The Dungeon lord : Women, power and monsters

Chapter 14: Chapter 14 : First kill

Ore was the first to notice him. She stopped walking. "Tolu."

He looked at her. "What?"

She pointed ahead. "Someone’s there."

Tolu followed her gaze. Several metres away, a young man was sitting beneath a large tree. At first, Tolu thought he was resting. Then he noticed the blood.

The boy’s back was pressed against the tree trunk, while one hand was tightly wrapped around his leg. A deep wound ran across the flesh just below his knee.

His clothes were torn and stained with dirt.

Tolu’s expression changed. "He’s injured."

Ore was already moving. They approached carefully, keeping their weapons ready.

The boy noticed them before they reached him.

His hand immediately moved toward the short sword lying beside him.

"Don’t worry."

Ore raised both hands. "We’re not here to hurt you."

The boy studied them for a moment.

After a few seconds, his hand slowly moved away from the sword. "I’m not looking for trouble."

"We can see that," Tolu said. He crouched a short distance away. "What happened?"

The boy glanced toward the forest behind them. "A Mirefang."

Tolu’s eyes narrowed. "A Mirefang, this close to the walls?"

The boy nodded. "It came out of nowhere."

He looked down at his injured leg. "I managed to get away, but..."

He gave a small sigh. "...not before it got me."

Ore looked at the wound. "You’ve lost a lot of blood."

"I noticed." Despite the situation, the boy’s voice remained surprisingly calm.

Tolu almost smiled. "You don’t seem very worried."

The boy looked at him. "Panic won’t stop the bleeding."

Ore glanced at Tolu.

Tolu glanced back.

They both seemed to reach the same conclusion.

This guy was strange. He was right but too calm given the situation.

"What should we call you?" Ore asked.

The boy hesitated for a moment before answering. "Akin."

Tolu nodded. "I’m Tolu."

"And I’m Ore."

Akin looked between them. "Adventurers?"

"Novices," Ore answered.

Akin gave a faint smile. "So am I."

Tolu looked at the wound again. "If you’re a novice, how did you survive a Mirefang?"

Akin looked toward the forest. "Luck."

He paused."And running."

Ore crouched beside him. "Can you stand?"

"Probably."

"Probably?"

Akin sighed. "Let’s find out." He reached for the tree and began pulling himself upright.

The moment he placed weight on his injured leg, his expression tightened.

He nearly fell.

Tolu caught his shoulder. "Easy."

Akin steadied himself. "Thanks."

Ore looked toward the trail. "We should get you back to the city."

Akin nodded. "Agreed."

Tolu looked around the forest before helping Akin adjust his balance. "Where’s the Mirefang?"

Akin’s expression became serious. "I don’t know."

He looked toward the trees. "But it was still following me when I reached here."

Ore immediately drew her weapon.

Tolu tightened his grip.

The forest suddenly felt much quieter.

A faint rustling came from somewhere beyond the trees.

Akin looked at them. "That’s it."

Something moved through the tall grass.

Tolu’s heart began pounding.

Two pale eyes appeared between the leaves.

Then the creature stepped into view. A lizard type creature but bigger.

Its body was low to the ground, covered in dark, mottled skin that blended almost perfectly with the forest floor. It had ragged scales on it back for protection and an elongated mouth for snapping at flesh.

Its long forelimbs pressed into the earth. Its mouth opened slightly. A low growl escaped its throat.

Ore tightened her grip. "Tolu..."

"I see it."

The Mirefang lowered its body. Then it lunged.

Tolu barely managed to raise his weapon in time.

Clang!

The impact sent him stumbling backward.

"Ore!"

"I’ve got it!" Ore stepped forward and swung at the creature.

The Mirefang twisted its body, narrowly avoiding the blade before snapping its jaws toward her.

Ore jumped back. "That was close!"

"Keep it away from Akin!"

"I know!" Tolu moved to the side and struck at the Mirefang’s flank.

His blade connected, but only managed to leave a shallow cut.

The creature hissed and spun toward him.

"Oh no."

It lunged again. Tolu raised his weapon.

The Mirefang slammed into him.

He fell hard onto his back, the breath knocked from his lungs.

"Tolu!" Ore rushed forward and swung wildly.

The Mirefang pulled away just before the blade reached it.

Ore nearly lost her balance from the force of the swing. "I meant to do that."

Tolu coughed as he pushed himself up.

"Sure you did."

The Mirefang crouched low. Its eyes moved between them.

Neither of them moved. For a brief moment, Tolu could hear nothing but his own breathing.

Then the creature suddenly darted toward Ore.

She froze.

Tolu reacted without thinking,stepped between them and swung. The blade struck the Mirefang across its shoulder.

The creature cried out and stumbled sideways.

Tolu stared at his weapon. "I actually hit it."

"Don’t celebrate yet! You haven’t done any damage their scales are super hard target the under belly."

The Mirefang recovered almost immediately.

It snapped its jaws at Tolu. He jumped backward.

Too late.

Its claws caught his sleeve and tore through the fabric.

Tolu winced. "That hurt!"

Ore moved in from the side. She struck the creature again.

This time the blade de a cut on the underbelly from the side deaalinga actual damage.

The Mirefang stumbled.

Ore’s eyes widened."It can bleed."

Tolu stared at her. "Of course it can bleed! It literally has blood."

"I know that!"

"Then why did you say it like you discovered something?"

"Because I was excited I dealt some damage!"

The Mirefang growled.

Tolu tightened his grip.

They were both breathing heavily now.

Neither of them had any real experience fighting something this fast. Their movements were clumsy. Their attacks were poorly timed. Half the time they were getting in each other’s way.

But they were making less mistakes.

The Mirefang charged again.

Tolu moved left.

Ore moved right.

For once, they finally had rhythm and fought in sync.

The creature passed between them.

Ore turned first. "Tolu!"

He understood immediately. They both attacked. Tolu struck its hind leg. Ore’s blade cut across its other side.

The Mirefang stumbled some of it’s organs showing.

Tolu stepped forward.

The creature turned toward him.

Its jaws opened.

He raised his weapon.

But his hands were shaking.

The Mirefang lunged.

Tolu swung his sword forward.

His blade struck the inside of its mouth using the force of the mirefangs’ charge to go deeper into its throat .

The creature collapsed.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Tolu stared at it.

Ore stared at it.

Then Tolu slowly lowered his weapon.

"Did we..."

Ore swallowed.

"I think so."

Tolu looked at the dead Mirefang.

"We actually defeated it."

Ore let out a shaky breath.

"That was terrifying."

Tolu laughed nervously.

"You’re telling me."

Behind them, Akin watched in silence.

After a moment, he spoke.

"You two really are novices."

Tolu looked back at him.

"That obvious?"

Akin glanced at the torn sleeve, the shallow cut on Tolu’s arm and Ore’s dirt-covered clothes.

"Very."

Ore sighed.

"At least we’re alive. We do need some serious training though "

Akin smiled faintly.

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