Chapter 10:

With my back pressed against the rugged stone wall, I slightly stuck my head out and observed the next room. Just like the previous room we just passed, the next room was like a giant pitfall surrounded by spiraling stairs and the walls were covered with ore deposits of sparkling silver gems. However, there was something obviously different.  

Stationed on the center deck was an unmoving body that wore some sort of armor — at least that was what it looked like to me. Instead of hands, two long blades that arched like sickles were sticking out of its arms, its expression hollow and as if devoid of life.

What the hell was that thing? The horrific image sent a chill down my spine. This monster must be a guard, thinking of nothing but killing the intruders in front.

I withdrew my head and explained what I saw to Blue. “I don’t know what it is. It’s my first time seeing a spirit assume that type of form. Heck, I don’t even know if it’s a tainted spirit.”

Blue knitted her brows. “What do you suggest we do? Should we head back?”

“No, not yet. It’s too early to assume anything. It doesn’t seem like it’s moving, so let’s move forward for now.”

Blue suddenly held my hand holding onto a rocky surface. “Wait, let me look first.”

We switched positions. She looked at me and counted to three. Blue poked her head out— and quickly withdrew with a face as if she wanted to gasp.

“What’s wrong?” I asked right away.

“It’s looking at us,” Blue murmured after a huge swallow. “Whatever that thing is is looking at us, Claude!”

Our voices were hushed and concealed, so there was no way that could be it. Could it be a mere coincidence? That it just happened to glance at our direction at the same time Blue attempted to look?

Footsteps, slowly building up into a sprint, erupted on the room ahead. Blue and I glanced at one another, nodded, and decided to get the hell out. There was no way we’d wait for that thing to reach us. We raced our way through the darkened tunnels, not even bothering to look back.

I could feel our distance shortening with each step, knowing full well it was just a matter of time before it fully catches up. The distraction got ahead of me as we arrived into the previous room, but Blue pulled me in closer with her left arm before I slipped and fell into the pit of endless darkness. That was more than close! I took a trembling breath and pushed Blue to go take the spiraling stairs.

“Hurry up, Claude!” Blue shouted. “I’m not leaving here without you!”

“I’ll meet you up there!” I replied while pulling out the stone sword on my back.

I tapped my wooden sword and applied mana, but the monster chasing us deflected the piercing blade with ease. It closed the distance within the next step, arching itself down low to sweep my legs.

“Oh no you don’t!” I jumped and swung forth, pouring as much mana as I could to add weight on the blade and accelerate the slash. But in one swift motion, the monster’s arm rotated vertically and forced me back with its strike towards the center deck.

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The monster cracked its neck while gazing down at me with its lifeless eyes. Then it assumed a fighting stance as soon as I got up to my back. The arching blades attached on its arms pivoted and straightened like a long spear blade.

I tried to get into a stance myself, but my hands were still numbed from that sword clash before. A few seconds, I needed a few more seconds. But deep in my heart I knew this monster wasn’t nice enough to give me what I wanted. It knew of my plan to escape, and even then it told me that thought was hopeless.

The monster then lunged forward and released a series of thrusts! Swaying my body, I tried to dodge just like how Gramps had thought me how to fight, yet the difference in skill was evident. I managed to swivel my hips, avoiding a fatal strike to my heart, but the monster’s blade gouged itself deep on my left arm.

The pain shot up to my brain as quick as the blade entered yet I prevented a scream by chewing on my bottom lip, hard! Before the other blade could dig its way into my stomach, a pair of arms were wrapped around the monster’s waist. Surprised as much I do, the monster halted for a brief second and attempted to look behind.  

“Pull away, Claude!” ordered Blue, and my body reacted in reflex. A tear slipped out of my eyes as I forcefully dislodged myself off the monster’s blade. The second I freed myself, Blue lifted the monster and threw it backwards — down into the abyss.

“Is it over?” I fell to my knees with immediate relief, blood trickling down on my wounded arm. I clutched my left arm to my body and fought to halt its trembling. Treatment… Or something… I needed it right away.

Blue collapsed on her knees, as if she was there to answer my prayer, and looked at me with trembling eyes. “What do I do? How do we stop the bleeding?”

I lifted my hand to her cheek, gently brushing the riddle of moisture at the corner of her eye. But with my hand covered in my own blood, the only thing I did was further soil her lovely image. She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but stopped when she saw me smile and forced fed me a bottle of revitalizing potion.

“Just get me some healing salves in my rucksack, I can fix myself.”

Blue did as I instructed before asking, “Would those be enough?”

“No, but I could survive…” My eyes closed to alleviate the pain as I poured healing liquid on the wound itself. “Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn…” Curses repeated itself out of my mouth. I accepted the ointment afterwards and gently rubbed it in circles. When finished, Blue took out strips of cloth and tied them tight around the wound.

“Let’s go,” I said when the pain subsided for a little bit. “I don’t want to spend anymore time in this place in this condition.”

Blue helped me get up, then slung my right arm around her neck. “Good decision.”

I glanced at the abyss for the last time. Whatever that thing is, the guild should have information and I will not stop until I reveal the truth.