[SAVEPOINT LOADED.]
Rain found himself standing at the arena's entrance. The group of goblins rested at the end, guarding the chest with a ruggish manner. If he could remember, Marisa darted and attacked the monsters here.
"Ahh… it hurts…" Rain crutched his temples. He felt pain, yet there was no feeling. All he felt was dizziness and the trauma from last death.
Marisa slid back her feet, preparing to attack the goblins. She stopped, however, and looked at Rain with confusion.
"We haven't started. You're hurt already?" she said, flaring her spiky teeth.
"I feel kind of sick." replied Rain.
"Well, you need to help me out. We're a party now. You shouldn't back off because the dungeon is a rank above yours." Marisa said matter-of-factly.
'Three ranks above actually…'
'Wait, we're a party?'
Rain sighed, composing himself and letting Aether flow in his veins. He had to calm down now. Wasn't he supposed to adapt like Mahoraga? Dying felt like shit… but there's no other way but to kill these damn monsters.
"You're right," he said to Marisa. "Let's raid this dungeon."
With that, just like the last loop, they both darted at the goblins at the same time—leaving behind ruses of dust and a shockwave.
Three goblins stood. One with a bat, one with a shield, and one with an axe. Rain was for sure targeting the most dangerous one. He needed vengeance after that death.
"KYAAH!" Marisa hurdled to the left, broom in hand, swinging it to a group of goblins. The monsters fell down, but stood up right after. She followed up with a downward claw strike.
SLASH!
Two goblins died in that scenario. Rain took the opportunity to attack the remaining ten.
The axe goblin stood behind the shield one. It raised the weapon, proudly lifting it like a trophy. Who knows if it'll suddenly throw that shit around? Rain needed to focus on that monster.
He grabbed two torches, dual-wielding them like scythes. He assumed a fighting stance that guaranteed to burn whoever came close. A goblin took that bait.
"GRAAAH!" The monster growled. It kicked off the ground and came crashing down in Rain's direction. It was an unarmed one. An easy kill.
BOOM!
The goblin—from head to toe—burst into flames.
Rain assisted that attack with mana. He pointed the tip of the torchlight, stabbed it at the goblin's head, and exploded wind-charge to burst the monster to death. It worked surprisingly well and the monster collapsed in an instant.
[+EXP!]
[Leveled Up' Level 2]
Though… his arm felt a sting.
Rain looked down. His right turned like the colossal titan's skin. A burn. A hell of a burn. It felt like hell incarnate. His whole muscles were ripped apart. Blood stopped to circulate and his veins were turned ashen black.
Pain.
Pain.
Pain.
"AHHHH!" Rain screamed out, clutching his limping arm in an instant. The remaining goblins attacked in a wave after hearing that screech.
The shield one rammed onto him immediately. It pinned him against the wall and restricted movement. His burnt-arm was crushed. All he smelled was ash and blood.
He wanted to scream for help, he wanted Marisa to look and see his tattered state—but he couldn't. It felt like he had no mouth. It felt like his pride came crashing down like a massive truck.
He can't let her see him this weak.
CRUSH!
A sword came crashing at his temple. Blood poured out and his brain felt trauma.
CRUSH!
The axe fell atop his head, hitting it and stabbing directly onto his cranium. Rain couldn't breathe anymore.
CRUSH!
His weakened body was crushed by the ramming goblin. The shield tore his ribs. He felt his bones caving inside his heart.
In a blur—he saw the face of Marisa below her gigantic hat. Her teeth flared as if wanting to scream. Her eyes were wide. Her broom dropped.
And it was far too late.
Black.
Black.
Black.
White.
[You have died at Level 2]
[Returning to the last savepoint…]
…
[Savepoint Loaded: E-ranked Dungeon]
Rain clutched his head once again, seeing himself back at the last savepoint. This wasn't going anywhere. He wanted to cry, but he can't give up now. It hurts. It really hurts.
"I can't…" Rain muttered instinctively, crutching the bridge of his nose.
Marisa stared at him. She stopped half-way from running. "Are you okay?"
Her large hat dropped down and her broom lowered slightly. She furrowed her brows like a concerned parent. "We can go back if you want. I just thought you were up to it."
"No, no. I'm fine." Rain replied, sighing. "We can do it."
'Though, I don't think I can handle any more loops…'
Marisa held out her hand. She grinned. She grinned widely with those shark-like teeth. Her palms were out for Rain to grab, offering help to a bothered child. "I'll protect you."
Rain's eyes widened in anger. He slapped her hand away in an instant. "I'm fine, like I said. Whoever kills the most goblins gets the reward. We aren't a party, we're going separate ways after this."
"But I thought—"
"Shut the hell up! Just fight! Don't look the fuck back! I don't need your pity, and I don't need your help. I can deal with myself, thank you." Rain gritted out.
Marisa smiled mockingly. "Oh, you're going that route now huh? I thought we were having a good time but, no, you just had to ruin it with your outbursts. Very well, I'll be going on my own terms."
Marisa walked to the dungeon without looking back.
Rain extended his hands, trying to stop her but he couldn't. That was unnecessary. He was acting off of his selfish accord. He wanted to apologize yet it was too late.
"I—uhm," He stammered. "I—"
Marisa didn't stop.
'I didn't mean it.'