Chapter 11: Another Monster.
*Crack*
'Yes just like that...'
"Jump."
*Boom*
'A little more just a little more...'
*Crack*
A sharp glint passed through William's eyes when he saw the giant rock at the ceiling shook a little.
"Rethusa pull the boss's attention, everyone else retreat!"
Hearing the unexpected order, the members of Artemis familia were taken aback, but having personally witnessed the effect of William's effective commands till now they decided to get their teeth and follow through with it.
While the others were quickly retreating to William's side, team leader Rethusa who was now the main target of the monster Antares felt the time around her slow down.
In the slowed down world she moved her eyes and looked at William.
His clear eyes were staring straight at her, as if saying something.
No she could not pretend to not understand the clear meaning being conveyed by them.
From one leader to another.
Having lead a large familia fir a long time, Rethusa's observation skills were a cut above the rest.
That is why unlike the rest who were solely focused on William's commands, she was able to see the hidden meaning behind them.
And that is why the slowly forming cracks in the dungeon wall became all so obvious to her.
It was because she saw it that she understood.
That at the end moment, one of them will need to pull Antares's attention.
The one who will dodge the last attack.
The one who will be closest to the monster when the ceiling will collapse.
The one who will most certainly die.
Could be none other than her.
Hardening her spirit, Rethusa tried to put up the best smile she could muster on her face and nodded towards William.
Although she tried to appear brave, what William saw was a trembling smile and slightly red eyes which were about to be floded.
Like an innocent child asking for his permission to move on.
Closing his eyes, William slightly nodded his head.
And with his small movement, time seemed to move normally once again.
"Come at me!", Rethusa let out the loudest battle cry she could muster, whether to attract Antares's attention or to hide her fear nobody would know.
Her tactic seemed to work.
The monster Antares used his huge claw and harshly brought it down on Rethusa's figure.
Just before the attack hit, Rethusa jumped to the side, barely dodging the attack, but even though she dodged, the strong force from the attack sent her flying.
While she was in air, Rethusa saw the ceiling of the dungeon crack as the massive sharp rock embedded in it fall down.
At the last moment, she felt her vision turn blurry.
It seems like even though she tried her best, in the end she ended up crying.
How pathetic.
Rethusa thought before she lost consciousness.
--
At the same time as Antares's attack hit the wall, the entire dungeon shook heavily.
"Take cover!"
William shouted before quickly pulling the stunned goddess Artemis with him, taking cover under a nearby rock.
"Rethusa!"
Tightly holding onto the crying goddess, William held her down, not letting her get out.
And at the next moment.
*Boom*
With an explosive sound, Goddess Artemis's entire vision was covered with a massive cloud of dust.
Feeling the earth shattering sound, she instinctively dug her head inside William's chest.
Between the collapse she felt her body being moved, but with her vision blocked and her ears almost rupturing due to the sound, Goddess Artemis could neither see nor hear, in this state of confusion she let go of her body's resistance, letting the other person move her as they please.
After some time, the massive tremors finally stopped.
Slowly recovering from the state of confusion, Goddess Artemis slowly opened her eyes.
Although it was still dark, she was barely able to see the expressionless face of William right above her.
"Orion?..."
"Try and crawl out."
Goddess Artemis couldn't help but notice the tiredness in his voice, completely different from his usual calm one.
A bad premonition seem to hit her as she quickly tried to move her hand and touch his face.
"Hurry up."
But his voice brought her back to her senses.
Turning her head she saw the opening right in front of her, slowly moving her body, Goddess Artemis crawled her way forward and exited the place.
What appeared before her eyes was a devastated plane, the previous ancient aura of the arena was long gone replaced by broken rocks and rubble, the ceiling appeared to still be a little unstable as small amount of dust kept falling down in some places.
Goddess Artemis quickly turned her head, she placed her head on the small opening she crawled out of and shouted in a worried voice.
"Orion!"
It looks like the rock under which they took shelter was unable to resist the weight of the ceiling and fell down on top of them between the collapse.
Luckily the ground was uneven due to the battle with Antares because of which the rock landed in a tilted position, making a small opening appear and luckily they were at the exact safe spot at the time as well.
Goddess Artemis cried and shouted for William but got no response, feeling the sense of terrible unease she pushed her upper body inside the opening and crawled in front of silent William.
"Orion.....Orion...", Goddess Artemis called out and hurriedly tapped his face but William showed no reaction, his eyes were close shut, gritting her teeth, Goddess Artemis grabbed his clothes and started pulling him out.
After only a few pulls, William suddenly opened his eyes, making a smile appear on Goddess Artemis's dust covered face.
"Orion....."
Having returned to his senses, William pushed himself forward, making Goddess Artemis quickly crawl back out to give him way.
After some time, William also managed to pull himself out of the opening, as of a load has been taken off her chest, Goddess Artemis fell down on her knees in relief.
But the feeling was short lived, she remembered her dear children and quickly stood up, looking around in a hurry.
*Cough*
A sound caught her attention, moving towards it, Goddess Artemis found one of her children stuck beneath a rock, clearly in a terrible state.
Wasting no time she grabbed a hold of the rock and started pulling it up, but to no avail, her strength wasn't even enough to move it a little.
Understanding the fact she quickly turned her head towards William for help.
Not needing to be told, William made his way towards her.
It was only now that Goddess Artemis noticed something.
While William was walking.
His right arm.
Was falling lifelessly.
Then she suddenly remembered what happened previously.
Although she was filled with extreme grief, seeing what happened to her first child Rethusa.
She also remembered one more detail, when William was pulling her she remembered that they were not at the place where the rock would not have crushed them when it fall.
They were a bit away from it, especially because she was struggling to break free from William's grasp.
Then after that the ceiling fell.
While the earth shattering tremors were ongoing, she felt a strong force pulling her away.
And the next moment they were in the safe place.
In that small amount of time when she had had been in a state of confusion, William not only managed to stay level headed but also pulled her to safety underneath him, damaging his right arm in the process.
Walking upto the stick adventurer, William grabbed the rock using his working left hand without any hesitation.
He didn't complain, he didn't cry, he didn't even curse at her for her incompetence.
"We will pull together on three."
She didn't know what to say.
"One."
She didn't know what to feel.
"Two."
The child standing before her.
"One."
Was one of a kind...in the entire world.
"Pull."
Goddess Artemis and William pulled together.
And still nothing happened.
The rock didn't even flinch.
Not even a little bit.
"Again."
But they didn't give up.
"One more time."
Another failed attempt.
"One more."
Failed once more.
"Again."
But only this time, there was an extra pair of hands pulling the rock.
Goddess Artemis who was using all of her strength to pull the rock, saw a familia person appear beside her.
"I'm here Goddess.", The Half-Elf Lante said with a smile on her dirt covered face as she started pulling together with them.
"My child...", Goddess Artemis felt her heart tighten seeing her appearance.
"Now pull."
With the addition of a level 2 adventurer, the rock was pulled away in one go.
"Cough.....Goddess I.....", The adventurer who was stuck beneath the rock tried to speak but Goddess Artemis quickly stopped her.
"Just rest."
"Yes....."
Goddess Artemis carefully caressed her head with a loving smile on her face.
It was then.
*Step*
The sound of several footsteps rang out in their surroundings.
Hearing the sound, Goddess Artemis unknowingly shook.
With slow and hesitant movement she turned her head to look.
'Ah.'
All of them.
Although injured.
Survived.
"I----I----",The sight almost choked her with happiness.
"Goddess!"
They were hurt, some couldn't even walk properly, many were even crying, but the next moment all of them said together.
"We are alive!"
Those who could walk hurriedly ran upto her while crying and tightly hugged Goddes Artemis, having survived the great ordeal, they were now true adventurers
--
William silently looked at the scene from the side.
Infact he was doing his own work.
'13...17...19.....looks like everyone did survive.....'
William turned his head towards the massive rock in the middle of the arena.
'Everyone....except one.'
William thought to himself before shaking his head.
In fact the outcome was already way better than his expectations.
He thought that atleast 5 or 6 of them will die during the collapse, but miraculously they were all alive.
'Although some of them might have sustained some serious internal injury....'
Perhaps one of them might not survive the injuries in the upcoming days and die.
But for now.
They are alive.
A small smile couldn't help but form on William's face.
*Step*
William turned to face the approaching Goddess.
"Orarion....."
Goddess Artemis muttered in a small voice, she wanted to thank him, show her gratitude for his help, but for some reason she was unable to look at him in the eye, perhaps because of his lifelessly hanging right arm assaulting her consciousness with waves of regret.
Putting a hand on her chest, she tightly bit down on her lower lip before bowing her head full ninety degree towards him.
"Thank you."
She felt frustrated with herself, she belittled herself for only saying a simple 'thank you' for all his help.
He didn't owe her anything, infact it was her who put his life in danger due to her incompetency.
He wasn't even a part of her familia yet he helped them without a second thought.
And the only thing she said to such a person was a simple 'thank you'?
"Hm"
William simple nodded to her gratitude, in the first place he saved them mainly because of personal reason.
The thought of someone who he got to know was once again going to die inside a dungeon right in front of him, just pissed him off.
That was the main reason he decided to help.
But his uncaring attitude made Goddess Artemis feel even worse than before.
"First let's quickly leave this place."
William said as he walked pass her.
"Yes...."
Looking at his back, Goddess Artemis quietly followed behind, she decided to somehow repay him using whatever she could after going out.
It was then.
*Tremble*
The ground shook.
The sudden movement made everyone stop in their track.
"No way....", Half-Elf Lante muttered in a dry voice.
*Tremble*
One of the adventurer's powerlessly dropped on her back, tightly holding her head in fear.
*Tremble*
The Giant rock in the middle cracked.
*Roar*
A monstrous roar filled with anger resounded throughout the place.
*Boom*
With a loud sound, dust scattered everywhere, the giant rock cracked apart revealing the figure of the monster Antares who survived the collapse.
Although barely survived might be a better way to describe it ,considering it's miserable appearance.
'The giant rock didn't kill it.....", William thought as a frown appeared on his face.
Although it was out of his expectation, the situation was immensely better than before.
And that was because of one reason.
"Everyone to the gate!"
William's loud shout awakened them from their reverie.
Hearing his words the same idea stuck all of them as they quickly moved their heads.
The gate which was closed before.
Was now cracked opened due to the collapse.
Light appeared in their eyes.
Indeed.
There was no need to fight.
They just need to escape!
"Run!"
With William's shout as the trigger all of them, quickly moved into action, grabbing those who were injured they ran towards the door.
Just when William was about to move, he saw a figure stuck in place.
Goddess Artemis.
"Move!"
Not understanding why she hadn't started running, William shouted at her using the highest strength he could muster.
But his words seem to feel dead in her ears.
Just before was about to punch her in the face.
"R-Rethusa...."
He heard the trembling voice which escaped her lips.
Hearing her words, William's eyes enlarged, he quickly turned his head and saw a scene which shouldn't have been possible.
Rethusa.
The monster Antares was holding onto the unconscious Rethusa using his claw.
The scene made no sense to him.
A monster was using a hostage.
"She's dead.", William said as soon as he saw that Rethusa wasn't moving.
"N-no! she is alive! I can feel my blessing in her!", Goddess Artemis denied him in an agitated voice.
Rethusa was her first child, the very first member of her familia, although she loved all her children impartially but Rethusa still held a special place in her heart.
"It doesn't matter she will be dead--------"
Words stopped coming out of William's mouth when he saw Antares moving his body.
'It's attacking? but who...."
His eyes moved at lightning speed, calculating the monsters every small movement with the fastest Speed possible.
'Me? is it attacking me?.....'
Antares launched his attack, just that this time, it was almost thrice as fast as before.
The attack was too fast.
'No this is.....'
William's eyes enlarged as blood veins appeared around them.
Twisting his feet he turned around.
---
Why?
Goddess Artemis wondered as she stared at her precious child Rethusa being held captive by the monster Antares.
Was she being punished by the heaven for some crime she committed?
Artemis felt sad, immensely so, but she wasn't an idiot.
She wasn't going to let her child's sacrifice be in vain because of her emotional outburst.
That is why she forcefully held down on her feeling of pain, getting her teeth she pasted the appearance of the monster Antares deep inside her being, before turning away.
But just when she turned away.
*Gush*
She felt warm liquid splat on her back.
With a trembling body, she slowly turned her head back.
What she first saw was her Orion, his expressionless face made her feel a sense of relief, just looking at those eyes seem to fill her with a sense of ease.
She raised her hands to touch his face.
But just just before she could.
*Guh*
A mouthful of blood came out of his mouth.
Her eyes unknowingly travelled down, as if not understanding what just happened.
And the world seem to freeze in place.
She saw the tip of a sharp claw, coming out of him, just inches away from piercing her.
'Ah I see.'
She smiled beautiful like a blossoming flower, raising her hands she wrapped them around William's neck and gently embraced him.
'It seems like I was once again saved by Orarion..'
Then something broke in her mind.
"Don't fu*k with me!!!!!"
She shouted like an injured beast as her expression crumbled completely and for the first time in her life she cursed using all her strength.
But in the next moment.
Another claw slapped them away, making them crash heavily against a nearby wall.
--
Having finished the annoying fly, Antares stared at the ones who were trying to run away.
*Roar*
Seeing that his prey were escaping, Antares roared in anger and quickly moved, it's speed was faster than anything it had displayed before.
"Kyaaa"
The one's who were in the way were directly smashed away by him using his giant claws.
In no time the monster Antares arrived before the open gate blocking their only path of escape.
Despair appeared on the face of the Artemis familia members.
---
Using whatever strength was left in her body, Goddess Artemis tightly held onto William's head, refusing to let go.
Even as she bleeds and her body trembled in pain, the arms holding onto William's head onty tightened.
She pulled him up towards her, his expressionless face came in her vision, but only this time she couldn't see the bright light in his eyes.
"Don't die...."
She said in an almost begging voice.
"Please don't die..."
Her hand trembled as it touched the huge opening on his back.
"Please please please Orion....."
Her divine blood flowed through his injured back.
"Please.... don't...die....Orion...."
Blood flowed out of her mouth as she lost the last bit of strength she could muster up from her weak body and fell unconscious.
While Goddess Artemis lost consciousness.
Her divine blood continued to travel down William's back.
Little by little.
Filled with her wish, her love and her intense desire, it for a magical circle.
And at that moment.
Something which has been asleep for a long time.
Reacted to her power.
Skill *['Transmigrator's Authority'-:(Z)]* is shaking.
No matter who it is, an adventurer always starts at level 1.
--------
Current Level- 1
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
Then he goes to level 2.
--------
Current Level- 1--->2
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
Maybe even level 3.
--------
Current Level- 2--->3
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
Unfortunately only a few can reach level 4.
--------
Current Level- 3--->4
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
Though level 5 is what they call an elite.
--------
Current Level- 4---->5
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
Ah but of course level 6!, the so called top! where most of the powerful ones are!
--------
Current Level- 5---->6
Name- William Greenleaf.
---------
But level 7.....hehe this where the true monsters live.
--------
Current Level- 6--->7
Name- William Greenleaf.
--------
And today another such monster has descended upon this world.
Skill *[Regeneration](B)* is taking effect.
The blood veins around William's unmoving eyes started disappearing.
Skill *[Regeneration](B)* is taking effect.
The huge wound on his back started closing.
Skill *[Regeneration](B)* is taking effect.
*Crack*
And his shoulder cracked back into place.
Finally William closed his unmoving eyes.
And when he opened them again....
Skill *[Cold Blooded](S)* is taking effect.
That's right, indifference.