Chapter 15: Dance with Death Part 2

By now, the area was spattered in blood as the wounded monsters clambered around, intent on taking my life. Two of them flailed their axes straight to my face, but the sharp wind surrounding the entirety of my body like a shield easily deflected their attacks away.

This perfect chance did not escape me, and I used my blood stained sword to plunge two more of these monsters into total darkness.

A few more drove against me relentlessly, their blades humming around with my wind.

A serious look crossed my face as I eradicate the incoming monsters. Monster by monster writhe down on the rockery floor, now in a gigantic puddle of blood.

Their vengeful cries echoed inside the mines, attracting more of their kin, but those cries only served to feed the hungry soil of their corpses.

“Emily!”

I roared her name in the darkened tunnel as I jogged to follow the crimson trail and sizable footsteps on the ground.

An eerie silence greeted me when I entered a spacious room filled with crimson stones buried on the wall, emitting a much stronger light than normal. Ore deposits on one side and stone debris of different sizes littered the room like death traps. A series of pickaxes were also left on the ground, perhaps from the miners who hastily fled this place.

I do not know why but, for some reason, my heart is pounding against my ribs.

Eyes directed in front, I see a shadow pulsing with its eyes glaring at me. It was another one of these humanoid like creatures, although this one looked a lot more fearsome and gruesome than the rest of its buddies. Those two menacing horns protruding out of its forehead gave me a feeling of dread.

I gripped the handle of this sword with both hands as I try to stabilize my breath.

I have four more remaining usage of my “Wind Cutter”, and for this skill to replenish, I have to wait for another day to pass. However I do not have the luxury of time, and with each passing minute, the closer that fool reaches her demise.

There’s no telling if Emily’s still alive, but I have an inclination that she is.

“Huh?”

A sudden unfamiliar sound caused me to focus on the foe ahead. It started to move towards me. Its heavy footsteps sounded like bones crunching even on the hard bedrock.

I could feel sweat blotting on my forehead and fear found me, as if the icy grip of death claimed my legs. Trembling as if electrical impulses short-circuited through the frayed fiber of my nerves, I turned sideways and bent my arms. I raised the sword against my body, as if I readied myself to take the swing of my life.

‘Remember, in the battlefield, there’s no such thing as a fair fight. Use whatever method you have in your disposal to win. That’s all that matters.’

For goodness sake, why am I remembering my Father’s words now?

Yet somehow, that quick instant seemed to have relieved me of my fears.

“Come!”

It started to run, and I fearlessly planted my feet firmly on the ground, ready to intercept.

And without a word of warning, the monster brandishes its man sized halberd at my direction!

An ear shattering noise reverberated and sparks flew when our blades clash.

“Too… strong…”

My body crooked backwards just by clashing with its halberd head on. I immediately saw cracks forming on my sword, and it soon made a dreadful shattering noise.

*Swooong!*

I desperately rolled on my right to avoid the accumulated swing. The attack was so strong I could barely sit up, but I had to. I forced my body to get up. Pushing the throbbing pain on my back aside, I snatched one of the pickaxes lying on the floor and stood on my feet.

The monster turned and glared at me once more. It sneered and must’ve thought I’m an easy target in its pea sized brain. Although it has the look of playing around, it wasted not a single moment. It stepped forward and launched its halberd in the same manner as before, with the same intent of chopping me in twain.

But I did not bother to retaliate. I left the heavy barrage on my wind shield. I can feel the halberd rapidly overpowering my defenses, yet I still stayed on my position. Adrenaline filled my body like flood.

“Haaaaaa!!!”

I slammed the pointed end of this pickaxe between the monster’s legs, on its groin, so hard that it stuck there. It was a gamble. A gamble that my wind would save me yet again, and as I expected, it did not fail me.

“Graaaaaa!!”

I almost fell backwards after hearing its loud shriek, but I didn’t. I caught the halberd that it dropped on my arms.

The monsters bloodshot eyes shot me a glare so hot I can feel its putrid hatred towards me, its aggressor, behind it. It gritted its teeth in anger, but it was all too late.

Not even halting to condemn myself with the morality of my actions, I swung the large halberd in my hands, using all of my remaining strength, a full powered swing, and chopped its head off.

Headless, the monster sprayed its gore all over me, and quickly rolled itself on the ground.

Panting, I used the halberd’s end to keep me on my toes.

“Dammit…”

These were the laws of nature and I cannot testify with certainty myself if what I did was right, but it was either me, or them. I had to think like that.

I wobbled on my feet as I walked near the edge of this bloody room, the place that I entered from, and sagged my back against the wall as I collapsed on a fallen debris.

I need water. I repeatedly drank my spit, but it didn’t help. My throat was hot, as if it was getting burned by the intense flames of a dragon’s fiery breath.

I took my long sleeve off and wiped my face clean with it, leaving me with only this plain shirt that I wore inside, which was also covered in blood.

After getting a miniature of rest, I jerked myself up and pushed forward once more. But before I left the dreaded area, I plundered the monster’s weapon and took the halberd for myself.

I had gone a long way inside, yet the hallways continue to expand into a gigantic maze. If not for this trail of blood that I was following, I was afraid I would’ve already lost myself in this darkness.

I turned down the corridor, as cautious as I can be. Sneaking glances at the other direction, I ran from one wall to the other, taking cover from whatever type of evil were hiding in here. I carefully peeked my head out. Narrowing my eyes, I noticed more horrifying creatures dallying in these hallways.

With an appearance resembling a female teenager, their skin dyed red, while some are dark and some are green. Sharp canines and deformed talons on each arm exhibited their monstrous appearance. A total of eight camp around the entrance of what seemed like another spacious room, while the other variety of monsters spread apart evenly on each end.

I wonder why, but these new ones looked a lot more intelligent than the ones from before.

“……Two rats?? Surround them… Slowly tear their arms and leave their legs.”

…What the?

At the very end of this pathway, my eyes caught a glimpse of a figure clad in dark robes, handing out orders to these monsters. I don’t know why, but that voice hits me with nostalgia. I clenched my throbbing chest. Shit, what is this feeling?

But, two rats?

If I am the first one, then who is the other?

As I thought of that, I heard a small tapping on my right. I anxiously turned my head to look at the unusual noise. I was surprised at what I saw. It was Wein Cruz—a familiar figure. Now that it reminds me, he did say he’ll be working in the mines, but this timing is unnatural.

I prepared myself just in case.

“Shhh…”

Wein put his index finger back to his mouth and gestured me to turn around.

Since I see no reason to stay in my area, I followed him instead. Considering that he was but a stranger and he seemed to be undoubtedly mysterious, I believed him not because I trusted him, but because I am left with no choice.

No matter what I do, I can’t pass that group of monsters by myself.

My muscles were already aching from exertions and sweat poured over my body.

Wein halted on his track after walking a considerable amount of distance away from those monsters. My instincts proved well placed in him when he passed me the sword he was carrying, and the sword decided to speak.

“There’s no time to explain. I am called Franz, Elseria’s sword spirit. For now, I want you to trust this man. There’s a better chance for us to save the stubborn miss if you two worked together.”

“Elseria’s sword spirit… I think I heard her mention that name once.”

I wondered about it for a moment and remembered, it was at their mansion, when I was fighting the three of them. Elseria shouted the name “Franz” before unleashing her special attack. So that extra force behind her blade was caused by a spirit after all.

“Indeed,” Wein butted in. “But regardless of our reasons, we need to move, now. I’m not sure why, but they took Miss Emily further inside.”

I raised my head and looked at Wein. “Then, you can understand what this spirit says?”

He nodded his head, as if saying it was natural. “That’s the gist of it. We can talk more about this after we’ve settled this problem.”

I gave the talking sword back to him. “But… how do you propose getting past those monsters?”

He sighed and scratched his head. “There’s no other choice, we have to kill them all.”

Kill them all? You make it sound as if it was the easiest thing in the world. If I can do something so trivial, then I wouldn’t be dawdling around here. But this guy must’ve a reason for saying that.

“How exactly?” I groaned in a low tone.

Smirking at me who was doubting him, Wein started putting his fingerless gloves on.

I’m not sure what he has in mind, but he seems to have a plan. And judging from the confidence written on his lips, the probability of this working is high.

“Get ready,” Wein suggested.

“Tell me about the plan first,” I insisted on knowing.

“Easy. I’ll halt their movements and at that short duration of time, we’ll strike,” he said with a straight face, not even minding how ominous his words sounded just now. “Reimuz can take of the monsters that guards the entrance, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

After explaining his plan in a rather nonchalant manner, Wein turned around and started walking, leaving me bewildered and confused.

“Shit,” I clenched my fist and followed after him. This is no time for me to waver.

It feels like my mindset is going through some extreme changes. Changes that I do not want to know.