“Bang…” Weed whispered as his arm fell to the ground.

Arthur exploded into a ball of flames.

You have lost consciousness due to excessive blood loss!

HP is at 1%!

WARNING!!

Weed sighed as his screen went black. He didn’t mind the black screen, he was actually happy that he fainted, now he couldn’t feel the immense pain of his shoulder dislocation or the pain of the cut neck gushing forth with blood. He didn’t have any expectation to be brought back from the borders of depth. ‘Who could possibly save him?’

The black screen began glowing red and black as the timer hit the last fifteen seconds.

‘I guess its time to log out.’ Weed thought as he began opening up the menu button.

Just when Weed was about to hit the log out button his timer stopped at 00:00:02 (two seconds). Weed immediately aborted the log out. ‘What the heck…’

“That was the most interesting display I have seen…” spoke a familiar voice.

“Panda?” Weed asked curiously; he still couldn’t see anything as his screen was still pitch black.

“Oh yes, it’s me.”

“You aren’t dead?” Weed asked with his heart beating faster.

“…”

Weed staggered slightly. “Or are we both dead?”

“Think of this place as the borderline between life and death…strictly speaking we are neither dead or alive by mortal standards.” The Panda replied.

Weed turned around to face the Panda but the Guardian’s voice echoed everywhere.

“You have proved to me beyond doubt that Mortis was behind everything that happened.”

“…wait…you are telling me that all this while you were using me as bait to lure out Mortis?” Weed asked angrily as his temper began to rise. He hated the idea that he was manipulated into doing something or someone. The very notion of being used against his will or being used without knowing it was repulsive to him.

“Well nothing of that sort…” The Panda gleefully replied. “You too were trying to use me? Were you not?”

Weed bit his lips he hated NPC’s with brains and quick witted replies.

“I simply needed to confirm whether you truly were the one destined to end Mortis’ existence…you don’t think I would believe every person that turns up with a black scale of the dragon?”

“… so then are you convinced?”

“Yes, more than convinced that you are more than sufficiently capable to erase this menace. Truthfully speaking I had my share of doubts when I saw you an elf with no affinity. It’s kind of funny when you think of the combination…” The Panda spoke with a snort. “But those last few moves were just brilliant, a blow to the temple and then smacking his nose…very well planned…”

“Nothing skips your eyes?” Weed asked.

“Nothing at all however I must admit I was unable to keep up with your creativity. At first I assumed that you would try to launch fire works directly at the monster….then when you went for the pipes I assumed you were creating some kind of apparatus for better accuracy and damage. However, that was most masterfully done…you extracted the gun powder filled it in the pipe. Choking one end it made a good vial of doom. The rest was as I said make him lose his sense of balance and then make him lose his sense of smell. That’s why he couldn’t smell the burning fuse?”

“You got everything right except for one small detail…”

“Eh?” The Panda was surprised that there was something more.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“It may be true nothing skips your eyes but that doesn’t mean you understand everything. You completely lack imagination.” Weed spoke with a devious smile.

“And why do you say that?” The Guardian asked.

“I could tell you, but I need something in return.” Weed spoke confidently.

“Interesting, you believe you are in a position to bargain? You do realize you are about to die?” The Panda spoke with amusement. He had never experienced a mortal creature being so indifferent to the fact that he was a demi-god.

“Yes, you must be curious and what I ask for should easily be within your reach.” Weed said.

“Go on, let’s hear what you want.” The Panda hurried on. “I’ll decide after I listen to it.”

“Bring my HP above 30%.” Weed said.

“Ah! I see you want to live!” The Panda spoke in delight. Weed could hear a clap somewhere. “5% would be more than enough to restore you to consciousness. However you requested for 30%....I don’t understand why, I guess you are right I do lack imagination but you my friend lack knowledge.”

“…” Weed kept silent. He wasn’t sure how this was going to play out.

“Other than a healer there is no one that can restore your lost health.” The Panda spoke in a slightly monotonous tone. “If it was some healing herb or some sort of potion it is still understandable but to assume that I can heal is a terrible mistake. Even the great Vayu would not be able to fulfill your demand. It is simply out of our powers…” The Panda assured Weed.

“And is it in your power to stop time?” Weed asked as if the Guardian had stepped on his pride by saying that he lacked knowledge.

“Whoever said I stopped time?” The Panda asked.

“…” Weed stopped short of a reply. He wasn’t sure why he assumed time had stopped. Although the clock ticker showed 2 seconds and wasn’t changing…it wasn’t necessarily conclusive time had stopped. Weed could feel his hand’s grow slightly colder, ‘If it isn’t pausing time…’

“Then…” Weed was about to ask the Guardian whether the theory he just formulated was correct or not but the Panda interrupted him.

“You had your turn. So what else did I miss?” The Panda asked.

“The metal pipe.” Weed resigned to answering to the Panda’s curiosity. He really wanted to know if time had been slowed down but figured the Panda wouldn’t reply to his question. “The fire alone would not be able to damage him as much…so by placing the gun powder in the pipe …the shrapnel would cause more harm…”

“Oh yes! I see! Very well thought of indeed, not just setting him on fire but also inflicting critical wounds…” The Panda replied happily. “Look’s like our time here is done… it’s not your time to close your eyes yet…wake up…”

The screen turned blindingly white and Weed’s vision was restored. Richard kneeling beside him holding a small vial in his hand. Weed’s senses came rushing back to him, he could taste the sweet nectar that Richard had poured down his throat.

‘Was I hallucinating? Dreaming? Was that really the Panda who brought me to life or Richard?’

“Thank goodness you are alive!” Richard said as he helped Weed sit up.

“Arthur?” Weed asked as he coughed up some blood.

Richard pointed out to a burning black corpse…there was a long silence that engulfed the once noisy mansion grounds.

"It's finally over..." Weed whispered as he collapsed back into Richard's arms.