"Yo, Ethos, you should know some stuff about this skill. What's the mana drain like? And what exactly does it do?"
"Well, put simply, it does exactly what the description says—you can command someone when you activate the skill."
"I mean, I get that part, but what are the limitations? Because from my perspective, it seems way too strong." Knox replied a bit confused.
Ethos’s figure shrugged, “It depends on the level of the person you’re trying to command, for example when you use the skill on someone at level 100 they should instantly be under your command but when used on someone on your relative level it would only daze or slow them momentarily.”
“Alright, so how about we test it on a random monster?”
Knox didn't wait for Ethos' answer before basically teleporting to the nearest monster he could find. The creature before Knox was a towering behemoth, standing at least ten meters tall. Its muscular frame seemed to pulsate with raw power, every sinew and tendon visible beneath its taut, dark skin. Jagged spikes protruded from its shoulders and back, gleaming dangerously in the faint light. Its eyes, burning with a fierce intensity, glowed a sinister crimson, reflecting its predatory nature. Long, razor-sharp claws adorned its massive hands, capable of tearing through flesh and bone with ease. It let out a guttural roar, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. This was no ordinary monster—it was a terrifying force of nature, a creature born from nightmares. But before Knox, it could only be described as an inferior being.
Confidently, Knox commanded, "Tear off your arm."
A surge of mana erupted from his command, causing the surrounding area to tremble. The once fearsome and sinister eyes of the monster now brimmed with terror as it stood before a being that had surpassed the limits of what should be possible in its lifetime. Without a moment's hesitation, it used its claws from its left hand to rip off his arm.
As the monster obediently followed Knox's command, a maniacal laughter erupted from him. He could feel the raw power surging through him as he commanded the creature to end its own life. And just as he expected, it complied without hesitation.
"It... worked! How wonderful..." Knox's laughter echoed around him, but beneath the euphoria, he felt a string snap in his mind. As Knox continued to laugh uncontrollably, ten minutes stretched by like eternity. Eventually, he looked down at his trembling hands, eyes glinting with a newfound sense of purpose.
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"I... can kill that man... YES, I'LL DO THAT," he declared, his voice tinged with madness. Another string snapped within his mind, and a sinister grin twisted his features.
"He... WON'T STOP ME." His words were slurred, accompanied by drool dripping from his lips. Knox's expression contorted into a grotesque mask of madness and determination. His eyes, once filled with curiosity and innocence, now glinted with a manic intensity. The corners of his mouth were pulled into a twisted grin, revealing clenched teeth and spittle at the corners of his lips. His features were twisted with a combination of rage and delirium, giving him a sinister and unsettling appearance. It was a visage that spoke of a mind unhinged, consumed by newfound power and the desire for vengeance.
Turning toward the lower-level zones, Knox resolved to seek revenge on his friends, his mind consumed by thoughts of Sara. But as he contemplated his next move, the weight of his actions and the loss he had suffered overwhelmed him. Collapsing to the ground, he cradled himself in a fetal position, tears streaming down his face.
"Sara... Sara... Sara," he whispered, the name a mantra of grief and longing. Each repetition was a plea for her return, a desperate cry into the void of his shattered world. "Please come back... come back... I miss you," he sobbed, his voice choked with emotion as he rocked back and forth, the pain of his loss echoing in every heartbeat. Knox didn’t stand up from his position for the next ten days.
*** *** ***
As Sara was escorted out of the camp by two formidable guards, anxiety gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease, wondering who this Knox was and just how powerful he might be. They traversed through the dense forest of the level 5 zone, encountering numerous monsters along the way. Each time, Sara's guards swiftly dispatched the creatures, leaving a trail of defeated foes in their wake.
Despite her fear, Sara pressed on, driven by a deep sense of responsibility toward Timmy. Their connection was a mystery to her, shrouded in the fog of forgotten memories, yet an inexplicable bond compelled her to shield him from harm at all costs.
On the fifth day of their journey, an oppressive aura descended upon them, its weight pressing down like a leaden blanket. Sara recoiled at the sensation, realizing that even Jake, the mightiest warrior in their camp, had never elicited such a profound sense of dread. Instinctively, she braced herself for the impending confrontation with a monster. However, when the source of the imposing presence revealed itself before them, Sara froze in her tracks, disbelief coursing through her veins.
Standing before her was not a monster, but a human. His face contorted with anguish and sorrow, his eyes filled with a depth of emotion that sent shivers down Sara's spine. His face was flushed, his eyes red and swollen, betraying the evidence of recent tears. Dark circles beneath his eyes hinted at sleepless nights and unrelenting anguish.
The look he gave the two guards was anything but friendly. He was about to attack when his eyes landed on Sara. The expression that had been clouded with grief suddenly transformed into one of hope as his eyes locked onto Sara.
He staggered forward, his voice tinged with desperation. "Sara? Is that you?" His words quivered with uncertainty.
The soldiers, sensing his agitation, instinctively positioned themselves in front of Sara, ready to defend her. This only seemed to exacerbate the man's frustration. "MOVE!" He roared at the guards, but they remained steadfast, unaffected by his command.
With a surge of mana, he compelled them, "Step aside." Immediately, the guards obeyed, retreating ten meters to either side of Sara.