43-Not the calm before the storm
“Fucking piece of shit!”
I cursed as I rolled on the ground. Fucking snow got on my back! I threw the wolf-shark on top of me and I put my spear through it.
(You acquired the passive personal skill Spear Mastery.)
(Your records are being added.)
(Passive skill Spear Mastery ranked up to C rank.)
I pressed its corpse and pulled my spear free.
“Okay. 50 more to go.”
The huge one jumped around, slamming its body to the ground. The impact caused by it nearly threw me off my balance but wolf-sharks were unaffected. Good for them. Bad for us. Someone shouted but I couldn’t tell who because the big one kept slamming its body to the ground. Every slam made thunderous sounds. My ears were ringing and I was used to gunshots for fuck’s sake!
“Behind you!”
I could barely make out what Blanche shouted to me before meeting with the gaze of a shark-wolf. It was in the air, leaping to my head with its jaws full open.
“Fuck off!”
I stepped to the side. I put my index and middle finger through its nose holes while grabbing its body with my other arm. I suplexed it to the ground. Some of the ground was snow-free due to the magic cast and the big one throwing it everywhere. Its body hit the ground. Even with all the noise around me, I was able to hear its spine snapping into two. Another one tried to leap on top of me, only for me to split its stomach open. Its internal organs and blood covered me. I pushed it off me and stumbled on my feet.
“Poyraz!”
I felt Blanche’s arms wrap around me.
“Wait, what?”
“Aim for its eye!”
“Ahhhhhhh!”
She actually threw me! To the fucking air! I was at least 10 meters high in the air! How I am supposed to land? Goddamnit! I managed to fix my body position and stab the big one in the eye.
(Tyranny of King is activated. Your strength increases by 5 for 1 minute.)
Thanks to giving it a big wound, the opinion of my sword was activated. Thankfully so since the creature jumped into the air. It was hard to stay on its head and not fall. If I fell, I would definitely get crushed under its weight. That’s why I hang on for my dear life.
(Skill Duration: 1 minute, 11 seconds.)
I grabbed my sword to support myself while I stabbed its eye with my spear, digging deeper. Beast roared and wriggled around. I got covered with more and more blood as I mauled it deeper. I wasn’t the only one attacking, of course. Damage piled up on the creature as time went on.
“Roar of the Northern Storm!”
I saw Duncan fly toward the creature’s rear. His axes were burned with a green light. Just looking at it I could tell that it wasn’t magic. It wasn’t just mana covering his weapon too. Both his mana and body moved purposely, in unison. The impact caused by his attack was so great that it nearly cut the creature’s tail into two. However, because of that my sword came undone and I lost my balance. I fell from its back as the creature rolled around in pain.
“Oh, fuck.”
I could only mutter that. If I fell like this I would definitely get crushed by the creature while it rolled on the ground. Thankfully, a similar bolt of lightning was there to grab me.
“Yey! My savior!”
Blanche grabbed me in the air. Creating ice blocks to step on the air she both blocked the stone shards flying into the air by the creature’s movements and also managed to get away from the creature and landed on the ground. Because of her fast movement, she couldn’t stop and slid on the snow. I don’t know how she didn’t fall with me in her arms and the high heels she wore but it was FUCKING AMAZING!
“You really saved my skin there.”
I said as I tried to get off. But her grip on me was strong.
“Blanche? I am fin-Agh!”
Her fingers dug deep into my arm. I looked at her face. A blue light, the same color as her mana came out of her eyes. Not only that but her face was twisted with what I could best describe as “anger”. Her breathing was ragged. While I could easily understand that because we were fighting, it didn’t feel like it because she was tired. It was the breathing of someone that couldn’t contain their emotions.
“Blanche! Your magic-“
She didn’t react. She just looked forward. Or I think she looked forward since I couldn’t see her eyes. The ice slowly started to cover where she held me. I looked down and saw her arm shine. The arm she showed me. The arm that was covered with her crest. Shit. This is not the time for observation! I have to think of something fast.
“Blanche Silverfox! Why are you losing your focus in a battlefield! Aren’t you ashamed of your family name? Contain yourself!”
I used my drill sergeant voice. I shouted in her ear.
“Okay, that didn’t work. Drastic times call for drastic measures.”
I freed my arm. It was painful and I was sure I left a huge chunk of skin behind. I pulled my arm back and bitch slapped her as fast as I could. A loud smack noise filled my ears as I looked at Blanche with fear and hope.
“What?”
She weakly stumbled. Her grip loosened and I threw myself to the ground. She held her cheek and looked at me. She looked confused.
“Blanche! Can you move? Can you fight?”
“I…”
Her speech was slurred. Her eyes looked empty. I grabbed her.
“Okay, I can’t carry you with princess carry as you did to me.”
I threw her to my shoulders. I was used to carrying wounded comrades. My eyes searched for Agatha. When it comes to healing she should know better than me.
“Blanche, stay with me. Don’t fall asleep!”
I didn’t know if she hit her head or if this was related to magic. I didn’t notice any wounds on her head or neck but there could be something I missed. Still, it was better she was awake.
(Duration ended. Your strength will be decreased by 10 percent for the next 4 minutes and 30 seconds.)
I nearly fell to the ground when my buff ended like that. But I didn’t and I moved to where the rest of the group was.
(You conquered the seventh floor of Wolf King’s Tomb. You can pass the second floor without battle next time you visit here.)
(You carry mana compatible with this dungeon. All stats increases by 1.)
The huge one stopped moving. They must have killed it. I moved as fast as I could.
“You are oka- What happened?”
Percavel asked when he saw me. He actually looked worried.
“I don’t know. Madam, please.”
I said as I put down Blanche to the ground. Agatha came to check on her. While I was looking at her, I noticed Duncan in corner of my eye. He was looking at the chest boss dropped.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing? Our expedition leader is wounded and you are worried about loot? Also, Blanche should be the one looking at it and distributing it!”
Duncan looked annoyed as he raised his head and looked at me. I was used to him looking at me like that.
“Shut the fuck up, ass licker.”
Just with that, he turned his attention to loot again. That fucking asshole.
“Ass licker? Can’t you at least try to look like you care about your team, you ass!?”
“Why I should care about you guys? You are just a clown trying to be rich by licking her ass. That tin man is just a wandering knight and that old bitch is a zealot. Lastly, that woman! If it wasn’t for her grandfather I wouldn’t be here with you idiots!”
I turned around to check on Blanche.
“Yeah, put your tail between your legs and run to your owner.”
I grit my teeth.
“Well, at least some of us have a sense of loyalty.”
God, I sounded stupid. I noticed that the moment those words left my mouth. I was a fucking spy and I talked about loyalty.
“A stray dog’s loyalty can be gained easily.”
I didn’t turn around. Percavel put his hand on my shoulder. I gave him a tired look.
“How is she?”
I asked Agatha but Blanche answered me:
“I am fine. Just dizzy. One of the flying rocks must hit me while saving you.”
She didn’t look fine. Also, I didn’t think her “My eyes are filled with magic!” form was caused by a rock. I moved closer and whispered:
“You can lean on me.”
“I know.”
She said as she gave a smile. She stood up. I was ready to catch her if she fell but she seemed strong.
“Duncan. I am pretty sure I told you to not move without my orders.”
Duncan raised his head and locked eyes with Blanche.
“I am not doing anything.”
“You should know that as your employer I have the ownership of every loot. Or is your dungeon veteran title just for show?”
Duncan stood up.
“One day that Geass will end. Watch your back after that.”
Despite the threat, Blanche stood tall and looked directly at Duncan.