The darkness of the passage seemed endless, stretching on like a void that swallowed both time and space. Alfred kept moving forward, his grip on his sword tightening with every step. The air was thick, heavy with silence, save for the soft echo of his boots against the rocky ground. It was as if the cave itself was alive.
"This doesn't make sense." He muttered under his breath, his frustration growing. "There has to be an exit… something."
He stopped for a moment, glancing over his shoulder. The path behind him was pitch black, the same as what lay ahead. For all he knew, he could have been walking in circles. Shaking his head, he pressed forward.
Suddenly, the walls on either side of him began to crack and crumble. Pieces of rock fell away, echoing loudly in the stillness. Alfred instinctively stepped back, raising his sword as the stone gave way, revealing open space on either side. His heart pounded in his chest as the once-narrow passage transformed into a cavernous expanse.
"Satya!" he shouted, his voice bouncing off the newly revealed walls. "Can you hear me?!"
Only silence greeted him. His chest tightened. Was she even still alive? The thought made his stomach churn, but he couldn't give up. He started running, calling her name again and again, his voice growing hoarse with desperation.
Minutes passed, each one stretching longer than the last. The cave seemed endless, like a cruel maze designed to break him. But then, in the distance, a faint glow caught his eye.
A light.
His heart leaped, and he broke into a sprint, his boots pounding against the uneven ground. The light grew brighter with each step, cutting through the suffocating darkness like a beacon of hope.
"I'm coming, Satya!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination as he pushed himself harder, his legs burning from the effort.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
As Alfred reached the source of the light, his steps slowed. What greeted him wasn't salvation—it was a room, eerily ordinary, with smooth stone walls and a faint glow from sconces on the walls. At its center was a man, shirtless and lean, sitting casually on a chair like a king on a throne. His mocking smile made Alfred's stomach twist.
Surrounding the man were several goblins, their postures relaxed but their eyes sharp, ready for action. A larger, more imposing hobgoblin stood at the side. But Alfred's eyes didn't linger on them for long. His gaze locked onto two familiar figures.
"Satya!" he shouted, his voice cracking as he saw her bound by shimmering, spider-like threads that glowed faintly in the dim light. She struggled weakly, her arms and legs pinned, her face pale and filled with despair. Her lips trembled as her wide eyes met his.
They didn't say a word, but her gaze screamed at him: Run.
"Satya, hang on!" Alfred yelled, stepping forward. His sword glinted in the dim light as his grip tightened.
"Alfred-sama, no! Run!" Satya screamed, her voice hoarse, but before she could say more, the shimmering spider-like threads binding her moved on their own. They wrapped over her mouth, muffling her cries.
Alfred's eyes widened in shock.
"What the hell are you doing to her?!" he bellowed, his fury aimed at the man on the chair.
The man leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin on his hand, his mocking smirk growing wider.
"Relax. She's still alive. For now."
"Who the hell are you?" Alfred glared, his sword shaking with anger.
The man chuckled, rising lazily to his feet. His every movement dripped with confidence and disdain.
"Name's Leo." He said casually. "Not that it'll matter for long. You'll be dead soon enough."
Alfred's grip on his sword tightened further.
"Why her? Why did you capture Satya?" he growled.
Leo's eyes gleamed with amusement as he took a slow step forward.
"Why not? You, her, the rest of your little group—you're intruders. Wandering into my territory, snooping around like it's some kind of game." His smile turned sharp. "Of course, I'd kill you."
Alfred's heart sank, dread crawling up his spine.
"What about the others? The three adventurers who came with me?" His voice cracked, though he tried to steady it.
Leo tilted his head, feigning curiosity, before answering in a tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Oh, them? Let's just say they didn't quite… measure up." His grin widened. "I devoured them."
"You bastard!" Alfred roared, his magic flaring as his rage consumed him. The air around him grew heavy with power, the wind stirring violently.
"Temper, temper." Leo teased, completely unfazed. "You're here now. Isn't that all that matters?"
Alfred's fury was momentarily interrupted as his gaze landed on Frederica, standing silently among the goblins.
"Frederica." He said, his voice trembling with both confusion and hurt. "Why? Why are you doing this? We came to save you!"
Frederica flinched, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She didn't meet his eyes. Instead, she stared at the floor, her expression heavy with guilt.
"I…" she began but quickly fell silent, her head lowering further.
"Say something! Frederica, we trusted you!" Alfred stepped forward, desperation filling his voice.
She still didn't respond, her lips pressed into a thin line. The room was thick with tension as her silence became the only answer.
"Enough about that. Let's get to the fun part." Leo broke the moment, laughing softly.
"Let her go, and maybe I won't cut you down where you stand." Alfred raised his sword, his voice seething.
"Bold. But I'm the one making the rules here." Leo raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. His smile darkened.
"Here's the deal: Hurt me—just once—and I'll let her go. Simple, right?" Leo arched an eyebrow.
"And if I don't?" Alfred didn't hesitate.
"I'll throw her outside, alive, to be ravaged by the wild dogs. They're hungry, you know. Shouldn't take them too long." Leo's smirk turned sinister.
Alfred froze, the weight of the threat hitting him like a blow. He glanced at Satya, whose muffled cries were frantic now, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes pleaded with him, desperate for him to choose differently.
Alfred took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Fine." He said, his voice cold and steady. "If that's what it takes, I'll fight you."
He brandished his sword, the air around him rippling as he channeled his magic. Wind swirled around him, light flared from his blade, and flames crackled along its edge. The room brightened with the sheer energy radiating from him.
"Let's see if you can back up that cocky grin!" Alfred roared, charging at Leo with all his might. His sword glimmered with energy as a gust of wind surrounded him, amplifying his speed.
Leo didn't move. He stood there, hands in his pockets, his smirk unwavering. His sharp eyes followed Alfred's every step, watching him like a predator amused by its prey. As Alfred's sword came down, the air slicing with a deafening whoosh, Leo tilted his head slightly. The blade whistled past, missing him by a hair.
Alfred didn't give him a moment to rest. He gripped his sword tighter and shouted, "Wind Slash!"
A sharp arc of condensed air magic shot forward, tearing across the ground toward Leo. The attack carved deep into the floor, but Leo stepped aside as if it were nothing more than a child's swing.
"Really?" Leo chuckled, glancing at the gouge in the floor. "That's all you got?"
"Not even close!" Alfred yelled, raising his sword high. The blade lit up, flames dancing along its edge.
"Blazing Crescent!" he roared, bringing the sword down in a fiery arc. A wave of searing flames shot toward Leo, the heat rippling through the air.
Leo stretched his arms lazily, watching the attack approach. At the last moment, he pivoted on his heel, dodging with grace. The flames scorched the wall behind him, but he didn't even flinch.
"Fire too, huh? You're a regular magic show."
"Let's see how you handle this!" Alfred shouted, his voice raw with determination. He thrust his sword forward, shouting, "Piercing Light!" A beam of concentrated light shot straight for Leo, its blinding intensity forcing even the goblins to shield their eyes.
But Leo remained calm. With a slight shift of his torso, the beam missed him entirely, crashing into the far wall and leaving a smoldering crater.
"Cute." He said, brushing imaginary dust from his shoulder. "Anything else in that little arsenal of yours?"
Alfred clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. His breathing grew heavier, but he wasn't done yet. He slammed his sword into the ground.
"Tempest Blaze!" A whirlwind of fire and wind erupted around him, the elements combining into a destructive vortex. The roaring inferno surged toward Leo, threatening to engulf him.
The hobgoblins and goblins in the room stepped back instinctively, the sheer heat unbearable. Even Frederica's expression flickered with concern as she watched the chaotic storm head for Leo.
But Leo didn't budge. As the tempest closed in, he raised a single hand, fingers spread. With a swift motion, he swiped the air in front of him, dispersing the magic with an invisible force. The flames and wind dissipated instantly, leaving only Alfred's shocked expression in their wake.
"You're exhausting yourself." Leo said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"And for what? This level of magic wouldn't even scratch me."
Alfred's chest heaved as he glared at Leo, his body trembling from exertion.
"I'm not done yet!" he shouted, though his voice betrayed the growing despair. He charged again, swinging his sword with all his might. His strikes became wild, desperate, the magic woven into each attack weaker and more erratic.
Leo sighed, stepping aside to avoid another swing.
"You really should've listened to her." He said, glancing briefly at Satya, who was now sobbing into her bindings. "She knew you didn't stand a chance."
Alfred's vision blurred as exhaustion took hold. His knees wobbled, his strikes slowed, and finally, his sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. He dropped to one knee, panting heavily.
"Damn it…" he muttered, his voice filled with frustration and defeat.
Leo's smirk faded, replaced by a look of boredom.
"I expected more from a Magic Swordsman. What a waste." He raised his hand, forming his fingers into a blade. "Let me show you how it's done."
Before Alfred could react, Leo closed the distance in a blink. "Triple Stab." He said calmly, driving his hand forward. Three precise strikes hit Alfred's chest in rapid succession, piercing through him like a hot knife through butter. Blood splattered the floor as Alfred gasped, his strength leaving him.
Alfred's body crumpled, but before he hit the ground, he turned his head weakly toward Satya. Her tear-streaked face was the last thing he saw.
"Be safe… please…" he whispered, his voice barely audible. Then, darkness claimed him.
Leo stared down at Alfred's lifeless body with disdain.
"Pathetic." He muttered. He extended his palm, and a thick black goo oozed out, coating Alfred's corpse. In moments, the body was consumed, leaving no trace behind.
Satya, overwhelmed with grief, let out a muffled scream before fainting, her head slumping forward as darkness overtook her too.
[Magic Skill [Wind Magic] has been acquired.]
[Magic Skill [Light Magic] has been acquired.]
[Job Skill [Job - Magic Swordsman] has been acquired.]
[Job Skill [Job - Heavy Swordsman] has been acquired.]
[Extra Skill [Composite Magic] has been acquired.]
[Trait [Two-Handed Sword Proficiency] has been acquired.]
[Common Skill [Spell Blade] has been acquired.]
[Resistance Skill [Magic Resistance] has been acquired.]
"Not bad." Leo muttered, glancing at the glowing marks on his palm. A grin spread across his face. "Composite Magic… that's going to be fun."
"No more training today. You've done well. Head back to your rooms." He turned to the goblin girls.
The girls nodded quickly, smiling as they left. Leo's gaze shifted to Frederica, who lingered at the edge of the room, her head bowed.
"Frederica." He called, his tone softer. "Come here."
She approached slowly, guilt heavy in her steps. "What do you want?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
"You need to stop blaming yourself." Leo said firmly. "It's not your fault."
"They're dead because of me." She shot back, her voice shaking.
"They're dead because they weren't strong enough." Leo replied bluntly. "We fight to survive. That's the only way in this world."
"What about Satya?" Frederica hesitated, his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.
"She's yours to take care of. Put her in the new room and let her rest." Leo said, nodding toward the unconscious girl.
"Why are you telling me this?" Frederica lifted Satya into her arms, pausing at the doorway.
"Because you're useful, and I don't want to waste you. Now go." Leo smirked.
"This world's rules are simple—only the strong survive." Without another word, Frederica left, leaving Leo alone. He leaned against the wall, his grin fading into a quiet murmur.