Chapter 38 - The Real Deal

A cloud of smoke hovered over the ledge as both Arga and I fell from it. The bottom of the cavern grew closer as our bodies plummeted down.

Shit—shit—shit—shit—shit!!

My eyes darted around the moving walls trying to find something we could grab hold of or even fall into that would break our fall before—!

The ground came into view and I winced back with my arms out in front of me. I felt the warm embrace of soft hands curl under my chest plate and a hold of my stomach.

Arga held me close to her and swung her body around, bringing both of our heads to face upward and not the ground.

She raised her arm, still holding tightly to her sword and plunged it into the wall. The blade crashed into the constantly moving dark surface of the cavernous walls and carved up a line as we fell. Her sword disappeared deeper and deeper into the wall causing us to slow down.

“I think—we’re good.” Arga said with heavy breaths.

We came to a full stop only a couple of inches from the ground. Once she pulled the sword out from the wall we looked around to see the surroundings.

We had fallen nearly eight stories from the air…

“We must have passed at least six rooms and tunnels.” I said while glaring at the ledge far up above us.

“Good thing we managed to survive that. For a second there I thought it was all over!”

That’s right, she saved us. The cooldown on my Shadow Step made things difficult but she thought of something in no time!

Just then a thought popped into my head of the last thing I thought before jumping in to save her.

‘Protect your friend.’

I shook my head to clear it away as if it were a picture in the clouds hovering over me and blushed with a bright red burn.

I can’t believe I thought something so embarrassing!!! I might bury myself down here from embarrassment!

“—!”

Arga turned pale looking up at the ledge. I followed her ghostly stare and instantly realised what caused her to look like that.

The Barhemoth stuck to the side of the wall, climbing down further towards us with its massive hands planted into the wall.

“Are you for real?” Arga said in disbelief. She held her hand up to her head and leaned against the wall.

The monster was getting closer, slowly racing down the uneven cavernous walls. The strength in its fingers was no joke, for it to be able to climb effortlessly down from there.

It leapt off the wall and crashed into one of the pathways spiralling down above us on the walls. From there it jumped to another one on the lower level. Coming closer and closer.

“It’s coming!” I said while grabbing my Chakram.

Arga raised her sword and gritted her teeth.

The health bar hovered into view and a sign of hope came into existence. It was nearly at zero! Only a small amount of its overall health remained and was clearly on its last legs. The dark blue drippings of its blood ran down its back legs.

“Do you have enough for another round?”

Arga responded with an eager grin and said,

“You bet!”

The titanic beast landed on the ground between us and the fight had begun. I dove to the right while Arga went left. I held out one hand to the Barhemoth while the other gripped tightly to my blade.

I extended out my fingers and aimed the open palm towards the side of the monster and screamed.

“Zephyr Blast!!”

A strip of wind blew out to it but was knocked away with ease by its horn. The monster charged towards me, shaking its head roughly as its eyes blinked with confusion.

The space between us is too short—there’s no way I could avoid it.

I held up my empty hand to block and used my other arm behind it for support. Right before impact, I saw a stream of rose and scarlet fly into view.

Arga raised her sword and swung it wide, throwing everything she had behind her attack. The monster stopped in its tracks and with a surge of luck turned around to block her.

The thick layer of blue gems on its arms shattered under the pressure of her sword.

“—Not good!”

The monster's burly arm flew into her gut and forced a mouthful of spit out of her. She was sent flying back with her sword left behind on the floor.

Before it had a chance to turn back on her I came rushing in.

I have no choice, holding back in the Tower is how you end up dead! I don’t want her to die—not anyone!

The Barhemoth flicked its arm out and shoved me away with a large force behind it. My body weighed nothing in comparison and was easily forced off of the ground and into the air.

I wanted to vomit but I couldn't—I wouldn’t!

I flipped through the air using the momentum from its attack and landed against the wall.

“…Rush.”

I burst off of the wall, using it like a springboard and held out my Chakram, as I passed the monster I extended out my arm and sliced through the exposed area of its skin. As I landed on the ground I used the momentum to turn back and leap again.

{Rush has levelled up}

{The speed and duration of the skill have increased}

Bouncing from wall to wall I laid into the monster with shallow cuts, cutting deeper and deeper into the same cross carved out into its back. Without a cooldown on the skill, I activated it over and over.

{Rush activated}

{Rush activated}

The monster let out one final cry as its HP dropped to zero and died.

I crashed to the floor and rolled a few times before slamming flat onto my back.

“Guah—!”

{1 200 Exp gained}

{Level up}

The screen blocked my view of the ceiling and brought a twinkle into my eyes as the notification raced across my eyes. I had gotten another level up and managed to defeat such a crazy monster. It didn’t seem real for a moment but reality came crashing back to me by the sound of a euphonious voice.

“So this is the sixth floor huh—I have a long way to go…”

“—Rei! Hey, are you alright?”

The cracking tone of Arga’s voice brought my eyes back open and lifted my back from the ground. I steadily rose and came into eye contact with her.

“That just now…” Her eyelids lowered.

I guess it would be crazy for her not to be suspicious of me now… She had seen the whole thing after all. A weak rust rank like me, able to use so many crazy flashy skills, one after another no less. Will she be mad at me, resent me even?

“How long have you been an adventurer for?” She asked, her voice filled with a deep and commanding tone.

She sounded disappointed… her voice says it all.

I had no right to lie to her, she risked her life for me after all. All I did was lie to her.

I answered back with my head lowered and the feeling of guilt littered all over my face.

“Nearly three weeks…”

“Huh—seriously? You must be some kind of prodigy then!!” She screamed back.

…

“Come again?”

I looked up at her and she had her hand planted against her face with a massive frown showing all her teeth.

The kind of expression you make when you salt instead of sugar, not the expression you make in a situation like this…

“Aren’t you mad?”

“Mad? Why would I be mad, you saved us just now. I see why gramps doesn’t want me coming up here, this place is seriously dangerous!” Arga continued talking casually, only further confusing me with each word.

This girl…she didn’t even care that I was using skills. I don’t even think she would be fazed if I told her it was a unique skill. She isn't acting at all like how Welm did, even Liv was surprised when she found out!

This is totally weird, she’s totally weird—right?!?!

Then, it came into my thoughts once more.

My voice resonated at full volume throughout my thoughts.

Protect your friend.

My mouth curved into a smile and tears formed into the corner of my eye uncontrollably. I wiped it away hoping she wouldn’t have seen it.

“About what you said earlier…”

“What do you mean?”

“You said I should trust my party, before.”

Arga stared at me with hopeful eyes and a brave smile. She looked certain in her words.

“Yeah, well… I mean after that, we are a party aren’t we?”

My eyes aren’t betraying me, right? Someone wants to be in my party? The real deal—not some scam or joke? An honest to Goddess, true blue party member?

I bobbed my head with an energetic nod, I tried to contain my smile but it broke through my hands.

“Ha-ha-ha! Why are you getting all red on me for, huh?” Arga laughed while slamming her hand into my back repeatedly.

“You’re right then. We’re in a party together.”

She responded to my nervous smile with a toothy grin and set my nerves at ease. I have someone I can trust fighting alongside me, someone I wouldn’t mind trusting my back to. A party member!

Just as I sat back to relax, the screen appeared in front of me.

{User has successfully added a member to their party}