Everything around me is gray. I walked back to where I came from but no matter how long I walked, I couldn't reach the side where I came from. Strange.... This path is narrow and straight, so just walking back should lead me to where I came from. There are no more voices. No more headaches. The torch I was carrying earlier has been long gone. It feels like I am walking in circles... I hate to admit it, but I am starting to think that I am getting lost. But how could it be possible? Who would be lost in a damn straight path?... I remember a certain legend before, that there are some mythical monsters that just by existing, they are emitting something that when someone gets contact with, that person's sense of direction will get disarrayed. I could only figure that it is something that makes them hallucinate. What happened earlier might be just a hallucination and thanks to that, I couldn't tell which direction should I go to go back…

I stopped for a while and think. If going back isn't possible, then maybe I could just proceed forward and reach the other end. Once I reach the other end, I will finally see the open clearing where the two paths would converge and will lead to the 4th phase. If that would be the case, because I couldn't determine anymore how far I've reached, I could just head forward again and route them from that direction. Well, I’m pretty sure that before the hallucination occurs I was heading forward. I turned my feet and walk again to the direction I just came from earlier. I never imagined that walking in a damn straight narrow path without a light can be this tricky. I still don't know what caused that hallucination, but it really feels real.

Improve Concentration

I used my self buff to sharpen my senses. If it is indeed true that the place where Yoona and others are heading is being ambushed by monsters, then I just need to sense if there are monsters nearby and use that as reference point. Better than just walking pointlessly on this goddamn place. My sharpen senses could pick up a presence from a considerable distance. It is not that omnipotent but I am confident on this kind of field. If I would estimate my range, maybe I could pick up things from my place towards the other end of this narrow path...probably...

I wonder if I will get ambushed here... My thoughts are filled with anxiety. The gray colored world that I am facing right now is filled with mystery. I am starting to hallucinate again, the rocks that is protruding at the walls are starting to look like the heads of the monsters that we had faced earlier.

*tap* *tap* *tap*

The sounds of my footsteps echoes. A single monotonous sound could only be heard; a proof that I am just alone at this place. Several ideas are starting to run on my head. What if it is already too late? What if they’re already dead? What if one of them is mortally injured? Such things are starting to fill my thoughts. The lack of light and being alone on this kind of place induces great anxiety on human psyche. C'mon, I am Kavach Icarus. These kind of things are just nothing! How many times did I have this kind of experience before? I steeled myself and forcefully erased the thoughts I am thinking earlier. Hunting or fighting on a place lack of light takes a lot of effort and courage. It is a very different feeling compared to fighting during daylight or with a light. The first thing that is being affected is the human psyche. Our psyche is very vulnerable whenever we get alone in a dark unfamiliar place. Psyche training involves improving your sense of danger and level headedness. Sense of danger could be honed by your experience on fighting on different place on a different time while level headedness could be honed by taking a strong hold of your character and a strong foundation on your attitude towards different situation. By being alone in the dark, you should shift your attitude into something that would remain you calm and confident. Having a worst attitude and lack of confidence during this kind of situation is the general cause of panic. The confidence you must have here is a belief on yourself that anything may come to you and you can deal with it. I run such thoughts on my head repeatedly so that I won't forget.

"You...Hey..."

As I tread this path, I could hear a familiar feminine voice. Have I heard this somewhere?

"Of course you are!!! Hey..you...finally came.."

I could imagine a large question mark is now appearing above my head. The feminine voice that I am hearing is coming from inside of my head. Shit.. I am hallucinating again!!

"No you aren't!! This is not a hallucination!!"

This damn voice is really familiar. It is similar to the voice of the person talking to me on that one dream.

"Yes that is me!! Kavach.. I mean.. Lord Kavach!! I could feel you nearby! Just a bit more and you can reach this place and let me out of here!"

Okay... It seems this is not hallucination. There is only one thing that would call me that way, and I am clearly remember that whomever voice was that was the same person who is talking to me at that dream. Then it means, you are Eun? Princess Eun?

"Yes!! I can talk directly to your head because I could feel you are now close. To be precise you are inside my range of soul linking. No need for me to go all the effort of soul searching!"

Okay... Let me arrange this on my head. So right now I am in a range of your soul linking? Then it means we are near to each other. Is that even possible? I thought you are being held at the deepest phase of this goddamn place.

"It is hard to explain. Yes! it is true, however the one being held at the deepest phase is my body only. My soul is different, it was forcefully taken out and sealed inside a certain place."

Hey, if that thing happens, would that mean you are technically dead? If the soul had separated from its body, the body will rot and die.

"Yes that is right, that is the main reason I am desperately waiting for you so that you can free me here!"

Okay, it seems my time to harvest my reward is coming. Don't ever forget our deal okay. Make sure to clean every nook of your body once you return to it okay.

"Wwwaaaa!! Pervert!! Degenerate!! Shameless!! I knew it!! You are after my body!!"

Not just your body, but more importantly your money. So hurry up and tell me where the hell are you. This place is dark that I can't see anything but if you could lead me to where you are then that would be easier for me to find you.

"And how will I lead you here?"

Idiot! You could feel my presence right? Then wouldn’t it be logical for you to feel the intensity of it the more I get nearer to you? If that happens you can just affirm it so that I would know that I am heading in a right direction.

"Ohhh... Yeah that is right. But since I am trapped on this kind of place, what I can only do is limited. However, I think if you will continue going this way or the direction you are heading now, you will reach me."

Hmm I see... Then what kind of place you are trapped in?

"It is a very dark and lonely place... To be honest I don't know where I am trapped... But I know that I am sealed into a certain place."

What in the hell!!! How the hell would I find you then!!

"Just do something!! I only know that I am sealed into a certain place or object or whatever it is that’s why I am trapped on this place!!"

Talk about being spoiled huh... Nobles like you are really spoiled.. Serves you right..

"Anyways, we are near each other. That should be enough for you to figure out where am I right?"

This woman..... Do I look like an esper or something?

I walk faster towards the direction I am facing now without letting my guard down. She is very noisy and keeps complaining inside of my head that I am ignoring her for now. As I was walking towards the place that Eun is saying, something tells me to quickly jump back. I quickly hop back twice. I heard a 'swish' sound from where am I earlier. An attack!!!

I strained my eyes and I could faintly see something moving towards me. Judging by the presence, there are two and three at the back charging towards me. Damn it... Fighting in this narrow space is very inconvenient for me!!I I focus on sensing their attacks, dodging left and right. Several swish sounds fill the air as the thing in front of me is desperately trying to cut me with something. Judging from the way it attacks and that range, this must be a knife. Realizing the weapon being brandished in front of me, I quickly realized that this thing in front of me is a Soldier Skeleton. I don't have time to pull out my bow and to fight head on. I placed my hand behind me and pull out a knife hanging at my waist and quickly swing it horizontally in front of me.

*Clank!!*

A metal clash with a metal as wild sparks flew instantly between it. The skeleton soldier uses its other knife and swing towards me. I raised my knife above and deflect the blow sideways and with all my might, I sweep its feet causing its body to shift. Fortunately, this place could only accommodate one person to freely move, the skeleton behind it couldn't rush head on. The body of the soldier skeleton lost its balance and tumbles sideways forcing the skeleton behind it to tumble forward. Changing my hold to backgrip, I quickly swing my knife towards them. The sharpness of the knife is not enough to slice through the bones but the forced behind it is enough to deal a fatal damage, snapping the bones around the impact. Unfortunately, the two skeletons are still alive. That small amount of time is enough for me to quickly sheath away my knife and pull out my bow. I load a silver arrow and hop backwards, increasing the distance between me and them. Aiming my bow straight at their heads, I channel my mana on my arms towards my fingers and finally towards the arrow. The skeletons are almost ready to attack when I released my mana induced attack.

"Charged Arrow!!"

The arrow quickly flew straight towards their foreheads. The mana imbued arrow gives off a strong force enough to pierce through and knock them away upon impact. The two skeletons, receiving the full blown impact was knocked away towards the other three behind them, tumbling them all together. The three monsters behind them don't look like skeletons as I only hear a few crashing sound. The three monsters stand back, from the way they move and how stiff it is, I could only assume that they are Munak or Bonguns. Well either way...

I quickly load the silver arrows in succession and quickly shot all of them right at their foreheads. The munaks and bonguns limped and fell on the ground. As I about to relax, several skeletons rushed towards me. What in the hell? I quickly took out several arrows and charge again on my arms.

"Arrow Shower!!"

Several arrows flew out from my bow and went straight towards all the monsters going towards me, knocking their bodies all around the place. As their bodies slapped at the walls, one by one, it disintegrated and crashed on the ground. My senses are getting dull. It seems my buff is already wearing off.

"Improve Concentration"

The sharpness of my senses increase tenfold. Sensing the other enemies nearby and a very strong presence among them, I quickly moved away from my spot and run forward. I could faintly see a light on the other end of this path. As I go nearer, several Munaks and Bonguns come towards me which I quickly shot down one by one. Several arrows fly towards me and with my quick footing, evaded all of them and shot back towards the skeleton archers. Just a few more steps!!... 10 steps, 15... 20 steps, as I run through this path, I finally manage to go out of that place. I found myself on an open clearing, brighter than from where I just came out.

"Hey... what the hell is this?"

I look around the place and couldn't help but mutter to myself. Several undeads are laid out all around the place. Fortunately, all the undeads are not looking towards my direction but instead looking towards the other path parallel to where I came out. Most of them are charging towards that path, and if they are charging towards that path, then it means they are charging towards Yoona and others! This is bad... Something strange is sticking out among those crowd. A being with a very powerful presence. I instinctively lock my eyes on that aberrant on the middle of those undead. Fortunately, that monster is not looking towards me, but instead looking towards the other path where Yoona is.

I sneakily moved towards a convenient place where I could overlook everything. Along the way, I deal with several Munaks using my knife, I am not that good at using this weapon compare to Ibram but against this level of monsters, I can deal with them. Cold sweats run on my back and something within me stirs up. My head is screaming alarm signals and my whole body is shaking. As I settle myself on the most convenient position I could take, the aberrant that is approximately around 25 meters away from me is still looking at the path where Yoona and others is, seemingly not knowing that I am here. The sinister figure has a small and short stature with a body similar to a young female is probably a few inches shorter than me. She has a slender figure, a skinny type with a young cute face. Anyone would be attracted to her at first glance if not only for her arms and thighs that are both fully covered with a golden animal fur and both her hands and feet resemble like a fox paw. Her decent chests are covered with a piece of cloth paired with her bottom that are both resembles a two-piece bikini made of golden animal fur, obscuring too much vision. On her head is a hood in a model of a fox head covered with golden fur that is covering her whole head, several strands of hair could be seen peeking out of that hood, it has an impression that she is wearing a fox head headgear. She holds a long pole placed on top of her shoulder. Attached on the end of that long pole is a large golden bell that is half as big as her. Her overall appearance looks like a young girl that is wearing a fox costume with a bell on tow. What a weird appearance.... But I could clearly tell that the power that she holds is tremendous.

*clang* *clang* *clang*

She shakes her bell behind her and a high pitched melody fills the place. After a while, several undeads and skeletons came out of nowhere from a ripple that instantly sprout out in the air. The undeads and skeletons surround her, seemingly awaiting her orders.

*clang*

Shaking again her bell, all the undeads and skeletons turn their bodies towards the path where she is looking. On that instant, all of them rushed inside like a raging water filling the hole until nothing left on this place except for her. Only two living things are left here, me and her. The area is spacious but because of her sinister presence, the air was stiff and tension could be felt throughout my bones. My body is getting heavy; heart is thumping fast. The thing inside me is squirming restlessly and several alarm bells are ringing on my head as I watched her. As if finally noticing, she finally turns her crimson red eyes towards me. Fear is the only thing that I recognize on that instant! My body stops moving and I couldn't turn away my eyes on her. She is looking directly on me. Her body is still facing forward. The time between us feels like an eternity, I am the prey and she is the predator staring at its prey. As if something came up on her head, her lips curved into a mischievous smile and her crimson eyes shows an expression of delight, like she sees something tasty. Her small but sharp fangs are peeking out a bit on her small lips as she stares at me. My body is rooted in place, it feels my will has been taken out and what I can only do is watch in horror as she turns her body towards me. She slowly walks towards my direction without breaking her stare. I forced myself to lift my finger but I couldn't, it feels this body of mine is not mine. The squirming of the thing inside of me is getting intense that I might die from nervousness.

*tap* *tap* *tap*

Light steps echo the floor as she walks near me. Her large bell is swaying behind her as she sways her other arm on thin air, seemingly calling something out from it. After a while, 5 large golden fox appear around her from nowhere and walk with her as she comes towards me. Some of these foxes starts to run around me and sniff my body. All this time, my body is still as stiff as log. My heart is thumping very loud, as hard as a drum beating. Will I... Be eaten?... Anxiety and despair fills my heart as I imagine the demise that will happen. The monster in front of me is not a normal monster, this one is clearly several leagues above me. I tried my very best to move my body, but I just can't and still stuck standing. She stops just in front of me, now that she is near me, her height is not much different on mine. The large golden foxes are running wildly around us, ready to jump on me anytime. Looking closer at her cute but mischievous face, my mind is feeling entranced but somewhere within me is clearly resisting the temptation, thanks to that I could still hold myself. She gave a grin and extend her free paw, touching my cheeks and in a gentle voice she said:

"Ah... How fortunate, to come across with an interesting playmate~... Going all the way here is worth a while isn't it~"

*clang* *clang* *clang*

Her bell sways a bit giving off a melody. The aberrant strokes my cheek gently as she sniff around my neck before looking again at my body. Moving her paw towards my chest, she sticks one of her sharp nails directly on where my heart is.

"To think.. someone like you is existing... ah... very interesting... I never seen someone like you..."

She licks her lips as she say this and I could feel her sharp nails are slowly digging towards my chest. My body is still stuck as it is but something within me swells up and after a while, an energy that looks like an electric shock came out of my chest. The shock strikes her finger mercilessly as if resisting, knocking her fingers away. Her face changed from being mischievous into astonishment from the feat. Even I have no idea on what happened and could only stare too in astonishment.

"Ah~ It seems this one here is a strong one. For me to be resisted... Taking out your soul here at this place would be a bit challenging."

*clang* *clang* *claaanggg* *cllaaannggg* *clang-clang-clang-clang*

The bell had swayed furiously. The monster in front of me ignored the swaying of her bell as if she doesn't care. Her paws that she used earlier is now covered with a thick miasma like aura that emits a sinister feeling. My eyes darted from her paws to my chest. Is this thing is trying to take something out from me?! Sensing an upcoming great danger, I tried to move my body however it seems my body has will on its own and refuse to listen to me.

"Then.. how about I take it by force?"

The monster in front of me emits a powerful aura as she raises her paws to pierce my chest. Everything around me became slow. The movement of the monster in front of me became slow, even her voice feels like an echo. What is happening!? The trail of my mind is like a roller coaster. *badump* *badump*.. The thumping of my heart is getting louder. My mind is getting blank and unpleasant feeling took over me, it feels like a blanket was thrown over me. The stiffening feeling is getting worse and something is trying to take over my body, trying to control me from behind. As her paw shoots forward towards my chest, my body instinctively slides behind, dodging the attack. What the hell? I was astonished, even the monster was astonished. Earlier I couldn't move my body, now my body moved by itself! Panic is taking over my head at this abnormality. The monster grins mischievously and pull back her paw. I tried to control my body but it is futile. Frustration and tension builds on my heart as my body rejects me.

"Ehhh.... Do you hate me, human?.. For you to reject a girl like me, you are being rude you know..."

On that instant, the monster's body shoots forward and hurls the huge bell behind her towards me. I panic at the sight of an incoming huge bell however my body is faster and slides again backward, avoiding it completely. The monster didn't stop and hurls again her bell towards my flank, my body moves again faster and slides again further, creating a gap between me and her. The several golden foxes attack me simultaneously, jumping towards me at all directions baring there fangs and claws. My hand quickly pulls out the knife sheathed on my waist, grabbing it in backhand position. Using my other feet as the pivot, my body turn around in a full circle, slashing the foxes and knocking them away. Some of them was thrown to the wall and limply fell to the ground while some managed to land perfectly at the ground. The monster use that chance, using both of her hands, she grabs her pole on the other end and strikes me overhead. Oh shit!!! I am completely convinced that I will be hit by that follow-up attack however my body reacts faster and raised my knife overhead, parrying the bell. The impact of the attack is too strong and the full impact of the bell slams on my arms, intense pains runs through my body like a shockwave. As I tried to recover from the impact, the monster quickly shifts the hold of her pole and use her other feet as a pivot and turn around in a full circle, slamming the huge bell on my flank. The attack is very fast that my body was late to follow-up. Receiving the full impact, my body flew away creating a big gap between us. My body fell on the cold hard ground. The monster quickly follows up and jump towards me grabbing the pole in an overhead position in an attempt to crush me like a bug. Fortunately, my body quickly rolls sideways, missing the bell a few inches from my head. Taking this chance, I grab a handful of dirt on my hand and throw it directly at her face. The monster takes a step backward as I quickly stand up and leaps away from her. The monster bends her legs in an attempt to pursue but my hand is faster and quickly throw out the knife straight to her face. The monster avoided it in hair's breadth, my body use that opening and quickly took out my bow and load it with arrow. The movement is very smooth, which surprises even myself. My body release the bowstring and several silver arrows flew towards the monster. Moving her huge bell in front of her, the arrows bounce off as it hits its body, creating a dull bell sound.

"L..o.rd.. K..a.vach..."

I heard a voice out of nowhere. I looked around and sense if there is anyone here other than us. The voice is the same voice of Eun which is talking to me earlier. Eun? What the hell? Where are you? I thought you are here! Why is it the one here is this monster instead of you? The monster quickly moves again forward with her bell in front of her, attempting to slam it forward towards my body. My body quickly moves on its own dodging each attack the monster is giving.

"Lord.. Kavach... I could feel that your presence now is much stronger than earlier, you must be near to me already."

Near you? I tried looking around while my body is dodging the attack automatically but I haven't notice anything strange at this place nor an object that could be used as a vessel for a soul.  

"No that's not true... I don't know what kind of place you guys are standing now, but there should be one mystical object there that could serve as the vessel. You just need to look for it."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Are you pertaining to the several rocks protruding around this place? They don't look mystical to me. If they are, it looks like a scam.

"What!? Of course not! That is impossible! There should at least be one there, it is a mystical object regardless of what its form. You will know it because those kind of objects always emit a magical energy. I am sure of it! I could feel your presence perfectly! And, aside from you, I could also feel an another powerful presence!"

A mystical object regardless of its form. As I surveyed around the area, I couldn't find anything that fits the ball. I don't want to admit it but an idea strikes on me. But I find it unbelievable.

Hey, you said regardless of its form right? By any chance, is your place right now is shaking?

"Huh? What are you saying? No its not shaking, but I feel restless. The place around me is not shaking but it’s more like I feel restless!"

I don't want to believe this but I think I know now where you are sealed. Unfortunately, I am in pinch now.

"In pinch? What do you mean? If you know where am I, release me now!"

Just to let you know, there is one ridiculously strong monster here that is attacking me now. That monster is wielding a huge ass bell. I could tell that bell is not just an ordinary bell.

"Wait.. a monster wielding a bell? Can you tell me more?'

Yes.. Its a monster that looks like a half human half beast. She looks like a young human girl except that both of her hands and feet are like animal paws instead of a human and is covered with golden fur. She is wearing a golden hood made of animal fur and looks like a fox's head. And most of all, she is wielding a goddamn pole with a huge bell attached on the other end! This monster is ridiculously strong! Fortunately, something weird is going on at my body and it is moving by itself.

"it can't be.... If that is that monster... Then it is possible.."

Hey do you have an idea who is this thing? I could clearly tell that this one is a big shot here.

"That monster is the legendary monster of the cave, Moonlight Flower! The bell that she is wielding is a magical item... It is a legendary monster that dwells on this cave... I...see... But why?..."

Hey I don't understand what are you talking about and putting aside those cliched "why" questions, it seems you are sealed inside that bell that this monster is wielding. So how can I release you from there?

"....That is.... You need to take away the bell from her and have a priest use an advance exorcism ritual on that bell to forcefully take out my soul inside and lead it to my body or destroy that bell near my body so that I would be free. The easiest is destroying it, but since we are dealing with a mystical item here, destroying it is not an easy feat. There are items there that are indestructible."

Oh right it is damn easy! Too easy that destroying a possibly indestructible item is just nothing but a kid's play! So what now? I just need to steal that god damn bell right? Do you have any trick you can tell me huh?

"...That's... I'm sorry... I guess you just need to win?"

Goddammit! If only I can control my body!

"Does that mean you can't control your body? What are you saying?"

I said it several times earlier!

"So if you can control your body... Does it mean you can win?"

"No... I can run away!"

I could hear a coughing sound on one end of the line. It seems she is not expecting it. Fatigue is starting to catch up on my body as my body keep dodging. The monster, who is called Moonlight Flower, had stopped attacking. My body stopped a distance away from her.

"What an interesting creature.... The body and soul are not sync together it seems... Ah... I want to take you with me and play with you... However, it seems I need to be a little bit serious if I want to take you home isn't it..."

I am not into young girls sorry... I wish I could say that but because my body won't listen to me, I could only say it internally. My body is starting to get exhausted, and I could feel the tension in the air is still same as ever. Moonlight Flower started to murmur something. A magic circle is forming below me. A rise in magical energy is causing the air to stir. Moonlight Flower is casting a powerful spell towards me. How to block this?  My mind is in full throttle. I tried to control my body but it is still futile. As I am about to brace myself from the impact of the spell, Moonlight's expression suddenly changed. The incantation had stopped, and her face is starting to get pale. After a short while, she is wearing a grimacing expression and spat this words:

"Tsk... It seems some unwanted guests is here. It would be troublesome if I leave them be... You’re lucky human. If not for this, I would have taken your soul."

She faces towards the entrance of the 4th phase and starts to move inside. She stops midway and looks behind towards me and said:

"Before I forgot.... You should hurry up... Else, this person you are looking for will be gone forever... I will patiently wait for you at my shrine, human... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Moonlight Flower swings her bell as if to imply something, ringing a high pitch sound. She walks further inside until her figure is out of sight. I regain control of my body and fell on my butt. Exhaustion creeps on my body as I catch my breath. The tension on the air is now slowly dispersing. The sickening feeling and overpowering presence is vanishing. I am left alone on this place. I catch my breath and look at my shaking hands. What is this all about?... I couldn't help but wonder on the events that happened. I couldn't control my body and I was talking clearly with Eun at my head. This is crazy... Eun's voice has now been cut off. It seems she really is inside that bell. I lay on the floor with my arms stretched out. What the hell was that all about? Just what is happening to me? I am so tired.... I quickly stand-up and stretch my limbs and arms. I move my body just to test if I can control it completely. Damn it... I wasted too much time!! I hurriedly run towards the path where Yoona is with my bow at hand.

Several undeads block my path as I push my way inside. I shoot them all from the distance as I run forward, using Arrow Shower non-stop. The undeads limply fall on the ground as the arrows stuck them everywhere. I could only assume and hope that on the other side of this pandemonium, Yoona and others are cutting down the numbers too. The undeads rush towards me but not a single of them could touch me, before their hands could reach me, an arrow is already stuck inside their foreheads. I skilfully dodged every single attack and making sure to just take them one at a time. It seems it is getting lesser. I used a several Arrow Showers again, diminishing the existing numbers to half. As I am shooting non-stop towards this crowd, a path has finally open and I could see several people from the distance thanks to my sight. I shoot down another batch of undead clearing more way. As I strained my eyes forward to figure out who are the people is, I noticed that some of them are lying at the ground while some are being cornered in some corners. Who are these people? Where are Yoona and others? I desperately search for Yoona and Eye Doctor among the crowd, I noticed a white haired priests standing further behind busily tending to the other people. That must be Eye Doctor. I rolled my eyes around and saw Yoona, Ibram and Seun are all lying at the ground. They are all trying to stand up but several undeads are blocking their way, making it hard for them. I aimed my bow towards their location and fired another Arrow Shower. The arrows had decimated several undeads blocking their way. That should help them.. I noticed a certain person on other side of the crowd. That person is alone and lying there. A Soldier Skeleton is on top of that person with its weapon raised above its head, ready to strike. Tsk... No you won't... I quickly took out two arrows and aimed towards the Soldier Skeleton. The Soldier Skeleton is about to strike down the person beneath it when I released my skill.

"Double Strafe!!"

I could only watched Rina in horror as the skeleton soldier swings down its knife. Everything around me feels so slow. The sounds of everyone around me feels very distant. What reflects on my eyes is the image of Rina lying on the ground and is about to get hit by that accursed dagger. I swing my sword in front of me, slashing the Munaks in the way. Everytime I gain one step, someone will drag me back. And for each one I cut, an another one pops in front of me. This happens repeatedly until I was almost at my knees. The feeling of frustration consumes me bit by bit. If only I am stronger… I could only watch people die in front of me. Just like now, I could only helplessly watch Rina reach her demise. And the fact that I took this sword and swore an oath before to be a shield of the weak, right now such things feels nothing but foolishness. I gather the remaining strength I have to burst and sprint towards her but my legs are starting to fail me. What about Magnum Break? However, Magnum Break is a skill that expends mana. I already used up all my mana on my previous outbursts. I’m already out of potions and the situation is getting worse even for my own. Eye Doctor is busy tending to others at the backlines, Seun is almost out of commision while Ibram is barely hanging on. Individually speaking, we are stronger against these monsters however they are too many. I gripped my sword tightly and clenched my teeth as I endured the onslaught. Several thoughts are running in my head as I desperately fight my way towards Rina. The dagger is almost halfway before it hits Rina. Will I make it in time? No… I am several meters away from her and even if I dash, the knife would already pierced Rina’s chest. Is this the only thing that I can do? Shameless, pathetic…. What's with those words that I had told Kavach earlier? I guess I am really a fool…Yes...I Yoona, is nothing but a foolish and failure swordswoman!. A similar scene pops in my head as I helplessly watch Rina being killed. My memories from the past had flashed through my eyes successively. A similar incident had taken place. On that place where I am surrounded by the corpses of several people I know of. A thick smell of blood and smoke entering my nostrils. The screams and shouts of people as they are being slaughtered while running away from that monster. The pleas of help and shout of him as those accursed hands is taking him away. The me on that time where I can only do is to watch everything unfold while shamelessly hiding. I...don’t want that anymore… The frustration and guilt of that time, I don’t want to experience it again. That cursing feeling, is something I don’t want to go back anymore. That is why… However… It is already too late… The same feeling, the same scene, the same characters. Everything is just the same, I still cannot do anything. No matter how much I try, with my strength I have right now, I will always remain a slave to these emotions. If I couldn’t save her… then I guess… I couldn’t save that princess too… This is the time that a hero should step out. The perfect and ideal timing where the protagonist of a story will awaken a certain cheat-like power and instantly rush towards the enemy and win in the end. However, reality is cruel. Such hero is nowhere to be found, and what we only have here is nothing but a bootleg one. Convinced that I couldn’t save her on time, my legs feel weak and the pent-up frustration is about to explode as I could only watch her helplessly. Enough… I don’t want this kind of feeling again…I see, I couldn’t blame Kavach for leaving us...Wait..we are the one who left him.... I silently pray for power, I silently begged that a miracle would happen. That something will come and bless me with a miracle that could change this. Something that will make me as a hero that I am longing for. And as the dagger comes in contact with Rina’s chest, two streaks of light suddenly pass through followed by a sound of metal hitting the floor.

*clank*

The dagger that is supposed to hit Rina was knocked away followed by the head of the assailant. The headless skeleton was disintegrated to pieces and fell on top of Rina. Several streaks of light fell down striking through the several undeads around us. ...What happened?. Confused and shock, I look around and most of the undeads around us are barely standing.

“Oi stupid muscle head!! How long would you keep sitting there!? Snap out of it and swing your damn sword!!”

I heard that loud voice of a young man that is awfully familiar. I look towards the source of that voice. A lone boy with a short chestnut hair and red eyes stands in the middle of several scattered undead carcasses. Gripping his ominous looking bow, he stare towards me and shout in an imploring voice. I couldn’t help but stare at that person, who for me shines brightly right now, like a light in the darkness. Kavach?… That boy, Kavach, had aimed his bow towards the other remaining undeads and quickly unleash several shots, pinning them all away. Kavach came? And he can pull out such a feat against this horde?... Something dark is starting to swirl on me. How can Kavach do such a thing? Seriously? You said earlier that you refuse to save these people, and yet you came back here on this kind of timing? What’s more, you have this kind of skill and power with you?.. No...I should be the hero here… I should be the one doing it.. I should be the one saving these people here… Will I just sit here and be saved by him? No… I refuse…. I will do this… I can do this… I...I...I… won’t lose to you!!!! I dash away like a released spring, charging ahead while decimating the undeads in front of me. I keep swinging my sword around without regards to myself, destroying anyone on my way towards Rina. My mind and body are both in berserk, an abnormal adrenalin flows through me as i take each step towards the person that I should have protect. The nearby Munak and a Soldier Skeleton is about to attack the helpless Rina. Kavach shoots them quickly, the soldier skeleton was knocked away and pinned to the wall while the Munak flinched a bit, with all my might, I striked down its head with my sword.

“Bash!!”

The Munak’s head was crushed and instantly fell to the ground. I stand in-front of Rina and protect her from anything that may come. I look below and saw her body in a total mess. She was littered with wounds all over her body and seems both of her legs are broken. She tries to move her body with an anguish face. I looked around us to check how many were still incoming. Confirming that most of the undeads are already lying on the ground, I bend my knee towards her and try to fish out something in my small pouch hanging on my waist. My hand swam around only to find it empty.

“I’m sorry Rina, I don’t have anymore potions nor herbs to treat your wounds.”

“Yoona… It is fine, don’t worry. I could heal myself if I rest a bit to recover my mana.”

Rina moves her body in attempt to sit, I carefully moved my hand behind her and slowly raise the upper part of her body in a sitting position. Her pained expression is slowly fading as she look at the scene playing in-front of us. I bit my lip as I looked at her regrettably. I finally understood now, this is the compensation of my weakness and idiocy. The scattered wounded bodies of several people, the wounded bodies of my peers as they desperately fighting and the critical condition of the person I am helding now; all of them are the collateral of my hubris. I clenched my fist as I swallow the harsh reality. Rina’s breathing is getting stable. She looks toward me with a gentle expression.

“Yoona… What’s wrong?”

“I...I’m sorry… I couldn’t protect you all… It is all my fault it became like this…”

Rina shook her head. She slowly wraps her bruised hands towards my clenched fists, feeling her warmth.

“It is not your fault… Don’t worry about it. I am just inexperienced and everyone else is just outnumbered.”

A dark feeling descends on me as I bow my head to the ground. I couldn’t look her straight on the eye. I firmly close my lips and remain in silence.

I could imagine that Rina is looking at me with a gentle expression. Tears wells up on my eyes as I bit my lip. The frustration I had build up had reached its limit. The dam on my eyes slowly cracks bit by bit as the a stream of tears pour out on my face. Clenching my fist tightly as I let it all out.

“He is amazing isn’t it….Kavach… We thought that he just selfishly went ahead and only do what is convenient for him, and yet he is here and saving our butt. I underestimated him too much, I never knew that he is this strong. But look at me, I am pitifully ragged. I am wounded all over and despite of what I have said earlier, I couldn’t do a single thing now. I am a failure and couldn’t save you all. I guess, I should have listened to him earlier after all. I guess all this time, he is right.”

Streams of tears came all out as I voiced it all out. My anguish is clearly bared open. This feeling, I.. really hate it.. Tears fell to her hands that is clenching mine. Rina, grasp my hands tightly and said:

“Yoona… If you haven’t come here, what do you think will happen to everyone here besides us? If we go with Kavach, do you think this people will still be alive?”

I look at her face and then look around us, as Rina gently looks towards my eyes. She extends her hand and touch my cheek. She wipes away the tears with her fingers as she looks at me with gentle eyes like a caring sister.

“Yoona… We are a team. If you remember, everyone decided to help these people knowing the risk involved. I myself have contributed to this decision. If there is someone to blame it should be me. I’m the weakest in the group”

“No Rina, your a big help to us! If not----”

“No Yoona, I am weak and feeble, I am well aware of that.. I know you guys are just trying to be nice and it frustrates me that I’ve been relying on you guys more especially Ibram and Seun. I should be the one supporting you guys as an acolyte rather than the other way around.”

I watched Rina silently and the dark feeling that I am feeling earlier is getting heavier. I grip my sword tightly as I am being consumed by this unknown feeling. No Rina, if there is weak and feeble, that would be me. If there is one to blame that would be me. This me who is still powerless and yet tried to shoulder our whole group without any shed of talent.

Rina smiles weakly as she looks in front of us again, specifically towards the lone archer who tirelessly shooting around the place. I helplessly look towards that lone figure that is desperately repelling everything around us, jumping and moving all around as he release his bow successively.

“I realized well how weak am I earlier and right now it is too painful to see how powerless I am. It is frustrating and vexing that right now, I am being saved again by him. I am too powerless. However, despite this frustration and vexation I am having now, after watching him and after listening to him before… I wish I could be like him too... ”

Rina moves her hand from my cheek towards my head and pats it.. And with the most sincere and gentlest smile, she said:

“Yoona, you are strong… Just believe in yourself…Without you here, I am sure we have been wiped out already and I would be dead at this moment too.”

Rina’s radiant smile stuns me. The feeling of frustration is slowly getting lighter. This warmth, this gentleness, this is what I yearn for..I could only apologize and thank her on my head. Together, we look back towards that lone archer.

A faint smile appears on my lips as she says this. I see…. If not for me, we will be wiped out.. So finally, even just a bit… Someone had recognized me as a hero huh. I watched the lone archer who fights like a fierce wolf. Things are still messy on my head but one thing is now clear to me. I don’t want to lose to him.

Rina extends her hand and casts a heal on herself. Her wounds are closing and her bruised are slowly getting cleared. Her bloodied limbs had closed up.

“I am now fine Yoona, it hurts a bit but I can still manage. Please assist him.”

I nod my head and help her stand up. A pained expression paints on her face as she tries to move her body. Biting her lip, she endured the pain that is consuming her and proceed forward. I grasped tightly on my sword and look around the whole area, counting mentally the enemies.

“Rina, will you be fine?”

“Yes.. I am, don’t worry about me and just slash away with all your heart!”

Giving her a faint smile, I rubbed my teary eyes and looked ahead. Grasping my sword tightly, I channeled my last of remaining strength and charge forward. My sword finds its mark on the first two Munaks nearby and swung my sword diagonally, knocking them back a bit. Using my foot forward as a pivot, I rotate my body unleashing my strength from abdominal strength. The Munaks was split to half and fell down. Kicking the dirt behind me, I charge forward mowing down several skeletons that block my way towards Kavach. My eyes are fixed to him as I keep moving like a lightning. Kavach keeps shooting while evading the enemies that come to him however, his body is clearly getting worn-out. Get out of my way!!!!...

Several Munaks and Bonguns block my way and charged towards me with their outstretched fist. I crouch my head to evade them. Using that momentum and opening, I quickly slash horizontally passing through. My cut is too shallow… I used the momentum I have and spin back my body back towards them and slash them down from behind diagonally. There body split into two and fell to the ground. I continue to slice and decapitate those undeads blocking my path towards Kavach. My buckler has started to deform from multiple blows however my sword is still as sharp as ever. For each swing I do, several bodies fell down. For each step I have, it made me closer to him. I glanced back and tried to check the other's situation. I saw Ibram and Seun are fighting fiercely around Rina, protecting her from the monsters. Feeling relieved, I gaze forward and fight my way. Just a few more steps and I will reach him. Kavach shot me a side glance without stopping his hands from shooting. A Bongun suddenly emerge behind him. Gripping its fist tightly, the Bongun steps forward raising its deadly fist towards Kavach’s head. Kavach reacted too late and his eyes went wide. NOO!!!!! With my might, I throw my buckler towards the Bongun. With a loud thud, the buckler finds it mark on the Bongun’s face knocking it back a bit. That a “bit” is all I need to catch up! I moved the hilt of my sword towards my abdomen, the blade pointing towards the target. Gathering my energy towards my center, I instantly kicked away from my location. My body dashed forward, stabbing the Bongun on its stomach. The Bongun’s body fell limply on my sword and kicked it away. I looked back to Kavach only to find an arrow passing at the side of my face. Stunned from what happened, my eyes went wide as I looked at him. Kavach only snorts and turn his back from me. I looked back on where the arrow went, only to find a Munak with an arrow on its head fell on the ground.

“You’re damn late, muscle head…”

An annoyed voice of a young man enters my ears. The source of the voice is in front of me, with its back facing me. I turn around and press my back on his, facing the opposite direction he is facing. Now we’re back to back, several monsters surrounds us with caution. Unlike before, there numbers have been cut down tremendously. I could feel his back on me including the movement of his body as he pants. Now back to back, I feel more confident. A strength which I don’t understand where it came from started swelling inside of me. The remaining anxiety I have has been blown away. My mind that is a bit hazy is now cleared. Responding to him for earlier:

“Don’t you have anything good to say aside from complaints?”

“How about you thank me first before that?”

“What happened to your tough talk earlier?”

“Fighting your re-animated corpses later? Sorry but I don’t have that kind of hobby.”

A smile emerge from my lips as I instantly remember what Rina said earlier. The undeads around us had started to move. I grip my sword with both of my hands and intercept the wave of monsters. I opened my mouth and boldly say towards the young man that is behind me:

“Kavach… I won’t lose to you!!!”

“Hmpf..”

Kavach snorted and started to move around and begun shooting the distant enemies, while I started to move around him and protect him from anyone going near to him. No one… shall pass!!!

----------------------------------------

Eye Doctor and Rina were busy tending to the wounded and those who have been knocked out earlier. Fortunately, no one had died from those attacks. It seems Yoona and others wasn’t too late. My body is aching all over and several scratches and light bruises riddled me all over. I catch my breath as I surveyed the area littered with different corpses and broken skeletal fragments. Besides me is Yoona who is panting heavily, her body is covered with wounds. Both of our bodies were worn out. Anymore of this, I’m sure we will be done for. Eye Doctor looks around and leave the remaining wounded to Rina and walks towards us. After casting a heal to us, Eye Doctor smirks towards me.

“Oh my… I thought you already went ahead.. Is this your plot or something so that you will look heroic? Hmmm I will give it a passing mark.”

“S-s-shut up!! Be thankful that I came back!!”

“Ohhh great Kavach~ Thank you for saving us~~”

This piece of shit is damn irritating. Given what happened earlier, it can’t be helped I guess. Ibram and Seun are together with Rina. Several people are starting to recover bit by bit. After all that fighting, it finally comes to an end. There were no more undeads on sight.

“I hope there would be no more after this.”

Eye Doctor said as he looks ahead. Yoona remains silent. Her wounds are already closed up thanks to the healing however she is clearly exhausted and ragged. Given that magnitude of undeads, surviving from that is something worth of praise.

“For now, there won’t be any.”

I respond to Eye Doctor as I also looked ahead.

“For now? What do you mean?”

Eye Doctor raised his brow in suspicion on my words.

“For now is for now. Let’s use this time to retreat. You have that skill that you used to us before right?”

Yoona and Eye Doctor were both astonished. However Yoona just remain silent and avoid having an eye contact with me. Eye Doctor moved near me and asked:

“I find it surprising for you to propose a retreat. And here I am expecting to move forward just like what you want.”

“No.. let’s retreat for now. I will explain later… “

Yoona didn’t say anything and Eye Doctor just nod his head.

“Well… I guess that’s not a bad idea. It’s unfortunate but there are several people over there that needs further medical attention.”

Eye Doctor points his thumb behind him, towards the adventurers being treated by Rina. We walked back towards the group and after a small while, several flash of light has opened up from the ground just like what I have seen before at the forest.