Kailen's thoughts churned "Damn it , damn it , damn it.... Just where in the world am I?... Those flying diabolic beasts are at all A ranked diabolic beasts... and to think I'm somewhere atop a high cliff... Just what the hell is going on?.... (exhales slowly).... Calm down Kailen, you need to find a way out of this calamity.... Is there any way out of this cave apart from the exterior....''
Kailen paced around in the cave for a while, trying to find a solution to his misfortune, then it hit him...
''If I try to use Feral's flames, the cave might cave in on me, and even if I survive, I will be exposed to those flying A ranked diabolic beasts. That's not a risk I'm willing to take....
The only available option is to try and conjure something with shadow manipulation that can help me dig a hole through the other side. I have to assume that this cave is somewhere located in some mountain. That means if I can dig a way out to the other side diagonally, I will be able to dig downwards and escape from these terrifying creatures "
Kailen turned to the posterior wall of the cave, then sighed.
''It's now or never''
''Shadow manipulation'' Shadows moved, transforming into ethereally dark outlines. They aggregated together, given form to a large shadowy object that looked like a drill, floating in the air.
The shadowy drill responded to Kailen , then started to spin with abnormal speed.
It made contact with the posterior wall of the of the cave, producing a sound akin to metallic sparks...
''Please work... or I'm screwed" Kailen observed for hours, as the shadow drill tried to do it's work....
''Finally, some progress'' The shadow drill finally managed to create a small hole in the posterior wall of the cave, boosting Kailen's morale.
The shadowy drill continued its work, for about 14 hours, boring a hole large enough to accommodate Kailen. From then on, the work became easier.
''Time to leave'' . Kailen, clothed in shadows, followed the trajectory of the shadowy drill as it drilled deeper diagonally into wherever it would lead him..
The further the hole was drilled deeper, the further Kailen followed...
Kailen didn't know how long the process had endured, but compared to become a non awakener, this was a price he had to pay, though excruciating..
Kailen had lost all sense of reason. The only thing he was focused on was finding some sort of escape. So, he drilled.. and drilled.... and drilled...
"Please, some protagonist's luck... locate me ....'' Kailen gritted his teeth, then drilled... He was tired... but he had to drill...
He had lost track of time... ''How long has it been, days?..a week?... Im running out of time... and I'm so hungry...."
Then after an uncountable amount of time, the sounds of metal clangs being produced from the drilling ceased...
''Finally'' The shadow drill disappeared, having served its purpose, returning to the shadows.
Kailen finally heard the voice of humans, and saw the outline of three gentlemen seated around a campfire..
He knew from this that he had escaped the hopeless situation he had been in ealier.. the voice of humans was a sign that he was at least, in a more favorable situation than he was in earlier...
''What the hell is that.... Is that a beast?''
''It's covered in some black thing from head to toe... it looks humanoid though''
Apparently as he approached them, they thought he was a beast... "Looks like I have to clear this misunderstanding'' Kailen mused inwardly, then turned towards the three gentlemen who sat by the night campfire and looked at him apprehensively..
''Fellas chill... I'm human'' Kailen expressed with a feigned smile, deciding to get rid of the shadow that encased his face... He didn't want to start a fight with anyone right now after all ... He was clearly not in the mood...
''No need to be on guard boys... he's just a punny E ranker... Boy, hand over your possessions and we will let you live , otherwise don't forgive us for being impolite''.. The leader of the group voiced, a maniacal expression on his face.
''As expected of the boss... I admire his ruthlessness more than anything''
''What happens in the jungle stays in the jungle, this is the perfect opportunity to apply the law of the jungle... brat, just listen to the boss and we will let you leave after breaking a bone or two, or maybe we will give you a quick death..'' The other two gentlemen, probably the lackeys, spoke in a menacing manner...
''Seriously... just what's up with my luck... After all the unfortunate events , I meet a couple of D rankers who also want me dead?...They are just 3 D rankers, but I don't know what tricks they may have up their sleeves , better to end this quickly. " Kailen sighed inwardly then shook his head.
He stared at the trio, then glanced at the campfire, the scent of the roasted meat wafting his nose and causing his stomach to make grumbling noises.
''Thank you guys for the free meal and free clothes'' Before they could process what Kailen whispered
''Shadow manipulation" A shadow katana materialized in Kailen's hands, then his figure blurred.
Arggh! ... Blood spurted out from the neck of the boss of the trio... as he held his neck with a shocked expression on his face...
''How is this....'' Before he could process how a puny E ranked awakened had killed him, his eyes turned lifeless, then he died.
''Who is this monster, he's just an E ranker but is this strong and fast?... if he killed the boss, then we are no match for him, let's run..''
''How the hell did we end up in this mess... He clearly doesn't even have any bag or any artifacts with him now that you look at it... why then did we have to let our greed get the best of us... damn it... let's run"
The duo shook uncontrollably, then struggled to turn around and flee.
''Trying to flee?'' A cold voice accompanied with a light tap on the shoulder of one of the lackeys caused him to lose all signs of escape..
He looked down only to identify blood dripping from his chest, and a katana as dark as night, having pierced right through him...
Gurrhherr, Blood spurted out of his mouth as he observed his pitiful end..
Under the influence of shadow manipulation, the katana twisted into different shapes inside the guy's chest to make the experience more painful for him.
'' Accompany your boss in the afterlife''
The gentleman's eyes turned lifeless, then as the katana disappeared and rematerialized in the air, he died..
The last gentleman who was still alive had given up all signs of escape... He had been crippled with extreme fear.
The young man clad in some sort of dark armor, looked like a demon from hell...
As he stood there in shock with how the whole situation had turned out, he was filled with regret, however it was too late...
The shadow katana floating , moved in a blink of an eye, cleaving his head from his neck.. Blood gushed out of his lifeless body sprawled on the ground..
The shadow Katana disappeared into the shadows, having served it's purpose.
''You wanted to kill me, well an eye for an eye...'' Kailen scoffed, then sighed '' In this world, it's all a matter of strength, had I been any weaker than them, my fate would have been toyed with in their hands"
In these amount of days Kailen had spent in the wilderness, he had realized the consequence of being weak...
He turned around, sat by the campfire, ignoring the bloody scene of dead bodies lying around him, and ate...