8 Chapter 8

POV Zac

- Let's go, Zak will distract the panther! - Pushing me to the ground shouted the leader of our group.

The rest did not even turn around, leaving the wounded me to certain death. No wonder, because I'm just an orphan, which no one even hints at ...

I was fifteen when I decided to become an adventurer to earn my food and shelter. At first, it was difficult to adapt to the life of an adventurer. Due to weakness and malnutrition, I could not fight properly, and therefore only took light tasks to collect ingredients. After a year of doing low-level quests, I joined the Divine Swords group. Although the name was so pathetic, the guys in the group were B-rank strong, but I was happy that I could earn more money.

A few months later, we decided to go to a B-rank dungeon called the Black Lagoon. There was little information, but I persuaded the others to clean it up. In the beginning, everything went well, although we had difficulty killing ordinary shadow panthers, the Boss turned out to be too tough for us. We decided to run away, but the panther was faster, and, as if in mockery, followed us on our heels, probably intending to attack at the last moment.

It seems that my "comrades" also understood this, and without further ado, the leader turned around and plunged a dagger into me, watching with a grin as I fell to the ground.

"This is how I will die…" – I thought, pressing my hands on the wound from which the blood was flowing.

Suddenly, I felt someone right next to me, lifting my head, I met the eyes of the shadow panther. But instead of killing me, she ran away towards the others.

*Sigh*

- He just wants to leave me for later ... I have nowhere to go - I muttered sadly.

Screams came from the tunnel ahead, which faded after a few minutes. I just continued to lie on the damp and cold ground, waiting for my turn to come. But time passed, and no one came to my soul.

"Were they able to defeat this monster?"

I had nothing to lose, so I slowly stood up and began to walk forward. After some time, I finally reached the place of the slaughter, there was blood everywhere, and other entrails, all of my group were killed by the panther. The beast itself was also lying bleeding, probably too relaxed, and seriously injured.

- Luck smiled at me ... - I approached him with a grin, bringing the sword over his body.

After leaving the dungeon, I received a large reward, and while no one asked about the rest of the team, I left for Xyrus. And so began my adventures in the role of the cheerful Zack, although I myself hated people, and my main goal was to earn money.

- Hello, - a child's voice was heard nearby, I turned around, seeing in front of me a boy of about eight or nine years old, with white hair and gray-blue eyes - Beatrice sent me to you. I'm Aaron, a C-class spellcaster adventurer.

"C-class caster? Oh yes, this brat must have been advertised, but isn't he too small, and I didn't hear his last name, orphan? Although what difference does it make, it's even better, it won't interfere."

"Oh, so you are that little adventurer!" I exclaimed as friendly as possible. "My name is Zak, I am an A-class adventurer and the leader of the Black Dogs group, it's nice to meet you." So you want to join us?

- Yes.

So in our group there was a caster. The boy turned out to be an orphan, so he was not very strong, and his body was thin, he had to train him. After several trainings, I could tell that he had a great talent in magic, the boy had a great future ahead of him. In addition to talent, he had both brains and a sober mind, sometimes it seemed that I was talking to an adult ..

Two months later, I saw a mission to clear an A-class dungeon. The problem was the Minotaur Boss, who was said to be a very powerful AA-class mana beast. The horns of this same Minotaur were needed by one scientist, and he was ready to pay a huge amount for them. By strength, I was already an AA-class adventurer with a light orange core stage, so it wasn't a problem for me to kill him. With that kind of money, I could provide myself with a few years of comfortable life, so I decided to take this task.

"As soon as the opportunity arises, I will kill the others and leave here for the capital. Sorry boy, I would take him with me, but he won't go."

As soon as the Boss was defeated, I ran at full speed towards Alan, being behind him, he did not receive serious injuries, so he had to be removed first.

Alan did not even have time to understand when I plunged a sword into his heart.

***

Emergency quest received!

Kill the traitor [0/1]

Reward: Skill <???>

Looking through the translucent window of the system, I held my breath, not believing what was happening.

- Zach... why...

He slowly pulled the sword out of Alan's body, letting it fall, at the same moment Henry attacked him in a rage. They began to exchange blows, sparks emanating from each clash of their blades. But Zack was stronger, no matter how hard Henry tried, the swordsman was slowly crushing him.

"I have to do something!" I came to my senses, raising my hand.

- Fire sh…!

Before the fire flared in my palm, Zak appeared in front of me, pointing his sword at my heart. When the sword almost pierced me, I managed to hit with an earthen column that popped up right under his hand.

There was a crunch, and I experienced a terrible pain in the neck.

[Acquired skill "Fire Resistance LV 1"]

- AAAAAH ... hoarsely screaming and crying from unbearable pain, I fell to the ground, weakness flooded in, but I tried to remain conscious. Something liquid began to stand out from the neck, and the burn area became colder.

Without hesitation, I put all my points into regeneration, and endured pain, looked in the direction of Zach, seeing how he was already going to finish off Henry. Gathering all my strength, I raised my hand, forming an earthen bullet in the palm of my hand, and then fired it at Zack.