5 Chapter 3: On the run

"Retreat is not a worthy word to be spoken. A commander at arms to be executed once words fell, should one talk about the words of running. He must be slain at all costs. Though, does running increases the chances of survival? The dead men laugh at your thought, new man. Keep on running, and let jest fill your reason for it is what you believe in and the fate of New era lies in your hands! Such incredible reason is a must thought! Go, keep it running. Those legs of yours are not just decorations, new man. They are made by your parents to keep on going forward, breathless and scram, don't let the commander find your fate."

- The fourth paragraph of Page 1, Chapter of Adam, Tale of Grimayus.

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Alcatraz and the group are still on the run. After witnessing the marvel of the Sentinel, Alcatraz returned to his senses and joined the group of women on their mission to keep on running.

Passing through many four-way junctions and countless groups of monsters, they panicked and did not have any time to stop except for Alcatraz who occasionally plucks a monster off their crowd. His level had long raised to Level 2 just moments before they started running like madmen.

Alcatraz had the ability to disperse- obliterate every monster in the area. But.

The reason for him unable to do so was...

"I TOLD YOU TO HURRY UP!!!" A tall girl whose hair is a fascinating white color and eyes of sapphire bellowed whilst running, holding a pair of broken iron gauntlets between her arms. Her torn clothes fluttered as she ran, giving Alcatraz who was at the very back of the group a heartful scenery. Her name was Ariaukita, the taller twin of the short-haired girl whose name is yet to be identified by Alcatraz.

Even though Alcatraz had the sharp eyesight to take a look at their body. He doesn't feel the grandeur of the human skin. It's like he doesn't have any more interest in such worldly desires so he did the least mind to their tattered clothes.

But he is much more interested in how much status these women would give him.

"But-... We can't leave the Dungeon without all of our weapons on our hands, RIGHT!? Look, your gauntlets lost their emblems!"

A young, short girl who exactly looked like Ariaukita spoke. Her arms held a towering shield that is much taller than her stature.

"I don't care about my gauntlet's emblems and I don't disagree about unable to leave the Dungeon, but. Couldn't we depend on our savior to accompany us back to the surface!?"

"That's too much, after all. We only knew him for few breaths!"

Indeed. That's quite a clever devising, twin sister of Ariaukita. Alcatraz thought to himself upon hearing the words of the little twin sister. It would be too much for a stranger to depend on a stranger, it's like telling your mother that you'll be alright with a suspicious looking peddler! What is more, she seems to have high strength and high defenses. Just by looking from the image of her shield, doesn't make her a qualified target for my first blood?

... I guess I'll go kill her first when the opportunity ascended.

Imagining myself to be able to hold such a shield... Or myself to crush skulls with that kind of power. Satisfaction is the correct word to express such delight.

"Wouldn't it better to ask for his help rather than taking the attention of the sentinel!!?!?!" Finally, the black haired girl spoke up. "You should be glad that it didn't fire its magic yet, or else we would be facing mother Creation earlier!"

Yes. The reason why Alcatraz couldn't annihilate the group of monsters that are following them at their tail earlier was because of a certain deviant monster amongst the gatherings of low-level creatures. Its size is taller than any monster as it had enough height to scratch the ceiling of the dungeon, its body was fit enough to crawl through the dungeon halls.

The Liveariu Sentinel was pursuing them, and talking about assaulting it into battle is no less than enticing Death to come to you by himself.

Other than the Liveariu Sentinel, the Boss-class variant of Dwarf Crawler was also following them, seemingly enraged about the corpses of its brethren that it found within its wickiups. It was a bigger Dwarf Crawler with two pairs of eagle ailerons and had the spurs of ferocious vulture instead of boughs of a disgusting human, its eyes no longer contained the fisheyes that the lower Dwarf Crawlers had and what replaced them was of a pigeon. Though the belly of a fat gross man still lingered, making it more hideous than the lower class Dwarf Crawler.

Also, it had a name. Dwarf Striker, it had the level of sixteen. Enormously compelling than any Dwarf Crawler's levels.

At first, they left the bloodied junction safely without attracting the Sentinel and the Monster's attention, but shockingly. The twin sister of Ariaukita ran back to the junction with all of her strength and retrieved weaponry. Ariaukita and the others were left stupefied by her actions and prayed for naught that she won't attract the attention of the Sentinel...

She was the main cause of this hellish monster flood.

And managed to get away even after the Sentinel fired its magic at her whilst giving chase. Only that time was the moment the Sentinel fired its magic lance on its fore, granting Alcatraz a variety of information about its combat tactics. The magic had dangerous explosive power and radius of effect, it nearly obliterated the twin sister into pieces if it weren't for its bad aim.

It will only fire its Magical lance at variable distances. Not too close to its legs, to the walls and to the ceiling. As long as the group ran beside the walls, it won't fire its magic.

Does it seem to fear of the dungeon collapsing into it? Alcatraz pondered but had no valid shreds of evidence of it able to destroy the nearly indestructible Dungeon veins.

"But wouldn't it be the same as facing Death himself if we don't have any weapons to fight back while getting back up to the entrance of the dungeon!?" The shorter twin of Ariaukita refuted the black haired girl. "This is the fourth floor of the Dungeon for Alaya's sake! We are three floors beneath the ground, what do you expect on the fourth floor? Level one gathering hall!? There are numerous Level threes and Five around this place, Lisaina! Do you clear!?"

Oh, Fourth floor? We are on the fourth floor? Intriguing, and so her name is Lisaina. Alcatraz eyed the black haired girl who didn't refute the short twin of Ariaukita's words. Only did she speak after taking a turn in the upcoming four-way junction hall, similar to the area Alcatraz saw the bloody remains of their battle.

"Aryuikita, you really are ferocious as your twin sister!"

"What!? I am just speaking the truth-- Hm?! Mister, watch out- INCOMING ATTACK!" The short twin of Ariaukita, who was named Aryuikita suddenly alerted the whole group after taking a glance to the back.

WOOOSH- BAAAANG!!

"AAACKKKK!!"

A spear made out of bone was thrown towards Alcatraz, Aryuikita instantly jumped in front of him to receive the strike. The strike of the bone spear to the shield made a reverberating defeaning sound of metal clashing together, nearly crippling the group out of their pace all except for Alcatraz as he wasn't pained by the sound in the lest bit.

Alcatraz was left stupefied upon her actions.

He did not expect Aryuikita, a girl who just met him a while ago to jump in and take the hit for him.

A surge of unfathomable emotions filled Alcatraz. He did not know what kind of emotions they were but they were at least similar to that of conscience, he felt bad for Aryuikita the moment he remembered his plans after he gained information out of them.

Unfortunately for Aryuikita who took the strike head-on. She was blown to the front of the group upon receiving the strike, entailing the group that the bone spear was thrown by someone way powerful for their level to handle.

More than that, her shield didn't manage to ricochet the spear to the sides, it penetrated through and nearly crippled Aryuikita's left arm. Even though it was a scratch, Aryuikita's arm was left bloodied as if the injury was deeper than a sword cut.

Since piercing or thrust attacks inflict much weaker injuries than cuts and blunt due to the influence of the HP system on our bodies. The monster that threw the bone spear was a force to be reckoned with.

"Enough rummaging of mouths, focus more on running. Blabbering doesn't save but your feet do!!!" The blonde aggressively howled before assisting Aryuikita out of her displacement. "Continue running, they are closing in the distance faster than what we could run!"

"Lend me your arm, dear sister." Ariaukita reached her hands out to Aryuikita. "I must heal it before it gets infected."

"Thank you, sister..." Aryuikita nodded and gave her injured hand.

The group continued running for a while before the flood of monsters dispersed, the Sentinel was the first one to give up as it was too slow to catch up with the group's pace.

They were able to locate the stairs that lead up to the third floor of the dungeon along the way, thus, reaching the supposed safe haven of the Adventurers. In this safe haven, there were stationed Eastern Kingdom soldiers that keep the haven safe and sound, away from the reaches of the monsters and priests that tend to other adventurers. Merchants who were courageous enough could also be found here as well as Traders who lusts for extremely high-rank materials found in this dungeon.

At first, the soldiers were cautious of Alcatraz's appearance. Since he didn't have distinctive features and an appearance similar to that of a monster rather than a human. But due to the four damsels, he was granted passage to the safe haven... Where he also received much attention...

Laying gasped to the human natures, Alcatraz sat down on a bench nearby a fireplace as he examined the safe haven. Sat beside him was the blonde woman who looked overly exhausted and in front of him was Lisaina, grilling a skewered piece of meat in the fireplace with a grin.

"So... Mister, what is it...? You haven't introduced yourself yet, right..?"

Lisaina called out to Alcatraz. Alcatraz's attention was instantly shifted to Lisaina and thought of possible lie, after all, the black papers taught him the importance of concealing valid information about himself. The blonde haired woman was instantly rocked up of her predicament the moment she heard Lisaina's words.

... Obviously, they are looking forward to learn about... My name?? Alcatraz examined their behavior a great deal.

"Me, don't have one," Alcatraz spoke in a broken Ariettana dialect. "Lost this one's name."

"... I see, that is quite unfortunate."

The group was silenced for a while before the twins came back. Ariaukita was the first one to greet the group with extra clothes and before Aryuikita followed and gave them a wave, her injured arm was bandaged with aesthetically looking white cloth with embroideries of golden cross and filament.

Upon the sight of Aryuikita's bandage, Alcatraz's mind plopped another black geass.

And, next to his HP...

A timer popped out. 1:20:50, or according to the scroll, One year, Twenty months and Fifty days. It was uncertain if this meant of his either lifespan or something else, so he continued reading the new black scroll to learn about this time.

Alcatraz's body jolted upon reading the rest of the new black scroll in his mind.

It told him about the purpose behind the timer, and the information surrounding the owner of the bandage.

The moment this timer fell to 0.

Was also the moment the Twelve Heroes will come to this world and initiate the battle of Humanity's fate. Or in short, the battle that would transpire between the Humanity and the Demon Kin. The battle that he would participate, regardless of how much Alcatraz doesn't want to, or how much Alcatraz wanted to and who wins or who loses...

And the information regarding the owner of the bandage was the Church of the Divine Star. The Holy Sanctuary religion that is highly against the Demon Kin. The only religion on Humanity who knows of Alcatraz's existence, familiar with his power, the Infinite Prison's terror and might. The only group of people who is capable of calling forth the Twelve Heroes.

... With that being said.

The safe haven was undoubtedly... A terror haven for Alcatraz!

If one of the priests in the safe haven saw Alcatraz in his star-clad form. No matter how much he begged the priest to not notify the Church about his character, he will still meet his end!

"Huh, mister. Is something wrong? Ah, I know. You must be waiting for us to answer your question, right?" Ariaukita who noticed the silent behavior of Alcatraz said and approached Alcatraz. "But, I don't know your name. Could you tell us first- Huh?"

Alcatraz jumped off his seat that surprised the group of women and started running frantically towards the stairs that descend back to the Fourth floor of the Dungeon.

"H-Hey! Stop acting weirdly!" Ariaukita followed before Alcatraz, unknowingly, she had followed him all the way back to the fourth floor. "Where are you going, mister!? Hey! Listen to meeee~! For the sake of the Deities, I will not go back to the fourth fl- AGH!"

"Now you're pissing me off, listen to me faceless man! Hey!"

Ariaukita tried to catch up with Alcatraz, but he was slightly faster so she had to depend on whether Alcatraz is willing to listen to her or not.

The reason for Ariaukita's response to Alcatraz's sudden movement was unknown, but it was obvious that she wanted to return the favor of being saved. After all, the Eastern people are commonly known to return back the debt they are favored with. Despite the fact that the information provided did not contain in Alcatraz's memories or wasn't funded by the Black geass.

Who cares about information anymore!? If that piece of information would cost me my life, I'd rather be blind than sorry! Alcatraz spoke to himself, removing every sense he had, such as hearing and tastes, as he focused on running away from this place, he did not notice the person who was following him all this time.

...

At the same time, unknown to Alcatraz and Ariaukita who blindly followed him. Alcatraz's eccentric appearance attracted a lot of attention, from the stationed soldiers, priests and other adventurers who were having their hearty rest in the safe haven...

His appearance of star-clad person attracted the people with despicable sordid motives.

"Big brother." A hooded person spoke up. "That guy looked a damned pretty choice of flavor. His flesh that is as beautiful as the starry night would undoubtedly fetch a high price amongst the nobles."

"Hehehe, what shall we do, little brother?"

"Of course... That is to mobilize the Dark Fang group, he went down to the fourth floor too which is tolerably DAMN fortunate for us! Hahaha! Who fool would go down there? No one, right big brother? We could freely do whatever we want on the Fourth floor considering the rest of the upper ground floors are flocked with damned young people proclaiming themselves 'Adventurers'."

"And, not to mention, a super hot girl was also following him, right? Guhuhuhu..! Would you mind if I enjoy the beauty first before we capture the gold..?"

"Do what you must, little brother... But we must ensure the success of capture first."

"Or maybe, violate her in front of that man! Hahahaha!"