Chapter 33
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
HUFF!
HUFF!
CLANG!
The sound of steel striking stone rang endlessly in the small cavern room. Occasionally, a faint curse escaped the lips of the lone figure inside, yet he refused to stop.
A frail-looking human stood surrounded by clusters of shining blue crystals embedded deep into the walls and floor. The crystals glowed faintly, casting light across the rough stone and over his sweat-soaked frame.
Zen was mining with all the strength his thin body could muster, each slam of the pickaxe shaking through his bones.
Already, a handful of crystals lay scattered near his feet about eleven in total while his trembling arms swung again and again.
His shirt was stripped from his body and tied around his narrow waist, leaving his pale, twig-like form exposed. He looked weak, fragile even, yet desperation fueled his movements.
"If… if I don't mine these on time, someone might die there." Zen muttered hoarsely. His pickaxe bit into the stone once more, and at last another crystal came loose, clattering onto the pile.
"My body is screaming for a break. My hands ache, my lungs burn, and my arms feel like they're about to snap. But I can't stop… the others are risking their lives."
He stumbled to another glowing vein and raised the pickaxe again, though his vision was starting to blur.
"They… they are risking their lives for me to accomplish this, so I need to do it perfectly. I know they are just NPCs, but I can't help but feel like they are real people. I need to k… keep working ha… hard." His voice shook, but he forced the words out, using them like fuel.
Each strike rang louder than the last, echoing his stubborn determination. His chest heaved as he whispered silent prayers that the others would survive long enough for him to matter.
---
Meanwhile, in the boss room, chaos reigned.
"Zarin!" Ryker roared as he ducked beneath a vicious claw that sliced the air above his head. He gritted his teeth, tightening his grip, then thrust his sword forward, unleashing the only skill in his arsenal.
But the beast was quicker than expected. It lurched back, narrowly avoiding the invisible attack, which slammed into the cavern wall with such force that chunks of rock came crashing down.
"Here we gooo!" Zarin bellowed, putting his entire weight into a swing that slammed against the creature's back. Flesh tore and black ichor spilled as the wraith staggered forward with a guttural screech.
"My turn!" Ryker barked. He leapt high, spinning mid-air like a storm before thrusting his sword twice. Each thrust carried wind with it, and the beast responded by swiping its claws through the air in defense.
Sparks and shockwaves burst out, yet Ryker's force still sent the monster skidding, its fused legs cracking the ground beneath them.
SWOOOOSH!
Two arrows cut through the air, deadly fast. The beast sensed them, spun, and tried to evade, but the projectiles smashed into its horn, cracking half of it clean off.
"Take that!" Zarin roared, charging again. He launched himself skyward, grit teeth bared, and brought his sword down with all the strength left in him. The blade met the monster's flesh with a resounding bang.
CRACK!
SHATTER!
Zarin's sword exploded into fragments, scattering across the cavern floor. The beast collapsed momentarily, crashing against the earth with a thud that shook the room and kicked up a choking cloud of dust.
"Damn it… I almost forgot this sword was only D-rank. It's a miracle it lasted this long against a C-rank beast." Zarin muttered bitterly, staring at the ruined weapon in disbelief.
"Well, at least the beast is de..."
BOOM!
A massive kick buried itself into his abdomen before he could finish. His eyes bulged, blood gushed from his mouth like a burst of water, and his body went flying like a ragdoll.
He slammed against the cavern wall with bone-crunching force, the impact echoing like thunder. Then he slid down, face-first, leaving a smear of blood trailing behind him. His body hit the floor limp, and a slow trickle of red seeped from his head.
"Zarin!" Rina shouted in horror as she leapt into the cavern without hesitation, while Aria, frozen in shock, was unable to stop her.
"Damn it! My essence is draining rapidly," Ryker mumbled beneath his breath, his chest heaving as he realized the beast had locked eyes on the seemingly unconscious Zarin.
Without warning, the monstrous wraith dashed toward the helpless human, who lay sprawled on the cavern floor being desperately tended to by Rina.
"Shit," Ryker cursed as he forced himself to stand. With whatever strength remained in his battered body, he thrust his sword into the air three times, channeling his essence into the strikes.
The beast felt the shift in the atmosphere instantly. Its sharp, twisted instincts flared and it spun around with alarming speed. Ducking low, it avoided the first invisible thrust, then leapt high into the air to evade the second.
But the third came too fast. It slammed into one of its claws, tearing it off in a violent spray of thick, black blood. The severed claw fell with a wet thud as the beast landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly.
"I was the one who brought these guys together for this quest!" Ryker roared, his voice echoing through the cavern. He bolted forward, blood dripping down his chin.
Behind him, Aria loosed arrow after arrow, forcing the beast to weave and twist in irritation as it dodged every shot.
"So I won't let any of them die on my watch!" Ryker bellowed. He leapt into the air, his sword raised high, wind spiraling violently around the blade as he swung it down in a diagonal arc.
CACKLE!
The beast's mouth split into a sinister grin. With frightening speed, it swung its remaining claw forward.
The strike collided with Ryker's blade in a deafening boom that shook the cavern walls, loose rocks raining down from above.
Before Ryker could regain his stance, the wraith's fused legs suddenly split apart. In a blur, it lashed one forward, smashing into Ryker's face with brutal force. Blood gushed from his mouth and nose, his vision flashing red.
But instead of being flung back like the beast had expected, Ryker grit his teeth and surged forward. His head whipped back into place, and with reckless defiance, he smashed his forehead against the wraith's foot.
A sickening crack tore through the air. Blood poured from Ryker's scalp and down his face, while the beast's foot split open, black ichor dripping onto the ground.
The wraith staggered back with a sharp shriek of pain, its eyes blazing with fury as it glared at Ryker.
'Fuck! I only have enough essence for two more thrusts and that's it. Damn it! I thought I was strong enough to take down a C-ranked beast.
I should never have picked that newbie, I should have partnered with another C-rank instead. Damn it!' Ryker thought, his heart pounding in rage and regret. 'Isn't he done mining yet?!'
—
"Finally… I'm done mining."
Far away from the chaos, Zen muttered with a proud smile on his sweaty face as he stared at the backpack now filled with fifty-five precious gems.
His body ached from swinging the pickaxe for so long, but the sight of his hard-earned loot filled him with satisfaction.
He dragged the heavy pack onto his back, adjusted the straps, and picked up his pickaxe again. His eyes turned toward the dark exit of the tunnel.
"Let's go check on the others. I just hope they're okay… and holding up without me."