Lucy opened the doors of the Seal Barers' Society and was greeted by an uproar. A small crowd of outer city villagers and miners were being herded by armed city guards.
"What's going on here?" Lucy demanded.
"Ms. Lucy!" a guard called, making her way toward her. "We have a problem."
"A girl was lost in the Goblin Mine Dungeon last night!" a villager took up the explanation, obviously an old miner.
"There is a protocol for this." Lucy replied. "We will send a team of Barers when we..."
"A Barer went after her. A child from your association." the man interrupted.
Lucy's face became noticably pale. She'd registered hundreds of Barers in her time at the Society but only one had been a child. Sean Osaka, Seal - Greed, the inconclusive case. She'd spent the pass two days trying to understand his skills.
She'd never seen a skill called Gluttony before and the only match to his Seal she could find was an ancient war between Gods and Demons that gave birth to seven of the deadliest beings in existence known only as Sins. It was said that Greed was one of the worst, feeding off the energy of all that it lay eyes on. The very thought scared her.
"Tell Cya when she comes in to contact Squad 87 and tell Nina to meet me immediately." she ordered to no one in particular.
"Where are you going?" the guard questioned in confusion.
"I'm going to the Goblin Mines myself."
The caves were dark besides the few small flames that illuminated certain areas. The stench in the air was foul. It was a smell that Osaka quickly associated with blood.
"Death." he whispered as he made his way through the corridor.
Danger alerted his senses leaving him more cautious than usual. He had nothing but a sword at the back of his waist to protect himself. No armor, no spells. He felt exposed as even the wind cut through his joggers and his tank top left him nearly bare. He needed nothing to weigh him down while fighting Dregs but now, what was to protect him from the bite of a blade? He unconsciously drew his weapon.
"Nami." he called barely above a whisper as to not beckon the Goblin that inhabited the caves.
He listened attentively to the sounds around him becoming self-conscious of his own footsteps. He could hear a small growl vibrate softly off of the walls. The corridor opened into a large cave lined with deposits of an ore that Osaka couldn't identify. Three Goblin sat around a small fire fighting over a small piece of gold that looked like....
'Before her mother left the only thing she left behind was a necklace that Nami never takes off.'
It was Nami's necklace. His heart skipped and his blood began to boil. Fear cut deeper than any blade but it was quickly replaced by rage. The villagers were waiting for Nami's return. Waiting for him to bring her back. She was their last hope of salvation since the Society refused to help them. She couldn't be dead.
"Hey!" he screamed, not remember when he'd actually entered the area. "Where is she?"
"Eh?" a Goblin responded looking both surprised and annoyed.
Two rose, brandishing small swords while the other strung it's bow. Before he could think an arrow sliced through the air pursued by his first attacker. The arrow missed his head by a fraction of an inch as a small blade arched once toward his stomach and again toward his neck. The attacks were slow, easily avoidable and with one swing his blade hacked halfway through it's body. Another arrow pierced his shoulder, reopening his wound as he tried to retrieve the dull blade.
Pain shot through him but was quickly replaced by adrenaline. He couldn't die here, not now. He ran toward the the remaining two, weaponless, ducking beneath another arrow before slamming a foot into the other warrior and wrenching it's weapon as it fell. He quickly spun and before the archer could nock another arrow the blade cut through the bow and the neck behind it. The last Goblin was now weaponless as it backed away in fear.
Osaka retrieved the small necklace from beside the flames where it'd fell. Before the Goblin could even think to run Osaka stood over it with pure hatred in his eyes. And his blade descended in the dim of the light.
"...the area is nothing but an isolated living area left barren after the first breech ten years ago. There is no remnants of Keshin not artifacts leaving only one conclusion." Kyo leaned against the office door. "They are not searching for something, but someone. The area is filled with delinquents, kids who's parents died during the first massacre."
"Good. We need to investigate these children but we need to be discreet. We can't allow the media to figure out that we're interrogating children. It would be a press nightmare. We've already had a little girl lost in a dungeon that we've neglected and a child Barer trying to play hero. We don't need any more negative press at the moment." the man took a puff of his cigar.
"Do I need to handle the dungeon problem?" Kyo asked in disinterest.
"No, that won't me necessary." he exhaled irritantly. "Lucy had led Squad 87 in rescue efforts. You just clean up this investigation before it looks like the Society has lost control. We need to figure out who they're looking for and why."
Lucy entered the cave cautiously dressed in purple joggers, a purple cloak and a breastplate that only covered her upper torso. Two daggers hung at the small of her waist, enchanted with runes of power.
She easily blended into the shadows as she made her way through the dungeon with the skill of an experienced assassin. She was careful to avoid light and anything that would make sounds, preferring the soft winds that would give away any signs of movement. As the corridor gave way to the first opening she was greeted by three Goblin slaughtered in battle.
A blade was cleaved halfway through one, another's head was split in two and the last was left with no head at all. She continued through the darkness becoming more impressed as the dead grew. The boy was nothing but a kid but these kills seemed the work of a man.
"Argghhh!" a roar broke her admiration. Her steps hastened as she heard the familiar sound of crossing blades. Her heart quickened in fear. The cave gave way to another opening where the boy faced a Bugbar with nothing but a tattered sword. His dodge was almost graceful but the blade was too short, too dull. Every attack seem wasted. The beast realized the same as it pressed forward.
It was proving to be too much for the boy. As his foot gave way to a split in the ground his blade gave way to a back slash. The boy kept his footing but he was defenceless to the second axe as it sliced through the air aimed to open his chest.
"No!" she yelled, drawing her blades and running faster than her feet could take her. The axe smashed into her defended side sending her crashing into the boy before everything gave away to darkness.
The Bugbar towered over the human cub and what seemed to be it's mate. It's mate had robbed it of it's death blow but now it had two for the price of one. The King would be pleased. Both lay motionless. It wanted to take them back and display them like the other human cub but these ones seem too dangerous. It would be better to just end them here. The thought filled it with pride.
It rose it's blade high to deliver the final blow but the cub staggered back to its feet with no sign of life behind it's eyes. It was like a walking course trying to protect it's mate. A laugh filled it's lungs as its axe descended on the would-be protector. Dust and gravel arose upon impact but the blade was met with resistance. As the debris cleared the cub stood motionless defending with a blade of the Demon-kin.
The sword was as white as snow with a blade ad black as the supreme ones that called themselves Demon. It's presence held authority higher than even the Goblin King. It brought fear to the Bugbar but that fear was soon replaced with anger. This was the same cub that was on the brink of death not too long ago.
It let loose a flurry of attacks, each blocked more easily than the last. It rose it's axe preparing for another smash attack but the cub vanish in an instant, severing an arm then a leg. It fell to it's knee trying with the last of it's strength to defy it's death but the cub appeared again, fist smashing into it's face, sending it crashing into it's back. It open it's eyes long enough to see the cub's blade plunging toward it. Then nothing.
Lucy awoke to a splitting headache, sprawled across the dungeon floor. She arose slowly taking note of the massive creature lying motionless in the center of the dark cavern.
'The Bugbar' she quickly assessed as she began to search frantically for the boy. She found him asleep, leaning against a wall next to her as if to protect her. He clutched a blade in his arms that was both beautiful and frightening.
'What is this boy?" she asked herself as she began to scan him again.
'Sean Osaka... Seal - Greed/???... Status: Unconscious... Skills: Gluttony, Sword Mastery C, Strength of the Orc, Analysis, ???, ???... Weapon: Masamuna - Twilight Blade of the Demon King - Growth Type. Skill: Demonization.'
"Woah..." she gasped without notice. Not only was the boy stronger than he'd been during his entrance exams, he was also growing at an alarming rate. Most Barers could only hope to master their existing skills but this kid was learning skills the more he fought.
"Greed... Gluttony..." she repeated to herself staring into the boys now open eyes.
"Ms. Lucy? What are you doing here?" he asked cluelessly.
She quickly turned her head, red with embarrassment. "I could ask you the same. The Society is probably on a manhunt trying to rescue you and the girl."
She seen a change in his eyes as he seemed to age in a matter of seconds. "You shouldn't have come."
"You'd be dead if I hadn't... We have rules kid. Protocol for things like this. A party is formed to clear dungeons, we don't just challenge them alone." she reprimanded.
"You don't understand. The village has suffered waiting for the Society to help. I was too weak. I was scared." tears began to sting the back of his eyes. "If I'd been stronger she wouldn't have had to face this alone. I couldn't protect her."
Lucy had known all about the Goblin Mine Dungeon. It continued to fall to the bottom of the Society's priority list while villagers died and it's recourses withered away. It was unfair to the people of the village but what could she do when it was her bosses that set the priority levels?
"Still we... We have rules..." she tried to convince herself not than him. She didn't agree with it either but it was the way of the Society.
" I'm sorry but if your rules tell me to turn my back while innocent people are dying then I should've never joined the Society. I was given a Seal to protect the world from Keshin, not leave them to die." he argued.
Her heart fluttered for the first time since becoming a Barer. She'd forgotten why she wanted to become a Barer in the first place. Her people suffered in Beijing. Her family, her home. Looking at this boy seemed to start a fire in her heart that she hadn't nursed in years. She began to feel ashamed.
"Well... Someone needs to teach you how to use that sword then don't they?"
A car parked at the base of the mountain producing three unknown Barers.
"Are we too late?" a small girl in a pointed hat sighed.
"Maybe not. Lucy's car is still here and there hasn't been word from the Society." the taller, more voluptuous woman commented.
"With our luck Lucy has dragged us into a high rank dungeon." the man whined.
"That's better for us. High rank means high reward." the beauty replied.
" Nina, it's always about money with you. I haven't been able to raise any of my skill levels in 3 weeks." the smaller girl rolled her eyes.
"And I keep missing dates." the man sighed.
"Tia, Ryu if we complete this request we can afford better gear and go on as many dates at we want. But as of now we can barely even afford our rent and I know we are tired of starving." Nina protested as their stomachs growled simultaneously.
"But my date was going to buy me a meal." Ryu whined again.
"Let's go lover boy." Tia pulled him by the ear.
The cave was a horrible site. Blood stained the walls and filled the air around them. Goblin lay slain everywhere in a gruesome mess. It was ten minutes before either of them spoke.
"This place gives me the creeps." Ryu spoke first.
"You said it. It's like the aftermath of a massacre. Did Ms. Lucy do this?" Tia questioned.
"This doesn't make any sense. Lucy is skilled but this is plain slaughter. Why would someone capable of this level of skill be in a Mid-Rank dungeon?" Nina was confused.
They were here to assist Lucy with retrieving a boy who'd just become a Seal Barer but she had a feeling that a monster was lurking within this dungeon.
"Then where..." Ryu began.
"Shhh." Nina interrupted, crouching low to the ground. There was the distinct sound of fighting ahead.
As they rounded a corner they saw a boy and a girl fighting the last of what looked like dozens of Goblin alone.
"Isn't that Ms. Lucy?" Ryu instantly noticed the beauty.
"You're right. But who is this kid?" Tia questioned in amazement.
Lucy looked to be struggling to defeat three Goblin while the boy beheaded five simultaneously without effort. Nina was fascinated by the boys blade that looked like an undiscovered jewel from the heavens.
"Is that the entrance to the Boss Chamber?" the boy asked nonchalantly.
"Yes but be careful. I am truly amazed that you were able to grow fast enough to make it this far alone but the boss is on a completely different level. We may need a party." Lucy explained.
'Alone?!' Nina gasped in surprise. Who was this kid that knew nothing about Boss Chambers but could challenge a Mid-Rank dungeon alone? A Rank 2 could barely achieve that. And that's with prior knowledge.
"It looks like we have a party." Osaka motioned behind Lucy.
'Nina - Seal: Valkyrie... Tia - Seal: Morgana... Ryu - Seal: Fire Starter...' the information appeared.
"Friends of yours?" he asked irritantly.
"Nina you made it." Lucy greeted.
"Busted." Tia joked.
"Lucy what are you doing outside the Boss Chamber in a Mid-Rank dungeon alone? Aren't you the one preaching protocol? If this is the boy we came to retrieve then let's go." Nina stated as she finally rounded the corner. If the boy was gou d it made her job easier. She could get paid and be done with this place.
"I honestly didn't expect to get this far." she looked back toward Osaka.
"What are the odds?" Osaka questioned showing little interest in the conversation.
"Are you crazy?" Nina exclaimed.
"The odds of you and I alone are about thirty-five percent. It is not in our favor. With their help we still only have a two percent increase." Lucy ignored Nina's protests.
"Lucy don't lie to the boy. We don't even have that much of a chance." Nina commented, leaning face level with the boy, showing entirely too much cleavage. "Look kid, Boss level monsters are ridiculously strong. It takes entire raid parties to handle them. Now I know u want to be cool infront of us beautiful women but we can't...."
"What is the Goblin's primary weakest?" he ignored her again.
"All Goblin aren't that strong but the make up for it with speed and unpredictable attack patters. They have a strong resistance to earth type magic and at weak against fire..." she stopped mid sentence as both she and Osaka looked back at Ryu. "Fifty-seven percent. I'm in if they are."
"Lucy!" Nina exclaimed. "You're smarter than this! You're going to send this kid to his grave and us along with him. It'd be better if we just turned back now and..."
"I'm not turning back." Osaka acknowledged the conversation for the first time. "There is a girl behind these doors that came to protect her village. She was captured because I was too weak to help her and I won't let her die. So if you want to go back you can turn back without me but I'm not going to leave innocent people to die."
His words echoed in the silent cave. A Seal Barer had become a celebrity so no one would put their lives on the line and give up the fame and fortunate that it offered. But this boy made them feel shame. If they didn't protect the weak then who would?
"You're right..." Lucy interjecting. "I am smarter than to say something that I don't truly believe. Which is why I never will. None of you may know this kid's capabilities but you know my work as well as my reliability. You can either help or go back with nothing."
Nina looked back toward the boy in disbelief. Who was this kid that made even Lucy believe the impossible?
"Look, Nina was it?" Osaka stared into her eyes. "Whatever treasure the Boss monster has is yours so it's your choice. Help and get more than you make alone or go back and get nothing."
Dollar signs appeared in Nina's eyes before she hesitated.
"Come on Nina. If Ms. Lucy believes we can pull this off then I trust her." Tia encouraged.
"And I will treat the three of you to meals for a week." Lucy added.
"DEAL." bother Nina and Ryu exclaimed simultaneous.