Kier didn't hesitate. He couldn't hesitate.But that didn't mean he wanted to do this.
"Blood Breath—" The words stuck in his throat. He knew what came next. The searing heat. The way his body rebelled against it. The momentary surge of power, always followed by the crushing price. But it wasn't the price of his body he was worried about. No, it was about the people that seemed to despise him because of it.
Even so, he clenched his jaw. He had no choice."Crimson Surge."
He inhaled sharply as he ran, forcing his blood to obey. The veins in his legs pulsed an ominous crimson, power igniting in his muscles. Pain seared through them, a warning he barely acknowledged.Then he launched himself forward.The corridor blurred past.
He rounded the corner into a wide chamber, mist curling at his feet. Bioluminescent blue mushrooms clung to the damp walls, casting eerie light across the carnage.
A boy, no older than eighteen, lay crumpled in a pool of his own blood. His arm was gone. His body convulsed, breath coming in short, ragged gasps. Behind him, a girl with a staff trembled so hard she could barely stand. Another girl, slightly older, clamped a hand over her mouth, frozen in horror.And looming over them, A monster. A hulking figure of shadow, its black claws glistening with fresh blood. It raised an arm to strike the fallen boy.
Kier's body screamed at him to move, but doubt dug into his mind like barbed wire.
"Even if I save them, they'll just look at me like im the monster. Its the same story every time."
But if he hesitated—The beast's claw descended."No time."
Kier surged forward, blood burning in his veins as he slammed his axe into the monster's attack.
CLANG!
The impact rattled his bones. Sparks flew as steel met claws, the force nearly buckling his knees.It was strong. Stronger than him.The Ravager pressed down, raw power threatening to crush him. Kier's grip trembled. His muscles screamed."I can't hold it back."
"No!"
With a fierce cry, he forced more blood into his arms. His vision flickered at the edges, but the surge gave him just enough strength to shove the monster away.
The Ravager stumbled back, landing in the ankle-high mist.Kier exhaled sharply, repositioning himself between the beast and the boy. His hands trembled on his axe. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.The Ravager.
It shouldn't be here. This monster only appeared on floors seventeen and eighteen. But here it stood, on the ninth floor, glowing molten eyes locked onto him.
Something was wrong.
He forced the thought aside. There were more pressing matters, like keeping everyone alive.
He quickly pulled out the vial Brundar had given him and splashed it over the boy, silently thanking the dwarf. The boy's bleeding slowed significantly, but it wasn't enough.
"Veyla." His voice came out rough. "Stop his bleeding. Get them out of here."
Veyla hesitated for only a second before darting to the injured boy. Kier heard the searing of flesh as she cauterized the wound. The boy's strangled cry made his stomach twist.
The two girls flinched as Kier turned to them. "Get him out of here. My spirit will handle any threats."
They barely hesitated before scrambling to help the wounded boy, hoisting him between them. He was still shaking. Still crying. Kier didn't watch them leave. He couldn't afford to.His focus remained on the Ravager.
It exhaled, mist swirling from its maw. The air grew thick with the scent of scorched metal and blood.Kier swallowed hard. He was still feeling the strain from that last surge. His blood magic wasn't unlimited, every second he used it drained him further. He had to be smart.
The Ravager lunged, its claws slashing with terrifying speed. Kier barely managed to sidestep, the tip of one claw grazing across his shoulder, sending a hot flash of pain through his body. He bit down on a groan, fighting to maintain control.
"Can't let it get close again." He muttered under his breath, his pulse hammering in his ears.
The Ravager was relentless, its movements blurring as it closed in again. It charged, faster than before, forcing Kier to dodge to the side. His legs screamed in protest, his body straining against the constant pressure. He felt the rush of blood magic within him, but it wasn't enough to slow the creature's savage onslaught. One of its claws raked across his chest, leaving a deep, burning wound. The sting was excruciating, and the blood was already starting to soak through his tunic.He staggered back, but the Ravager was already on top of him. Kier cursed, his pulse hammering against his ribs. The tunnel walls, lined with eerie blue roots pulsing faintly like veins beneath stone, seemed to close in around him. The air was thick with the damp scent of earth and something more acrid, the lingering stench of decay clinging to the Ravager's mangy fur.
"Flame Lash!"
Fire erupted from his outstretched hand, the tendrils of flame twisting like serpents as they lashed toward the beast. The impact sent a burst of embers dancing through the gloom, scorching deep, black lines across the Ravager's side. But instead of recoiling, the creature roared, a guttural, bone-rattling sound that made the tunnel tremble. Its crimson eyes, burning like embers, locked onto him with renewed fury.It lunged.Kier barely dodged, twisting aside as jagged claws carved through the thick blue roots clinging to the walls. A sharp, wet ripping sound filled the air as the severed roots oozed a luminescent sap, the liquid dripping onto the cracked stone floor. But the Ravager's momentum carried through, the beast pivoted, its thick tail whipping around like a battering ram.
"Shit!"
Kier threw up his arm, instinct taking over. His blood answered the call. A deep crimson dagger, small but impossibly dense, solidified along his wrist from the red sash wrapped there.
CLASH!
Sparks erupted as claw met steel. The sheer force sent a jarring vibration up his arm, nearly tearing the weapon from his grasp. The side-swipe threw him off balance, his boots skidding against the uneven stone. Before he could recover—THUD!
"GUHK!"
A crushing knee slammed into his stomach, driving the breath from his lungs. The world blurred, his vision darkening at the edges as pain exploded through his ribs. The impact launched him upward, his body lifting helplessly, only for two massive fists to hammer down in unison.
BOOM!
Kier's body was driven straight into the ground. The impact sent deep cracks racing through the dungeon floor, tiny shards of stone breaking loose around him. His mind reeled, barely processing the sensation before another blow came. A brutal kick, faster than he could react to.
SHATTER!
Something metallic gave way with a sickening crunch as the force blasted him backward. He slammed into the tunnel wall, hard enough to send fractures spiderwebbing through the rock. The blue veins of roots quivered from the force, a few snapping loose and draping over his slumped form.
Blood dripped from his skull, warm and thick, staining his white hair crimson. His breath came in ragged gasps, his body screaming in protest. His face was hidden by the angle of his posture, his chin dipped, his vision swimming.
The Ravager exhaled, its breath hot and reeking of raw meat. It stepped forward, slow and deliberate, claws scraping against stone.Kier's fingers twitched.He wasn't done yet.
"Dammit…" he hissed under his breath, blood dripping down his face, mixing with the dirt. His blood magic felt weak, strained, but fire, fire he could still control. He dragged his trembling hands together, trying to call the flames to his fingertips.
The Ravager didn't pause. It didn't slow down. The beast was already charging again, its molten eyes burning brighter with rage.
"No choice," Kier muttered through clenched teeth. His blood boiled beneath his skin as the fire inside of him began to surge. He held out his hand, the familiar pull of flame building at his fingertips. "Flame Lash!" The tendrils of fire shot from his hands, streaking toward the monster.But the Ravager leapt forward, its claws coming down with terrifying speed, meeting the fire mid-air with a brutal swipe. The flames flickered out, and the monster surged forward like an unstoppable juggernaut. Kier barely had time to twist away before its claws raked across his side, leaving another deep, burning gash in its wake.
Pain ripped through him, but he couldn't afford to slow down. His body was on the edge of collapse, but there was no retreating now.
"Flame Blast!" He thrust his palm forward, unleashing a blast of fiery energy, the force of it crackling through the air. The Ravager staggered back, but only for a moment. Its molten eyes glowed brighter, its claws now sweeping through the air with even more speed.
Kier staggered to his feet, his breath ragged, chest heaving. He felt the fire building again, pushing through the exhaustion and pain, urging him on."Flame Lash! Flame Lash!" He shouted, his voice raw. The fiery tendrils lashed out again, striking the Ravager in quick succession. Each strike landed with a sizzling sound, but the monster wasn't slowed. The Ravager's claws cut through the air with renewed fury, each swipe faster than the last.It was relentless. It wasn't just attacking, it was hunting.
Kier dodged, but the Ravager's claws found their mark again, cutting into his chest, drawing another scream of pain from his lungs. He barely kept his footing, his legs shaking beneath him. The fire inside him was raging, but even that wasn't enough to keep up with the beast's speed. He couldn't let it close again.
"I'm not done yet...!" He growled, summoning every last ounce of his strength. The fiery energy exploded from him in a fiery aura, filling the space around him with heat. He raised both hands in front of him, calling on the fire spirit within. "Inferno Surge!"
A wave of pure flame erupted from him in a sweeping arc, engulfing the Ravager in a surge of intense heat. The creature screeched, its claws flailing, trying to block the fire with its massive limbs. The heat scorched the air, but the Ravager did not stop. The fire seemed to only fuel its rage, and it pushed forward through the blaze, its molten eyes fixed on Kier.
"No, no, no," Kier whispered. His body was burning, his magic running thin. He had no choice now. The only way out was to end this, now.
The beast's teeth clipped his side. Pain exploded through him as he hit the ground, rolling through the mist. He barely scrambled upright before the monster was on him again.
Swinging in a wide arc as he got up, he barely managed to block.
CLANG!
His axe caught the Ravager's claws, but the force sent him skidding backward. His boots dug trenches into the wet stone. His arms throbbed. His ribs ached."I can't keep up."
The Ravager shrieked, a sound that sent ice down his spine. It lunged again, each strike heavier than the last.
Kier blocked. He dodged. He countered when he could.But he was losing. His breaths came faster. His arms burned. The axe felt heavier with every passing second.The Ravager feinted left, then whipped its tail at him.
Kier couldn't dodge in time.
KRAK!
The impact sent him flying.His back slammed into the dungeon wall. The stone cracked. White-hot pain tore through his spine. He crumpled to the ground, coughing blood.
"Get up. Get up!"
His fingers twitched. He tried to push himself up, the Ravager loomed over him.Kier's mind spun. His vision blurred.
The monster raised a claw, ready to cleave him in two.
"MOVE!"
His blood surged, answering his desperation. Pain flared through his body as he twisted to the side, barely escaping the monster's strike. The ground split open where he had been a second ago."I can't win like this."
He could barely stand. His body was already screaming at him. But the Ravager wasn't slowing down.If he didn't end this now...it would kill them as well.
He gritted his teeth.
He inhaled, forcing fire magic through his veins. Heat flooded his muscles, mixing with the blood magic already coursing through him.
The risk was obvious. If he pushed too far, his body would break before the Ravager did.But what choice did he have?
His legs glowed crimson and orange. He focused his blood that streamed down his arm onto the axes blade, and lit it on fire. The fire magic built, reaching critical mass inside his body, and detonated.
BOOM!!
The explosion launched him forward. His axe gleamed with molten energy as he twisted midair, descending toward the monster's head.The Ravager roared, swinging a massive claw in retaliation.
Kier didn't dodge. He couldn't.He met the strike head-on.
krak-BOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber. Fire and blood erupted in a violent explosion, tearing through the Ravager's defenses like brittle glass. Kier surged forward, every muscle screaming in protest, every last ounce of his strength channeled into a single, decisive strike. His axe cleaved deep into the beast's chest, splitting its scaled armor apart with a sickening crunch.
For a fleeting moment, victory seemed within reach.
Then—
CRACK!
A massive clawed hand smashed into him like a battering ram. His vision blurred as his body was hurled backward, crashing against the cold, unyielding stone once again. The stone collapsed on impact, sending his body out the other side. His skull struck hard, the sharp sting of fresh blood seeping from the wound and trailing down the center of his face, splitting at his nose before dripping onto the ground.
His right arm was bleeding profusely, deep gashes carving into his flesh, and his left wasn't much better. His legs trembled, but when he willed them to move...nothing. His strength had bled away, drained dry by his own cursed power. His blood arts had taken their toll.
And the Ravager was still standing.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the chamber, sending a spike of dread through Kier's battered body. He forced himself to look up. The beast loomed over him, its molten eyes blazing with hunger and rage. Slobber dripped from its fanged maw, sizzling as it hit the scorched ground. Kier's axe was still wedged deep into its gut, yet the monster seemed oblivious to the wound. Its only focus was him.
"Shit… I need to get up…!"
He gritted his teeth, tried to push himself up, but his arms buckled beneath him. His body was shutting down. Darkness crept at the edges of his vision, tempting him to let go, to surrender.Was this it? Was this truly where he died?
After everything he had fought for, after clawing his way through hardship, after enduring every glare, every whisper, every rejection, would it all end here? Right after he had finally found a friend?
His chest ached, not just from the battle, but from something deeper.
Step.
Step.
Step.
The Ravager was getting closer.Kier felt something hot slip down his face, not blood, but tears.
"I… I wanted to be something…"
The words spilled from his lips, barely more than a whisper.
"I wanted to prove the world wrong…"
The world that shunned him. The people who refused to see past his blood arts, who feared him for something he could not control.
"I wanted everyone to know that someone like me… someone like me could be…"
The word caught in his throat, heavy with longing.
"A hero."
Not for the fame. Not for the riches. Not for glory.
He wanted to be a hero because he wanted to save people.
Even when the world turned its back on him, even when they spat in his direction, he still reached out, still tried to help. But so few accepted his hand. Even fewer acknowledged him for it.It hurt. Gods, it hurt.
But he never stopped.
"So why are you giving up now?"
A voice.
It cut through the darkness, strong and familiar.
Kier's breath caught.
"Get up!"
The voice rang in his mind, fierce, unyielding. "You promised me, didn't you? You promised you were going to be a hero!"
The world seemed to still.A memory surfaced, blurry at first, then clear as day.He was small again, no more than nine years old, standing beneath the golden light of a setting sun. The sky burned in hues of amber and crimson, streaked with wisps of violet clouds. The air carried the scent of wildflowers, honeysuckle, lavender, and something faintly sweet he couldn't name. Dandelion seeds floated lazily through the air like tiny stars adrift in the twilight.A woman knelt before him, her hands firm on his shoulders, her golden eyes burning with fire and conviction.
Aunt Sylphy.
The dying sunlight kissed her skin with a warm glow, accentuating the sharp, elegant lines of her face. Her long, white hair shimmered, catching the breeze as if woven from moonlight itself. A single braid, adorned with silver rings, rested over her shoulder, contrasting with the loose strands that framed her face. She wore a sleek black dress fitted for a Raider, the fabric hugging her figure yet flowing at the edges, designed for both beauty and movement. The plunging neckline was tasteful yet bold, and dark gloves covered her arms past the elbows.
Behind her, the fields stretched endlessly, painted in waves of bluebells, golden poppies, and fire lilies that swayed with the wind's gentle caress. Fireflies had begun to flicker in the dimming light, their glow soft and dreamlike. It was as if the world held its breath, caught in the moment, waiting for her words.
"You will have every right to be mad at the world," she had told him, "but never let that be an excuse. You can be someone amazing, no matter what people think of you! All you have to do is what's right." She declared that with so much conviction that even Kier as nine years old thought it was a bit much. But that was before he knew why she said these things.
He had stared up at her, eyes wide, fists clenched.
"So," She said, putting her hands to her hips. "What are you going to do?" She said a bit teasingly, a graceful smile tugging on her face.
And then, he made his promise, the promise that was his only fuel left.
"I promise...I will become the greatest hero ever!"
He had declared it with everything he had.
And he had meant it. Maybe to someone else it was a stupid dream they once had as a child. But to him, it was his life goal. To him, it was his purpose.
And now, here he was, lying in a pool of his own blood, on the verge of breaking that promise."So why give up now?" Kier's own voice echoed in his mind.
"A hero wasn't a hero because they were strong." Aunt Sylphy said to him, her voice like a guiding light in the blood-stained dungeon.
"A hero was a hero because no matter how many times they fell, they always got back up!"
Something within Kier snapped into place. A spark reignited, roaring into a wildfire that rose higher, brighter than before.
His fingers twitched. His arms trembled. He gritted his teeth and pushed.
"That's right," he thought, his breath ragged. "She was always right. She knew what I was before anyone else did… and she still stayed with me, even when my parents didn't."
His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it. He refused to stay down.His blood surged, burning like liquid fire through his veins.
He slammed his palms against the ground.
And he pushed.
"I will not let her down now!"
His roar echoed through the chamber.Kier rose.
Kier staggered to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. The pain was unbearable, his body barely holding together, but he was standing.
The Ravager snarled, lips curling over jagged teeth, furious that its prey still lived. Its molten eyes locked onto Kier with renewed hunger, and then, It lunged.Kier didn't hesitate. His blood responded to his will, surging through his veins like a tidal wave. He pulled.
A deep crimson mist swirled from his wounds, twisting and solidifying in his hands. The liquid metal of his blood coalesced into shape, forging itself into a deadly weapon, a twin-tipped, curved sword. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a searing heat erupted within him.Crimson Surge.
The ability ignited his veins with fire, pumping raw energy through his broken body. His strength doubled. His speed tripled. The pain? Irrelevant.
The Ravager's claws came down like a guillotine.
CLANG!
Kier's blade caught the strike, steel meeting talon in a shower of sparks. He twisted his grip, redirecting the force and rolling to the side just as another claw slashed at his ribs. He parried, the twin-tipped edge catching the blow and flicking it away.
His movements were faster now, his body fueled by the inferno surging through his veins.
The Ravager roared in frustration, swiping wildly, but Kier wove between its strikes with unnatural agility. Slash. Parry. Counter. Dodge. Each movement was smoother, sharper, more precise.
Kier ducked under a sweeping claw, his blade flickering like a crimson flame as he spun. He slashed upward, carving a deep, glowing gash across the Ravager's side.
The beast howled, molten blood spilling from the wound.Kier didn't stop. He started to pull magic from the deepest pit within himself, and started to chant.
"Ashen blood, ignite and soar.
Flame within, burn once more."
Concurrent chanting. Concurrent Chanting is an advanced magical technique where spellcasters use long incantations to amplify the potency, complexity, or stability of a spell. Unlike a simple spell where it could be two words or less, this technique allows for the layering of magical intent, mana flow, and spell structure, resulting in exponentially greater effects.
And Kier is finally able to unleash a chant of his own after so long.
The Ravager swung wildly at Kier, but his movements were sluggish and easily readable. Either Kier could easily read it's movements, or he gained an extreme focus from his past memories resurfacing.
"Embers fly, blood intwined,Set ablaze both flesh and mind."
Then he saw it.
His axe.
Still wedged deep in the Ravager's gut.
"Now."
Kier lunged.
The Ravager snarled, realizing too late what was happening. Kier grasped the axe handle, gripping it tight.
Then he unleashed hell.
"Molten tide, let wrath unwind!"
"PYRAHEMIA!"
Blood and fire erupted from Kier's body, surging into his weapon like a violent tide. The power coursed through the embedded blade, detonating inside the Ravager with a visceral burst. Dark tendrils of blood slithered from its mangled limbs, coiling like serpents around its neck, arms, legs, and torso, constricting with merciless intent.
The Ravager shrieked.
Flames erupted from its wounds, searing through muscle and bone, consuming it from the inside out. Its molten eyes bulged in agony as fire licked hungrily at its flesh. The blackened tendrils, now wreathed in searing heat, tightened their grip. They writhed and twisted, their vice-like hold crushing the beast's form with relentless force.
Kier gritted his teeth and drove the axe deeper.
The tendrils obeyed his will, twisting harder, wringing the creature like a sacrificial offering. The Ravager flailed, its claws swiping at nothing, its movements growing more frantic—then weaker.
With a sharp inhale, Kier spread his right arm wide. The tendrils snapped taut.
The Ravager was torn apart by it's own blood in a gruesome eruption of fire and flame.
A shockwave blasted outward as the monster's body detonated, sending a subtle wave a white light. The chamber trembled, the heat searing through the air. A single, white Soulshard dropped to the floor.
And then—Silence.
Kier stood in the center of it all, panting, his body barely holding together. The twin-tipped sword in his hand dissolved into mist, returning to his veins. His vision blurred, his limbs heavy.
But he didn't fall.
He had won.
He wiped his mouth. His fingers came away red.
"…I shouldn't have won," he muttered. His breath was shaky. But he smiled. "Thanks again, aunt Sylphy..."
Kier staggered, his breath ragged. The beast body evaporation into nothing, leaving only a white magic stone. His body screamed in protest, every muscle trembling from overuse, but he forced himself forward.
"That boy."
He had to heal the boy.He pushed off the ground, stumbling toward the corridor where the girls had fled. His legs barely cooperated, the aftermath of his magic threatening to drop him at any moment. His vision wavered, but he shook it off. There wasn't time.
He reached the chamber's threshold, gripping the stone wall for support. Ahead, he saw them, just beyond the reach of the dim blue glow of the mushrooms. The younger girl was crouched beside the injured boy, her hands pressing down on his remaining arm, desperate to stop the bleeding. The older one hovered over them both, her staff clutched tightly in white-knuckled hands, eyes darting toward the path behind them, toward him.
The boy's breathing was shallow, his skin ghostly pale. His convulsions had slowed, but that wasn't a good sign. It meant his body was losing the fight.Kier knew the signs well.
Veyla rushed toward him, her light flickering with worry. Kier smiled as he extended his hand, and allowed Veyla to rest in his palm.With her, he stepped forward. "Let me help."
The older girl snapped her head toward him. The moment her eyes landed on him, on the blood smeared across his face, on the way crimson still dripped from his fingers, she flinched.
"No." Her voice was sharp, panicked. She moved between him and the boy, gripping her staff like a weapon. "Stay back."
Kier clenched his jaw. "If you don't let me help, he'll die."
She didn't move. The younger girl hesitated, looking between him and her friend, her expression twisted with uncertainty."I—I can stop the bleeding," the younger one stammered. "We just need to get him to a healer—"
"He doesn't have that kind of time." Kier's voice came out rough. He took another step forward. "I can stabilize him. Just let me—"
"I said stay back!" The older girl's voice cracked, her hands trembling. "You—you're a blood mage! You just—" She swallowed hard, glancing at the carnage behind him. "You just killed that thing. And now you want to touch him?"Kier exhaled sharply, his patience hanging by a thread. "Do you want him to die?"
The girl flinched again.
Kier took another step, his own exhaustion making it harder to keep his temper in check. "I don't have time to argue with you. He's too close to death. If I don't act now, he will die." He locked eyes with her, his expression unreadable. "And if that happens, it'll be because you were too scared to let me save him."
The younger girl sucked in a sharp breath. The older one tensed, indecision flashing across her face.
Seconds stretched unbearably long.
Then, finally, She moved aside.
Kier wasted no time.He dropped to his knees beside the boy, pressing a bloodstained hand against the torn remnants of his shoulder. The wound was bad. Worse than he thought. The edges were roughly cauterized from Veyla's fire, but that had only stopped the worst of the bleeding. The internal damage was worse. He could already feel the boy's pulse slipping.
"Damn it," Kier muttered under his breath. He had to act fast.
He closed his eyes, reaching deep into himself, pulling at the magic woven into his very blood. His fingers twitched, crimson mist curling around them. The moment the magic touched the boy's skin, the older girl let out a sharp breath.
"What are you—?"
"I'm healing him." Kier's voice was steady, though his body wavered. "Please...let me focus."
She did.
The magic seeped into the boy's body, sinking past muscle and bone, knitting together torn flesh. Kier worked quickly, expertly, ignoring the way his own body screamed at him to stop. His magic wasn't perfect, it wouldn't bring the boy back to full strength, not with his own reserves this low, but it would be enough. Enough to get his arm back intact.
His own flesh started to grow back, his arm began to take its shape once more. Kier's vision blurred as the last of the spell settled. The boy's breathing steadied. His pulse grew stronger. The deathly pallor of his skin faded, color returning to his face.
It worked.
Kier exhaled, his body sagging. His hands trembled as he pulled away.
"He's alright, but still take him to an experienced healer." He murmured.Silence followed.
Then—"…Thank you."
Kier blinked, surprised. He looked up. The younger girl was staring at him, eyes wide, uncertain, but grateful.
The older one, however, remained silent. She still looked at him with fear. Mistrust. But she didn't speak.
Kier didn't care, he got back the spark that almost dissolved before meeting Veyla.
He pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly. His body was running on fumes. He didn't have the energy to deal with them anymore.
"…Get him somewhere safe." He muttered. He turned away, stepping back toward the dungeon corridor.
He needed to leave. Before they could say anything else. Before they could remind him that no matter what he did, no matter how many times he saved someone. They would always look at him like a monster.
Kier staggered through the corridor, each step sending fresh waves of exhaustion crashing through his body. His blood was sluggish now, the aftereffects of his magic weighing him down like chains. Every instinct screamed at him to stop, to sit, to breathe, to rest, but he knew better.
Resting in the dungeon was a death sentence.
Especially in his current state.He exhaled sharply, pressing a hand against his side where the Ravager's teeth had clipped him. His jacket was torn, the fabric damp with blood. He hadn't even checked how deep the wound was. It Didn't matter though. He was still standing, and he was able to save a life.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him. Kier tensed instinctively, but he didn't turn around.
"Wait!"
The younger girl's voice.Kier sighed, his exhaustion making it harder to keep his usual walls up. He slowed his steps but didn't stop."Where are you going?" she asked, voice laced with hesitation. "You—You saved us. You're hurt. Shouldn't you come with us?"
Kier almost smiled at that, a tired, wry thing.
"I'll be fine."
"That's a lie."
He blinked, then turned his head slightly to glance at her. She was standing a few steps behind him, expression torn between lingering fear and something else.
Guilt.
She glanced at his wounds, then back up at him. "You look like you're about to collapse."
"I've had worse."
She frowned. "That's not a good thing."
Kier let out a quiet breath through his nose. "Probably not."
Silence stretched between them.
Then—"…I never got your name."
Kier hesitated before finally exhaling. "Kier."
The girl swallowed, then nodded. "I'm Lyra." A beat of hesitation. "And that's Serin." She gestured back toward the older girl, who stood stiffly near the injured boy. Serin met his gaze briefly, her grip tightening around her staff, but she said nothing.
Kier gave them both a small nod. "Glad you made it out."
"Are you really going back alone?" Lyra asked.Kier huffed lightly, amused despite himself. "Wouldn't be the first time."
"That doesn't make it smart."
Now, he actually did smile, albeit fleeting. "Probably not."
Lyra hesitated before speaking again, her voice quieter this time. "We'll tell the guild what happened. About the Ravager being on this floor. About you saving us."
Kier stiffened for half a second, his fingers flexing at his side. Would it even matter?
The Adventurer's Guild barely tolerated him as it was. Raiders only acknowledged him when they had to, and even then, it was with suspicion. His blood arts marked him as a danger in their eyes. No amount of heroics would change that.Still…"…Thanks." His voice was softer this time, genuine despite the weariness dragging at him.
Lyra looked surprised but nodded. Serin remained unreadable.
"The Ravager dropped a big magic stone. You should use it to pay for his treatment." Kier said with a soft smile, which really shouldn't be possible through all his wounds. But it wasn't like he could actually heal them now, any more and he was out like a light.
Lyra's eyes widened slightly at Kier's words. "You… You'd just give that up?"
Kier shrugged, though the movement sent a sharp bolt of pain through his shoulder. "He needs it more than I do."
Lyra hesitated, but then she nodded, glancing back at Serin. The older girl still hadn't spoken, her face unreadable as she looked between Kier and the bloodied remains of the Ravager.
"…Alright," Lyra finally said. "Thank you."
Kier didn't respond. He turned away, forcing his legs to carry him deeper into the dungeon corridor. His breathing was uneven now, his magic reserves drained to the dregs. Even with Veyla floating beside him, her ember-like light pulsing softly in concern, he knew he had little time before his body gave out entirely.
Just make it to the surface.That was his only goal now.
Veyla flickered beside him, her glow weak. Even she was drained.Kier chuckled hoarsely. "I'm gonna be okay."She made an irritated sound.
"Yeah, I know I'm stubborn."
The dungeon air felt heavier now, colder. His steps slowed. He reached out to steady himself against the stone wall, his fingers leaving faint smears of red against the rough surface. His ribs ached with every breath.
Too slow. He was moving too slow.
The dungeon air felt heavier now, colder. His steps slowed. He reached out to steady himself against the stone wall, his fingers leaving faint smears of red against the rough surface. His ribs ached with every breath.
Too slow. He was moving too slow.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Torchlight flickered down the tunnel.
A Raider's Party.
Kier cursed under his breath, forcing himself to straighten. He was in no condition to deal with them. Not now. Not like this—drenched in blood, barely standing, clearly a mess.
The lead Raider spotted him first. A man in reinforced leather, sword drawn, sharp-eyed. His squad moved in formation, their movements deliberate, cautious.
They hadn't seen the Ravager's corpse deeper in the tunnels.
They only saw him.
A lone figure, covered in blood.
The man's expression darkened. His squad slowed, shifting subtly, hands hovering near weapons.
"…What the hell happened to you?"
Kier exhaled, steadying himself. "Fight." His voice came out raw. "It's dead."
A flicker of unease passed through the group. The woman with the staff, not quite their healer, but close enough, studied him with narrowed eyes.
"You look half-dead yourself," she muttered.
The others weren't focused on his wounds. They were focused on the blood.
Too much of it. Too much for a normal fight.
And the way he stood, weak, but upright.
The lead Raider's eyes sharpened, as if faintly recognizing him. "What kind of magic do you use, kid?"
Kier hesitated. He could hear the unspoken words behind the question.
He could lie.
But the blood made that impossible.
He met the man's gaze, unflinching. "…Hemomancy."
Silence.
The shift was immediate. A ripple of tension, an instinctive step back from more than one Raider. The woman with the staff inhaled sharply. The man closest to Kier tightened his grip on his weapon.
Not all of them reacted with open hostility. Some just watched. But that hesitation,that doubt, was enough.
They weren't looking at a wounded fighter anymore.
They were looking at a blood mage.
Kier clenched his jaw. He was too tired for this. Too drained to argue.
Lyra's voice suddenly cut through the silence.
"He saved us."
Kier blinked. She had followed him after all.
Lyra stepped forward, her posture tense but firm. "We ran into a Ravager. We wouldn't have made it if it weren't for him."
The group didn't relax.
"Is she… defending me?" Kier asked himself. This never happened. Sure, his dwarf friends would stick up for him, and Sierra would occasionally get into heated arguments in his defense, but she was a complete stranger. This girl had known him for less than five minutes. She knew what he was.
So why?
The lead Raider frowned. "A Ravager? On this floor?"
"Yes."
A man near the back scoffed. "Bullshit. No one solos a Ravager."
"Especially not a blood mage," another muttered.
Lyra's hands clenched at her sides. "I watched him do it."
The woman with the staff frowned. "And you expect us to believe that?"
Lyra shot her a sharp look. "You'd rather believe he just—what? Bathed in blood for fun? You think he wanted to be half-dead?"
"This… this is just… wrong." Kier's thoughts felt distant, unsteady. "You shouldn't have to do this. You shouldn't have to do any of this… It's not fair."
The group wavered. The logic was sound, but the fear was deeper than reason.
The lead Raider's expression remained unreadable. "Even if that's true, we don't know how he killed it." His gaze flicked back to Kier. "Blood magic isn't exactly… safe."
Lyra's breath came sharp through her teeth. "You think he's dangerous?" She gestured at him, at the way he was barely standing. "Look at him! He can barely keep his eyes open!"
"Why…? Why do you put yourself on the line… and for me? For me of all people…!" Kier's throat felt tight. "I—It's alright, just stop… before something happens."
One of the Raiders muttered, "That doesn't mean he wasn't dangerous a few minutes ago."
Lyra snapped, "And if he was, then why the hell am I still standing here defending him? Why didn't he just kill me too?"
Silence.
"Did I… did I really do something for you to gain my trust like this…? I don't… I don't understand…"
A flicker of uncertainty passed through the squad. Some of them glanced at each other.
The lead Raider exhaled, rubbing his temple. He still didn't trust Kier, but he wasn't about to let someone collapse in front of him either.
"…You're hurt," he said at last. "We have a healer. Let them take a look before you drop."
Kier hesitated.
"She… did it. Lyra… you fought for me… you didn't have to…"
The woman with the staff tensed. She hesitated.
She didn't want to.
She was afraid to.
Veyla pulsed beside him.
He exhaled.
"Thank you so much, Lyra."
He barely made it two steps before his body finally gave out.
As the world tilted sideways, he felt hands catching him—warm, steady.
The last thing he thought before the darkness took him was:
"Someone believed in me."