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Level 2 was a whole different beast. The wide corridors of the first floor were gone—now the walls closed in tighter, shadows stretched deeper, and the air itself felt heavier. Damien quickly realized this wasn't a place where you could walk freely and expect safety. Here, ambushes were constant, and the groups of kobolds and goblins came in threes, fours, sometimes more.
He cut them down as best he could, relying on Mind's Eye to warn him and Quicksilver to let him dodge and counter. Individually, they were nothing. But grouped? Their claws and crude weapons forced him to scramble, to think fast, to fight dirty.
Damien gritted his teeth as he drove his dagger into a goblin's throat. The thing spasmed before collapsing into black mist.[Gained 15 EXP]
He stared at the notification with frustration."Tch… figures. After hitting level 3, they're worth half the EXP. I guess the System doesn't want me sitting on Level 1 grinding like some MMO farmer," he muttered, catching his breath.
His hand ached from gripping the dagger so tightly. Sweat dripped down his temple."Damn it… I really need someone to train me. All I've got right now is desperation and luck. Yesterday I was just another cubicle rat, and now I'm… this."
Before he could sink too far into his thoughts, a voice broke through the silence."Damn it! BASTARDS!"
Damien froze, then slowly crept forward, dagger ready. He peeked around a corner and saw him—a youth, maybe Damien's own age, fighting off a pack of monsters. Three goblins snarled and circled, but the real danger wasn't them.
It was the rabbit.
A sleek, white, blood-stained beast, low to the ground, its crimson eyes glowing like hot coals. Its teeth were long, sharp, dripping with saliva. A Killer Rabbit. Damien had heard the term before, but seeing one up close made his skin crawl.
The boy fighting it stood out—black kimono, blue scarf whipping with his movements, and spiky red hair that caught the dim light of the dungeon like fire. In his hands was a massive, single-edged greatsword, and even with its weight he was struggling. Each time he swung, the goblins danced back and the rabbit darted forward, aiming for his throat
Damien narrowed his eyes. Recognition sparked faintly."…Red hair, kimono, that sword… wait. Welf? Uhm… damn it, I forgot his family name. But I'm pretty sure that's him." He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Still, this confirms the timeline.... Good… I just need to be sure."
But hesitation gnawed at him. Jumping into someone else's fight was dangerous—stupid even. Then again, letting Welf die here wasn't an option. If Welf died, things in Orario could change drastically.
Damien tightened his grip on his dagger, his Mind's Eye already screaming at him that if he didn't move now, the Killer Rabbit would rip Welf apart."...Screw it. Guess I'm in this."
And with that, Damien rushed forward.
He immediately stabbed a goblin in the neck, shocking the group of goblins and Welf himself.
"Seemed like you need help… I hope you don't mind," said Damien as he gave his back to Welf.
"No I don't! Thanks, man! I really need it, a bunch of bastards ambushed me!" said Welf, clearly not happy about his situation. Well, who would be?
"Okay, let's get rid of the goblins first, okay, then we deal with the rabbit," said Damien. Welf nodded.
The goblins attacked, and the rabbit struck as well. The rabbit's speed was insane — it charged headfirst, horns lowered to gore. Quicksilver was a lifesaver, but even that wasn't always fast enough to dodge every strike. Damien used the flat side of his dagger to parry the spinning horn, then kicked the rabbit up hard so it smashed against the ceiling. The goblin didn't wait for an invitation; it came in low, swinging upward at Damien.
"RED HEAD!" Damien shouted, and Welf understood. Instinct of an adventurer, one would guess — they switched places. Welf planted his greatsword and blocked the attack, then brought his blade down in a brutal arc, splitting the goblin in half.
Meanwhile Damien rushed the goblin coming his way, leapt above it, and slashed at its neck — a clean decapitation.
"All that's left now is the rabbit. Careful now… that thing is fast," said Damien as he and Welf took position, backs to each other to cover blind spots.
"No need to tell me…" Welf kept his eyes on the shadows where the rabbit had disappeared, waiting for it to use the darkness as a springboard for an ambush.
"NOW!" screamed Damien. Welf switched with him, using the greatsword as a shield to protect his neck — the rabbit was aiming for that spot. The beast lunged at the legs with its mouth, but Damien was already to the side. Quicksilver surged, and he drove the dagger into its small body. It writhed, then went still.
[Gained 50 EXP]
"God damn…" Damien muttered as he fell onto his ass, exhausted but relieved.
Welf did the same and laughed a bit, shaking his head. "Thanks, man… I don't think I could have survived that without you!"
"Name's Damien. Damien Ardent," said Damien, extending his hand.
"Welf! Welf Crozzo!" Welf replied as he took the handshake.
"So, uh… care to tell me why there was a Killer Rabbit on Floor Two?" Damien asked.
"Ugh! It was those bastards! I hired three adventurers to come with me down to Level 3 so I could mine some ores. I'm a blacksmith, you see… But those bastards tricked me and attacked. I tried to run back to Level Two but they ambushed me — then the rabbit showed up. I think it has to do with the fact that the stairs to Level 3 are close," Welf said, getting to his feet.
"Oh shit… I heard about stuff like that, but I didn't think it was common," Damien murmured.
"Yup! Luckily I remember their faces! I'm gonna report them to the Guild and my familia, that's for sure," Welf said, getting up.
Before Welf could move, a dagger flashed toward his neck. Damien's Mind's Eye screamed, and he reflexively blocked the blade.
"Report us, eh boy? Now now… I told you to make a magic sword, but you kept babbling about your hatred for them boohoo… Well, if I can't have my sword… you will lose your head," said a man as he stepped out from the shadows with three other men behind him.
He looked dangerous — his presence felt different from the others. Damien realized, without wanting to, that this man gave off a higher level aura. He must be Level 2… Damien thought.
"Drogov!! You traitor!" Welf spat.
"Sheesh? All this for a sword? Come on… that's pathetic," Damien said, amused — which drew the man's attention.
"And who's this princess? Eh? Look at you — very fine… and sexy. Too bad you have to die," Drogov purred, licking his lips. as his two goons Brok and Russo started to laugh
"Ew! What the fuck… I'm a man!" Damien snapped.
"I don't mind," Drogov laughed as his grin widened. He gestured with a short tilt of his head.
[Emergency Quest: Kill Your Enemies!]
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If you Like this story! Check out my other story's ! Sukuna in DC! and Dragon Slayer in Marvel!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !