Extra's Descent

Inside the earth shell, Carl trembled as he held his little sister in his arms.

"…..We're going to be fine, Emi."

He assured his frightened little sister.

"These people are strong. We're going to be fine."

"I'm scared… Bwother."

"I know, I know. But big brother is here to protect you."

"Hnghh…"

Emi quickly hugged him tightly.

Caressing his little sister's hair, Carl closed his eyes. The sound of explosions could be heard outside, as well as ringing sounds.

The ground shook and the explosions continued. Each time it reached Carl's ears, his body shuddered.

But despite that, he steeled his resolve as he embraced his little sister tightly.

"We're going to be fine, Emi….."

***

With a battle cry, Amelia lunged forward, gripping the sword in her hand tightly.

Supporting the weight of the blade, she swung the sword down forcefully.

Clang!

As expected, she didn't have enough strength, or magic power to even chip the golem–like crystal statue—

"Ah."

That's it.

It was a golem.

Her sword met impact with the golem. Due to the sheer toughness of its crystalline armor, Amelia's blade instantly recoiled back and a ringing sound echoed.

Skidding back several meters, Amelia focused her attention on the two crystalline golems.

The name fits their category. From just the first attack, Amelia realized that their armor wasn't ice at all.

They were in fact crystals.

"Tsk."

She clicked her tongue.

This was going to be even more difficult than she thought.

Behind her, the earth shell that served to protect Carl and his sister registered in her thoughts.

—Kuku!

The goblins appeared beside Amelia. In particular, Kukoro and little Kuoh.

They seemed enraged as they glared at the two golems. With weapons out, the two goblins rushed towards the golems.

"Wait—No!"

Amelia reached out to them. But it was too late.

Smash—!

The golem's eyes flickered and its large fist swung down. The ground shook intensely. Snow dust permeated the air, as soon as its fist impacted the ground.

Amelia's eyes shot wide open as she took in the sight.

The golem raised its fist up and bluish blood dripped down.

"…."

Kukoro was dead. His body, gruesomely splattered down on the ground as if his life meant nothing.

The golem turned its head slightly and flickered its eyes at little Kuoh.

It seemed like little Kuoh wasn't frightened by the least, as he glared back at the golem.

Little Kuoh burst forth. The golem stood tall. The height difference was ridiculous.

Little Kuoh's broken sword was lifted up, aiming to strike the golem.

But Amelia knew that wouldn't do anything at all.

Woosh—!

Amelia was quick to react as she bolted from her position. Nearing little Kuoh, Amelia grabbed him before the golem's fist struck down.

Crash!

The ground shook as snow dust fluttered in the air.

"Little Kuoh!"

"Ku?"

Ah, right.

Goblin language.

"Kukuku?"

"Ku…."

"Kukukoo…?"

"Kukaka."

Amelia had no idea what they were even talking about. But what she was trying to say was for little Kuoh head back to the earth shell.

But her thoughts didn't get through him as little Kuoh's arms flailed around.

How was Brandon even communicating with these midgets?

Then Amelia could only make do with what she had.

Her and little Kuoh against the golems.

Victory was undoubtedly slim.

She wanted to run.

To take Carl and little Kuoh away from this place.

But she couldn't leave Brandon, who seemed to be having an episode.

Plus, if Brandon's unstable mana inflicts Carl, who knows what would happen.

Not only that, but she received something peculiar.

—[Chain–Act]—

[Find the source of the mana density.]

[Rewards:]

[Gate: EXP — +2%]

[Act Progression: 5%]

————

She received her first quest from the system. There was no escaping this.

There seemed to be some kind of grave importance deep inside the forest.

The system had deemed it so.

"….!"

Her alarm bells rang and a large crystalline fist appeared in her peripheral vision.

"Damn it—"

Unable to react fast enough, Amelia took the full brunt of the attack as she held her arms up to guard.

Bang—!

Just that single attack had sent her hurling away, and she felt like the bones in her arms cracked, despite condensing herself with her mana to defend.

"Khh…!"

Impaling the sword on the ground to support her herself, she fixed her attention on the golems.

"…."

But it was then when she realized what had just happened.

Right.

Little Kuoh was with her.

The two of them took the attack head on. But unlike her, little Kuoh had no means to defend himself.

Narrowing her eyes, she could make out the blue blood dripping from both of the golem's fist.

And as she turned her head to a certain direction, there, she could see some kind of green figure splattered on a nearby tree.

Oh, no.

His poor figure, gruesomely bludgeoned, taking the attack, and crashing on a tree.

At that moment, Amelia's arms involuntarily shuddered at the sight.

Little Kuoh…

…..He was dead.

The sword in her hand shook and her mouth twitched. A sudden chill ran down her spine as she realized how easily the goblins died.

"Huu…."

Closing her eyes, she composed herself.

Was there really no other way?

Should she just abandon the quest, take Carl and Brandon, then run?

It seemed like the most rational decision.

With such thoughts, Amelia dematerialized her sword and wrapped her entire figure with mana.

Swoosh—!

In an instant, Amelia bolted from her position and quickly rushed to the earth shell.

But before she could reach her destination….

Vooosh—!

All of a sudden, a torrent of black flames ignited and cascaded around the golems.

Brandon.

He had finally come to his senses to assist her.

"Brandon! Let's run—"

She halted mid sentence as she noticed there was something wrong with Brandon—who stood several meters between her and the golems.

His body trembled and there was an ominous smile etched on his face.

What in the world.

Scanning, she realized the expressions Brandon was making. His eyes were shot wide open and they seemed a bit…. indifferent.

But it was the smile that took her aback.

All of a sudden, the magic energy around Brandon shot up. The atmosphere became heavier in each passing second.

Black flames started cascading around Brandon's figure.

And that was when…

Vooosh—!

The fight started.

Since Brandon seemed to want to take the combat up close and personal, Amelia could only offer support.

Extending her arms forward, the familiar sight of the railgun materialized.

Crouching down, Amelia positioned herself as her finger was on the trigger.

BANG—!