Chapter 177: My Favorite Meal

The sound of smoldering molten rock bubbled through the tunnel for only a moment before a large separated chunk crashed to the floor from the other side. The smoke parted quickly as a gust of wind cleared the area, revealing a man in torn and tattered gold-trimmed robes.

"And here we are, welcome to the underground forest ladies and gentleladies! Well, and Shigure," Drake smiled.

Shigure gave Drake a steely glance before walking through the hole, his eyes widening at the sheer vastness of the underground area.

"My, this is expansive… They really submerged this much of the land above and we didn't notice?" Shigure said.

"That's what I said," Drake parroted, "Well there weren't nearly as many animals when I was here a few days ago, looks like they've been busy," he snickered, "That and not being eaten by the ants probably helped, should be more than enough here for the rest of the tutorial. Just need to get them to the surface."

Shigure nodded, "That is quite true, I can see many animals, there shouldn't be a problem feeding the outpost with this quantity."

"Good," Drake said, stretching, his mana pool still healthy surprisingly after all the digging, "I'll be going then, I have a feeling if I wait any longer I'm going to be in very deep trouble."

Drake's hair shifted to blue, as he gave a wave over his shoulder, turning around and entering the tunnel they had just exited.

Walking down the tunnel he took a breath. He had been through a lot, and this time helping Shigure had helped him steady himself once more. He was thankfully still mostly the person he was before. But he couldn't shake the feeling of anxious anticipation he had in his gut. The feeling of wanting to fight the next strong opponent or the fear that crept within his mind that he might not be able to keep his new baser instincts in check when the time came.

Drake's hair shifted again, his hair shimmering to a light green, as he took a deep step forward, then vanished. Running so quickly he became a blur, the backdraft of his movement putting out the torches in his wake.

Oops… Well, I'm sure Shigure and them will be fine finding their way out. Drake laughed as he continued to transverse the tunnels.

"You seem to be in a better mood," Natto hummed.

"I am in a better mood. I'm ready. Ready to take on the world outside this small pond."

[Current Time Remaining in Tutorial: 32 days 17 hours 57 minutes 02 seconds]

"There's only so long before we are let loose. Is there anything you can tell me before we get out?" Drake asked.

"Unfortunately nothing I have not already spoken of. I apologize…."

"It's fine. One foot in front of the other as my old man used to say."

"Certainly quite the saying."

"He also said that you should kiss your ass goodbye if you get caught out in the open in a thunderstorm," Drake smiled remembering that conversation on the porch looking out one night from their home, one very storm raging.

"I-interesting…"

"He was quite the character," Drake scoffed, turning and running up the stairs he made earlier, "He used to purposely mispronounce things we liked because we would correct him."

"Oh? Such as?" Natto asked.

"Poke'man, Harry Pothead, things like that," Drake laughed, "I miss him quite a lot, my whole family does."

Drake smiled, but a small storm brewed in his heart remembering how his father passed. The feelings of being helpless as he watched him deteriorate in a hospital bed right in front of his eyes. The smell of medicine was constantly in the room, the stream of doctors and nurses reassuring him all for naught.

His hand clenched subconsciously, his last Tattoo ring creaking under the pressure bringing him back to the moment.

"Drake?"

"I'm alright, it's always been a sore subject for me even after all these years. I'm not proud of how I handled it. But that's something I can't worry about right now. I wanted to relax but I still have a lot to get a handle on."

Drake shot out of the tunnel from the stairs, leaping from the entrance onto the empty plains. But he kept running as he hit the ground, moving right for the Outpost.

It had turned back into light, the sun peaking over the trees to the east. The sun warming his body as he covered the distance in a matter of minutes at his speed.

"I'm glad I lived until now, this place is beautiful. Well, at least without all the killing and monsters and stuff but yeah, you don't get to see stuff like this all the time," Drake said, only to see a lone woman standing at the edge of the camp outside the Outpost.

Her eyes steely and her arms crossed, currently unloving-looking, blonde side-braided woman glared daggers at Drake.

"Well, it was nice while it lasted."

Drake stopped a few feet out from the camp and walked casually up to Claire.

They stood there silently for a few moments, just looking back at one another, until Claire broke first, her eyes tearing up as she leaned forward resting her head on Drake's chest, her arms wrapping around him.

"You promised, you wouldn't go anywhere."

Drake gave a wry smile, "Sorry. I needed time alone to figure things out."

She continued to look down, her arms squeezing tighter.

"Did you…?"

"Did I what?"

"Figure it out?"

Drake smiled, his hand going to rest on her head, "Yeah. Yeah, I did."

"Don't do that again ok…?" she asked, Drake able to hear the crackling in her voice.

"I promise."

"Are you lying again….?"

"No, this time I'm not, I promise."

"Good… I don't want to lose you like I did him…" she sniffled, squeezing again.

Drake felt at ease, wrapping his arms around her as well now. Grateful that she wasn't as mad as he expected.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Drake asked finally.

Claire rubbed her face on his clothes and nodded into his chest.

Drake took her by the hand and led her to his tent. They walked silently, no one bothering them as they went.

Once inside Claire began to unload her past in the tutorial. How when she first got into the tutorial she was with her brother and they both had no idea if the experience was real. That was until the first ape entered their group sending them into a panic.

She told how her brother protected her through the first part of the tutorial. They had joined a smaller group, surviving the Apes thanks to her support as a mage, and her brother's as a warrior able to frontline well enough.

That was until the Goblin Hordes had started coming for them. The story progressed with Drake listening intently in silence on the bed. Claire fiddled with his hands in hers as she sat in front of him, leaning her back against him.

She detailed how she and their group were captured. The disgusting things that ensued after. Drake squeezed her hands in frustration at not being there, but then she began explaining how she was forced to kill her brother. And how he saved her by giving his own life.

There was a long pause after that, Claire crying in Drake's arms.

Once she had let the tears dry, the sun had already begun setting. The whole day had been them together. She began telling the rest of the story. How she was saved by Drake. How she felt like it wasn't real.

She saw him as more than just someone who saved her. He gave her purpose, vindication.

"When you came back that day… Bloodied and wounded. Passing out on your feet as you gave me my justice. I knew I loved you. I mean- I already knew, but that was when I realized it I think…" Claire giggled slightly, rubbing Drake's hand.

"Why, because I look good in red?" Drake chuckled, only to receive a pinch on the back of his hand.

"No.." she smiled, "You kept your word. You kept me safe, and gave me what I needed most. You barely knew me but you did all that. I knew I wanted to support you then. But," she said in a mumble, "I also knew I didn't want to see you hurt again…"

Drake pressed his head on top of hers, letting their bodies comfort each other for a time before she began talking once more.

"When you fought that monster Ant… When I saw you hurt like that," she said, beginning to cry, "I thought I was about to lose everything again… My heart ached, my heart broke when I saw you disappear!" she snapped, her voice raising as she turned around to face him, "And when you came back. Came back to me… I don't know if I can bear having that happen again. Seeing you hurt to protect everyone. I want you to live, Drake! I want you to be able to make memories with me, have a life with me! Even if that means you can't protect everyone!" she shouted, her voice going to a whisper, "I-is that selfish…?"

Drake wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close.

"No. That isn't selfish Claire. But I'm going to keep doing it. I'm sorry. I can't let anyone get hurt. I'll keep putting my life on the line over theirs because I'm strong. And I'll become stronger," Drake said, his voice even and his eyes looking out into the distance, "And I dare anyone to try to take what I care for most. Because they will be begging for the end before I am done…"

Drake released Claire enough to lift her face to his with his hand, giving her a kiss as she blushed.

"It's getting late, you should get some sleep and something to eat. Thank you for telling me about your brother. I'm glad I was able to give him the justice he deserved… When we get back to the real world… I want to make a marker for him somewhere. No, I want to do it where the new city is going to be. My city- our- city."

Claire nodded, "That… that sounds nice… But I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I don't want you to slip away again…" she mumbled embarrassedly as she gripped on his torn robes, "C-can I stay here tonight?"

"Sure you can stay, my parents won't be home for a while," Drake chuckled, getting a punch to the ribs, but he smiled through it, "You just have to join me for my favorite meal."

"What's that?" she asked, her cheeks puffing out.