"Hina are you ready?".
"Yeah,"
"Let's go".
Soma and Hina began to fasten their feet. One of the kobolds noticed the incoming human from one of the passages that exist within the maze; it called the other kobolds to look at the incoming duo.
"Wof".
Entering the wide space Hina stopped herself, as she began to unleash the magic she already prepared while running with Soma.
"Firewall"
[MP: 30/50]
A bright red color began to erupt from the ground before it spread out creating a wall that separated the kobolds into two groups. The kobolds who got separated were stunned at first but they hurriedly formed a defense formation where no enemies could escape their sight.
Soma who took the right space took the kobolds group on the right. Twelve kobolds got separated from their current big group. He began to feel relief because he was the one who got the big group. Soma accelerated further and tried to breach through their formation.
"Woof".
One of the wolves began to give order which the other replied by reading their battle stance, their aura completely different from the monster he fought in the dungeon. This is Kobold the monster that always acts in groups. This was also a good chance for Soma and Hina to experience fighting a group.
"If fighting a group, first is".
Soma concentrated his strength in his right fist and the same faint red glow began to appear on his skin. The kobold prepares the shield that they carry on their back bracing for the impact.
He thrust his fist forward and then it made contact with one of the kobolds in front of him Boom, a collision happened and the kobold who made a defensive formation, became wrecked with just a single punch.
[You gained 2 Exp]
[You gained 2 Exp]
[You gained 2 Exp]
[You gained 2 Exp]
…
The groups began to scatter and some of them already died and became his experience points. Not wanting to miss the chance, Soma began to run, approaching the kobolds one by one and turning them into his experience point. The monster was F-rank, the same as a goblin and because they received a huge shock at the first battle they were still in recovered state and could only helplessly get obliterated.
"This was the last".
Soma with a final thrust of his fist destroyed the skull of the last standing kobolds in his side, and he saw the scattering mana core around him. He turned his gaze toward the firewall that separated their battle wondering how on the other side.
As the firewall lifted Hina saw Soma who had already turned to the right begin its battle. She also started to resolve herself, after casting the magic and separating the kobold she began to focus on her enemy ahead.
The kobolds are flustered at first before they notice the approaching human female bringing a weapon. They formed defensive formations like on the other side.
Hina knitted her brows because of how fast the kobolds regrouped. She began to circle the perimeter while preparing the mana in her hand to unleash another magic.
However, she suddenly saw something that flew past her eyes cutting the surrounding wind. She halted her steps and soon saw dozens of arrows fly straight at her.
"Crap, Firewall".
[MP: 25/50]
For the second time, she created the same magic but the second firewall she cast, didn't have the same altitude and denseness as the first. Its purpose was just to protect her own body from the incoming arrows.
The arrows that touched the wall got burned like dry sticks. Then she began to concentrate her mana around her surroundings, to cast another magic.
The kobolds who were on high alert began to prepare another arrow while waiting for which way Hina would show herself. Then a shadow appeared on their right side and the kobold reflexively shot toward the moving shadow, only to find out it was just a piece of silk that Hina wears for sports.
"Fireball".
[MP: 15/50]
Multiple fireballs began to manifest around her. There are five of them as big as a tennis ball. Then Hina swings her right hand and it travels in a straight line to bombard the formation.
[You gained Exp 1]
[You gained Exp 1]
…
Succeed in bombarding the group and making the kobolds scatter because of the blast. Hina drew the katana in her and began to lunge forward. The kobold try to regain their formation but Hina already takes her first move and it's already too late for them.
Hina, now facing the kobolds who entered her blade range, hesitated at first but grit her teeth before swinging her sword to the side and killing it.
[You gained 1 Exp]
..
She began to turn her attention toward her surroundings inspect where the kobolds were placed and take action.
It was her first time fighting a monster, she already prepared it in her heart that someday she would do this to become strong but she never thought that it would come this soon. Her thought was in turmoil because it had a slight fear and excitement in it.
There are still two remaining that still stand up and they are holding a sword as their weapon. Hina who saw them closing in on their side began to prepare her stance.
"Woof"
The first kobold swung its sword sideways and Hina took a step back to dodge its slash and when she tried to counter, the second sword came from her side in a thrust. Hina who realized that using the body blade she had to parry the attack, closed her distance toward the second kobold and swung her sword to the left beheading the monster, continued with another swing to the right while taking a step forward killing the last kobold in her part.
[You level up]
[All stats increased +1]
[You gained EP +5]
[Exp: 2/20]
Her body felt heavy as her mind began to throb because it was the first time for her used such magic in a fight. Her breath began to turn ragged, the firewall that separated the groups began to dissipate, and in front of her stood a boy who had a leeway in his expression.
"Yo, Good work".
Soma raised his right hand to try to greet Hina who seemed out of breath. He saw ten pieces of mana core scattered around her on the ground, and the total of the kobold group was twenty-two. He turns his sight to Hina who is tired and forms a smile, relieved because she is fine.
Seeing the calm state of Soma irks her to the core. She heard from her acquaintance that he had some experience in dungeon diving even though they were the same age, but seeing the difference in person was hard for her. But, Hina banished the thought in her mind and replied to the boy who greeted her.
"..Good work to you too".
Hina regulates her breathing before sheathing her katana and storing it inside the ring on her finger. She turned her attention around and found ten marbles lying on the ground as proof of the battle she commenced earlier.
Her facial mask crumbled as she showed her small smile in front of her effort.
"..I can do it, ..I will grow more from now on..".
The corner of Soma's mouth lifted as he saw the girl beside him who mumbled to herself. This experience probably means a lot to her. With an elated expression, Hina crouched down and began to collect the mana core she earned after defeating the kobolds.
Once all of the mana core has gone from the vicinity. Soma decides that it is time for them to find a good place to rest. Because they still had a meal in a day. Soma already used to only have a meal once per day, but the case was different for Hina. He already asked her about taking a meal first but she refused and stubbornly wanted to let him have a meal first, as the owner of the food.
"Let's go find a place to rest?!".
On the ground where Soma and Hina stand, emerged a blue flame that lit like a torch surrounding them from the ground. Soma began to raise his guard and Hina, who was late in response, took her katana in her hand and stood up, closing her distance from Soma touching each other's back. Hina who was tired from the battle earlier knitted her brows as she prepared her stance, but.
[You entered a safe floor]
A translucent window began to appear before their eyes and made them wide open.
"Safe floor that means..".
".. There will be no monsters around in this place".
Soma completed the sentence Hina was about to say. He releases his guard and breathes a sigh of relief. Hina, also who saw Soma relax his stance, began to store back her katana and loosened up her tense body. She sighed in relief that she didn't have to fight in her tired state.
"Let's have some food first. We didn't have a chance to eat this whole day".
"..Yeah, you are right".
"I think this place is also good for resting at night".
Hina nodded her head as she put her tired body down while Soma began to prepare the meal for the two of them. The two of them closed the first page of their exploration in Trial Gate.