Mayuri's dagger crack as she tries to climb over to the hole so she can return with the Nightfall as they are left on their own devices. She tries to use the uneven and protruding structure of the dungeon, but she then sees that the Giant Spiders are clearly not letting her escape or climb back up. She has to decide whether to let go and fall or fight them back, even though she doesn't have any proper platform to land with.
Even though she is running all of her options in her head, the dagger she use to stab and hanging for her dear life doesn't wait for any decisions. It breaks just as the Spiders tries to bind her with their webbing, but Mayuri defends herself and just let the fall happen instead. She tries to look at the abyss, but she flinch and closes her eyes. Just as she feels that she will land into a hard surface, she feels that she land into a hard liquid surface instead.
*SPLASH
As soon as she hits the water she tries to fire a Wind Pistol in order to make her move above much faster. She fires two shots, and she does manage to go above. The dark waters are cold and luckily, Mayuri found a shore where she can get out of the mysterious pool of water with. As she goes up, the darkness in this place is just illuminating by a single lantern above the cavern itself. She looks everywhere on where she can go to.
"Is this the only way out? I'm not really buying this..." Mayuri thinks aloud as she sees a stair and a way up to an unknown place. She remembers that there is no such thing as water in this dungeon, and she is actually asking herself what is this place.
Meanwhile, the Nightfall is scrambling to ask for a help. They opt to return to the entrance to issue a search and rescue for their mentor. They fight their way back through the dungeon, fighting low level monsters and such. "Hey! Isn't that?" Boris sees somebody on the horizon where they are suppose to go with their mentor. Eclaire and Eugene sees that spear lady from earlier and they nod to each other.
"We got no choice. We need help as soon as we can before Ms. Mayuri is put in any further danger!" Eugene states as he's the one to first approach Gina. When he done close, she almost slice his head off as she points out her spear on him. "Hmmm? What are you doing here? Where is that green haired mentor of yours?" Gina ask as she is looking at the expressions of the teens on the matter.
"Ms. Mayuri is attacked by a Giant Goblin earlier and they fall into a hole. I'm not sure if she's safe and all." Eclaire details with a regretful tone to the spear wielding adventurer so she can ask for sympathy for her. "Then tell me where she falls then?" Gina ask as the Nightfall's expression slightly lighten up. They lead her to where Mayuri falls into. Gina lights up her spear in order to see if she can see through the abyss of darkness below, which she does and sees the Giant Spiders crawling out of the hole.
"I'm afraid I am not qualified to say the fate of your mentor. She should know she can't let her guard down even if it's a beginner dungeon." Gina advises the teens and suppose to be their mentor as it is, for her, one of the most usual advise for an Adventurer to take. She then slay the Giant Spiders and use her spear to burn them down and their webbings.
"Well you need to get back to the dungeon entrance and report this matter. I'll go try to locate your mentor. In the meantime, I will say that I can't guarantee her safety, it is all entirely on her." Gina says as she takes a deep breath and put some mana into her feet. She then jumps into the abyss with her spear tip leading the fall.
"Be safe!!" The Nightfall farewells as they runs through back in order to fulfill her request. Gina, in a blazing fall, lights up the cavern. She lands into the water and she almost evaporate the whole thing in one drop. "What the..." As soon as she lands on a now shallow pool of water and her feet is okay with her reinforced mana, she witness bones that hide from that waters.
"So this is some trap that was just discovered by someone huh..." Gina remarks as she climbs her way up to the surface so she can catch up with Mayuri.
Meanwhile, Mayuri is walking in the dark, using her senses in order to map out her way out of the place but she discovers one thing, there is a lot of activity going on in this surprisingly wide space. She is feeling that there is somebody clearly living and using this place like a forward base or something. While she is wandering, she felt something triggers upon her stepping into a tile.
"Okay who's..." Before she can utter any words she feels several projectiles hissing through the wind and something is setting up through the ceiling and through the floor. She immediately handsprings out of the way and when she feels that she's gonna be hit by an arrow to her sides, she quickly pivots and kick it. She lands in another tile, and it triggers something again.
"Now what?" Mayuri ask as a wall at the opposite end of her position slowly opens. She then hears some footsteps and groaning on the other side. The shadows of these beings later cover the said wide room as Mayuri grabs the protruding projectiles from the ground. "Goblins... Is this their lair? I never seen any women here... Is this just their supply grounds?" Mayuri thinks but the leisure of thinking isn't on her side.
The goblins points as several archers, mage and raiders are assembling to take her down. She points her index finger to cast a Wind Spell. "Wind Pistol." As she shot down four of the raiders and the archers, the mages cast a Barrier spell and the raiders charge to strike her. Mayuri ducks the first spear attack as she stabs the wolf of the first attacker. As the goblin falls, she kills the rider with a stab to the neck. She does the same to another raider as she is trying to control the matter on her own hands.
"Tch, this is getting annoying." Mayuri remarks as she brings the fight near the archers and mages in order for them to doubt shooting their attacks at her, though she is risking herself being near the enemy instead. She then continues to stab and slice them with her superior speed, yet something is setting in that isn't good for the green haired Rogue.
The goblin mages cast some debuff at the room and Mayuri feels her feet becomes light as her vision turns hazy and she then realize what is happening. "A Sleep Spell? At this situation?" Mayuri ask herself since as soon as the mages cast this, some of the goblin raiders are in the area of effect and they fall asleep. Mayuri tries to cover her nose, but it is too late as this is seeping through her body.
"I need... To get... Out!" Mayuri declares as she grabs something from her pouch. She then throws it to the ground as it fills the air with smoke. This make the mages and the archer go blind as they cough due to it. Mayuri jumps into a ledge above the room. She then fights through the Sleep Spell the only way she knows how.
Mayuri then lightly stabs her thigh. She then feels some relief, but she's panting and sweating heavily through her encounter. The goblin mages and archers are combing the whole area after the smoke dies down, and as soon as they are inside the room, a heavy stomping shakes the whole room. Mayuri recalls this as she can't believe that it is still alive.
"God dang! That Giant Goblin is still living? What a pain..." Mayuri remarks as it also enters the room. The goblins are conversing on their own language, something that Mayuri can't understand as they combine it with sounds and hand gestures. The goblin mages later raise their staff, and it later illuminate the whole room. Mayuri is looking closely to what they are planning at, and when the light hits her, the goblins looks at her direction.
"What? That's a Detection Spell?" Mayuri ask as the archers aims and shoots at her. She jumps down and she prepares to fight again, but the Giant Goblin is something she can't take along with a standing army of monster trying to shoot her down. She prepares her dagger and herself for the worst as she lunges and slay the mage that is planning to cast something. With her speed, she can outrun the slower mages and archer from shooting her.
But the real problem manifest as the Giant Goblin manage to grab her out after killing the said mage. The Giant Goblin then goes ham with her as it shakes her, and when she tries to stab its hand, it throws her into a wall. She lands as it creates a crater of her body there, signifying how impactful the throw is. Mayuri coughs some blood as the archer shoots some arrows at her and she needs to defend herself from the volley.
"This cursed... AAAH!" An arrow manage to hit her in the gut and on her left foot. This disable her movement as she is recalling the time she does her first mission and her mother bails her out. This time she doesn't expect any back up as she is truly alone. Her facade of a strong and lone wolf type of a girl is being challenged, and she can only raise her blade and continue to fight in such a state.
"What a pathetic failure I am. Trying to change my life? I am just regretting every step of the way I am here..." Mayuri's mind is failing as she is parrying the next volley of arrows flying on her way. A stray arrow hits her right arm and she manage to duck the arrow going straight on her forehead. She's completely exhausted and she's going to be left for dead or be violated in this case.
"Finishing Move."
The words echoes through the room as a blazing flame suddenly engulf the goblins. The Giant Goblin manage to resist and roar through the attack. As Mayuri is in a corner bleeding from arrow hits, an unexpected help arrives. "You monster... What are you doing here? You suppose to be a boss fight in the last room!" The woman's voice rings out as she calls out to the Giant Goblin who's standing still from her Finishing Move.
"Well I can't blame the spear. It looks like I have to deal with you myself." The woman utters as the spear flies back to her hand as she enters the room. She then charges and she sees the Giant Goblin chambering its fist to punch her, only for her to hop for a dodge as she swiftly counters with several cut through its hand and left shoulder. The Giant Goblin ignore this as it follows up with another punch, but she now severely punish it.
"You gonna regret that..." Gina says as she stab the punch itself as the Giant Goblin recoils in pain as it hold its hand while it bleeds. She then follows it up with a stab through the side, which makes the Giant Goblin tries to swat her down, but she's obviously faster than the wicked monster. She then end the fight when she jumps and stab the monster straight to his neck. It stops moving limps out as she retrieve her spear back from the monster's neck.
"Hey! You okay? Looks like you're bleeding badly." Gina calls out to Mayuri as she is trying to look at her. She quickly approach her as soon as she confirms the death of the Giant Goblin and she looks at the severity of the wounds. "Yikes... Looks like we need to have the clerics look for that. For now, I'll tend your wounds and stop the bleeding so we can move through this dungeon. I am not familiar about this side of the dungeon at all." Gina explains but Mayuri isn't listening at all.
"Thanks for the help..." Mayuri responds. Gina looks at the Rogue and she sees her tears flowing like a faucet. "Woah, why are you crying?" Gina ask as Mayuri tries to wipe out her tears. "I just remember my parents... How lucky I am from my first mission and somehow, I believe they are watching me still." Mayuri replies as she feels the warmth of Gina's hand tending and stopping her from bleeding further.
This last for several minutes as Gina tries to prop up Mayuri and ask if she can walk on her own. She shakes her head in disagreement and the two walks together shoulder to shoulder. The only foot okay for Mayuri is her right foot, and together they progress through the dungeon again.
"What was that? Why is there a room for supplies there? Does the goblins need supplies now?" Mayuri ask as Gina is also thinking about it. Their voice is echoing through that narrow way and they are able to see a light on the way. "Well we can't answer that unless there is someone living in this parts, which is very unlikely." Gina answers as the two reach the said light.
The light is a lit latern that is probably done by the goblins who happen to enter the room earlier. Gina and Mayuri hears several growling noise from a turning point at the opposite end of this hall. "Hey, can you lean on the side? I'll quickly deal with this..." Gina ask as she get Mayuri leaning into the side. She just nods as she tries to feel the possible battle that waits for her.
"You need to be careful. When it comes to a more dangerous situation. Go here so I can try to assist you." Mayuri says as Gina prepares her spear again for a fight. "What? I can't possibly burden you with that. I'll take care of this, promise." Gina replies to what Mayuri said earlier as she approach the shadows and she sees several Dire Wolves in there.
Gina then goes to stab the first wolf as the next one roars and they try to pound her. She spins and swipes the eyes of the wolves as she stabs and slice their jaw out. When another wolf joins a fight, she then jumps out when it tries to bite her and drops to it, stabbing it into its body. As she pulls out her spear on the carcass, she sees several Dire Wolves waiting for her.
"Hey pups, never been afraid of you." Gina smirks as she sees several wolves pounce. Mayuri is waiting for her to finish slaughtering the wolves. She tries to look at her legs as she tries to cover her scaly feet. "I'm not sure why I am hiding this..." Mayuri thinks out loud as she hears too many whimpers and blood splashing through the turn way. Gina comes back to her side, some blood of the wolves splash on her face as she's wiping it out.
"Hey, coast is clear. We'll move." Gina says as she props her up again and carry her. She is getting ashamed for every second there. "I'm sorry for this. If I didn't mess up back there..." Mayuri apologizes, but Gina interrupts. "No, you don't have to. Please, your students ask me for help and I will not abandon you in such situation. I'll never abandon such woman in danger." Gina says as they walks alongside each other.
After passing through the way and Mayuri seeing her handiwork earlier, she remarks something. "Geez how long are you being an Adventurer Gina?" Mayuri ask while they are passing through a dark part of the dungeon. "Well, for several years now. I graduated in the Royal Academy and I aim to be a great Adventurer like my Dad before me. He's now dead since his dream didn't come true, and I am here to achieve it for him."
As she hears Gina's motivation, she can somehow feels some prick on her chest. "So you are trying to achieve your Father's dream? Are you close?" Mayuri ask while her mind returns from the time when she is with her whole family. "Yeah, he is basically my ideal man. My Father take care of me when Mom died when she have me. He tries to work through his own way in order to take care of my needs. Does efforts are what push me to be here." Gina adds as the two continue walking.
They reach a narrow bridge to crossover to the familiar parts of the dungeon again. "When I enter the Royal Academy, my Father is proud of me. The whole neighborhood knows the whole thing as he proudly announce it to them. He also brag it to the adventurer pals he had. That was a great time." Gina recounts as Mayuri is listening, absorbing it while she remembers the training and the day she ignores her Father's warning.
"I... I think I can relate." Mayuri mutters as Gina happily agrees with. "Right? And when I enter my first dungeon and all, he never stops worrying about me. He always shares advise so I will be able to finish it. It only took us several hours to finish it, and my Father starts a party on the neighborhood again." Gina says as Mayuri thinks.
"Wow, your father is a cheerful man huh. He likes celebrating stuff." Mayuri reacts as the conversation stops and the sounds run out. Gina then starts to gloom as Mayuri understand it, she catch that she is now remembering the not so good memories. "Well, one day after my studies are over that day, a news burst out of our house from one of his comrade..." Gina recounts, but this time her voice is now low and sad.
"I rush to the guild to find my Father is lying there. Several clerics are trying to save his life, but Healing Spells can only go so far. I hold my Father's hand and he said, live the way I see fit, and be happy." Gina recounts as her grip strengthen from Mayuri's shoulder.
"We share the same burden then." Mayuri answers as Gina looks at her. "My Father died because I never heed his words. To this day I regret everything about it. I never once question if I need to make that choice, but it certainly makes me feel the guilt of it all."
The gloomy response from Mayuri tells it all. "From there I swear to myself that I will live my best and achieve his dream, to be the greatest Adventurer there is."
As the two are bonding over their loss and trauma, another Giant Goblin appears in their way again as they see that it is descending through the rocky stairs. Gina tries to lut Mayuri down somewhere so she can fight it, but after hearing the reason why she becomes an Adventurer, Mayuri tries to fight through the pain so she can join her. "Okay now you are really pushing it. You need to take care of yourself!" Gina says as Mayuri stills push through.
"After hearing your story Gina, I realize something. I will live and honor their memories with me, living!" She grabs her daggers as she takes a stance to fight. Gina's eyes widen as she just found someone who understands her pain and her motivation, something that rarely happen when she is looking for friends everywhere.
"Yeah, you're right. Keep up with me then!" Gina commands as Mayuri responds with a loud yes.
As the Giant Goblin brandishes its club, a club that is almost a size of a man. The ladies are taking the sides so they can take down this big target. Mayuri first dash through the monster as she's acting as a decoy for Gina to either follow through or prepares her Finishing Move. She tries to slice the wrist and the right hand of the Goblin, but it just tank it and it raises its hand anyway. She sees the goblin chambering the attack, and Mayuri moves away from it.
*CRRAAASSH.
The clubs falls with great power. It destroy several flight of stairs as Mayuri jumps through the right and she sees that the Giant Goblin's left hand sweeps through and tries to grab her. Gina stands between and she stabs and spins her spear around to aim at the head of this monster. It then follows it out with a sweeping club attack.
Due to Mayuri's injury she can't jump to high. Gina then decides to use the butt end of her spear to push Mayuri out of danger and she blocks the said attack. The attack is so great that Gina is sent screeching to the pointy walls of the dungeon and the monster doesn't just let up. It next runs and tries to kick her. She tries to stab the foot, but it just tanks it as the spear pierce through its left foot.
The Giant Goblin roars again as it raise its weapon and repeatedly smash Gina with it. She blocks it with all of her might, but she feels the fatigue and feels that she will run out of mana. The Goblin smirks as it knows that victory is near its hands, yet Mayuri doesn't let it happen.
"No, I won't let this happen again!" Her eyes flashes her memories from the day her mother dies and her father lying on the rain, lifeless. She raises her daggers again, and her mind and her body heats up with mana forming and expanding throughout her whole body. "Is this what it feels?" The Rogue remarks as she feels her pain disappear for that moment.
She lunges through the Giant Goblin and she slice the club out with her newfound strength. She then shock the Giant Goblin with a snappy front quick and it send it flying. Her whole body feels the warmth while Gina is slump there, tired but she flashes a thumbs up, signalling for her to end the fight in her stead.
"Thank you, can I ca you friend from now on?" Mayuri shyly ask as this surprise Gina. "Aren't we already are? We share the same pain. I consider you one already." Gina confirms her words as it energize Mayuri to end the monster in a single slash on its neck.