"Huh...? Wha...? Where am I-...ow. Ow, ow, ow," Winced Aria as the Healer shook her awake, starting to sit up before tensing up in pain.

"How are you feeling?" The Healer asked her.

"Huh? I feel-...wait, what happened?! The Archdemon-...WHERE'S KAI-...?!" She exclaimed as she began to look around frantically, before a look of relief appeared on her face as she spotted me.

"I'm right here...I'm glad you're alright," I greeted her with a smile, reaching over to pat her head before she suddenly tackled me into a hug.

"Th-Thank goodness, I was-...ow," She hissed in pain as she stiffened up and trembled.

"Careful, Ariella. You're not in any danger, but you're far from fully healed. Besides your missing arm, shattered ribs and ruptured organs, your muscles were in tatters too," The Healer informed her.

Hm...we'd all be dead without her, so I should make an effort to remember her name, instead of just referring to her as the Healer. Appraisal:

Personal Details:

Name: Sera Quinn

Age: 30

Gender: Female

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 66 KG

Hunter Details:

Type: Mage

Class: Healer

Attribute: N/A

Spells: Low Heal, Heal, Low Area Heal, Low Anesthesia, Low Antidote, Low Remedy, High Heal, Anesthesia, Antidote, Remedy

Skills: N/A

Stats:

HP: 157

MP: 497

Strength: 161

Agility: 182

Vitality: 153

Perception: 177

Mana Level: 497,000

Power Level: 221,700

Potential: 268,900

She had dark brown hair that went down to her shoulders and covered her forehead, with a short braid by her left ear. She had grayish-light blue eyes, a light tan complexion, and a slender figure.

Even though I killed the Archdemon, my injuries were fatal, I would've died for sure if it wasn't for her. So it's only right that I at least remember her name...Sera Quinn, I'm grateful to her.

"Yeah, things were looking so hopeless that I pushed myself to my absolute limit.

With Blaze Ignition, it's always felt like if I try to draw any more power out of it, I'd end up injuring myself, and drain all my Mana in no time, so I never tried pushing it too far beyond the point that boosts me by about fifty percent.

But considering that we were in a situation where there was nothing left to lose, I threw caution to the wind and pushed the Skill as far as it could go.

I think I got to about a hundred and fifty percent boost when I did that...I was still weaker and slower than the Archdemon was, but it was a drastic enough boost to catch him off-guard, at least.

But that boost only lasted long enough to land three hits, not nearly enough. And I was in pain all over when it wore off, the slightest twitch hurt like hell," She explained with a grimace.

"I'd heal you a bit more, but I'm completely out of Mana, and so is Damien," Responded Sera apologetically.

"You have no reason to apologize, we'd definitely all be dead without you," Replied Aria gratefully.

"Speaking of which, how did you survive? I thought the Archdemon killed you," I chimed in.

"I began healing myself immediately, it's a good thing he didn't crush my head or heart, or anything that would've killed me instantly.

I barely pulled it off though, I nearly passed out several times...it would've been over for me if I hadn't managed to keep myself awake.

I then played dead, praying and hoping that the rest of you would be able to kill the Archdemon somehow.

And the instant Kai did, I sprang into action, healed Damien and smacked him awake. I was really low on Mana after healing myself, so I needed his Mana Recovery Spells before I could heal the rest of you."

"Wait, how exactly did you manage to kill that thing?" Aria asked me curiously.

"I got really pissed when he hurt you, my Rage Meter got to the highest it's ever reached, and I blasted him right as he was about to kill me," I summed it up.

"It was over so fast, there was a bright flash of purple and the next thing I knew, the Archdemon had a massive hole in the middle of his body," Added Sera, before nodding at the hole in the wall.

"Woah, it reached that far? Good thing no one else was standing behind you," Remarked Aria wryly.

"This is so wild, multiple deaths and we're all back to normal after a few minutes of talking...but I guess it's just a part of being a Hunter.

We live in the company of death every time we're in a Dungeon, we're all keenly aware that one mistake could be all it takes.

We kill and be killed, death becomes us and we become death. And thus, we end up desensitized to death.

I've seen it many times...Hunters getting over deaths remarkably fast," Mused Damien, before adding as he glanced at Keira, who was still unconscious, "Of course, there are always exceptions, especially with rookies, and not to mention cases where it was a death of a loved on. But for the most part, Hunters tend to move on from the deaths of others a lot faster than regular people do."

"I, uh...well, that's bleak. I don't feel great about that, but I can't deny that you have a point," Frowned Aria, a conflicted look on her face.

"Yeah, it kinda makes me feel like I'm a bad person. Death isn't something we should get used to," Nodded Sera with a slight grimace.

"Maybe, but given what we do, it's all but inevitable. And even though we know death is a very real possibility every time we step into a Dungeon, I think deep down, none of us truly believe we'll die, we believe that we'll survive.

At least, that's how it is for me...it isn't until I encounter something much more powerful than I am that I start truly thinking that I could die, like with the Archdemon today. The situation felt so hopeless that I just couldn't imagine how I'd survive," I remarked thoughtfully.

"Well, yeah...we don't want to die, we want to survive, so we convince ourselves and want to believe that we will survive," Nodded Damien in response.

"Okay, this is starting to get really depressing," Sighed Sera wistfully.

"Yeah, ultimately, we have two choices...either keep moving forward or get off this path entirely. And I choose the former...I don't want anything like what happened today to ever happen again.

I'll get stronger, strong enough to fight off and survive any threat that comes my way," Stated Aria, clenching her fist with a determined look on her face.

"On that note, I say we get out of here. Let's wake Keira, gather the bodies and head back," Suggested Sera, as she got back onto her feet.

"Agreed, I'd like to get out here as quickly as possible," I nodded in agreement.

"Same here, this was way too much to deal with," Sighed Damien wearily.

"I'm not so sure we should wake Keira up, though. Maybe it'd be better if we wait till we're back in the Sanctuary before waking her up? Kai can keep her asleep with his Skills," Suggested Aria.

"Hm...no, I think we should wake her. It's only right," Sera shook her head after taking a moment to mull it over.

Yeah, she's got a point.

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