Reincarnated as a Duck: A beast progression litrpg isekai-Chapter 284 - 275: Light at the end of the tunnel

New injuries shouldn't disrupt the healing properties of these duo-potions, but new ones could certainly compromise it.

For Razmund, the problem was the return of pain that mixed with leaking blood. Then, the potion-related regeneration grew that sick, familiar thing, leaving a hellish mark on his heart. It was rage.

This wasn't Bagus's work. It couldn't be, for that neck was limp and wings unfolded like a broken carpet.

Bagus hadn't lost sight of him and noticed Razmund's stop. He floundered back, claymore in the ground, bypassing the killing of this beast that was aside.

Before he knew what to do and where to look, blood seeped and shot out of his wounds. Notably, his left arm almost dropped to the ground, with pink Dice squeaking in weird joy. Followed by clicking sounds in utter silence, a wind kept moving, and the clutter of metals resounded again.

Razmund didn't care; the cut was deep and clean, as if the target had been... waiting. Razmund noticed a hushed, small, and nervous figure a handful of reach from him. It was almost in his blind spot, holding weapons and barely breathing.

Itrosh wore a hideous face, wounds littered her busted figure, and panic was on her face, mixing well with helplessness and conviction that this was a terrifying way to go.

Or she was overwhelmed enough not to waver anymore.

She failed herself numerous times in this very cave, all for her to return. Too bad she was too late. She couldn't glimpse in the mirror anymore, if ever. She feared this comeback, and speaking of cowardice was like a mark of poison. She didn't even know what she deserved and what she could do about it.

Itrosh should have focused more on vigor and trust, utilized stealth, and made up for the rest with Bagus, who would have been her guard and tank without second thoughts.

But tell it to someone who feared death, or those tight corridors with looming Hunters coming to the off-limit mines?

Razmund looked at Itrosh, veins protruding on his forehead, and his anger almost bashed his face into the most unsightly human expressions possible. If anything, he hated cowards.

Then, there was something worse: petty, returning cowards who deserved nothing. They were the most hateful fools. They were losers.

Like him.

It resembled the worst time, in a sense. In the past. With uncertain looks.

Itrosh was already close, and the claymore was way too damn heavy. With both palms on Razmund's chest, her forearms held round objects, surrounding affiliated gifts of mana and wind. Connecting various weapons around her in strands of mana was a strange technique, hovering and flying. There were daggers, darts, curved weapons resembling daggers, and much more.

Among them was a deep golden chakram, looking like a spherical dagger, with a grip in the middle. It was sharp, dropping blood from its rounded edge. It was thin and precise, swirling and cutting nothing right now, as it was behind Razmund after reaching into his left arm and halting that chop.

Itrosh panicked when she met those crazy, unblinking eyes.

"Fly away, lunatic," she said before her Catalysts exploded, smashing Razmund away as if Bagus forced him with his tail or wing far away.

He felt a powerful push blasting and hitting his chest. He quickly moved his claymore, stabbing into the ground midway in his flight. But as he almost stopped, he watched how another powerful gust of wind followed more of those annoying flying weapons, hitting the ground and loosening his claymore before another palm bashed into his chest.

"You little shit!" Razmund said before Itrosh pushed him one last time, ending his battle by slamming him into the wall. The crash shattered it, leaving enough space for Razmund to fall down, even though it was tight and cracking further. There were no more options for anyone to follow.

Out of spite for his return, Itrosh flickered her hands, and all her flying weapons moved, cracking the opening further in a pile of rubble.

"Never crawl out of there ever again," Itrosh urged, her arms trembling, voice cracking, and legs wobbling.

He disappeared exactly where she wanted to: into the same shaft Murai and Lisa had gone into. There was no helping it. She would never kill him, so she sent him to a place where he couldn't crawl from.

Following her acts with clenched fists, Itrosh moaned, swearing and feeling awkward and guilty. Then, she turned, looking around until her eyes met Bagus.

She walked a few steps before falling to her knees close to him. "Well... blame me... please. Blame me."

Her tools and even chakram fell to the ground, following cracks of her Catalyst, and blood flowed down her cheeks and wounds. Her weapons might be fine to wound Razmund, but they were unable to dig deep or kill him.

Perhaps that chakram could do that if she aimed for the neck better. No. That wasn't a certainty because Itrosh would never hope to kill him, and her attempt to slice his neck failed anyway. It rather aimed for guilt and that claymore.

And Bagus, who trembled, whispering something to her and coughing blood.

Itrosh watched him, afraid to meet his hazy eyes again. She failed him more than she had failed herself. Fleeing and escaping were wrong logic and unfair for pride.

She shouldn't have done it. No matter what, Hunters were everywhere, and many were as powerful as Bagus, so leaving him to fight Razmund was definitely a fucked up alternative.

Now, she had to live with it or die for it.

Well, at least she smacked Razmund really fucking good, so Itrosh found a bitter satisfaction in that.

It's a shame she noticed his sorry appearance, almost no blame, and encircled destruction and bloody wounds. It wasn't petty or wrong to ignore it, but she felt so guilty that she started crying.

Itrosh didn't look for a remedy or excuses; she wished something else could be done, and... nothing new. There were just too many damned wounds. No treasures David left behind would help.

Patting him, she wished to die, yet could it help anyone, or anybody? Again, at this very moment, she failed herself, feeling all these failures might've killed her whole mood forever. Hellscape will survive it, surely, but could it live up to the satisfaction of their participation?

Helping him might bribe her Fate, Itrosh thought when adrenaline washed away and her wounds impacted her posture and movement. Her cowardice was terrible and deep.

She couldn't help it when she watched that Blessed and approaching man who wanted to kill her. Kill them both. With those eyes and aura, Itrosh wasn't stubborn enough to feel death like that. But she left Bagus to deal with it alone.

And Bagus didn't blame her. It was terrible to think, let alone take pride in. Willingness to oppose a powerful Blessed was deadly, and the actual clash was different from their previous expectations, giving Itrosh a taste of cruel reality.

Tears dropped from her unsightly face, lingering with fear while she patted those bloody feathers further. They were soft. Weird. They never were like this before.

She wished to speak on her behalf, knowing that the situation might no longer be salvageable. Soon to be surrounded, hunted, and gnawed, while... what were the plans at this stage?

They were supposed to go with Murai to the next Gate, if possible, but if things went south and they were being bothered by enemies and stalling, fleeing to safety would be their next option.

Or impossible.

It backfired because of this location and the Hunters who had come, followed by the worse outcome.

They should've fled when things took an inconceivable turn, reaching this depth of mines, and Lisa recognized it too damn late. Itrosh did as well, but it was too late or impossible to cuss at it.

Levandis had done something shady while cutting walls apart, or shattering these whole shafts wouldn't fix anything. Razmund still appeared out of nowhere and crashed their plans.

How horrible it ended wasn't questionable. In a sense, it was his ideal scenario, while stalling was fine. For Murai's sake, it was what Lisa wanted if one forgot all the other conditions.

They didn't know what had happened below this mine or how a lone Sunlord Slapper had fallen in sudden defeat.

Itrosh didn't think anymore. She betrayed her Pledge, or... did she? She didn't feel any repercussions or defeats, nor did she hear anything. The world might be broken, yet it hadn't reached for her failure. The Encounter was a perilous journey, and she failed.

Usually, there would be voices like before. There was nothing there, like her head or pride.

"Y-you... let him away. Down...there?" Bagus murmured, realizing that Itrosh was above him and Razmund was gone. The remaining shadow was a lingering Guide, hovering not that far away, helplessly seeing how he hadn't involved himself in this clash. Lint was still impressed.

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Bagus was trying his hardest to sound reasonable. A small jolting of his beak rubbed the ground, indicating an easy clue to his meaning at that rubble.

"Don't care. Don't care," Itrosh said unapologetically, shaking her head with limited empathy. She would do it again in a heartbeat, regardless of how much dealing with Razmund shook her arms and mind. "Life is worth more than some opportunity, pride, and wishes, while to see real dreams is just a story to tell hopeless children or slaves. It's stupid, Bagus. You are stupid! Stupid!"

She almost smacked him with her fist, but refrained from doing so.

"You'd better live to refute my cowardice, you hear me?" She said firmly. "I failed so badly. So badly. I never fucked so much... and let this whole thing down."

At the back of her head, she hoped David wouldn't find her. She knew her fleeing wasn't the worst outcome. She hoped to look for David; he said he would come. That he was already done, looking for them.

She didn't know about Ceila and those paladins, or how her messages acted and changed David's actions.

They were late.

"You are... injured yourself," Bagus mumbled, watching her blurry silhouette. "Looking for help, weren't you?"

"Says...you?" Itrosh wanted to joke but couldn't. "Sorry. I am sorry."

Hearing that made Bagus understand, as he knew where she was coming from. It was a normal reaction, so perhaps he was the one who wasn't normal. Again, it was most likely correct.

There was nobody wrong here but his tries. He should've stalled and played with Razmund better, either selecting a defensive approach to his Steel or disturbing him further. Where it would end was nothing new.

Things would get ugly no matter what, but a lesser evil was viable.

Pain would've forced him earlier, acts would shift, and maybe even Lint would've done something. But Bagus didn't want to admit that he hoped a lot.

Therefore, the present conduct became his dread, and it came crashing like a wild waterfall. At least he won't be dying alone. That was wonderful.

"It was... fun," Bagus said, "while it lasted."

Itrosh smacked him for real this time around, thinking that if he was like it, he still had some spark left in himself. Bagus moaned, and at that moment, she shoved a deep red pill into his beak.

"Smack me back when you are fine, moron. You should've smacked that guy into that hole yourself. That would've been so much better. Leave him there to rot. Now, don't die on me. I don't have much myself. Please. Don't let this be the end. There are still the others, right?"

Aside from her were lifeless weapons, while she frantically looked for more life-saving treasures. Nobody listened to her when she tried her best.

Nobody would.

"David..." Itrosh whispered. "He is one moronic moron like men! I... fuck!"

Bagus didn't say anything. He gulped that pill, feeling it might prolong the inevitable struggle. His blood and wounds were far too gone; he was shocked that his neck and voice even worked at this point.

Itrosh found more treasures, so she fed him and checked what she could save, trying to see what was salvageable even with Bagus's treasures.

Once more, helplessness enveloped her actions.

Bagus had accepted the outcomes and listened to the creeping sounds of his heart and thuds. Incoming thuds. Fights? Boulders rolling to the ground?

Opening his eyes, he saw approaching Lint, similar to Itrosh, whose fur perked up while her eyes squinted.

"What the fuck do you want, Guide!?" Itrosh asked, hissing and brandishing her chakram in clear annoyance. "Wanna laugh? Laugh!" She tossed it, but Lint caught it with a single finger, letting the chakram swirl around it in a weird reminder.

"Now, now," he said calmly. "I do apologize for the inconvenience, but this is how it goes in such Hunts and clashes. You've agreed to take care of this part. You are also Hunted. Now, death awaits. Isn't it kind of fun and thrilling? This entire endeavor was your doing. Isn't it fair when you kill, and another kills you back? It almost sounds poetic."

Itrosh tossed a bunch of other tools at him and watched how they bounced off his bones.

Lint was unfazed. "How about some deal, eh? Do...you, ah crap." He turned, and crashing explosions around the corner left dust and tremors, transforming this already badly damaged mining shaft. Something heavy came, enduring loud thuds and heavy motions.

Lint swirled his Soul Flames and let things go the way they weren't supposed to go. Troublemakers finally arrived at the most perilous place of all portals.

Right after the sounds, Mindarch's voice resounded.

[Go down... Lint,] the spirit whispered. [There is nothing much I can do about this anymore. It moves unpredictably, while Ceila... that little sun, is indeed a bother on very nasty levels. I don't like how Vermillion does her bidding anymore or what she wants.]

A little portal swirled underneath the Guide, letting Lint disappear from the upcoming mess. He couldn't know Mindarch was sending him to deal with something worse, but could he even deal with Razmund and Lookish? Lint was better at this. Supposedly.

Lint chuckled before looking and disregarding Itrosh, who glanced away when these sounds arrived. By the time they calmed down, Lint was already gone.

What came rolling from the dust were no boulders, but Paladins. Sturdy, big, and with crazy armor, they left destruction behind because they—like Razmund—dug toward this mine. It was quicker that way, evident by a figure throbbing in the light of wake and walking between them.

Tall, lofty, and bearing Vermillion's crest, Ceila came up to Itrosh and Bagus, bearing no offerings or harm.

David and Ultium were right past her, looking confused and helpless until they noticed Bagus's condition. Unlike Itrosh, they had no guilt or fear about it. They were just disappointed in their timings and were unable to grasp what had happened.

They wanted to hurry and help, but Ceila swung her arm, stopping them. "What is this?" She demanded. "Where is our target?"

Itrosh got defensive, realizing paladins were never good news. She stepped up in front of Bagus, feeling how those paladins and this priestess became a serious threat.

"W-who... are you? Hunters?" She could tell Ceila was far from being that simple. She stunk of Divinity; Itrosh believed in her nose and hunch enough to not do something stupid like attacking her straight away. Also, David was right behind her, neither like a prisoner nor an equal.

David tapped Ceila on her shoulder. "Now, don't mind us, miss," he said, unsure how to even call Ceila. "Let us help Bagus. Itrosh can speak for herself and give you additional explanations."

By his insistence, Ceila let him go without a word.

David pulled out a bunch of bandages and healing items from his pocket, hoping some of them could work a miracle. As he got closer, his hopes shattered. Bagus was much worse than eyes let on.

"Razmund reached here and... it was almost over," Itrosh said, overcoming her guilt. "I ran, wishing to hide in cowardice or looking for a way out. He didn't. Moron." She swung her hand, patting Bagus's head.

Ceila didn't change her demanding and cold expression. "Where are they?"

Itrosh pointed at the rumble. "Whatever is down, it is there. It isn't my problem."

Ceila flinched her finger, ordering one Paladin to deal with that rubble before she stepped forward, forcing Itrosh to step aside on instinct, and David almost did the same thing.

So tall, Itrosh thought, realizing how small she was compared to this priestess.

Ceila looked at David and Bagus when one of the Paladins crashed that wall and began digging down quicker than any of them could.

"I said I would deal with anything that would come, according to our wordy conversation and promise, David. Sure, it was no pledge, but my words mean something even when the world does not," she said, trying to smile but failing. "I stand by those words. Help, hunt, guide our positions, for they are intertwined."

David turned to her, obviously nervous about Bagus and Ceila's implications. "I doubted your intentions. Always. It is healthy, you see. I can't do it better, let alone find what is there for you, priestess of your kind, but if anything, can you help him?" David patted bloodied Bagus and himself after dealing with bare-bones tries to fix him.

"What kept them going?" Ceila asked in wonder, eying the beast. "Razmund is one of those crazy Blessed, you see. Not the normal ones, but one of those who had truly changed in this world for something or someone they formerly couldn't imagine. This world is weird in that regard and drives people into chaos. That guy isn't something new; I still appreciate Bagus initiating and stopping him until we arrived. His wounds are evident and fatal. It must be less than ten minutes since their battle. Therefore...."

She crouched, still looking tall even by David's standards.

Ceila took a medallion out of her pocket and let it glow. Then, she spoke in weird voices and placed the medallion on Bagus's head.

Light enveloped him, giving him a temporary holy spell that would disallow his wounds from worsening for as long as this light was here and the medallion touched him. It meant no pain and a lot of stability, so the time necessary for him to heal was no longer scarce.

Temporal invisibility was a big deal after so much blood remained on the ground, and Bagus stopped dying. David felt he could solve it if Bagus' suspension of time and space worked, and his head or soul was still alive.

Bagus was aware of that and listened to their entire conversation. He took this light and his current bliss as one true gift. He never felt this elevated, as if he was glowing and swaying in the waters of the Sky while lying motionless like a piece of rugged cloth stained with unfilial dreams.

"He is worse than I've anticipated," Ceila said, retrieved her hand, and stepped away. "Leave with us, David, or stay here, care for those who've done their part, or do what is next. I am going to do what's mine." Ceila got up just in time when the paladin dug out a hole big enough for them to get through.

David hesitated, watching Itrosh's weak mind and Bagus's problems. Then he glanced away at already leaving Ultium. Turning to the confused Itrosh, he shook his head and apologized.

"Sorry for doing it like this. It wasn't supposed to happen that way, and I haven't lied too much. I just keep finding ways to solve things differently, yet this..." he looked down. "I suppose this was my mistake for ditching it this far and leaving it behind. Lisa is... no. Never mind."

Itrosh snorted, "I should apologize myself, or..." She hesitated and looked at him, grabbing his neck and shoving him close. "You did fuck up. This isn't fucked like my cowardice. What is going on? We had plans? I get you depend on Ultium, but this is different from... the church? What is going on? You had hopes, but failed us more than we had done for you. I don't even want to imagine what Lisa wants to tell you right now. I can't imagine it."

"No need to speak of it." David forced her grip away and firmed his resolve. "When it is deserved, I will fix it. Bagus will be fine. This Blessing is temporary and protective, so fix him. I am going further, so deal with him for my sake and yours. Cowardice isn't a weakness, Itrosh. I always said it. It might not be the most reasonable instrument, but it means nice things aren't meant to go forever, or until something deep justifies us, which many don't control. That reminds me. Many cowards and lazy people are best at some crucial pacts, so remember that. I've learned that the hard way."

David tossed her a ring and left with the others, leaving her speechless at how he settled on leaving.

Itrosh sat on the ground, feeling angry and quiet. Not at her, but at everyone. Everything. She hated David's excuses and acting as if he hadn't done anything wrong. At least his gifts were sincere. Hopefully, that priestess was the same; if not, that was fine as well.

They were gone.

The truth was there: he had messed up their plan and caused Bagus's condition by not disclosing his secrets, or anything for that matter.

Bagus was left glowing under a dome of light. All pain disappeared, and he felt like a floating balloon. His eyes were wide open, and his beak kept trembling.

"Am I in heaven?" He asked, unsure if he should move very well or not at all. For the betterment of his treatment, he hadn't moved a muscle.

Itrosh condemned nothing between him and her and thought grabbing Bagus and leaving with them to go below might be a better option.

That wasn't an option; Ceila set this spell for something and didn't care about them too much. So Itrosh crouched down and dealt with his wounds first, still feeling guilty as hell.

"Sure. It is heaven. Heaven in Hell. Hell in...well, living is what?"

Bagus tossed his head aside.

"I am still glad you came back, even if you couldn't leave. Hunters and all, we should've stuck together and looked for a way out. We had plans. Ditching plans. Worse ones. There are many routes in these places. Old and cracked and tall. Escaping via those elevators is something I never included but wished to try for at one point in my life."

Itrosh grunted and wished he could feel the pain of her treatment.

"Too bad you kept it for yourself like David does with all of his little or big secrets. Stupid men. All of you. What is up with that holy group?! I was scared... and still am. It is different than that Razmund guy. Walking straight with Ultium. It makes me chort what they are doing. And me? Well, I am... still sorry, guilty, and not well in my head. I am aware. Don't... tell anything, please."

"I feel great," Bagus said. "Perhaps it is fine to dream."

Itrosh nodded and figured fleeing for their lives sounded like a fun time, unaware that Hunters could still come.