Chapter 65 Deathmatch

Chapter 65 Deathmatch

"Are you sure we're going in the right direction?" Uriel asked Nika since the mist didn't allow them to see which way they were going.

"Just trust me, ok? I'm an experienced fighter and I can find my way around even in absolute darkness..." She said as she slowed down to avoid tripping on a stone slab. "See, I told you we'll be fine, we made it in no time." She continued after pointing towards the stone slab which was a sign they were at the outline of a structure.

"This can't be Kukulkan's pyramid, the only building with a stone slab flooring like this is the warriors temple. You just said you could find your way in darkness!" Uriel said as he walked towards a column to lean on and gather his breath.

"Well, it's not dark, is it? this freaking mist... it's giving me the chills." She hugged herself.

"I get what you're saying, it's weird how it seems to shine and yet it's impossible to see past it."

"That's not it, I'm actually freezing!"

"You should have though about that before dressing like a pervert."

"A pervert? This is camo! It's a perfectly fine attire for war."

"You say that, but you're showing way too much skin, there's barely any clothes on you." Uriel muttered, a bit disgruntled after getting lost.

"I don't see you being helpful in any way, aren't you an archaeologist? How come you lost a pyramid that big!?"

"I'm a student, besides, it's not like I have a compass." He shrugged.

"Damn it, where's that idiot Flanagan when you need him?" Nika looked back at the way they came from, but she couldn't see that far or hear any noises.

"Wasn't he following us just now?"

"That imbecile must have gotten lost."

"Actually, we are the ones who got lost. Moreover, aren't you too harsh on your subordinates?" Uriel pointed out.

"Says the man who didn't have trouble calling at a tejuino, those things are like honey badgers on steroids. Compared to that, this little fellow will cause you no problems."

Uriel grabbed the orichalcum dagger from his belt, his hands trembling both in excitement and fear, and he stepped in front of the staircase waiting for the pygmy to climb up. As soon as the creature reached the top Uriel clenched the dagger hilt tightly making a creaking sound.

The battle started with the cryptids swinging it's stick wildly at him but, thanks to his newly acquired speed he had no trouble dodging it. However, countering the attack proved to be too difficult thanks to the pygmy's small size. Kicking it would have been easier but sending it away would only be a waste of time.

Uriel made a few swings above the creature's head but the cryptid didn't even attempt to dodge as it realized none of those swings would land. Instead of dodging, it proceeded to repeatedly hit Uriel's legs with the stick.

"Ouch!" Uriel yelped in pain as he made his revolver appear out of thin air making Nika click her tongue in disapproval.

"That's no fun, this is supposed to be a fair fight." She reprimanded.

"Are you sure this is the right time for games?"

"Do you maybe prefer to practice against the bigger ones?" She made her point clear enough for Uriel to understand that even though it wasn't a fight for his life, it could still mean the difference between life and death later on when things became more difficult.

"Fine." He said as he got back into a fighting stance.

The small pygmy launched forward in a tackle, waving its small stick in the air with an angry frown, but Uriel parried the stick with the dagger and managed to land a clean stab on the creature's chest but...

"It's not working, it didn't pierce through!" He said as he pinned the pygmy to the ground with his blunt blade.

"That's odd... it should have worked, it's orichalcum after all... those kinds of weapons usually cut through beast and monster rank creatures like butter." She bit her nail as Uriel struggled to keep the creature down.

"It's going to escape, do something!" Uriel cried, but it was already too late.

Although the creature was small, it was still a monster rank cryptid and its strength was far superior than that of an evolved, it was at the same level of an ascended rank hunter, and Uriel was thrown away dropping the dagger in front of the cryptid.

For a second, the small pygmy stared at the dagger in confusion, then at its stick, and finally at the dagger again. Just as it was about to pick the dagger up its face froze in a terrified expression. Uriel didn't miss this chance to fire his magnum at point blank, erasing the pygmy from existence with a devastating shot, and picked up the flux orb soon after.

It wasn't the result any of them expected, but at least Uriel managed to get another orb and Nika got a good laugh at the scene.