*Argus's Narration*
Everything around me was pitch black and before me was today's objective, the entrance of the 2nd floor.
I had Dark Vision active, so I was able to see things clearly enough to make out a circular room with a spiral stairway leading around 15 meters deep.
Interestingly, just by the end of the stairs I caught sight of an orange silhouette resembling were-wolfs I saw in movies- A Kobold.
And here I was under the impression that these entrances were safe spots where adventurers can catch their breaths.
A Kobold is a dog headed monster which spawns from 2nd floor, and it's at least twice my size. It worth's 45 Vs and occasionally drops 'Kobold Nail' worth 50. It basically has a potential worth of 95 Valis.
Tasty, isn't it?
/Courting death, it is. /
The Kobold before me was sleeping on all fours, looking like a typical adorable husky.
[Maybe I can take it… if I drop on its head.] I thought, caressing my dark-red-swollen left cheek.
I was in the middle of a horde when a random Goblin jumped and sent me tumbling down on the floor with a slap.
That's right, I have been bitch snapped by a Goblin. And to rub chilies on my stinging cheek, Lili beside me would giggle from time to time.
I felt a tug on my sleeve while I was thinking of the best possible algorithm to take it out. Turning my head right, I saw Lili gesturing me to come closer. And when I did, she whispered in an almost begging voice, "Now let's get out of here… Please?"
"I think I can take it…" I whispered back, because of Dark Vision, Lili too was an orange silhouette but I was certain she was about to lose it.
"No, you cannot! Quit while you're still ahead, Master Argus. Kobolds are on a whole different level from mere Goblins."
Just how bad could it be, I thought.
Gazing back at the monster, I asked, "Do you have a blade on you?"
Seeing her nod, I continued.
"Okay then… let's kill it together. I may not be able to solo it but, adding you makes it a completely different equation. There's no way it'll survive, I'm sure of it."
Closing her eyes, Lili then took a deep breath with her hands folded while I went back to the algorithms along with the nervous butterflies in my stomach.
"Listen, Kobold's bones are way tougher for any Non-Leveler to damage… It's also way faster and stronger than you are. Kobolds usually try to bit the head off, or use their sharp fangs to clutch and slash. Try to cripple it first… and remember, flesh wounds only. It's not something that will go down by a single stab of yours."
With an eyebrow raised up I chuckled, "Ara Ara~… That a yes?"
A deep exasperated sigh came out of nose as she said, "Will we walk away if I had said- No."
Laughing under my breath I softly pinched my Loli's addictive cheeks and said, "Nehe~ No comments there at all�� Okay so, here's what we'll do… I'll go in first, while you'll stay here and wait for it to roar… shoot a bolt in its mouth once it does. Then take action however you feel like it."
With a nod, Lili placed her enormous bag on the floor while I turned my eyes back at the target, I began preparing.
The downward spiral path went at least 10 meters deep, so directly jumping on the Kobold wasn't an option, I had to Blink. But I only had 40% mana in me, even with the current Dark Vision's 'Mana Back'.
Reactivating Dark Vision, I waited 5 seconds while taking deep breaths to calm my emotions.
My body had begun shaking in adrenaline. My shirt was soaking wet before I even knew it. 'Flickering' my two swords out, I waited, grinning nervously.
My body flinched forward the moment I felt my mana return. Turning my head towards Lili, I gave her a quick nod before taking a deep breath and jumping in.
My wet shirt fluttered in the winds cause by the fall as I rapidly approached the sleeping Kobold along with my similarly rapidly beating heart.
A second later, the air stopped 'wooshing' in my ears as I activated Re-Directive Blink and carefully aimed the Exit Point 2 meters above its back.
Reappearing 2 meters above it, I used the fall's momentum and jabbed my swords into the Kobold's back, snapping its eyes wide open.
-SLIRTCH!
-GHEARRAAAHH!
Even the ground beneath reverberated as it jumped on its feet and let out an ear piercing roar. Loud enough to make my head spin.
Already regretting it, I "Flickered-In" my swords, I jumped ahead, followed by a forward roll.
-FFIEWW! SLIRTCH!
-ACLK!
Lili's shot bolt plunged itself right into its maw, silencing the deafening monstrosity, and forcing it a few steps back.
Taking advantage of its moment of unbalance, I jumped towards it with the Gladius "Flickered" in a reverse grip.
-SLISHTING!
- GLALRDH!
The Kobold puked blood as I plunged my sword into its right foot, using both my hands and left it there.
The sword nailed its foot into the ground- Crippling it's supposed 'footwork'.
But my heart leapt in my throat just as I was about to make my next move. Its razor sharp right claw tore through the air towards my head.
-WHOSH!
Ducking at the very last second, I managed to dogged with my life intact. The air currents I felt above me were more than enough to signify- the attack was strong enough to send my head flying.
-AHHH!
Blood rushed into my brain like a tsunami. With a roar of my own, I darted towards the wall on its left with my main sword 'Flickered-Out".
Using that wall for a 2 step 'wall-walk' I shot myself with my back facing the Kobold. Twisting my body for a left-to-right spin, I slashed my blade towards its neck.
But, I was just as Lili had said, Kobolds are on whole different levels from Goblins.
The raging fiery blood in my body froze in an instant as a blood thirst rivaling what I felt from Chloe crashed upon me and my life flashed before my eyes.
Despite of three stabs and a bolt plunged into its mouth, the Kobold grabbed my waist from the back with its huge left hand.
-AAAAHHHH!
I screamed as my blood gushed out while a level of pain I never thought possible coursed through my body as its five claws dug themselves into my waist.
My red warm blood dripped on the ground while the Kobold raised me above its head, ready to smash me to the ground.
Strength began to drain from my body like a tab bursting open. It took everything I had just to keep my eyes open.
The monster's eyes, flaring in insanity, glared into mine as it growled from its blood dripping maw.
[Is this it…?]
.
.
.
-HIYAA! STLISH!
-THUD!
A thick spray of blood emerged from the arm, holding the boy on the verge of death as the boy fell on the ground.
Argus's limp body began twitching as he choked in pain while blood flooded his mouth. It took only a few seconds for a puddle of blood to form beneath him. His torn tangled intestines jutted out of the five deep wounds sapping away the little vitality he had. As he softly cried out the only name came to his mind, "Maa…"
Lili had decided to make her move when Argus got caught in the Kobold's death grip.
Leaping at it from a height of 10 meters, she used gravity's momentum and hacked her machete on to the Kobold's arm, tearing it in two as she screamed, "YOU'LL DIE FOR THAT!!!"
Her cheeky-merry eyes were now dripping with such blood thirst she even stunned the Kobold with just a mere gaze.
Rolling past the monster, she dampened the fall before sprinting towards the wall, facing the Kobold's back. Wall-Walking on it, she then propelled herself towards its head while spinning in a front flip.
-AHHH! KLIRTTH!!!
-THUDD! BUFFF!
Using the flip's momentum she shoved her machete into its skull, bringing the monster 4 times her size flat on its face, before its huge body burst into ashes with the last twist of her blade.
Letting go of the machete, she ran towards the dying Argus, while tears of piercing regret swelled in her eyes.
"Master Argus! I shouldn't have…" Lili cried as she got on her knees beside him while hurrying her hands towards her bag to take a healing potion, only to clutch air.
Lili's heart almost exploded when she realized, [MY BAG IS UPSTAIRS!]
Lili trembled even more as she said, "Argus! Listen… Keep your eyes open! You hear me? OPEN! Just count to ten and I'll make you better! You'll be just as you were! Just stay here, ALRIGHT? Just don't close your eyes please, I beg you!"
But Argus seemed to have lost his soul. Lying in the pool of his own blood, he just kept looking at the ceiling he with crying eyes while his blood filled mouth murmured, "Ma'lkh… salkhe E'hk."
The light in his eyes getting dimmer by the second. The trauma of the injury had been too great for the pampered young master.
Seeing his condition is taking a turn for the worst, Lili bolted towards the stairs with all the strength she could muster.
Towards the only thing that had a little hope of saving him.