I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Chapter 172: The Third Trial: The Weight of Friendship

As Adam's answer lingered in the dim passage, Octavia's eyes sparkled with glee, and her lips curled up into a broad smile, revealing her pearly white and even teeth.

"Let's go, the outside world is calling for us!" she exclaimed, trembling with excitement as she dashed forward in a mad frenzy, unaware she still held his hand.

"HAAAAA!"

His scared scream resonated as she dragged him, her speed faster than a bullet train. The air pressure crushed his face, forcing him to shut his eyes and conjure mana to create a wall before him.

Once protected behind his construct, he yelled, "OCTAVIA! STOP."

However, in his panic, he didn't realise his mistake.

Upon hearing his screech, she remembered he wasn't as fast as her and planted her feet on the ground, stopping in a second.

As she halted, her feet leaving deep cracks in the rocky ground, the inertia jerked him forward with incredible strength.

Fortunately, he had invested stat points into his body, and she still clutched his hand, or he would have been sent crashing against the wall. Unfortunately, he wasn't durable enough.

With a loud snapping sound, his right arm broke as the wind fiercely battered his body.

"ARGH!" With a pained roar, he dropped to the ground as tears welled in his eyes.

Simultaneously, Octavia realised her mistake and hurriedly said, terrified by the turn of events, "I'm sorry. I... I didn't notice I was still holding your hand. I didn't do it intentionally."

However, only silence answered her as Adam held his broken arm in despair, tears of frustration rolling down his cheeks.

'With less than a day, it won't have enough time to heal...' He thought in misery, his mind unable to understand this unreal scene. 'How? How is the first injury I suffered caused by an ally?'

The situation was so ridiculous, yet it happened.

"Please, say something. I'm really sorry." Octavia pleaded, afraid to have ruined their friendship as her vision blurred.

Instead of lashing out, he closed his eyes in defeat. What was the point, anyway? It was evident it was an accident caused by her excitement. Yet, his soul would bear half the damage in the real world.

"Status." He muttered.

HP: 347/434

'The damage shouldn't be too extensive,' he thought, his brows creased in a frown before standing up and looking at Octavia.

"Be careful not to do it again. I can't explain the details, but I absolutely, and I insist, can't be wounded." He explained, trying to reassure her with a kind smile.

However, the pain caused it to be crooked and unnatural, making her understand he was doing his best not to blame her.

As she opened her mouth to apologise once more, he cut her off with a gentle but firm tone. "What's done is done. Let's move to the next lab."

Her lips quivered in sadness and guilt, yet her eyes glowed in resolve. With her strength, she will swiftly take care of the next chimaeras, reach Ignatius' last lab and search for a way to heal him after defeating the mad monster.

Without a word, she nodded decisively and led the way.

After fifteen minutes, they reached the next lab. Not wasting time, she pushed the stone doors open and barged in without warning, startling Adam with her rash action.

Under his widened eyes, she unsheathed her iron sword and charged at the three creatures dwelling in the room, catching them off guard.

Loud cracking noises echoed as the ground splintered. In less than a second, she leapt at the first chimaera and swung her sword vertically.

A sudden, jarring noise filled the room as the spider's head, supported by a mantis' body, collapsed. Upon impact, her sword shattered, sending metallic fragments exploding in a shower.

She landed on the creature's body, using it as a footing. Then, she swiftly bent her knees and propelled herself horizontally towards the second chimaera.

Her body cut through the air with the precision of a hunting falcon, each movement fluid and purposeful as her hair trailed behind her in a chaotic dance.

BAM

The room's wall exploded into a rain of rubble as the second chimaera collided with it after being punched by the flying Octavia.

After landing, she launched herself from the ground, dodging the third chimaera's scythe-like limb.

With a fluid spin, she twisted in mid-air, gathering momentum before chopping her right leg down like an axe on the last enemy's neck. In a cacophony of chitinous cracks, its head rolled on the ground amidst a pool of transparent blood.

As she stood alone amidst the three carcasses and the billowing dust rising from the wall, Adam gulped, his eyes enlarged in bewilderment.

"What just happened?" He muttered, his brain ringing in alarm and dread. His eyes failed to follow the action. Only the sounds reached him, and even then, they rang almost simultaneously. Was her hybrid evolution path so powerful?

He pondered the question, considering if he should study the subject before shaking his head. Her body seemed unique, and he didn't want to resemble those abominations even if he became the strongest.

Gazing at her as she wiped her hands casually, he suddenly remembered something and yelled, "My Xp!"

Bothered by the potential loss, he hurriedly fired nine mana bullets at the unmoving abominations, hoping they were still alive. However, he only received one notification.

His brows twitched in frustration as he said, "I know you became much stronger, but let me kill the next enemies."

He just couldn't lose so many experience points after the requirements to level up increased. After this battle, he should have reached level five, yet he only got a hundred Xp.

Upon hearing his demand, she looked at him in confusion, wondering why he wanted to be the one to do it. Yet, after her earlier mistake, she felt reluctant to displease him.

With a nod, she answered, "I'll incapacitate them first. Are you okay with that?"

"Sounds like a plan," he replied with a grin. Despite her honest mistakes, Octavia's sincerity and strength made her a valuable ally. He even wondered if they wouldn't form the strongest duo.

With her fighting in melee and him bombarding enemies from the rear, they surely would instill fear in the hearts of their enemies.

'Well... Maybe not the strongest if Julius develops correctly,' He thought, his heart full of anticipation as he had great expectations for the boy.