Not dead, oh undead

One after another, they were bombarded with skeletons using their fist, head, bones, everything a skeleton has, or weapons to attack. The duo managed to break a couple of skeletons until it was just their skulls. But truly found out how to kill them after they were already surrounded.

Rei kept the skull on the ground with his foot before stabbing the forehead with his sword.

[Skeleton LV0 Killed: +2% EXP]

'Why the hell do they give out so little!?'

"RAH!" With a swing of her shield, Cherry cleared a way and moved before it was covered once again, Rei managed to catch up before so.

"Let's just get out of here!" Rei said while looking around, the horde of skeletons was chasing them, the big ones were harder to topple, while the short ones were easy to kill, at least for Cherry.

'Damnit, skeletons, of course.'

Staying with Cherry while he killed the ones she toppled, along with a few lucky stabs to the tint ones, it seemed like it was going well.

If you don't take into account stamina.

They can't hold out for much longer, and when they do kill one, four just come back in.

Cherry was always trying to make a way forward, so far, they were already close to the exit when they found themselves against an ogre of a skeleton...

Rei and Cherry cursed at the sight of it, before looking around, the skeletons have formed a circle around them.

The ogre skelly raised its big mace and swung down, the two managed to dodge but they still felt how strong the impact was.

If they get hit by that, it was a certified game over.

And Cherry can't even use her ability to paralyze it, she could only use it to increase how strong her strike was.

And it was the perfect time to use it.

"URAH!" With a swift and powerful thrust, she sent the ogre skelly stumbling back, before the two of them continued to make a way through and get out of this giant mess.

Well, 'them' as in Cherry. But Rei was... Helping.

'Damn it!'

He swung the longsword and slashed the skull off, dodging its grab before stabbing the skull.

[...]

[Accumulated exp: 16%]

'[38%] Not enough to level up yet...'

He couldn't even count on leveling up and gaining the strength to do what Cherry was doing, the speed or Toughness he might need. No, he was stuck to his current abilities.

[Skill Gained]

[Sword Novice LV1]

'Huh.' It was a simple new skill, he didn't feel like it did much but, he knew he at least was getting better at using the sword.

Rei was dragged down, before he kicked the skeleton back and separated its hand, getting up quickly to chase after Cherry.

'Can't we take a break?' He thought, before another mace strike came down, crushing a few skeletons and sending shards of bones flying, which scratched the two of them.

Just a bit more and they were at the exit...

"Ugh, get off! Out!" Cherry kept swearing and yelling as she progressed further, making her way to the exit, the two finally made it out.

WHOOSH

Suddenly, a blue transparent ball with a disc hit Cherry in the back and sent her down the hole, Rei couldn't believe he saw her just die that easily... Turning around with a shiver, he found one undead, unlike the rest.

A zombie, he could only describe the robed woman's face, with a missing eye, and a disappointed expression.

"Damnit..."

There was no other way to go, and it didn't seem like he was going to be killed...

Getting grabbed by one skeleton, Rei stabbed the sword through its skull and kicked it away.

[Skeleton LV0 Killed: +2% EXP]

The zombie mage smiled, and gestured for him to come, while the skeletons reached their hands towards him.

'...This is the end for this run huh?'

He gulped.

Step.

'This place is not fair at all.'

But one can say, his ability isn't fair either.

'If it's unlimited.'

Rei closed his eyes.

Step.

Step.

And felt the wind on his back rushing to get past him, he was falling real quickly, preparing for the worst.

'This whole dungeon seems too hard.'

But couldn't that be solved with enough tries? With enough allies? Knowledge, skill, and numbers.

He wasn't sure if he was game for that. But, he really did want to escape this hell-

SPLAT.

...

🩸

...

[???]

[Has recorded your second death]

"Ugh! Hah ugh..."

He was panicking, clutching himself, before looking around as his breath grew steadier.

'I'm back again...'

After a bit, he finally got right back up.

'There is no easy way out of this is there?'

He looked at his own status.

Records of 'Rei Anamada']

<Race: Human>

<Age 17>

<Level: 0 [0%]>

[Might: 5]

[Agility: 7]

[Toughness: 5]

[Physical Tier: Mortal]

•Mana: 0•

•Mana Tier: Dormant•

•Abilities: None

•Skills: [Sword Novice LV1]

•Spells: None

•Runes: [???]

He still had the skill he got from the last attempt, proficient with the sword now was he? Rei was waiting on the right path, for when the goblins came. Counting the seconds.

It was somewhat three minutes and then some before he counted when the goblins all came in, with a quick left hook, a grab of its dagger, and a slash.

[Goblin LV0 Killed: 25% EXP]

He then dashed forward to the next goblin that looked back and raised its sword, but before it could swing, the dagger was straight through it'd throat.

'Viciousness... Never thought I'd really be this vicious.'

[Goblin LV0 Killed: 25% EXP]

He grabbed the sword and disarmed it, arming himself and dashing forward toward the last Goblin.

This one managed to swing twice before Rei used his reach advantage to scratch its throat and then slashed it on the side of its head after it swung.

Leaving the sword there as the goblin fell to the ground.

[Goblin LV1 Killed: 50%]

[You have leveled up!]

He immediately chose to dislocate them all to agility before grabbing the two swords and the bracer, for a little bit of safety before dashing straight towards the middle path.

'I'm going to do my damnedest this run! And add on whatever happens to the next!'

He dissapeared through the tunnel...