The Test (Part 3 of 3)

Amaya's voice trembled.

"....My…my arm…."

It was gone, laying in a pool of blood on the cold dungeon floor.

The Orc moved towards her, stomping with each step. It was fueled by pure bloodlust. Killing was its sole desire.

Its battle axe lifted above Amaya's face then slammed down at her.

Swosh! Crackle!

By a centimeter, it missed and struck the wall, sending cracks up and down it.

Amaya was still stunned, she had actually lost an arm. It was gone forever, and would never grow back.

Swoosh!

She ducked and rolled out of the way, the battle axe swung right over her hair.

Fwsh!

This close call shook her from her shocked state. The threat at hand was a bigger issue than a lost limb. If she didn't pay close attention to its attacks, she'd lose another limb, or perhaps her life.

Amaya's eyes shined as she observed the Orcs' capabilities.

[Analyze]

[ WARNING: S-rank Monster]

[ High Orc: HP: 250 |

Just its health alone made it an S-rank threat. Just based on it's sheer aura,it was obvious that this was the type of monster nobody wanted to fight. zthis was the type of monster that could instantly kill her if it landed a direct hit.

'An…S-rank monster?? ….it took my arm like a slice of cake… I can't do this.'

Fwsh! Crackle!

Amaya quickly leaned back, dodging the axe as it pummeled the wall behind. Again, the Orc lifted its battle axe and swung it.

Without stopping, Amaya was left to evade each incoming strike.

However, It wasn't easy, not one bit. Despite the Orc's huge size, it was relatively fast. The only thing keeping Amaya from being hit was her flexibility and martial arts.

The floor and walls were bashed by the battle axe as Amaya jumped around.

'One of these are bound to hit…'

[New Skill: Speed Boost ]

She couldn't keep this up for much longer, she had to counter attack.

'But how?'

[New Skill: Fast Tracking- Your eyes can now keep up with high-speed movements]

The flood of attacks gave her no openings. Not even a small once.

Too focused on the enemy in front, Amaya seemingly made an error.

Her heel rolled over a rock and she staggered. It was just for a second, yet it was still a huge mistake; In a fight, seconds make all the difference. A second could cost your life.

Bash!

The Orc smashed its battle axe into Amaya's chest, launching her into a wall. She collapsed against the dungeon's stone floor. In a helpless state, she remained there.

As the Orc's heavy feet brought it forward, it slashed its axe down at the back of her head. This fight would be set in stone.

['Speed Boost' Activated]

Gracefully, and faster than the eye could see, Amaya left behind and after imagining as she spring to her feet.

"Fell for it."

ShanK!

One handed, her blade slid through the Orc's heart. It stopped dead in its tracks. The life in its eyes dimmed, its body slammed against the ground.

Thump!

[Leveled Up]

[ Level 6>>>Level 7 ]

Regardless of the Orc's indelible HP, a simple strike to the heart proved to be fatal.

"...Looks like it worked…"

It was an improvised plan that could've gone wrong if she was any slower. By allowing herself to fall, the Orc dropped its guard for a moment, giving her the chance to land the killing blow.

Worked just as imagined.

Amaya's body was washed over with weakness. Knees giving out, she was left to rest against the dungeon's walls.

'I survived…but now I don't have an arm…'

Right when she thought she finally accepted it, the realization set in even harder.

Huff…Huff… Huff…

Each breath steadily became heavier.

'My arm…it's gone…It's actually gone…'

Katsu's familiar voice reached her ears.

"Looks like you're tired."

He simply stood there, in the middle of the dungeon, as if nothing had happened. Just his casual tone was enough to piss Amaya off.

"...My arm…It's gone. Are you happy?..." she caught her breath, "You're evil. Just evil. What was the point of all this?"

Katsu understood her frustration, he'd be the same way if this happened to him.

"Let me ask you something. Do you think I'm the type of person who would do something this carless? Do you think I'd put my one party member in danger?"

His question sounded stupid on the surface. He obviously was the type of person to do that. Why else was Amaya in this situation?

"I almost died twice. And my arm is gone. You still have the nerve to ask that question?"

Katsu shook his head.

"You're wrong Amaya. None of it was real."

Upon finishing his sentence, it's like his word deactivated some sort of spell. Reality wiggled like unsteady water, till the truth became clear.

"??!!" She gasped.

Both of her arms were still intact. Her body, no longer covered in wounds and blood. Her health was completely full, like she never received any damage.

None of this made sense.

"...What?...I don't get it."

"Remember when I gave you that pill? The spell embed within wasn't actually meant to increase your stats."

Actually, the spell had an entirely different purpose. It was meant to cause a hallucination, tricking the mind of the person who swallowed it.

Katsu kneeled down, helping Amaya get back on her feet.

"I needed you to see your strength. I also needed a way to help you get a little stronger. But I needed to do it in a way that wouldn't put you in any immediate danger."

This morning,Katsu had cleared this dungeon by himself, in order to make sure no monster's would be present. The boss room, however, was the only exception.

By tricking Amaya's mind with the haulitination, she really believed she was in danger and that she was fighting for her life.

Both physical and mental stress registered as reality; this sparked a growth in her levels and strength.

On the downside, this trick couldn't be used again.

"I thought you knew me by now. Everything is always planned out. I never make a careless decision on purpose."

[Katsu Has Activated 'Aura Sense']

His eyes inspected her up and down, "To see how much you grew from just this one experience. This cofimrs something a theory of mine. Amaya…" He paused for a moment, they slowly unfolded a question, "....Answer truthfully. You're not from this world, are you?"

Somehow he grasped that from thin-air. There should've been no way for him to know that. Still, he did. This went to show his level of intellect.

'What gave it away?' Amaya thought to herself.

She hadn't been purposely hiding it. She just didn't know how to bring it up, or if anyone would believe her.

"No. I'm not."

And honestly, she didn't know how she ended up here in the first place. Even the goddess had to idea. Amaya was an enigma.

She answered, "No. I'm not."

And honestly, she didn't know how she ended up here in the first place. Even the goddess had to idea. Her presence was a phenomenon.

"I see. That makes sense." said Katsu.

"How so? What made it obvious?"

"When you mentioned Christmas I Started to suspect something. That concept doesn't exist here."

Pancakes also didn't exist in this world, yet Amaya knew how to make them. This was another thing that gave her away.

"But, If you know about those things…does that mean…"

Does that mean Katsu also was from another world too? How else would he know? "...does that mean you're the same as me?"

"Something like that." Katsu replied, walking in the direction of the dungeon's exit, "You passed the test. Congrats. When we get back to town, start packing your things. We'll leave for the capitol in couple days."

He shifted the topic, leaving Amaya to wonder.

What does he mean 'Something like that?'

"So are you the same as me or not??" she asked.

"We'll talk about it some other time."