Dimensional Descent

Aina pulled her sword out quickly.

She didn't quite understand what was happening. Shouldn't Invalids be creatures of instinct? They shouldn't have any intelligence or sense of comradery. Something like signaling one's allies was a distinctly human trait. Sometimes beasts of higher intelligence would engage in such matters as well. But, Invalids? That should never happen.

'It didn't become energy?'

Aina was shocked once again. The Invalid before her collapsed, but it didn't disappear into energy she could absorb. Just what was happening?

Aina's heart seized. Did she make a mistake? Was it not an Invalid at all?

No, that was impossible. Its eyes, its aura, its demeanor, it all screamed Invalid. So, what was happening exactly?

Aina didn't believe that she would make such a rookie mistake. Plus, what existence other than an Invalid could shriek like that even after having its head pierced through?

Aina was certain, it hadn't been a shriek of pain or unwillingness. It had no emotion behind it all, it was completely hollow and without conscience.

'I need to move.'

Aina thrust these thoughts to the back of her mind, taking a glance at the wall the 'Invalid' had been scratching at.

If Leonel had been there, he would immediately recognize the Tier 5 Black Ore embedded into the wall. It wasn't very valuable, but it wasn't worthless either. At the very least, it could sell for a couple kilograms of Black Urbe Ore.

'I don't have time to dig it out and it doesn't seem like a very high level ore either.' Aina nodded to herself. 'Run.'

was unfortunate that she had placed herself in such a difficult situation for

in

to run and create new markings on the wall. And, if she got lost in these tunnels, there would be no one to come out and save her. Therefore, her best

meant that there were more Invalids on their way. If she was correct, then her arrows wouldn't mean

a corner with confidence, only to come

all of them with their backs facing her. But, they all simultaneously rotated their heads in her direction as though they were night time owls. It was the kind of sight that sent shivers

hesitated, her

forward? Or

There was no way she would be able to keep a mental map

tunnels simply had too many diverging paths. If it wasn't for this, there was no way that Aina would only meet these Invalids on

her teeth.

way back, that only meant that she had been very lucky not to run into them on the way here. If that was the case, there might very well be even more if she headed in deeper rather than trying to exit.

a faint red hue

shot forward, brandishing

Invalids reacted all at once, but their reactions seemed disjointed. Though they were as fast as Fourth Dimensional humans, their joints would often bend at odd angles as though they

some alien species just learning how to walk on their own two feet thanks to bodies

cold shiver down Aina's back, but this was a good thing for her. The less coordinated they were, the greater chance she had of leaving this

of her blade, one lost an arm and a leg in quick succession. Without even bothering with the remaining two, she shot by the gap she created after the Invalid toppled over, nearly hitting her head on

make. As long as the Invalids she came across continued to be so uncoordinated and slow, she just had to continue

Why couldn't she had traveled in a straight line before? What possessed

ran into several more Invalids. Many were alone, allowing her to easily bypass them. But, a few came in groups of two and

she ran. How were there so many Invalids here? Why did none of

more she ran into, the more she began to question how she had traveled so