Scale of Reality

Cave of the Vanquished: Part 2

Muji POV

"There are three skeletons up ahead. What do you want us to do Ms Shinmon?"

She hummed.

"The only one of you who can actually kill them is Lapis, so we should probably avoid them."

Ms Shinmon smiled.

"But you guys need experience! So, I want you all to go up in pairs and battle against those three. Don't kill them...oh wait, you can't."

Ms Shinmon snickered a bit as most of the group sighed.

"Training even while on a hunt...Ms Shinmon is ruthless."

"Muji, you and Mateo go up first."

I nodded and walked up to the front of the group, Mateo joining me.

"Let's us wait no longer."

"Yeah Yeah."

I rushed in, Mateo behind me, as I kicked one of the skeletons. A second one tried to come grab me, but I jumped back and avoided it's grasp. Mateo was dealing with one of the skeletons, but a second one tried to attack him.

I rushed over and punched the skeleton, but it just turned around and went to punch me. Mateo rushed over and pushed me out the way, blocking the blow and allowing me to jump back.

I went back in and punched one of the skeletons, dodging it's counter attack before punching it again. These things were slow but super durable.

"I wish my bones were this durable."

As one of the other skeletons began running towards me, I jumped back and avoided the second one, kicking it into the other one.

I went to attack once again when I heard Mateo yelling. I quickly changed direction and dashed over, seeing Mateo being grabbed by one of the skeletons.

It had his arm.

I cut the arms off the skeleton and punched it away, grabbing Mateo and jumping back.

"You alright?"

"I-I can't feel my arm."

I clicked my tongue and looked back to Ms Shinmon, who just nodded. I brought him back over to the rest of the group as Ms Shinmon sent out Jax and Chris to go fight the skeletons.

"Iris, how bad is it?"

Iris looked in horror.

"His bone...it's completely crushed. This probably won't heal...not with my ability."

Ms Shinmon clicked her tongue.

"What the hell Mateo? Did you let your guard down or something? With your aura level that shouldn't have-

"My aura...i-it vanished."

The entire area went silent.

Ms Shinmon looked shaken for the first time in...well forever.

"What do you mean it vanished?"

"One second I had it, and I was using it to defend against the skeleton. The next, it was gone and the monster easily overpowered me."

Ms Shinmon took a deep breath before sighing.

"Is it good now?"

"Y-Yes mam."

"Iris heal him the best you can, Mateo you stay in the back and try to do as little as possible. With that arm your as good as dead weight."

Mateo nodded sadly before Ms Shinmon pulled me, Jax, Lapis, and Adjest away from the group.

"You good? Anything going on with you?"

I shook my head.

"I'm fine."

Ms Shinmon nodded before looking around, making sure everyone was listening.

"I'll be frank, I have no idea what's going on. Skeletons aren't, or shouldn't be, capable of canceling aura."

I nodded.

"I figured. So what's going on?"

"I just said I have no idea. However if things get chaotic I'm counting on you four to help me. You're the strongest ones here so take charge if need be."

We all nodded before heading back to the group and continuing to move.

Mateo's incident wasn't the last.

As the battles continued, multiple people would have their aura temporarily shut off. Due to it happening to Mateo, most of us were more cautious so no one got hurt too bad.

However, we were heading deeper into the cave, and more and more skeletons were showing up. With each fight more and more people got injured, and a lot of people were getting paranoid.

At the movement we were taking a break, sitting inside the cave. Many were injured, and Iris and Lacas could only heal so much. I was sitting down against the wall, pondering what possibly could have been going on.

"Muji we've only been in here for a day and I want to go home."

"Well, it is a cave full of monsters. You should want to go home."

I looked at Mya, she was injured too.

"How is this happening? It only happens when we engage in combat against the skeletons, but it can't be them right?"

I hummed.

"If it's not the skeletons...then there's either something wrong with this cave...."

I looked around at my party members.

"Or someone's trying to kill us all from the inside. The question is, if there is someone, who? And why?"

I shook my head.

"No there's no way. To cancel someone's aura you'd probably have to be significantly stronger than them. I'm sure I'm just being paranoid."

I grabbed my dagger.

"I hope I'm just being paranoid."

"Muji?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at Mya.

"Yeah?"

"Get ready, Ms Shinmon says we're leaving in 3."

I nodded before going back to my thoughts. After being unable to come to a solid conclusion, I just put it in the back of mind for now as we continued to move.

That being said, it didn't take much longer for us to run into trouble.

"I can sense about 30 enemies heading towards us! And fast!"

"All units, prepare for battle!"