Ascendants Records Mankind Saga (A.R.M.S.)

Chapter 9- Too dying to save

*THUD! THUD! THUD! SPLASH!*

The sounds of soft flesh from the sole of the feet, swiftly stepping on the gritty rough cave floor and some puddles of water dropped from the stalactite were echoed clearly in the cavern. She was running barefoot while carrying her wounded body, desperately to escape the goblin's cave. Although exhausted and will collapse at any moment, with only a dagger on her right and a fire-lit torch on her left hand, the lady is very determined to save herself.

'I....can't fall....like this. I....had owed....too much....from everyone.' She said to herself while panting heavily from fatigue.

Also to her surprise, the route to leave the cave was just like what WuYan had said earlier to her, it's empty with only dead goblins on the floor. The lady felt a sense of relief in her heart, knowing that she could quickly return to the outside without any danger. With the lights from her torch brightening the area, she peaked at the dead body while still continuing her escape.

'Those are some....rather clean cut....that guy must....had disposed them swiftly but....all goblins....just by him....alone?' She quickly assessed the corpses and remarked on WuYan capabilities.

The lady then began to hear winds whistling and the sound was only getting louder with each swift step she took. The air quality is not so pungent anymore while also feeling the cool breeze gently caressing her skin. She looked to her front and saw sun lights not far from her, the lady was delighted by what she saw.

'That.... must be....the cave entrance! Ouch!'

Excitement had displayed on her face but not too vividly because of the accumulated fatigue inside her. After days of being stuck inside the cave while also suffering as the goblins' captives, she finally felt a sense of relief and wanted to continue her run. Unfortunately, the wounds on her feet had worsened, forbidding her to run anymore as the pain became intolerable.

'Just....a bit more....and I shall be....free.'

With the entrance near but her condition also aggravated, she leaned to her side, against the damp cave wall. She used them to carefully carry herself by holding onto their uneven surface, while limping towards the entrance.

'Shang Xiang.... DaQiao, XiaoQiao....I hope you all....are safe.... and alright. I truly hope that.... we will meet again soon.'

The lady prayed for their safety and also hoped to reunite with them soon.

When she's almost at the entrance, she saw a humanoid corpse on the floor. With just a look on him, the lady uncontrollably shed tears for the fallen one. She sobbed because she recognized the armors on him.

'HanJiang....I am so sorry for your demise. If it were not.... for protecting me, none of this.... would have happened. All of you....had suffered.... because of me.'

The lady kneeled to the ground then placed the torch and daggers on the ground. She gave her guardsman- HanJiang, a final and farewell respect. She kowtowed her forehead onto the rough floor, each of the hits are loud and filled with sincereness. Each hit took away some of the guilt that was accumulated in her, bringing her comfort that she longed for.

She had repeatedly done it till she felt a burning, tingling sensation lingering on the forehead then stopped. She touched her forehead and felt something damp on it but rather sticky. Unable to tell whether it's the dampness from the floor, sweat or blood, she gently rubbed it off then looked at her hand. The lady had kowtowed till her forehead had turned red and injured.

However, she still felt a sense of unease even after the kowtow. Her heart felt heavy as she was still concerned about the guy that saved her from the goblins. In a lethargic state, she started to hallucinate and saw the corpse in front of her has his face. Overlayed on top of it, she saw him die in an agonizing, shockingly painful death.