In The Academy As Sukuna

Ch 11 - Dungeon (Part 2) - Flames of Vengeance

(POV: Ryogaku)

I was with Alexia, separated from our group as soon as we went through the doorway.

There was a distinct and foul smell of rotting flesh in the room.

I looked up, and this room was like a maze, multiple bridges went from one wall to another, leading to no particular destination.

At the very top, there was a wider bridge, and at one end of it, there was a huge doorway.

I immediately knew that that was our only exit.

I looked at Alexia, who, although frightened, had steeled her resolve and had a new light of determination in her eyes.

I smiled a little, trying to hide my anxiety and comfort her.

I pointed to the top, she looked there and nodded.

"We jump from bridge to bridge until we reach it." I said, as I started the journey by jumping onto the nearest bridge to us, with Alexia following close behind.

The spiderweb-like layout of the bridges was quite confusing to navigate.

There were also many monsters on the way, mostly being E-Rank, who were quickly taken down by Alexia using ranged spells.

"Almost there," I shouted. Though there was a sense of unease in my mind, I tried to pass it off as a random thought.

As we arrived on the widest bridge on the top, we ran towards the exit, which was unguarded.

I was leading, while Alexia was right behind me.

Suddenly, my instincts screamed, as I heard a loud thud behind me.

Snapping my head backwards, I saw a gruesome sight.

Alexia was punched on to the floor by a huge monster, her now unconscious and bleeding.

A monster, which can only be described as a Minotaur stood near her.

A feeling started bubbling up in me, I hadn't felt this sensation in a long time.

That sensation that completely took over my mind and drowned all of my rational thoughts in its fury.

It wasn't fear, it was . . . Rage, I felt such immeasurable rage that I could not think of anything before I jumped towards the monster.

Why did I do that? I knew that this monster was stronger than him, it was a C-Rank...I was biting much more than I can chew.

But, my thought process was completely taken up by slashing this monster into pieces, and had no space left to think of life and death.

As if sensing my determination, my sword started emitting bright orange sparks, mirroring my rage.

The Minotaur, confident in its defense, did not try to dodge, but put up both hands seeking to stop the sword in its path.

But, contrary to its expectations, the sword went right through its hands, chopping them off by the wrists and creating a shallow wound on its chest.

The monster shrieked, its wounded parts burned with intense heat made it experience extreme pain.

A flesh of burning flesh reached my nose.

Now, driven by only the desire to kill me for harming him, it charged, coming at me with heavy steps that made the whole bridge vibrate.

I could see the sparks getting duller.

Driven only by the desire to kill, I, too, charged towards it.