally crumbled. Her shoulders drooped as more and more tears, this time bitter, and resentful, flowed freely from her eyes.
For a quiet moment, the two reunited friends cried in each other's arms, unbeknownst of the world around them.
***
Besides the crying pair, there was also another person who was quietly sniveling in the corner of the room.
Seeing this person, I could not help but feel a slight tinge of sympathy.
With a thin appearance, slightly unkempt braided hair, and a pair of round spectacles with one of its lenses cracked, this familiar person before my eyes completely matched the person in my memories. This person was without a doubt the monster crazed girl that I had come to known throughout these past 2 weeks- Narise.
My eyes slightly narrowed as I continued to stare. She was seated in the corner of the room, her knees brought up close to her chest, while her cardigan came undone and covered the front of her body like a blanket. Upon closer inspection, the area between her chest and her drawn in knees was wriggling, moving sporadically like a jittery baby. From time to time, a flash of white would poke out from beneath that grey cardigan.
Seeing this scene, I could not help but sigh in awe. Despite the bloodshed that had happened, she had managed to save one of the Gilas.
My quiet sigh attracted Narise’s attention. She looked up with tear streaked eyes. Upon seeing me, her lips slightly trembled, while her shoulders shook. The gila in her arms squawked slightly, before it nestled itself into her bosom.
“B-Boss! S-something terrible happened!” The first thing that escaped her mouth was a shrill cry.
Hearing this, the sympathy in my heart grew. I sighed out, and just as I was about to respond, Narise continued, “Boss, Boss, t-the babies… the babies… th-they… ugh… I couldn’t save them.”
“Huh?” an awkward noise escaped my throat.
“All the Gilas! All of them! Even the precious eggs! They were all destroyed! Ugh… ug! WAH! B-b-b-boss! I couldn’t save them, I couldn’t save them!”
“I, uh, I get it, so calm down for a second.”
“Calm down!? How can you be so heartless! All those children… each one had a future ahead of them, but, but, but that’s all gone now! Their dead! Some piece of shit motherfucking bastard killed them all! How heartless! If I get my hands on that little bitch ass piece of-”
“Okay! I get it!” An unexpected wave of cursing and profanity escaped from Narise’s small downturned lips. Her language caught me off guard, but regardless of my shock, she continued to swear, venting out all the anger and resentment that bottled up in her heart.
After a solid two minutes of cursing, she finally calmed down, and said with a sigh. “In the end, when I heard someone coming, I only had enough time to grab Weiss before I hid and barricaded myself in a room. Ugh… do you know how painful that was Boss? How painful it was to choose just one out of all those children! Even though I managed to save Weiss, I practically abandoned the others to die…
… Because of me, they all died. The guilt and sorrow that I currently feel can’t be expressed in mere words.”
As she continued to ramble, I could not help but float a crooked smile to my face. This girl… Narise was talking ardently about the Gilas that had died. Each of her words was filled with undeniable emotion. It was real, concrete sorrow and pain, comparable to the emotions a mother might feel after losing her child.
But while she expressed so much emotion towards the Gilas, towards the human corpses that littered the floor, she was unmoved. In fact, it felt as if she did not even take note of their existence. To her, these bags of flesh could not even compare to one plate on her Gila’s back.
“Narise. I need you to calm down for a minute.” I spoke with a sigh as I forced these thoughts to the back of my mind. “Explain from the beginning.”
Prompted by my cue, Narise began to explain the events that had taken place with unnerving accuracy.
She had heard a noise coming from amidst the space towards the Bomb shelter. Prompted by a growing sense of unease, she quickly bolted into action and grabbed the nearest Gila she could find before she ran to the farthest room and barricaded herself shut.
In her own words, she thought that the noise was a monster that had escaped from the battlefield. She hoped that closing the door to the Gila’s room was enough to deter it away from them.
In the end though, to her horror, whatever came out from the Bomb shelter made a beeline for the Gila room. She could do nothing but shiver in silent despair as the sound of Gila death cries filled the air around her.
Afterwards, Narise said that what had killed them hurriedly left in disappointment, before she heard it stomp its way to the first floor.
15 minutes passed before she heard something make its way back down the basement and quietly disappear back into the bombshelter. She waited another hour before she left the barricade, and moved to the first floor. It was only then did she find out that what had killed her Gilas wasn’t a monster, but rather a person.
“That, that, that, uuuu, that damn bastard! Fuck, fuck, fuck, piece of shit, motherfu-”
Amidst her heated cursing, the cries from the duo besides her intensified. It seems that upon hearing what Kido had done, the emotions and sorrow they felt was fanned, expressing themselves in a torrential downpour of tears and snot
The sound of nonstop crying, and constant cursing filled the room. A chaotic jumble of noise that ached and annoyed at my ears. In the midst of it all, the Gila had started to cry. The sound of premature squawking, much like that of a bird, crescendoed with the crying and the cursing.
The noise reverberated throughout the room, causing my head to spin in rising anger. My fists clenched while my teeth gritted. In my dreary vision, my eyes, the faces of those around me morphed hideously. The noise seemingly blending and rippling through their expressions, like some sort of twisted ocean.
My breathing quickened, and just as I was sure my head was about to explode,
“Enough!” I shouted, my clench fist slamming onto a nearby table.
Almost instantly, all the noise died down. From the girls’ nonstop crying, Narise’s mournful monologue, even the Gila in her arms, they all quieted down to a non existent whisper. The room entered a morbid silence. A quiet so profound, that not even the sound of a pin dropping could penetrate.
“Kido’s dead, the people from the cafeteria, the Gilas, they're all dead.” Through the silence, I spoke heavily, my voice growing impassive and cold. “The only ones who survived, whether it be through sheer effort or unimaginable luck, are the people in this room. What we need to do is not whine and complain, but rather, focus on finally leaving this god forsaken school.
I… I just want to leave. I want to go outside.”
Tired, beaten, the only thing I could do was express the honest desire that I had bottled up in my heart throughout these two months.
The singular, and sole desire to leave. To escape from this hell, and see the new world Whether that new world was something better, or something worse, I did not know, and frankly, I did not care.
I just wanted to leave. To taste the outside air and breathe in fresh oxygen.
Amidst the silence, the sudden sound of muffled footsteps snapped me out of my moment reverie. I slightly tilted my head, only to see Cielle make her way across the corpse littered floor and to the windows.
With an entirely calm and peaceful expression, she slightly tilted her head in my direction. She smiled knowingly, while an unspoken message that only the two of us understood passed between the both of us. Without even the slightest trace of hesitation, her two, pale white hands grabbed onto the blood rusted windows sills, before with a slight yank upwards, she opened the window that overlooked the residential area below us.
Woosh!
Almost instantly, a gust of hot, summer air blew through the room.
The familiar scent of summer. Although it was muddled by the stench of ashes and blood, it was without a doubt the scent of summer. But more importantly, it was a gust of fresh air.
A collective gasp echoed throughout the room as all our eyes silently focused in on that cracked open window sill. For the past few months, something as mundane and simple as opening a window had been impossible. Trapped within the laws of this dungeon, a breath of fresh air was absolutely impossible to find.
As the hot air entered and circulated around the room, the weight and pressure in my heart gradually lessened. This slightly opened window sill, the breeze that had entered the room, the hopeful gazes everyone stared with, these all represented one thing, and one thing only:
This dungeon, it was no more!
Author's Note:
Get ready for the next phase in the story! 2nd Arc start!