Vlad ran around in panic around the forest looking for something, anything that could guarantee his safety in this place but it was too empty. Suspiciously empty, like it was cleared especially for him.
"Ah, no-" He mumbled out loud. His breath got caught up in his throat.
Dark figure suddenly came out from the bushes in front of him, looking over his body. Then another followed, and one more. It didnt take long for a dozen of them to appear from the appearing shadows as they surrounded Vlad from all directions and took out their handmade weapons that looked to be made out of sharpened rocks and sticks tied down together.
What am i supposed to do.
One of them took a step forward while the rest watched from the side, it readied its spear toward me looking as if asking for a fight.
It was baffling to him, they could kill him at any second but chose to play with him like a caged animal.
The masked figure moved. Too fast.
Vlad could barely see it cross the distance feeling the rush of air before the stone tip scraped across his cheek. He stumbled back, hand flying to his face. Moisture could be felt on his cheeks. Blood.
"Dammit!"
Vlad swallowed. His chest tightened as he drew his longsword. The weight in his hand was familiar, just like from the training. Sweat started trickling down his forehead as he thought of any way to survive this.
The creature lunged.
Vlad braced and barely parried, sparks scattering as stone scraped steel. His wrist jolted, nearly tearing the weapon from his hand. But he didn't fall. He shifted his boots, remembering the drills, and shoved the blade aside.
"Just... give me a sec" he muttered, breath shaking.
The creature hissed. Tilting its mask sideways, as if it tried to make sense of his words. Then it came again, faster. Vlad parried again, slowly getting the grip of things and the way to counter its attacks.
It pulled back slightly. Steadying the spear in its grip and pointing it straight toward his ribs. Not giving it a chance to attack, Vlad swung his blade horizontally. The creature stepped to the side but the stance was broken. The prepared thrusts came out clumsy, hitting just the corners of his clothes and dealing only small cuts.
Now!
Seeing the creature stopping thrusting, Vlad lunged straight at it going for its chest.
Blood ran down his cheek. His breath rugged. His heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst.
The thing tried to dodge but to no avail. Pushing the sword forward, it dove straight into its side. It got lodged in its flesh but the creature didnt scream. It didnt react. Its eyes seemed to curl up slightly and i noticed a change in my surroundings.
Looking around from the corner of his eyes, Vlad could only see blurred figures of the tribesmen standing there. They slowly started to approach after noticing his condition, but.
Vlad didn't lose, he hadn't decided that he lost. He would not let them win them, atleast not without any losses.
Focusing the entire attention on the one he stabbed, it seemed to notice some change and tried to pull out the blade. But it was too late.
"Im not that easy to deal with y'know?" Vlad told the tribesman. His tone was steadier, almost light.
With his head hanging down he gripped its shoulder tightly, while it tried to push it away. It dug its nails through his arm but to no avail. Slightly shaking, Vlad looked straight into its panicing glowing red eyes while gripping the swords handle tightly.
"If i go out then it shouldn't be without a bang... right?"
Spurrt. The blood started to gush out from its abdoment. The paniced eyes turned to one of pain as an inhuman screech came from behind its mask. Not even a few seconds later, its body was supported by my sword as i slowly was losing consciousness.
Other tribesmen seeign their kin die in such a way, started to let out weird sounds like some other language. They held their spears high and watched me during their chant while i passed out. My body fell on the dead tribesman as i got covered in blood, falling asleep in a warm disgusting sensation.
*
It was a new day on the first floor. People worked for their living. Some were wasting their time idling around, while majority studied and trained to challenge the Chasm in the later future.
"Atten-tion!" An old man wearing padded armor with a rapier in a scabbard shouted toward a group of people before him. He had a fierce look in his eyes like a person who lived through countless ups and downs, while his hair was now gray as ash with a small stache on his face.
The group was big enough with nine people in it. They all had different weapons and specialities but nothing could be enough for the unpredictable dangers the Chasm had in store.
"We have recieved a new contract from the higher ups." The man informed the group as some let out a frustrated groan while others seemed happy. Contracts from the higher ups could never be refused making it especially unexpected giving less time to prepare for its realization. On the other hand, the pay was way better than the others almost matching the ones for sections four and five.
"What now?" Bearded man that seemed to be in his fourties stood up, walking to the old guy.
He seemed to be the teams tank wearing plate armor with a big hammer on his back. He had a small beard and looked like a soft guy with his burly eyebrows and soft gaze.
Looking around to see if there was anyone listening he pulled out a poster with a teens picture on it and pointed toward his face. "Do you recognize him?"
The man leaned in slightly until his expression cracked and he looked between him and the poster. "That... is this real?" he barely squeezed the words out.
Rest was immediately interested in what the contract was as a young blonde man came over and snatched the paper out of their hands. "What got you two so flabbergasted.." Not even a moment later he himself shut his mouth.
"Vlad von Clau" reading the name itself seemed to interest the rest of the group as he was a well known teen for being the Light Bringers and Blade Empresse's incompetent son.
"Five platinum cruxes to whoever can find and bring him back to the first floor" That was their objective commisioned by the head itself. There were also some observations and guard reports that saw him leave but it was clasified information available only to the most trusted.
"five platinum..." Woman in white robes mumbled to herself seemingly stunned.
It was a pretty big amount of money. There were four types of currency called cruxes. Metal, silver, golden and lastly platinum. Just a single platinum crux could last you for two or three lifetimes, but five? The only more expensive thing would be grade 7 people or whole departments.
"Where would he even be located for them to pay us so much?" This time a man in dark robes spoke up from the back, striking a weird leaning pose.
Checking the contract the blonde man's eye's widened as he ran to pick up his equipment "Pack up, QUICK!" he told them in commanding tone before turning around and checking his watch in case the gate was already open.
Others seemed to sense something and following suit taking whatever they laid down. "Why the rush?" The only person who was already prepared with multiple daggers and light armor asked him curiously.
Giving a brief glance in his direction, he pointed toward the watch on his wrist. "Do you remember what day it is today?" he asked him like it was an obvious thing and threw a backpack over his shoulder.
What day it is?
He seemed to think for a moment before remembering the date. Shuddering slightly he felt pity for the boy as it couldn't get any worse than this for him.
"Section master is revived" he said loud enough for everyone to hear and went ahead of everyone towards the gate.