The chilling pronouncement hung in the air, thick with unspoken dread. Erina, who had been silently observing Riku's strange sensory contortions, paled visibly at the whispered word. Even without understanding the full context, the palpable tension radiating from Riku was enough to convey the gravity of the situation. Flugels. The very name seemed to carry a weight of fear.
Riku's mind raced, analyzing the limited data he had gathered. A small, flying magical entity, not making contact with the ground. It could be a scout, a messenger, or something far more dangerous. The fact that it hadn't made its presence overtly known was unsettling. Were they being observed? Was this a prelude to a larger attack?
He tightened his grip on the hilt of Igris's sword, the cold metal a small comfort against the lingering throb of his severed hand. He needed more information, and he needed it quickly. Remaining in the open cave was no longer an option. It was a death trap.
"Igris," Riku commanded in a low voice, his eyes scanning the unseen ceiling, "can you pinpoint its exact location? And can you sense its intentions?"
Igris remained motionless for a moment, his crimson eyes seemingly piercing through the solid rock above. Then, he slowly shook his head.
'They're above us, but even Igris can't pinpoint their exact location through the rock. And why here? There's no way they'd come to this desolate place for other races or resources. There isn't another sentient race within a one-kilometer radius of here.' A knot of unease tightened in Riku's chest. The Flugel's presence here felt targeted, deliberate.
"What will we do now, Riku?" Erina asked, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. The sudden shift from the bizarre self-mutilation to the palpable threat in the air had left her visibly shaken.
Igris, who had stood silently like a crimson statue until now, suddenly bent down, his gauntleted hand resting firmly on Riku's shoulder. His helmeted gaze locked onto Riku's, a silent communication passing between them, a sense of urgency and resolve emanating from the shadow knight. It was as if Igris had made a decision.
Then, with surprising speed, Igris turned and sprinted towards the cave entrance, his heavy armor clanking softly against the stone.
"Wait!" Riku shouted instinctively, a sense of alarm jolting through him. But Igris was already gone, disappearing into the dim light outside. He had moved quickly, anticipating Riku's command to stay, knowing he would have to obey.
"Riku? Why did he run away like that?" Erina asked, her voice filled with confusion and a hint of fear.
A grim expression settled on Riku's face. "He has gone to become the bait."
"What? He's going to… sacrifice himself for us?" Erina stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief and a dawning horror.
"It seems so," Riku confirmed, his voice low and heavy. "But… there is a big problem with this."
"Which problem?" Erina asked, her voice laced with anxiety as she tried to process the gravity of Igris's selfless act.
"Suppose, even if he manages to divert their attention," Riku explained, his brow furrowed in thought, "what guarantee do we have that all of them will leave? It's entirely possible that some of the Flugels will notice Igris, a clearly non-native entity, exiting the cave and deduce that there's something else inside. They could easily bypass his distraction and reach us through the entrance. In that scenario," Riku's voice dropped, heavy with grim realism, "we can do nothing except wait to die."
Beyond the immediate danger, a deeper concern gnawed at Riku. Even if Igris's gambit succeeded, he would lose his most powerful and loyal servant, a significant blow to his strength and security.
Just as these grim thoughts solidified in his mind, a new notification appeared in his vision. Riku instinctively expected the familiar glow of the reward icon, signaling the completion of his self-mutilation task. But this message was different.
[Congratulations, the first part of the mission is complete]
[2. Gambler will have to cut 3 of his limbs from the joints.]
Difficulty: B Rank
Time Limit: Remaining time left by first part. 9 : 55 : 12
Penalty: Your severed hand will not heal.
'What? The last mission was divided into two parts? If that was the case, why didn't the System explicitly state it? Was it a deliberate omission to ensure I wouldn't try to skip it? But I wouldn't have skipped this mission anyway, the penalty was too severe. Regardless of the System's intentions, I have to complete this… and quickly.' The realization that the self-mutilation was only half the battle sent a fresh wave of urgency through Riku. The new penalty – permanent dismemberment – was a stark escalation and a terrifying prospect. He had to act fast, before the Flugel returned, and before the remaining time ticked away.
'My consciousness is fading fast. If I succumb to unconsciousness and don't wake up before the time runs out, not only will my hand remain severed, but I'll also forfeit the reward for the second part of this twisted mission. And I don't even know if those three additional limbs will heal afterward. But the potential reward… it has to be worth this. It's certainly better than the alternative – being discovered by Flugels.' Riku's thoughts were a desperate scramble against the encroaching darkness.
'Maybe the reward will even provide a means of escape from this accursed cave, from the Flugel threat altogether,' he clung to that sliver of hope.
With grim determination, he gripped the Black March tighter, his movements swift and deliberate despite the weakening grip of his right hand. This time, silence was paramount. He couldn't afford to cry out, not even a whimper. Any sound could betray their location to the unseen enemy above.
Just as he steeled himself for the next wave of self-inflicted agony, a stark, brutal message flashed across his vision:
[SYSTEM: Igris The Bloodred is dead]
A cold dread washed over him, far more profound than the agony of his flesh. Igris. Gone. His loyal knight, his unwavering protector, had sacrificed himself, and for what? Had it even bought them any time? The chilling implication was that the Flugel, or Flugels, were powerful enough to overcome even Igris.
A wave of guilt crashed over Riku. He had sent Igris out there, a desperate gamble, and it had cost him his existence. The weight of that decision pressed down on him, a crushing burden added to the already unbearable physical torment. He had to make Igris's sacrifice count. He had to complete this insane mission and somehow, somehow, survive this.
With a grim determination born of desperation and grief, Riku steeled himself for the next agonizing step. The Black March felt cold and alien in his trembling left hand. He had to sever three more limbs. Joints. The thought alone sent a fresh wave of nausea through him.
He chose his left arm first. He positioned the razor-sharp blade, took a ragged breath, and with a brutal, swift motion, brought it down across his elbow joint. The pain was immediate, white-hot, a screaming inferno that threatened to consume his senses. Tendons snapped, bone grated, and the sickening wet sound of tearing flesh filled the small cave. A primal scream clawed its way up his throat, but he bit down hard, his teeth clenching until his jaw ached, determined to remain silent. A dark, viscous fluid pulsed from the open wound. A sensation followed the pain – a horrifying disconnect, a feeling of profound loss as a part of himself was irrevocably detached.
Next was his right leg, at the knee. The process was a horrifying repeat of the first. The searing agony, the sickening sounds, the visceral tearing. This time, a low groan escaped his lips despite his best efforts. The cave seemed to spin, the dim light flickering at the edges of his vision. The feeling this time was one of profound imbalance, a fundamental disruption of his physical being. He was becoming less, broken, incomplete.
Finally, with a shuddering breath and sweat beading on his forehead, he turned his attention to his left leg, aiming for the knee joint. His movements were becoming sluggish, his strength waning. The pain was a constant, overwhelming presence now, threatening to drag him down into the abyss of unconsciousness. Yet, the image of Igris, his silent sacrifice, spurred him on. He had to endure. He had to finish this. The final cut was the most difficult, his weakened state making the motion clumsy and agonizingly slow. The tearing sensation was accompanied by a wave of nausea, a primal revulsion at what he was doing to his own body.
Throughout this horrific ordeal, Erina had stood frozen, her face a mask of utter shock and revulsion. The sight of Riku systematically mutilating himself, the raw, visceral sounds of it, were beyond anything she could have ever conceived. Her refined sensibilities, her ingrained appreciation for beauty and order, were assaulted by this brutal spectacle. As Riku severed his second limb, her composure finally broke. She whirled around, her hands flying to her mouth, and the retching sounds of violent vomiting echoed through the small cave. The stench mingled with the metallic tang of blood, creating an atmosphere of pure horror.
Riku, through the haze of pain and encroaching darkness, registered Erina's distress. A pang of guilt twisted within him. He had subjected this refined girl to such a gruesome scene. But he couldn't afford to dwell on it. He had to focus on the task at hand.
With his last remaining strength, he registered the final [Mission Completed] notification. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, so profound that it threatened to extinguish his consciousness entirely. The pain was still there, a roaring inferno in his mangled body, but it was fading, being replaced by a heavy, irresistible pull towards oblivion. His vision blurred, the dim light of the cave dissolving into swirling darkness. His knees buckled, and he finally succumbed, collapsing onto the blood-soaked cave floor, unconsciousness claiming him at last.