Chapter 81 Slowing Down

She was upset because the only valuable thing from this expedition was that worn-down greatsword and now it is in pieces on the ground, just a metal scrap. The room was starting to collapse because of the golem's aggression and she decided to abandon the fight. 

Gathering all of her strength, Suzuka summoned a massive wave of gravity magic and sent it crashing toward the golem, causing its body to crumble and collapse in a shower of rubble. That did nothing to the golem other than slowed it down, he rebuild itself in a moment but Suzuka didn't stay, she fled leaving the golem in the crumbling room.

Suzuka's instincts to run were spot on, for what followed was a nightmare. The golem, a towering creature made of stone, launched into a frenzied attack. It shattered itself into countless pieces around the precious mana core and, with a deafening roar, started to spin around it with terrifying speed. This caused a violent and chaotic stone tornado to erupt, flinging rocks and debris everywhere, and pummeling the room with a merciless barrage.

The walls were already breaking, no match for the golem's fury shook and buckled under the onslaught. Cracks began to spiderweb out from the walls and ceiling, and chunks of rock rained down from above. The entire room was now collapsing in on itself, and Suzuka's heart raced as she scrambled for safety. The chaos sent shock waves through the mine and the sounds of splintering rock.

 Finally, with a sickening crash, the room gave way entirely. The walls and ceiling crumpled in on themselves, burying everything under an avalanche of stone and dust.

 Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the very foundation of the mine, sending shockwaves through the tunnels and causing the walls and ceilings to tremble and crack. The noise was so intense that it felt as if the world was ending, and she could feel the shockwave reverberating through her bones.

Suzuka frantically scanned the unstable mine as she stumbled towards the exit. The air was thick with dust and the sound of falling rocks echoed all around her. Her heart raced as she caught up with David and Larry. Larry's left arm hung limply by his side, clearly broken. Yet despite the pain, he was still trying to free David from the debris that had trapped his leg.

Larry's heart raced as he struggled to move the massive rock that had landed on David's leg. With one arm broken, it was an impossible task, but he refused to give up. The pressure of the boulder was crushing David's limb, and he was writhing in agony. Larry knew that every second counted, and he was determined to save his friend, no matter the cost.

As he strained against the weight of the rock, Larry could feel his own strength ebbing away. Sweat dripped down his face as he grunted and strained with all his might, but the rock remained stubbornly immovable. Panic set in as he realized that time was running out.

But Larry was not the kind of person to leave anyone behind. Despite the overwhelming odds, he clung desperately to the hope that he could save David. Every time he tried to move the rock, fresh waves of pain shot through his broken arm, but he gritted his teeth and soldiered on. Despite the fear gnawing at his gut, Larry refused to give up. With a final burst of strength, he heaved against the rock with all his might but It did not budge.

Suzuka ran at them and saw the agony etched on David's face as he fought to stay conscious. The rock pinned him down like a vice, and it was clear that he was in serious danger. As Suzuka approached, Larry looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Help us," he gasped. "We can't get out of here without you."

Suzuka's heart sank as she realized the severity of the situation. The mine was shaking violently, and it was only a matter of time before the walls came crashing down. She had to act fast if they were going to get out of there alive. She rushed to Larry's side and together they heaved the boulder off David's leg.

Finally, with a sickening crunch, the rock shifted, and David's leg was free. Suzuka helped them to move by lending them her shoulder and escaped the mine. They collapsed on the soft ground, their strength spent and gasping for fresh air as they lay there, panting and exhausted.

Suzuka rummaged through her medical bag, her eyes settled on a bright red potion, which she quickly uncorked and gulped down. A surge of energy coursed through her body, restoring her stamina and focus. She then turned her attention to Larry, whose arm was broken and twisted at an unnatural angle.

She reached for a glittering healing crystal and pressed it into his palm. "Use this to mend your arm," she instructed, her voice strained with urgency.

But their situation was far direr than a simple broken bone.

 David's leg was a bloody mess, with bone protruding from the shattered flesh. He lay on the ground, his skin turning pale as he lost copious amounts of blood. Larry pressed his hands trying to stop the bleeding. Suzuka knew that their basic medical supplies wouldn't be enough to save him, "Helen, check my bag," Larry said with an exhausted voice, "There should be some healing crystals in there, pass them to me." With a heavy heart, she searched the bag and found the healing crystals they possessed.

 She passed them to Larry, who carefully placed them on David's mangled leg, using all of their remaining resources to save his life.

As the crystals hummed with soft, soothing light, the air filled with a sweet, almost saccharine aroma. Suzuka and Larry watched as David's leg began to knit itself back together, the bones fusing and the flesh knitting into a healthy limb. 

It was a gruesome sight, but at least David would live. The trio shuddered with relief. The three of them, Suzuka, David, and Larry, were lucky to have made it out of that godforsaken mine alive. David had made a few mistakes that could have cost them their lives, but Suzuka didn't utter a word of complaint. Larry, too, remained silent, not wanting to worsen the already tense atmosphere.

 The night was fast approaching, and the dense forest surrounding them was no place to travel at night. They had no choice but to spend the night in the wilderness, as they set up camp, they couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched. The rustling of leaves and twigs underfoot only added to their unease.

As darkness descended, Suzuka lit a small campfire, and the flames cast eerie shadows on the trees around them. They huddled together, listening to the sounds of the night. Larry was the first one to stand guard as others sleep. Suzuka and David went to sleep first and not long after fell asleep.  

Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the silence, and they jumped to their feet, hearts racing. It was coming from the direction of the mine they had just escaped from.

Suzuka's hands shook as she picked up her weapon, and they cautiously made their way toward the source of the sound. What they found was beyond their worst nightmares. A horde of creatures, half-human, and half-beast, was feasting on David's still-twitching body. The sight was enough to make Suzuka retch, and Larry couldn't help but let out a whimper of fear.

At that moment, they knew that they were in grave danger. They had to get out of there and fast. But as they turned to run, they saw more of those abominations emerging from the shadows. Their eyes gleamed with a malevolent hunger, and the trio realized that they had walked into a nightmare they might never wake up from.

Larry walked up to Suzuka and placed his hand on her shoulder waking her up from her nightmare, "Helen, wake up. It's time, It's your turn to keep a lookout." 

She settled in at the fireplace, feeling the warmth of the flames against her skin. As the only one awake, she had the eerie sense of being completely alone in the silent forest, with only the faint crackling of the fire to break the stillness.

But Suzuka was no ordinary girl. Her red eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, scanning the surrounding darkness for any signs of danger. She was acutely aware of the lurking predators that prowled the edges of the clearing, their eyes glinting in the shadows. They were drawn by the scent of humans, hungry for a taste of flesh.

Suzuka knew she couldn't let her guard down for even a moment. Her senses were on high alert, picking up the slightest rustle of leaves or snap of twigs. She kept a watchful eye on the predators, seeing their every movement and intent. But they were smart enough not to make a move against her. They knew that the true beast was the one sitting by the fire, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

The night stretched on, the fire slowly dwindling as the darkness deepened. Suzuka watched as the stars twinkled overhead, marking the passage of time. But she remained vigilant, knowing that danger could come at any moment.

It was well past midnight now, and the stillness of the forest was suffocating. Every shadow seemed to hold a lurking horror, every rustle of leaves a sign of impending doom. The night dragged on relentlessly, the hours creeping by with agonizing slowness.

 The night was closing in for the morning, and the darkness seemed to grow brighter with each passing moment. Suzuka had been on watch duty for the past four hours, scanning the murky shadows for any sign of danger. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, as a chill wind whispered through the trees, causing the branches to creak and groan.

As Suzuka passed the watch duty over to Larry, a sense of unease settled over her. She knew that they were in a dangerous situation and that the slightest mistake could cost them their lives. 

David was in bad shape, his wounds still visible. They had been careful to keep him warm and comfortable, but he was clearly in no position to keep a watch. They decided to let him rest, hoping that he would be able to regain some of his strength. The last thing they needed was for him to pass out from exhaustion, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

As Larry took up his position, he peered into the darkness, his senses on high alert. The moon was a pale sliver almost hiding below the tree line, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding landscape. 

The long, terrifying night had finally come to an end. Larry sank down into his sleeping bag exhausted from the night guard. Suzuka cleaned up the remnants of the camp. As she worked, she cast glances at David, who was lying prone on the ground. She checked his pulse and breathing, relieved to find that he was alive.

While Larry rested, Suzuka turned her attention to the grim task of tallying up their kill count. She rummaged through her backpack, sifting through the bloody and battered remains of their foes. One by one, she counted the kill proofs: 116 Zimmer kills, 1 Skull knight. 

After taking an hour to rest and recuperate, Larry felt energized and ready to return to Rockmine town with his companions. They woke David up, who was still recovering from a leg injury, it was time to make the journey back to the guild. They set out on their journey, and while the beginning of their trek was smooth and uneventful, David's leg injury began to slow them down as they progressed.

Despite the discomfort, they pressed on, stopping periodically to rest and tend to David's injury. As the day wore on, the sun began to set, and the pair found themselves still far from the guild. They quickened their pace as much as possible, but it wasn't until the evening that they finally arrived, exhausted and relieved.

As they walked through the guild's halls, Larry couldn't help but reflect on the quest.