Fractured God

Seventy-five percent.

That was how much of their own the kobolds decided was too much.

As if a switch was flipped they immediately started fleeing. It didn't matter where they ran to as long as they got away from the two monsters in the room. Some didn't even bother trying to leave through the various connected hallways and instead tried to dig their way out.

Others would climb over brethren to get away.

As long as they could get away no method was above them. Eventually, the only thing left in that space was the uncountable corpses of kobolds, the almost overpowering stench of blood that had now made the room incredibly humid and the two battered adventurers that lay on the floor.

Only the woman remained standing.

"EZEKIEL!" Tibaut shouted with the embers of his strength that remained.

There was no response.

It wasn't unthinkable but there was no way he could accept this. There was no way they could have gone through all that and he decided to die at the finish line. The only reason he could even call out to him in the first place was because of that man's perseverance and endurance. There was no way he could accept he was dead. He would call out to him until he responded. It didn't matter how long he had to do it, he wouldn't stop until he heard his response.

"Ezekiel!" He shouted with less vigour than before.

"Shut the hell up, I'm trying to catch my breath here."

"Huh?"

He was somewhat confused by the response but he decided he had no time for that now that he confirmed that he was alive.

Tibaut then slowly forced himself to stand up then limped his way towards Ezekiel. On his way, he stumbled and tripped various bodies of the kobolds.

But no matter how many he tripped over he still made his way over to him.

He couldn't pass out now. He still had a job to do before he left his fate to Ezekiel. He soon reached him. Whether he travelled ten metres or one hundred he had no recollection. He stared down at the man catching his breath and dragged him up.

"Hey kid, I think it's a bit early to be leaving. I may look invincible but it'd still be dumb to leave without treating our wounds"

Tibaut did not respond to him. All he had in his eyes was a vacant expression while his breathing grew increasingly harder. He then moved his hand in between the both of them. A faint green glow encompassed the both of them. Ezekiel looked at him shocked.

("The hell? Is he a healer?") Is what he thought but he didn't feel any of the soothing effects of it. ("Shit it's too weak.")

This glow continued for a few minutes before Tibaut fell to the muddied floor. Before he fully submitted to unconsciousness he whispered what he could.

"Cure. 12 hours before we have to worry about infection. Bring us to Elizabeth. She'll heal us." After those last three words, he was out cold.

("So that was a cure spell huh? That was oddly forward-thinking of him. I couldn't have guaranteed us returning without having to lose a limb or two. Plus Elizabeth knows healing magic? That's the first I've heard of this.")

While he had some doubts about that part with Elizabeth, he decided to trust him.

Healing potions were expensive and would take weeks to reach the parish even if they ordered them as soon as they reached a town.

And in terms of healers, none of the ones in the parish would be good enough to heal the wounds they had even if they fully drained their mana.

He looked at his chest and noticed a rib that was showing. Thanks to the blood that covered his body, other than his rib he had no clear indication of how damaged he was and frankly he felt like he'd be better off not knowing.

Tibaut wasn't looking too good either. His back and his legs looked like they lost all the skin they once had. He didn't know how good Elizabeth was but it was worth giving a shot nonetheless. He picked up Tibaut's body and put him over his shoulder. He then stared in the direction of the woman.

After taking a few seconds to catch his breath some more he stated. "If you don't wanna die, stay close to me. Though I think I have a pretty good idea of who you are so don't think about running away."

The woman looked surprised but didn't show any inclinations to running away.

"Good, questions can wait until later, for now just follow me."

It was a dark space. There was no sound. It wasn't just silent, there was nothing that could be heard. Even the sounds one would notice in extreme silence such as the sound of your own eyelids blinking or the sound of your own heartbeat couldn't be heard.

It was unnerving. He had never experienced a silence as unique as this. Even when he moved his mouth nothing came out.

He wondered why he was floating in this lightless and soundless void. Then he saw him. In the lightless void, he saw a figure suddenly appear in front of him.

He couldn't move. He couldn't talk. He was forced to watch as this figure examined him. He couldn't fully make him out as his appearance seemed somewhat blurry.

"Tch, you're still kicking around? Why don't you just give up and die already."

The figure said while sounding annoyed.

"I can't believe out of all the ones I brought here you're one of two still alive. It doesn't help that that both of you are basically useless."

The figure then sighed.

"Whatever, maybe you can still be useful to me. Just get me some good information before you die, I always try to make another batch."