Kaito woke up to the warm rays of sunlight peeking through the window, casting a golden glow over the room. He stretched his arms and yawned, feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. The soft, fluffy blanket that covered him was a welcome change from the rough, scratchy blankets he was used to. He tossed the blanket aside and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet dangling in the air.
He got out of bed and made his way to the living room, where the rest of the crew was already gathered. The room was filled with the delicious aroma of freshly cooked food, and Kaito's stomach growled in anticipation.
To his surprise, they had made him breakfast. The table was filled with an assortment of delicious-looking dishes. There were fluffy scrambled eggs, cooked to a perfect golden brown, and crispy bacon, sizzling in a pan. Golden-brown pancakes, stacked high on a plate, were drizzled with a sweet, sticky syrup. A bowl of steaming hot oatmeal sat at the center of the table, topped with sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey. Freshly baked bread, still warm from the oven, was sliced and arranged on a platter, accompanied by a variety of cheeses and jams.
Kaito's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the spread before him. He had never seen such a variety of food in one place before. The crew members smiled and nodded in greeting, and Kaito took a seat at the table, eager to dig in.
The food was just as delicious as it looked, and Kaito savored every bite. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and light, the bacon crispy and smoky. The pancakes were sweet and fluffy, the oatmeal warm and comforting. The bread was freshly baked, with a crispy crust and a soft interior.
After finishing his breakfast, Kaito thanked the crew and headed out into town. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the streets. People were out and about, going about their daily business. Kaito walked through the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the town.
As he walked, he noticed a large crowd gathered at the park. People were murmuring to themselves, looking worried and scared. Kaito's curiosity was piqued, and he walked over to the crowd to see what was going on.
He approached a young boy who was standing at the edge of the crowd and asked him what had happened. The boy looked up at Kaito with wide eyes, his face pale with fear.
"People have been disappearing at night," he said, his voice trembling. "The town issued a notice telling everyone to stay indoors after dark. They say a monster is abducting people."
Kaito's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. A monster, abducting people at night? It sounded like a classic case of a nocturnal predator, but something about it didn't add up.
He thanked the boy for the information and continued on his way, his senses on high alert as he walked through the streets. Something was off in this town, and Kaito was determined to get to the bottom of it.
As he walked, he noticed that the town was surrounded by a high wall, with guards posted at regular intervals. The wall was made of sturdy stone, with iron spikes at the top to prevent climbing. The guards were armed and looked alert, scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger.
Kaito's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of the wall and the guards. It looked like the town was taking the disappearances very seriously, and were taking steps to protect themselves. But Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he knew.
As he walked away from the wall, he couldn't help but overhear the hushed conversations of the villagers. They seemed to be discussing the recent disappearances, and his ears perked up as he caught snippets of their conversation. The villagers were speaking in low tones, their faces filled with worry and fear.
"...heard there's a reward for anyone who can provide information on the monster," one of the villagers said, her voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes widened as he heard the amount of the reward: 70,000 gold coins. It was a staggering amount, one that could change a person's life forever. He had never seen that much money in his life, and the thought of it was almost too good to be true.
"That's a lot of money," Echo chimed in, as if reading his thoughts. She was standing beside him, her eyes fixed on the villagers as they spoke.
He nodded in agreement, his mind already racing with the possibilities. He had always been driven by a sense of justice, and the thought of solving the mystery and bringing the perpetrator to justice was tantalizing. He could already imagine the look on the villagers' faces when he brought them the news that the monster had been caught.
"Yeah, it is," he responded, his eyes scanning the surrounding area as he thought. The villagers were all looking at him now, their faces filled with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
He turned to Echo, who was watching him with an interested expression. "What do you think if I tried to solve this case?" he asked her.
To his surprise, Echo had no objections to it. In fact, she seemed to be considering it seriously. "I think it's a great idea," she said finally. "We could use the reward money to help the villagers, and it would be a great way to prove ourselves."
He grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. "Alright, let's do it," he said, already mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, and his senses were on high alert.
Echo nodded, a determined look on her face. "Let's get to the bottom of this," she said.
He thought that sharing the information with the crew would be a good idea, as it would be easier to tackle the case with their help. He rushed back to the settlement, eager to gather the crew and share the news.
As he arrived, he saw Akane doing some light training, her movements swift and precise. She was practicing her sword techniques, her blade flashing in the sunlight as she struck at imaginary opponents. He watched her for a moment, admiring her skill and focus.
He called out to her, and she stopped, looking at him with a questioning expression. "What's up?" she asked, wiping the sweat from her brow.
"I have some information to share with you all," he began, taking a deep breath. "I overheard some villagers talking about a monster that's been abducting people at night. The town is offering a reward of 70,000 gold coins to anyone who can provide information about the monster."
The crew members looked at each other, seemingly unimpressed by the news. But when he mentioned the reward amount, Ryker's eyes lit up. "That's a lot of money," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "We could get better equipment with that."
Arin nodded in agreement, his rugged features set in a determined expression. "And we could finally upgrade our gear," he said, his deep voice filled with enthusiasm.
The rest of the crew members nodded in agreement, looking at Akane for her verdict. She nodded thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing as she considered the information. "Do you have any leads that could help us?" she asked him.
He nodded positively, eager to share his plan. "The creature only abducts people at night," he explained. "And after the town issued a warning to people not to go out at night, there would be little to nobody who would go against it. I was thinking of using one of us as bait at night to attract the monster and set a trap for it."
The crew members looked at each other, considering the plan. Akane nodded thoughtfully, her eyes narrowing as she thought. "It's a good plan," she said finally. "But we need to be careful. We don't know what we're up against, and we don't want to put anyone in harm's way."
Ryker spoke up, his voice filled with excitement. "I'll do it," he said. "I'll be the bait."
Arin chuckled, his rugged features set in a teasing expression. "You think you're the only one who can do that?.
Finally, Lysander the mage spoke up, his voice filled with concern. "I don't think it's a good idea to put one of our own in harm's way," he said, his eyes scanning the group. "I have a better idea. I can conjure a clone of myself to be the bait."
Akane's expression turned thoughtful, and she nodded slowly. "That's not a bad idea, Lysander," she said. "But can you maintain the clone for an extended period of time? That type of magic can drain your mana rapidly."
Lysander nodded confidently. "I can maintain it for as long as needed," he said. "I've been practicing my magic, and I'm confident in my abilities. I've also been studying the art of illusion magic, and I'm sure I can create a clone that's indistinguishable from the real thing."
Akane's expression turned serious, and she leaned forward. "We would not want what happened last time to repeat itself," she said, her voice low and cautionary.
Suddenly, everyone's expression turned pale and sorrowful. Kaito, who had noticed this, tried to ask what she meant by "last time", but Akane just brushed it off with a forced smile on her lips.
"It's nothing," she said quickly. "Just a precaution. Let's focus on the task at hand."
The group fell silent, and Kaito couldn't help but wonder what had happened in the past. What had Akane meant by "last time"? He made a mental note to ask her about it later, but for now, he pushed the thought aside and focused on the plan.
Lysander, seemingly unaware of the sudden tension, nodded enthusiastically. "I'll get started on the clone right away," he said. "I'll make sure it's as realistic as possible. I'll also make sure to imbue it with some of my own magic, so it can defend itself if necessary."
Akane nodded, her expression still serious. "Good. Let's get to work. We have a lot to do before nightfall. We'll need to set up a perimeter, make sure we have a clear escape route, and-"
"I'll take care of the perimeter," Arin said, his deep voice filled with confidence. "I'll make sure it's secure and that we have a clear escape route."
Ryker nodded. "I'll help Arin with the perimeter. We'll make sure it's solid."
Echo spoke up, her voice filled with determination. "I'll help Lysander with the clone. We'll make sure it's as realistic as possible."
Akane nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Good. Let's get to work. We have a lot to do before nightfall."
As he turned to follow the others, he caught a glimpse of Akane's face. For a moment, he saw a flash of sadness and pain in her eyes, and he wondered what secrets she was hiding. But the moment passed, and Akane's expression returned to its usual calm and collected self. Kaito shook his head, chiding himself for being too curious. He had a job to do, and he needed to focus.
Echo, sensing his curiosity, turned to him and whispered, "It'll be best to leave her alone for the moment." Her eyes were serious, and Kaito nodded in agreement. He knew that Akane was a private person, and he respected her boundaries.
He agreed and joined the other crew members who were finalizing the plan once more. They were all gathered around a large map of the town, studying the layout and discussing the best routes to take.
Ryker spoke up, his voice clear and confident. "The plan is to use one of Lysander's clones as bait," he explained. "The clone would walk through the town at the dead hours of night, when the streets are empty and the monster is most likely to appear."
He paused, studying the map before continuing. "We would be on the rooftops, following closely while still keeping ourselves hidden. And if by any chance we see the monster, we don't attack yet. We let Lysander's clone deal as much damage as it could to the monster before jumping in."
He looked around the group, his eyes meeting each of theirs. "Any questions?" he asked, but none of them had a question. Everyone seemed to understand the plan, and they all nodded in agreement.
Lysander spoke up, his voice filled with confidence. "I'll make sure the clone is as realistic as possible," he said. "I'll give it all the characteristics of a real person, so the monster won't suspect a thing."
Arin nodded, his deep voice filled with determination. "I'll make sure the perimeter is secure," he said. "We don't want any surprises."
Akane nodded, her expression serious. "I'll be on the rooftops, keeping watch," she said. "I'll make sure to spot the monster before it gets too close."
Kaito thought to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. He heard a voice in his head, Echo's calm and collected tone. "I'll be monitoring the situation from here," Echo said. "I'll alert you to any changes or unexpected events."
Kaito nodded to himself, feeling a sense of reassurance with Echo's presence. He knew that with Echo's help, they would be able to stay one step ahead of the monster.
The crew dispersed, and everyone waited for nightfall. Kaito, on going out, met Akane angrily striking one of the training dummies repeatedly. The sound of her sword slicing through the air was intense, and Kaito could sense the anger and frustration emanating from her. Her movements were swift and precise, but Kaito could tell that she was holding back, that she was trying to contain her emotions.
He went to meet her, his footsteps quiet on the ground. "Akane, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice calm and concerned.
Akane stopped striking the dummy, her chest heaving with exertion. She turned to face him, her eyes blazing with anger and tears. "It's nothing," she said, her voice trembling.
Kaito held her back, his hand on her shoulder. "I want to get some things clear," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "I feel like you guys are keeping a secret from me, and I would like to know it. As I am also a member of this crew."
Akane's expression crumpled, and she suddenly sat down on the floor, bursting into tears. "It was my fault," she said, her voice barely audible. "I shouldn't have led them inside that dungeon."
Kaito, unsure of what to do, sat beside her and tried to comfort her. He put his arm around her shoulders, holding her close as she cried. He could feel her body shaking with sobs, and he held her tighter, trying to absorb some of her pain.
Akane started explaining, her words tumbling out in a rush. "We were a crew of seventeen, and we went on numerous quests, each one turning out successful with no casualties ever recorded. We were confident, we were strong, and we were unstoppable."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Then one day, a quest came in from the leader of the town, with a very enticing reward. The quest was to clear a dungeon that was formerly a mine, which the leader made most of his profits from. We were told it was a low-level quest, so we accepted and went to the dungeon."
Akane's voice cracked as she continued. "Upon entering, the dungeon suddenly crumbled, leaving us trapped inside. Different monsters started approaching us, and at first, we were confident. But when the monster's levels started showing, it was nothing like we had ever seen before. The weakest monster in the cave was level 300."
Kaito's eyes widened in shock as Akane continued. "Our group suffered multiple casualties in minutes. One of which was my father... who was swallowed alive by the serpent monster."
Akane's voice broke, and she sobbed uncontrollably. Kaito held her close, trying to comfort her as she relived the traumatic memories. He could feel her pain and grief, and he held her tighter, trying to absorb some of her sorrow.
"The teleportation stone we had could only teleport five people," Akane continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "And that was how we lost more than half of the crew. I was one of the lucky ones who made it out alive, but... but I couldn't save my father. I couldn't save any of them."
Kaito's heart went out to Akane, and he held her close, trying to comfort her as she relived the traumatic memories. He couldn't imagine what she must have gone through, losing her father and so many of her crew members in such a tragic way. He held her for a long time, letting her cry and mourn, and he didn't say a word, just letting her know that he was there for her.
As the sun began to set, the crew started to get ready for their mission. Kaito, however, couldn't shake off the thoughts that had been lingering in his mind since Akane's revelation. Why were they sent to a dungeon that was far above their level? And who was the leader of the town who had given them the quest?
He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and suspicion. It seemed that there was more to the story than what Akane had let on. He made a mental note to investigate further, but for now, he pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
He turned to Echo, the AI voice in his head. "Echo, remind me to pay a visit to the leader of the town after we're done with the monster," he said.
"Will do, Kaito," Echo replied. "I'll make sure to remind you. But for now, let's focus on the mission. We have a monster to catch."
Kaito nodded, taking a deep breath as he prepared himself for the night ahead. He checked his gear, making sure that everything was in working order. He then looked around at the rest of the crew, who were all busy with their own preparations.
Akane, who had been quiet since their earlier conversation, looked up and caught his eye. She gave him a small nod, and Kaito could sense a hint of determination in her expression. He nodded back, and the two of them shared a moment of understanding.
Finally, it was dark, and the clone that Lysander had created was doing well. It moved around the town like a real person, even stopping to sneeze or cough sometimes. Kaito had the feeling that their plan was flawless.
They moved carefully on the rooftops, avoiding suspicion. The clone then sat down on a bench in the park, where it picked up a book and began to read. The crew watched closely, amazed by the strength of Lysander's wizardry.
Hours passed, and there was no sign of any monster. The town was dead silent. The crew began to grow impatient, with Ryker suggesting that the monster might not show up. Akane insisted that they wait a little longer.
"Someone's coming," Echo said, her voice low and alert.
Kaito looked around, his eyes scanning for the person. He saw them. Covered in a black cloak and wearing a mask on their face.
"There," Kaito pointed, his voice barely above a whisper.
All the crew members watched as the figure moved closer to the clone, and stopped right in front of it. Pulling down the hooded cloak and removing his mask, he revealed a light-skinned man with crimson hair and green eyes, a huge grin on his face.
The crew couldn't make out what he was saying from that distance, but he seemed to have engaged the clone in a conversation. Suddenly, he pulled out a short dagger, which was glowing a hint of red. He lunged at the clone, cutting it on the arm, legs, and back. His speed was amazing.
The clone got up to fight back, charging at the mysterious cloaked man. But its attacks were blocked with bare hands. The crew watched in astonishment as the man seemed to be enjoying himself, his grin growing wider with every scream the clone let out.
Kaito tried to intervene, but Akane held him back, telling him that they should observe more. The man seemed to derive joy in causing pain, and after a few minutes, he finished off the clone, which disappeared into a trail of bright lights.