I swung my sword, cleaving 3 monsters in half.

1800 exp gained

1200 exp gained

1200 exp gained

After seeing the message, I looked at Zell who was busy fighting a monster.

Zell wanted to get stronger, so that he won’t drag us down. It’s not like he’ll stay with us forever, so I guess it’s better for him to get stronger; so that he could protect himself in the future. He doesn’t have to force himself though, since Faeran and I could handle the monsters ourselves.

After Zell’s battle, it was time for breakfast.

It has been 2 months since we started our journey to Aragoth ruin and so far, nothing out of the ordinary happened. It has been quite a safe travel; too safe if you ask me.

“Zell, are you sure you’re fine? You’re not hiding any injury from me right?”(Sania)

“N-none”(Zell)

It doesn’t look like he’s lying.

“Good, just remember that you should prioritize yourself first before anything else ok?”(Sania)

“Y-yes”(Zell)

We are at a plain right now, but will enter the desert area in a few days. We plan to restock water on a lake just before we enter the desert. The desert is known for it’s chieftain class monsters. It’s easier to ride a ship at the port city located in the west of the Seltia kingdom, and circle around the desert through the sea to reach Aragoth ruin, but there’s little to no ship going there since none would even want to go there.

Anyways, whenever a day is too peaceful, I train Zell myself since I have a good amount of knowledge in swordsmanship, thanks to the old hag. My swordsmanship is divided into two forms, first is the style fit for fighting against a small group of enemies, the flashdraw style. It combines both the ability to predict and the ability to create a burst of movement.

The other style is fit for mass destruction, the berserker style, which is the same style that the old hag uses; I also heard that Felicia uses this style. The style is a mix of wide circular movements and the ability to use all momentum that my body creates to propel myself into my next movement.

Although they’re different, I could modify each to my liking and even combine them into one style, but that would only complicate things so I left them as different styles.

Zell is studying the flashdraw style, since berserker style is not fit for both his personality and talent.

I don’t think he’s that talentless as he says, since he improved a lot from the start of our journey up to now, and he could even handle monsters that are around level 15 or higher; based on my analysis of course, since I can’t see the level of monsters.

He’s also getting strength from carrying my bag all the time. It was heavy even for this world’s standards, but he wanted to carry it for me even though I said he didn’t need to.

To balance things out, he had to carry it with both of his hands in the back; it would look odd for only one arm to get stronger after all.

For Faeran, he didn’t really have to train since he naturally gets stronger. At most; us playing together serves as his training, since the game is about him running away from me while he’s in his lightning form.

For my training, I’m already at the peak of my style, unless I find someone who could fight me on equal footing and increase my knowledge through real battle. I’m literally only after the experience that I could get from Agaroth ruin, and as of now I have only gotten 2 levels out of the journey.

Unlike before where I only kill those necessary for food, I’m now searching for those I could kill to increase my level. If I stayed at the same pace I had before I met Zell, then I’d still be at the same level right now.

If you think about it, my level would have been higher if I killed more in the forest where the Alpheous Ursus lives, instead of just killing what’s needed.

Food is not a problem for us since there are tons of animals or monsters that we could eat in the plain, and for water, there are lakes that we could use. In any case that we ran out of water and there’s no lake in sight, I can use water magic that the old hag taught me; it’s not that healthy, but it’s better than dying from dehydration.

___

2 days day before we entered the desert, we spent a night near the lake. The lake was in the middle of elevated ground, and there was no trees around. There was nothing to block Zell’s sight when I bathe in the lake, but I trust that he wouldn’t peek at me.

I took some spare clothes and lifted Faeran before going to the lake, leaving Zell and my bag.

“We’ll be going first.”(Sania)

“O-ok”(Zell)

After taking of my clothes and folding them, Faeran and I entered the waters. Just like any other lake, it’s shallow near the grounds and slowly gets deeper as you go to the middle of the lake.

I washed Faeran’s body first before letting him float in the lake and washing my own body.

“Don’t go too far ok?”(Sania)

“Nuu”(Faeran)

He used his paws to propel in the lake. There are dangerous looking monsters in the middle of the lake, but none dared to go near Faeran; I mean, who in the right mind would anger a lightning deity in the waters?

Whenever we bathe in an unknown lake, Faeran was always there to guard us, since we don’t want a monster to attack us while we’re naked; it’s a different story if Zell wasn’t with us though.

After cleaning my body, I wore new clothes before asking Faeran. “Can you stay until Zell is finished bathing?”

“Nuu”(Faeran)

Of course he already knows that he needs to guard us, but I still ask him every time, since his opinion is also important; I don’t want to force him into something he doesn’t want to do.

While Zell was bathing, I prepared food. I still had my cooking utensils, and I don’t plan on leaving or selling them.

By the time I finished, Zell and Faeran came back.

Zell was still drying his hair, while Faeran was already dry from shaking his body. I on the other hand entered my lightning form to separate from the water; Actually, entering the lightning form could clean my whole body, but I still bathed since it feels refreshing.

Before we slept, we stored water on containers that we bought at the city, and washed our clothes.

On the next day, it was the usual, the continuation of our journey and at night we could finally see the desert.

“So we’re finally here. After this desert is the Saran wasteland right?”(Sania)

“Yes, and after that would be the Agaroth ruin.”(Zell)

There’s no compass in this world, so we have to use the sun as a guide in the day, while the movement of stars at night. Unlike before where I’m just blindly walking, now I have a destination in mind, and I’m a bit worried since I’m not good with directions.

It’s reassuring to have Zell at times like this, since he could guide us to the place were we wanted to go. I would have been lost if Zell wasn’t here with us.

We looked back one last time to the plain before walking to the desert.

___

Traveling in the desert is just as expected, it’s bad.

There’s sand everywhere and whenever the wind blows, we get covered in sand...

Anyways, it has been a week since we have entered, and it’s 2 or 3 months before we could get out of the desert...I’m starting to regret it.

Monsters on this place usually have hard shell or exoskeleton; there are even some gigantic worms moving around under the sand.

Unlike the forest where we could hide while sleeping or the canyons where none could hurt us, this desert is filled with dangerous monsters. Strength wise, the ones at the canyons are stronger, but the monsters here have poison...

The only good thing about this place is the amount of experience I could get. Monsters move in groups, so every time a monster attacks, there would be more than one. In just a week, I’ve gained another level.

There are also a few chieftain class monsters that we have killed, and they are at the level of the Alpheous Ursus, so I can expect good experience in the Agaroth ruin.

Because of the dangers in the desert, we had to take shifts at night and our pace slowed down because of it.

As days passed, the monster type slowly changed and most of the ones that attacks us are ants at the size of a one story house. They usually move in groups of 4 or 5 and are hidden under the sand. They’re quite strong, but not at a level that we can’t handle.

As we continued our travel, more and more ants showed up; it’s no longer surprising to see 30 or more ants running after us. Too bad for them, they’ll only serve as my experience.

Our travel in the desert was quite decent, and nothing bad happened...until a certain message popped out.

WARNING: HIDDEN BOSS DETECTED

Boss name: Colossal Ant(Queen)

Location: Saran Desert

Recommended Level(Party): 65 or higher

Recommended Level(Solo): 80 or higher

It’s still morning, so we could see everything around us. I looked around, but I could not see anything. I stretched my hand to Zell and said. “Zell, there’s an enemy.”

“W-where?”(Zell)

The flat surface of the sand suddenly changed, and I could sense the movements around me. As of now, there are hundreds of monsters rising from the sand, and we are their target.

“Faeran, stay with Zell.”(Sania)

Faeran jumped from my shoulder and entered his lightning form. I grabbed Azaroth and also entered my lightning form.

Before they could fully get out of the sand, I sent sword waves to them.

1500 x 12 exp gained

Whenever the amount of enemies get higher than 9, the message shows the amount of exp gained and the number of the enemies I killed.

Faeran also charged his attack while the enemy was busy getting out of the sand.

I looked around, but all I could see were the red ants. Where is the boss?

I continued to attack all the enemies, but there were no signs of the hidden boss; only an army of ants.

1500 x 33 exp gained

I’m getting quite a lot today, so I guess it’s fine.

1500 x 57 exp gained

Level raised by 1

W-what? Oh, it’s just Faeran’s lightning breath.

___

It’s already noon, yet there are still more ants that come after us. I already gained 4 levels from killing them, and there’s still more.

Normally I would be happy, but the current situation is a bit different. I’m starting to get tired, and there’s still no signs of the hidden boss, not to mention the thousand ants surrounding us.

“Faeran, are you still ok?”(Sania)

“Nuu”(Faeran)

“What about you Zell?”(Sania)

“I...I’m...f...fine”(Zell)

I sent another sword wave to the enemy before replying to Zell.

1500 x 14 exp gained

“Rest for a while, we’ll handle the rest.”(Sania)

“N...no, I...can still f...ight.”(Zell)

He has already killed 7 monsters around level 20, and he’s still standing; Zell improved a lot.

Anyways, my regenerations isn’t kicking in since I didn’t have a time to rest yet. If this goes on, we’ll lose steam before the hidden boss shows up.

___

*wheeze**wheeze*t-the boss still hasn’t showed up, and I’m almost at my limit.

1500 x 21 exp gained

Recieved 65 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

Recieved 49 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

I’ve already gained a total of 12 levels from the endless swarm of ants, and there’s still thousands of them running after us.

1500 x 14 exp gained

Recieved 27 damage from colossal ant

Recieved 32 damage from colossal ant

Recieved 18 damage from colossal ant

There’s no end to them, don’t tell me the whole desert is a breeding ground for the colossal ants.

We are now running away and only killing those in front of us. Faeran and I are the ones responsible for creating a path, and Zell’s purpose is to carry my bag.

1500 exp gained

1500 exp gained

1500 exp gained

Our endless chase continued, and when the next day came, we no longer had the strength to fight back.

Recieved 132 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

Recieved 79 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

Not good, I’m seriously dying...

Recieved 82 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

Recieved 95 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

I...it hurts...

Recieved 53 damage from colossal ant(soldier)

Faeran...Z...Zell.........

Recieved 789 damage from colossal ant(general)

___

ZELL’S POV

I have always been alone; none loved me and none wanted me in their life, even though I’m a prince...

I was supposed to be the new king, if only I had talent...

I tried my best, I tried everything that I could, but I could never be what everyone wanted me to be...

___

I am Zell Superbia, the first prince of the Seltia kingdom, and I’m a trash that nobody wants.

When I was born, my father had high expectations, but I failed him. I was not good at politics, I was not good at magic, and I was not good at fighting, so what good am I?

The moment father saw that I couldn’t be of use to the kingdom, he threw me away. Even the mother who gave birth to me didn’t want me, so who should I go to? Who can show me that I’m actually needed?

No, none will ever love me, none will ever love one such as I.

____

At the age of 10, I had to live on my own. I had no financial problems since my father was giving me what I need, but I felt that there was no point in living. Is my only purpose to live and to suffer?

I tried different ways to get my father’s attention or at least my mother’s attention, but I couldn’t since I’m incompetent.

I lived my life wanting to get the attention of my parents, or at least make everyone see that I could be useful. Everywhere I go, I could see people look at me differently; different from how they treat my younger brother, who excelled in everything that I couldn’t.

My life continued, but people’s treatment only got worse. I tried moving from city to city in search of a place that could accept me, but my wish never came true.

When I first manipulated my shadow, I was happy. Magic was rare, and I who have always been seen as useless could use magic. I quickly went back to the castle and showed father my magic, and for the first time, he showed interest in me.

I got the attention that I wanted, and even gained friends when I entered the magic school. I thought everything would change from there, but I was fated to be alone...

When I entered the magic academy, I failed on the third term. It’s not the worse record; there were some that failed on the first term, but unlike them who were encouraged by their parent, I returned to my isolated life...no it was worse.

I saw light, only to fall deeper into the darkness. People laughed at my failure, and there was none that defended me. Even those with worse talent in magic than me laughed, but there was nothing I could do.

I was desperate, I wanted to see light again, so I tried to become a mercenary. I went to Zealon city since it was where the main branch of the mercenary guild was located. I’m faraway from the main city, but there were still people that looked down on me; but it will soon change when I became the best mercenary.

I became a mercenary, and I couldn’t do anything but runaway from the monsters that I was supposed to kill; and one time, I was about to be killed.

I’ll die, but I doubt anyone would even mourn for me. At least...at least let me hear my father say he’s proud of me.

I accepted my death, since there was nothing I could accomplish even if I continued living, and that’s when I met Eraisa Dorall, the woman who gave me a chance to change my life.

She saved me and made me stay on her inn for free. After I recovered, she even trained me in the way of the sword. She listened to my story, and told me I shouldn’t give up yet, and promised me that I would find my purpose if I continue living my life.

I developed my telepathy magic under her guidance, and also improved my swordsmanship. She helped me, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I had a mother that loved me.

My ego inflated as I got praised by big mom, and took a quest that I couldn’t accomplish. I wanted to show my mother that her teachings weren’t wasted, so I took something that I thought I could accomplish, but for a second time, I was at death’s door.

I initiated an attack against a monster, only to run away from it. There’s none that could save me this time, and I hated the fact that I wasted the opportunity big mom gave...but I guess I’m fated to accomplish nothing.

I ran with all of my might, and as I slowly lost stamina, I asked myself. What’s the purpose of my life?

As I lost the will to live, another person saved me, a person that surpassed everything that I have seen before; her beauty could only be compared to that of a goddess.

My heart started pounding after I heard her say something that I have always wanted to hear

‘Have more confidence, just because you are different doesn’t mean you are useless, at least you don’t look useless to me’

Those words alone made me realize, I want to be with her.

___

I started being with her since then, and I loved everything about her. As time passed, my love for her only grew more and more; but I should know my place.

Someone as incompetent as me is not fit for someone as like her, so I’ll be content with helping her. Even if I can only be her friend, even if she looks at someone else, as long as she’s happy, then I’ll also be happy.

___

I opened my eyes and saw a figure of a monster pointing it’s fangs at the person that gave me a real purpose in life, the person that I wanted to protect, and the person that should be happy more than anyone else.

I can’t move, I can’t protect her, I can’t even sacrifice myself for her...even in the end, I’m still incompetent. Why? I’m the only one that should die, so why is she in this situation?

Is it because of me? Is it because she helped a trash like me?

If only she didn’t meet me, if only I wasn’t born...if only I was stronger.

You have finally called me. I’m Azaroth, the creation of the almighty dragon, the ruler of light and darkness.

If only I had the strength to protect her.

I’ve waited for someone such as you to summon me, so let me ask you...

If only I had the strength to kill everything that dares to threaten her life.

...do you want power?

_________

Author's Note:

Spoiler : Ok, it’s another cliche and cheesy romance...

So which is better, a strong ally? Or a strong weapon?