*splink* *splank*

The swords made as they come into contact with the hard bones of the rabbits. Echoing the caves.

“I think we should go down? Ayuzawa-san? The rabbits on floor 1 seem rather simple. I think we could make more if we headed down. I’d suppose that the mobs get stronger as we head lower into the level?”

“We probably should, but for a level 1 adventurer like yourself, statistically speaking it’s rather tough. I heard that only the top ranked level 1 adventurers made it to as far as floor 7, it’s rather tough and not many even makes it there at level 1.”

“Yeah, I’m sure the rabbits are really easy for me and I feel that I should be able to secure more income if we head to the lower floors. Even if it’s just 1 more down.”

“Okay, fine. But if it gets to dangerous I want you to promise me to head back up.”

As we walked down the stairs, we heard a rather faint cry for help.

“Do you hear that? Ayuzawa-san?”

“Yeah.”

As soon as I made sure that I was not hallucinating and made sure by confirming with Ayuzawa-san I made a straight line to the center of the noise.

As we headed closer to the noise, we noticed that it was another floor down, we were currently at floor 3. Ayuzawa-san said that beyond floor 3, it might become dangerous. But no matter what I heard, I felt that I needed to do what I believe I must. I headed straight down and told Ayuzawa-san that I could not ignore such a thing. It might seem trivial to her. But to me, I’d try to do what I think is right and what others won’t do.

As I made my way down the stairwell to the 4th floor. I noticed a strange malicious aura radiating from within. The mobs that used to spawn was also nowhere in sight. Things was definitely weird.

“This… this are the things that happen when a floor boss spawns. It only spawns rarely, when many mobs have been slain for a long period of time. That is why when adventurers farm, they do not farm in a certain spot in a long time. This is dangerous, we really should head back. And it’s only around when a floor hasn’t been cleared. It’s also what’s known as a floor guardian. When it’s defeated the gate to the next level will open.”

“No!!! Not when I heard that scream. The moment I heard it I knew that I was going to it. You can however go back. I do not want to drag you into my own selfish thoughts.”

Ayuzawa sighed and followed me throughout the empty caves of floor 4. As I made it to what I believed was the epicenter of the level. It was a vast widespread circular space with many caves leading out towards the edges of the level.

What’s shocking the presence occupying the room. It was a malice aura. And where that aura originated from was what looked like a lizard-minotaur, it had buff solid red muscles everywhere on its body. It had a horn that resembled one of the rams. It was an astonishing 5 meters tall. It’s entire body was coated with bright red color. It wore a loincloth that looked like it was made of leather. Shoulders armed with light armor that shine brilliantly. With its massive long tail that span around 2 meters. It’s name was Red Mino.

It was a figure that was absolutely intimidating and something that would make you subconsciously step back. It was strong, something I’ve never seen before. And the destination of the gaze of that monster was the eye of the problem.

The group that stood against the Red Mino consisted of a party of 5. 1 female and 4 males. The sole female was the support of the group whilst the other 4 was adventurers.

“RUN!! Use the support as a bait and RUN!!!”

One of the adventurers said as he pushed the girl down and proceeded to run at full speed towards the entrance. Without even batting an eye towards us they ran at full speed towards the stairwell.

“Why does it always have to be this way…”

The girl laid there in utter defeat. She laid on the ground weeping as she laid motionlessly as if to say she has accepted her fate.

The Red Mino took no time at all to wait, he immediately took his huge battle axe and swung it over his head with all of his might towards the girl who lost all hope.

“I guess this is the end…”

*Clink* *Crumble*

Those were the sounds of metal touching each other as I ran towards the front of the girl to protect her from that battle axe that came mercilessly down towards her. The floor around my feet started to made a depression on the floor. The floor crumbled as I took the heavy weight of the axe.

“RUNNNNN!!”

I exhaled as loudly as I could as I was holding back the Red Mino. The girl however, laid there in shock. She was too astonished to move.

The Red Mino relentlessly swung his axe towards me as I tried my best to shield the girl. The hits was definitely making an impact as I grew weaker each time he swung. Each blow he hit I was letting it get through a little. Little by little, I could no longer face the exhaustion of blocking it’s attacks.

*Clank* *Crash*

With one final swoop, the Red Mino swung against me with the same sheer force as the start. But after such long periods of withstanding attacks of that range, I could no longer hold it off. As I couldn’t hold it off anymore, the meeting of both my Katana and his Giant Axe pushed towards me flinging me of to the side leaving the girl open towards the Red Mino’s attack.

“Fuckkkkk!”

Without realizing that me failing to withstand the relentless combos from the Red Mino would leave the girl open to it’s attacks.

*Swoosh*

Was the sound of the swing that headed straight for the girl.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, RUNNNNN!”

It was pointless to say such things, the trajectory of the axe was way too fast, and not to mention she laid still as she was before.

*Crumble*

The floor crumbled, I could not help but look.

*Water noises*(Sorry == I don’t know what affect a water would make in text form.)

A wave of water came by and picked her up in the nick of time. Before the axe could make contact with her. The axe only managed to make contact with the side of her shirt leaving a piece of fabric behind as she was carried away by the clear water wave below her.

That seemed to only anger the Red Mino more. Instantly, the Red Mino took charge towards Ayuzawa who had saved the girl. Ayuzawa retaliated with a windwall that held a blow of the axe but broke apart due to the force.

Instantly I could tell that they would not be able to hold of the Red Mino. Nothing would have changed.

I had to make it there in time. I tried to focus all my energy into my legs, and exerting them in one blow.

*Fwoosh* *crack*

The floor broke as an intense forced was pushed towards it. This force was coming from me launching of the ground towards the Red Mino to defend Ayuzawa from the next coming attack.

*clink*

Blocked it… or so I thought.

I did not hold my katana with enough power. The Red Mino’s axe slid on the Katana which changed its direction towards my shoulders. This lead to a slash wound on my shoulder. It was 0.5cm deep but it was deep enough to hurt

*Uwagggh*

I reacted to the slash.

“FENIX”

Ayuzawa screamed.

“I’m fine, you guys run to get help. I’ll hold him off.”

“NO, YOU WILL DIE!!!”

“Please! Leave me be, if I fail to protect someone again… I… won’t be able to live with it. I believe that I have my own duty to protect those in need. PLEASE! JUST PLEASE RUN!”

“...”

Ayuzawa shook her head as she carried the girl using her water wave.

‘If I don’t find someone to help, and stay there… it’ll cause Fenix trouble anyways. I really hate to do this… but this is the best option.’

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Looks like it’s just you and me Red Mino… hahaha why am I even talking to myself.”

I know that if I don’t change anything nothing will happen. I have to do this… if I can’t even protect others what am I supposed to say to myself… I’ll just be a failure… I’ll look super lame to her too…

I don’t want to have that feeling again… of losing someone because I failed to protect her… it was a tough time. It still haunts me till this day.

*clink*

The fight still carries on, but unlike before… I don’t have the energy I had to defend each strike. Each strike proofs to be a wound to me, my clothes all tattered from the slashes. It’s getting even more tattered then it already is.

*slash *slash *slash *slash*

*fwoosh* *fwoosh*

I’m getting cut wounds all over, each slash was getting stronger as I get weaker. This might be it.

*clinkkkkkk*

As my katana blocks again, I ran out of energy to hold it out. The Red Mino swung heavily with it’s axe as before, only this time, my katana flew out of my hands, it flew 5 metres away from me and landed on the ground sticking up. Not to mention it shoved me straight into a wall with great impact leaving a crater standing as I landed on it.

I sat in there beaten up, wounds everywhere on me. I looked like a loser to the anyone spectating. The Red Mino still new as ever.

Was this really all I had? Even after losing a precious someone before, I’m losing something again… I guess I’m just this weak, this is all I had forever losing the things I love because I’m weak… this really sucks. I guess it’s my turn to lose, my ownself.

“You can do it!...”

A faint voice plays in my head…

….

Who’s that?

“You can do it! I believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself.”

That’s odd, but that’s true to I believe. I mean, if I’m going to die right here and right now… I’d rather try everything I can to survive? Shouldn't I? Am I really going to lose to myself? NOOOO!

Why would I allow such a thing to happen again. How can I dare to say that I want to protect the things I want to protect when I give up on myself? That’s a joke. FENIX YOU’RE A JOKE.

IF I DON’T STAND UP NOW! THEN WHEN WILL I EVER STAND UP? AREN’T I JUST MAKING EXCUSES FOR MY PATHETIC SELF?

I have a little dagger that I keep seath at my thighs, I took it out stood up and held it at a stance to face the Red Mino again. This time, I made the move. I dashed at it nimbly at a rather fast speed straight for the Red Mino.

This time using all my remaining strength to deal with it, but unlike before my strength felt multiplied.

Aiming at it’s torso, I slashed towards it with my dagger. The Red Mino parried it using his Axe.

I dashed to the other side increasing my speed as I moved repeated the same moves more and more, a Cyan light started to flow out of me, unknowingly my speed increased more and more.

I dashed and slashed dashed and slashed dashed and slashed. Multiple times till my speed was multiplied by at least 5 times more than the starting. The faster I moved the more cyan light roamed around my body, it acted as if water was streaming on top of my skin moving in a spiral way throughout my entire body.

“FENIX! I GOT HELP!”

Ayuzawa ran down in a hurry with a party consisting of 2 level 6s, but at their arrival they did nothing upon arriving. All they did was stare in awe.

But it wasn’t enough. I had to move faster, faster… FASTER!.

I strike and dash more and more and more and more. If I lose this fervor it’s definitely over for me.

The Cyan lights started to overflow my whole body it looked like a visible Cyan aura around me to the naked eyes. I never realized it though.

*clink*

*clink* *clink*

*clink* *clink* *clink*

The faster I moved the more strikes I managed to get in, I was starting to reach speeds that the Red Mino could no longer follow up to anymore.

TIME TO FINISH THIS.

I slashed it with a barrage using my dagger and lead it closer to my Katana. I picked it of the ground and used up all my speed from before to shoot myself at lightning fast speed towards the Red Mino.

*CRACKKKK* *CRACKKK*

*Zappp*

I slashed it with my Katana across it’s Torso in lightning fast speed and ended behind the Red Mino.

It was a standoff, both me and the Red Mino stood silent after the dual.

*Glitter*

The Red Mino started to disappear into glitters from the top to the bottom. Leaving behind only it’s horn, it shined red as it dropped on the ground beside of a glorious crystal that was about 20cm thick and glowed magnificently in the dark, it had a red tint to it.

As the Red Mino fully disintegrated. I fell to the ground leaving my back open. This lead to my emblem and stats being open to anyone.

“FENIX!”

Ayuzawa ran to me and sat beside me crying. Asking if I’m okay. But to me, everything was blacked out, I was unconscious.

The 2 level 6s walked to my unconscious self.

“What’s his stats?”

“You want me to see it without permission?”

“COME ON! He’s literally begging us to check on his stats.”

“All abilities SSS”

“HUH? But isn’t he a level 1? I mean… he did defeat this level boss. When this boss was defeated it was done with 5 parties of 5 that consisted of level 2s. This is an impressive feat.”

The history of adventurers getting the SSS has been there before. But, no one has ever gotten it on all abilities let alone being an adventurer for only 1 day…

A record has been broken today.