章 25: Acting cool at death's doorstep
Zero pressed on, deeper into the tombs while killing several Gravekeepers with 2 or 3 skulls.
'The Gravekeepers with 3 skulls are relatively comparable to those Tengu mercenaries so killing them is relatively easy. The only problem is their special abilities which I have to be careful of otherwise I might find myself in trouble' Zero thought as he cut off the arms of one female Gravekeeper carrying 3 skulls.
"Argh! W-Why are you doing this to us!?" She asked while wailing on the ground which made Zero stop for a second.
'They really seem to be victims but they are extremely ruthless too. Several of them already told me that they would find out where are my relatives. They might be victims but such dangerous and vengeful individuals are better off dead.'
"Who knows, the Empire wants your treasures so you sure are victims in this story but you are also as ruthless as us if not even more...Finding out and killing my relatives...too late for that" Zero replied and swung his sword, making her head fly.
"Hmph!" Zero took the last look at her headless body before running off.
'It would be really bad if this entire tomb crumbled and fell down on our heads. I don't even know how deep inside I am. I have been running around for almost half an hour but I should slow down if I want to have some stamina left in case of emergency.' Zero thought while quietly walking through the halls, checking behind every corner for any possible enemies.
'If I knew it's such a maze in higher levels, I would have brought some colored threads to leave behind me.' As Zero released a helpless sigh, he heard a shout from some distance in front of him. Zero run to the corner and peek to the next hall. His eyes widened upon seeing the sight inside the hall.
He discovered where the prisoners were most likely held, however, he also saw Guy fall down, creating a pool of blood under him. Due to being so surprised, his guard dropped a bit and the Gravekeeper who defeated Guy noticed someone behind the corner.
"Looks like one more to go..." He said while looking towards the corner where Zero was hiding, surprising the prisoners tied to the wall.
'...Running away now is useless. If even Guy fell under this Gravekeeper, he must be the leader. Anyway...why do I feel so strange?' Zero touched his cheek and found it slightly wet, he was even starting to have a small urge to chuckle but he held it in.
Zero took a deep breath before revealing himself, entering the hall.
"Zero?!" It seemed like even Tsukushi was among the prisoners and she didn't seem exactly thrilled to see Zero, in truth, she perhaps looked even sadder than before. The other prisoners picked up on her expression and realized that there is not much of a chance.
"Oh? It seems like not even your comrades have any faith in you" He said with an amused smile.
"It's strange...I thought I would never feel this way ever again. Just as I started considering him a friend, something must have messed up. *sigh*" Zero muttered as he walked closer to Guy's location to confirm whether he is alive or dead but he was stopped by the Gravekeeper who didn't seem very happy to be ignored.
"Getting sentimental right in front of enemy? You really are just brats."
Hearing his words, Zero stopped walking and looked at him with bloodshot eyes. Seeing how even Guy was finished by this Gravekeeper, Zero didn't hesitate to release the hatred he has been keeping under the control all this time. While it could boost his strength, he doubted it would be enough and was already grasping for the vial in his pocket.
'T-this guy-!' Even the boss of Gravekeeper felt uncomfortable being stared at with eyes full of hatred.
"Z-Zero?" Even Tsukushi's eyes widened as she always saw Zero as someone calm and clinical but Zero in front of her eyes right now was the real one he was suppressing the entire time.
Zero finally stopped glaring and everyone inside the hall unknowingly heaved a sigh of relief. He pulled out the vial and started speaking while shaking with it and observing the black liquid swirling inside.
"It's kinda funny...He was all muscles and no brain but that's what made him so easy to get along. Back then I was too small to do anything but right now..." Zero opened the vial with a faint smile.
'Did he turn crazy or was he that way even before?' The boss of Gravekeeper just watched on with a bored expression.
Zero recalled his mother's words on how to use it but the moment he removed the lid, he felt like he must drink it all if he wants to make full use of it...and so he did.
Zero gulped the entire content of the vial before throwing it away. He immediately gritted his teeth and pressed his hand against his chest, feeling unbearable heat and then unbearable cold.
"Tch, enough of your craziness!!!" The Gravekeeper lost its patience and lunged towards Zero but the moment he got close enough, 4 walls were erected from the ground around him, trapping him inside.
"Guy?!!" Tsukushi shouted when she saw Guy barely standing, bleeding from his head.
"Damn, saying such embarrassing things and acting like I am but a corpse...I guess I can leave the rest to you, Zero. Tsukushi, tell him that I hated playing cards with a cheater like him" Guy said in an exhausted voice but when he noticed Zero couldn't even hear him as the strange black wind started swirling around him, Guy decided to turn to Tsukushi. After making sure the Gravekeeper stays trapped for as long as possible, Guy fell back down on the ground with a smirk across his face.
"Guy!!!" Tsukushi called out with tears in the corners of her eyes.
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