Cain approached Douglas, nonchalant despite the looming beast. The toxikor's tail swung towards him with deadly precision.
The impact sent dust flying everywhere, obscuring the scene. When the cloud settled, Cain had vanished.
Douglas's eyes widened in shock. "He disappeared!"
But before Douglas could process this, Cain reappeared, delivering a lightning-fast blow that sent the toxikor stumbling. The beast's head crashed downwards, its massive body crumpling to the ground.
Cain turned to the others, his expression casual. "Hey, have you seen a kid about this height?" He gestured with his hand. "Black hair, blue eyes... his name is... what was it?"
Behind him, the toxikor stirred, its wounds rapidly healing. Its dark eyes fixed on Douglas, and before he could warn Cain, the toxikor's claws swiped with deadly intent.
Douglas's eyes widened, but he was too exhausted to move. Yet, Cain reacted swiftly, catching the toxikor's claw with his bare hands. Purple mana enveloped his body as he glared at the creature.
"Can't you see I'm trying to talk here? Don't interrupt me," Cain said, his eyes blazing with intensity.
With a single punch, Cain sent the toxikor flying into the wall with crushing force. The hunters watched in awe as the toxikor's self-healing abilities kicked in.
"He sent that thing flying with one punch!" one of the hunters exclaimed.
Cain approached the toxikor, now several feet away. "You're no ordinary toxikor. Your body's hardened, and you have self-healing abilities. A normal toxikor wouldn't survive my single punch."
Cain vanished in an instant, reappearing with a lightning-fast strike that crushed the toxikor's head. Green blood gushed out as its skull crumpled, resembling a crushed cockroach.
But the toxikor's tail swiftly counterattacked, catching Cain off-guard. He leapt backward, dodging the blow by mere inches.
"I wasn't expecting that," Cain muttered, his eyes narrowing.
The toxikor's head rapidly healed, steam billowing from the repaired wounds. Its growls intensified, echoing through the air.
"That didn't work, huh? No wonder Kael declared this an Omega Level-1 threat."
As he grasped the sword's handle, the straps unfolded, releasing the blade from its restraint. The red, vibrant sword shone brightly as mana began coursing through it.
"Absolute Division!" Cain shouted.
Cain unleashed "Absolute Division," his sword slicing through the air with cataclysmic force. The ground trembled, rocks splintering, as the slash's raw energy ravaged the earth.
The toxikor's body crystallized, then shattered into a thousand fragments, leaving behind only its glowing energy core - a crystal-like rock that fell to the ground with a faint hum.
As the dust settled, the hunters breathed collective relief, grateful for their rescue from the jaws of death. Douglas's mind reeled: "He defeated that monster... Impossible! Who is he?"
Recognition dawned, and Douglas's eyes widened. "That sword... He's one of the Six Pillars. Cain Locke. Why is he here? "
Douglas's gaze shifted to the fallen hunter, who coughed weakly amidst the eerie silence. Blood-covered and battered, with a severed leg, the hunter's dire condition twisted Douglas's face in anguish.
With his last ounce of strength, Douglas stumbled to his knees beside his comrade. "Oh no..." The hunter's low, raspy voice whispered, "Dou...glas."
"Healer! We need a healer!" Douglas screamed, but his plea was drowned out by the rocky ceiling's ominous trembling. The area was collapsing.
"Douglas, get out of here!" his dying comrade urged, fighting against the darkness.
"No, no, no... why?" Douglas's voice cracked as tears welled up.
As the rocks continued to fall, Douglas begged, "Please, someone... help him!"
Cain's enormous shadow loomed over Douglas. His face neutral, he said, "This is it for him."
Douglas's eyes widened in desperation.
Without hesitation, Cain swept Douglas off his feet, lifting him onto his shoulder.
Douglas struggled, pounding Cain's back with his fists but he is all worn out. "No!"
But Cain's grip remained unyielding, his pace swift and steady as he navigated the collapsing cave.
As they fled, Douglas's last glimpse was of his comrade, buried beneath the crumbling rocks.
Cain set Douglas down on the ground, amidst the grim gathering of surviving hunters. Once over twenty strong, their numbers had dwindled to a mere six.
Douglas rose, fury and grief boiling over. He pounded Cain's unyielding chest, fists flying but inflicting no damage. It was like striking a granite monolith.
"Why didn't you save him?!" Tears streamed down Douglas's face, his voice cracking.
As he paused, defeated, his folded wrists rested against Cain's chest. "It's my fault everyone died... because of me. Arrow and Terra Guild members, gone. I thought I was strong, that I could do anything... This is it, I'm done."
Cain's expression remained stoic, but his actions spoke volumes. He delivered a swift, sharp blow to Douglas's gut, sending him crashing to the ground.
As Douglas struggled to catch his breath, Cain grasped his shoulder, his grip firm.
"What happened might have been your fault, I don't know. But don't you dare resign. Your comrades gave their lives for you. Cherish it and live. Nothing's over, not while you're still breathing."
Douglas's eyes, brimming with tears, met Cain's resolute gaze.
Cain's voice boomed, echoing off the surrounding rocks, commanding everyone's attention.
"Everyone, listen to me!" His words hung in the air, urgent and uncompromising. "You may have realized by now that this is no ordinary dungeon. It's kill or be killed. Don't lose hope - hold onto it, no matter how tiny it seems. Don't give up. Live, no matter what it takes, and live for the sake of your comrades."
Douglas struggled to his feet, wiping away tears as his mind racing with newfound determination. That's right, I have to live.
Cain's gaze swept across the survivors, his eyes burning with an unspoken resolve.
In his mind, a promise echoed: Don't die, kid. No matter what, I'll catch up to you soon.
****
Cynthia sprinted through the cave, her mind reeling from the horrific sight of Spikes vanishing before her eyes. "Zarek-san, Grey-san, please be safe!" she whispered desperately, her heart racing with every step.
Meanwhile, Zarek and Grey struggled to breathe, trapped in the ogre's crushing grasp. Zarek's mind raced, his thoughts laced with desperation.