Read Last One Standing Vol 1 The First Wave :: Chapter 13 Part 3

A few days went by, I decided to head towards the countryside where Daiki and Aiko were trying to head to while being chased down. Along the way I found many monsters, from low level monsters such as Goblins and the higher level monsters such as the Titans. Throughout the past few days, i haven't seen any humans, there aren't any to be found, the only thing i’ve found are human bodies and puddles of blood covering the walls of houses and the ground. I’ve also learnt that most monsters that are E rank are in between levels 1- 10, D ranks are from levels 11 - 20, C ranks are from levels 21 and 40, and lastly B ranks are from level 41- 70. Something else i’ve found are different types of monsters, in E rank are still just the goblins, D rank now have trolls and demon goblins, the demon goblins are the same as regular goblins but faster and stronger, unlike regular goblins they also know how to use mana. There are also Werewolf type monsters which are often found in the forest or at night. Most monsters have a preferred habitat, some more obvious than others, like the werewolves who spend most of their time out at night. In C rank we have Orcs, Centaurs and minotaurs, who are all strong fighters, Centaurs with their high dexterity and the minotaurs with extreme brute strength they are both Violent monsters which if caught off guard by, will lead to a catastrophic end. In B rank we have Titans, Ogres and Griffins, the ogres with there big bodies and extreme strength are trouble some enemies since unlike the minotaurs with high strength but little to no agility the ogres on the other hand have much more mobility then the minotaurs placing them at a higher rank. The Griffins are the only monsters I've encountered that can fly. Their attacks aren't strong and on ground their agility is limited however due to their ability to fly they are annoying to fight against. For now i haven't encountered any other type of monsters or higher ranked monsters. In the past few days I've also seen quite a few dungeon portals. At first I walked past them because of the unknown territory on the other side. However, in the past 2 days I've developed a technique to analyze and rank the dungeon before entering. I use my mana around the dungeon to sense its mana, and give an estimate on the strength of the monsters inside it. For now i’ve decided to not enter the B rank dungeons, since by entering the lower level dungeons like E rank and D rank i’ve learnt that the monsters are stronger in the dungeons then outside. I’ve also learnt that they give two times the exp inside the dungeon. Lastly the dungeons have a boss, each with two mini bosses at the entrance of the bosses lair. The mini bosses strength is at the highest of their rank, whereas the bosses strength is of the following rank. Their rank and strength can be anywhere in the following rank: it can be at the strongest or at the weakest. Take a B rank dungeon for example, assuming that my analysis is correct and you're truly inside a B rank dungeon then the boss of the dungeon will be an A rank. That's why I've been avoiding the B rank dungeons. Furthermore, Every dungeon gives an item of its corresponding rank, if you're in a C rank dungeon then the Item will also be of C rank. For now I'm trying to find as many C rank dungeons as possible since they give me the best items for my rank. In the past week I've managed to level up twice bringing me to level 42. I’ve also received a few pieces of valuable items, such as boots, pants and a chest piece, unfortunately I haven't been able to find any better swords.

Fallen guardians chest piece,

+8% armor

*Armor reduces the damage received

Assassin's boots

+5% speed

Passive skill: Sprinting gain a 10% speed boost

Mages pants:

+7 Mana

+2 intellect

Aoi:

Title: Absolute creator

Stat power level: 230 (D rank)

Skill power level: 3100(S rank)

Total power level: 3330(S rank)

Level 42, exp 42%

Strength-15

Agility-24

Mana-71 - 77 (+26)

Intellect-70 (+25.5)

Endurance- 20%

Speed- 5%

Armor- 8%

Skills:

Matter Manipulation - B rank, Proficiency: 33%

Unique skill - Adaptation/ Evolution - SSS rank

Raking- E rank, Proficiency: 80%

Jujitsu- E rank, Proficiency: 13%

Mix Martial Arts- E rank, proficiency: 33%

Duel wield- B rank, Proficiency: 4%

Mana Slash - C rank, Proficiency: 45%

I'm now located back in the city. In the last week, I’ve made my way back around the forest making it downtown. Just like the grocery store’s plaza, there is nothing but dead bodies. However unlike the grocery store its way more populated with monsters and stronger monsters. At night I can hear the wings of giant beasts flying above the abandoned buildings I rest in. Bee has now been in a coma for 168 hours meaning we are exactly 50% of the way there. Luckily I still haven't encountered a monster above B rank, I've decided to keep fighting C rank monsters and not go higher until Bee has fully recovered. It's now the next morning and 159 hours are remaining on Bee’s coma. I decide to do the same as I've been doing the past week and leave the abandoned building early in the morning and search for C-rank dungeons. I walk around town and clear a few D and E-rank dungeons before encountering any C-rank dungeons. As usual, it was fast, taking about 30 minutes each. Killing the monsters isn't what takes the longest, it's the distance and size of the dungeons that make it take longer. If it were just a bunch of monsters in a room it would take 5 minutes at most including the boss. However, since I need to travel across the dungeon the time it takes is much longer. Unfortunately, the gear I received was useless, after having left the most recent dungeon I continued my journey searching for a C-rank dungeon. After about 10 minutes I finally managed to find a C-rank dungeon, this one however was much different from the previous ones. Unlike the regular man, I felt this one was stronger and darker, almost as if it could see me. With a single glance, I could tell this wasn’t a regular dungeon, it was much different in fact. I couldn't tell whether it was a C-rank or B-rank dungeon, if it were a B-rank dungeon it would be very weak for a B-rank and if it were a C-rank it would be the strongest I’ve ever seen. The only issue with these dungeons is that once you enter you can't leave unless you use the transportation device given after killing the boss of the dungeon. This transportation device is a single-use item that brings you back to the entrance of the dungeon. This means that if it is a B-rank dungeon I can't leave until I kill the boss. I decided to take the risk of it being a B rank since the difference between a top tier C rank dungeon and a Low tier B rank dungeon isn't that big. As soon as I enter I'm relieved as I encounter an Orc. This automatically confirms that the dungeon is a C rank, however I still have an uneasy feeling in my chest. The ominous feeling in my chest is still there, a bad feeling, a feeling I've only had with near-death encounters. I have no idea what's in this dungeon, but it's too late now, I either die or live. And I have no plan of dying this early into my fight. I will not be leaving my friend's bodies alone with that murderer, I'll at least avenge them before dying. I kill the first few monsters without a problem, no matter how easy they are to kill, I still have a bad feeling. I make my way through the dungeon with ease, barely encountering any monsters as I go. My analysis must have been wrong, the monsters I do encounter are as easy to kill as the D-rank monsters. I continue to make my way to the end of the dungeon with caution, I arrive at the boss's entrance, the two mini-bosses are missing, and along the walls are traces of battle. Deep cuts cover the ceramic walls with blood all over. The entrance to the boss's lair has a crack in it, it's been opened recently. Someone has been here recently and I'm not alone. This could mean someone’s cleared the dungeon already, but there wouldn't have been a portal to it if that were the case. All transportation to the dungeon is suspended after 15 seconds of someone entering. So someone can't be here with me. I cautiously enter, approach the doors, and sneak a peek through the crack. On the other side is a dark room, I can't see anything but darkness. I push the door open and place my bag and Bee on my right on the ground. Behind me the doors close violently. The room is now pitch black the slight vision I had was now gone,

The room around me suddenly flashes brightly, red torches surround the room, except for one spot. The other side of the room has two stairs leading to a platform, the platform is covered in darkness. On the floor in front of the platform is a puddle of blood, leading from the platform. Bloody footsteps are leading to the top of the platform. I suddenly hear a voice echo through the platform. “Welcome brother… It's been a long time, hasn't it? about 3 years now hasn't it, you must be lonely”

How does he know that? How does he know when my brother died? no one knows that except me. I’m the only one who knows, we didn't hold a funeral so how does someone other than me know when my brother died?

“WHO ARE YOU” I shout,

“What do you mean? you don't recognize my voice, brother? that hurts you know, how could you forget your only brother's name?” he answers,

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN? MY BROTHER DIED 3 YEARS AGO?”

“Of course, I know that twerp, I killed him”

That's something only my brother would call me. Why is he calling me a twerp, my brother is the only one who ever called me that.

“THEN DID YOU FAKE HIS OVERDOSE?”

“I suppose you could say that”

“IF YOU'RE MY BROTHER THEN SHOW YOURSELF! PROVE IT! PROVE TO ME THAT YOU'RE MY REAL BROTHER”

“If that's what my little brother wants then I can't refuse.”

He walks out from the shadow on the platform, the blood splashing from his black boots as he slowly reveals himself. A black robe just like mine with a mask covered in blood, he holds a long Katana in his right hand. He slowly removes his mask which was covering his eyes and mouth revealing his scars, from burn wounds to cuts, his entire face was scarred except his right eye. Just like my brother he had a small birthmark next to his eye. That guarantees it, the man covered in red blood was my brother. The ominous feeling in my chest gets stronger and stronger as he gets closer. I back away slowly and trip on a piece of rubble. My brother at my feet holds his katana out aiming it at my throat, he pulls his sword back putting it back in its sheath, he then reaches his hand out and pulls two katanas out. Unlike his, these were shorter making it easier to duel wield. “Here this is a gift for our long awaited meeting, See you soon… brother” he says, as he drops the katanas on my stomach. He turns around and disappears. With the swords as the transportation device of the dungeon, I take a moment before using it, bringing both me and Bee back to the entrance of the dungeon. I stay seated for a bit, The katanas in my hand automatically go into my inventory. I take a moment to look over the stats, unlike my short swords which didn't give me any bonus stats these katanas were imbued with powerful mana. Giving them stats, the issue with my previous weapons was that the amount of mana imbued in them was so weak that they were only used to kill monsters. Regular weapons or objects that aren’t imbued with enough mana don't deal damage to monsters. In short the swords were only able to damage them without giving me any stats. My new kanata’s on the other hand gives me bonus stats.

A new set item was added

Warmage dual katanas have been added to the warmage item set.

These items do not give extra set bonuses

Warmage duel Katanas:

+15% Mana for each weapon (30%) Current stat bonus +30 mana

+15% Intellect for each weapon (30%) Current stat bonus +30 intellect

Aoi:

Title: Absolute creator

Stat power level: 290 (D rank)

Skill power level: 3100(S rank)

Total power level: 3390(S rank)

Level 42, exp 42%