As my shoulders sagged, my muscles tensed up. Ahead, I caught a glimpse of a golden silhouette moving through the endless darkness.
And then, I smiled:
A cold, dark smile.
Within a breath, the figure appeared behind the unsuspecting nightmarish creatures, just as I slid beneath the ground, skipping past them as their stygian claws scraped past me.
With a golden sword in hand, Mia slashed forward. In that moment though, the demorgogons finally took note, the suffocating sense of danger. Every hair at the back of their necks stood on end.
Caught unaware, one of thedemorgogonstried to raise their claws in an attempt to block Mia's sword. But unfortunately for them, they lacked the advantage that Mia held.
…She had taken the fight to them. And at that, when they least expected it.
Her sword wasted no time in cutting through the thick hide. As though it were cutting through a thin sheet of paper, in one fluid twist, she severed the demogorgon's neck of his body. Crimson blood splattered into the air as she moved through it, striking down another demogorgon.
Step! Step!
She was fast and efficient. Taking hold of the element of surprise while it still held effect.
…Mia wasn't dumb. She knew the element of surprise wouldn't last long. Hence, she had to deal as much damage as possible, to the horde, within those short moments.
However, in that instant, as though roused from their clouded-mind state, the demorgogons realized they'd been tricked. And…
Creak! Creak!
It was all due to the damn bastard grinning at them.
'What audacity!' They'd probably thought.
But alas, they could do nothing about it.
After completing my part of the plan, I had long retreated into the darkness, hiding behind a tall, dark pillar, while waiting for another moment to deal significant damage to the horde.
Ahead, Mia flawlessly moved through the horde of nightmarish creatures. In a bid to stop her onslaught, numerous rotten hands ripped through the air. Cold, stygian claws tore through the darkness at an absurd speed.
For a second there, I pictured myself in Mia's shoes, and all I could forsee was:
Instant death.
However, contrary to the thoughts I held, Mia was fast and agile. Abnormally fast at that.
She ducked and weaved through the attacks, barely avoiding the harrowing strikes. Skidding across the floor, she leapt into the air, landing on the ground, just behind a demogorgon. As dust rose into the air, and cracks spider-webbed across the ground beneath her.
She slightly twisted her body and swung forward with her golden sword, a wild torrent of wind howling in its wake. In a flash of crimson blood, the sword effortlessly cut through the neck of the demogorgon who slumped onto the ground with a loud crashing thud.
Thud!
The sound echoed through the dune structure.
And in that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if it was this easy because she was just that strong and still attacked the weak spot- the neck of the demogorgons, or rather… the weapon she wielded was the cause of it all.
After all, I knew just how tough the demorgogons hides were. Yet, the crimson-haired lady could effortlessly cut through them, as though she were cutting through a thin sheet of paper.
"Huu.."
I exhaled lightly, deciding to wave it off my mind. Not like I'd any other choice anyway.
"..."
Right about then, I caught a glimpse of Mia drenched in blood, and for a second there, she seemed nightmarish as opposed to her previous cute expression.
However, with each death of their comrades, the demogorgons, now five, struck out fiercely. They struck even faster, unconcealed hatred burning within their hollow eyes.
Judging by Mia's pale face and the difficulty she had in dodging the strikes, it was clear that she was already worn out, and was just barely holding on.
Filled with fierce determination, she swiftly evaded a pair of claws, though falling a few seconds short. The claws grazed her skin, drawing blood as she grimaced in pain.
Drip! Drip!
Blood seeped from the wound, dripping onto the ground beneath her. Yet, she paid no heed to it.
…She couldn't afford to.
Before she could do as much as to blink away the searing pain, more attacks were already raining down in her. And for a second, a crazy thought rushed into my mind.
But,
Clench!
I knew I wouldn't be able to help out. I was too weak to...
It was in that moment that the desire to grow stronger, rippled stronger than ever within me.
And just when Mia seemed to be at her end's wit. Just when the four pair of dark claws were about to tear her apart.
Click—!
***
Elsewhere, Aezel, upon noting the dire situation, immediately proceeded with his own role. As opposed to what Mia would have wanted.
After all, the smaller the number of enemies he had to take down, the better his efficiency in doing so.
With a dark expression, he gripped his bow and stook his stance; the bow adjacently facing the lightless sky. He closed his eyes for a split second and then-
Flick!!
Just as the arrow left his bow, he grabbed another and released it. Gripping hold the third arrow, he closed his eyes as though sensing his surroundings with an inner sense of sort. And finally,
Whoosh!
The third arrow streaked through the sky.
***
Has it started…?
I shifted my gaze towards Aezel, and it was then that I caught sight of the silver arrows. The arrows followed behind each other, separated only a few inches apart, as they streaked through the darkness at an astonishing pace.
There was no doubt about it. The archery skill he'd just portrayed was beyond amazing. But…
The question was, could it do it? Could it bridge the final gap and give Mia the opportunity she needed.
Subconsciously, my body tensed up as I held my breath.
The nightmarish creatures finally took note of the danger headed their way. The claws raining down on Mia slowed mid-way for a fraction of a second. But, it was more than enough for Mia to get out of the range of their attacks.
She twisted her body and dashed backward, a fleeting relief washing over her.
In that moment, the arrows pierced through the demogorgon's heads in a beautiful flash of crimson, bypassing all sort of defense they'd taken at the last possible moment.
As three nightmarish creatures sunk into the ground with a loud crashing thud,
Yes!
I pumped my fist into the air.
A smile crept up my face, accompanied by a weird feeling. One which I couldn't quite place my hands on. But, nevertheless, I was glad that Mia was… safe.
…Even if for a moment.
Glancing at the ruined battlefield, I realized the grimness of our current situation. Judging by Aezel's pale, sunken face, it was clear that he couldn't pull off that same feat.
Infact, I would have also found it hard to believe that he could. After all, all things in this world came at a cost.
Yet, that wasn't what made matters worse.
Drip! Drip!
Battered and bloodied, Mia's armor was riddled with dents and claw marks, red hue glistening across the dark space beneath her.
"Huk!"
Coughing out a mouthful of blood, Mia forced herself to her feet, a piercing agony ripping through her bones.
"...!!"
The demogorgonshollow eyes locked onto her, unconcealed hatred burning within them.
And then,
Creak! Slash!
They soon rained down on the crimson haired lady, their hatred and anger pouring into every single one of their strikes.
'Should I… No fool! You will only get yourself killed!'
Yet, as I glanced at the battlefield, more wounds riddled Mia's body and it seemed Aezel had attempted dashing into the battle, but for reasons unknown to me, stopped.
Probably because Mia shot him a glare.
But why would she do that?
I had no idea.
However, as the demogorgons slashed faster, Mia was being pushed back, each set of attacks drawing blood from her ashen skin.
And…
'Fuck it all!'
I had finally had enough
Don-
"Shut the fuck up!"
And then,
Silence.
It ensued within me. For once, I was going to go on with my heart's desire. With a dark grimace, I gritted my teeth and made the most stupid decision I'd ever made in my countless regressions.
"I just hope I don't regret this."
With a sharp exhale, I dashed into the darkness, hurtling sharp shards of stones towards the two demogorgons. In an instant,
Flick—!
Two pairs of hollow, dark eyes came to rest on me. Instantly, the world seemed to grow colder, darker even, as a strange presence descended on the space surrounding me.
"Huk… Huk…"
In that moment, it was as though I'd lost the ability to breathe. However, on the "bright" side of things, I had succeeded in taking their eyes off Mia.
Yet, it was at the cost of garnering their attention.
Ba- thump! Ba- thump!
As the nightmarish creatures rushed towards me, I really felt it. Dread and terror unlike anything I'd ever felt before, rippled through me.
Yet, I didn't regret my decision. Strangely enough, I realized if I had another chance to go through it again, I'd still choose the same thing.
"But why?"
…It couldn't just be infatuation. It had to be something deeper. But what exactly could it be?
However, no matter how hard I pondered on it, I wasn't able to find a reason to it.
"..."
As my muscles tensed up, I gritted my teeth and held tighter, the azure blade. Staring at the dagger and then at the approaching horrors, I felt a deep sense of fear sink into me, but I soon shove it down just as it came.
"How can I afford to be scared of some pile of crap?"
'T-that… was totally unacceptable!'
Despite the fear within, a dark smile crept up my face as my voice tore through the quiet night:
"How about we see just what you pile of CRAPS are made of?!"
I smiled.
And then,
All hell broke loose.