Stuck as a Dungeon Mob

Back in the orcish layer of the cave of myths, Ed's non-existent face formed a deep frown. He didn't like W's response. It wasn't that he didn't like the tone, but rather that he wanted to reduce as many variables as possible. Being so close, how could he accept a hold up? Wasn't that asking for trouble?

'W, return immediately' Ed thus commanded to his other half with an ounce of worry. Using command to communicate wasn't the best method but he really had no other. That aside however the most important matter was how willful W was being.

While Ed trusted himself and believe that both he and W would continue to work towards the same goal… could he guarantee it?

Thinking about it for just a moment, what exactly was Ed's goal? Wasn't it to unravel the mysteries surrounding his arrival into this world as well as regain his freedom? Of course, now that he had subordinates and the like part of his goal was to provide and protect for these groups he created but…

What if W thought differently? Sure they were a split from the same part but W had just come back from tasting freedom. This was one of the goals! Ed using the command skill could be seen as restraining this freedom despite the fact that he had no other option.

'Huh? Immediately?' The only problem was that W was not really affected by the command skill. If his anti-skeletons could defy his command given they had strong enough emotions why couldn't W?

'Return immediately' Ed repeated. There was a long pause following this command. The reason was quite simple, there was a delay when transmitting things through the spiritual mark.

Though it had to be mentioned, in this instance the pause was a bit too long for this to be the sole factor. The prolonged pause was most likely from W taking long to ponder on the matter.

After what felt like an eternity, Ed finally received a reply.

'Alright' W said back slightly confused.

W trusted Ed's judgement more than his own as he was the main body. While that sounded unfair to himself the reality was that the main body had the system. He could receive prompts, assess things that he couldn't, and most importantly he had remained in the dungeon.

This all amounted to Ed having a better understanding than himself in regard to what exactly they had to do.

The only issue for W was now how to bring the young adventurer girl back without too much risk.

'Ugh… I wish I could just use the portal' That'd be delightful but he previously suffered just by being in Brennan's body, the result of going on his own was obvious… Death.

W decided to stop thinking so much, Ed already said his two cents.

'I should have done this from the start' W thought as he prepared to do something. If he had interfered much earlier they wouldn't have met up with the two adventurers, what a pity.

He forcefully took control of an eye causing the adventurer girl to want to let out a yelp.

"-!" But before she could scream her mouth shut. The fear from back in the safe room had returned. She was now paralyzed with fear but the reality was that it didn't matter, she had lost control over her body already.

She ran alongside Christian and Archer both who failed to notice the abnormality.

"We are almost there, we were saving the outpost ahead for our revisit" Christian said as they continued down the creepy corridors.

The girl could only watch things unfold through a single eye while simultaneously devoid of sound. W had already taken all other senses except for a single eye… was it for torture?

The muted scene of a relaxed and confident Christian brought her endless unease. That was because it highlighted her helplessness. She felt… unsettled…

As the group continued down the twisting corridors of the crypt, they eventually found their target. All the outposts Ed made in the crypt usually had a portcullis blocking out the hallway as well as armament and anti-skeletons guarding said entrances.

That was solely the case based on Archer's previous scouting.

"I'll scout again, wait for the good news" Archer said causing both Christian and Kimani to nod silently. The atmosphere had become more solemn seeing as they were no longer up against ignorant skeletons.

Archer and Chris never had difficulty facing the outposts but that didn't mean they weren't risky. The fact that they had it so easy had previously led to some embarrassing near-death experiences.

Speaking of, there was one outpost that didn't dare approach… It was where dozens of B-class adventurers had perished and where even top C-class adventurers hardly qualified as cannon fodder.

It was now marked on the all dungeon maps as the city of death and or the resting grounds. There were a couple of other names but those two were the most popular among mapmakers.

After a short couple of minutes, Archer returned with what appeared to be good news.

"There are some black devil skeletons but otherwise the place appears to be mostly risk-free" Archer's previous scouting session had also come to this conclusion.

"How should we tackle it…" Christian said pensively. While they could take it down themselves the purpose of stalling their inevitable ascent to the next floor required well… stalling.

"Kimi, how about we let you take the lead? We'll jump in if it gets dangerous" Christian thought that the girl might take her time considering her

"O- Ok…" The girl replied with an obvious hint of anxiety. Christian and Archer were made at ease by her words.

"Let's go!" Christian said gleefully pointing his blade towards the goal. He was hoping to relax the girl's nerves.

Kimani took off with Christian's sword as a symbol. Her steps were as usual steady and firm, she had a talent for solid movement.

As she approached the portcullis, the girl struggled to unsheathe her blade.

"Hya!" She let out a shout alongside a diagonal slash. The hardened earth from which the portcullis was cleanly split. The earth then trembled and crashed without too much effort.

"Nice!" Christian commented.

Kimani heed his words no mind and immediately entered through the hole she had just created. The inside of the room held fortified walls made of earth once more. There were also skeletons loafing around in the ground level.

Kimani's movements were still firm and agile but the skeletons weren't any slower to notice her entry.

Anti-skeletons and regular white skeletons equipped with D or C class weapons sprinted off towards the girl and the two adventurers with immense hostility. The one's up on the fortified wall displayed similarly hostility as they began to hurl down rocks.

Kimani flinched after seeing these rocks but this was only temporary. A white skeleton approached bolstering a sleek broadsword, but a clean swipe of Kimani's own sword made clean work of this skeleton.

Unfortunately, there was nothing Kimani could really do to repel the pelting rocks. She froze up.

It was then that an extremely fast and complex swing zigzagged through the air deflecting all of these rocks moments before they had a chance to even approach Kimani.

"I might not be A-class but I'm not far, rest assured!" Christian declared proudly.

The girl Kimani appeared to have understood Christian's intent as she was no longer paralyzed she took a step forward…!

"Huh?" Christian was confused. Rather than running towards the skeletons on the ground, the girl was running towards the fortress wall. Was that something a sane person would do?

"Archer!" Christian shouted. Archer understood his intentions, he pulled out multiple arrows and shot in quick succession at the skeletons in the fortress.

"Hya!" The girl let out another cry as she swung down on the fortress wall. Christian and Archer were surprised by her actions but they also felt they understood what she wanted. Treasure!

"You know this is supposed to be training not-!" Christian was stunned shut. The fortress wall which Kimani struck down collapsed simply. The girl could not have that much strength, right?

But most importantly, as soon as the debris settled Christian and Archer could both see a hulking skeletal figure. It was a juggernaut of bone with deep hollow sockets surrounded by smaller version of itself.

"ROOOOARRRR!!!" The gigantic brute let out a ferocious roar that shook the room in which they stood.

"""ROOOARRR!!""" The smaller brutes let out similar roars before charging towards the hole the girl made.

"Watch out-!" Christian yelled out stretching his hand out to pull back the girl. To his surprise however the girl walked forward as if she was incapable of feeling fear.

The moment he saw this happen Archer had an ominous feeling.

The charging brutes brushed right past the young lass and crashed directly into Christian's body sending him flying backwards. He had guarded his body with his sword at the last moment but his arm felt crushed all the same.

"Kimi…" Christian was in utter disbelief after he saw the hulking juggernaut stand and walk past the girl as well.

"You… You are a monster aren't you!?!" Christian yelled out with a hint of sorrow and regret.

The girl let out a single tear seeing the hurt expression on the man who only wanted to help her.