[You have slain Helos, a mundane-level human]
[You have received a skill!]
Argo's heart palpitated with mixed feelings. It really was a former human, one that had lost to the defilement running through the catacombs. Pushing that aside he felt excitement, despite experiencing a dangerous battle. Before he could inspect his belongings, Faye had already kicked over the corpse.
"Let's head back. That got a little dangerous." Her tone carried hints of exasperation.
The expression she had on was terrifying, her eyes slightly widened with her mouth grimaced in a demented grin. It was like a stone statue had started to display expressions akin to a blood-lusted warrior. He could detect traces of disappointment in her tone.
Her demeanor swiftly reverted to normal, as she helped him up.
Following her from behind, a wave of questions surged into his mind. How was she able to mix into the shadows? Why did I get a drop from a corrupted human?
Argo averted his eyes from her back, the manic expression she had on earlier didn't sit right with him. He decided to access the Records and check what he obtained.
Quest: Free the Sun from it's eternal bindings.
Name: Argo
Epithet(s): Last Hero
Rank: 0
Inherent: [The Miracle]
Traits: [Dichotomy], [Hero of Finality]
Skills: [Hex Barrier]
Stats: [Strength: G+], [Endurance: G+], [Dexterity: G+], [Agility: G+], [Mana: G+]
Equipment: [Embrace of Gleneus], [Iron Sword]
Argo was elated, he had finally received his first skill! He quickly analyzed its description, assuming it to be the spell that had blocked his attack.
Rank: 0
Grade: F
Type: Spell
[Hex Barrier]: Derived from a mage who had once desired to protect all that he held dear. Creates a barrier capable of repelling physical and magic based attacks. The shield's protection scales with the amount of mana supplied.
Argo was impressed with the effectiveness of the spell, as it nearly turned the tides in the mage's favor- most likely because it was a Grade F spell! While those that lacked a skill to create a barrier, creating one out of mana with pure finesse wasn't impossible but was significantly less powerful then a skill.
He was slightly disappointed it wasn't the fire-related spell. It would've increased his offensive capabilities by a mile. Especially if he tried using [Enhancement] on it, the possibilities would've been endless. He was still thankful nonetheless, obtaining a skill as a drop was exceedingly rare.
Closing the Records, Argo gazed at Faye's back as they made their way down the corridor. He felt uneasy. The shift in her attitude during the earlier fight was unnerving to say the least. He wasn't sure what her thought process was. Was there something she needed to prove to herself? Or was there some sort of mental trauma responsible?
Argo had no right to judge her, but he was concerned.
"What was that back there?" He stated, a little bit forcibly. It came out a little more harsher then he intended. But he knew if he didn't put it in a certain way, she would blow him off.
"Ah, sorry for using you as bait," She brushed off. Her eyes never shifted, remaining focused on the path in front of them. Argo felt slightly aggravated by her casual demeanor.
"That's not what I meant." Argo sped up, walking side by side with her. "Why'd you fight like that?"
Faye's eyes sharpened, cocking her head. "Why does it matter? We killed it didn't we?"
"I don't want a suicidal partner," Argo snapped. "What was the point in charging straight at it? There were plenty of ways to dispose of it safely."
Faye spat venomously, "Oh, screw you. I don't want you criticizing my actions."
Argo had never seen Faye show such emotion, but he felt he was in the right. "Regardless about my safety, I'm not too keen on watching someone I know die in front of me."
"How selfish," she sneered continuing down the corridor. "We're just using each other, think nothing of it."
Watching her gain more distance from him, he could only follow his fists unconsciously clenching. He didn't know why she reacted so strongly to his words. Just earlier she was rational, and cool-headed. Even more lively then usual.
In tense silence, a slender youth with short black hair and red x-shaped pupils trailed behind a girl who seemed to blend into the shadows dancing around their lanterns. No matter how far the pair traveled, they never encountered another human. All that populated the catacombs were hollow corpses of humans who had long passed, only spurred on by the corruption of a hidden entity.
As they descended deeper into the vast network of corridors, Argo's feelings of unease grew. He could hear faint murmurs pervading the rotten air, as if ghosts were whispering about their impending demise. The skulls adjourning the walls gazed at him with haunted expressions, their gazes piercing his back.
And yet, his one source of stability had changed.
Faye had pushed on, attempting to fight more challenging opponents that lay within the deeper confines of the catacombs. Despite outwardly appearing as a team, their recent difference in opinion caused a small rift. He would watch her engage undead knights clad in armor, capable of using mana. He knew at his current level he could put up a decent fight, but unlike the ramshackle skeletons from the surface one mistake would cost him his life.
His thoughts drifted, trying to piece together why they failed to encounter any remains of other humans. The Catacombs of Yore existed as a hot spot for adventurers seeking to increase their strength or riches. With the crowd of footprints that littered both the entrance, and early floors they should've encountered at least one human party while traversing the undead labyrinth.
But they didn't encounter a single person, which didn't seem to bother Faye in the slightest. Watching her fight from behind, he could observe her movements more accurately.
She was fighting recklessly.
In their spars her sword movements were graceful, with slashes calculated with meticulousness. As only a novice in combat, he could still see the stark difference between the current and previous Faye. He wouldn't be as arrogant to claim he knew her exact form of sword style or mindset, but the difference was clear as day.
She was currently embroiled in an intense duel with a knight carved from granite. Its armor intricately carved, displaying exquisite designs befitting a royal guard. Its movements were grounded in defense, wielding its tower shield and sword with rigid poise. No matter how fast Faye moved, her swords would be deflected in a shower of sparks.
But instead of utilizing her summon, who simply watched from alongside Argo like a back-up plan, she would rigidly continue her same set of movements. As if she was taking out her anger on the granite knight like a punching bad rather then defeat it.
A whirlwind of blows flew, lighting up the dark corridor with a shower of sparks. The tower shield showed signs of tear, but the knight behind it remained unyielding. Black energy rolled through the atmosphere in waves. It empowered her strikes, and left craters in the shield.
In a moment of respite, Faye attempted to recollect herself as her presence soared. Before executing another flurry of blows, the knight pivoted. It's shield enhanced with a film of mana slammed into her form with full force.
BOOM!
She tore through the air, slamming into an adjacent wall, scattering dust and shards of bone. Her black hair was a mess, hiding a dark expression that crept over her face.
Undisturbed, the knight marched forward with the ground cracking beneath its feet. Despite its formidable defense, it sacrificed speed. It would take it a while to make any real progress in covering the gap.
"Are you done now?" Argo was getting tired of her tantrum. While he had originally thought she was a perfect individual devoid of flaws, he couldn't be further from the truth. He wasn't sure what exactly propelled her incessant desire to prove herself. But her frustration had led her into behaving irrationally. He could only hope he wasn't the one that ticked her off- but he was probably responsible.
He watched her crumpled form rise from the debris. While he tried to maintain a stoic demeanor, the knight's slow approach created ripples of fear in his heart.
The shadow squire melted into the shadows, disappearing.
Argo walked over, lifting her arm over his shoulder helping her limp forward. Glancing behind him, he deployed his new skill, [Hex Barrier]. The air rippled, an iridescent green hexagon weaving itself from light.
As they moved forward, he could feel her warm breath against his cheek. He tried to maintain an indifferent expression as the granite knight slammed his shield against the barrier. Creating ripples in the verdant hex, preventing him from advancing.
Argo winced, feeling a significant portion of mana in his core drain. The power packed behind such a simple shield bash was frightening. The shield stabilized, but he predicted it could only sustain another two hits before shattering and leaving his core empty. Which was a death sentence in a place as dangerous as this.
Reinforcing his body he urged Faye to walk faster, ignoring her long hair that tickled his face. He was surprised she didn't fight back. She must've tired herself out. He could feel a small grin tug at the edge of his lips. She could still be childish as well.
Eventually the shield dissipated, but the granite knight didn't bother following. It seemed uninterested in humans that had left its territory.
Before he could find a proper place to set Faye down, his eyes froze. He was currently in a four-way intersection, with three lights filling the corridor to his right, prompting his face to pale. He was in no condition to enter another battle.
He laid Faye against the wall, who was on the verge of losing consciousness. Her eyes were clouded, and a thin trail of blood was leaking out of her nose and mouth. She must've suffered internal bleeding, mana reinforcement could only mitigate so much damage.
'Dammit, stupid idiot,' Argo cursed. He felt guilty, partially responsible for her current condition. He was stubborn as well, wanting her to taste bitterness- understand her irrationality. Maybe that would splash cold water on her spirit, but she stubbornly persisted.
Argo turned to the corridor with his sword drawn, watching the three orange lights come closer. His core was nearing empty, and despite being blessed with mana, he didn't have enough stored to activate the [Eyes of Gleneus]. He wanted to conserve what remained for battle or escape. He could only watch anxiously as seconds trickled past.
Stepping into the intersection, three humans emerged carrying lamps that basked the area in a warm glow.
"Humans?!" Argo commented a little loudly, surprised.
There were two women, and a man all with pale and ragged expressions. Their expressions brightened when they noticed Argo and Faye laying nearby.
"Ah, an adventurer. We saw the light from your lamp." The man commented, before collapsing onto the ground in a heap.
He had black, crew-cut hair that framed a chiseled face. His green eyes were listless and dark, and he seemed on the verge of passing out. His plate armor was dented, torn, and had traces of burns. The axe he was holding clattered beside him, its once polished metal now heavily corroded and riddled with cracks.
"Darrel!" One women cried in surprise, kneeling next to him.
Her orange hair was wrapped in a single braid stretching to her waist, with brown eyes. Judging from her light leather armor, she must specialize in scouting or reconnaissance.
The remaining women wearily leaned against the wall, exuding an enigmatic aura. For some inexplicable reason Argo found her strange. A feeling of dissonance crept into his soul upon her entrance, prompting him to frown.
She possessed layered chestnut colored hair that perfectly framed her face. It fell to the middle of her back like a waterfall. With a slim face, she exuded a beautiful elegance rivaling that of Faye. With parted bangs, he could discern deep blue eyes. They seemed to contain a boundless galaxy, reminiscent of the azure night sky.
Her armor was crafted of white metal with gold accents, fitted to protect her vitals while allowing for freedom of movement. It wrapped around her lithe body, accentuating her athleticism. The armor must've been beautiful when first crafted, but it was now marred with scratches and cracks.
"It's good to see fellow humans, we haven't seen them in the past couple of hours," Argo commented, watching the orange-haired girl examine Darrel.
After confirming he was only unconscious, she turned to Argo. "The feeling is mutual, we've been down here for days. Could you lead us to the exit? We lost our map a while ago."
'Days?'
Argo froze, something was not sitting right. They had survived down here for three days without finding another group? Food and supplies could be stored in the Records which was explainable, but how deep did they go? And judging by their equipment they looked powerful, or somewhat used to traversing the catacombs.
Only an amateurs could make such a mistake.
'But people make mistakes and things happen,' he reassured himself.
After the orange-haired lady introduced herself as Chloe, and the azure-eyed girl as Aria, Argo promised he would lead them to the exit.
He glanced toward Faye who had passed out, "She was being stupid, and ran into an accident. We have a map, and once she wakes up we can head out."
Without healing potions nor someone capable of healing, they had to simply wait.
Chloe nodded in relief, before resting her back against a wall.
A somber silence descended on the group of humans albeit the occasional whisper of ghosts. What bothered Argo was a lack of monster attacks, like they had gone to sleep for the night. Or eternal night?
Aria looked around his age, but she exuded an air of maturity. Despite her weariness, she remained standing and alert for any dangers.
Argo could feel her stealing glances at him. He couldn't tell if she shared the same feeling of dissonance with him, or because of his strange eyes. It was most likely the latter, the former felt like a figment of his imagination. As much as she tried to hide it, Chloe had been observing his eyes during their brief conversation.
After half an hour of bathing in the glow of an oil lamp, Faye began to stir. Her cloudy eyes began to regain their clarity, her arm rubbing the blood that had dried on her chin.
"These people have been lost for a couple of days. We're going to lead them out when you feel better," he said.
Faye's brow twitched, as she adjusted her sitting position. Accessing the Records, she pulled a piece of canvas out from thin air. Her cautious nature led her to storing it in the Records, careful it wouldn't get destroyed during their battles.
A smart decision, judging by the state of the lost trio when they had lost their map.
The moment the map appeared in the air and Faye began pinpointing their location, Argo felt the air shift. It was subtle, but he felt the temperature dip by a few degrees followed with a silent hush. The uncomfortable whispering of ghosts that would play in the recesses of the corridors had suddenly halted.
As if someone... or something had silenced them.
Argo's blood chilled, as mana poured into being, his sword and armor manifesting themselves out of thin air. He felt his heart pounding, a feeling of utter dread permeating his very soul. Yet it drove him crazy, as nothing had moved or attacked yet. An utter wrongness pervaded the air, but no one seemed to notice.
Startled by his frantic movements, Chloe hurriedly got to her feet. "What's wrong?!"
Below her, Darrel started to stir.
Sweat decorated his brow as his heart was gripped by an invisible force.
'Am I losing it? Just my imagination?'
Aria suddenly drew her longsword, the ethereal white metal reflecting off the lantern's light. Her expression remained indifferent, which betrayed the shaking in her arms.
'Did she notice?'
"I don't know, but something feels wrong. I think-" Before Argo could finish his sentence, the shadows moved below him. Coalescing into a familiar figure molded of obsidian, he stepped in front of him raising its buckler.
A split second later, a large explosion knocked the squire and Argo back, slamming them into adjacent walls. The corridor shook, dust raining from the ceiling as Argo tried to regain his bearings. His ears were slightly ringing from the sudden uproar, as he felt the mana in the air waver.
Appearing from the dust, Darrel rushed forward with an empty expression. His green eyes hazy, and empty as if he was a corpse. Eyes that were once glinting with life had been extinguished, and replaced with a bitter hollowness. A green hue coalesced around Darrel's body, exerting a palpable pressure that squeezed the air out of Argo's lungs.
"What are you doing?" Argo gasped, his stance faltering.
Without a second thought Argo's sword clashed with Darrel's axe in a clash of white and green. A thunderous explosion spilled into the area, with one figure sent flying.
BOOM
Darrel's mana control and strength was superior, sending Argo flying down the corridor. Rolling, Argo tried to quickly get to his feet. In that second Darrel was on him, his muscles bulging as he swung the battle axe with ferocity that threatened to collapse the tunnel.
Shedding his fears about Faye left at the intersection, Argo funneled all of his strength into his body. They didn't leave him with any time to experience shock about their betrayal and current circumstances. All he had in mind was the desire to defeat the man before him.
Dodging a horizontal swing that decimated the walls, Argo rolled again before slashing,
A red line spurted blood from his calf in a gap between his armor, his axe deeply ingrained into the wall. Wielding such a long weapon in a tight space like this was tantamount to suicide.
Capitalizing on the opening, Argo dashed forward, splitting the air around him. A variety of scenarios and thoughts spun through his head.
'Manipulated by a monster? Corrupted? He's not in the right state of mind. His stats surpass mine by a wide margin, but his mental state and environment are playing against him.'
Swinging his sword in a downward strike with the flat of the blade, a white aura encased Argo's body like armor.
'I'll knock him out, and- wait what the?'