First Boss

Everyone tensed.

Aster swept his glance across the group and noticed others doing the same.

'I better prepare myself.' He touched his dagger, preparing to take it out at any moment.

"Will you reveal yourself?" Nyle narrowed his eyes, glancing around the group.

His eyes passed by Aster's, and Aster could feel a chill. He felt like he was in front of a tiger that was ready to pounce.

Then, when it was obvious that the traitor wouldn't reveal himself, Nyle just laid back, chuckling.

"Well, it was worth a try."

Aster's eyes widened as he blinked twice.

He looked around, noticing others relaxing a bit. Even Cecil let out a breath.

"Was it necessary to make the tension so high just before the boss fight?" Aster asked.

"It was." Nyle chuckled. "Traitor feels threatened, so they will probably attack me at the first opportunity. That's when we can strike."

"And why did you reveal that information?" Boar asked with a heavy tone.

"Just because," Nyle smirked.

His smirk made Ash laugh. "I love you, Nyle."

"I love you too, Ash," Nyle said.

The atmosphere suddenly took a wholesome turn, but Aster knew that underneath it all brewed a sinister conspiracy.

"Someone will surely die." He murmured.

"Surely," Cecil added.

The group chatted on the break, talking about their experiences in the temple.

Boar had difficulty with prankster paintings.

Asher had difficulty finding monsters.

And Cecil had difficulty with slimes.

It was too difficult to deal damage without sharp weapons. Their wet and sticky nature didn't help.

"I can't believe it." Asher laughed. Even Boar couldn't help but chuckle at Cecil's confession.

"Alright, guys." Nyle clapped. "We wasted enough time. It's time to meet the first boss."

The group got up again, traveling for another five minutes before they arrived in front of a big hole.

"What's this?" Aster approached the hole before suddenly turning around. 'If someone pushes me...'

"Don't worry, it's not too deep. Also, if the traitor reveals themselves for this, they'd be really stupid." Nyle's words reassured Aster.

"Alright." He nodded, arriving in front of the hole and taking a look.

'Not too deep, my ass. My candle isn't able to light it up at all. I'm sure I'll die if I fall.' He almost felt like choking Nyle.

Then, he turned to look upwards. Still the same darkness. The light of the candle can't reach the end.

At that moment, others approached as well.

"Whoo. I wonder if that fat lady Mozza will be able to fit in the hole." Asher ironically joked. He knew that the hole was wide enough for any human being.

"Surely not." Nyle chuckled before suddenly jumping into the hole.

"Holy!" Asher couldn't help but exclaim. 

"That guy is crazy!" With those words, he jumped in as well.

Cecil shook her head before jumping in as well.

"Tch." Unwilling to be left alone with a potential traitor, Aster didn't wait, following them.

"If I die, I'll add another curse to your Fate, Nyle!" He shouted.

He fell.

And he continued falling.

It had been seconds already.

"HOW DEEP IS THIS-" Before he could finish shouting, he could feel himself entering the water.

'Dammit, I don't know how to swim!' Aster could feel himself drowning.

Instinctively, he tried pushing himself with his limbs, barely ascending.

After a whole minute, just before he was out of breath, he reached the surface.

Grabbing onto the floor, he breathed heavily. Then, opening his eyes, he glared at the wet Nyle.

"Nyle, you-" But before he could finish his sentence, he saw Nyle fighting a monster.

It looked like a three-meter-tall Chewbacca.

"Dammit." Aster's adrenaline reached its limits. His body got excited, ready to fight or run.

Getting out of the water, Aster started sensing things around him.

"What big mana." He saw the Chewbacca having almost double the amount that Nyle had.

"No wonder he didn't wish to raid it alone." Aster looked around, observing the area they were in.

For some reason, even though the candles were wet, the flames hadn't extinguished yet.

The candles were thrown around the floor in random places. They barely lit up the room they were in, allowing them to fight the boss without vision disadvantage.

Nyle dodged the boss's swipe, retreating.

At that moment, Cecil jumped, kicking the monster in the head. Although her attack didn't do any severe damage, it served to distract the boss.

Because of that, Nyle could punch it from behind, visibly bending its back and injuring it.

"You go, girl!" Asher shouted from the side, appearing like a cheerleader.

Meanwhile, Aster arrived in a small corner, observing the fight that was happening. He didn't believe that he could contribute in any way.

'My stats are way too small.' He moved from his original position because he didn't wish to accidentally be stabbed in the back by Boar.

"Huh?" He noticed Ash doing something ridiculous.

'He actually took out a spoon! No, how does he even have a spoon!?' Aster questioned in his mind, looking at Ash with an incredulous expression.

"This guy is nuts," Boar commented before rushing at the boss fight, wishing to help Cecil and Nyle.

Ash took the spoon, observing it carefully before suddenly throwing it in the air.

"What are you doing?" Aster couldn't help but ask.

"Shh." Ash put his finger on his lips, silently telling Aster to shut up.

The battle was reaching its climax.

Nyle looked battered, Cecil almost stumbled, and even Boar took bated breaths even though he joined only recently.

"Final rush!" Nyle shouted, jumping at the boss.

The boss lifted its head, glaring at Nyle. Then, it punched Nyle, knocking him back. Nyle hit the wall.

At that moment, a spoon fell from the sky and hit the boss in the eye.

"Chance." Cecil took the opportunity, jumping and kicking the boss in the other eye.

"UAAGH!!!" The boss was officially blind, but the whole team was battered and injured.

Except for Aster and Asher.

"Aster!" Ash shouted.

"It's on us." He added.

Aster blinked twice at the scene, disbelieving the scene. Then, at that moment, he sensed a small presence in the wall.

A presence that the candles couldn't light up, but Aster's sensing could.

'Just what I needed.' He smirked.