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12.9% My System Powers Up My Crew Except Me / Chapter 27: Mirror

บท 27: Mirror

"I'll teach you some tricks. In exchange, you have to do something for me."

Ligi and Gotang kept talking seriously but there were glimpses of smiles from both of them. Whenever Ligi would speak, Gotang smiled with pride.

The members of the Defending Tip saw their leader getting friendly with the newcomers. They didn't mind this as their leader was just getting friendly, there was no harm in that. But Resi was different.

His hands curled forcefully in anger. His brows furrowed as he stared down Ligi. He hated Ligi down to his core. What's worse was that the man receiving the death stare from him was ignoring him. He was a fly on the wall. A bystander. He was a helpless man watching a thief take everything away from him.

Resi never got along with his group. He thought their philosophy in life was a symbol of the weak. Defense is the best offense? No, offense is the best offense. Even though he considered himself different from them, deep down he still considered them family.

There was even a time when he tried hard to fit in. He tried their sword art, he listened intently to their teachings, he did everything. But that guy, that Ligi. He just comes here like he owns the place. He was the perfect guy in everyone's eyes. The embodiment of 'defense is the best offense'. He would never get along with a guy like that. It only served to remind him of his failure. His trauma.

———————

Ligi listened to Gotang with a gleam in his eyes. He leaned forward as if wanting to catch every word out of Gotang's mouth. His hands curled in excitement. His eyebrows jumped as he learned important wisdom from Gotang. This is what he wants. This is what he needed. A smile started to grow on his face. But something in his eyesight ruined it.

He saw Resi staring him down. His eyes quickly stole a glance at Resi but hurriedly took it back. He would never give Resi the pleasure of knowing that he gave him his attention. Ligi hated him to his core.

Ligi remembered his greatest failure. He disobeyed Bang. Tab got killed and now they were being blamed for it. His mind knows he did the right thing but his heart told him otherwise.

He remembered how Bang almost died because of Resi. It was his fault. His arrogance and his disregard for the rules almost led him to fail his duty. Freedom? What's the use of that without rules to govern them? He hated how Resi was the embodiment of his failure. How he tried to disobey orders and failed due to it. He would never get along with a guy like that.

———————

Bang let Gotang and Ligi talk. Having him tutor Ligi will only benefit him in the end. He just rested to prepare himself for the worst. He knew this trip would be dangerous but he never thought that he could die. Today was a very close call. Who knows what kind of monster lurked further in the swamp. They had done their job. It was now time to get out.

Bang walked over to Ligi and Gotang while still holding his injured shoulder.

"Hey, I don't think we'll continue with you further here. We've done our job and scouted the place."

Gotang heard the words of Bang and he creased his forehead. He blinked his eyes multiple times in a short amount of time. He seemed confused at Bang's words.

"Go? You do know that you can't go back outright?"

'Ha?????'

Bang quickly looked at Gotang to see a hint of a joke coming but all he saw was an unchanging deadpan expression. This indicated he was serious.

"What do you mean we can't go out? You're joking, right? How do we get out? How will you go out??"

Bang quickly spat out these questions as if the words were hot in his mouth. He had to repeat Gotang's words in his mind to figure out the meaning of his sentence.

"The Dreaded Valley doesn't allow you to backtrack. You have to keep advancing to get out."

'What?!?!?!?!?! That fxxxing blacksmith led us to our deaths!'

Just thinking about it gave Bang shivers in his spine. If they had been alone and faced the scorpions, they would have died. They would be carcasses feeding the scorpions by now.

Bang held his head with both hands in frustration. How would they get out now? Thankfully, Gotang had a solution.

"We'll just continue. We'll get out when we reach the end."

Yeah sure. Like that'll be easy. They had trouble with measly little scorpions and they weren't even considered Limaws. The only consolation Bang could think of was that they are not alone now. Bang could use the Defending Tips as a meat shield.

At least when Bang looked at Gotang, there wasn't a shred of hesitation and fear. He could only see the determination in his clear blue eyes and thick fierce eyebrows.

Bang didn't want to talk anymore and just stayed silent and tried to recover. It looked like they had a long road ahead of them.

Once fully rested, they once again set foot back on the swamp. The mist got thicker and the smell became putrid. They were in a formation once again that had a parabolic curve.

In Bang's group, Ligi and Resi were separated by Lobo. Rightly so since the two apparently couldn't stand each other. They were deliberately avoiding their line of sight with each other. Bang didn't know what to do since they're supposed to work for him in the future and they'd be really useful if they worked together.

The place that they traveled to was the same as the one they were in before. Bang would think that they never even left if they hadn't been walking for hours. The swamp was the same. The dry and dead trees all looked the same. The soil, the smell, everything.

Everything was going smoothly until Bang noticed a faint smell of a sweet, subtle, and soft flower. He looked around to see the source of the smell and he saw that he wasn't the only one who noticed. The group had stopped walking and inched closer together. Those afraid of the unknown turned to Gotang for instructions.

Gotang put his hand up as a signal to halt all movement. Suddenly, Bang started to see members of the Defending Tip sway left and right. They looked like they were drunk on a Friday night and was just about to go home. Bang felt a slight pain in his head. A migraine was starting to form.

Those who were the first to feel the headache now started to fall helplessly to the ground. Bang looked to his surroundings and saw that Ligi and Resi were already down on the ground. The only ones left standing were Bang, Lobo, Gotang, and a few guards surrounding him.

Bang turned to his reliable system. If anyone knew what to do, it's the system.

'..........'

Bang closed his eyes, the pain was making his eyesight blurry. He felt sweat coming out of his skin and onto his shirt making it stick to him. Bang decided to let go and just faint. The system would protect him if things go south.

Gotang was just silently enduring the pain. He knew this could happen. In his research before embarking on this journey, this event had a low chance of happening. There are many events more dangerous and perilous than this. But the reason Gotang dreaded this the most was that the result was out of his hands. He couldn't help his members get out of this one. They had to rely on themselves.

After a few more minutes, Gotang couldn't take it anymore and he fell on the ground with one knee. Even unconscious, his body still refused to surrender. He still held his sword in his hands. His thick eyebrows were firm but relaxed.

After everyone fainted, still in their formation, the ground started to swallow them up. The soil grew from their feet onto their legs, their waists, their chests, and finally, their heads were fully submerged in the ground.

The ground was pulling the bodies deeper and deeper underground. Roots started to cling to each body to help the ground to swallow them whole. Nobody was awake when this happened or else they would feel suffocated just helplessly watching their bodies disappear into the darkness.

Bang awoke from his slumber. All he could see was the darkness surrounding him. He felt dirt on his face and all over his body. He quickly got rid of the soil thinking that he would finally see light, but he did not. All he saw was a dimly lit cavern that was enormous. The ground he was sitting on was made of soil and even the walls and the ceiling were made of soil. Soil that looked familiar with the one they were walking on earlier. Was he underground?

He suddenly felt something on his shoulder. He felt a chill in his spine as he instinctively backed away. His eyes were wide open, looking for the faint outline that touched him. He could hear his heartbeat and he was pretty sure the thing that touched him could hear it too.

This thing towered over him and all he could do was back away. He couldn't defend himself. Ligi wasn't here. He didn't have a gun. If this was a Limaw, he'd be dead. The tension was in the air as he saw the thing step over to him. It was Gotang. All tension was lost as he sighed a big relief in the familiar face. At least he wasn't alone in this place.

Bang suddenly saw Gotang take out his sword and aim it at Bang. He was speechless and he couldn't even ask the reason for this aggression as he saw Gotang's sword accelerating at him.


next chapter

บท 28: Buried

Ligi woke up with darkness in his eyes. He felt this weight all over his body. This certain situation reminded him of those nightmares he was having from time to time. The nightmares give him these feelings and emotions he doesn't want to have. No. No! No!!

"NO!!!"

Ligi forcefully moved his body. His body tensed and released in a burst of power that took out the soil that buried him within. He blinked furiously, wanting to wake up from the dream. He had to hold his chest because it was beating so hard as if it wanted to get out. He noticed he was holding soil in his hand.

It was only then that relief filled his whole body. He much preferred this unknown environment to that dark, cold, and infinite space in the dream. Clearing his head, he started to evaluate his surroundings. The last thing he remembered was feeling slight dizziness that turned into a full-blown headache. He didn't even remember fainting.

He looked at the soil in his hand and studied it carefully. If he wasn't wrong, this was the same soil like the one in the Dreaded Valley. This dark, dry, and lumpy soil were very memorable.

His surroundings were the same as the soil. There were only two possibilities, this was a structure made of soil and that he was dragged in it or that he was underground.

He used his hand to prop himself up and patted down his clothes for remaining soil debris. He immediately checked out his surroundings for any exit, any hole, or anything he could fit in. He didn't find anything. He wanted to get out but recklessly digging around won't get him anywhere. It may even have the opposite effect and collapse and bury him inside.

He had to think about all the possible solutions before acting. He just hoped Bang was alright.

"AHH!"

A sudden shout made Ligi flinch. He subconsciously took out his shield and turned around and backed himself up against the wall. This way he wouldn't have to worry about attacks from the back.

He had to focus his eyes hard since this place was only dimly lit. He saw a lump of soil in the ground slightly shift, then it exploded. Something came out of the ground. No, that's a person. Who?

Ligi decided to get a closer look and walked step by step into the coughing person.

"Where the hell am I?!?!"

Those were the first words that Ligi heard. That voice sounded familiar. It was the same raspy annoying voice. It was unbridled and arrogant. When Ligi first heard this voice he instantly hated it.

'Please no, don't tell me it's him.'

The man covered in soil looked around and locked eyes with Ligi. They both instantly recognized each other and a frown started to appear on both their faces at the same time.

"It's you!!"

"It's you!!"

It was Resi. Ligi couldn't believe his bad luck. How could he be stuck in here with this guy?!

Resi couldn't believe his bad luck. How could he be stuck in here with this guy?!

Resi instantly got up to his feet and started digging around the cave. He had to get out of this place. He was starting to feel suffocated just looking around himself.

"Hello!!! Is anybody out there?!?!"

Resi couldn't take it anymore and just shouted out. He put his hands on his mouth to create a booming sound that echoed throughout the chamber.

"Hey! Stop it!"

Ligi immediately tried to stop Ligi by covering his mouth. They don't know where they are and how they got here. Recklessly shouting may give their position away to the enemy.

"Ow!!!!"

Resi bit Ligi's finger in irritation. Ligi doesn't have the qualifications to stop him from doing what he wants. It made him want to do it more.

"We're stuck out here!!!"

Before Ligi could even stop Resi from shouting again, they felt a tremor in the ground. At first, it was a small vibration but has now become a full-on earthquake. Ligi immediately used his shield to protect himself from possible rocks falling from the ceiling. Resi just stayed where he was and steadied his balance. He looked up, wanting to dodge the rocks falling.

The rocks didn't fall. There was only dust that scattered throughout the cave. After the earthquake, it was silent. Eerily silent. They prepared for anything that might come.

The earthquake struck again. The magnitude this time was stronger than before. Ligi was now sure that the cave would collapse onto itself so he curled up even further behind his shield.

The rocks didn't come but instead, they saw the walls move. The walls inched closer to them at a slow pace. Ligi started panicking. He immediately went into the center of the room to at least survive this event for a long time. Resi tried to brute force his way out and hold down the walls with his bare hands. It didn't work. If this goes on, they'd be dead within minutes.

————————

Bang could only see the sword coming to him but he couldn't react. It was too fast. He just closed his eyes and let the system take control of his body. He heard a squishy sound like a cockroach being stepped on but he didn't feel pain. He slowly opened his eyes to see Gotang with his sword thrusting the ground. He looked down and saw a literal cockroach the size of his feet dead and cleaved in half.

"Be careful. Those are pesky to deal with."

Bang couldn't say anything else and just said thanks.

"Th—thanks."

Gotang held his hand out and helped Bang off the ground to which Bang accepted. He looked around again to see where he was and then he looked at Gotang for instructions.

"We're underground. This is the digestive system of the soil."

"Wait were in what now?!?!"

"Don't worry, your crewmate is probably okay. Ligi's a strong kid I could feel it."

Bang didn't care about Ligi right now. All he wanted to know was how to get out of this 'digestive system'. Bang looked panicked as he gleamed sweat by the second. Gotang wasn't doing anything and was just standing and observing his surroundings.

Bang noticed that Gotang was looking in a certain direction. He followed his line of eyesight and saw a corridor that led into darkness.

"Should we go there?"

Gotang didn't speak but gave an affirming nod. Bang let Gotang walk first since he didn't have anything to protect himself with and he knew nothing about this place. Gotang's eyes widened and there was a look of recognition in his eyes as he stared down the corridor.

They walked to the corridor with each step as carefully as the first. Bang was only one step behind Gotang and following his every step, fearing he might step on a trap or something.

As they stepped into the darkness, it seemed to stretch into infinity. There was no light source in here but Gotang seemed confident in his stride. From Bang's minimap, he could see that the corridor was wide enough for the two of them and it was going on a straight line into somewhere.

It seemed they were walking for over an hour and there was still no end in sight. Bang started to have thoughts of retreat. Maybe there was some other corridor that led somewhere safe. Maybe this was all a trap by the digestive system. Bang didn't notice it but he was suddenly two steps behind Gotang.

After two more hours, Bang started to get more and more anxious. The system wasn't saying anything and Gotang seemed like he knew where he was going but even Bang who had a mini-map felt it was useless. Bang was now four steps behind Gotang. He now noticed the difference.

Thinking it was weird, Bang decided to hurry and catch up to Gotang only to find Gotang speed up. He tried again with hurried steps but it seemed like whenever he was speeding up, Gotang would also speed up. No, that's not right. The corridor seemed like it was expanding between them which was effectively separating them.

"Wait, stop!"

Gotang ignored Bang's shout. Was he ignoring him? Or maybe he didn't hear Bang?

"WAIT!!!!!"

Bang shouted with more volume and force which made the corridor echo with his voice. Gotang still didn't hear Bang and just stared straight at the darkness. He always seemed determined to walk ahead as if he knew where he was going.

Bang was now five steps behind Gotang. His heart beat faster and faster as he got more anxious. This was the worst-case scenario for him. He was all alone in an unknown dangerous place without anything to protect himself with.

He tried harder and harder to catch up. He tried walking at a fast pace, and he tried sprinting to the fullest but he still couldn't catch up. He was starting to feel it was hopeless. He started to have doubts about this journey and the mind-numbing pursuit of nothingness. He has now stopped walking. Without Gotang or Ligi here, he was just by himself.


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