9 End and Hope
I stare upward trying to catch my breath while various thoughts rushing in my head. Heavy breathing is all I can hear. An intense fatigue feels my entire being. Bruises covers my body.
*I've never thought I will be in a situation like this… Just where? .... Where could I have made a mistake? *
*No….no…no…. Maybe there's still hope left. If I could just---*
Heavy footstep approaches. A superior voice interrupts my thoughts. Fear engulfs my soul. I feel so small with the huge presence dominating me.
"Well child, you done with your mourning charade?"
It is the gigantic looking man with a roaring flame on its head. The same monster who I've fought a while ago. With its arrogant voice, it begins to speak again.
"You have some power child; however, you soar too high. Now look at you in your fallen state? Like a filthy rag kissing the ground. Bwahaha!!!"
As I look at this monster, I know this means trouble. All my strength is drained. My things shattered on the ground. And I can't move an inch. Big trouble.
The monster makes its way near me and knuckles his hand firmly attempting to strike. It speaks for the last time.
"Say…let me end your misery!"
It gives a powerful blow striking my stomach. The pain drives my consciousness. My thoughts fade away bit by bit as I think of her.
*Forgive me…mother...*
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A.I., the SSS Rank Tanker. That's me. I'm hired to accompany the kid to clear the 50th labyrinth in the Ruined Temple of Rumerus.
I told the kid to set the mission for tomorrow. (Since, it will be quick anyway.) I need to continue my sleep. I got on top of my bunny to get some rest.
An hour passed and I heard a noise. I pretend to be asleep and see what's the kid up too. He starts to prepare his things.
*This kid is quite stubborn. He doesn't know how dangerous it is to roam at night. *
After he's finished, he dashes out quickly. I get up and go down from my bunny.
I start petting its head.
A.I.: Wait for me here. I need to follow the stubborn kid.
I started following him and hide from the huge rocks. It seems he's looking for the passage to the labyrinth. I watch him observes and roams the entire place.
*He doesn't even know where's his heading. Silly. *
By luck or due to clumsiness, he got sucked by the doorway. A troublemaker.
As I walk my way to save the kid poor soul, I might as well share what happened before, I met this kid.
It's a good all well day in the City of Ambeist. I'm sleeping on my soft bed as always when a mail comes in.
"E-mail. E-mail. You got yourself a mail!"
A sound of the voice coming from the letter that flies through my window.
I am too lazy to read; however, I spot something familiar written on the letter.
It's a letter from my sister saying:
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Dear Big Sister,
This is an urgent message. My stupid child runs away and is heading towards your city. He wants to hire a tanker and challenge the 50th labyrinth monster. A foolish mistake, I told him about. If he goes there, please give him your assistance. I plan to visit you once I'm not that busy.
Remember to lend him your aid, but don't help him until his in a dying state. He deserves a lesson, but don't let him die. He's important to me. And well, he's your nephew.
P/S: I will let him bring you candies as payment.
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*Runaway? What? I'm not up to be a babysitter. However, the payment piques my interest. *
I then heard a knock on the door. As soon they didn't get a response, they force to open it.
I'm too lazy and it's my rest day.
I heard voices approaching my room. It's a voice of a man and a woman. The same old folks trying to get me.
I just pretend to be sleeping. With the eye mask on my face, no one will notice it.
Kara: Go on. I have opened it for you.
Berdo: The master key sure works like magic.
Kara: Shhh. Just do your job. Quick.
They see me lying on the bed, as they enter.
Kara: She's over there.
Berdo: I think she's sleeping. Should we just take her?
Kara: What? Got any ideas?
The tall young man whispers something.
Kara: Okay. Just be careful in handling her.
Berdo: Okay. Hmm. Forgive us Miss A.I. but we really do need you right now.
He carries me and places me inside his large satchel. We then set out from my house until we reach the Guild's Building (Shield Faction).
Together with the presence of the guild master, each of them starts to argue who will wake me up to pitch me the job as their SSS Rank Tanker.
I'm fully awake, though.
Throughout their bickering, I hear the voice of a child. It's a boy. This must be the runaway kid my sister told me about. I then feel the presence of his being differs from everyone else in the hall. The kid has a unique ability.
After all the past scenarios and brief introduction, I serve as his hired companion.
The kid wants to clear the 50th labyrinth, for this child is quite ambitious and full of himself. Leading him to be the state that he is in.
I get out of my hiding place and head to the passage. I stop on the gateway. Beside it, is a stone tablet carved with encryption.
I get a hint the kid did not understand what it means since this is an ancient language. The words are part of "The song of the Ruks".
It says:
"An Immortal dwell here, obey his rules or suffer the consequences"
This will be a bad match for the kid.
I manage to pass the gateway and follow the kid. Hiding from the huge tall columns, I've seen everything that happened.
Though he has some potential, controlling his power and mastering it for a short time is impossible. More so, he doesn't have a chance to win since he doesn't know the rules of this place.
*A hopeless case. *
Just as I predicted, winning is futile. The kid can't maintain the power of light. His gained power exhausts him and burns all his strength. The ending is clear and this kid can no longer fight.
With the Fire Gin's fast regeneration ability, he will be dead in no time. The monster unleashes his fiery fist to launch a strike at the kid. He falls to the ground.
Fire Gin: Let me end your misery!
*sigh*
*Okay, here comes your savior, kiddo. *
