A Grave Loss

*Sphhhlt!*

Cayden's longsword and Alv's axe found their mark and stabbed right at its ugly-looking head, puncturing its eyes as well.

Even Nena, who was timid by nature, showed a fierce expression on her childish face as she kept on applying pressure on her spear, which had already pierced through the back of the Dreadling, holding it in place for Cayden and Alv to strike it down without worrying about it escaping.

Cayden was the only one who had little experience in dealing with Dreadlings since his father had personally taught him by killing a Dreadling before him.

However, Alv never saw a Dreadling being killed other than seeing their corpses or stories of how Dreadslayers killed them.

*KREEEEEEE!!*

The Dreadling let out a loud screech despite having its head attacked by a sword and an axe.

The main reason it was still alive was that Cayden and Alv found it hard to penetrate its thick ugly skin.

Still, the three didn't give up as they gritted their teeth to apply their maximum strength possible, making veins pop out on their necks and temples.

Even though they weren't able to kill it, the Dreadling was in no better situation since it could not even attack back and kept on screeching in pain.

But finally...

*Shluk!*

The eyes of the three youngsters lit up feverishly when their weapons finally penetrated through its thick head, piercing through its brain and killing it instantly.

"Damn monster!"

"It died!"

"Finally! Oh no, Ina!!"

The three knew that now was not the time to take joy in their hard-earned kill but to examine the condition of their friend, who seemed to be on her last breath.

If it was any other time, they would have been rolling on the ground happily, shouting in excitement for killing a Dreadling for the first time in their lives.

But now, no such thought passed through their head, and all their eyes worriedly focused on the dying girl lying on the cold ground.

Ina's condition was severe. Her shoulder was a bloodied mess with bits of bones sticking out and tendons torn into shreds.

But unfortunately, that was not the worst part. Her shoulder skin turned into a deathly black color while her skin all over her body shriveled up with blue veins sticking out from underneath her skin.

She previously had a young and pretty face, but now, even the ones who knew her wouldn't be able to recognize who she was from her current state.

Her pupils had become grey as if she became blind; her breathing had become laborious to the point it seemed as if she found it impossible to breathe. Her blood was no longer the color of red but instead a murky grey color.

It seemed as if the terrifying venom of the Dreadling had circulated through her blood, spreading all over her body in a matter of seconds.

If she were an ordinary person, she would have died long ago for sure. The only reason she was still alive was that she was a quasi-Defier.

"Ina, no! Stay with us!" Nena sobbed as she cried out, grasping Ina's listless hand.

She couldn't bear it to see her good friend looking so sickly and horrendous. Even though Ina appeared to be the silent type, she was Nena's close confidant who always listened to her silly and childish things.

Memories of Ina's soft smile at her pranks and jokes flashed in Nena's mind, making her let out even more tears.

"Ina, don't worry! Everything is alright now!" Alv said in a comforting tone while trying his best to think optimistically. However, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel angry at Bari, his own brother, for leading the Dreadling towards the oblivious Ina, who was trying to save Silvi.

He knew Ina could have escaped with the injured Silv if it weren't for Bari rushing towards her.

"Oh shit! Go call a Healifer, Alv!" Cayden shouted out to Alv, who still was trying to process Ina's condition in his mind, just like Nena. He and the others had grown up together with Ina, sharing laughter and happiness.

But now, their friend couldn't even respond to their voice or even see them. They could feel her life slipping away as seconds passed.

Alv hesitatingly got up, forgetting about his axe on the ground, and ran since he knew he had to find a Healifer as fast as possible unless he wanted Ina to meet a fate he dared not to imagine.

Cayden was feeling no different from them. But he still had a little more hold over his emotions and was able to think of what to do next.

He turned around to look at the semi-unconscious Silvi, "I will take a look at Silvi. Nena, stay with Ina!" Cayden said in a hurried tone as he hesitatingly got up and moved towards Silvi.

He knew Ina's condition was way more serious than Silvi's. But he also knew he was helpless to help her out in any way and instead wanted to try his best not to let Silvi's condition worsen as well.

Thinking about the worst case, he didn't want to lose two of the friends he grew up with. He had to make sure to save both if he could. And now he was feeling a bit relieved, seeing that Silvi could still be saved even if she got late treatment.

"Silvi, are you alright? Can you hear me?" Cayden said with a pained gaze as he looked at her ruined right arm, which had turned black in color; her skin melted away, reaching till her bones.

Still, her breathing and pulse were way better than Ina, and Cayden was sure Silvi could surely be saved though he had no idea if her right arm could be saved.

"Noo!! Ina!!...Don't close your eyes!...Wake up! C-Cayden!..." Nena choked as she wept, seeing Ina close her eyes.

Cayden was shocked hearing Nena's sobs and quickly moved back over to Ina and examined her, only to collapse backward with an empty stare.

Nena was surprised at Cayden falling backward and asked confusedly, holding back her worst thoughts, "C-Cayden?"

After a few moments of silence, Cayden said in a shaky voice while closing his eyes, "S-She is de…gone..."