Only a day or so has passed, in front of me a mountain range loomed over. The cold seemed to multiply in front of my eyes, it caused my body to shiver despite the flames in my palms. Every mountain peak scratched the sky.
Anxiety could be felt through the air, although this was the easiest range we can scale. There were still chances to run into dangers.
Our backpack, Shen, was the one leading the expedition. She was drabbed in a heavy jacket, mountaineering pants, the cuffs having fur on them. At last, her boots looked heavy, and bulky.
She turned around, and gave us a thumbs up to go. An odd thing, she was wearing her necklace today, and had her hood off her head. Behind her, were us; the kids, and behind us were the vanguards, Shaun and Verd.
The ladies were sandwiched between James and Jin, with the latter in the back. Although, both had Verd's children on their backs.
We planned on scaling this seeming beast in a day. Albeit, there will be guaranteed difficulties. For which, I am not looking forward to…
In a few seconds, we set off onto the mountain. Our shoes were thudding the ground, there was a path paved ready for us. A red arrow, dark in color, pointed the way we came from.
"Do you think we can do this…?" Allisa asked me, she was shaking in fear and cold. Her hands were clamped around my arm, plus pushing against my back.
I patted her head, which seemed to calm her down slightly. When she was willing to listen, I spoke. "We've made it this far. I don't think the world can crush us and keep us down." To help ease her nerves, I gave a smile. Well, I hope so at least.
As Allisa unclamped my arms, she took a step back with her head down. At least that calmed her the hell down…
For me, I was just as nervous. My heart was rattling against my chest as we galloped on the stoney ground. We could be attacked from any corner… Spikey pillars were judding out of the ground on every side.
Okay, okay… We all had a role, Shen and I were the scouts essentially. We both were animalkin, with enhanced senses. This is the real reason why I'm incredibly nervous. It's a huge task, y'know, my dear diary?
One mistake and we can be swarmed in these places; according to everyone that was an adventurer, there were snow goblins, orcs and arctic wolves. Goblins and wolves I was calm about, but orcs were something else.
In this world, they had insane regeneration, and muscle power. If Shaun had insane strength, orcs were on another level. They were power houses, something we as a group should avoid fighting.
For some reason, my gut was screaming that something may happen. And… in this life, there is going to be something!
"We're alright, no one should worry." Shen randomly said she was just going forward. "If we were to be attacked, we have the strength to fight them off."
Shen sounded sure, her voice unwavering. Furthering her confidence she kept her head forward, as if she was trying to pave the way further.
With that, we kept going further. We were all silent, even the little kids in the party. This cold is so annoying…
"Y-Yukina… can you share…?" Allisa asked me in a pleading voice. I turned my head in a confused manner, and she pointed at my palms. "Please…?"
I let out a low sigh, before increasing the heat from my hands. Allisa gave me a smile when I did this, her shivering had suddenly eased.
"Why don't you share around?"
In response to Shen I tilted my head whilst squinting. There was an obvious joking tone in her voice; in which I rolled my eyes at.
If I could, I would share it around; but my mana reserves won't allow anything for that. As well, she wasn't visibly cold, only her skin was a pale white, that was due to her being a vampire. She definitely looked like those snow queens you read fairytales about as a kid.
"Only if you can feed me mana."
"Not happening."
"Then stay cold, if you really want to-"
"I'm a cold blooded vampire, " Shen stated. She turned around slightly, allowing us to see her open mouth. "I don't think the cold will bother me."
Ew… I felt myself shiver at Shen's response. It was so utterly cringe. It reminded me of a quote from back on earth.
From here on, everyone went silent; the only sound was the wind going through our group, plus the footsteps on the ground.
Scuffle… stomp…
I fwipped my head, there were a bunch of creatures climbing down the mountain. My enhanced eyesight, and my hearing made it clear what was there. They were monstrous, humanoid creatures well over two meters tall.
Their skin was a dark grey, devoid of hair. Seeing this caused me to freeze, which in return caused the group to freeze. There was a village worth of them sprinting down the mountains around us.
In a split second, Shen put her arm in front of my eyes. "Shaun, use your provoke skill."
"Are you wanting me to die?!"
"Use it, I'll keep you from dying."
"WE NEED TO RUN ARE YOU INSANE?!" Shaun yelled, his voice was becoming mute by the rumbles.
"No, but we cannot outrun them." Shen's voice was much quieter, but Shaun backed down despite the ruckus. "Orcs are stronger, and smarter than goblins. They would've sealed the road above."
"...Well shit…" Shaun cursed under his breath. He unhooked his skill, and a red aura enveloped his body. The orcs that were rushing down immediately dashed to him.
Before they reached him, he raised his shield, and a golden aura outlined his body.
Bang!
An orc's fist collided with his shield, yet he stood tall, unshaking from the force.
Again, the bangs were echoing around us; they pummeled his shield, dents were pressing into it.
Why can't I move…? Shaun was being pummeled, his arms were starting to shake. Yet, I couldn't move… I was frozen.
These were horrifying, their ragged teeth could tear into my flesh at any moment. I wouldn't have the strength to fight them, and Shaun was struggling. Even James was frozen in place, alongside Jin.
C'mon body-
"It's been a long time…" I heard Shen's voice. There was a loud snap, then she entered my view. "Yukina, support us with your magic."
As her words entered my ears, my body unfroze. In addition, the fear that took over my body was erased.
"Verd get off your ass! JAMES! BUFF SHAUN!" Shen commanded as she ran in.
She can actually fight?! My eyes widened at the weapons in Shen's hands. They were black in color, and were jagged.
I couldn't see it clearly, due to the speed she went in with.
I calmed my mind as I poured mana into a spell; multiple Earth Darts formed in front of me… I sent out the first one, and it struck the closest orc to me.
"You have to hit it harder! Or with more!" Shen yelled, she followed up my attack. The orc turned around, only for its neck to be pierced through.
A grey liquid spurted from its neck.
After that was done, Shen went to the next, causing it to tumble to the ground
How the fuck am I supposed to that?! Thanks TAKEDA! I gritted my teeth, and pulled Allisa behind me.
The Earth Darts around me began to spin at a rapid speed. This is so draining…. I shook my head, my mana reserves were an eighth down.
With a cut of my mana, the darts flew out. Each made a loud slap as it drilled into three orcs.
Their bodies flew back, the same grey blood splattered outwards. HAHA!
However, they did not stay down. They clambered back to their feet and turned their attention to me.
Oh…well, I'm fucked… Shaun couldn't focus on these orcs.
I conjured more earth darts, spending more of my mana to make them rotate even faster.
"Yu-Yukina…" Allisa stuttered, she was clutching onto my back.
Not even a second passed and the orcs were just a step away.
The earth darts slapped against their skin. Can't let them breathe!
I summoned multiple swarming masses of flames, their heat intensifying many times. Once they all turned blue, I flung them.
Multiple sets of explosions echoed around the battlefield. Before I could see the resulting aftermath I collapsed to my knees.
It didn't affect them… The rumbling in my ears foretold this. The clouds of smoke that appeared were starting to fade. Their tall muscular shadows could be seen.
Fuck… I tried pouring my mana into the ground. They were coming in quick, the first one was already at arm's length.
Before it could hold its fists back, I commanded the ground to listen.
In a mere second, a wall of earth formed over me.
BANG! BANG!
The dome of earth around me shuddered; each large fist that pounded on it caused it to groan.
"Well… fuck…" I cursed under my breath. We were trapped underneath this fragile roof. Parts of the earth fell on my head, it was crumbling in front of Allisa's and I's eyes.
I pulled Allisa to the opposite side of this dome. As I did, the sun's light was beaming through a massive hole.
The dull grey eyes of the orcs peered through; they instantly locked onto Allisa and I.
Again, Allisa was pushed behind me, and I pulled the dagger into my hands. They're gonna have to go through me…
My muscles were tired, my breath was struggling, but I'm going to protect Allisa.
"Fuck…" I can't stop them. The dome was cracking further, and I could hear a fist slamming behind me.
"Yukina…"
"We're not going to die, well.. you won't." I muttered, I gripped my knife harder.
BOOM!
I felt my spine tingle, so I dove forward. A gigantic fist nearly took my head off…
It narrowly missed my nose, it was an inch away.
Just do what you can dumbass! I gritted my teeth, and swung my dagger. Hit harder!
My weapon barely scratched its skin. I kept slashing at it as it pulled it back.
"Allisa get out of here!" I screamed at her. Just to keep their attention, I got to my feet. Hahaha… who knew I would be in this situation again?
Three orcs, two behind me, and one in front. The one whose wrist was gushing blood glared at me with its dull eyes.
It wants to kill me… I could feel it in the air. They wanted to devour my flesh, and tear me apart.
Eh…? I turned my head behind me, one of the orcs had fallen. The second one had Shen on its shoulder, her weapon was lodged deep into its neck.
"I'd watch out if I were you." Shen called out to me, with a sickening crunch she twisted the orcs head.
Eh- Something hit me- hit me hard. My world had spun, and I was sent flying to the floor. Fuck-! Fuck! Fuck, fuck!
Everything in myself was screaming.
"...."
Fuck…I'm so dumb… I only took my eye off that orc for one second…. I was seeing a bloodied sky, my organs were screaming at me.
I don't taste any blood… that's good… My right arm was broken, it was bent in so many different ways.
Adrenaline was keeping me awake, not feeling the immense pain from them. But my insides were on fire.
As I laid here, my body was not responding to me. I was forced to stare at a bloody sky, until Shen and James entered my view.
They said something, and my vision blackened. However, I was conscious, which means… I probably fainted.
I was in a void again, but my body was Yukina's… Or I might be in a dream.
I laid back, afterall, this might be my home for some time.
That was really dumb of me… I should've kept my attention on that damn orc. But, what could I have done…? I thought as I floated here. Why was I even trying to fight those things?
"How fucking stupid am I?" I face palmed, for all I know… I can be dead, and this is my limbo. "We'll just see after I stay here for I don't even know…"
"I hope Allisa is alright. That poor girl is probably scared to death… Or mourning my death… Haha… James and Melinda are too"
I raised my head to the sky metaphorically, I thought being reborn I was meant to be strong. But, after a year, I was so weak. I couldn't keep up with anyone.
So slow, I kept everyone back. And due to my stubbornness, they were forced to be even slower. "What am I even doing…? Why can't I just accept this?"
"I'm not strong… I need to stay in my position… Ugh…"
As I mulled over what I did, time had passed. Everything I kept doing was foolish, not worth my new life over it. I really should find the place I'm most comfortable with, honestly.
Huh? It's happening again… I felt my soul being sucked back into the void. It was much harder this time. Fuck… hooefully I just fainted….
The void melted into the same mountain range.
"I didn't die… huh?" Subconsciously I let out. I got healed too…? Within a moment, I realized my body had no aches or pains.
"You didn't but what you did was extremely dumb." Shen's voice resounded under me. "If you would've just yelled I would've come to save you."
Her voice was monotonous, her hands tightened around my ankles. Thus, did she continue. "Orcs… we did survive, no one except for you got hurt."
"That's good….. Ow! What was that about?!"
"You worried everyone. Rely on us you idiot."