Then, a final whisper hung in the air.
"G... God..."
"..."
"...Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!", A scream of anger rushed out of Grimm's mouth. "JEANNE!" Her teeth were clenched in rage. Her eyes fiercely glared at the drake that had landed several meters away from her.
The monster in front of her was around 20 meters tall and had deep purple scales covering its whole body. Its two wings spread themselves 30 meters apart from each side.
Ignoring her condition, she stood up. Her undead body felt the adrenaline rush she never knew existed. Her eyes scanned the place where they had stood before. What remained there was a charred silhouette instead of the holy knight.
Her eyes felt wet. "WHY!?", Her clenched into a fist as she questioned the reality. She felt as if she was cursed to lose her companions. First Alice, now Jeanne. All the friends and companions she had made all along had died, again and again!
Looking at the burnt body, Grimm instantly grabbed her dagger. Her eyes coldly looked at her enemy. It was her enemy. Only one of them will come out alive after this.
As she traced the Drake's body, her eyes widened at the sight of Jeanne's sword. The Drake was already grievously wounded, but one main wound was the most prominent. Jeanne's weapon's blade had pierced through to the creature's brain, but somehow, the monstrosity still lived, thrashing in midair.
Multiple spears protruded from its scaled body, leaking dark, murky blue blood. Its armored hide was broken in several places, revealing raw flesh beneath. This was no fresh encounter- the beast had been fighting elsewhere before finding them.
Maybe it was yet to be affected by the fog. It would have fought through the waves of hundreds of monsters before it met them.
But Grimm knew for sure that she couldn't forgive it. She was a selfish bastard.
She staggered to her feet, clutching her knife. "...", Jeanne had used her only weapon to attack the Drake, sacrificing her means of defense to ensure she had a fighting chance.
Her face hardened with resolve. Her anger calmed down. Jeanne had believed in her - now she wouldn't let him down. She cannot die here.
-Bang
The Drake landed heavily on the stone balcony, cracking the ancient stone wall. Its remaining eye fixed on Grimm with primal hatred.
"GGRRRRRR!"
Its throat throbbed as it released a low growl that literally made the air move in a weak shockwave. It lunged forward, one massive paw swiping at her. The attack was powerful but clumsy; the creature was off-balance, its coordination compromised by the sword in its skull.
Grimm instantly ran and jumped above the arm that flashed by her. Her body flew up a few meters in the air before landing back onto the ground with a thud.
As soon as her body landed, her feet pushed to their limits, and she sent her body forward. Her knife flashed in the sunlight as she carved three vicious one-meter-long slashes across the drake's exposed underbelly. Dark blood sprayed across her face and arms, but she didn't even blink.
As soon as she felt the blood bath her, her free hand moved quickly as she pulled out the [Dung Pie] and smeared it into the freshest wound. The hard crust of the pie broke into mushy liquid as it was forced into the three large wound holes.
"AARKKKK!"
A flash of pain rushed through the Drake's mind; its throat produced a deafening roar of pain as it felt the poison entered its bloodstream.
Its maw opened wide, and a gout of flame erupted toward Grimm.
Seeing the flame flash towards her, Grimm instantly threw herself aside, feeling the intense heat wash over her. The stone where she had stood moments before glowed red with temperature.
"Grrr!", While the beast was distracted by its own pain, Grimm darted in again, delivering another deep slice across its chest.
The Drake roared in agony, and suddenly blue lines began coursing through its scales like glowing veins. At that moment, the air around the Drake seems to flow like water, vibrating itself around its body.
Grimm tensed, sensing a change in the creature.
-SWOSH!
The Drake's movements suddenly became quicker, it moved it's tail in a move desperate. It was its final surge of power before death. Grimm tensed, barely sidestepping a tail swipe that would have sent her flying off the fort's edge.
Despite its increased speed, the numerous wounds had taken their toll. The beast was still slower than Grimm, but not by much. Its nose shook as it forcefully took in the white fog around it and released it.
"KRRRRAHHH!"
It didn't stop with a swipe of a tail.
Its body instantly rushed forward, ignoring all the bleeding. Its hands swiped at Grimm continuously. Its hind legs collapsed the stone floor, but it didn't stop its body.
-Swipe -Swipe -Swipe -Swipe
Grimm's breath came in ragged gasps as she twisted and rolled, always just barely avoiding the lethal strikes, one after another. Each strike causes the air to literally change its path.
Gradually, the Drake's movements slowed again. The poison and blood loss were winning. Grimm saw her opportunity and rushed in for what she hoped would be a killing blow. Her anger caused her body to feel extremely agile.
It was a mistake.
With the last of its strength, the Drake whipped its tail around, catching Grimm midstride.
"Cough!"
The impact sent her flying against the fort wall. Stone cracked behind her, and she felt something inside her break as well. She slid to the ground, blood trickling from her nose and mouth.
The Drake roared weakly, a final defiant cry before it collapsed on the floor in front of her.
"KUUuuuhhhh..."
Its massive form shuddered once, twice, and then went still, one eye staring lifelessly at the orange sky.
Unknown to everyone what was it's last thought.
Grimm coughed blood onto the stones as she forced herself to move. Her hand fumbled for the [Medical Herbs] stored behind her chest shield.
"Shit.", Her mouth cursed out angrily. With trembling fingers, Grimm placed one in her mouth and began to chew weakly, forcing herself to swallow despite the pain. A wave of warmth spread through her body as the herb's magic took effect. The bleeding slowed, though the pain remained.
It was enough to keep her conscious, at least.
She wobbled to her feet and stumbled toward the fallen Drake.
Jeanne's sword still protruded from its eye socket.
Grimm grasped the hilt and pulled, bracing her foot against the creature's head for leverage. The blade came free with a sickening sound.
'Jeanne...'
Grimm stared in silence.
The sword had transformed. The blade now flickered and wavered like solidified flame, glowing with inner heat. Something about killing the Drake had changed the weapon's very nature. Grimm didn't know what it was, but it felt like it was alive.
As she held the sword, a strange sensation washed over her. The familiar flow of souls entered her body, but it was far more intense than before. She gasped as the energy surged through her.
"Eight thousand souls," she whispered, almost dizzy from the influx of power.
Something else caught her attention.
A dark aura emanated from the Drake's stomach in the form of smoky tendrils.
Despite her injuries, Grimm knelt beside the massive corpse. Using the flame-like blade, she cut open the beast's belly.
Inside, nestled among organs and viscera, she found two objects: a spherical orb of pure darkness.
A [Black Soul].
And a chunk of strange, iridescent metal, an [Ore Chunk], which Jeanne had talked about when she was explaining how her sword was a bit stronger than a normal one. She pocketed both, though her movements were becoming sluggish.
'Ugh...', Her vision began to blur. The healing herbs were not enough to counter her severe injuries.
"Jeanne... I am sorry.", A soft murmur escaped her mouth as her eyes grew impossibly heavy. She made it only a few more steps before darkness claimed her, and she collapsed to the ground.
.
.
.
Pain greeted Grimm as consciousness returned. A dull, throbbing headache pulsed behind her eyes. She heard a soft sound nearby, something small moving through grass and making cute grunting sounds.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the soft, diffused light. The light was not as strong as it was at Fort Ivern.
A small black rabbit sat near her, head tilted in curiosity as it observed her.
Grimm realized she was lying on soft grass rather than cold stone. Trees surrounded her, their canopy filtering sunlight into gentle dappled patterns. The air smelled sweet and clean, a stark contrast to the fort's decaying nature.
She sat up carefully, surprised to find that while her body ached, her more serious injuries seemed healed. The [Blade] that she took back from the Drake's body lay beside her, its fiery appearance subdued but still unmistakable.
The black rabbit hopped closer, continuing to study her with unusual intelligence in its eyes.
"Hey, you came here too?" the rabbit said, its voice that of a man, surprisingly deep and articulate for such a small creature. "Nah, I guess a better way to put it, you were carried here."
Grimm was startled at the talking animal but found herself too exhausted to be truly shocked.
The rabbit continued, rubbing its face and scratching behind its ears. "Don't worry. This isn't the netherworld. This is just a place for those who became wanderers or for those who lost their way. To make their first step, towards the center of the board."
Grimm lowered her head. Her hand clenched around the blade's hilt.
The rabbit noticed the gesture and made an astonished sound. "Is that a [Drake Sword]?" it asked, ears perking up.
"I don't know," Grimm replied with confusion. "I killed the Drake, but this sword should have been an ordinary sword... maybe?"
The rabbit seemed to consider her odd tone, studying her more carefully. "I see. Seems like there's something you ought to do, right? Maybe you're hoping to save the world, or maybe rule all of mankind. Doesn't matter to me anyway."
With a cute grunt, the creature continued, "My name is Prayer Master. If you wish to spend time in this forest, that's fine by me. I am a trader and can help you if you wish to trade or sell anything. The main currency that we use is souls."
"Souls?" Grimm asked, surprised. "I... I have souls."
Prayer Master nodded knowingly. "If you wish to go out of the forest, I have to warn you. There are demonbeasts lurking outside, so try not to die." The rabbit paused, then added with what seemed like a smirk, "Oh, wait, since you are undead, that's not something you need to worry about."
Grimm frowned at this casual mention of her nature. "How do you know I'm undead?"
"It's rather obvious, at least to me.", the Prayer Master replied. "Anyway, what's your name, hero?"
"Grimm," she answered simply.
"Grimm. Grimm. Grimm.", Prayer Master lowered his head for a short second and repeated her name, possibly to remember her name.
=====
[1885]
Don't forget to give me a comment, reply, or power stone! They give me motivation!
Thank you!
-SR_2027.
=====