Chapter 16: Ch 16: To Adlib (1)

If it wasn't for Dar's first stupid decision to hide, half of the group may have had a better chance of staying alive. If he hadn't been so foolish as to think that they could somehow ambush the approaching ogres, maybe they could have already escaped by now. But they were too late. It was only after hearing the words 'Young Master' and the almost perfect description of their party, that they started to realize the direness of their situation. 

"<Mio, forget about the fake wall. We're making a break for the closest exit,>"

"<No spell?>" she said, looking at Dar uncertainly. "<We run?>"

After giving a sharp nod, Mio relented and raised her hands once again, forcing the stone barrier she'd previously conjured to collapse back into the ground. He'd intended for it to serve as camouflage, but somehow the 'Young Master' was able to see completely through it, even in the pitch-black darkness. That was reason enough to tell him that this was no ordinary Ogre. And the constant sobs of 'We're gonna die' escaping the Elf's trembling lips only served to reinforce that.

For a moment, Dar wondered whether he should run towards Fiel for backup but then thought otherwise. Sure, he could use them as bait, but they were important in drawing the attention of any prison guards. He couldn't exactly lead them into a potential bloodbath. He needed another distraction.

<"Split up!"> Dar barked <"We'll meet at the designated exit!>"

The rescue team separated into two groups and fled into the junction ahead, the Elf's larger team opting for the left under the guidance of two of his masked companions, while Dar's smaller team took the centre with the third. Even though the 'Young Master' probably possessed monstrous strength, the fact remained that he was still alone. There was no way he could pursue both groups at once, right?

Damn it. If only we hadn't stood around arguing over that bloody prisoner.

As they ran for their lives, Dar heard the screams of agony echoing behind him. It was a risky gamble, but it looked like the diversion was paying off. The Ogre must've chased after the bigger of the two fish. But whether the Elf's team could stall him long enough for them to escape or perhaps lose him in the labyrinth, Dar didn't know. 

"<Boss, you good?>"

It was at that moment that Dar realized he was feeling light-headed. His breath was growing more haggard by the moment. They had only been at this for about two minutes and it was becoming clear to him that his low stamina was just not up to the task. He had been running on fumes since this morning. Add that to the fact that he was sharing his soul and his recent drop in caffeine levels, Dar figured his body would fold faster than a penguin in a sauna. Dolly also seemed to be struggling, as she clutched onto the wall for support. They both knew that the rush of adrenaline could only bring them so far.

"<It's nothing.>" Dar told the bald mercenary, through gasps of air "<Don't slow down.>"

"<You're pretty out of shape boss.>"

"<Yeah, I know, just...>"

Suddenly he felt something cold and wet splash against his shoulder. The Lunarys must've noticed it too, momentarily stopping to stare at the strange spectacle suspended before them. 

"<Floating water droplets?>" he muttered, voicing everyone's thoughts aloud "<Hol--">

But the man didn't even get to finish his sentence.

You are reading story Tethered By The Soul System at novel35.com

Within seconds, Dar's eyes were flash banged by a sheet of pure blue, closely followed by the sound of something scything through the air. Once the disorientation wore off, he found himself doused in warm red. Remnants of the masked man were strewn everywhere, his innards decorating the mouth of the next tunnel ahead. The bloodstained stalactites merely added to Dar's imagination, and for one crazy moment, he thought the tunnels had somehow transformed and eaten him. Then he looked down and saw something even worse.

No bloody way... 

He hadn't felt a thing at first, but upon noticing his amputated arm, the pain promptly made itself known, hitting his senses like a fire truck. Dar fell backwards and shut his eyes, holding back tears of pain and disbelief. However, the burning in his missing limb quickly died down as something cold and wet layered itself over. Did unseeing it somehow help? Maybe the pain's existence was decided by sight.

Heh. Schrodinger's Pain? Is that even a thing? 

How Dar could inwardly laugh at a time like this was unknown to him. He blamed it on the blood loss. 

"<Stay still.>" A familiar female voice begged "Selxior, Chapiton. <Please...>"

He forced his eyelids open, but it took a while for the darkness to recede from his vision. At last, he found Mio crouching beside him, grabbing liberal amounts of something brown from a small pouch and applying it to his wound. His body was shivering violently as she tried to keep him in place. 

"<Sorry, I'm trying my best.>" Dar replied, trying to keep the panic from his voice. <"Uh... Is this mud or...?">

Mio nodded.

<"I see... not sure if that'll do anything but... Magic?>" Dar's attention was suddenly drawn to something pale in her other hand "<Don't tell me... A-Are y-you...? Are you using it to stick my arm back on!?>"

Then he remembered that she was some sort of earth mage and decided to shut up. He was vaguely aware of Dolly saying something, but the sound in his ears was strangely muffled.

---