CHAPTER 5: New Team Member.

We all jumped to different places as we avoid an attack coming from a monster that looks like a horse, but with a wolf head with three eyes.

These monsters are starting to move faster as the time decreases. Was their movements earlier a trap to let us think that it's their actual speed? The one controlling this quest and these monsters is quite intelligent, and infuriating. 

"Are you all right?" The three of them nod their head as we all stand up again and continue running. Now, the monsters are aimlessly attacking when it couldn't hit any of us.

What's...devastating right now is...

Because I also upgraded my senses. I can hear a lot of people screaming, the sounds of bones shattering...the sound of human flesh getting ripped up...the cracks of those screaming voices, that hints the pain and agony they're experiencing. I...can't even do something for those people even though I can hear their pained voices...the smell of the blood, it reeks...

My stomach hurts like hell with every screams...was it actually a good thing that I upgraded my senses?

"Bleugh--*cough cough* bwuaah--" I felt my knees getting weaker and I'm getting goosebumps all over my body, a chills run down my spine. I've been hearing those sounds, and as the time decreases...the more I hear. I almost fell on the ground because of this knees that seems to be giving up now, good thing Damon and Ai were just in time to grab my arms. 

"Luck! Are you okay? Are you tired? We can rest!" Ethan spoke while kneeling in front of me. Ai caress my back as she stare at me. A sudden change for this shy girl. I know they're all worried but...this is not a good time to rest. 

The time is still at 6:19 minutes. And the monsters are already moving quickly than their speed earlier when the game has just started. Unlike earlier when they looked like they're in slow-mo, their movements right now is reaching the normal speed.

And we've been running while avoiding them too. This is not easy. I'm really glad I caught on the notification's hint earlier about how this quest is going to play out. 

"No...I'm fine. It's just...no---it's nothing..." I clenched on my chest as I try to take a deep breath. We can't stay here for a long time, so I need to keep myself together. 

"Let's go. The monsters are moving faster as the timer go down," I forced myself to stand up as I grit my teeth. I can't unhear all those screams coming from different areas. 

"Are you sure? You seem..." Damon didn't finish his words when I shook my head. I can't be a burden to these people. Especially when the monsters are becoming more ferocious in every seconds. 

"It's fine. We can't delay any seconds, we have to move...those monsters are becoming more and more dangerous," I started running again, I can even tell that they exchanged looks before they followed me. This senses stat is amazing. 

Besides the fact that I can hear everything, the other five senses I have are functioning really well. I can feel what's happening to my own surrounding as if I have more than two eyes, I can smell...the metal and rusty smell of the blood. I can see a great distance. It's dang amazing, but it's because I upgraded this that I'm struggling right now. 

"Are we still going to the tower?" Ethan asked. It looks like they still can't see the tower I am seeing right now. Is it actually that far? Then...this senses really is helpful. 

"How are your senses?" I asked. 

"Senses...hm, status window. Oh, it's 541," I creased my forehead as I turn my head to Damon. Is he serious? How come mine was 1690 as its base? Is it because of my experiences as a street fighter? Still, Damon got high stats excepts senses? That doesn't make any sense.

"Uhh...321," Ai answered. 

"422..." How come the differences is so dang high? Tsk, I should've told them to upgrade their senses as well...but, I'm glad I didn't, otherwise the four of us would be busy throwing up by hearing all these sounds...

I can still feel my stomach twisting. But, I can't be a bother to these four. 

"I-I wonder what's the deal of this place..." Ai asked. And her question makes sense because this tower just gave us a quest without explaining anything at all.

"It just appeared out of nowhere, and this is wha---" we all jumped away from each other to avoid a monster attack as we all continued running.

"And this is what it do to us right after we entered...!" Ethan spoke. We have no idea about this tower at all, and the very reason why we are inside this tower in the first place is to investigate its secrets.

"Maybe we'll get an explanation after this quest?" Damon asked. Of course we're not sure about that.

My headhurts like hell. It's not because I'm tired or exhausted with all the running, but because of the sounds, smells, and strange feelings I've been feeling ever since I upgraded this dang senses. It feels like my skin are getting tingly everytime I smell that reeking smell of blood.

"Luck, are you alright?" Damon asked. I nod my head right away to answer his question.

I tried breathing with my mouth but--

"Bleghh--"

"Luck!" I stopped running and so does the four of them. I crouched down to the tall grasses to hide, dragging Ai and Ethan with me to avoid the gazes of the monsters.

"Wha--what's happening to you...? You've been..." Ai paused.

I covered my mouth as I feel tears at the edge of my eyes. That was a wrong move, a wrong move. I shouldn't have tried breathing with my mouth--I felt like I tasted a metallic taste because of the smell of the blood that's been lingering all over this places.

My tongue hurts...no, it feels kinda rough--no, I don't know.

"Bwuaah--bleghh...!" My eyes widens as I run a bit far from the four people.

"Luck..."

I can't stop myself from throwing up now. I've been keeping myself from this, but that metallic taste triggered it. I shouldn't have tried that, why am I so stupid.

My vision gets blurry as I continue throwing up. I felt a hand on my back, caressing it.

"Luck, tell us the truth. Do you feel exhausted after all?" Ethan asked, handing me a handkerchief. I accepted it and wiped the edges of my mouth.

"No...I'm not exhausted. This is due to a different reason. Let's get moving..." I turned around and walk towards where Damon and Ai are left behind.

"Luck, if you're not feeling well we can always--"

My eyes widens as I saw something behind Damon and Ai--no, how did it...

"Watch out!" I and Ethan run towards the two of them when suddenly, a monster appeared behind them as if it was transported there!

When I reached Damon, I quickly throw myself to him and forced to roll around to avoid the swing of the mosnter's limb. Ethan and Ai were able to dodge it as well.

"Run--continue running!" I yelled. But, when we continued running, this monster who has the body of a dinosaur and a chicken head started following us!

"Shit, it's following us!" Damon yelled.

All this time, we were able to avoid the sights of the monsters. But, this one...

"How did it suddenly appeared there!?" Ethan sways the tall grasses as he run.

I never felt its presence at all. It just suddenly appeared behind them...are the monsters teleported in different places every few minutes? But I haven't heard anything that can confirm that thought.

My head hurts, dang it.

"We won't be able to answer nonsensical things...just keep running until we reach that tower!" I replied, pointing to the tower ahead of us. It looks so close now.

"That tower...I see it now. But why is there another tower inside this tower?" Damon asked. I shrugged my shoulders.

"T-Tantan--no, Damon! Jump left!" Ai yelled, Damon quickly did what Ai said without hesitation and we were all surprised to find out the reason of her sudden raise of voice.

The monster attacked Damon. And the grasses where it's saliva landed melted right away.

"What the fu--that was freaking dangerous! An acid?! Thanks, Ai!"

"Uh...hng!" She smiled and nod her head.

"Nice job, Ai," I spoke. She turned her had to me, and when we had eye contact her eyes widens as her face lit up.

"Thank you!" She suddenly becomes energetic?

"Anyway. This monster isn't planning to let us go...so we should--"

"Oraaaahhhhh!"

The four of us were startled when we heard a voice coming from behind us--no, behind the monster? And wait, that voice was so familiar. 

Amethyst ran behind Damon and Ethan as we all watch someone punch the huge monster that's chasing us. She punched it on top of its head? And that's the white-haired lady earlier!?

When her hit landed the monster, its head was smashed on the ground and my eyes widened when I saw the life bar of it quickly decreasing to zero. How the heck--

"Hmph," The white haired lady flipped her hair and cross her arms as she looks at us.

But we can't react at all. How the heck did she managed to kill that high-level monster? She's only at level 5, right?

"What? No thank you's? Words of gratitude? Hmm...how strange. Lupin said that saving people gets me thanks you's..." Did she really just killed a monster that's way more stronger than her...?

"H-h-how!?" Damon's reaction can interpret our reactions as well. That's what I wanted to react.

"Hmm? How? I punched it? Anyway, you really are liar, Evander, you too black hair. You said we won't be able to defeat it, but I just did," Yeah..that's the stranger part here.

"What's your level?" Ethan asked.

"Level five, obviously," the one who questioned her looks beyond confused.

"Your strength is?" I asked.

She stared at me for a couple of time before she faces in front of her.

"Status window...oh, it's 7203," Wow, she's quit strong. Even stronger than me.

"Huh!? That's not even half my strength!" Damon reacted.

"W-w-w...what..." Ai can't speak all of the sudden.

"Your base strength, what was it?" Ethan was the one who finished Ai's question. 

"Hmm, I forgot, but it was around five thousands?" Seriously...? I mean, Ethan did said that her strength was unusual. But, are you for real? Around five thousand? This person is stronger than me. 

"Why is that? Your reactions don't have the description that Lupin mentioned," She's been mentioning this Lupin ever since earlier. And she's really weird.

"Ahh, by the way, thank you Miss...?" I asked. She faced me and then blinked for a couple of times, and then her face lit up.

"Blache! Blache Ivery Aesira!" She stretched her hand in front of me with a wide smile on her face. She seems really happy when I asked her name, so I accepted her hand.

"Wow...Lupin's right! If I help someone, they'll become my friend!" Oh, so we're friends now? That easy?

"What's your name?" She asked, not even letting go of my hand.

"Luck Aster," I answered. She gasped and her reaction's really strange.

"I see, well hi there, Luck! Let's work together!" And then she continued shaking my hand

Work together? All of a sudden? Well, I guess it won't hurt to try?

"Sure..." I mumbled, Damon, Ethan, and Ai also nod their heads. I know they know that having this lady with us increases our chances of living, so we're accepting her.

***