--Chapter 13--
"So...!"
Takeshi rolled his shoulders.
"...Let’s see whether these buffs are actually as ridiculous as they feel."
Amongst the goblins, one who’d been watching Takeshi closely, screeched before charging first.
The others immediately followed behind like a swarm.
Their crude weapons reflected the blue glow from the Tower as they rushed toward him without the slightest hint of fear.
Takeshi didn’t move.
Not until the first goblin came within arm’s reach.
Then...
He threw a straight punch.
Boom!
His fist crashed directly into the creature’s chest. And for a split second...
Nothing happened...
Then the goblin’s entire body folded inward before it was launched across the arena like plastic doll.
It slammed into the stone wall with enough force to explode into a shower of blood and shattered bones.
What followed was silence...
Even Takeshi blinked in awe.
"...Holy shit."
That...had definitely been stronger than he intended.
He slowly looked down at his own fist.
’I barely put anything into that.’
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Oh...me like this."
The remaining goblins who knew no fear only a second ago, hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Unfortunately for them... That moment was enough.
Takeshi dashed forward. The distance between him and the nearest goblin was covered instantly.
His knee smashed into its stomach.
Crunch!
The creature folded in half before rolling across the arena floor.
Without stopping...Takeshi spun around. His heel caught another goblin squarely across the jaw.
Its head twisted violently before the entire body lifted off the ground. And was sent flying.
Years of self defense training was finally doing more than intended.
Three down.
Twenty-six to go.
Behind him...
Nyxara finally sighed. "My turn."
Hellfire erupted around both of the pistons she called fists.
The temperature around her body immediately began rising.
But even with all the threat to life, one of the wolves lunged anyways.
’idiot .’
She caught it by the throat with one hand and held it in place effortlessly.
The beast struggled wildly while Nyxara smiled.
"You’ve got spirit."
Then she squeezed.
Crack.
Its neck collapsed like glass.
She casually tossed the corpse into two charging goblins before punching the ground.
Boom!
Crimson flames erupted outward like a violent wave, spreading towards the wolves.
Everything caught inside them disappeared almost immediately.
Leaving no screams. Nor bodies, all that was left was ash.
Takeshi couldn’t help staring.
"...That’s a little unfair."
Nyxara laughed loudly.
"This?"
She flexed one arm proudly. "This is me taking it easy Master."
"I don’t think I want to see you trying."
"Yes you do master," She smiled wider.
"You’d enjoy it."
The remaining monsters quickly realized something very unfortunate.
They weren’t the hunters. They were prey.
One wolf tried circling behind Takeshi.
He noticed it at the last second. Instead of turning... He simply drove his elbow backward.
The impact shattered the creature’s skull before it even reached him.
’Ridiculous...’
He honestly couldn’t get over it.
Just yesterday... A bald bastardnearly beat him to death.
Today...
He was crushing monsters without even thinking about it.
So this was what Clark Kent felt...
Goddamn it felt...
Addictive...!
Within another minute...
The last goblin fell. And silence returned to the arena once more.
A faint blue light gathered where the monsters had died before slowly flowing toward the center of the room.
The ancient walls shuddered softly. And a massive stone doorway that hadn’t existed before slowly rose from the ground.
Nyxara rested both hands behind her head.
"That’s it?"
She sounded genuinely disappointed.
"I thought this Tower was supposed to be impressive."
Takeshi chuckled.
"Careful...It’s only the first floor."
Nyxara shrugged.
"Yeah.. Yeah.."
Her orange eyes slowly drifted toward the newly opened doorway.
"...Which means it should stop wasting my time."
Without waiting...
She began walking toward the exit.
Takeshi followed behind with a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Floor One...was Done and Ashed.
***
[FLOOR 2]
Floor 2 was nothing like the 1.
The moment they stepped through the door way portal, the dry stone beneath their feet vanished beneath ankle-deep swamp water.
Thick green mist moved across the marshland, clinging to each living thing like a virus.
Around the mist every breath tasted bitter.
Takeshi frowned at the thought.
’Poison...’
It wasn’t enough to kill instantly. But enough to weaken anyone who stayed here too long.
Before he could think further, the water in front of him exploded out.
A giant swamp lizard burst out with its jaws wide open.
"There!" Takeshi shouted.
And Nyxara moved immediately.
She caught the creature’s upper jaw with one hand and its lower jaw with the other before twisting violently.
Crack!
Its neck snapped. The corpse hadn’t even hit the water before another ripple spread across the swamp.
It was as if the lizard was only the appetizer, as more movement appeared.
"Behind us."
Nyxara turned.
Three more lizards emerged at once.
Instead of charging recklessly, Takeshi’s eyes swept across the battlefield.
"The left side is shallow!"
Nyxara immediately understood.
Choosing not to meet them head-on, Nyxara sprinted toward the shallower ground.
The first lizard lunged.
She sidestepped, grabbed its tail, and used its own momentum to swing the enormous body straight into the second lizard.
Crash!
Both creatures slammed into each other.
"It’s coming!"Takeshi warned.
Nyxara didn’t even look. She ducked instinctively as Takeshi yelled.
The lizard sailed over her head. However, she caught it by the neck while it was still airborne.
Black flames erupted around her fist. And then...
Boom!
The monster exploded into burning flesh and ash.
Dying without a sound.
Takeshi couldn’t help smiling.
’Good...’
It was refreshing to know that she didn’t just have overwhelming strength.
She listened as well.
That alone made her far more dangerous than most warriors he’d ever read about.
Just when they thought the worse has passed.
The swamp began to move again. This time it wasn’t one creature.
It was probably hundreds. Maybe even more.
Small black spiders crawled out from every direction, their crimson eyes glowing through the mist.
"...Bloody hell."
The swarm rushed them.
"Burn a line!" Takeshi shouted immediately, pointing at a bunch of vines.
Nyxara’s eyes squinted then she slammed both palms into the swamp.
The swamp shuddered the moment she made contact and then Hellfire surged outward in a wide arc.
Whoosh!
A blazing wall of crimson flames stretched across the marsh.
And as stupid as they were, the spiders charged straight into it.
Pop!
Pop!
Pop!
Tiny bodies burst apart one after another as the flames consumed the entire swarm.
And within moments... The entire swamp returned to stark silence.
Only the crackling of fire remained as evidence.
Nyxara exhaled slowly.
The poison was beginning to affect even her.
Small beads of sweat rolled down her crimson skin.
She glanced toward Takeshi.
"Master..."
Her breathing had grown slightly heavier.
"The poison’s getting annoying."
Takeshi nodded.
He could feel it too.
His limbs hadn’t weakened yet...
...but the strength Nyxara had transferred to him earlier no longer felt quite as overwhelming.
The boost was fading. And he knew it.
"We keep moving."
Nyxara grinned.
"Now you’re talking."
Together...
They stepped toward the portal leading to the third floor.
--End of Chapter--