The battle reignited the moment the woman's fireballs left her hands.
Twin orbs of blazing heat shot toward me, their glow casting flickering shadows against the cavern walls. The air warped around them, waves of heat lashing against my skin.
I ducked.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted behind me, dust and debris scattering into the air. The heat seared my back, sweat trickling down my spine as I rolled forward, using the momentum to push myself upright.
No time to recover—
SWISH—
I barely had a second to react before something whistled through the air toward me.
A spear.
I twisted—
SHNK!
Too slow. The tip grazed my arm, a biting cold sensation blooming at the wound instead of pain.
I glanced down—
Ice.
A thin layer of frost spread outward from the cut, numbing the skin around it. I flexed my fingers, feeling sluggishness seep into my movements.
'That's… not good.'
Magic and of course the first time I saw it, was when it was used against me. I mean that demonic maid did use it when cleaning but that didn't exactly count. Besides…
I needed space.
They were watching me now. Their stance had shifted, more cautious, more alert. They weren't underestimating me anymore.
I bolted.
The chill of the cavern air turned sharp as I burst into the open, boots skidding against the rough ground.
And then, silence.
The town stretched before me, an eerie ghost of a settlement. Wooden houses stood in neat rows, their windows shut, doors locked. No lanterns flickered behind the glass.
It felt abandoned.
Like an empty stage, waiting for something to fill the void.
A lump formed in my throat. Something was wrong with this place. I controlled my urge to use that town as cover, citizens might be there or not?
'Who exactly cares? I surely don't.'
But I didn't have time to dwell on it.
BAM!
Another fireball exploded against the rocky ground, embers crackling in the dry air. I cursed under my breath, dodging the lingering heat.
No cover.
No obstacles.
Just an open field beneath an ominous, starless sky.
I exhaled sharply. Not ideal.
SWING—
Another spear came hurtling toward me, wreathed in crackling white light.
I pivoted—
CRASH!
The weapon struck the ground where I stood a second ago, instantly freezing the earth upon impact. A jagged mound of ice formed, mist curling off its surface.
I let out a dry chuckle.
'Alright, I'll admit… that's kinda cool.'
Then—
A feeling.
A pulse in my gut.
Instincts screamed at me.
SWOOSH!
I turned just in time to see the blonde archer burst out of the ground—like a damn zombie rising from a grave.
His bow was already drawn, an arrow gleaming between his fingers.
Persistent.
I twisted, shifting my weight—
THWACK!
My heel slammed into his stomach.
A strangled gasp left his lips as he crashed backward, rolling across the dirt like a ragdoll.
I barely had a second to breathe before—
WHISH!
A spear came flying toward my head.
I ducked.
But instead of throwing it, the giant man held onto it, using the momentum to close the distance between us.
He was fast.
Too fast for someone his size.
His spear thrusted forward—aiming for my gut.
I twisted, narrowly avoiding the tip—only for him to spin the weapon in his grip and slam the blunt end against my ribs.
A sharp pain shot through my side.
I stumbled back, coughing.
The woman was already moving.
She raised her hands, summoning another fireball—larger this time.
It roared to life in her palms, heat distorting the air around her.
If I took that hit, it wouldn't just burn—it would incinerate.
No choice.
I blurred forward and dodged.
Her eyes widened in surprise, she stood stagnated.
'Rookie mistake'
[ System: You aren't even an amateur. ]
[ ತ_ತ ]
I hallucinated system talking.
'Damn, I need therapy.'
[ (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ ]
Using the opportunity. I grabbed her wrist—
And yanked.
CRACK!
A sharp, sickening noise filled the air.
Then—
A scream.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Her voice pierced the silence, raw and agonized. The fireball flickered out, her fingers spasming uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down her face, her expression twisting in pain, rage, and finally—fear.
The giant froze.
His grip on his spear tightened.
His breathing grew ragged.
His expression twisted into something primal.
I could see it—he had lost all reasoning.
A thought crossed my mind.
'Are they the good guys?'
It didn't matter.
Right now, they were trying to kill me.
I shoved the woman aside.
She collapsed onto the dirt, her cries hitching into silence.
The giant roared and charged, his entire body a battering ram of pure rage.
I dodged.
But he kept coming.
Again.
And again.
He wasn't stopping.
I exhaled.
'Fine.'
I dropped, bracing my hands against the ground, pushing off into a handstand.
Then—
THWACK!
A kick straight to the jaw from below.
He staggered.
I didn't let him recover.
I jumped onto him.
His body collapsed, hitting the ground with a resounding THUD.
I straddled his chest, grabbed the collar of his clothes—
And started swinging.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Knuckle met bone. Again. Again.
Blood splattered. It streaked across my skin—warm, wet, sticky. It clung to my cheek, my forehead, my nose.
The ground beneath us cracked from the sheer force.
And still, I didn't stop.
Not until—
A hand grabbed my wrist.
Blondie.
His face was wrecked—tear-streaked, dirt-smeared, snot-dripping.
But he still clung to my arm. Trembling.
I headbutted him.
THUD.
He stumbled back, landing hard, sucking in ragged breaths.
But even then—
Even through his fear—
He held his bow, arrow nocked.
Not shaking.
Not lowering.
His black eyes burned with sheer determination.
I stared at him.
'Interesting… They're the good guys.'
The tension in my muscles eased slightly. I exhaled, crossing my arms.
"Blondie," I said, voice calm now. "Why were you guys attacking me?"
His breath hitched.
He glanced at his unconscious allies—his hands tightening around his bow.
Then, hesitantly, he spoke.
"We… we were paranoid." His voice was raw. "This place messes with your mind. When you snuck up on us, we thought you were an intruder."
I nodded slowly. Makes sense.
"So… it was all a misunderstanding."
He nodded quickly, desperate.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
'Shit.'
"I hurt your friends pretty bad." My eyes flicked toward their battered, unmoving forms. "You got anything to treat them?"
Blondie hesitated.
But seeing that I wasn't attacking anymore, he finally, finally lowered his bow.
"…Yeah."
'Good.'
Because after all that?
I needed a damn break.