—Asher Frostblade's perspective.
A glare sent my eyes flashing but instantly everything was back to normal. Then I looked around, confused as to what had just happened. It was only a glow, but everything went back to how it was before.
"What happened?" I asked.
I wanted to know what the hell happened and what was that glow that sent all my eyesight.
Confused, I looked at Encrid, who was looking at me.
"I forgot that you can't use the gun yet..."
"..."
Then I looked at him as if I had an idiot in front of me.
Although the truth is he is an idiot, but I'm not saying that out of respect.
"And until when can I use it?"
"Uh... Well, until you're on top of a ninth circle..."
"..."
I opened my mouth after being surprised. Well, it was to be expected; such a powerful weapon that once killed a god couldn't be used by a child who is barely a first circle. I didn't think of that before I asked.
I guess I'm the idiot at this point....
"Congratulations, the successor already got what he needed."
"So what about that... I can't use it?"
"Don't be disappointed, believe it, but someday you'll need it."
"Yeah, yeah... So how do we get out of this dungeon? There must be a way out."
Then I looked at the guardian. The guardian definitely knew how to get out of this place. That was why I looked at him, then this one spoke in a calm voice.
"Getting out is easy but also difficult; they have to kill a grade 6 monster."
"..."
Grade 6 monsters... I was simply left in my thoughts.
How he plans for us to kill such a monster. Killing a grade 7 isn't that complicated as long as we are three mages and put together the strongest attack. It would only be like that, but with a grade 7.
Just this guy was saying let's go to our death, of that I was sure.
"Shit..." I cursed silently as I looked in another direction.
Because I was feeling so frustrated, I should have been a little happy to get my hands on....
"Uh... Where's the Oz of Darkness?"
Then I realized that the Oz was nowhere to be found. After that brightening, I thought I had the Oz in my hands, but how the hell did I lose sight of it.
But, what if that's what I think....
"Shit, now there's two of them."
Then I looked at my arm and to my surprise, a new tattoo was there.
The design is simple, it's just the Oz blade drawn on my arm, and looking closely at where it's located, it's right next to the moon-shaped tattoo, although it's not there at the moment.
"You didn't tell me it would be like this."
"Well... I forgot."
"Before you go, I have to tell you a few things about the monster," the guardian spoke.
Then the guardian explained things to us for the next few minutes. Time passed and I already had an idea of what the monster looked like, then Encrid spoke.
"If the situation becomes dangerous, you must raise your power to the second circle and I think I'm about to reach the second circle any minute now."
"So... Can we win?"
"I'm not sure, but if we're both in the second circle, we can make it and with the help of your friends."
True, but being a second circle will bring me some problems; I still don't get all the knight achievements. But if it is to survive, I will have to do it.
Then my gaze was fixed on the guardian, who spoke the instant I looked at him.
"Well then, creator and successor, it seems we have company."
"Company...?" I spoke instantly.
Then I remembered the rest of the group. That meant they made it to the temple. On one hand it was good, but on the other, this place is a secret that must not be known. Then I looked at Encrid, though his look was the same as always.
"First of all, there is a teleportation door outside; you enter through that one, but the monster will attack you instantly," then the guardian spoke.
Then I looked at Encrid.
"Let's go," Encrid spoke as if he didn't mind being seen.
Without saying anything, he started walking as if he didn't care what the guardian said.
Then, remembering something, I reflected.
I knew Encrid erased Clara's memories of this place. I could barely tell, but I managed to see his mana moving into Clara's brain.
"Of that I am sure."
Of course, I had been alarmed at the time, but I instantly remembered that Encrid had erased memories for him earlier, so I didn't move.
Then we left the room where the Oz was. After all, I had one of those seven weapons in my possession.
"We have to look for the others, but we won't be able to do that at the moment," then Encrid spoke as if he knew my thoughts.
"I know... I must first be a ninth circle."
"That's right, you're too weak at the moment and it would be dangerous."
I was frustrated at being weak, but I knew exactly that I wouldn't be for long.
Then we exited the hallway and the large doors we entered the temple through. We opened them and there stood the group, the three that were missing.
"Asher..."
As always, Alicia was the first to speak. Then she looked at me, the three of them were standing right in front of me, but they looked like they wanted to ask something. I then followed their gazes and they were indeed looking at Encrid.
I then proceeded to explain.
Of course, I omitted every necessary part of Encrid and told them about the exit. As I guessed, their faces froze the instant I finished explaining.
"Shit, so we must kill a grade 6," Alicia spoke up.
"That's a problem."
Alicia was the first to speak.
"For all I know, he's walking through that door."
Encrid was already waiting at a third door. The guardian spoke about that gate, it's a place with nothing, just a dry field and a sky full of gray clouds. The instant we entered that gate, the grade 6 monster would attack us. That was why it's an even bigger problem, but we had something hidden.
"Then we move."
I wasn't sure what kind of monster it would be, but for sure it's one we're not sure about defeating.
After all, it's a grade 6 monster. This could be considered a new experience for me.
I then looked at Clara, who looked away instantly.
"She... remembers everything," was what I thought, she seemed different.
Then we walked through the door and as expected, the monster attacked us.
***
-Scene change.
-Clara's perspective.
-Moments before.
Clara's eyes opened, she heard a familiar voice.
It was then that her eyes opened instantly and she looked all around, meeting Alicia's eyes, who was looking at her a little confused. Then Clara spoke, she knew what happened but didn't show it at the moment.
She subtly scratched her head, she knew what happened, she didn't forget.
"Where am I."
Clara decided to lie just this once. She knew she didn't forget anything the moment she closed her eyes.
"That guy and Asher... they're strangers."
Of course, Clara didn't forget anything, but she couldn't tell Alicia everything either, not until Asher did something strange.
So she restrained herself from telling anything and looked at Alicia again, whose gaze was shaky.
"I didn't lose the memories, I just don't know where this place is."
Then Alicia sighed and then looked at Clara again.
"Don't scare me like that, then we're lost."
"But what the hell is that place?" Alicia asked.
"I'm not sure either," Clara spoke trying not to know anything, but in reality she did know, though very little.
Of course, she knew practically nothing about the temple.
But Clara had something else in mind. She knew that Encrid had erased the memories of her friends in the dry forest, but fortunately she remembers what happened in this place, although she lost the memories of what happened just before they fought the monsters in the dry forest.
She knew Encrid was dangerous, but there was nothing she could do at the moment. The best thing would be to simply get out of this place and keep Asher under observation.
But that could be dangerous for her, still....
"I can still trust him."
It was something in the back of her mind, Asher saved her once and that was why she still had doubts about Asher.
But because of what just happened and all those extra things Asher was into, he was very suspicious, and that's why Clara at the moment doesn't trust Asher.
"Is something wrong with you?" spoke Alicia.
Clara looked at Alicia, she wanted to tell her everything about Asher that she knows so far, but it's not yet time to come to a conclusion whether Asher is dangerous or not at the moment.
But above all, that man... Clara felt fear every time she looked at him, she definitely didn't trust that man accompanying Asher.
"I'm fine, don't worry so much."
Clara then answered Alicia. Alicia looked at Clara, then she spoke.
"There's something you're hiding from me? What is it?"
"..."
Alicia is definitely not an idiot, Clara knew that she might find out, but if she told then it could be a riot. The priority for the moment is to get out of this place and not get into an absurd fight.
"I can't tell you yet, we'd better get out of here as soon as possible."
"Well, okay," Alicia sighed and then.
"Clak."
The large doors of the temple opened. Clara and Alicia looked and then two figures appeared, this time the guardian was not with them.
"Looks like they're back already," Clara thought. Then she looked at the man standing next to Asher.
"Those two... they look so alike, but what face is Asher making?"
Clara couldn't see Asher's face, thanks to the white mask he always wears.
"Whistling."
Then the air hissed and within seconds, Alice screamed.
"Asher..."
Then Clara looked at Alicia.
"You care so much about him..."
After all, they are friends and companions. They've had dangers and they've gotten out of those dangers because of Asher.
Then Asher came closer, but Clara wouldn't take her eyes off Encrid.
"Who are you?"
Was all Clara's thoughts. She wanted to know who Encrid is and what his purpose is, if he is someone bad or good. She just wanted to know who he is and for what purpose.
"There is a way out of here." then Asher spoke.
It was then that Clara looked at Asher. Of course, Asher explained how to get out of this place and what to do, but everyone's eyes widened after Asher's explanation.
"A grade 6."
Alicia was the first to speak, she was so surprised.
"That's a big problem," Clara thought.
Of course it was a problem, killing a grade 6 monster? It could only be done by a wizard of the fourth circle and here there are only two.... No, three mages: two from the first circle and one from the third circle, but still not enough.
"Then we're leaving," Asher was the one who spoke. Then Clara looked at him, but then peeled her gaze away and looked at the third door right next to Encrid.
Then she stood up and looked for a brief moment at the whole group. Dik, for one thing, looked scared; Alicia was nervous; Asher and Encrid.... It couldn't be described, they just didn't seem to be worried.
That's why Clara was instantly angry.
"Why are the two of them quiet, did they..." She didn't finish her thought when everyone started moving.
The instant everyone entered, the monster would attack them.
Clara had to be alert and on her guard. Even though she's a curse mage, she's not cut out for combat, but she could help.
Then she looked at Asher again. That's when Asher's head turned and they both exchanged glances, but Clara instantly turned her eyes and looked at the teleportation door that was already very close as the others waited.
"Don't let your guard down and use everything you have to attack the monster. We don't know what monster it is, so be ready," as usual, Alicia was the first to speak and lead the group's orders.
To Clara, Alicia was someone very special, she was like Clara's own sister, they even care for each other.
"I must survive and get out of here."
Clara looked at the oversized door. They still didn't know what awaited them on the other side, what the place would be like and what monster they would have to face, but they also didn't know if that would be the way out.
Despite having doubts, Clara cleared her head. She knew that this time it would not be easy. There were several of them and there was a chance of getting out alive even if they got badly hurt in the attempt.
Of course, her biggest concern is Alicia's safety and her own. She doesn't care if Dik gets badly hurt; after all, Clara never liked Dik and neither did she like him, so it doesn't matter if Dik dies.
All Clara wanted was to get out alive with Alicia. In fact, she doesn't even care about the lives of others, she would care about Asher's life since he saved her once.
"I owe you one... So you should get out too," even though she wasn't fully trusting Asher, still Clara owed him a favor since Asher saved her before.
With those thoughts in mind, the whole group entered through the door that emitted a blue glow. They then passed through the gate and found themselves in a dry field, with a cloudy, dark sky. Everything was dark, but not that dark. Then, that's when a loud roar echoed and in the blink of an eye the grade 6 monster was in front of them all, looking at them with a look that was so scary....