Scale of Reality

Cave of the Vanquished: Part 4

Muji POV

As I walked in the dark alone, I had to rely on my senses to guide me through the cave. This was the first time I had ever been alone, and conscious, on a hunt.

That time in Prism Swamp doesn't count.

Being alone was pretty refreshing yet frightening.

On one hand I don't have to worry about protecting or saving anyone, but on the other hand no one is there to watch my back.

"Well, no point in complaining now. All I can do is survive until..."

I blinked twice.

"Until what? Even if I do survive the week, I'll probably never find my way out of here."

I let out a sigh, shaking my head and continuing to move.

"Let's think about all that later."

As I headed deeper into the cave I began to run into many strange things. Diverging paths, traps that seemed to be set up by humans, and even corpses that seemed to have been there since forever.

Some of them weren't even damaged.

"I wonder how many people got lost in here..."

I swallowed a nervous gulp.

"Will I end up like them?"

I shook my end before searching this corpse like I did to the others. If they had anything valuable on them, I needed it to prolong my own survival.

After the search came to an end, I found a book. The writing inside of it was barely legible, I could make out the words.

"To whomever finds this book, beware the troubles that lie ahead. Deeper into the cave you shall face enemies enormous in size, and those who use magic. Do not fret however, for those with a strong mind may be able to defeat such danger?"

I put the book down and blinked twice.

"What is this guy talking about? Assuming by enemies he means skeletons, am I going to run into giant skeletons and skeletons who use magic?"

I hummed a bit before beginning to move on.

"Even so I can't just sit here."

I continued to walk through the cave, avoiding more traps and groups of enemies. Sometimes I would have to take them on, but with the help of my madness(strange power) I was able to push through.

While I was walking, I could sense a large group of presences up ahead. They weren't human, so they had to be skeletons.

"Just my luck. And it's not like I can just turn back either..."

After walking closer I came to a stop and looked in the distance, there was indeed a large group of skeletons in one area. They seemed to be blocking a passage way that lead deeper into the cave.

About 30 archers and 45 soldiers, 15 archers on each side of the area and the 45 all just hanging around in the middle.

"Even if I had the others, we'd all be dead without Ms Shinmon."

After contemplating what I should do, I decided using stealth to sneak by would be best. When I went to jump forward, an arrow hit the ground next to me.

"Damn it."

The skeletons began to rush towards me, all ready to kill me. At the same time, arrows were being launched at me by the archers.

The situation was not good.

"The only way I can win this is by using that power again."

I closed my eyes and looked inside of myself.

But it wasn't there.

It had vanished.

"It's not working...where the hell did it go?!"

I jumped out of the way, evading one of the skeletons. About five to ten more were right behind it, all of them attacking me simultaneously.

I barely managed to block before flying into a wall. I coughed up a bit of blood before quickly getting up and running away once again.

If it was one thing I had over these things it was speed.

I ran and ran, but I knew I couldn't just run back to where I first started at, then I would be cornered. I stopped and jumped over the skeletons, running behind them and heading back to the large passage way they were protecting.

As I entered the area, an arrow came flying my way. I just barely avoided it, as it cut my forehead right above my eye.

"I forgot about the archers!!"

I had to stop and guard myself as more arrows came flying towards me. I moved as fast as I could as I cut or dodged the arrows, however some of them still landed.

An arrow hit my right leg and left shoulder, but it seems like they were out of arrows. I ripped out the arrows that pierced me before I ran towards the passage way, believing I was free to escape.

However I hit what seemed to be a wall.

After hitting said wall, I realized there was another presence in the area, and it was right in front of me. It then grabbed me and threw me, causing me to fly across the cave.

I caught myself before I hit the wall, but then quickly dodged to the side as the big monster punched where I just was. I jumped up and kneed the thing in the face before landing behind it and dashing towards the passage way.

As I was about half way there, another array of arrows was suddenly flying at me. I jumped and spun around, avoiding most of the arrows, but making it closer to freedom.

Just when I thought I was free, the big guy grabbed me by the arm. He lifted me and slammed me into the ground as I coughed up blood, feeling my arm snap.

I stabbed it in the arm, but felt no flesh.

"This thing is a skeleton too...damn it!"

It lifted me up and went to slam me down again, but I quickly used my aura and cut its hand off since it's arm was too thick. After being let go, I jumped up and kicked the big skeleton, knocking it down.

I breathed heavily as I landed on the ground, looking around me.

The archers were preparing to fire, and the soldiers were about to enter the area. I had about five seconds, but I could make it.

"I can do this...."

I went to sprint off but felt an aching pain shoot through my entire leg.

"M-Move!!"

The big skeleton had got up and was walking towards me, my leg had completely given out due to how much blood I loss.

I know knew escape was impossible.

"Fine then."

I ripped the bottom of my shirt the laid underneath my armor before tying it around my leg, standing tall.

I got into my battle stance, holding my daggers up with a glare at the enemy.

"If I'm going to die here, I'm taking all of you bastards with me."