Chapter 1: Roles

In this world, you're born with a role, "oh! You're a knight!" "Ah, you're a Magician!" "Kya~ a hero?! Wow!" You get it. You're born with the expectations of fulfilling these roles when you're older, but what if you're discontent with this role? Well, you get me: Kiryo Barley - And I got "blessed" with my role as a Cleric... Y'know, the guy tasked with keeping the party of idiot meatheads alive... Only for the hero to get all the credit, "yeah, yeah, good for you, you got all the credit even though by now your guts would be smeared across the dungeon walls if we didn't keep reviving you, dumbass!" But you get the point!

- Black Tail Guild, Skyward citadel-

- GET OUT!

Someone is hurled out of the guild's hall, landing flat on the ground. - ouch! What's the big idea, old man?!

- put a sock in it, Barley! This is the tenth Dungeon Crawl you've gone on and have ABSOLUTELY nothing to show for it! The Grip Claws already booted ya from their party!! Ya literally have ONE job!

- 6 hours earlier, Glimrock Caverns -

The party is currently in the 18th floor of this dungeon. Bronson leads the party as its knight, Lara is the magician, Lua is a Brawler and lastly is Kiryo as its Cleric. The party is pretty worn down. Bronson asks Kiryo if he has any healing chants to which Kiryo turns away - nah, I'm all out, man, you put me to task in the 8th floor.

Lara, attempting to keep the party chipper chimes in - well, at least we only have two floors left!

Kiryo, with a somber deep tone in his voice - yeah... But we still haven't encountered the Manticore.

The whole party stays still in silence, they all realized that the worst is yet to come. Around the bend, rumbling thuds, they steel themselves as the giant Manticore steps ever closer to them.

Bronson, his voice quivers slightly - hey, Kiryo, you have a Revival Blessing left in ya?

Kiryo, awkwardly retorts - no... Think you can not like die for a bit?

Lua grins with determination - Come on, Bron! Let's get this monster!!

Bronson nods and shakes off his fear, the two charge at the Manticore. Lara and Kiryo stay behind for support.

Kiryo - alright! Time to work! (I need to find its nest now!)

Kiryo chants Strength Suppression + which greatly weakened the Manticore's attacking power.

Lara casts Thunder Spears which restricts its movements, Bronson takes his sword and releases his Atlas Swing which only scathed it, it then swats Bronson to the ground.

Kiryo - (damn it! It has that much defense too!?)

Kiryo chants Brittle Down which decreases its defenses. Lua lunges and releases a flurry of fists, breaking off one of its horns. The Manticore lunges its tail, impaling Lua's torso straight through. Bronson and Lara are stunned in disbelief, mouths agape and eyes widened by this, Bronson with tears in his eyes turns back to call for Kiryo but his soul cracks when he sees Kiryo isn't where he's supposed to be.

Fueled by agitation, Bronson yells - LARA!!! WHERE THE HELL IS KIRYO!???!

She shrugs, as she didn't have eyes on him. Bronson turns back to look at the Manticore. His sword glows in an overwhelminly aggressive light. He whispers under his breath "Atlas Swing" and with reckless abandon charges at the Manticore, Lara casts Fireballs to keep the Manticore from attacking Bronson. He swings and slices it's thick neck clean through, he swings his sword, splashing the blood across the ground, he goes to Lua to help but she's already dead.

Kiryo returns, saying he found the exit but sees Bronson kneeling down, Lara is crying and he asks what happened.

Bronson raises his head, holding back his anger - where were you?

Kiryo, still panting - I was looking for the entrance to the next fl---

Bronson, his voice is fueled by agony - AND WHO THE HELL MADE YOU SCOUT?!

Lara, saddened - Bron... He didn't... -- SHUT IT, LARA!! HE HAD HIS ROLE!! WHY DID YOU LEAVE?!! Now *sniff* now Lua's dead... Because of you!!