//** Continuation of chapter 9. (From 9.3) **//

Two hours have passed and Arata was forced out of sleep. He felt even worse than before as everything was hurting him from lying on the rocks. Well, he at least got rid of anxiety.

“Time to wake up the others.”

-hey wake up it’s time for the boss fight!

They didn’t set up their timer so they were in dead sleep. Arata wanted to tell them to set it up but they fell asleep way too fast.

“Well I just have to use traditional way.”

He started with Anari. He got close to her, touched her arm and shake it.

-Anari, wake up!

She didn’t wake up and what was worse, Arata was catch by her when he got too close. She started to hug him in sleep like stuffed toy.

-Usagi!

Her sleep talking habit showed once again.

-Anari let me go!

Arata tried but couldn’t get out from her grasp.

-Usagi, you can talk? Waaaa! You are a magical bunny who came to look for golden egg?

-stop it!

-no? Then why did you come here?

-Anari let me go, stop your stupid dream!

Arata’s yells didn’t wake her up though and Anari stayed in her dream land.

-Usagi, I can’t let you go, I will help you so don’t worry.

“What dream does she have right now?”

-I must go, let me go Anari!

-no I can’t, you will die there Usagi, why do you need to go!?

“Hmm her dreams are changing depending on what I say.”

Arata saw this strange occurrence and thought of something.

-Anari, Usagi has a grand dream you can’t stop him, because if you will, he will never forgive you. It is his dream that he had for his whole life.

-waaa! Is it true Usagi? I never knew but now I understand. I can’t stop you. Go and do what you have to do. But promise to return one day!

At that moment Arata managed to get out from her grasp.

“I need a different method to wake them. This one is way too dangerous. I guess it is time to use my ultimate weapon.”

Arata set up the fire and started to cook something. The others already ate his cooking but it was only as far as making something fast, just for the sake of buff. This time Arata decided to take more time. He was making a curry that he found in Marco’s cooking book. He checked pages with low level ingredients and found something that he could make with things he had left in inventory. The low level ingredients part started with a note.

[Low level ingredients are not bad. It’s definitely better than having no ingredients at all.]

And he decided for curry because he thought that it would be the easiest thing with ingredients at hand.

[Curry is best thing to make if all you have are some random ingredients. Putting everything into pot should give good effect but to make best use of it follow the instruction.]

There was a list that written what could be thrown, when should it be thrown and what should be avoided.

[You probably don’t have normal rice at hand. In that case use rice bread. Throw it into the boiling water and after 7 minutes take it out and dry it.]

Everything was easy to follow and explained well so half an hour after waking up, smell of curry started to fill the area. With this effect, the others, one after another started to wake up.

-aaaaa, it hurts.

-sleeping on the rocks was not the best idea after all.

-hey Arata what are you cooking?

It worked like magic. Still, the last person didn’t wake up instead she started do slaver herself in sleep.

-it’s nothing special a simple curry?

-curry you can make curry in this game?

-well, it’s the same as making it in real life.

-where did you get the materials?

-most of it, are leftovers from boars, and some other stuff that I bought in the city. But the only other thing that I have left now is bread so let’s eat and go for the last cave.

-I wouldn’t mind sleeping for longer but I don’t want to sleep on those rocks.

Archer commented.

“That’s why I didn’t want to do sleeping break in the first place.”

-you are right. We should just finish this dungeon quickly and go back.

The other one commented.

-we also should wake up our little sorceress and start eating.

And the third one.

-true! Sleeping on rocks doesn’t help much in the first place, after you rest a little. Arata, you should wake her up.

Archer pointed on Anari.

-I tried but it didn’t go well. You guys also didn’t wake at the right time either.

-we were tired after all. But we rested now although instead everything hurts from sleeping on the rocks.

-it’s a game, ignore the pain.

Arata made a merciless comment.

-no, no, no, you can’t just simply ignore the pain and move like everything is okay.

-pain is just a signal to your brain that something is wrong with your body. But you don’t have to worry about it here as it is a game. You also should be prepared for it. Getting hit is the element of this game as well.

-well that’s true. We can’t give up after one hit, right guys?

-yea. Anyway, it’s time to eat Arata’s food.

Arata stopped them.

-it’s still five minutes to go and we still have to wait for someone.

He pointed at Anari.

-doesn’t look like she will wake any time soon, anyway how long did we sleep?

-three hours.

-it’s definitely not enough but I will pass rocks. We should wake her up.

-as I said, I already tried but it was too dangerous to do it normal way. But with my ultimate weapon, the effect is three out of four. And I am sure fourth one will soon follow.

-what effect?

-just look.

Arata took a spoon and moved it right before Anari’s nose. First she started to droll even more.

“The effectiveness of this method is great.”

Anari soon opened her eyes and swallowed the spoon without realizing what was happen.

-mmmmm.

-see, it works like magic.

Arata told the rest.

Anari looked around herself with spoon still in her mouth. Everyone was looking at her. After ten seconds she said.

-Arata?

-yes?

-what are we doing here? Where is Usagi?…

“…”

Arata didn’t even try to comment on that.

-ah, it was only a dream so I was sleeping. Anyway good morning everyone, or good evening? What time is it?

-no idea, anyway we still have boss do fight, so get up.

-waaaa! I had a good sleep and also beautiful dream.

She commented while standing up.

-how could you have good sleep on those rock?

-rocks? Ah that. I used levitation so I didn’t sleep directly on them. It was rather like sleeping on the clouds. That how I imagined it at least. I never slept on clouds.

-you got levitation spell now?

Arata slowly started to regret that he didn’t decide to roll for a mage. With his knowledge of RPG system getting that profession wouldn’t be hard.

-no, I just used basic magic. It was the same as lifting up the orbs in master’s laboratory. I just needed to use it on myself.

-and you were keeping it for three hours?

-no I did another trick, I just casted it so it last as long as I am sleeping.

“She really knows how to use it well.”

Arata also tried to play around with basic magic a little but apart from that one time in the park his results weren’t worth mentioning.

-anyway it’s time to eat. You have your spoon already.

-I do where?

-in your mouth.

-waaa, how did it ended up here?

-hey Arata!…

One of the three called him.

-was there this strange message on the wall earlier.

-what strange message?

-here look.

Archer pointed to the eastern wall. On it they could see a red letters which were making a sentence.

“Leave something for me! If you do, I won’t force you to call me leader.”

-what is it, some secret quest or something.

-rather hungry player. But why does it look like dying message?

At some point Arata just fought against every kobold he found without any thoughts at all. He didn’t even look at his teammates anymore. He just commanded them to do this or that. When they gave up he just ignored that and fought alone. He completely forgotten Gerald was walking after them.

“I haven’t seen him for a while.”

Right now he also couldn’t see him but based on the message he should be near.

“Anyway I have finally won.”

That was the victory that Arata couldn’t grasp before. But even Gerald couldn’t win against his stomach. Arata prepared additional serving and started to eat.

“Maybe I should focus on getting ingredients for cooking rather than leveling.”

He wanted to check out other recipes of Marco, so far he didn’t use them much but every time he did, the effect was just way too different. It was still nowhere Marco’s level but while using his recipes, food was at least three times better than what he could make normally.

After they ate, his comrades make remark.

-Arata if you serve us another one like this one. I don’t mind running for another five hours or so.

-rather should forget about the caves and simply become a cook. If you can sell this stuff you will become rich.

-hahaha, I count on you on the boss then.

At some point the ‘additional serving’ also disappeared but Arata didn’t notice when it happened. It just at some point wasn’t there anymore.

Anari stopped to eat and looked at the wooden plate.

-Arata?

-what is it? Anyway if you want to ask for something, do it in a when we walk…

They started to walk back to the cave with huge doors and numberous caves. The doors had to lead to boss room as all other places in the dungeon were already checked.

-anyway, what did you want Anari, you didn’t like the food?

-no, it was like my moms.

-so what is it?

-yes, my question, Arata I want to ask something. Who are you?

“That’s really strange question.”

-you know already know, don’t you. For you, I just another random normal player that you meet in the game.

“Hopefully we will avoid meeting in the future.”

-nothing more.

-no, no, no, you are not normal by any means.

-what do you mean by that?

-you are just too perfect!

-ha?

-yes too perfect. You know how to fight. You know how to cook…-

-I just had a good recipe book that all.

-…recipe book is another thing. You getting it is also incredible in a way. And even though, even though your hair looks strange at first, together with your clothing you look cool. So where is normal in that?

“That sounds strange. Don’t tell me! Did Gerald’s jokes really get into her head. I should straight it up. The quicker, the better.”

-what are you doing now? Confessing your love? Just for a record I don’t plan to have girlfriend right now. And you are not my type!

“You are actually as far from my type as possible.”

-I am not conf…, I am not confessing, I just jealous of you. Idiot!

“Well I guess it was not it.”

Arata was really relived at that. Even if he didn’t care much about her he didn’t want to hurt anyone for no reason and as far as he knew rejecting someone made them at least sad.

As long as Arata didn’t get over the problem he wouldn’t be able to be friends with anyone. Being more than friends would be even more impossible as he would not be able to answer anyone feelings. Even though five years have passed he still didn’t get over it. Although he was much better now than before, he was still way different in comparison to him from before the accident. It’s not that he lost his emotions. And there are no people who truly want to isolate themselves from world but Arata was simply scared of getting close to someone. What would happen if he had to go through the same thing once again and lose someone important to him? Arata concluded that having no one important will prevent that from happening.

Arata continued.

-there is nothing special about it. If you want to know how to fight you need to sign up for some classes and someone will teach you. Cooking is the same thing. Anyway if your life had been similar to mine you would probably end up like this. Let’s just say that I had to grow up faster than normal people.

-what kind of life had you?

-ANARI!…

Arata said her name in somewhat lauder voice but right away go back to his usual manner. He decided to stop this conversation as fast as possible.

-…didn’t I already tell you that you shouldn’t ask people about their real life.

-only three times.

-please remember it. Anyway if you really want play this game. Visit some website and learn some basic rules about games in overall, can you do that?

-yes, when we finished here, I will do my best to learn.

-great, we should be done in no time…

They have reached the cave with huge doors.

-okay guys. For now we still have those eight kobolds waiting. I could just rush in and take them down fast but I think that something might happen if we kill them so it’s better to reserve strength.

-how do you know that?

Anari asked.

-experience. Anyway Anari don’t waste your mana either and let me finish them alone.

-I have to just stand? No I want to fight as well!

-ah… how you changed in this one day. Anyway I said that you shouldn’t waste your mana so don’t do it. Also I am completely ignoring your opinion so even if you say something it won’t change my decisions.

-don’t ignore me!

-you three pull six kobolds, from the back.

Arata ignored her comment and continued.

-we are going to take two of them each?

-good, you know the math.

-but how should we do that? One was hard enough.

-don’t worry I will finish my two fast and start killing those that hunt you in no time. It’s just that I don’t want all of them to jump at me together. You have experience in it already so you should survive without problem.

-if you say so.

-buffs! Ready! Go!

Everything went with the plan and Arata had only two kobolds to fight for now. One of them used jump attack and was flying on Arata. Arata already seen it so many times already and could only smile when he saw that. When kobolds were using that attack, they couldn’t get out their pickaxes for some time. Now as Arata level reached 28 and he still had his good gear he could kill off kobolds before kobold could even get their weapons out. So when kobold landed Arata made series of slashes and kobold was dead even before the second one arrived. The other one came at him and swing his pickaxe from the low angle. Arata also knew this move very well. Yesterday he would just dodge it to the left and slashed off kobold hand but today he wasn’t using patterns anymore.

“Fighting is not a series of moves that you use at the right time. Well maybe sometimes it is but the fighting in games is about enjoyment.”

Thinking like that, Arata didn’t dodge the strike but catch the weapon as it was coming at him. Holding it he flew over kobold’s head. When he was at highest point he jumped off and made a wound that started at the head and ended at the second end of body. Kobold died in one strike.

-hahaha.

Arata laugh and moved on for next one.

From the very start, tactic with running around was very effective against kobolds as they were slow. After doing it numerous of times even if this time they had to take care of two, ‘the three’ didn’t have any problems. At some point they just circled around while looking at Arata’s fights. This time as well he did another crazy thing and two kobolds were already dead. Then he started to hunt those that they ran away from. It was very easy for him to attack enemies that weren’t focused on him. Arata got behind one kobold and make a series of slashes. Right now most of the kobolds were dead with just that. Soon, every kobold fell to the ground.

-Arata it’s too easy for you, isn’t it?

-I just used to it, that all.

-but it looks like we have to open the doors on our own. Nothing happened…

The moment Archer said that the big doors began to open or rather were opened by ‘something’.

-or maybe no.

The thing that opened them was a big seven meters in height kobold. If they didn’t kill so many kobolds in a cave for the whole day they couldn’t have known that it was kobold. They would rather think that it some kind of black Gojilla.

The boss fight was about to begin but then instead of a loud roar of the giant, the room was filled with somewhat weak voice that was coming from a top of black kobold’s head.

-kakaka, you have fought bravely but it’s over now.

It was hard to see him from afar but that was the first monster that talked rather than attacking right away, so Arata wanted to see how talking with mobs worked and he replayed.

-say what you want but you don’t have a chance, so just give up, come down from your high horse and let us kill you. Or what, you will use this big clown to fight us?

-kakaka, you will regret those word, but my pet isn’t for the likes of you and kings do not fight against plebeians. I want to look at despair of those who invaded my cave…

The kobold’s king lifted his arms and started.

-hear me my collages, hear me my brethren! Those people have come to destroy our home! They already slayed some of our kind and now they want to take our candles! This cannot be left unpunished! Don’t take them lightly but do not be afraid! The time has come to show them the pride of kobolds and the might of candles! ATTACK!

After that speech from every small hole that was around in this cave, the creatures started to swarm out. They looked much more similar to the speaking one. They were one meter high, had thin arms. They were also wearing the brown trousers. Everyone had a small candle at the top of their heads. They looked like true kobolds, not some mutated ones.

-hey, they look rather weak.

-yea normal kobolds aren’t that bad.

The three commented.

“This is bad.”

-hey, go to the middle everyone!

Arata shouted.

-what is Arata? With guys like that even we can fight them.

Archer commented.

-can’t you see that this is way worse than seven meters high black one or anything before.

-what are you saying? You will kill them all in one shot.

-that number?

The kobolds kept coming, there were about one hundred small holes and every ten seconds or so new series of kobolds appeared which meant every ten seconds additional 100 kobolds appeared.

-hey Arata what are we going to do?

Archer asked when he realized what Arata wanted to tell them.

-there are way too many!

Said other one.

“I could probably fight them all day long one by one but others will die in short time. I can’t fight while defending them at the same time. Even if I could minimize the damage, this is just way too much and in the end I would die as well. Even if I abandon them, the chances of me winning are still low. What to do…?”

No ideas pop in Arata’s mind. The numbers were too big and after that, he still would have to defeat the seven meters high one.

“Maybe I can somehow take him out and the rest will go away. Let’s see his level.”

Arata checked giant’s level the number next to it was saying 70.

“…Okay, I need another idea.”

-Arata shouldn’t we get started? I am already playing for so long so I should go and eat dinner. My mom will get angry at me if I don’t come soon.

Anari interrupted him.

“Oh I forgot about second part of my plan, where we were to logout for a while. Now that she said that, I think even though my mind says that I okay, my real body might end up starving. No, this is not time to think about that.”

-Anari, I trying to come up with a plan.

-but do we even need a plan? We have already high level right? Remember yesterday, you were saying nonstop…

She started to imitate his voice which gave hilarious effect.

-‘who needs plan? Just go and slay everything that comes.’

“It seems like my words. I don’t even remember when I said that though.”

Arata said that during their hunt when the three gave up. Arata was just slaying everything as it came. He gave up plan with three running around.

-well I don’t think that it will work this time.

-why? The enemies look weak even to me. They are slow and small.

-but the number.

-but before you said…

Anari once again imitated him.

-‘the more the better I will just kill them faster, one hit and three will fall at once, more experience.’

-I don’t remember saying that.

-waaa, Arata scary. You don’t remember what you were saying yesterday, do you have memory loss? In that case you should go to hospital.

-Anari just be quiet! Okay.

Arata had long enough dealing with her carefree attitude but she didn’t stop.

-looks like it must have been hard to sleep on those rocks. You are in really bad mood today. But let’s finish it quickly so you can go and sleep in real bed.

“Hey, hey, hey, what does she mean by ‘let’s finish it quickly’? Fight can last… I don’t even know how long. Anyway I need a plan.”

Arata was trying to think of something but Anari already had a plan.

-go Arata! Kill them all!

“I forgot that she thinks that I can do anything but I also have my limits.”

-Anari what do you want me to do here, there is already like what, thousands of them?

-just kill them in one blow and go for big one.

“Well it even sounds like tactic but.”

-like I can do that!

Arata made an obvious remark and even ended up shouting. His composure was finally broken.

-but Arata is strong and all.

-listen Anari, no matter how good one is, swords are simply not long enough to kill them all in one blow.

-but if we are talking about Arata then you can do it.

-I said there are some limits! I am not as invincible as you think! I told you that I am normal player. The only thing I can do is kill them one after another but in the process of it, you all will die. With me probably soon following when I won’t be able to swing my sword anymore.

Hearing that the three froze for a second but then just casually said.

-well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

-true it not like we can join that guy guild in the first place if he except players to do something likes clearing 30 level high dungeons.

-don’t worry, Arata it’s not your fault.

-yes, yes, you did so good that it’s a shame that you will fail now as well.

-I even feel sorry for you a little. You had great chances.

-anyway we won’t forget you and your meal.

-yes the meal is the one thing that we definitely won’t forget.

-you guys… .

Arata ordered them to do the worst jobs and made them run away from ‘psychopathic mutated kobolds’ but he still liked them and thought that they aren’t that bad. He wanted at least show them last boss battle which he promised to do.

-Arata I decided that after this I will focus on improving my skills rather than my level, do you have any advice?

Archer asked Arata for his expertise as the small kobolds were slowly coming near them. Arata decided that it would be unfair to try and fight alone at this point, so he decided to just share others fate. He also didn’t want to fight for hours and suddenly die the moment he losses focus for a second. He also didn’t really know how he would fight against that giant. In the end it was just not worth the trouble.

-I think the best thing to learn at start is movement and dodging. Learn how to make small but fast steps. If you are fighting new enemy try to learn their attack patterns first. If you do that it will be easier to dodge. I think it will be good idea to just pull one mob and do dodging all day long to train it, or simply find someone who will train with you.

Arata started giving them advices.

-thanks that’s some great advise. What about the attack?

-attack comes later, for now focus on defense, when you are good enough on defense the offense comes easily. You can always use skills but the best idea is to learn how to cut with sword from each direction. From every angle. Still, if you learn how to dodge first, you can have many opportunities to attack so you don’t have to learn second part so fast. It might not seem like it but most of the monsters in this game aren’t that fast. Well at least the ones that I found so far.

-I will remember that.

Archer answered.

-me too, hey Steven we could train together?

-okay, Mark let’s meet again near jobs board after coming back to life. Gerry, you are coming with us?

-sure I am, we will be as good as Arata one day.

-so two days from now we meet in Loris and go for training. You guys are good on time?

-no problem.

-me too!

That was the beginning of three person friendship that lasted to the day they grew old.

“So their names were Steven, Mark and Gerry”.

They introduced at some point but Arata didn’t care to remember their names. But now in his last moments, he decided that it would be just rude to not know their names.

Anari looked at the scene where four men were hugging as if they won’t see each other ever again. “What are they doing?” were her thoughts.

She already had been playing for three days nonstop which is 15 hours in real so she wanted to wrap it up quickly.

-I don’t know what you guys are doing but I really need to go soon so can you stop this?

“Here she is again.”

Arata was annoyed by her comment.

-I already told you that no can do. Also don’t interrupt us, they asked for some advice so I giving it to them.

-from when did you start give someone advices? You didn’t want to teach me anything.

-I did teach you enough.

-I want to know more.

-no.

-why!?

-because, it would be a pain to do so. Those guys here have experience you don’t, so if I just tell them few things the effect will be enormous. With you it would take years, no decades.

-but I also want to be good!

-some things are simply not meant to be.

-Arata meanie! Anyway, you can teach them later. We should start the fight already.

-have you forgotten that we will die in a second its starts and I don’t think that I will see them again so this is the last chance for giving them advice.

And so Anari finally understood.

-so you can’t do anything in this fight, you were not joking?

-yes I wasn’t, anyway you wasted too much time. Well guys it was nice knowing you. Remember defense comes first.

-yea, thanks Arata.

-wawa.

“Oh looks like wawa has come back again, well no can do, I could save one person by running away but that is not fair to the others.”

-wawa! So Arata is not cyborg? Cyborg who can do anything and is perfect in every way…

“So that’s what she was thinking about me?”

But then Arata heard something unexpected.

-Arata don’t worry I will take care of it.

-ha?

Arata stopped and the three did the same as she said it without worry. She was just standing there without a second of doubt. The kobolds were already two meters away from them and were marching slowly. Anari lifted up her staff it started to shine.

-Light of Dawn!

She just said that and the yellow-white light started coming out from her as epicentrum. Soon, it spread all around the cave and the small kobolds started to fall, one by one as it reached them. The big black kobold used his hands to block ‘the king kobold’ who was sitting at the top of him. He blocked the light. He was blinded for a few seconds. Soon enough, black kobold and the one at the top of his head were the only ones that survived.

The three and Arata looked at Anari with surprise. Soon enough, the three started to dance happy that the will stay alive. They were really carefree people. Arata reaction was a little different though.

“Mages and their overpowered skills. Nerf!!!!”

Her annoyance with that girl become evens more.

Anari was the most happy one, she did something that ‘oh so powerful in her thinking’ Arata could not. But their joy ended soon enough as new kobolds started to come out. The king kobold said again.

-kakaka, my armies are endless. You are only delaying the inevitable.

“What? We have to kill another army? Well, with Anari skill we can do it but isn’t it stupid? They are moving so slow that we can even get bored, anyway first I need to know something.”

Despite his annoyance Arata once again focused on the fight.

-Anari how many times can you use it again?

-that spell? Em, firstly Arata please say that I am not useless.

-how many times!

-waaa. Its eat a half of mana but I didn’t fire any fireballs after break so I can use it once more.

“One more, so if another wave come, we can kill it one more time, but it doesn’t look like it will end there. I need to come up with good tactic. What would a normal group do if they didn’t have overpowered AOE skills? They fight endlessly? Nah I don’t think so.”

-Arata give it up we should use that spell to run away, this boss is impossible.

Steven aka archer advised but Arata just answered.

-there is no such thing as impossible, especially in games. There are no impossible quests, no impossible dungeons and no impossible bosses. There are only bad players. That’s all.

-you say that but in the first place we are at high level dungeon and we are fighting the boss with only five people. For the record we are useless against him and Anari can only use that light spell once. Simply we just came here unprepared. If you go unprepared for hard encounter then you lose. It is also simple as that.

-no, you are wrong. If we didn’t have a chance in the first place we wouldn’t have come this far. No, we wouldn’t even come to this dungeon.

-so you trust Leader out of sudden? It’s simple that he just wanted to have some fun. No other group has ever completed his test as well.

-no, he is just looking for players to his guild.

-you say that but he won’t find anyone with impossible challenge as that.

-no he is looking exactly for people who see that it’s not impossible challenge. He looks for the ones that will find a way in situations like this. That’s the quality of players from best guild.

-… .

The three didn’t say back anything to it, and Arata was not waiting for their answer and started running at the giant kobold. While doing so shouted.

-Anari! When those kobolds get close again, just use that spell. Leave the giant one to me. After you do that you can run if you want.

-we won’t run!

With this reassurance Arata speeded up. As he was getting closer to giant he heard the kobold again.

-kakaka, you want to fight me and my pet. You can’t even deal with the small ones, what do you except to do here?

“He already said that his army is endless so there is no point in fighting against the small ones. In the first place they aren’t even meant to be fought. They are just distraction from a real target. Same thing is with the big one. All I really need to do is kill the talking one. The only problem is how will I reach him?”

As Arata was coming closer and closer. Then the giant crouched.

“What is he giving him to me? Yea, as if that could happen.”

As predicted giant soon stood back up but now he was holding one big hammer in his hands. With that hammer he launched an attack at Arata.

To avoid it Arata ran one meter to the left and it still was close call. Then the giant took up his weapon and started to move in Arata’s direction. His feet could easily crush Arata without resistance.

-aaaa.

Arata tried his best not to get crushed and managed to run through under him. But when he looked back to his enemy the hammer was already coming his way. Arata was unable to dodge it normally it was too sudden. He used skill to save himself.

[Black dash]

Hammer landed on him and from afar it looked like Arata was crushed underneath it but that didn’t happen and he went through it and soon appeared out from the hammer.

“I didn’t think that he can attack like that. What was that anyway? Attack from behind, based on luck?”

That was too fast for a giant to turn around and lunch an attack.

Arata was already behind the door unable to see how much time he had left so he needed to hurry. He started thinking up the plan.

“Anyway I need to get up there. With leap ability, I can jump up three meters. I didn’t test it yet but if its say three meters its better be those three meters. The rest of the distance I will have to climb somehow and then quickly kill of the talking kobold at the top.”

Arata started to run at the giant once again. He dodged his hammer again and after being one meter away from him Arata used leap to jump at giant’s body. Still, while Arata was still in the air, the giant dropped his hammer and thrown a punch at him. For the giant it was like hitting a fly.

Arata only managed to cross his swords in his defense but as expected that didn’t help much. Arata was send flying back all the way to the wall, which hit hard.

-auaaaaa!

Then after the hit, Arata bounced off it and fell down to the floor. In second, his situation changed from hard to hopeless.

‘Ignore the pain and go on’. Arata said it once to others but when the time came, naturally he couldn’t do it. At least he survived somehow with 24% of health remaining. The problem was however that he couldn’t move so well. Running was definitely not an option but he somehow managed to stand up.

“Auaaaa, that hurt, I wonder how something like this hurts in real. No rather in real you would die on a spot. Still, even though I am still alive it’s over now. I can’t even dodge his stupid hammer anymore …”

In normal games you can do everything you want as long as some hp is left. You can even go around with 1% hp remaining for a long time if you play well. In EOA however once you get hit hard, it’s hit hard. It wasn’t that that all attacks were so strong that one would die right away but many times they made person unable to fight anymore. Simplest example would be that if you get your hand cut off it’s given that your fighting power will go down.

“…well that plan didn’t work, happens. How could I know that he can switch from hammer to punch in one second? He should take more care of his weapon.”

While Arata was thinking that, the giant started to move at him once again.

“Aaa… he is already making another swing over from the head. Oh, maybe I should have tried to catch his hammer and go up there that way just like I did once before on the last pack.”

Arata thought of a new idea. He did that move for fun once but it looked like it could work here. Although whatever it was a good idea or not, couldn’t be proven till it was tested. The previous plan also seemed good and it ended with Arata hitting the wall.

“I should have thought about it earlier. There is no way to pull it off now. It would be hard even in normal circumstances. Anyway the hammer is already coming so… Sor…”

When Arata already gave up the light entered the room in which he was from direction of the door. That light stopped the giant’s attack. He dropped the hammer and hid his master with one hand and his eyes with other.

“…”

It took a second for Arata to realize his is not dead yet.

“Looks like I have some more time.”

The light that blinded the giant reached Arata as well, he was healed by it back to 50% and his hands started to work like ‘before he met the wall’. Still, he couldn’t move like he wanted. Even if his HP went back in percentage, his real damage did not disappear completely. Still it was good enough for him to stand on the ground normally and even walk.

“Ah yes, her overpowered skill can heal allies as well. But still it was not enough. Well, if with that skill, she could replace a healer then this game would be too unbalanced. Hmm… the giant will soon pick his hammer and attack me again so no that it changes much. Wait! That’s it!”

Arata started to walk in hammer direction.

[Lighting speed activated]

Even though that skill increased his speed by 100% the walking was still not as fast as run even though he was moving faster.

[Leap]

Arata jumped up and landed on the hammer. There he started to look for something to hold onto. But he didn’t have that much time as the giant was about to stop defending his eyes.

Arata quickly decided that for now all he can do is to trust his luck and hided on the hammer without holding anything. He was wearing black in the first place so all he needed to do is to hide his hair. From afar, one shouldn’t even recognize that he is there.

The king kobold spoke.

-kakaka, the hammer must have crushed him a second ago, he couldn’t run… Minion! Grab the hammer and lets go for others, it already took too much time already.

“Yes grab the hammer and hold it delicately…aaaaa!”

-aaaaaaaaaa!

The giant didn’t have delicately in the first place so he just grabbed it and pulled it up with full force.

Just as he wanted, Arata reached the top in instant like but second after that happened he was shoot out in the air without a chance to jump onto giant’s body. In this moment, he finally could see the king kobold that was sitting on the top of the giant. Arata flied slightly above him.

“There won’t be a better chance”

[Sword enchant: wind]

[Sword slash]

The sword released invisible arc that few seconds later chopped off the head of ‘talking kobold’.

Arata was always keeping his mana for emergency where he had to use that skill. He didn’t use it even once during this dungeon yet. This skill was his last card to play. And as to why he changed element to wind it was because he didn’t want to leave any chances.

“Giant can’t block it if he can’t see it.”

Whenever Anari used her ‘light spell’, giant always focused on keeping his master safe. The king kobold wasn’t that different in look from the small kobolds that came out in hordes from small caves. The difference was that he was wearing more expensive clothing and his candle that he had on his head was in the shape of crown. The only problem in killing king kobold was that the giant was defending him.

“Giant shouldn’t be able to defend him from attack that was lunched from this range in the first place but it’s better to be safe than sorry… Still, now I must say. Ah! It’s so nice to fly!”

Arata was still in the air after he got lunched up by the hammer and flied out from the boss room to the cave.

“Ah, it does remind me of the time after I got hit by paladin’s hammer of justice. At that time I was also in the air like this, unable to move.”

At that time, he couldn’t move at all and the distance was even greater. He could consider that this time it wasn’t that bad in comparison.

Anari and the three were already celebrating victory. The small kobolds stopped coming. Sure after the last ‘light of dawn’ few kobolds did come out from the caves but they soon turned back and hid in them again.

-haha I knew that Arata could do it.

-right, he is a hero after all.

-but where is he now?

-no idea, knowing him he probably wants to kill the big one as well.

-haha, that’s so like him.

Anari laughed as the three were talking.

-hey, did you hear something?

-now that you said that. I did hear something coming from the top. Hey look, I found Arata

Steven aka Archer, pointed up to the sky.

-he is flying?

Mark asked.

-well, it’s Arata after all. I won’t get surprised by anything he does.

Gerry commented.

-true but why is he screaming?

-he must want us to see him. He is probably showing off.

-well he could also be falling to his death right now but like that could happen. It’s Arata after all.

Anari looked at small black dot in the distance, and located Arata.

-wawaaa Arata!

She soon ran into direction where he was likely going to fall.

In the meantime back in the sky.

“Might as well enjoy the flight as long as it lasts, it’s not like that Wizard can help me again. Hmm… I need to come up with counter measures for falling down from such heights later on, it happens too often! I wonder what would happen if I used black dash second before falling? Well, I can’t test it now as I don’t have any stamina to use it but maybe some other day.”

Despite the situation Arata was not really concerned. He did his job already and defeated the last boss. No one could ask him anything more from him.

But as he was gaining more and more speed before crushing at some point he somehow started to slow down.

“Oh, what is happening?”

-Arata!

The voice was coming from the ground.

“No way, Anari? Well, she said that with basic magic she can make thing fly. And she even managed to keep it up for three hours while sleeping. I must say that she really is good at it, maybe I should ask her for advice on this whole basic magic thing…”

Arata thought like that for a second but then after imagining it.

“No, I will never do that.”

Arata made a promise to himself that he will never break. There are few things in life that man can’t do no matter what.

Arata slowed down even more and right now was 3 meters from the ground.

“Hmm maybe, she has some uses after all. Next time I will try to…”

But then Arata started to speed up once again. It looked like it was good that he didn’t finish his the praise.

-aaaaaaaaaa!

Lucky Arata managed survived the crushing. He had 50% of hp after last light of dawn spell. After ‘landing’ it was.

“3%, by hair.”

-Arata!

Anari run up to him.

-aua, Anari, please kill me. The falling damage hurts too much.

His lucky survival was not really good thing for him though. Now he felt all aftereffect of his fight.

-don’t say that. Didn’t you once say…

Anari once again imitated him.

-‘just ignore the pain and move on…’

“The stupidest thing I ever said in my life.”

-you know, I tried to help but my mana run out after two light of dawn so I couldn’t slow you down for too long.

Anari continued.

-wuahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

While Anari was talking suddenly the cave was filled with a loud roar.

-what was that?

She asked and looked in the direction from where the shout came from.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the giant kobold was still up for more. Killing the king kobold didn’t get rid of giant kobold as Arata suspected, or rather hoped.

“Well. Looks like EOA isn’t called an evil game for no reason.”

-hey Anari! Do you remember the time when I told you to run away in the park and you didn’t do it?

-yes, I couldn’t forget that.

-great, then this time follow what I say.

-yes, I will follow what you say.

-then. Run and don’t look back!

There was little else they could do now. Arata was definitely in no shape for the fight and there was no healer in this group.

“In the first place, aren’t we crazy to go for a dungeon without a healer?”

To Arata’s surprise after he asked her to run Anari simply answered.

-no!

-why?

-because I also remember how bad I felt being the only one left alive. I am not running anymore!

-Anari, this is not time for your slacking. Start running already!

-no! This time I will defend you. I am not afraid of anything now.

Anari finally showed some bravely. Arata would rather call it stupidity though.

-…, okay, let me just tell you something before you try.

-an advice?

-just listen. First of all, he is 70 lvl boss giant class monster. He has seven meters in height at that.

-wawa.

Anari answered in low voice her bravely disappeared in the instant.

-he also have big hammer that is even bigger than he is.

-wawa.

And the voice got even lower.

-also, you don’t have any mana and mage without mana is useless. It would be impossible for you even if you had it.

-wawa, but you said that nothing in games is impossible.

-okay, keep listening. You know, in during my fight against this giant it’s not like I made huge mistake, I wasn’t careless either. I just somehow ended up crushing into the wall after getting hit by his punch once. So do you still want to fight it?

-okay! We are running!

Arata successfully convinced her.

-you run! I can’t move anymore.

-then, I will help you out.

-I don’t believe you can.

-I will at least try. I am not running alone.

-then you will die as well. Run by yourself!

-why do you always saying things like that! Don’t you care about yourself even a little bit? Why do you always want to sacrifice yourself?

-yes, I don’t care about myself. So leave me alone.

Even though Arata said that, Anari still didn’t stop even for a moment.

-then you should! I am not leaving you behind!

She yelled back at him! It was the first time he saw her angry.

Still her tries at helping him didn’t bear much fruit and the giant was already moving in their direction. Anari managed somehow bring Arata to siting position but that was all.

-see there is no way you can do it.

-this time your opinions are ignored Arata!

It all looked hopeless but then the help arrived just in time.

-we will help as well.

‘The three’ Steven, Mark and Gerry have come to the rescue.

-Arata, leave it to us! We are best in the world at running away from mutated kobolds!

Steven aka Archer sounded confident the problem was however that this time the kobold was slightly bigger.

The three picked Arata up and start running away. During it they were yelling to each other.

-run! We are going to survive it!

-there is no way that we will die here!

-it’s our time to shine!

They were running all clumped together while holding Arata in the air, Anari was right behind them, she was not helping as if she tried she would probably just get in the way. Few meters behind her was the giant kobold who somehow turned from black color into red.

Before he was only walking slowly but this time he was running or rather jumping from leg to leg.

-enrage!…

Arata couldn’t move right now so he just informed everyone that they should hurry.

In some games there was a timer that was called enrage timer. If people spend too much time fighting, the monster would become much stronger. Enrage also appeared when players did something that they shouldn’t. For example boss fight involve fighting few enemies at once, as you kill one, the others become enraged and stronger so the fight won’t get easier.

-run faster!…

Even though Arata told them to run faster they were already doing their best so they didn’t speed up.

“The giant will be in range in a second.”

-guys!

Arata shouted to them again.

-we are giving our 100% already!

-I know. Anyway, when I say, go right, you all go right okay!?

-what?

-just turn right on the signal!…

The giant was already in their range and was swinging his hammer.

-RIGHT!…

Arata shouted and the party moved right dodging the hammer in a process. After it landed on the ground the force on the ground was so big that they were lifted up into air.

-good! Now continue to the exit but remember we still have at least one hammer to dodge.

-we might be able to go in one go.

-no, we are still too far and the giant can lunch his attacks one after another. And why the hell are you standing! Start running!…

They stopped after dodging the hammer but now, once again at full speed were running to the exit.

Another attack started coming their way.

-LEFT!

They dodged another hammer attack this time without stopping and now they had free way to the exit. The three started so shout in joy still running.

-we did it!

-we are the best!

-yuhhhuuuu!

“Ah, I really didn’t count on surviving this fight.”

Even Arata was relived after hearing giant’s roar he really didn’t see the chances of him surviving.

But then moment they were about to run into the tunnel and leave this cave something unexpected happened. They all bounced off from what should be an exit and landed on the ground.

“What the?”

It was as if the tunnel before them was only a painting.

-aaaa I forgot!

Steven shouted when they were all lying on the ground in stack.

-Archer what is it?

Arata asked him.

-boss rooms are closed after more than 5 minutes passes. In stoneground there were the doors but because here there are no doors, so some kind of force field appeared.

And so, their situation, once again become hopeless.

“I knew it was all for nothing. I should though about that. Most of the games follows similar pattern.”

-… .

Arata was on top of everyone else when Anari was right on the button. Even if she was pressed down with weight she asked.

-Arata, can’t you do something like that thing in park?

-Anari, I already said that I am not as great as in your delusions. The one who is always saved is me…

Arata answered to her and started thinking.

“I was the one that was always saved by others, by mom, dad and grandpa. Grandpa told me to play this game so I did just that, as I didn’t have other ideas as what I should do. For a moment I even thought that at least in this world, I could save people with my skills and knowledge, but it ended up the same way as always. I can’t do a single thing, I can’t save a single person, no, I can’t even save myself.”

-sorry Anari, looks like it’s me who was useless all along.

Arata said that and tears started to come out from his eyes. Everyone was really surprised as the one that was telling them that this is just a game and they shouldn’t take it too seriously started to cry.

-Ara…

Anari tried to say something but she didn’t know what to say. The hammer was already flying and was bringing them to certain death.

“Each time it’s always like this.”

But the hammer didn’t kill them. The hammer somehow stopped in the air and the loud sound as if it hit another metal could be heard. And then they cave was willed with familiar voice.

-don’t be so hard on yourself Arata.

In the air where hammer stopped a small red flame could be seen. It soon exploded and turned into a person.

-leader!

Anari shouted as he saw him. The person in red-gray armor holding his fire like shield against the kobold’s hammer. The shield itself was a piece of art. Rather than a shield it could be called living fire.

In the midair, Gerald used his left free hand and pushed the hammer back. It went over kobold head and ended up behind him. At the same time giant kobold lost his balance and landed on the butt. Gerald landed like nothing two meters away from where the party was lying.

-Leader, you were here?

Anari asked.

-I am an observer of the test after all. I was here from the very start. But it looks like the test was indeed a little too extreme if our Twilight Swordsman started to cry during it. Hey Arata, you okay?

-Arata tried his best to save us bu….

-stop! I’m fine!

Arata interrupted her.

-but you… .

-I’m fine!

Arata clearly wasn’t fine or at least he was nothing like usual.

-Anari, leave him be. Anyway you guys have passed the test as you killed the last boss so I am not doing anything against the rules by helping you right now. In the first place there are no specific rules and it’s me who sets the rules.

-we did kill the last boss? But the giant is still here, ah leader watch out!

The giant kobold managed to stand back and swigged his hammer at the new enemy that appeared before him. But the hammer simply bounced of invisible wall and the kobold went back to previous position.

-waaa.

Anari grasped at the look of it. Gerald continued without even looking back at the giant.

-yes you killed the last boss, the only thing that is left is his minion, As far as I remember, defeating last boss always meant clearing whole dungeon. Even if something was left.

-I don’t know the rules but isn’t it a little forced?

Anari answered.

-its good excuse, not that I need one. Even if you didn’t kill that boss I probably would still give you passing grade. But guys, how long do you plan to crush down our poor little mage?

Gerald lifted his hand and everyone from the stack all fly up covered in yellow flash. All of them were soon standing fully healed, although Arata didn’t look too good right now. Anari was worry.

-leader Arata is.

-he said that he is fine, so leave it be.

-but.

-no buts. Anyway, we are now going outside and take at least four hours real time break. After that, we are going back to Loris. If you need a longer break and can’t come back after four hours tell me about it beforehand.

-leader, we can’t go back until the giant is here.

-what giant? Ah this little guy, he doesn’t look like giant to me. Does it matter if he is here or not? We could leave if we want to without doing anything to him.

-but there is barrier how could we just leave?

-I guess, I will leave this lesson for some other time. In this case I clean him up so don’t forget to pick up the loot afterwards.

-but leader, will you be okay?

-haha Anari what do you think of me?

-emm… leader have really interesting personality but I it’s really hard describe it, so many things around you are mystery.

-no, I meant, how strong do you think I am. Although your answer was also interesting so let’s leave it at that. Anyway, you can start running to pick up the loot.

-??

Anari didn’t understand this sentence. In Gerald’s hands a sword appeared. It wasn’t normal sword, nor was it anything that Anari or Arata have seen before. It was rather big sword but not as big to be used in two hands. There were three red lines going through its silver blade which started to burn in the crimson flame. The hilt was also in also in shape of flames.

A small red dot appeared over kobold’s head. Soon enough Gerald was already there and with his burning sword. With, single strike he went through kobold’s body and then appeared under him. Kobold was already died after that attack but he didn’t even manage to fall to the ground. After the cut the flames consumed him and burned him down completely. Only gray ashes remained of him and they floated in the air.

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