Bell Cranel
Azrael and I had entered the dungeon only a few minutes ago but even so his skill was shocking. Before we entered he had told me this was his first ever dive. I find that quite hard to believe.
Right away a group of about 8 Kobolds had surrounded us. I had drawn my knife to ready myself for combat but Azrael had stopped me out-stretching his hand.
"Is it alright if you let me deal with these?" He asked with a serious expression.
"Are you sure it's your first battle? Wouldn't it be better if we split the enemies?" I returned, but he shook his head in disagreement.
"I can take these guys." He said confidently with a few nods.
While I was hesitant I released my hold on the scabbard of my knife and let him face the Kobolds alone.
He drew a rusted sword from its sheath and began to calmly walk towards the group of Kobolds. He got closer and closer without making a move. I could hear the growls of the Kobolds getting louder and more aggressive as he just continued walking towards them.
Eventually, he was within their striking range. Immediately, a Kobold jumped upwards aiming its stick for a downwards slash onto Azrael's head I watched in worry and the Kobolds behind all started running at him simultaneously.
To my surprise, the first Kobold had magically been sliced in two and burst into a cloud of black dust, its magic crystal lightly fell to the floor.
The other Kobolds seeing their friend die started to give off screeching growls as they ran towards Azrael. Two rushed from the front and he took a step back to dodge their jabs, he then sliced through the two diagonally resulting in their deaths.
Four more approached from either side of him and at the last moment he jumped up causing the groups to run into each other, he delivered a swift downward slash finishing them all.
As he gently landed on the floor the last Kobold had an attack ready, at this angle it was bound to make contact with him.
I dashed forwards to push him out of the way but before I had even taken two steps he delivered a powerful kick sending the Kobold flying into the dungeon wall and killing it instantly.
I felt my jaw drop, "That was amazing Azrael! Is this really your first time?" He turned to me and silently nodded and gave a thumbs up.
"And you did it with that rusty sword too!?" I said in amazement as I looked down at his sword, it was splintering, practically on the edge of shattering.
---
Shortly after his first battle we continued down the dungeon, we made it down the first, second and third floors at a record pace... For me at least.
Every time there were monsters we would split their number and each take out one group. Azrael despite not having armour apperently didn't even need it as I hadn't seen him get hit once by any monster we had fought. Witnessing his talent was honestly kind of scary who knew someone could have such latent ability for something on their first try.
Along our way down I had only been hit a few times and even then they were barely even grazes. Perhaps it was because I had company now but the dungeon felt much easier today.
Everything was really starting to look up and eventually we had arrived on the fifth floor. I had to admit the monsters really were a step stronger, the differences was noticeable. However, we continued moving down the floor working together to take out the monsters and collect their stones.
Finishing off a Kobold I turned to Azrael who had just done the same, "I think we're around the middle of the floor now so we should probably just stay at this level." I explained slightly breathless from my fight. Azrael nodded in acceptance and gave me another thumbs up.
For around an hour more we worked together to take down the monsters littering the fifth floor. We had gathered a large amount of magic stones and I was starting to run out of stamina.
"I think we should head up now Azrael. I'm starting to feel a bit-" My words were cut off by an ear scratching roar, two of them actually. In a panic I scanned the area around of us.
"What was that!?" I shouted and turned to Azrael who's gaze was elsewhere. Slowly, I followed his gaze into a dark corridor of the dungeon path. To my shock, two pairs of crimson eyes stared us down from the darkness.
The loud thumping of footsteps became more audible as the crimson orbs got brighter and bright.
Emerging from the shadows were two giant Ox like creatures.
"Minotaur!? But why are they on this floor!" I asked aloud in a frantic panicked voice. Suddenly, the two creatures charged. One after me and the other after Azrael.
"AZRAEL MOVE!" I Screamed at the top of my lungs trying to dash towards him. He was much closer to them than I was him.. I could only watch in despair as the Minotaur crashed into him slamming him against the dungeon wall. His body cracked against the hard dungeon wall a horn had penetrated him causing a gush of blood to stain the dungeon floors and minotaur.
My eyes went wide, I watched in despair as his body went limp. With a Minotaur still charging at me I regretfully turned and scrambled towards the exit of the floor. As I ran I could only curse my weakness as images of Azrael's body flashed in my mind.
---
Azrael
An intense burning sensation spread throughout my body as I weakly pulled my eyes open. Inside of my stomach, surrounded by a pool of blood, was the horn of the Minotaur pinning me to the wall.
The pain was intense, incredibly so, but... The torture I endured for over one thousand years to contain my power was infinitely greater..!