By the time they reach a safe zone - which turns out to be the last one before the boss fight - Lexi is as numb emotionally as she is physically.
While they’ve been able to rest now and then over the course of eight days spent wandering this vast dungeon, she’s also had to kill far more human looking little enemies than she likes.
Maybe that’s the point now? War of attrition?
If the puppet master had intended to stop them early on by sending children, it must have realized by now that Lexi doesn’t hesitate to defend herself.
A group or two a day of kids who speak in different tongues...
For all his gray morals and clandestine missions, Eric's been looking grimmer and grimmer with each slice of Akara through childish flesh. Ray stopped watching days ago, strong jaw always clenched as the giant knight stared into the distance each time. Vena is the only one among them who doesn’t react outwardly, and Lexi wonders if it’s because elves see age differently.
She’s fifty one but looks ten, and after everything that’s happened to her she probably doesn’t think adults hurting kids is irregular.
I guess the same goes for older players? If they’ve already lived to a hundred or more, they probably perceive the flow of time and markers of age in a way I wouldn’t really understand right now.
Her mind is detached from her emotions, the way it’d been after she’d spent two weeks crying, screaming, smoking, and drinking herself to oblivion when her father passed away.
I know I’ll feel again, eventually. But right now, I’m just tired. Guess I’ll just eat and go to sleep.
Food has tasted increasingly like cardboard these days, and tonight is no different.
There’s nothing I can do about those kids anyway. They’re constructs of a dungeon that happen to look like my species. And they’re here to kill us.
When she’s done eating, she lies back on the unforgiving ground and uses her backpack as a pillow.
The night is yours alone.
----------------------------------------
Ray shakes her awake gently, and Lexi sits up without a word. She can feel herself losing the mental battle against the dungeon boss, sense herself slipping deeper into her mind, to a place where she no longer needs to speak, hear, see, taste, or feel.
Just hold on a bit more, until we get out of here.
The chewiness of the jerky is the only thing that tells her she has food in her mouth.
Silently, Lexi uses Foresight as soon as she’s swallowed the last morsel, before quietly telling Eric what she’d seen. When he suggests a plan, she immediately uses the skill again, repeating the process thrice more while drinking an MP recovery potion.
They leave the safe zone with less than a minute on the countdown, and head towards the cave at the base of a dark mountain.
This time Lexi has to move to the front, since child soldiers are plentiful.
We haven’t seen any adults other than the bodies at the dungeon entrance. Are the rest of them being locked up for breeding? I guess it makes more sense than pitting them against players and adventurers who’ll probably cut them down in a heartbeat, but hesitate when facing kids.
It’s her earrings and recovery potions that keep her standing by the time they reach the bottom of the spiraling tunnel and come face to face with large double doors made entirely of human bones and trinkets.
Thanks for gathering the mementos, I guess.
Lockets and wedding rings peek out from sockets but Lexi is unfazed by the macabre barrier, already calling on Foresight before reporting what she’d seen to the others quietly.
When Eric pulls the door open, Vena looses three arrows as planned. The element-imbued projectiles fly true and ignite the demon’s booby traps: toddlers coated in tar, meant to unsettle the party while turning into wailing, moving incendiary weapons.
“How cruel these monsters are, my children!” The dungeon boss’ voice is shrill and gleeful, and Lexi grits her teeth as she calls on Flow and Bend. Around the raid party, screams from children and their parents - dangling on butcher hooks - echo, but she forces herself to focus, forces the flames to grow exponentially larger in seconds.
“And you call us demons!” Grotesque breasts shake as the demon dances on cloven hooves, laughing maniacally with scaly arms outstretched. “You, a human, who kills the children of your kind without remorse!” Cackling, it tears a strip of burnt flesh off a nearby corpse and munches loudly. “Ah, what could taste better than despair and...!”
About time, Eric.
His aura wrapped blade weaves through the air in a deadly dance as the commander battles the dungeon boss, while Lexi and the others focus on taking down monsters and mindless fiery bodies rushing towards them. As Akara flies through the air, Lexi can almost swear she’s hearing childish singing as she lashes out with kicks while dodging flaming arms and claws.
> PING!
Ah, there we go. I’ll check when we’re out, sweetie.
Intuition is nothing but a pain among the flames and bodies, red lights a distraction in the chaos while red lines obstruct Lexi’s vision now and then, and more than once she missteps in confusion but fortunately Vena and Ray cover for her.
I just know Eric’s going to yell at me later.
It doesn’t take the redhead long before the level 71 dungeon boss is in pieces, and the exit appears. Hurriedly collecting as many belongings of fallen adventurers as possible, the party makes it through the portal just as it begins to close.
Dungeon #6,271,374 cleared Player #2,342,592’s exit recorded at at 1108 hours on the 23rd day of the 6th month of the year 601L [https://i.imgur.com/RmWige2.png]
No new record I guess.
Congratulations on setting a new record 🎉 Achievement: Most cold-hearted player to complete two-star dungeon Reward: Charisma + 10, Luck + 10 [https://i.imgur.com/7xbIclM.png]
Is the system taking the piss?!
It’s not a pleasant feeling, being rewarded for something like this, though Lexi knows she needs all the boosts to her stats that she can get. Gritting her teeth, she closes the system window to check Akara’s message.
AKARA LIKES TO KILL AFFINITY: 4 + 1 = 5 System: Akara enjoyed killing monsters in all their forms. Your affinity with Akara has grown - Akara can now emit black flames on your command. Strength of flames dependent on M-ATK. Make Akara happier to unlock more abilities. [https://i.imgur.com/Ye5cvL3.png]
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Nice! Good girl, Akara! I’ll let you kill more monsters from now on, so you just keep getting stronger, alright?
When Lexi tells the others about Akara’s new ability, Eric’s eyes narrow thoughtfully and she knows he’s thinking up a crazy new training menu.
Well, that can wait till we get back.
They have a week’s journey to the capital ahead of them, and though Lexi isn’t looking forward to the sadistic bastard’s plans for her training, she’s excited for Ray’s birthday party.
There’s also Summoner Selena’s odd behavior at Eric’s party. I’ll have to check if she’s accepted the invitation to Ray’s birthday ball, maybe catch up with her before then and try to find out what she’s up to. I don’t want her making Ray miserable.
As dusk begins its approach, they start making camp before Eric suddenly freezes when Vena taps his forearm urgently as she points to the horizon.
“NO.”
“What’s wrong?” If someone usually so composed looks close to hyperventilating, that means it’s time for Lexi to panic. “Eric? What’s going on?”
“Gods.” Even Ray’s eyes are wide, while his tanned face pales as much as it can.
“What the hell’s going on?! Someone tell me!”
Pupils are little more than pinpricks in brown eyes when Eric finally turns to her.
“Blue Moon.”
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
----------------------------------------
“We’re too far from shelter and those trees don’t provide enough shade so we’ll have to stick it out.” Eric’s speaking as fast as possible, since they have scant minutes to prepare after sending the horses away for safety. “Lexi, you remember what I taught you about Blue Moon? Everyone except players lose their minds when it activates, so you’ll have to keep us safe until sunrise.”
Despite wanting to scream about how she’s far less experienced than the two knights and that she’s the weakest fighter in the party, Lexi grits her teeth and nods.
It’s time for me to pay them back.
As the Moon of Hope rises, an eerie neon blue instead of its usual sparkling white, Lexi waits for the system announcement.
Blue Moon activated. All individuals touched by moonlight affected. Players retain cognitive abilities, including awareness, decision-making skills, and memory. Survive until sunrise for rewards. [https://i.imgur.com/opf6qYL.png]
SCREW YOU!
A shriek has her jumping, almost unsheathing Akara before she realizes the horrors that await her on this long night.
It’s Eric, but it’s not. He’s wailing now, loud sobs filling the air as he whines and whimpers about being hungry and wanting to take a bath.
“How could this happen to me?!” A gloved hand delicately pats away tears with a silk handkerchief. “What did I do to deserve this? All I wanted is to love and be loved!”
FUCK.
“Let’s go!!! It’s time to save the world with the power of friendship!” Ray is beating his chests and shadow boxing while yelling loudly at no one in particular, and Lexi can almost swear she sees stars in his eyes as he looks proudly around.
FUCK. ME.
Vena, please be normal, please be...
FUCK. MY. LIFE.
Instead of the sweet half-elf Lexi’s grown accustomed to, the fifty-one year old has a sullen look on her face as she broods a distance away, pulling her hood down before leaning against a tree with arms crossed.
I swear to God I’m going to KILL that bitch at the corrupt tower.
Of the four types of characters Lexi’s always loathed in works of fiction, she’s been saddled with three of them: a pathetic shoujou damsel-in-permanent-distress, an annoying shounen attention-seeking wannabe-hero, and a sulky looking-cool-is-the-priority edge lord.
This is hell. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it to sunrise without trying to kill them.
The roars of approaching monsters make her wish once more she’d never ended up in this crazy world.
Opening her mouth to issue commands to the chaotic trio of characters, she’s stunned when she realizes her voice doesn’t work.
What’s going on?!
Congratulations on unlocking the Blue Moon bonus! 🥳 Player #2,342,592’s ability to speak and act by choice removed in exchange for tripling of rewards on completion of Blue Moon stage. Player must use only system window and select from dialogue and action options until sunrise. [https://i.imgur.com/BOSzhSo.png]
SCREW YOU!!!
Eric is currently wailing louder after tripping over nothing and face-planting, while Ray is jumping up and down trying to yell the moon into praising his dream of becoming the greatest hero in the universe. Vena hasn’t moved from her position, sulking quietly against the oak tree. Meanwhile, the sounds of hooves and roars are getting closer, red lights appearing from just beyond the small hill nearby, and Lexi hurriedly calls up the system window.
Choose your next move. Tell your companions to run away. Tell your companions to fight. Run away on your own. Fight on your own. [https://i.imgur.com/LA6Z2CB.png]
What the hell kinds of choices are these?!
Peering through the screen, she squints at the identifying labels hovering above the approaching beasts.
Level 13 spotted buffaloes? I can’t take them on my own. System: tell companions to fight.
With that, her voice suddenly emerges from her throat, and Lexi’s greeted with the most annoyingly stereotypical reactions.
For the love of GOD, can Eric and Ray shut up?! I’m going deaf!
The red head is screeching about how it's wrong to fight when "we should all just love, for it's the greatest power of all", while Ray is swinging his magic sword around carelessly as the giant knight yells about wanting to become the greatest warrior in the world.
Meanwhile, Vena simply turns her head to look into the distance.
System!
Choose your next move. Cajole your companions. Threaten your companions. Slap your companions. Kill your companions. [https://i.imgur.com/f3mX9mw.png]
That escalated quickly.
Cajole.
“Eric, Vena. We don’t have a choice if we want to survive.” Her voice has never sounded this nice when she’s a hair’s breadth from slapping everyone. “Let’s just work together and then find a safe place to rest, alright?”
“No!” Lexi is extremely tempted to break Eric’s jaw. “How...how could I harm living beings with their own hopes and dreams?! How could you ask such a thing of me?!” Tears fall from large brown eyes as he whimpers, one hand delicately held in front of his mouth while the other presses lightly against his forehead. "Why must we fight? Why can't we all just sing songs of love?"
GOD.
“Ooooowoahhhh! I can handle them by myself! This is nothing to me! I’m going to become the strongest warrior in the world!”
OH MY GOD, SHUT UP RAY.
Turning to look at Vena, Lexi wants to scream when she sees how the half-elf has simply leapt up onto a branch and is continuing her attempt to look cool and mysterious.
System!
Choose your next move. Fight on your own. Threaten your companions. Slap your companions. Kill your companions. [https://i.imgur.com/9JFv5bo.png]
Threaten them!
“If we don’t fight together, we’re all going to die! Now get over here and ready your weapons, you useless turds!”
What a polite system.
Eric’s eyes fill with more tears as he staggers back before tripping over nothing once more, then it’s a full fledged sob fest as he awaits a knight in shining armor to swoop in and gallantly woo him.
Meanwhile, Vena’s leapt higher into her chosen tree, posing on a branch like she’s one of those silent stoic characters with a tragic backstory.
I hate my life. System, show me my options.
Choose your next move. Fight on your own. Run away on your own. Slap your companions. Kill your companions. [https://i.imgur.com/ksXORlK.png]
Wait, I’m not alone, am I? There’s Ray...
OH GOD.
He’s decided to charge at the beasts, and while ordinarily Lexi wouldn’t worry at all, right now Ray is nothing like his normal self.
Which means he gets knocked down without ever striking a single spotted buffalo, sword flying out of his grip and landing near Eric who promptly shrieks and faints dramatically.
Ray!
The six-legged creatures with horns dripping poison are thundering towards her now, and Lexi quickly decides to fight on her own. That decision allows her to draw Akara, who thrums in her hand.
Please be normal, Akara. We have to deal with them and save Ray.
Flinging her legendary blade at the buffalo at the head of the pack, Lexi doesn’t have time to cheer as Akara slices through pink and green spotted purple flesh.
Activate Flow: factor storm.
Activate Bend: bring the lightning.
Bend success rate: 53% [https://i.imgur.com/0Dk7BzN.png]
Screw the world.
Crackles accompany the hair raising, before weak lightning strikes shower the spotted monsters as Akara returns to Lexi, cleverly slicing another buffalo’s foreleg on the way.
Let’s go, Akara. I can’t move from this spot thanks to Princess Eric and Edgy Vena, so you’ll have to fly a lot. We need to hurry, Ray’s hurt and needs our help.
The silence from the unmoving figure on the ground is filling her with dread as her heartbeat thunders in her ears, and Lexi knows she doesn’t have much time. Spinning, she hurls the ornate dagger as hard as she can at the beast farthest away, activating the blade’s black flames and calling on Flow and Bend once more as soon as Akara leaves her hand.
Bend success rate: 68% [https://i.imgur.com/cc7xFzb.png]
This time the lightning does its job on weakened monsters, and Akara zips back to Lexi’s gloved hand while burning and slicing on the way.
Thank God. Now I need to get to Ray and treat him. Sys...
“Oooowoaaaaaahhhh!!! They may have defeated me this time, but I won’t lose again!”
Blinking, Lexi gapes at the muscular man who flips himself to his feet easily, bounding over while dusting dirt off his jacket and shouting about the epic battles he would soon win single-handedly "JUST LIKE ALL GREAT HEROES OF LEGEND!!!".
Oh right. Plot armor. Every bloody shounen protagonist has one. Guess I don’t need to worry about Ray until sunrise then.
It’s a small blessing on what’s already proving to be a long and painful night.
Can’t fight the moonlight.
----------------------------------------
CHAPTER 33 END