I dashed over to the party. All of them were currently looming over a casket on the ground. "Ah, thief. We found a suspicious key inside this casket. We're all a tad worried a trap will spring up."
Looking inside the casket, a key with a simple design lay. Covered in cobwebs and rust at its base. I put on a confident smile. "Of course. I'll just…" I kneeled beside it, casting simple heal on the casket to make it look like I was casting [Trap Check]
"All is well." I turned back to the party and snatched it.
The feeling of the web covering my hand wasn't pleasant.
-Click.
A door opened. The small cubic tomb shook. A wall of sand sinks into the ground, revealing a colosseum. Through the dim opening, an amount of people so vast they blurred together looked down at us. It was as if there wasn't any substance to their existence.
It was dead silent as well, unlike the rowdy image of arenas.
"Let's go." Gregory looked solemn, not glancing at the audience.
His party members nodded and we followed.
Gregory's foot touched the threshold between the tunnel and the arena, and the crowd erupted in violent cheers, as a collective it sounded like a curse.
"This floor isn't as simple. Even the thief will have to fight." He unsheathed his sword, raising it at the front gate.
"Monsters will flood out of these gates around us. The level depends on the party's class rarity, since we all have common classes it should be relatively simple… still, keep your guard up."
Hm?
But me and the princess have rare classes… mine is actually unheard of.
The roars of the arena didn't die down. As an important looking man descended the stairs finding his way into the tent atop the gate.
"Are you sure that's how it works? Information amongst adventurers is often tampered with."
He looked steadfast, completely dead serious. "I'm sure."
Ah.
I glanced at the princess who was currently sweating under her hood. What will show up, I wonder?
Just in case, I grabbed my stick from my backpack eliciting a once-over from my party members. The elf opened to her mouth but.
"RAHHHHHH!"
A deafening roar silenced everything, every roaming thought went quiet. All eyes were on him. A man cloaked in the fur of a tiger wrapped around his neck. Royal colors draped around his body. "These heretics who stained the name of the god of Laara! By worshiping the name of (*&@^*(. They will prove if they are worthy to continue living in Laara's eyes, by rite of combat!"
What was that second part? It was censored but when he said it. Something inside of me trembled.
"Does he usually say that?" The elf asked.
"No… he usually talks like a normal NPC. I guess the info really wasn't trustworthy."
"Begin!" The king shouted to the bloodthirsty fervor of the crowd.
Men jumped from the stands, two for each gate. And pushed the lever to the side of them up. Goblins and orcs spilled out, bludgeoning the guards that were close by. A few managed to climb back up in time. My lip quivered as I lowered my stance.
What came out next made me want to drop my stick.
The bottom half was a lion while the top half was a bird. It was a Gryphon. A monster that shouldn't be encountered until the twentieth floor was here. The bloodlust of an advanced monster was too intense. Even the surrounding goblins felt sluggish in its presence.
"Everybody, take care of the small ones… I'll take it on!" Gregory shouted, already running towards the thing.
His party members opened their mouths lightly but didn't say anything. Going to opposite sides to take on the small-fry.
This… It's my fault.
I wobbled uncontrollably, looking down at my feet planted uselessly on the ground. I'm suddenly reminded of the time when I truly felt powerless. It was back in the village. Me and Marcus were sparring with wooden swords. I was definitely the one with upper-hand power-wise back then.
It was the year before we got our classes appraised.
After a clash I sent his sword flying.
And he fell onto his butt.
I put my sword down and ran over to him, and was just about to lend a hand.
"Marcus, come play with us! Arianne's grandma made cookies!" It was the boy who'd become the hero party's paladin. The him in my memory and the stalwart man I saw on the dungeon broadcast didn't match. So I let out an unconscious giggle.
He got up, and ran towards them.
He left his sword on the ground.
What would've happened if I had chased after him then? Would I be a part of that world as well?
I felt a touch on my shoulder. One I'd gotten all too used to. "Calvin, get it together!" Her words were as blunt as ever, that's right… get it together!
The sound of the arena filled my ears which were once ringing.
"Sorry."
"It's alright."
I looked around, Gregory was holding his own against the Gryphon, but he was being pushed back. Baan tore through the weakened Orcs and Goblins. But his breath was clearly growing weary. The elf shot from a distance and sliced at anything that got too close.
Me and Valerie were tackling three gates ourselves.
A goblin jumped up at me, at the same time one aimed to swipe at my legs. I took a deep breath. While they were seconds away from hitting me, slowly a green energy was filling my body. I raised my arm hitting both of their heads with an 'S' trajectory.
[Thunk!] Activated!
They both fell, unmoving.
I don't have a sharp weapon…
I stomped on the two goblins.
More jumped forward, as I let the energy control my body. My muscles tensed and pulsed. Using the stun skill I rampaged through crowds of goblins. Green blood oozed out of them like squished cream donuts. A thin veil of it covered my cheek.
I slammed my stick at a goblin that was cowering after I ran through his group. Gregory's party weren't paying any attention to me so I was able to use most of my skills, all the small wounds were healed with a [Simple Heal]
The gate stopped pouring monsters out of it and I found a window to crouch down and catch my breath.
I looked back, smudging the blood on my cheek with a sleeve.
Valerie was cutting through hordes of goblins with a viciousness I hadn't seen. Seeing so many of the things she hated must've triggered something in her. She plunged her sword into the chest of a goblin, kicking it off her sword and quickly turned, slicing another down the middle.
It didn't feel like I was looking at the princess I knew, and at first it frightened me a little. We've had many cases where she could've killed me before we fell off the dragon. But now it felt reassuring. Her gate closed, it was her final wave.
On the far end of the arena, Gregory and the Gryphon clashed, deep scratches could be seen through gaping holes in his clothes. He grimaced as it went in for a slash, holding up his sword. It gripped the blade.
I need to help… I caught my breath.
I started to walk to him, past Baan and the elves, whose gates were still open. Even though my physical wounds healed, the mental ones didn't. I was tired. My legs dragged behind my brain. I can't trick anyone now, all I can use is what I got?
What do I have?
A gaze tore through me, and I involuntarily looked up.
The regal man sitting on a velvet chair looked down. His demeanor was nothing like the bloodthirsty one he showed before. He seemed like a wise king.
His lips moved, enunciating the inaudible words.
I understood.
"Throw it!"
A deep breath… the metallic-tinged air became clean.
[A new skill is sprouting, a unique skill of 'Whacker' wants to show itself!]
[Will you let it?]
The system message melted into the background as I closed my eyes and raised the stick.
"Yes."
[Congratulations, you have obtained the unique skill: [Think Fast!]]
[Increased accuracy of all attacks using Whacker]
The stick soared through the air, Baan and the elf who finished their gates watched. The elf stared with widened eyes. The NPC audience stared as well. Everyone besides Gregory, and. The Gryphon.
[Thunk!]
It froze.
"You have ten seconds Gregory, kill it, quickly!"
He looked back, slightly confused. Before grunting and slashing at the Gryphon's defenseless neck. Golden blood stained the sand. An eagle's head plummeted.
"What just-" He stared at his sword in bewilderment.
"So it seems the heretics have been forgiven for their transgressions… fine, after watching your fight I don't feel like killing you people either."
He clapped, and a servant beside him bowed presenting him with an artifact on a red cushion.
"In fact, for such a show I feel the need to reward you."
Stop talking old man, let us go.
"I'll give it to the most important warrior. The one who contributed greatly to your victory."
Gregory, obviously. If he didn't hold back the Gryphon the whole time we'd all be dead.
"You…" He slowly raised his hand, and of course it pointed to Gregory until he moved it slightly to the left. "The one with the stick, come up."