Chapter 87: Blood and Redemption

Vell moved.

He was so fast that only the wind tearing through the clearing was visible. His sword sang a song of death, a whisper of steel that sliced through flesh and bone. One second, a giant ant was lunging at Yenna, its mandibles snapping. The next, its body was falling to the ground, cut clean in half, its black blood spraying everywhere.

He appeared beside Wren in an instant, a whirlwind of motion. A mosquito, its long proboscis dripping with venom, was diving towards her. His hand twitched, and the creature’s head tumbled to the ground, its body twitching.

He spun, his movements too fast for the eye to follow. Three more ants fell, then two mosquitoes, their bodies ripped apart by his sword. The monsters were helpless, their attacks clumsy and slow compared to his speed. They fell by the dozens, their bodies piling up around him, a gruesome carpet of severed limbs and spilled guts.

“You made it… Master…” Wren whispered as she finally collapsed to the ground. She could not see him, but she knew he was there.

In less than three seconds, it was over. The clearing fell silent, the only sound the dripping of blood from his sword.

Yenna and Wren were staring at him, their eyes wide with shock and awe. Sia and Mia were still on the ground, unmoving.

He rushed to them, fear gripping his heart. Were they…?

He knelt beside them, his hands hovering over their still forms. He could feel their presence, faint but still there. Relief washed over him, so intense it almost brought him to tears. He gently touched Sia’s cheek, then Mia’s. They were breathing, their hearts beating. He was so happy he did not lose them.

He looked up at Yenna and Wren, a shaky smile spreading across his face. “They are okay,” he said, his voice hoarse. “They are just… unconscious.”

Yenna let out a sob, a sound of pure, unadulterated relief. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees beside them.

Seeing them in such a state made him angry with himself. “I am sorry I took so long. If I was any later… you all would have…” He could not bring himself to finish that sentence.

Wren shook her head, her eyes full of unshed tears. “No,” she whispered, her voice weak. “You came and you saved us. That is all that matters.” She reached out, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. “Thank you, Master.”

Yenna nodded, her gaze fixed on her sisters. She gently stroked Sia’s hair, her touch feather-light. “We are alive because of you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “It does not matter that you came late. We are alive because of you. Thank you for always looking out for us.”

He looked at them, at their battered bodies, their exhausted faces, and his heart ached. He had promised to protect them, to keep them safe, and he failed. They almost died because of him, because of his mistake.

“No,” he said, his voice low and rough. “I should have been here sooner. I should have protected you.” He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. “This is on me.”

Wren sat up straighter, her eyes flashing. “Do not you dare say that,” she said, her voice stronger now. “We chose to come here, accepting the risks. You did not force us.”

Yenna looked up, her gaze meeting his. “She is right,” she said. “We are not children. We are not helpless. This was our choice, and we stand by it.” She paused, her expression softening. “You saved us… do not be so hard on yourself. We are players too.”

Their words were like a balm to his soul, easing the guilt and self-recrimination that had been gnawing at him. He looked at them, at their faces so full of trust and gratitude, and he wondered if he truly deserved them.

’I think I am done with this dungeon. I have leveled up enough, and looking at them,’ he scanned their stats, ’they have also learned up enough for now.’

[I agree. We have been in here for a while. We should hurry up and finish.]

’Yeah, I can see the final prey… Let’s go find that little monster and her king.’ He smirked, looking in the direction of the energy source. He looked back at them. ’Can I leave them behind again? What if they get attacked? Can I live with that?’

Yenna noticed his expression. “It is okay, go. We will be fine. Those were the last monsters anyway. We are tired of the corrupted mana everywhere. Just leave us and go kick some monster butt.” She showed him a smile that clearly had some sadness behind it.

’Idiot, you are clearly scared.’ He stood up and walked over to her, kissing her on the forehead. “You deserved that.” She blushed hard but did not back away. Instead, she nodded, looking down.

Wren looked at him, waiting for her turn. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. “My precious daughter, behave while I am gone, okay?”

Her eyes lit up. This is the treatment she had been waiting for. “O-Okay.” She was still shocked as he walked away, ready to dash.

He looked back one last time, taking in the sight of his group, his family. They were safe, for now. He nodded, a silent promise to return quickly, and then he was off.

He ran.

Not with the same reckless speed as before, but with a steady, powerful stride that ate up the distance. He moved like a predator, his senses on high alert, his body a finely tuned instrument of motion.

’This place seems to have more mana than Mother’s zone.’ He thought as he approached what looked to be a huge battlefield with many massive pillars covered in blood.

The landscape was scarred and broken, a testament to battles fought. Giant craters dotted the ground, some filled with stagnant water, others with the bones of long-dead creatures. The air was heavy, thick with the weight of corrupted mana, making it hard to breathe… well, not for him though.

He walked through, looking at everything around him. ’Just how old is this dungeon? Now then, where are you.’ He activated his skill, expanding the search beyond the battlefield until he got the exact location of the monsters.

“Time to end this.”

He used Shadow Flicker and disappeared.

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