Derek and Fabien were yet to recover from the aftereffect of their intense battle and found themselves in a precarious situation. They had exhausted their strength and mana during the fight and found it impossible to surmount the steep entrance of the cave. The rest members of their guild had already fled for their lives leaving them to fend for themselves.
As they struggled, they could see the figures of numerous poison steel spiders emerging from the depths of the cave. Fear gripped their heart tightly as they tried to summon the remaining power left in them.
At that same time, Karan who had fled along with the rest of the group suddenly halted his steps. The intense pressure emitted by the poison steel spiders caused his mind to go blank for a moment and the only thing he could think of was to run for his life. It wasn't until this moment he realized himself.
'Those two idiots should be finding it difficult to get out of the cave.'
He watched the battle from beginning to end and knew their current state. He couldn't believe that they ruined what would have been a great harvest for the sake of settling old grievances. How could they be so unreasonable?
Even though he was unwilling to help, he couldn't just leave them to be eaten alive by the poison steel spiders. After all, they were all awakeners who fought for the good of their world. The tragic scene he witnessed several years ago came up in his mind. He wasn't going to let it happen a second time. Thinking this, he turned around and dashed back towards the cave.
The rest members of the group were all surprised by his action.
'What did he think he's doing? Is he out of his mind?' They couldn't help wondering. The Front Liners guild members tried calling his name, but he turned a deaf ear to their calls and dashed out of sight.
A few moments later, Karan arrived at the entrance to the cave. He couldn't help being dumbfounded at the scene he saw.
Derek and Fabien were still trying to escape but they were too weak and could only hold on to a piece of rock at the entrance of the cave. Not too far from them were dozens of poison steel spiders. These spiders seemed rather unhurried as they slowly approached the two dangling prey.
Karan thought it would be too late by the time he arrive but he was quite relieved by what he saw. Reaching into his bag, he took out a short rope and threw one end towards Derek.
Derek saw his last line of hope dangle before his eyes. He didn't waste a single moment. Quickly he gripped the rope tightly and was pulled out of the cave to his safety.
He glanced towards his savior with a gaze full of gratitude. Just when he was about to say something, Karan interrupted him, "What are you still waiting for? Run now!"
Hearing this, Derek hurriedly shuffled off into the distance.
Karan glanced into the cave and met Fabien's pleading gaze as he held tightly to a piece of rock. A trace of anger and reluctance flashed through his eyes. He quickly restrained his emotions and cast the short rope towards Fabien's position.
"Quickly!" He said with a frown.
Fabien held the rope tightly and was gradually pulled upwards.
Seeing this scene, the poison steel spiders became more hysterical. With an increased pace, they raced along the cave wall in pursuit of their escaping prey.
Karan was surprised by their reaction. He immediately increased his pace, quickly drawing Fabien to safety.
Once Fabien was out of the cave, Karan turned around as he prepared to activate his movement technique to flee the area. Seeing the insane reaction of the poison steel spiders, it was obvious that it wouldn't be long before they emerged from the cave. Now that he was done with the rescue, there was no reason for him to remain here, he had to catch up with the rest group.
Just at that moment, there was a sudden gush of wind. Karan was taken aback. He was instantly swept off his feet, causing him to stumble back into the cave.
As he plunged downward, he quickly grabbed onto a rock, preventing him from hitting the bottom. His face paled instantly in shock as he stared at the figure at the entrance.
"You bastard! What the hell are you doing?"
After being rescued, who would have thought that this guy would be so thickened-skinned to backstab him? Wasn't there a limit to being shameless?
This was not Fabien's first time in a D-rank dungeon. The poison steel spiders were fast and he knew he couldn't escape them now that he was injured. Even though he was rescued out of the cave, they will eventually catch up to him before he reached the rest of the group. Thinking this, he made a resolute decision to perform such a heinous act.
In this way, the attention of the poison steel spiders will be diverted to Karan, giving him enough time to escape.
He glanced at Karan with a touch of pity in his eyes and said, "Don't worry, your death wouldn't be in vain. I will surely remember you in the future for your great sacrifice." Saying so, he hobbled into the distance at a fast pace.
Karan Felt a surge of bitterness wash over him like a tide. He had just performed an act of kindness but ended up being repaid with evil. Why was the world so wicked? This was why they say 'Life is easier when you mind your own business.'
Just as he thought in anguish, he could see the swarm of poison steel spiders advancing ferociously at him. The murderous aura of the monsters permeated the atmosphere and Karan felt like he was weighed down by a huge boulder, making it difficult for him to breathe.
He tried his best to hold onto the piece of rock, but he couldn't summon his strength as his grip was gradually loosened. Just then, plummeted downwards like a broken doll, hitting hard against the bottom of the cave.
He managed to get up to his feet and staggered as his bones creaked endlessly. Just then, the poison steel spiders came rushing at him like a bunch of frenzied creatures.
Karan looked at this scene yet his expression remained calm. During his time as an awakener, he had been to several dungeons, slaying numerous monsters and escaping death multiple times. Just like the statement that says, 'whatever goes around must surely come around.' He knew he was likely to fall victim to the same fate someday, but he didn't expect it to be like this.
There wasn't even a chance to revenge. That bastard would live a free life without anyone knowing what he had done.
'I have a lot of dreams and ambitions yet to be fulfilled. I can't lose hope now. Even if there seems to be no chance, I still have to give my all.'
Thinking this, his determination soared into the skies as he unsheathed his twin swords. Just then, one of the poison steel spiders arrived in front of him and struck out its sharp steel-like legs. Karan tilted his body to the side and avoided the fatal blow with a hairsbreadth. Then he launched himself at the lower body of the monster.
CLANG…!
A metallic sound resounded in the air. Karan gritted his teeth as his attack failed to make an impact. The monster reacted angrily and struck a second leg at him at an amazing speed. Karan tried to avoid the attack but his speed was a little bit lacking. The leg of the monster struck into his abdomen, causing a fountain of blood to gush out.
Karan groaned and stumbled to the ground. There was shock on his face as he glanced at his gruesomely deep wound. A sharp and unbearable pain emanated from it.
Seeing him in this state, the dozens of poison steel spiders rushed at him at once, Jabbing and tearing him to pieces, leaving him no time to react. Karan saw his entire life flash before his eyes before his vision gradually grew dim.
Right at that moment, a strange pop-up came into his vision like a notification window.
[The conditions have been met…]
[New fragment detected…]
'Huh? Is this what everyone sees before they die?' Karan wondered as he found it quite strange.
[Analyzing situation…]
[Exporting fragment…]
Just then, he could faintly see another notification before his vision went completely blank.