19 – Undead Cave

"I dare not come alone to this place you know?" Finn started talking again. "So, I put the request on the adventurer guild headquarters. Well, I was hoping that other adventurers would accompany me, but it turned out to be you who showed up."

Ritor, who was walking behind Finn, preferred to survey the cave, which was about twice the size of two elephants. The minotaur doesn't care what that guy says anymore.

"Well, I'm a coward. However, I still want to pay respect to my fallen comrades." Finn continued, flashing a bitter smile. "And I can't forget that Ragmonuk weapon. The legend said that the wielder of the legendary weapon would become the strongest in this world. I'm just an ordinary warrior…."

Finn choked and stopped in his tracks. A figure emerged from the intersection a few feet away from him.

"Amber?" Finn widened his eyes at the figure of a woman in tattered clothes.

"What the..." Even the minotaur was surprised by the figure, which did not look like an ordinary woman.

Most of her body was blackened and covered in maggots, like something rotting. Even one of her eyeballs was already hanging out of its socket.

"Amber…." Instead of raising his weapon, Finn staggered forward. His eyes began to fill with tears. "S-sorry I couldn't save you…. Now, I'm back for you…."

The zombie figure raised the knife in her hand.

Ritor dashed past Finn, then hit the monster hard. That figure flew and crashed into the cave wall until its limbs were severed.

"What the fuck!!!" Finn squeezed his head. " Why did you hit her!? She is my fiancé! "

Seeing that the monster was crawling with her one remaining hand, the minotaur stomped on her head until it shattered, causing Finn to get even more hysterical. "Didn't you see that monster was going to kill you!?"

Lord Vorn didn't say that Ritor had to protect human life specifically. However, since he was forbidden to kill humans, Ritor concluded that this also applies in situations like this.

Finn held back his tears, then took a deep breath and crouched by one of the zombie monster's hands.

"Well, you're right..." Finn took a ring from that woman's finger, then put it to his forehead and closed his eyes.

Ritor just watched that in silence. He didn't understand what was really going on.

The sound of footsteps began to echo from a distance. In an instant, Ritor and Finn were ready to fight.

"There are a lot of them, but they are easy to destroy," Finn explained with a more focused look. "So, as long as we're careful, we can beat them."

"You said there are a lot of strong monsters here." Ritor snorted, then ran.

"Hey, don't be reckless!" Finn stumbled after the minotaur. "They are easy to destroy, but that doesn't mean they are weak!"

The minotaur turned a corner, finding a mob of human bones moving with weapons. Without thinking, Ritor accelerated his run toward those monsters.

Finn couldn't help but gape as Ritor smashed into the undead army, sending their body parts flying. It was very different from that time, when Finn and his friends were overwhelmed by them, even making Amber lose her life.

Looks like he's found the right companion for this mission.

"You said all of this was strong?" Ritor scratched the inside of his ear with his little finger. "I'm not even sweating."

Finn was about to answer, but he heard another rumble, this time louder and consisting of only one.

"Now we really have to run." Finn hissed as his body began to tremble. "We won't be able to beat what's coming next."

"Alright! Bring it on!" Ritor massaged his shoulders instead, looking ready to fight again.

"Are you listening to me!?" If Ritor had been irritated earlier, now it was Finn's turn to be angry. "This monster killed most of my friends!"

Ritor doesn't care, and Finn chooses to hide behind the previous intersection. The rumble was getting bigger and echoed in the cave. Then, a giant skeletal figure with tusks was seen running from a distance.

That monster, the size of an adult elephant, was similar to a wild boar. Unlike the previous monsters, its body is not only made up of its own bones. It is also formed from the bones of humans and other animals, making that monster more solid.

With a roar like a beast, Ritor dashed forward again, then jumped high and punched the monster in the forehead, staggering it and stopping its run.

Ritor is not finished. He gave a combination of fists to the head and body of his enemy, making the bones formed in its body begin to fall out.

The giant monster stood on its two back legs. One of its tusks hit the minotaur's body, sending him into the air.

Ritor's back crashed into the cave's ceiling, then his body landed hard on the floor.

"Damn it!" Ritor felt pain in almost every inch of his body. He had trouble standing up, even though the giant monster was already running towards him again. Fortunately, Ritor managed to roll over to avoid the enemy's feet, preventing him from being trampled.

"Come on!" The minotaur provoked his enemy. "You can't beat me with something like this!"

The monster turned around, running to Ritor again. This time Ritor stayed where he was, spreading his arms and legs apart.

He caught the monster's leg. Then, taking advantage of his opponent's running momentum, he threw it like a judo fighter throws an opponent.

The monster flew, then landed hard, rolling on the ground, causing a tremendous quake and a thunderous roar.

Finn couldn't help but lower his chin, watching that madness. The minotaur could deal with such a gigantic monster. Who is he, actually?

Ritor caught his breath for a moment, noticing his enemy struggling to stand up.

"Not so fast!" Ritor ran and made another high jump, this time using his two horns for ramming to that giant monster.

The bones in the monster's body fell out for the umpteenth time. And before it could get up, Ritor did a combination of fists to its body again.

Knowing he wouldn't be able to help, Finn chose to sit on the cave floor, watching the minotaur's barbaric act.

If only there were snacks and tea, this would be perfect.

Ritor's roars continue to fill the cave. The minotaur continued to beat the giant monster, not allowing it to stand up, let alone strike back.