A swing after another, this fella desperately tries to knock both Luca and me out, but since he is using a heavy weapon, the recoil time for him after releasing an attack is too lengthy that I can even take a quick snack while dodging.
Serves him right, he sounds too high and mighty back then, when he fused the jewel and his weapon. Now he sacrificed speed to gain more damage. Not a bad idea if you ask me, well, that is if we are just sitting and waiting for him to whack the brains out of our skull.
As he continues to do the same thing while Luca and I both dodge it instantly every time he does I can clearly see on his face the desperation and frustration building upon him after each unsuccessful strike he does.
It goes on and on until I can hear his subordinates gossiping while others are smirking while they stare at their Guild Master desperately trying to defeat us.
Poor guy, I'm sure he noticed it by now, the stares of those looking down on him and doubting his capabilities.
It goes on and on until something unexpected happened to the guy. He lost his footing and slips down to the ground without us doing anything. It is just him and his desperation that knocks him down to the ground.
Seeing it, his subordinates laugh at him. He took his time to get up and after he did, he stares at them in awe, somehow he looks nervous and it is drawn clearly on his face that he felt pity for himself.
"Woah, nice slide Guild Master." Luca said, provoking the guy while adding more pressure to him and his current situation.
The guy punches the ground in anger as if he is blaming everyone for his misery.
"Why you ungrateful trash!" He groaned.
And then I suddenly felt a snap coming from the man, this is not just an ordinary one since I can clearly see his rage forming behind him, an ominous shadow that the sole purpose of existence is to wreak havoc and strife on the battlefield.
The man then stood up and went closer to the one who has the loudest laugh. He taps his shoulder and then bashed him instantly without any warning.
The laughing stops that moment but the man hasn't had enough, he then attacks the person next to the one he crushed and then followed by the other next to him until the guys surrounding us that serves as the boundary of our battlefield scatters while he, their Guild Master chases them down.
"What's happening to him?" I said, troubled as I stare at the guy in front of me, the Guild Master as they call him.
What is more troubling me is the banner on top of the man's head that is fairly not a good sign.
[Rage Mode Active] as it says.
'Rage-mode? What is this now?'
So I asked the woman next to me, if she can also see what I am currently staring at the moment.
"Hey Luca, do you see that?" I said while pointing a finger to the banner that is a bit high above the man's head.
"Of course I do! I can see a man going nuts in front of me." She said.
Maybe she just misinterpreted what I mean since I just point and asked her a vague question, so I made a few clarifications.
"No, I mean that over there, above his head." I said, thoroughly pointing out the banner on the Guild Master's head.
Luca gave me a glare as if she is looking at some sort of idiot asking something very obvious.
"That would be the cave's ceiling dude." She replied.
By what she just said to me, I concluded that she couldn't see the banner I was referring to that is hanging like a sore thumb on top of the man's head.
'Okay, she can't see it.'
I watch him rampage around like a raging bull charging towards a red mantle that a matador carries around with him, desperately chasing it with his pair of horns.
His strife continues until one time, when he swings his hammer to a corner hitting a stone pillar inside the cave, sending a huge portion of it towards a direction then followed by another swing similar to that of a golf swing and hits one of his subordinates sending him flying towards the same direction to where the boulder went.
Then I heard Emily and Alex exclaimed from a distance, shouting on top of their lungs so that their complaints could reach the ears of the one they want to hear the most, something that I could practically guess the reason why they did what they did.
"The fuck are you doing throwing something as dangerous as that? You want us to be collateral damage?!" Emily yelled followed by Alex's scolding.
"Don't fucking throw someone randomly to bystanders you fool!" She said.
I could only give off a sigh in relief that nothing happened to them and to their childish and carefree attitude.
"Brother… I…"
Hearing what this rampaging man said caught my attention and made me turn my head towards him. I stare at him while he holds his forehead as if he is in great pain that I can clearly see the small red veins on his eyes that will seem to pop any minute.
His eyes look similar to those drug-dependent people I see in pictures that are presented on those illegal drugs seminars I recently attended.
"…I, I will!"
He then rolls his bloodshot eyes towards Luca and me glaring at us with those scary pair of red-tinted orbs that if I may describe, it will only take just a little more pressure and his eyeballs will definitely pop out of his eye sockets.
The man bellows, forcing Luca and me to prepare ourselves as we both expect an incoming attack from the man, and we are right on our decision to raise our guard up.
Wielding his hammer, the man charges towards us, slamming his weapon in a downward motion as he aims for a sure kill. We are able to dodge it easily but the splinters, dirt, and rubble created by the strong impact of his weapon to the ground created a curtain of dust clouds covering our vision of him.
I landed on both feet just a few steps away from the crash zone, and then suddenly a figure pops out from the clouds of dust coming towards me at full speed.
When I realized who it is, it was too late and the cold blunt steel hits me directly on my chest, on that very moment my breathing suddenly stops then instantly returns back to me after I was sent flying a few more meters back and crashes towards the cave wall.
I cough desperately while leaning on the wall as I try to catch my breath, the impact on my torso makes it hard for me to breathe properly and there is an ache I feel on the very spot where the hammer hits me that makes my upper body numb for some reason and when I listen to my breathing there is this somewhat hollow sound of air passing through my trachea along with something slimy and sticky clogging on it.
Slowly it rises up to my throat as I forcefully inhale due to the feeling that my body is scarce of air. Then I felt the urge of puking that sticky something stuck on my esophagus so I cough it out creating a squishing sound as the substance is removed from my throat and hit the ground.
When I took a glimpse at what it might be, I was surprised and petrified. Scattered on the ground is a crimson-colored liquid that came out of my mouth.
My eyes are shaking as I stare at it and realize that it might be what I am thinking. But before I could scan it further, another itchy feel on my throat began troubling me as I cough hardly for the second time. I covered my mouth using my hand and throw up for the second time.
The thick liquid drips down through the crevices of my fingers to the ground and after I throw enough, I stare at the palm of my hand and then concluded that it is what I am thinking.
'Blood?'
I felt a surging fear at that moment even though I know that it is just a simulation from the game.
'Simulation?'
Then I remembered what Luca said minutes ago.
"…blood began flowing from the cut which is not a part of the game effects…"
Then I realized, that there is no such thing as blood splatter as graphic effects in this game.
The man drags his hammer creating a screeching sound on the ground as he slowly walks towards me. His mouth opens and closes as if he is talking to someone but when he is near enough for me to hear what he is saying, I realized that he is not talking to someone at all; hence, he is chanting a single word repeatedly.
"Kill…Kill…Kill…"
I tried to move but my legs are currently shaking due to the damage I received, and when I stare at my HP gauge, it is also at a critical level. After receiving that swing, it cut more than a third of my HP bar and the gauge is blinking red already.
I got pissed at myself on how easily I've been neutralized by him that all I can just do right now is stare at the man that is aiming for my head.
Then I hear loud footsteps dashing in our direction along with clanking sounds of metal as it comes closer.
But the man is already ready to smash me to bits for he already lifts his hammer upwards and is about to make a freshly squeezed Kyle juice. Then he slams his hammer towards me and I instantly close my eyes.
Then I heard a loud clang of metal hitting another metal and then I realized that I am still wary of my surroundings, so I took a small peek upwards and saw one side of the hammer just a few inches away from my face.
Then in front of me are two figures holding their respective swords using it to prop the hammer's shaft preventing the hammer's head from hitting me.
"Nice reflex blondie, but I don't really need your help." One of the figures said.
"I just know that you can't stop it by yourself." The other replied.
I then realized that the ones who saved me from being a mashed potato were Luca and Carol. Together, the two push the hammer further away from me.
Luca immediately went to aid me since she already realized how I was greatly banged up that I can't even stand up on my own and gave me a full recovery potion out of her inventory.
"Here, take it." She said as she helps me drink the potion.
"Haven't I told you to be careful?"
I shook my head disagreeing with what she just said since I can't possibly talk because of the potion I am currently drinking.
"Nope, but you did now." I said after gulping down the last bit of the potion Luca gave me and then wipe my mouth using my backhand.
After finally recovering in an instant, like literally, I stand up and I know that in this very moment it is revenge time.
"I hope you limbered enough coz the only part of your body that won't have bruises are your freaking eyeballs." I said.
But the man, walking like a corps towards us as if he didn't hear my warning continues on babbling.
"Brother… I will… Kill them all!" he said and charges forward to us.
Carol took the initiative to defend as she blocks the weapon that the guy swings, forcing him to stop for a bit then Luca charges seeing the opportunity to strike.
But the man blocks Luca's blade using his bare hand, holding Luca in a still position.
"Hey! Something is definitely wrong with this Guild Master of ours!" Luca said to Carol.
But before they could react, the Guild Master slams his head to Luca's, the head bat was so strong that I heard a cracking sound upon impact as it sends Luca backward, releasing her hold on her sword in the process.
After that, the man flips the sword then grabs its hilt, and then flings it to Luca. The sword tossed to Luca pierced through her body nailing her on the cave wall and it all happened in an instant.
After that, he turns his attention to Carol and pushes her away in a very rough way, by means of bashing her sideways using his huge hammer.
I then took the chance to strike back but he just punches me when I was about to hit him and send me flying back.
When we talk about reflex, this dude has definitely enhanced his with just a brief amount of time.
Luca that is nailed on the wall tries her best to pull herself out but the rampaging man is also coming near her. When the guy is close enough to hit a swing, he pauses in front of Luca and preps the hammer aiming at Luca's crown.
The hammer was about to fall and if I remember it correctly the pain receptor on Luca is still at its maximum, so that would definitely be very painful for her and me being me, I can't let a woman suffer such pain.
'Shit I won't make it in time!'
To I tossed my dagger towards them, hitting the wall right next to Luca's head.
[You Used: Dagger Blink]
And before I realized it, I already used my body to shield Luca from the attack and the hammer entirely hits my back forcing me to slam my hand on the wall to support my body from hitting Luca, but the impact is too strong that it pushes me closer towards her.
I then pulled out the dagger and tossed it immediately away from our current location while I grab Luca on my other hand and transfer us to where the dagger is.
The man then chases after us, walking slowly as if he is not bothered if he is attacked by someone at all.
I try to stand up but the moment I did, my body immediately went down, and now I am kneeling on the ground.
"Hey! Come here you punk!"
When I turn my head in the direction Emily is standing firmly taunting the guy while behind her are Alex and Carol, Carol being severely wounded.
[A Party Member Used: Taunt]
[A Party Member Used: Art of Defense]
The effect of Emily's "Taunt" took effect and the man dashes towards her as he desperately attacks Emily that efficiently blocks every strike he makes.
On my left side, I watch Luca trying to remove the pierced sword on her, her face covered in blood due to the cut on her forehead and her body is bloodied as well. On my right side, I watch Emily protecting Alex and Carol behind her as she tries to call out for me, but I can't clearly hear it.
My mind slowly gets foggy, as for my eyes, they are now getting heavier and heavier for each passing second. I took a last glimpse of Emily and watch the man destroy her shield leaving her defenseless and then I saw Alex step up but the guy pushes her away with a backhand slap.
Then there is a total blackout and then I felt my body crash on the ground.
In the darkness, I heard a sound of a rolling object that fell on the ground, and then a notification on my black screen appears.
[You Used Recovery Potion]
I slowly regained consciousness and then I gently open my eyes and saw Luca facing me, while we are lying on the ground.
"Good, you're still alive." She said and I can clearly hear her catching her breath.
"How many times must I tell you to be careful?" She added
She then rolls and lies on her back and then she stares at the ceiling.
The ceiling is just a few feet away up from us, but her stare seems to transcend far beyond what my eyes can see.
I stood up and saw the trail of blood next to her, by then I realized that she crawls towards me with all her remaining strength.
"That's my last potion you jerk." She said then coughs hard.
"You better do exactly what you said earlier to that guy." Luca added.
Then a small window appears along with a picture of an elderly woman on it.
"You know, I miss my mum and I haven't seen her for a long time." She said while she caresses the picture of the woman on the floating window.
"You know, she always calls me back then every time that there is this one time that I got irritated and scolded her to never call me when she has a vacant time, but now, I want to hear her voice once again, I wanted to see her." She said while unconsciously her tears drop on the side of her eyes.
"You'll see her again, I promise."
She smug and then gestures me to go away and defeat the guy.
"Yeah right, just do what you have to do now." She said.
I nod in agreement to what she just said, and then I turn around but before I could leave the spot, Luca calls for me one more time.
"Hey, do you even have a plan?" She asked.
And I replied to her.
"Yeah, I do. Thanks for the head start for telling me about the important details of the dungeon earlier." I said.
"Good then, go get him champ."
I throw one of my daggers inside the dungeon as far as I could, then I firmly hold the other in my hand. I call for the guy that is harassing the three girls as I shout to him on top of my lungs.
"Hey you wuss, why don't you pick someone your own size?" I screamed and then dashes towards him.
The guy heard my call and began running towards me, as we are about to make contact, I took a side step and tackle him down.
[You Used: Dagger Blink]
I teleport the Guild Master with me inside the dungeon and before he could recover, I give my all to push him further deeper into the dungeon by kicking him with all my might.
I then distance myself from him and randomly grab something inside the dungeon together with my dagger that is pierced on the ground inside the dungeon.
The man just stands up as if nothing happened and walks closer towards me while still chanting the same words he said.
"Kill… I will kill them all."
I was very irritated after hearing that, so I answer him back.
"The only one that will kill her is that thing." I said while pointing to the gigantic statue behind him.
[Add to your Inventory?]
I tossed the object that I grab and add it to my inventory. The dungeon door slowly closes and the dungeon began rumbling.
The stone statue behind the Guild Master began showing some dents and after it was completely covered by cracks, a loud deafening roar echoes throughout the cave as the nine-headed beast was released from its restraints.
Right before the doors completely closes I toss my dagger outside the dungeon and then transfer myself out.
Right before the dungeon door closed, I saw one of the Hydra's head engulf the man, and then the door shuts and this time it is for all eternity.
I walk back to where Luca is, and to my surprise, she is now surrounded by Emily, Alex, and Carol.
Alex tries to wake Luca up, while Emily is standing on the side while staring at Luca with worried eyes while Carol is holding Luca's hand as she sits beside her.
"Kyle there is something wrong here, she won't wake up no matter how hard I try." Alex said, worried about Luca that is lying on the ground.
"I already gave her an HP potion, but it doesn't seem to take effect. She should be pixelating by now and respawn to her start town." Emily added.
Among the girls around Luca, Carol is the only one who didn't bother to talk as she squeezes Luca's hand tightly.
We won that time, but it doesn't felt like we actually win something at all. I sit next to Carol and stare at the picture of the woman that Luca stares at.
"She really follows after her mom." I said.
***
Running on a hallway, a man around his twenties rushes to an office. In a hurry, he even forgot to knock on the door to let the person inside be aware of him coming in.
"Miss Alma there is an emergency!" He shouted as he opens the door and let himself inside, and found the woman he is calling to lying on the sofa inside her office with her Dive Gear still attached on her.
"Um, miss Alma?"
"Yeah, I heard you." The woman named Alma said as she removes the Dive Gear off her head.
"You dived into the game?" The man asked.
And the woman glares at him, startling the man with her cold and piercing gaze.
"What is this so important matter that you even forgot to knock?" Alma said and her expression clearly says that she is not in a good mood.
The man explains to her the situation.
"Well as you can see, our test subject number 2 is currently having a heart attack, but our doctors are doing their best to save her." He said.
"So?" Alma answered.
"Well… isn't she an important test subject for our research?"
Alma stands up and stares outside the huge glass window of her office.
"She is if she's alive." Alma said.
"If somehow, test subject 2 won't make it, just call and inform her mother about what happened and give her a good funeral for all I care." She added.
Noticing that the man seems to be lost in the situation, Alma sighs and just orders him to do what she said in case the situation calls for it.
"Just do what I told you and get out."
Alma then bites her right thumbnail, somehow annoyed by the man's report.
"Failed huh?" She mumbled.