Sitting around one of the campfires was Sally, Elizabeth, Olivia and I. Gray had left earlier to scout out Crater, we were to meet up with him outside of Crater in a few hours. We were currently revising what we aim to do and how to effectively complete our goal, save the Hybrids with minimal to no casualties.
In front of us were two maps. One is the map Elizabeth had brought, incredibly detailed for everything outside of Crater. The other is a hand drawn map done by Elizabeth, it detailed Crater’s slums and residential areas. The only thing missing was the noble section, marked with a question mark.
While we wouldn’t be entering the city itself, we wanted to ensure we at the very least understood the areas we were unfamiliar with. Having gained an understanding of the city, we turned our attention to the strength of the nobles.
“From Gray’s count there were six Level 20s in that cave alone, and we ran into four of them in the slums. So there is a possibility they have upwards of ten level 20s, and at minimal six. We can’t disregard the thought that they don’t have more as backup.” Olivia says while counting with her fingers.
“We’ll also be fighting in a cave, and we can’t forget to mention we’ll likely fight in the tunnel leading to that cave too. Elizabeth and Sally won’t have room to move with their weapons in a tunnel, meaning Alisha will be the one that needs to lead us through it. I can support you with arrows, but don’t count on it, if the tunnels are too narrow I risk hitting you Alisha.” Continuing on, Olivia picks up a stick and draws an A on the ground with a S and E behind it before putting an O behind those.
“Alisha, you’d want to minimise the use of your wind while we’re in those tunnels, kicking up dust will lower our vision, making it harder to support you. While the enemy will also have their vision affected, it’s simply not worth the trade off.” As if to support her comment, Olivia flicks a bit of dirt up. Nodding over her comments so far, I was surprised at her reliability with planning this out.
“What are the chances the nobles just collapse the tunnels? Wouldn’t that be easier for them than trying to fight us head on?” Leaning forward, Elizabeth looks over the maps again. We didn’t have anything for the tunnels, but we had tried to locate where the cave should be from Gray’s estimation on how long it took to reach it.
“Doubt it. The nobles won’t cut off their only path of escape. Even if those doors are an escape from Crater Hell, they shouldn’t be stupid enough to not be prepared in case it’s something else. If they do collapse the tunnels, there won’t be much we can do. Let’s hope it doesn’t go down that path.” Answering Elizabeth, Olivia once again spoke up.
“So it's do or die once we enter Crater…well, no time like the present. Shall we start preparing and head to Crater now?” Saying this as I stood up, I felt like I was Sally, wanting to just do rather than continue speaking. The sun had set an hour earlier, the time to move would be now. The others nod as we do one last sweep of our preparations.
Checking over my Elven Armour once more, I put it on and clear my mind from worries, or at least attempt to do so. We had a big uphill fight to go until we could achieve what we were setting out to do.
Sally and I had decided to leave Alice and Pup behind. While they wouldn’t be able to protect everyone here, we could sense what they were feeling, allowing us to know if we needed to head back or not. Hoping it wouldn’t happen, we still wanted to be prepared just in case.
With everyone prepared, we headed out from the plateau and started making our way towards Crater. A mostly silent run, we avoided fighting monsters as much as possible. We wouldn’t get any experience from the monsters around here and we wanted to remain at our peak conditions as much as possible.
After an hour of running, we made it close to Crater. Seeing no torches on the walls before the slums was surprising. We had thought they would have a higher guard count compared to our first visit. It could also be they were luring us in, something we had considered and the reason Gray had left before us.
Getting closer to the wall, Gray suddenly appeared next to us. Giving us a nod without a word, we knew right away everything ahead of us was clear. Moving towards one of the holes closest to the building with the tunnel, we silently moved through a hole and went deeper into the slums
Suddenly I felt something strange. Stopping for a moment, I looked towards where this feeling was coming from, it was in the direction of the human housing area. Sensing it, it felt like Lunar energy, but more refined…stronger than what I felt at night, it was like it was calling out to me, wanting me to come towards it.
Shaking off the feeling of wanting to investigate it now, I keep walking towards the building, setting a mental note to investigate that feeling once everything is over. Arriving before the building and just as I’m about to enter, a figure walked out from the doorway. A hooded figure with a female build, slightly hunched with both hands behind their back.
Standing my guard, I frown as I couldn’t see this figure's information at all.
[???
Level ??? ???
Health: ???/???]
“Councilwoman…” Hearing Elizabeth speak up, the figure nods at Elizabeth before turning back to me.
“Stay out of this conversation Elizabeth, I wish to speak to these monsters myself.” Upon saying this, the figure steps forward. Not liking the words that were just spoken, I kept my guard up.
“Be at ease monster, I’m no threat to you. The reason I’m here is in good faith to your kind, not to provoke an unwanted fight between us.”
Staying silent, I let this councilwoman continue to speak. “The fact that you’ve headed towards this building means you’re well aware of where the nobles have taken your kind. Good, this saves me the trouble of explaining that their lives are in danger.”
Nodding at her words, the councilwoman continued. “I only have one interest in mind, to protect the innocent people of Crater from being harmed. I do not care for your kind nor would I grieve for them, however for my people to survive I am willing to play both sides. I will provide you with as much as I can, in return I want your word that no harm comes to the people of Crater from you monsters.”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Not sure how to react to her words, I cross my arms and simply state “Our intent is only to save the Hybrids, we do not have intentions on harming innocent humans.”
“Very well, that will do. I do not know what the nobles plan, they were the ones who began the Hybrid project decades ago, for what reason I do not know. At first they said it was to fulfil a purpose to the human race, one they said we would understand in due time. Then they allowed certain Houses to control a small number of Hybrids to serve them, eventually turning into the blatant slavery you have experienced.”
Clearing her throat, she continued. “I have only learnt that the reason for the Hybrid’s existence was to serve as some sort of catalyst for a ritual that will take place past the tunnel here. What this ritual does is dispel an enchantment on a door that was found many decades earlier. The nobles believe it to be a way out of Crater Hell, this you should know already.” Nodding at the accuracy of her statement, she continued.
“Within the nobles, only eight of them are level 20. Among them is a noble who has lived the longest, the original person who implemented the plan, a noble by the name of Dracovich. I have reasons to believe he has an idea, or knows, of what truly lies beyond that door.”
“Why tell us this? Would you now want them to succeed?” Raising a question to the councilwoman, Gray steps forward, looking angrier than usual.
“As I said, I simply want to protect my people. What happens from here does not matter to me, however on the off chance you all survive and come out victorious then I would rather be at peace with you lot.”
Getting annoyed at her attitude towards us yet claiming to want peace, I bite my tongue before simply saying “Then why don’t you stop the nobles?”
“For what reason would I do that? If they find a way out of Crater Hell I would gladly lead my people out of this hell, even if it meant sacrificing you lot.” Resisting the urge to punch through this woman, I let her continue.
“The strange thing about this ritual is they took some of the human prisoners that we had, claiming they were necessary vessels. One of those prisoners is Gerald, if you’re still interested in getting revenge, Number 32.” Looking at me directly, I shrug. I didn’t have strong feelings towards that man anymore, I would kill him as an act of revenge for what he did to Alice, but other than that I did not care for him.
“I believe I have taken enough of your time. If you do come out of this alive, then I do hope that we can co-exist. Seek the council out and we’ll work something out.” Saying these final words, the councilwoman simply turns and walks back towards the human section of Crater. Feeling the corner of my lip twitch in anger, I sigh and let go of the thoughts of simply hitting her.
“That was frustrating to listen to.” Muttering this with a sigh was Olivia. “At least we got some more information from it. Let's be careful, I definitely feel there is something wrong with the door now. We also can’t blindly trust her words, so take them with a pinch of salt.”
Nodding to her remark, we continue into the building and start descending the stairs with Gray leading the way. Once we arrived in the room with the tunnel, Gray once again disappeared and moved ahead. He would scout ahead while we tailed behind and leave marks indicating any level 20s ahead of us, he would lay in ambush in those moments.
Grabbing a few lanterns from the walls, we moved swiftly down the tunnel. At certain times we’d come across guards who had been killed by Gray earlier. Knowing that they had died without us hearing a thing impressed me, Gray really had improved.
After about an hour of light running, I saw a mark on the wall. I was in the shape of a Y with a two next to it. Two level 20s were just ahead. Pausing for a moment, we shifted our positions so I was in the lead with Elizabeth and Sally to my left and right. Olivia moved back a bit further away, planning to try and support us. The tunnel wasn’t wide enough for her to shoot, but she could heal us if we needed it.
Moving ahead again, we saw who was waiting for us. Who else would it be but Barry and Harry.
“Just as expected, the monsters came to save their kind. This is a little unexpected though, to think there are four of you.”
With a frown, Barry spoke first. His next action surprised me however. “Well, in that case, I bid you all a farewell, or perhaps see you soon.”
Without another word, the two turned and ran. Letting my surprise take over me for a moment, I didn’t want to let this chance go and let them escape. If we can lower the numbers now it would be better for us.
Keeping my usage of wind magic low, I bolt forward. I see a shadow move near the noble on the left, and knowing what Gray was planning I aimed at the noble on the right. Moving with speed to move past my target, Harry, I moved in front of him and pivoted as I swung a Lashing Fire Kick at his waist.
With panic in his eyes, he moved to block the kick, and as the leg hit his arm, the secondary effect of my kick happened and a flame lit up on Harry’s arm. To my right, I saw Gray emerge and slash out at Barry, slicing through his ankles as Barry gasped in pain and collapsed on the spot.
“Sorry, I need to vent.” Saying this to Harry, who was panicking and trying to put out the fire on his arm, I gathered lunar energy to my fists and surrounded them with wind magic. Kicking off, I arrived before him as I started punching Harry as fast as I could with the most strength I could muster. I wanted to finish this quickly.
Surprisingly, Harry kept up with me, even with his arm on fire. Not using the sword on his waist, he was blocking the flurry of attacks I sent out. Each block felt like I was hitting a brick wall, sending a shock up my arms. Was this how it was to fight another level 20? Gritting my teeth, I picked up my speed.
Slowly I was getting in more punches, but so was he. Having given up on defence, Harry started aiming punches at me. At first they were just grazing me, but then he became adjusted to my speed and was landing a few hits on me.
Seeing a shadow coming from behind, I lashed out another kick as Harry blocked it. Right at that moment a sword was swung, slicing his back. Taking this chance, I send a flurry of attacks at Harry’s chest as Elizabeth cuts into his neck, managing to cleanly cut it off.
Panting, I turn to Barry just in time to see Sally draining him of his blood. Barry was littered with sword and dagger wounds, Sally had some bruises but otherwise we were fine. Looking down at Harry’s corpse, I was surprised at how quickly he had adapted to the fight. If it wasn’t for the fact I had taken him by surprise due to my speed and thanks to Elizabeth’s back up, this could’ve been a very difficult fight.
Seeing the System provide experience, I was a bit surprised.
[You killed Harry.
You have gained 5,000 experience.
You have gained 5,000 Class experience.]
This was the first time I’ve gained Class experience outside of a quest. Was this normal at level 20? I’ve killed humans before but never gained Class experience.
“Alright, come here and let me heal you guys before we continue on. Good job, with these two dead we’ll have less to worry about.”
Moving towards Olivia, I suddenly remembered something. I forgot to cast Lunar Blessing on myself! Though, perhaps this may have been for the best, conserving mana might be the best way forward…even if it was an accident.
After a session of healing, we nod to each other as Gray once again merges with the shadows. Moving in the formation we spoke about earlier, this time I led the group behind Gray as we continued down the tunnel., towards the cave that awaited our arrival.