Tunnel System (Part 3)

Amaya was thrown against a wall, a giant hand wrapped around her neck.

"I said. You are Human?" The Gnoll asked.

Again, Amaya didn't pay attention to its words. She was still in shock by the whole situation.

'I can't stand it…. My bad luck… it never goes away. Sally and Ham are dead because of me…'

Tears flooded her eyes, pouring down her cheek. Her mind and soul erupted with emotions. Despair, sadness, and anger.

"I hate THIS!! I'm DONE!! I'm DONE with it ALL!"

Amaya grabbed her blade and shoved it through the Gnoll's eye.

ShanK!

Its large figure nearly fell off its center of gravity. The Gnoll stumbled around, holding its bloody eye-socket in agony.

A dark shadow enveloped Amaya's face as she dashed forward.

The same thoughts repeated over in her mind.

'I'm done. I'm done. Im' done. I hate this. I hate this! I HATE THIS BAD LUCK!!'

Her blade pierced into Gnoll's thigh, then she smashed her palm against its face.

Slam!

The beast tried to strike her down, randomly swinging its arm, but Amaya dodged around it each time.

She was beginning to feel less like herself. Almost like she was running on pure instincts. Without fear.

Sensing an invisible force come her way, Amaya swiftly side-stepped it.

The wall nearby was violently ripped apart, aggressive enough to destroy a car.

CrackL!

[Analyze: Gnoll Has Depleted All Mana]

'Now you're mine.' Amaya thought with anger.

She stepped into range, and repeatedly struck at the Gnolls chest.

Her attacks formed many different patterns, and all were powerful.

At the very end of her furious combo, she bashed her heel within Gnoll's face. Knocking it prone, dazed and confused.

It was then that Amaya came back to her senses.

'What did I just do? My body sort of moved on its own.'

During all that, It felt like her mind overcame its emotional limitations.

Allowing her to effectively use her martial arts.

The Gnoll began trying to get rise back up, but struggled due to the sword stuck in its thigh.

Amaya shot forward a wicked glare.

"Oh no you don't."

A one handed-shove, she knocked the monster back down.

She aggressively yanked her blade from its leg, then held it into the air.

This was for Sally and Ham.

Though Amaya's bond with them wasn't close she could tell that we were good people.

For killing them, this Gnoll couldn't be forgiven.

A single overhead slash comedown, splitting its face apart.

Shank! Splatter!

Amaya huffed, still holding her shwortsword tightly. She gazed over her dead monster's body. The pink brain matter was visible through the it's broken skull, blood pouring out.

This didn't affect Amaya conscious in the slightest. It was well deserved.

[ New Skill Learned: Rage ]

[ New Skill Learned: Burst ]

[ Leveled Up ]

Her eyes looked over the bodies of her fallen party members.

Though it was too late for the dead, it wasn't too late for Jack.

He was still breathing, resisting the poison as much as he could.

Amaya spoke, even if he couldn't hear her.

"At the very least. I'll try to save you."

Swoosh!

"GAh!" Amaya choked as an unseen force wrapped around her. Squeezing tighter by the second.

Another Elder Gnoll had revealed itself.

Speaking with rage. Growling.

"Hooman! No Hooman enters our home and lives. Dead, you are."

The force increased, slowly causing Amaya's bones to crackle.

CrackL!

Her painful groans filled the tunnel, all while she waited to become mush.

'Of course!!Of COURSE!! Another one just had to..show up.'

There was no way out this time. She was at the end of her story.

At least she thought so.

Swip!

There was a sudden slash through air, followed by a silver stream of light.

It was done so gracefully, that it wasn't clear what happened at first.

A second or two passed, then a wound appeared around the Gnoll's neck.

Its head rolled off while its body dropped with a thumb.

Thump!

Standing near it was a familiar person. Wearing a gray coat and a knight's helmet.

Kastu. Or rather, The Swordsman of Vengeance.

He assessed the situation fast, without being told anything.

"2 dead. 1 poisoned, near death."

His hand pulled a vile from his bag, containing an antidote.

He rushed over to Jack's side and forced the liquid into his mouth.

It would be hours till Jack regained consciousness.

However, he was stable now.

Kastu looked at the white-haired girl near him. Instantly, he recalled who she was.

"We've met before. I assume your party didn't know about the Elder Gnolls. I don't blame them. I didn't know either."

It was unfortunate that B-ranks had to face these monsters. Sometimes, things happen. Nothing could change that.

Katsu carried Jack over his arm, and continued what he had to say.

"It's a dangerous Job. Being an adventurer. I'm sure you know this. So why would you, a D-rank come down here."

Though, Amaya didn't know what he was getting into when she accepted the quest..

"Well… I was told by the guid lady that it was rate slaying. I thought it was going to be simple. I guess I was wrong."

She looked at the ground, saddened by the way things turned out.

"Rat slaying? That's strange. I can't think of a reason why the guild lady would lie." Katsu stated.

And it couldn't have just been wrong information.

This quest was the talk of the guild for a while. Many adventurers were going missing in these tunnels.

Focusing on the current problem at hand, Katsu shook his head.

"I'll Look into it later. Right now, I have things to do. I'll be heading back to the surface."

Katsu gestured at the guy who he was carrying, "And I'll make sure this guy is seen by the guild's healer."

"What about the bodies?" Amaya asked.

It wouldn't be morally right to leave Sally and Ham to rot down here.

Katsu didn't seem to bat an eye. Not even a second.

"They're already dead. Not my problem."

A cold answer.

He may have been the one who saved her, but Amaya hated his heartless words. It sort of struck anger inside her, but she kept quiet.

'But…They were once living people too. How could you just ignore them?' she thought to herself.