Franz continued to run, his steps carrying not only his weight but the responsibility of his companions as well.
Not the physical weight of course but rather the weight of his responsibility made his steps heavy. He was supposed to lead them— Fight together with them but fate seems to have other plans for him.
Entering the Red Hands base he quickly started his search, rambling through the room in a hurry.
Clater—!
Clater—!
He hurriedly slides the chairs throwing everything that came into his hands. Franz was truly desperate right now. He regrets not telling them more about Victor. From what Asher has said to him Victor was not a simple awakened like himself but rather someone who caused Asher troubles. To him, it was a big feat.
This shows how much Asher's presence has grown over his mind and how highly he treats his strength.
"Goddammit check the rooms—!" Franz shouted as he looked over at the floating spirits around him, they danced around him— To console him, these tiny buds unaware of the dangers lurking around them cheerfully moved up and down— It was to help their human!!
Without wasting any time the small buds of light that only Franz could see moved in all directions passing through the walls and floors.
"Who is there?!"
A shout came from another room, surprised Franz moved swiftly into hiding.
A man came in a hurried motion— He was trying to escape but hearing the loud noise he ended up coming here instead.
From the corner of the room— In the dark Franz glared at the new arrival, taking out his dagger he jumped at him from behind.
Thud—!
Falling from the sudden impact the man crashed onto the wooden table with a loud thud. Groaning he looked up only to get kicked in the stomach.
"Gaah—!"
Instead of giving up he took out his knife hidden in his pocket and stabbed Franz on his right leg.
But the sound of pain didn't follow afterward.
The man's eyes widened as he looked at Franz unflinching as he just stood there with a neutral face.
"Where are the.... monsters" Franz demanded as he stabbed his dagger at the man below him.
A real grunt of pain followed this time.
"Downstairs!"
Franz stood there stupefied by such eccentric behavior.
"Wasn't it... too easy." He muttered, he was almost disappointed but shook his head removing such foolish thoughts.
Not letting the man go he threw the dagger at the man's neck stabbing his throat.
Without much thought, Franz took out the knife stuck inside his legs.
Drip—
A single drop of blood soon followed the knife's trail as the wound closed instantly.
Franz's regeneration ability was helpful as always.
Then he stopped as he was about to leave and started at the corpse with a deadpan expression.
"But... where are the stairs?"
No answer came as the man was dead.
Franz continued to glare at the corpse for a whole minute before moving forward.
"...Wasted my time." He let out a sigh of resignation as the search continued.
He walked to another room, he soon saw a pointed light, it jumped up in joy upon seeing Franz. The light flickered blinking in a systematic rhythm before tugging at Franz's coat.
"Wait... I am coming." Franz said his voice low with caution. Taking a slow step forward the floor creaked under his weight.
"...Call others as well." Franz's voice echoed in the empty room. The interior was small and messy but that was alright with him.
Kneeling on one leg Franz frowned as he touched the floor.
Tak—!
Tak—!
Knocking on it loud empty sound echoed from below. Hearing the sound his lips curled up turning into a grin.
"We came~" A sweet and childish voice whispered in his ears, making his hair stand in fear as he flinched. Swiftly turning his head he saw a blue bird with a white glow over it. The sparkle of her eyes was mesmerizing as she looked at Franz with an adorable tilt of her head before repeating.
"We came~"
It was Lyra his contracted spirit— An existence of much greater value than the tiny buds of light that moved around him. If the tiny buds of light were comparable to a baby she was equally strong to an awakened by herself.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the bewildered Franz. "We came~," She said softly.
"...I heard you, on first time," Franz said, annoyed. No matter how adorable she may look in appearance, Franz wasn't going to let this little devil fool him.
This spirit— No calling this bird a devil spawn wouldn't be wrong. She has done deeds even Asher himself could never imagine. Franz had been a victim of her mischievous deeds.
The number of times he got slapped by women due to her pranks was countless. She even had the audacity to try it on Lady Morgana herself!
Thank the Goddess Lady Morgana gave her a beating and understood my pain.
"Franz~" She chippers innocently, her beak hinting at his neck slowly with adoration.
"We don't have time for this Lyra... Can you open the way for the stairs?"
"Play~," She asked.
"No" But Franz's stern voice rejected her outright. Seeing her disappointment Franz bit his lips and begged. "Lyra, please... I will play with you as much as you want later."
Her eyes sparkled even more at the promise of fun. "Promise?~"
"Promise."
Her eyes lit up at the word and she fluttered away from his neck to hover in front of his face. With a dramatic flap of her wings, she pointed down with a beak that shimmered with mischief. The floorboards under her pointed spot began to groan and shift. A hidden door slowly swung open, revealing a staircase leading into darkness.
Franz took a deep breath and nodded his thanks to the bird spirit. She chirped happily and flew down the stairs, her light guiding the way. The staircase was narrow and steep, descending into the bowels of the Red Hands' lair.
The air grew thick with the scent of mold and damp earth as they went deeper. The walls were lined with weapons and armor, some of which looked to be of questionable origin. The spirits flitted around, searching for any signs of his companions.
Soon other buds of light came dancing around Franz then flew toward Lyra playing with her.
Franz looked at them for a moment before frowning deeply, his gaze then moved down towards the floor as he continued to descend.
"...No one is here."
Franz was not shocked by this, Lady Morgana had already accounted for this possibility. According to Asher's report and all the possibilities calculated by Lady Morgana, it was highly likely that the Red Hands would have moved the monsters to flood the city with them.
They had to act quickly, every second counted.
Franz and the others can't stop all the monsters from emerging, so he will at least find the biggest den of monsters and stop them before they can be released.
At the bottom of the staircase, the room was vast and dimly lit by flickering torches. The cacophony of snarls and hisses grew louder as they approached. The spirits hovered closer to Franz, their light dimming slightly with fear.
"Franz~ Danger~"
Lyra came flying, her wing fluttering in a hurry.
"Franz~ Run~ Run~"
Lyra's voice was filled with urgency as she flew back up the stairs. The room grew darker as the tiny spirits retreated in terror, leaving only the flickering light from the torches to guide him.
He knew he was close.
The sound of monstrous growls grew more intense, sending chills down his spine.
Franz's figure visibly twitched, his finger gripped his coat— His knuckles turning white as the grip tightened with every step he took.
"...Lyra don't worry.— I have a trump card." Franz even though scared grinned trying to comfort his visibly frightened spirits.
"Card~" She tilted her head in confusion landing on Franz's shoulders.
"Yes"
Hearing the growls of monsters behind the rusted iron door, Franz's eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists and opened the door.
"Protect me."
This is all Franz could muster to say, before opening the door with shaking hands.
"...I hate my job."
Seeing the monsters of different shapes and sizes his heart hammered inside his chest. Cold sweat trickled down his spine but he somehow didn't fall on the ground in despair.
His hand glowed as a doll with a drum on its hand appeared in the palm of his hand. The drum began to beat a rhythmic pattern that echoed through the cavernous room. The monsters' snarls grew more feral as the beat grew louder.
Hearing the drums beat his mind shook uncontrollably, maintaining his vision he let it fall on the ground.
Dum—!
Tak—!
Dum—!
Tak—!
With a rattling sound, the doll moved forward shaking under the drum beat.
Franz started bleeding from his nose and ears. His eyes turned bloodshot as he felt his legs go weak.
This was the price of using this artifact.
The monsters stopped in their tracks, their disgusting bodies snarled as the doll came near them. Hearing the drums beat, the first monster near him looked at it— Then closed his eyes as he fell on the ground slowly with wind escaping from its jaw.
Following that the doll continued to move forward, its drumming resonating through the chamber. Each beat seemed to carry an invisible force, pushing the monsters back. They writhed and roared in their very existence seemingly repulsed by the rhythm.
Slowly they all fell one by one in a deep state of slumber. The doll triumphant now stood over one of them as it continued to play the tune of slumber on its drum.
The spirits watched in amazement, their fear momentarily forgotten as they saw the tide of battle turning in their favor.
"Franz~!"
Lyra who had been watching this turned to look at Franz's body shivering in pain as he continued to bleed all over.
His face was pale, teeth chattering as blood continued to leave his body.
"... it's alright." He muttered a small grin playing on his lips.
His ability will keep him alive– Healing him from the negative effects.
"Franz~!"
Franz looked at his spirits— His dear spirits who continued to make his life trouble, not even letting him flirt with any girl.
So this much acting was worth it.
"Lyra *cough*... I am sorry."
He coughed a mouthful of blood to make his act feel more real.
Lyra's small eyes teared up as she saw her human bleed. She panicked as she flew all over the room.
Seeing her in distress, Franz winked at his other spirits letting them know he was okay.
Seeing this they blinked before playing along.
'Lady Morgana... and Asher I will leave the rest to you.'
With such thoughts, Franz dramatically closed his eyes, stretching his arms toward Lyra before making them flop to his sides.
"Fraaaanz~!"
The only sounds now left in the room were of the drum beats and the little bird screaming.