Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

"Michelle, are you really well?" Jacob asked, looking at the moving figure in front.

Michelle was running in circles the moment she gained her consciousness. The reason being: she couldn't come up with a proper plan on how to reach Byul and Kevin. Moreover, the group that helped them in dealing with Infectors already left into the deeper of the dungeon. She was hoping if she could get another help from them, yet her stupid head only got messed up even before she could ask.

"If you're talking about my health, then I'm good," Michelle didn't stop in her walk. "Bu t.. . Byul, she.. ."

"Don't worry about her, Kevin is with her, they will be fine." He sighed at the last phrase. He wished they were safe.

Michelle didn't say anything, scratched her red hair like a madwoman.

"Girl, you looked only a little step from flipping out." The middle-aged mercenary man — Laman commented while smoking. The Leader Aasan, on the other hand, was sleeping.

"Why do you care?" Michelle flared up.

"I don't care as long as you don't call out another group of those dead men."

"You're the one to argue. Who was the one that brought that horde of infectors here in the first place?!"

"That time we don't have any choice. .. forget it." Laman exhaled a long smoke out of his nose and mouth. "By the way, if you want to look for your other two companions, you should hurry. It's more dangerous here than you can imagine."

Laman didn't speak anymore, smoked the cigar all the way when there was nothing left.

"What is he talking about?" Michelle looked towards Jacob with a confused expression.

In response, Jacob could only sigh and wheezed out. Jacob hadn't told her the story of what Aasan and his gang met in the deeper region yet.

• • •

"Are you really alright?" Anton asked, looking at the figure of Wrik, who was walking around.

"Surprisingly, yes." Wrik nodded. He was astonished himself, though a couple of his ribs were broken, he didn't feel much discomfort like the time with the wound in his thigh. Apart from that, the pain in the back, that was. Most of the credits went to the new armour he brought. The ten thousand credits were worth it now.

He was fortunate enough that he didn't fall from a higher height, and the sidewall was less inclined. If not, he didn't know if his armour could save him, and he didn't want to find that out. He applied the minor healing talismans on the ribs and it already started to heal. It was really a magical thing. Now, he was regretting that he didn't buy more of the talisman.

On the other hand, Tanya was in better shape, though she had some slight brushes, but it was negligible. And that remained—Davin—the guy who was uncomfortable with height actually didn't even think twice before plunging to help. Though it didn't help much, rather than making it more difficult. On top of that, Davin's muscles on his left shoulder and back were strained. Well, not that serious, apart from the pain Davin was feeling. He was extremely lucky this time around.

But the worst was that they were delayed again for half an hour. Now there's only hope that there were no Infectors to delay more.

"Alright let's continue, we can't delay further." He said, as Anton finally returned to his job as the tracker.

They all took their place and advanced. Tanya, who was in the middle of the formation, walked a few strides towards Wrik and opened her mouth. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," Wrik shook his head. "You and Davin helped me on many occasions over the couple of weeks."

"Still."

"Well, you could help me further," Wrik cut her short. He then looked at the deadpan Davin and continued. "Besides, you should soothe the poor guy."

"I don't need it," Davin, who was listening to their conversation, yelled. It seemed the failure hurt him more than the torn muscles.

"You're alright, pal?" Wrik asked out of cordiality. "You don't look good, moreover I never heard you yell before."

"I'm good," Davin muttered. "And I'm not yelling."

"Don't fret over it, Davin," Tanya soothed him. "Thank you for trying to help."

Davin opened his mouth but found nothing to say. He nodded to her. But his mouth twitched when he heard the next phrase Wrik said:

"You got to give this guy some credits. Especially when he's frightened of heights."

"I'm not frightened of heights," Davin yelled again. His mood was better than before.

"Whatever you say," Wrik continued. "It takes a lot of courage to jump into an unknown pit to save someone."

"I don't know if you're praising me or trumpeting your own drum."

"I'm praising you," Wrik said. "For you, it's a dark pit, but for me, it's not. I could see where I was going with the ability."

"Aren't you becoming cockier with those shiny eyes of yours? The last time I remembered you needed a couple of seconds to enable it but now it seems unnecessary." Davin sighed in envy. "Or is it you're adapting well?"

"Yeah, Davin is right," Tanya joined in too. "Are all the problems you had with it resolved?"

"No. I don't know how to explain this." Wrik shook his head. "It still takes a couple of seconds to trigger it, but sometimes it awakens unknowingly without even triggering it. This time when I heard the cry, it was like lightning rushed into my brain and instantly my vision lightened and I found myself lunging horizontally. It was like the innate ability was driving me."

This was not the first time his [Eye of Insights] awakened automatically. He recalled the first time was when they came across the hooligans in Phase-I. He didn't know the main reason for it, but his guesses were the emotions of urges he felt.

"Still, I'm envious," Davin said.

"You wouldn't be if you had to endure the anguish in the head." He smiled. Though now it's only hurt when he over-exhausted the ability.

"Whatever it is. I'm grateful that it kept me in one piece." Tanya nodded. "So, thanks, both of you."

The journey continued as they chatted for a few moments before being interpreted by Anton.

"Guys, can't you smell the awful reek?"

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