TBATE - CHANGING FATE

Chapter 15 - The Exploration

ARTHUR POV:

Once I was satisfied with the results and practiced using my new technique for several hours, I quietly snuck back to the camp and snuggled into my sleeping bag. Looking over at Jasmine and hearing her rhythmic breathing, I let out a sigh of relief that I wasn't caught.

Since there was still roughly an hour until the sunrise, I checked my mana core to see if it had managed to stabilise yet. Fortunately it was almost ready for its next meal, appearing to be ready in just several more days.

After absorbing Agrona's horn over a month ago, I noticed that it took an exponential amount of time the higher stage I became. But that didn't matter for now, as there were still three more years until Agrona begins his attack.

As I went through my thoughts the sun began to rise over the forest, signalling the start of our journey. Slowly opening her eyes, Jasmine suddenly sat upright and got out of her sleeping bag. Feigning drowsiness I did the same and folded up our equipment, stored them in my mana ring.

"Are you ready?"

Nodding my head, we began running to the nearest dungeon – an A ranked dungeon that has only been shallowly explored once or twice. With the two of us not bothering to make conversation, we quickly reached a large cavern within an hour. Hopping off my head, Sylvie gazed up towards the pitch-black entrance that was tens of meters tall as it beckoned us inside.

"It's here."

Taking the lead, Jasmine lit up a light artifact and walked into the rocky cavern with her other hand carrying a dagger; preparing for any surprise ambushes that we may encounter.

"If it gets dangerous, leave me behind" Jasmine told me while staring straight ahead into the ever-consuming darkness. "You're strong Arthur. But Alice and Reynold still worry."

"Alright..." I muttered out, although I had no intentions of escaping if Jasmine protected me. No creature in the Beast Glades could threaten my life – although Jasmine doesn't know that – and if anything, I should be the one to protect her.

'No one will ever get hurt again...'

That was my resolution after regressing back, and if I could help it I didn't want anyone to suffer the trauma of going to war. Carrying this burden was my duty, and it shouldn't need to be shared with the ones I care deeply for.

Suddenly while in thought, I stopped walking and Jasmine took notice. Sending out a silent wave of sound magic, I felt the vibrations bouncing off what lied ahead and come back towards me.

"Is something there?"

Putting my finger up to my lips, motioning for Jasmine to stay quiet, I gathered a blue ball of fire in my palm and shot it down into the darkness ahead of us. Just as it travelled a hundred or so meters, the ball of flame exploded into thousands of small fragments and shimmered in the middle of the air, lighting up the entire tunnel.

"HISS~"

On the floor ahead of us there were nearly a hundred snakes several meters long, each of varying colours. As if the explosion commanded them, the snakes slithered towards us in a group at a speed which would make you believe they had legs.

"Rainbow Serpents!" Jasmine shouted as she drew her dual daggers. "They're only C class, but be careful of their poison Arthur!"

'Oh this looks fun! Can I join in?' Regis pleaded as he saw the army of slithered creatures coming towards us as more of a means of entertainment rather than a threat.

'If I manage to find a good excuse later on, I'll let you out. For now, just stay put.'

Not wanting Jasmine to push herself this early on, I joined in on the fight and took out Dawn's Ballad. Vibrating it at an intense speed, I rushed forward eager to test out my new technique on actual flesh rather than aether blades.