Chapter 7 – The First Boss

Ascending the stairs, both kept their attention in all directions. Luckily for them, the floor was illuminated. As soon as they arrived, they saw a crouched monster with three legs. Its skin was white and slightly reddish, with no hair. The monster was thin, almost skeletal, its ears pointed. Its mouth was filled with numerous teeth, and its face had a single gigantic eye.

“What the hell...” Lucan thought, realizing that at some point, he might have to eat the meat from such a creature.

Upon seeing the two humans, the creature ran hunched over, barely moving properly on its three legs. Lucan stepped back, and Clyde took the lead, advancing with his sword. He swung it, and in less than a second, the creature’s head flew off and hit the wall.

Lucan whistled in admiration. “That was nothing, just a bit of Segment,” Clyde brought him back to reality.

“Did you get any card?” Lucan asked eagerly.

“No. Remember that getting cards isn’t that simple. The drop chance varies for each creature, and even the rarities are different...”

“Sorry if I’m being a bother with my questions, it’s just that this is all new to me...”

“It’s fine, but stay focused on the path.”

They continued walking, alert.

“You know, once I even got a summoning card,” Clyde boasted.

“Those really exist?”

“They do, I even got to test it. But I had to give the card to the leader of my expedition. Usually, the drops are ours, but on special expeditions, we have certain contracts that require us to hand over all the loot we get.”

“That seems a bit unfair,” Lucan reflected.

“Kind of, but we still get paid for what they’re worth, and they return some cards to us. It’s part of it. When you’re a vassal soldier, you accept this kind of thing. There are independent Deviants. The profit is good, but the risk is higher. Having a House or the royal army behind you has many benefits. Like housing, a base in the Oblique World, access to healers, family insurance, practically all your salary since you don’t spend on food and housing. Plus the items they give you. I may have lost out on a summoning, but just the set of items in cards I’ve earned over the years is worth at least a house. And the equipment is very good, whenever they break, we get new ones, after all, we are the ones who take care of these areas and protect them. Of course, I’m not a soldier dedicated to expeditions. Soldiers like that have a different contract, I only went on mandatory expeditions.”

“I see, so there is that kind of thing.”

“Yes. But just imagine, you’re put on a team with good equipment, have food, housing. Plus, your team is compatible with your ability, you have a strong commander on your team to help you, you have a designated area that’s been checked for your level. It wouldn’t be fair not to share the card loot with your employer, would it?”

“Looks like they think of everything...” Lucan said.

“Everything is done to be organized. You can choose to have an easy life being a guard in some fortress or city, maybe even get lucky enough to serve in the Royal Family’s Castle. Or try to get rich by being active in expeditions. There will be reward and money for those who want it. Not to mention that with the cards they give you as rewards, you are free to sell them.”

“Wow, I’d love to make money selling cards...”

“You just need to find someone interested in a torch or a broom,” Clyde laughed.

“Very funny...”

“Alright, sorry. But seriously, your broom card will do well in the cities, you might make some money with that card. Just think, it’s a broom that never breaks. If it does, the person just dismisses it for a while and it comes back repaired.”

“Thinking about it that way...”

Climbing the stairs, the two remained alert in all directions. Luckily for them, the floor was illuminated. As soon as they arrived, they saw a crouched monster with three legs. Its skin was white and slightly reddish, with no hair. The monster was thin, almost skeletal, with pointed ears. Its mouth was filled with numerous teeth, and its face had a single gigantic eye.

“What the hell…” Lucan thought, realizing that at some point, he might have to eat the meat from such a creature.

Upon seeing the two humans, the creature ran hunched over, barely moving properly on its three legs. Lucan stepped back, and Clyde took the lead, advancing with his sword. He swung it, and in less than a second, the creature’s head flew off and hit the wall.

Lucan whistled in admiration. “That was nothing, just a bit of Segment,” Clyde brought him back to reality.

“Did you get any card?” Lucan asked eagerly.

“No. Remember that getting cards isn’t that simple. The drop chance varies for each creature, and even the rarities are different...”

“Sorry if I’m being a bother with my questions, it’s just that this is all new to me...”

“It’s fine, but stay focused on the path.”

They continued walking, alert.

“You know, once I even got a summoning card,” Clyde boasted.

“Those really exist?”

“They do, I even got to test it. But I had to give the card to the leader of my expedition. Usually, the drops are ours, but on special expeditions, we have certain contracts that require us to hand over all the loot we get.”

“That seems a bit unfair,” Lucan reflected.

“Kind of, but we still get paid for what they’re worth, and they return some cards to us. It’s part of it. When you’re a vassal soldier, you accept this kind of thing. There are independent Deviants. The profit is good, but the risk is higher. Having a House or the royal army behind you has many benefits. Like housing, a base in the Oblique World, access to healers, family insurance, practically all your salary since you don’t spend on food and housing. Plus the items they give you. I may have lost out on a summoning, but just the set of items in cards I’ve earned over the years is worth at least a house. And the equipment is very good, whenever they break, we get new ones, after all, we are the ones who take care of these areas and protect them. Of course, I’m not a soldier dedicated to expeditions. Soldiers like that have a different contract, I only went on mandatory expeditions.”

“I see, so there is that kind of thing.”

“Yes. But just imagine, you’re put on a team with good equipment, have food, housing. Plus, your team is compatible with your ability, you have a strong commander on your team to help you, you have a designated area that’s been checked for your level. It wouldn’t be fair not to share the card loot with your employer, would it?”

“Looks like they think of everything...” Lucan said.

“Everything is done to be organized. You can choose to have an easy life being a guard in some fortress or city, maybe even get lucky enough to serve in the Royal Family’s Castle. Or try to get rich by being active in expeditions. There will be reward and money for those who want it. Not to mention that with the cards they give you as rewards, you are free to sell them.”

“Wow, I’d love to make money selling cards...”

“You just need to find someone interested in a torch or a broom,” Clyde laughed.

“Very funny...”

“Alright, sorry. But seriously, your broom card will do well in the cities, you might make some money with that card. Just think, it’s a broom that never breaks. If it does, the person just dismisses it for a while and it comes back repaired.”

“Thinking about it that way...”

They walked across the floor and reached the stairs to the next level. The monsters were solitary, and occasionally they would find a pair or trio. Clyde was able to handle them.

That creature must have been really dangerous for him and his partner to lose… and he still had to retreat. If only he’d give me a weapon… things would be easier for me.

On the new floor, Clyde turned and whispered, “It was here, on this floor, that my partner and I appeared. Be careful, the creature might be lurking.”

Lucan nodded, and they continued walking.

Each time they passed an open door, Clyde would stop and peek inside. Lucan would then throw his torch in, and Clyde would stand ready with his sword. After confirming that the room had no items, they would close the door, marking the places they had already checked. They didn’t dare open doors that were already closed.

“Lucan…” Clyde called softly.

“Yes?”

“I only went this far with my partner. It was from there that the creature came,” he pointed to a staircase that ascended.

I hope that thing choked on his partner and died suffocated… for our sake.

“Stay calm. Back then, we were both confused and wandered around making noise trying to find the rest of the expedition. As long as we stay quiet, it’s likely the monster is satisfied. We’ll go slowly and look at the floor above until we find a staircase. If the pattern holds, the staircase will be on the opposite side of the floor when we go up. The monster is probably territorial, so it should stay in its area. As long as we don’t make noise, we just need to find the staircase.”

Territorial creatures are those that don’t leave their area unless something attracts their attention. That’s the advantage of having a good education; you’re more prepared for this kind of thing than a civilian like me.

“Alright…” Lucan agreed.

“You’ve been doing well, Lucan. If it were another civilian, they’d be terrified and crying. I know I said you don’t have talent, but there’s room for people like us. If we find a captain, things will get easier…”

“Come on, man, don’t praise me like that. You’re setting off too many death flags…”

Clyde laughed.

“At the beginning, I was like you too. Who knows, when we get out of this situation, I might be able to get you on the team, even as my squire.”

“Are you serious?” Lucan asked.

“Of course! And relax, I’m not crazy about living this kind of mission every day. If it weren’t for that return error, I’d be having a good meal and killing time as a guard at the base.”

“Thanks, man, really… for trying to lighten the mood for me,” Lucan thanked him.

“Don’t worry, it’s my job as a kingdom soldier,” Clyde joked.

They continued walking, and as they neared the staircase, a corrupted monster jumped on Clyde from the ceiling. The monster was similar to those with three legs, but slightly larger.

Clyde tried to dodge but was caught under the monster’s weight. He fell to the ground, his sword falling far from him.

“Damn it!” he tried to dodge the creature’s mouth as it tried to bite his face.

“Lucan!” he shouted.

Lucan was torn between focusing on Clyde and the sword. He didn’t have the strength to push the monster off. So, he ran to the sword, grabbed it, and stabbed the monster in the eye.

Taking advantage of the creature’s contorted pain, Clyde threw himself to the side. Standing up, he took the sword and plunged it even deeper until it pierced the monster’s head.

He and Clyde walked across the floor and reached the stairs to the next level. The monsters were solitary, and occasionally, they encountered a pair or trio. Clyde could handle them.

That creature must have been really dangerous for him and his partner to lose... and he even had to retreat. If only he'd give me a weapon... things would be easier for me.

On the new floor, Clyde turned and whispered, "It was here, on this floor, that my partner and I appeared. Be careful; the creature might be lurking."

Lucan nodded, and they continued walking.

Each time they passed an open door, Clyde would stop and peek inside. Lucan would then throw his torch in, and Clyde would stand ready with his sword. After confirming that the room had no items, they would close the door, marking the places they had already checked. They didn’t dare open doors that were already closed.

“Lucan…” Clyde called softly.

“Yes?”

“I only went this far with my partner. It was from there that the creature came,” he pointed to a staircase that ascended.

I hope that thing choked on his partner and died suffocated… for our sake.

“Stay calm. Back then, we were both confused and wandered around making noise trying to find the rest of the expedition. As long as we stay quiet, it’s likely the monster is satisfied. We’ll go slowly and look at the floor above until we find a staircase. If the pattern holds, the staircase will be on the opposite side of the floor when we go up. The monster is probably territorial, so it should stay in its area. As long as we don’t make noise, we just need to find the staircase.”

Territorial creatures are those that don’t leave their area unless something attracts their attention. That’s the advantage of having a good education; you’re more prepared for this kind of thing than a civilian like me.

“Alright…” Lucan agreed.

“You’ve been doing well, Lucan. If it were another civilian, they’d be terrified and crying. I know I said you don’t have talent, but there’s room for people like us. If we find a captain, things will get easier…”

“Come on, man, don’t praise me like that. You’re setting off too many death flags…”

Clyde laughed.

“At the beginning, I was like you too. Who knows, when we get out of this situation, I might be able to get you on the team, even as my squire.”

“Are you serious?” Lucan asked.

“Of course! And relax, I’m not crazy about living this kind of mission every day. If it weren’t for that return error, I’d be having a good meal and killing time as a guard at the base.”

“Thanks, man, really… for trying to lighten the mood for me,” Lucan thanked him.

“Don’t worry, it’s my job as a kingdom soldier,” Clyde joked.

They continued walking, and as they neared the staircase, a corrupted monster jumped on Clyde from the ceiling. The monster was similar to those with three legs but slightly larger.

Clyde tried to dodge but was caught under the monster’s weight. He fell to the ground, his sword falling far from him.

“Damn it!” he tried to dodge the creature’s mouth as it tried to bite his face.

“Lucan!” he shouted.

Lucan was torn between focusing on Clyde and the sword. He didn’t have the strength to push the monster off. So, he ran to the sword, grabbed it, and stabbed the monster in the eye.

Taking advantage of the creature’s contorted pain, Clyde threw himself to the side. Standing up, he took the sword and plunged it even deeper until it pierced the monster’s head.

After a sharp scream, the creature fell dead on the ground.

Clyde quickly grabbed his sword and looked at Luke.

“Thanks…” Clyde said, checking himself over.

“It’s all good, I know you’d do the same.”

“Right, but we have a problem…”

“What?”

“That’s not the creature that attacked my partner and me.”

Almost simultaneously, a scream came from the top of the stairs. Clyde and Luke exchanged glances.

They ran to a closed door and entered. In the darkness, both remained silent as they listened to the monster’s footsteps.

The monster was passing through the corridor, making a clicking sound with its mouth.

Gods! Let this thing not have a keen sense of smell…

In the darkness, thousands of thoughts about the monster raced through his mind.

If it had a keen sense of smell, it would have tracked Clyde… but it’s territorial, does that change anything? Would a territorial creature abandon its prey just because it’s not in its territory? My lack of knowledge is clouding my judgment. No… it left its territory because it heard something, so maybe its sense of smell isn’t that good.

Sweating, he only listened to the monster’s footsteps walking through the corridor, and when it was far away, Clyde slowly opened the door and rushed to the stairs.

When they reached the top, he said:

“We need to find the stairs to the next floor as fast as possible!”

What if there’s another creature of that level? No, thinking about that will only hinder me.

They walked quickly, looking in all directions and following the corridors.

There must be some way to identify the creature’s level, otherwise, this guy wouldn’t have said it’s an area boss.

This floor was different; it was like a maze. Sometimes there were corridors with locked doors and others with dead ends, the layout was completely different from the lower floors, which were basically the same.

“At least it’s not dark.”

Clyde nodded.

Walking back and forth, they took turns, avoided paths, and quickly looked into the open rooms.

There’s not enough time… damn, we’ll have to check those closed rooms. What if there are other monsters in there that will start screaming?

Time was short, and they could hear some clicking noises coming from where they had come. They retraced their steps and changed directions.

“It must be here somewhere…” Clyde said.

They reached a corridor with a gigantic wooden door.

“An exit?” Luke asked.

“Looks like it could be,” Clyde nodded.

When they reached the door… it was locked.

Don’t tell me we’ll have to kill the boss? Damn it!

“Wait!” Clyde almost shouted. He was pointing to a grated door. It was a place full of bones and what seemed to be straw and wood; a stench came from there.

“It’s a lair,” Clyde said, pointing to the wall in the lair.

“The key!” Luke said.

“We need to go back and get the key from the lair…” Clyde said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“It’s our only option.”

With silent and careful steps, the two slowly made their way back, trying to remember the path in the maze of corridors. They needed to find the monster’s lair and get the key.

From time to time, they heard a clicking sound and looked around in fear.

“I think it’s time you gave me a weapon...” Lucan whispered.

“And risk you bumping into a wall in a panic and attracting that thing?” Clyde retorted.

“You’re right…”

Every turn was filled with tension, Lucan took the initiative to look while Clyde held his sword tightly with both hands.

In that moment, their minds played tricks on them, even the shadows cast by the torches made them tense. As they walked down the corridor, they passed a grated door.

The bars were broken and chewed, the iron was dented in various places, and there was a large hole in the door.

“Something tells me the lair is in that direction,” Lucan whispered.

Clyde nodded.

“A mere little barred door is nothing for it…” Clyde whispered.

That thing could have broken the grated door of its lair which is right next to the exit…

Carefully passing through, they entered this new area of the corridor and continued inside. The place was poorly lit.

The corridor became increasingly narrow, and at the same time, the agony reached both of them. Quickly glancing to the side, Lucan saw Clyde tense and sweating.

I don’t think he can kill this creature even if I distract it.

Then a clicking sound came from somewhere.

The worst fear is the fear of the unknown… this is suffocating me because I haven’t seen what that thing looks like.

Their minds created images in every dark corner as they feared it was there. From the ceiling to a slightly open door, the fear of the unknown, of not knowing what was coming, was agonizing.

Amidst that fear, at the next turn, they came face to face with the lair.

It’s not here yet…

Clyde ran to the key, picking it up carefully to avoid stepping on the bones.

“We got it, Lucan!” he said.

But as soon as he finished speaking, loud clicks came from one of the corridors.

For a moment, they froze and went to the door, there were only two directions, and they tried to listen to where the click was coming from.

Damn it!

Then a deafening scream came from the darkness of the right corridor and a loud click.

“Run!”

They started running, and the monster came after them.

And I didn’t even see what that damn thing looks like!

Without daring to look back, Lucan ran.

He and Clyde made turns trying to find the direction. As they passed a wooden door, Clyde closed it and ran. But as soon as they moved away, they heard the door explode with the impact of the monster.

Lucan cursed internally with every name possible.

Running and closing doors trying to gain every second and distance, nothing seemed to work.

“The path! I think we need to turn at the next one!” Lucan shouted.

“I know!”

They threw themselves through the hole, and at that moment, Lucan didn’t care about scratching himself on the bars.

“Now we’re back in the damn maze of corridors!”

Trying to retrace their steps, they followed, and suddenly Clyde pushed Lucan and closed a grated door, locking it with a padlock.

“What are you doing?” Lucan demanded.

“Sorry, there’s no time to get there and try to open the door.”

“But why? I thought we were friends.”

“And why would I waste my time being friends with a mere inferior plebeian?”

“Hahahaha,” Lucan laughed nervously.

“It’s going to buy me precious time, look on the bright side... you’re dying for the good of the kingdom.” Clyde took off running, leaving Lucan behind with the approaching monster.

 

Clyde's Perspective:

Running through the corridors, I tried to follow the route towards the exit.

If he runs in another direction, it will buy me even more time by attracting that thing away.

“I knew acting like a babysitter would pay off eventually.”

I had made it clear from the beginning to that useless commoner that his job was to attract and distract... in the end, that’s what he’ll die doing.

I heard a whistle and looked back, and then something hit my neck. I felt a sharp pain as something pierced my flesh.

“Damn it!” I coughed, spitting blood, and fell to the ground.

At that moment, I was overwhelmed by fear.

“How?” I was crawling on the floor. My neck was bleeding profusely, and I pulled out the object causing the pain, a piece of glass.

Damn it, my... my neck... I’m going to die.

Desperately trying to stop the bleeding with my hands, it was no use—it was fatal.

“H-how?” I asked, looking at the figure in the darkness watching me silently, as if I were trash. Even facing death, seeing the boy's expression made me feel an even greater fear. His eyes somehow made me feel miserable. To him, I must have been just... a rat.

“How? How what? How did I get here so quickly?” he asked ironically.

A sound of metal echoed; the monster was tearing and opening the large door somewhere behind where I came from.

“I knew acting like someone needing a babysitter would pay off eventually,” the boy laughed, mocking my words.

Again, those frightening eyes stared at me, and I swear I thought I saw a black shadow behind him.

Was it his shadow on the wall? What was that?

“What the hell are you? Who are you? How did you hurt me?” I spat blood as I asked.

“Oh... that glass, I picked it up that day from the noise when I went to take a leak... I bet you thought I was a scared idiot,” Lucan laughed.

“You little bastard, you... you planned to betray me?”

“I should ask you the same question, you planned to betray me? We were just walking hand in hand...”

I looked at him with rage.

I was fooled by this little shit the whole time?

“Two treacherous thieves received the key to each other’s cell. To free themselves, each would need to hand over their key to the other and trust that they would do the same. But how could two liars who never trust anyone take the first step and trust the other to change their nature and not betray?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked.

“Nothing, just reflecting...”

I started vomiting blood, feeling my entire body giving out. I was dying.

In the distance, I could hear the clicks growing closer.

“Screw you!” I shouted, throwing the key towards the corridor where the monster was.

He’ll die with me!

“Very mature of you,” Lucan mocked.

“Goodbye, Mr. Clyde. I hope you make a great companion for your partner.”

“Damn it... how... how can you stab someone so easily? Don’t you feel remorse? You should be just a regular person!”

He doesn’t even seem to feel anything as he watches me die... this kid... it doesn’t even seem like I’m talking to someone. It feels like I’m looking at an empty corner.

He looked at me and just laughed, saying:

“My upbringing wasn’t very good...”

He spoke as if recalling his childhood. I felt my body shiver and a pressure in the air, with the gravity getting heavier. I didn’t know if the suffocating aura was coming from the monster or...

Is it coming from him? How is that possible?

“You’re going to die with me here, you little shit!”

“Will I?” he asked, turning his back on me.

He walked to the exit door.

“Goodbye, Clyde.”

The boy walked through the door, passing right through it.

A different power? He... he’s a damn Dissident!

Seeing that, I laughed in rage.

“Son of a bitch! You could have avoided this situation the whole time.”

The monster was getting closer.

Then Lucan returned.

“I could have, but I preferred to test your character in a situation I control. Don’t you agree? Much better than really depending on you in a critical moment and my mistake costing my life. Don’t forget, Clyde, I entrusted you with my key... but you didn’t change your nature. Your bad luck was that I didn’t change mine either. Now, have a nice walk to hell.”

Lucan’s Perspective:

Lucan stood at the door watching Clyde, and then the monster arrived and started devouring him.

“Ah... so that’s what the monster looks like...”

After hearing the screams, Lucan walked through the door using his intangibility and stepped outside.

He emerged in a garden. It was night, and the sky was filled with dark clouds.

I’d have to be really foolish to trust my life to someone... I will never make that mistake.

[Location: Corrupted Regions]

[Zone: Haunted City of Greed]

[Area: Garden of the Haunted Asylum]

“All right, let’s see what awaits me...”