Gisele opened hers eyes and looked around the alcove. How long was she asleep? She couldn’t tell, more than five hours at least, apparently her body was exhausted so much, that it almost doubled the effect of potion. Her wounds weren’t completely gone, but at least she recover most of her combat potential.

She stood up, raiser her arms, twisted her body to the sides as she kept stretching her still half-asleep body. Her joint let out dull cracking sounds. With two light slaps in the cheeks she woke herself up completely. Pain was bearable and her stomach wasn’t completely empty, thus she decide that it’s high time to keep moving. Slowly she put parts of her armor back, took sword and slowly left the safe room.

Keeping her head low she moved from one shadow to another trying to not attract attention. Which she did poorly. Minotaurs were a savages, but not blind nor mindless idiots, and NOT paying attention to easily 1.8 meter dragoness in hybrid armor that every now and then let out sound of metal clinging over metal was simply impossible. Especially as they already were aware the fact, that intruder is trespassing their home.

Warriors of clan began forming even bigger squads that kept patrolling several floors. They have lost brothers, friends and sons and they craved for vengeance. Especially one of them…

Metal hit metal, Axe was parried by the sword as Gisele was struggling in fight against six enemies. They changed their pattern. Instead of jumping right in on her trying to kill her as fast as possible, they were doing everything to prolong the battle as long as possible. She always fought with three at same time, while three others were looking from somewhat safe distance. Every few minutes one of fighting warriors changed their place with resting one, also theirs attacks were lacking intention to kill.

Those were not youngling that wanted to shine in battle and be exalted in hierarchy but veterans. Better armor and weapons as well as level of their skills and cooperation proved that statement to be right. And Gisele was slowly losing to anger again. Why? Because she was not treated seriously. Because they played with her. They wanted to reduce damages to minimum? Oh, she will do everything for damages to be as severe as possible, even if that would mean that she will get hurt too. Like it does even matter… she was used to pain.

The main problem in fighting against them, she could parry only one opponent in same time, dodge only one additional attack in same time, and then the 3rd fighter would simply come closer pretending to perform an attack, she needed to fall back being slowly pushed to the wall.

She yelled in anger and rushed at the enemy right in front of her, ducked by his side and swung her blade furiously. She was attacked with wooden end of an axe in her back making her stumble. She used the power from that attack to forcefully fall on one of her knees and from this position she slashed another time. The blade dug itself in calf of creature that roared in pain. Dragoness, still in momentum of blow, raised from her kneeling position, spun her body and pierced her enemy’s back.

One of resting creature whistled with admiration, another one slowly clapped his hands three times. Are they not concerned that their comrade has fall? Gisele snorted partly enraged and partly amused. Maybe they don’t miss his cuz’ they now they are about to meet?

Redhead another time readied her weapon.

Zari’s POV

Ah, I have just remembered as Gisele said, that she planned us to proceed one floor per day. We were supposed to reach 15th floor in bit more than two weeks and then in about two-three days leave it… day per floor… would she be impressed if she would knew that I have walk through 4 floors in six hours? Well… I was actually pretty lucky, simply finding stairs and platform before I cleared 3rd part of each floor. Damn it, as former gamer leaving floors and caves unexplored makes me feel sick. Damn you Gisele! You just had to get yourself caught!

Eh, whatever, I will come here later, as I would level up some more… for now…

You have slain [Shadow Elemental Level 26]You have obtained 284 exp

I have just burned the mass of shadow. Don’t ask me how, I don’t know it either. It was semi ethereal creature. Shapeless mass of smoke that you couldn’t damage in any way, yet it “materialized” for a moment before attacking, just for a split of a second.

I thought that magical attacks would prove to be more efficient, and I was right, but damn… just burning a ghost? Neat. Tip for you guyz – if you don’t know how to kill something, kill it with fire… unless it’s fire elemental… or something…

Your skill [Fire Magic] has leveled up. [Fire Magic] is now level 10

[Fire Magic] has been mastered up to certain point.Your [Fire Magic] affinity has increased

Your [Nature Manipulation] affinity has increased

You may now enchant your [Fire magic] with other spells more easily

Requirement has been metFire MagicLevel 10 [or more]Chaos MagicLevel 5 [or more]New branch of magic has been discovered: [Fire of Soul]

[Fire of Soul][Fire of Soul] is not a magic branch on its own. It will not level up, instead it will get more and more powerful the most skilled with [Fire Magic] and [Chaos Magic] you would become, as well as your mental attributes would increase.Lore[Fire Magic] is said to be the most limited magic branch of all. It's only purposes is to burn things. To light a candle, to heat the dish, to burn your enemies.

It can't create Ice like [Water Magic], it won't build a bridge like [Earth Magic], it will not help you speed your ship.

And it is said that it can target only material beings.

Everyone, who keeps spreading this utter BULSHIT has never met user of Flame that comes from Soul.

No, this flame won't create a FIRE itself, instead, it focus on Sparkle of Life, that burns in every living being, literally, it is a magic that targets a soul.

It can lit a candle of hope in hearts of most depressed creatures. It can give a motivation to those, who has lost their reason to live.

But it can be also used to put down the fire of love, and replace it with fire of hatred.

It is said, the masters of this Inner Flame art can even burn the very Soul... Or even create one.

Ps.

No, you won't be able to burn even a soul if roach. Not even in next ten millenniaNew manifestation[Haste]

Achievement unlocked[YA MAY FELL ITCHY!]For getting access to any [Mind Control] spells/branches

What the… Lots of stuff. That’s really, lots of stuff… I already have Nature healing, that is nothing less that body buff, chaos magic curses, that is nothing more that body debuffs… and now I get some weird hybrid of both buffs and debuffs targeting mind?...

Nerf it.

Actually, that’s annoying! I feel as I already have too much skill branches to focus on! When was the last time I used Chaos Magic anyway? Tsh. I am slowly creeping toward the role of supporter… and how do you even imagine me influence other people emotion? Sit in backlines and yell “You can do it?!”, “Don’t stop! Just a little more!” or “Everything can be achieved if you try hard enough?!”…

On the other hand… I could sneak somewhere near Ruby and Rich as they would have their private time together… and then keep both of them depressed, ruining Rich’s erection… MWHAHAHAHAHA… I mean… it’s just theory, ok?! It’s not like… I want to make Rich impotent… and keep Ruby frustrated and unsatisfied… I am not that kind of person! Honestly! Do you think I am a liar?

~ You are literally incarnation of lies. You lie even when you don’t have to. From hiding your identity from friends, through giving fall information to keep people struggle, up to pretending you are a nice guy to folks you hate, so you could use them later…

… Maybe… I was considering it? A little? Hey! You make me sounds like a bad guy here!

Where was I agai…

~ You have got someone to save… maybe?

Ah, indeed. Where should I go…

Luck even triggered

Oh, look! A stairs! What a coincidence….

Gisele’s Pov.

Damn, not again! NOT AGAIN!

Another group of creatures came from the other room. And Gisele… was not really in condition to fight. Not at all.

That group of six… I have killed five of them, the sixth just stood up and left. Then I meet him again and again as he brought few more groups to her. That beastkin was strong, yet he barely fought with her, it looked as if he enjoyed watching her battles. All the time his ugly face was twisted in smile of acknowledgment. That smile was driving me into madness. I told myself multiple times, that I will kill him…

But I couldn’t we didn’t have to many opportunities to cross our blades. He was falling back each time it got more serious… And right now I was barely standing.

I was bleeding. It was serious. I was also exhausted. My muscles gave up about an hour ago. I was walking fueled by anger and determination. Once again, the creature smiled, yet this time it has also spoken.

“She should be done. Bring her to the tribe. Don’t damage her. Stun her, tie her, and treat her wounds. Don’t let her die. Not until she repay for what she done.”

And then he just turned around and started walking away. Just as if I no longer satisfied his curiosity… why didn’t he fight with me? Why is he just walking away… does he…

Does he think that I am unworthy opponent? Ha…Haha

I started laughing manically for a moment he turned his head back in my direction. I dropped my body near the flow, supporting it with three limbs touching the floor and 4th holding the blade. And I rushed at him with all I got.

I will fucking kill him… I WILL FUCKING KICK HIM OUT TO HELL, EVEN IF I WILL HAVE TO DRAG HIM THERE WITH ME!

I moved past beats one after another, none could stop me, I was too fast. I throw aside all limitations of my body for this one charge. For this one chance.

I jumped in the air and flew for a small distance. I prepared myself to thrust my blade….

But his fist landed on my belly before that, knocking air off my lungs.

“Once again. Bring her in. No further damaging. Make other women patch her up.”

Those were last words I heard before fainting.

So… I decided adding that half branch spell [Fire of Soul], to make him rely on curses and buffs a little more. Why? Cuz I made an alchemist that barely makes potions. So, from next few missions you may expect, that Zari would “waste” some more time on getting prepared bit better. Reading about his possible enemies, getting right inventory and such, AND making few god damn potion that he will actually use, like antidotes for specific venoms if he would walk among snakes, or body lotion for sunburns if he would intend visiting deserts. I hope it will make the story bit better.

And I know. I know. Short. 2k words. But I am seriously having problems with writing. Idk why. It is simply hard to think what to write… I really want to leave this tower and get back to the story. I think (It can still change) that next chap will be mostly grind, and some new monsters, maybe few that could be eaten.