Chapter 958: Chapter 958: Kiba’s trial (8)

9th floor 2nd room.

Kiba sprawled on the ground in an undignified manner retrieved a mid-level health potion from his storage ring. Since he was practically incapacitated and the frost drake lacked hands he had no choice but to swallow the small vial along with the contents. A rather dangerous and foolish act for a person but for a tiger monster like himself the glass shards would merely irritate his throat and stomach rather than pierce and shred.

Within moments the bright red liquid was absorbed and sought to heal his many, many wounds. After a few minutes he’d be ready to chase down his remaining targets and hopefully still pass the trial his master had set for him.

"How savage but effective nonetheless." Frost muttered with a smile, proud that in the face of possible failure instead of giving up Kiba stubbornly resisted, looking for ways to turn his situation around.

He then looked at another screen displayed in front of him showing Khiran and Nanuk fleeing towards the 1st room.

"He’ll have to move quickly otherwise they’ll reach the blockade I’ve set up." Frost roughly calculated the time it’d take for them to reach the defence line he’d arranged. Kiba didn’t have long, maybe 15 to 20 minutes and at least 3 of those would be reserved for healing. If he was too slow causing the pair to encounter his back defence line he’d have to fail him.

"Tick tock Kiba, tick tock."

Back on the 9th floor as Kiba was quickly recovering from his wounds Nanuk and Khiran were running as fast as they possibly could. The hammer user bearing a grim expression, his mind fully understanding the seriousness of their predicament as he endured a growing pain in his side while Nanuk bore an expression of shock and disbelief.

He was fighting as instructed, mitigating the assault of one of the frost drakes when he suddenly heard the death of Lur their archer and scout. Such a shock nearly resulted in him being significantly wounded but thanks to his aunt’s devoted teachings his vulnerable state was fleeting, his shield repelling the frost drake’s devasting maw. But when Khiran came to his side and gave him the full retreat order, the one that meant someone had to stay behind as bait his mind blanked, his gaze naturally turning to where his aunt was. Khiran knew such news would devastate the young lad but since they had no time to dwell on such things he literally dragged him through the frost drake’s blockade earning him the wound on his side. Even now after minutes had passed the boy was running as instructed but his mind wasn’t there, if they ran into another monster Khiran doubted he’d be of much use.

He didn’t blame him much though, he was young, talented and his aunt had taught him for years, their bond was close, hell even he was struggling and he’d been a Bonafide adventurer for decades.

"Nanuk snap out of it lad!" He shouted hoping to bring some clarity to those dim eyes of his.

"A...aunt.....what abou.....why..." Nanuk responded incoherently, his body obeying orders but his mind despairing about his aunt. She was his teacher and to be honest his closest kin ever since he started as an adventurer, spending far more time by her side than that of his mother and father.

Eha was a mountain peak, ever solid, holding up the sky and encouraging him to grow to the same height so her sacrifice, her failure in a manner of speaking didn’t translate, she was perfect through his eyes. A woman who could accomplish anything she put her mind to even without talent, purely by force of will and determination.

"Nanuk! Get a hold of yourself! Your aunt sacrificed herself to ensure your survival! Are you gonna make such an act be in vain." Since simply shouting wasn’t working Khiran grabbed hold of the back of Nanuk’s neck and jostled him physically as they ran, ignoring the fact that such aggressive movements only worsened the injury on his waist.

He had health potions available but considering the depth of his wound he’d have to remain stationary as it worked its magic lest he wanted to endure being repeatedly torn open, eventually making the healing null and void. The 1st room, as long as they could enter the 1st room he was confident they’d be able to relax a little and consume some health potions before making the trip upwards.

Two C-ranks even in good states wouldn’t exactly be safe in the Dungeon until passing through the floor of peace.

This time Khiran’s efforts seemed to reach the young Nanuk. Bringing up his aunt and the reason for her sacrifice filled the young man’s heart with a fierce fire. He could never allow any of his favoured aunt’s actions to be in vain.

With a shake of his head the light returned to his dull eyes and his pace noticeably quickened. "Thanks Khiran." He said genuinely before taking the forefront, willing to lead their escape and be the first to confront any obstructing monsters which to be fair would normally fall on him anyway, given his role.

"No need for thanks just run kid." Khiran smiled, seeing his young colleague’s potential.

’Eha was right, he’ll make a fine adventurer in the future.’ To become an effective and respected adventurer strength alone wasn’t enough. A strong, tempered mind and survival instinct was necessary. Nanuk being able to pull himself together so quickly despite being forced to abandon his aunt spoke volumes of his mettle.

The two thus continued their escape, giving no thought to reserve any of their stamina. A pointless effort given that even in their best state they’d be nothing more than more resilient bugs in the eyes of that winged tiger. A frost drake was also still hot on their tail not allowing them even a single chance to catch their breath.

9 minutes later as Khiran was recognising some of their surrounding features, proof that their choice in direction was correct he felt a sudden and terrifying sense of dread in the depths of his soul. His instincts warning him of imminent danger, something had locked its gaze on him.

’Shit!’ A good adventurer never ignored their instincts.

"Nanuk pick up the pace!" He roared as he put more strength into his legs, blood dripping from his waist causing a numbness to afflict his lower body.

"Got i...."

"ROOOOOAAARRRR!!!!" Before Nanuk could give a reply the air around them shook as a mighty bestial roar enveloped the area.

"Fuck!" Khiran loudly cursed as his body started to freeze and shiver, this wasn’t a normal roar but a skill.

’[Intimidation roar]’ Several large, bestial monsters like tigers, lions some bears and others could use roaring skills that had a range of effects. Some like the one Kiba just unleashed served as an intimidation tactic that weakened targets, slowing them and in some cases even causing them to freeze in place. Others imbued the user with strength, a pseudo rage state while some could even affect the surrounding mana making casting spells far more onerous. Either way it was a skill that was difficult to deal with without using aura or magic.

Khiran and Nanuk’s speed noticeably dropped as soon as the roar penetrated past their ears but being C-rank adventurers allowed them to resist it to a degree. They kept running, dashing towards the next room, believing it to be their only saving grace. Kiba’s arrival also heralded the fall of Eha but neither of them had the time to ruminate on that fact.

Khiran strained himself to look behind and what he saw sent shivers radiating down his spine. Kiba with blood stained fur and a look of abject fury on his face was aggressively flapping his damaged wings pursuing them through the air and at a speed far beyond what they were capable of.

’We’re not going to make it.’ His gut instincts instantly concluded. Less than a minute that was all it’d take for Kiba be on them, his claws and fangs reaching their flesh.

Khiran silently thought, his gaze drifting from Kiba to his wounded waist then to Nanuk and back to Kiba. Eha’s gallant figure, her cold smile and reliable stature flashing in his mind. He always did have a thing for her but never had the stomach to follow through.

His career as an adventurer was decent, ups and downs, a few sins here and there, a vice for gambling but overall he could be considered a good man, loyal, brave and hardworking.

Regretting his cowardice at approaching Eha in a romantic fashion he wanted to at least ensure that her nephew their group’s shining star survived this calamity he wasted no time at all in dragging him out of danger even at the expense of injury. Now however it seems he’d have to pay a much larger price.

With their pace slowed due to the effects of Kiba’s roar Khiran made a decision. He forced his body to curve to the left and with a triumphant swing of his arm he harshly slapped Nanuk’s back, instilling him with a bit of his internal energy. A normally pointless action but when under the effects of fear, illusion or bewitchment tends help the target regain their faculties to a certain degree.

Nanuk felt a searing heat flow through his body, originating from a large handprint in the centre of his back. The additional weight and lethargic responses from his legs vanished as his full strength returned. He knew immediately that Khiran had done something to pull him out of danger.