With the death of Hudson, the formation almost fell if it weren’t for Mr. Drew’s quick initiative to hold the party together. “Gather round! If we separate we’ll all die!”

Mr. Drew then dragged the collapsed Jason and they all pressed together into a circular formation, all in high alert for the Werewolf’s next strike. Gecko could feel its presence from the dark corners of the chamber, stalking them, feeding on their fear as it await for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

The formation had been effective for a while. For four times, they defended effective against the attack of the Werewolf thanks to prompt detection but then, its speed suddenly doubled and it attacked the weakest part of the formation which was Gecko and the cameraman.

Only then did they realize that the Werewolf had been baiting them with the false sense of security where at the moment that they’d bitten the bait, it will attack at full power, giving them no chance to recover.

Gecko coughed a mouthful of blood when his back struck the wall after the Werewolf sent him flying. He survived thanks the kinetic skeleton he’s wearing but Gecko could tell that nearly all his bones are now broken.

The cameraman on the other hand was not as fortunate. He died at once after the entire left side of his stomach was gutted when he was sent flying alongside him. As a matter of fact, it was thanks to the fact that the attack of the Werewolf came from the cameraman’s side that Gecko narrowly avoided death. Regrettably, given how things are progressing, he will either die succumbing to his injuries or the Werewolf will kill him later once he’s done with the others.

‘To think that I will die here.’ The thought filled Gecko’s mind as his consciousness began to slip.

His entire life, he had always been surviving. From the orphanage to the street and even when he finally secure some stability in life. It’s all about survival.

He never lived not even once.

‘Damn it, I don’t want to die yet.’

As it loomed closer, Gecko finds death annoying and scary. Frustrating too because he haven’t lived yet.

‘I want to live.’

Were his final thoughts as he’s about to black out.

Ding!

But then, something ringed inside his head that resuscitated his half-dead consciousness.

______________________________

ESTABLISHING CONNECTION TO THE [AKASHIC SYSTEM]

______________________________

COMMENCING AWAKENING

______________________________

YOUR BODY HAS AWAKENED!

______________________________

WELCOME!

FROM NOW ON, YOU’RE A [RANGER]

______________________________

Gecko stared eyes widened at the transparent notification erected against his retina. It’s the Notice of Awakening. The message a Ranger received upon awakening their Mana.

‘Eh, I’m a Ranger now?’ However, Gecko is more bitter than joyous. He had awakened but what can it accomplish? The people with him are Rangers but they are dying right now. ‘Ugh!’ Afterwards, tremendous amount of Mana invaded his body following the notification. Gecko wanted to scream but his physical body is unable to respond due to his injuries.

Then, when the Mana injected to his body assimilates completely, he heard a voice. No, to be accurate, it’s more like a computer startup being worded out.

=======================

-System Startup…Launching…

-Initializing…System Coming Online

-Establishing Core Heuristics

-Loading…3%...10%...46%...88%...100%

-[SYSTEM ONLINE]

-Accomplishing Data Acquisition..

-5%…10%…40%...80%...100%

-[DATA ACQUISITION COMPLETED]

-Identifying Assets…

-Identifying Threats...

-[ASSESSMENT COMPLETED]

-Mapping Options…

=======================

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Arthur Drew is barely hanging onto his life. His right ribs are broken, his left arm is gone, and it’s only thanks to his physique as an Enhancer-type that he’s not dead yet despite all the punishment he’d endured.

Until now it is still hard to comprehend how things ended up this way. This was supposed to be an easy job. Babysitting some silver-spooned Rangers in a Rank 2 Maze. It would pose some challenge but manageable overall.

However now, it is like this.

Hudson, Eric, and Howard are gone. Gecko and the cameraman that were thrown to the far side are highly likely dead too. The only ones left are the brats from Rosewill and Lane but all of them are incapacitated. The only reason they’re still alive is because the Werewolf is still aiming at him. The party will be completely annihilated once he’s gone.

“Fuck!” Arthur blamed those arrogant pricks from Rosewill for how they ended up. If only they’d had settled to do the raid in an officially ranked Maze, none of these would have happened. But no, to increase the publicity of these brats for their debut, it has to be a fresh Maze.

“ROAR!”

The Werewolf charged towards him again and this time, Arthur has no way to defend. This is his last stand and the last stand of the party.

Arthur closed his eyes and accepted their fate.

But then…

*BANG!

A powerful wave from the side where Gecko and the cameraman was thrown off exploded. The force of the explosion disrupted the Werewolf, making him stop on his track.

Arthur immediately turned to that direction and saw Gecko walk slowly towards them. Radiations are leaking out of his pores, giving his entire body a bluish shine while his eyes are glowing brightly. As someone that had experienced it before, Arthur immediately recognized this as a Ranger awakening.

Awakening could happen without warning. It can be spontaneous but some awakened during extreme circumstances. Gecko’s awakening obviously belonged to the latter.

Still, what can he accomplish? The enemy is a Level 4 monster and he’s just a newly awakened Ranger.

It’s a pity. Arthur liked the kid. He’s smart and hardworking and if he was awakened during a more preferable circumstances, he might have developed into a very competent Ranger.

However, those thoughts changed when Gecko began to move. Raising and flicking his right hand, the weapons strewn around, including his greatsword, floated and aimed at the Werewolf.

“One threat identified.” Gecko said but it wasn’t his voice. It’s emotionless and monotonous, robotic. “Eliminating.”

*Swang! Swang! Swang!

The guns fired and the swords made chase, ceaselessly striking the Werewolf. And what’s unbelievable is that all attacks are precisely hitting the Werewolf’s vital spots such the calves, the back and the waist regardless how fast it increases its speed. The hit rate fixed at 100%.

The damage infliction weren’t heavy due to the Werewolf’s tough hide but gradually, the damage accumulates and the Werewolf show signs of weakening.

“Energy level depleting. Method insufficient. Mapping new option.” Gecko said again and this time, save for the swords that are still attacking the Werewolf, all the weapons gathered in front him and start to combine, forming a cannon. “Materials insufficient. Gathering.”

Then, their gadgets and the other electronics they brought including the camera had also flew and combined to the cannon.

Finally, when the construction of the cannon stopped, the Mana radiations that were leaking through his pores moved and entered the cannon. Gecko then said next, “Calculating damage. Result: Insufficient. Searching energy source. Source found.”

The Mana Stones and the kinetic skeleton batteries were also gathered and poured into the cannon.

“Completed. Preparing to fire.” The cannon shook loudly and purple specks of light gathered at its muzzle, condensing into a ball of light. “Calculating trajectory. Restricting target.”

To that declaration, the swords stabbed the Werewolf’s back and left leg. It’s not fatal but the Werewolf’s movements were momentarily ceased in place.

“Fire.”

*Flash! BOOOOM!

The purple ball of light was released, swallowing the Boss Room’s darkness with a bright purple light. Then, when it struck, its intensity burned the Werewolf’s body to ashes.

Ding!

______________________________

YOU’VE DEFEATED THE BOSS

THE MAZE IS CLEARED

______________________________

Rewards: Surviving Rangers will receive +1 to ALL Stats, Slayer of the Boss will receive +2 Mana

______________________________

“For real!?” Arthur exclaimed when the clearing notification appeared. “Gecko defeated the Werewolf.”

It’s a miracle, they survived. It’s unbelievable!

However, it’s not the time to celebrate yet. They’re not yet out of the woods.

______________________________

THE MAZE IS COLLAPSING

EXIT IN 20 MINUTES OR FALL TO THE ABYSS

______________________________

When a fresh Maze is cleared, everyone must exit within 20 minutes or else, they will join the Maze in going to the Abyss.

“Threat eliminated. Auto Mode: Shutting Down.”

The light covering Gecko disappeared and he collapsed to the floor. Arthur wants to check his condition but he must settle his own condition first. So, he dragged his body towards Lane. He needed to wake him up and have him heal them.

Lane immediately did that the moment he regained consciousness.

“Wait, I’m not done yet,” Lane argued when Arthur stopped him from restoring his arm.

“You need to conserve Mana to heal Gecko. He’s in a worse condition.” Arthur reasoned. “I can fully deal with this once we’re out.”

“Hey, help me!”

One of the brats from Rosewill, the one named Jason ordered. However, they ignored him and went to Gecko.

“Hurry, the Maze is about to collapse.”

“But who defeated the Boss?” Lane asked as he heal Gecko.

“I’ll explain later,” was Arthur’s reply before he slung Gecko over his shoulder. “Let’s get out of here first.

______________________________

TIME REMAINING: 13 MINUTES, 45 SECONDS

______________________________