*Drip Drip* In a cold cave with hardly any light save for the dim torches close to a cell. A pink-haired teenage girl was shivering, her skin had turned purple and her lips chapped. The light that was meant to shine in every young person's eyes was not present in hers, as if it was snuff out. "Nobody's coming" "I was all alone from the beginning." the jaws of despair were inching closer and closer but she refused to give up yet. *Squeak Squeak* the occasional scurry of rats was the only sound that reminded her that she was still in the land of the living. "Not yet...I don't want to end here like this." Anastasia's eyes were barely open as she muttered these words.
*Clang Clang* "Hahahha...nice parry." Currently, in another location of the cave, Veronica was facing her own predicament as well. She knew in terms of strength she was inferior to an orc so she relied on her agility. 'A big frame just makes an easy reach'. *Slash* A pink afterimage from veronica's daggers flashed as she dual-wielded them to perfection. "Krrkkk! Hah! it's no use shrimp." A cold expression was still plastered on Veronica's face determined to end this skirmish she used the cave to her advantage. The orc's large frame and the crude weapon were disadvantageous in this narrow cave. It was brute strength against speed, However, how long could she last, the orc had parried almost every attack from her. Leaping from the cave wall down she pointed one of her daggers at the burly monster and spoke with a determined gaze "If I can't reach your neck, your chest, if I can't slice your chest then your balls, whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes I will bring you down." Facing the furious look of this damsel the Orc responded "That's good. Looks like I will stop playing around too." before the last syllable was uttered from his mouth the orc had already swung his huge broadsword directly at her, this was a straightforward attack with no slyness involved yet the raw bloodthirsty aura he had exploded with froze her for a moment before Veronica regained her composure. "Why are you backing off?" holding both daggers in a reverse grip towards her chest she evaded his attack before crouching "Hmmm?" Confronted by this awkward posture his opponent displayed the Orc did not stay arrogant and taunted "Are you coming or-" *Slash* "From behind? but how?" unable to comprehend how his opponent had 'mysteriously' appeared behind him he remained vigilant. Veronica was walking calmly towards him when he sped towards her in a fierce momentum to catch her unawares while being vigilant and thinking 'Where? Where will she appear this time?'. As if answering his doubts he heard a cold voice beside him "Over here Fuck face." Eyes red with rage he moved his sword swiftly but Veronica crouched again barely missing the edge of the blade before proceeding with a frontal thrust. As veronica's dagger approached his neck from a strange angle 'Fuck it's too late' he barely raised his arm to protect his neck and avoided a fatal attack "That was close. There cannot be two of you? Illusions? but you're not a spellcaster. A succubus huh? but there must be a price for....bleurgh" spurting blood from his mouth the orc's legs gave way before he inevitably got on his knees coughing. Veronica glanced at him before speaking "This is reality" like flower petals floating in the wind the current scene unfolded though it was not a beautiful sight. "It couldn't be...bleurgh" his body had deteriorated to the extent his regenerative abilities were helpless. "My sword?" staring wide-eyed at his left hand gripping nothing he was terrified before asking "You mean from the beginning you...Who are you?" Veronica was not faring much better anyways. Cleaning the blood trail from her nostrils she answered calmly "Veronica" before using his own sword to decapitate him. Searching for something with her clothes she removed a vial of red liquid before muttering "Now then, to find Anastasia and give her the serum" with that she hurried deeper into the cave.
*Slam* a figure had slammed its way into three trees before halting its tracks. Approaching the rubble with numerous vines behind him the blonde-haired boy jokingly remarked"Hahhaha big sister you really are made of rubber. You keep coming back no matter how many times I bounce you." While listening to the undermining remarks of this foul-mouthed child who was criticizing her futile efforts her armor had been severely damaged exposing her beautiful legs, it was quite an erotic sight. Propping herself up with her sword Emilia replied with rage "You really need a spanking." to which the boy answered "Not important to this battle but I am over fifty years old. I am a male dryad after all." shivering in disgust Emilia gripped her sword tighter and replied "That means today a junior would have to educate her elder. Do not underestimate holy knights." an impish smile appeared on the 'boy' as he used the vegetation to his advantage. Vines were approaching her again, just that this time her sword was literally on fire. "It does not matter your increase in attack, you are merely delaying your death. This territory is to my advantage...What?" gulping vials after vials the Dryad was amazed at the number of potions this holy knight had. "Ahhhh" sighing in satisfaction Emilia's gaze fell on the dryad again before she smirked and spoke in a playful tone "It doesn't matter even if you are a dryad. Without mana you are no different from the grass, I trample on every day. Ready or not here I come." the number of vines attacking Emilia increased in response to her mocking statement. 'Shit Shit Shit! She is right'
"You do not look concerned about your partner" Grace was elegantly exchanging blows with her opponent without batting an eyelid. Her opponent was also calm and she replied "His death is none of my concern" *Krsss* Both sides were unrelenting in their attacks. 'I am concerned, if that holy knight has healing potions it also means she has one too. I can't drag this battle any longer or else it would be a battle of attrition.' Interlocking her sword with her opponents "We are evenly matched let us stop here. I can give you two thousand gold coins if we call a draw." her previous cheekiness had disappeared but she miscalculated something Grace was fighting for a loved one. Towards people who went against her family..."No mercy" "What?" stunned by the faint reply the red-haired teenager tried to reason "Look it does not matter-" *Swippp* dodging in time a scratch had formed on her cheek bleeding. Confirming with her hands it was blood she put away any lukewarm expression she had and blew her top off lunging forward like a crazed beast "My face...you old hag". Grace remained stone-faced parrying some of her attacks the rest fell on her body causing her appearance to be terrifying but she merely flinched. "Why won't you go down? You are not going to use your potions?" the red-haired girl's sword was swung repeatedly towards Grace who was already pushed back maintaining her balance with her sword. "You are dying on my own terms" while going into a battle stance again Grace coldly muttered. "Fuck she is crazy" convinced that she was dealing with a lunatic she tried to escape when her route was cut off by Emilia. Using the handle of her sword to deliver a blow to her belly the red-haired girl collapsed to the floor "Where do you think you are going?" dragging her by the hair Emilia brought her back to Grace. "Sorry for bothering you. You have finished already?" Grace apologized to Emilia while asking how her battle went. "Yeah, I executed that perverted old man. What are you going to do with her?" looking at the girl on the floor groaning in pain Grace answered Emilia "Of course what she deserves" with despair in her eyes the red-haired girl was impaled heartlessly. *Bang Bang* listening to this commotion Emilia spoke "Master is still battling with that witch, hopefully, Veronica comes up on top too." "Master said deeper within the cave is Anastasia let us hurry" not minding the rude way Grace called the princess Emilia nodded and they both headed inside the cave.
"This is an exhilarating experience" Bradque at the moment was cackling like a creepy demon. Well demons are already creepy but his enjoyment scared the elf prodigy "I have never faced a normal ranker with the ability to keep up with a spell caster of the same level. At this moment I can tell you are Level 7 but you are still keeping your pace. " Bradque was not interested in Krista's flattering words, I mean the woman had even gotten his level wrong, he was merely putting on a show so she could not fly away. 'No matter what I need to copy her powers' He stopped 'panting' and looked towards the sky before speaking with an unwavering determination "Again!". Bradque was 'bleeding' and a small pool had gathered at his feet. Sighing at this familiar pitiful sight Krista showed no mercy before thinking inwardly 'His mana is almost over. What a fool it is over' "Second Circle FUNERAL PYRE" This was Bradque's trump card but he had used it twice now. Watching the heavily injured man persevering forward with the large sword Krista did not lose her guard "You have used that move before...WATER DRAGON" Bradgque had discovered that spell caster's moves were entirely different from battle techniques. His phoenix Sword style for example was manipulation of the body to accept mana but Spell casters manipulated mana directly a stark difference. water shaped dragons 'devoured' Bradque overwhelming the Demon king, his Phoenix technique had already been quenched; How ironic for a technique name after a Phoenix. snapping her fingers the water dragons dispersed and Bradque fell to the ground with a thud unconscious. Hovering downward Krista grabbed his sword and pierced the unconscious Bradque in the chest. "Arghhhh" brought back to consciousness by the pain Bradque's arms and legs flailed about before he gradually ceased movement. "With this, the curse can be lifted " pulling the sword from his chest a gaping hole was left. "This sword looks special too it can sell for quite the price. Arghhh I barely have any mana left." gripping the sword sideways she was appraising the weapon while complaining how tired she was, little did she know Bradque's chest cavity was healing up. "Only left is proof. How am I going to carry this body. Looks like I have to chop him up first" while contemplating something completely unladylike Bradque opened his eyes. Turning back she could not find the 'body' before she blacked out she heard a voice "DEVOUR".