The biggest challenge I was having with Jamie’s gift was the difficulty I had controlling it. It was even more bedeviling than the trouble that all the status screen information caused me when I first arrived on this world. As before, the issue was too much information.
My first glance at Alvidia showed me the following:
Alvidia Brask.
Age: Twenty-three.
Level 42.
Class: Sword Queen.
Strength: 22.
Speed: 27
Reflex: 23.
Constitution: 12.
Endurance: 20.
Temperament: Hostile.
Her stats were outstanding. In comparison to the swordsman that I dealt with yesterday, it was like differentiating between a mountain and a pebble. No wonder she was so bold and arrogant. Her speed and reflex scores were particularly outstanding.
As I’d suspected earlier, Alvidia must have been a specialist in burst attacks that overwhelmed her opponents before they could react. The image that came to my mind was of a lightning-fast attacker who could kill her target before they even realized she’d drawn her sword.
Not bad for a human. Shame about that low constitution, however. Although she could probably deliver death for hours without resting, her low health value meant that a lucky shot could cause considerable damage if she couldn’t avoid it. I sympathized with her. Increasing your health score was an arduous task. I was still working to improve my own.
Now, if these combat statistics were everything that [Assessment] revealed to me, then that would be enough. But my sight was also being flooded with unnecessary details like Alvidia’s heartrate, the last time she’d eaten, her blood pressure, and much more. It also flooded me with information about the trees that surrounded us.
Even the grass beneath our feet possessed statistics. So did the insects that crawled throughout it.
There was so much information and most of it was so pointless. Was this how Jamie had been forced to see the world? With such intense minutia with so little need for it? Had this been the reason behind her empty black heart? Most people become misanthropes because they feel no connection to others. Had Jamie become a criminal because she’d felt too much?
Was society to blame? Was life itself?
Now I truly pitied her. Poor Jamie. She really would have been much happier as a vampire. It was a shame Rachel had unilaterally vetoed that notion. A few centuries of self-reflection would have done that woman a lot of good.
“Rachel, it’s all right,” I said as I stepped between the two women. My vision blurred a little as I struggled to reign in all the pointless information that [Appraisal] was showing me, but I kept my voice steady as I could. “There’s no need for any violence.”
“Are you sure?” Rachel asked. “That smug look on her face suggests otherwise.”
“I don’t doubt for a moment that you’d win,” I whispered to her. “But not every situation requires brute force. Let’s first use our words and see how far they’ll take us.”
“That’s boring,” Rachel complained even as she backed down.
Goodness, this child was so addicted to violence. It seemed she was never truly satisfied if a confrontation didn’t end with her dominating whoever dared to oppose her. A warrior’s mentality like hers was a charming thing during a time of martial strife, but it could also be exasperating to deal with when peace was called for.
But as remorseful as I felt for Rachel’s growing darkness, this was one aspect of her personality I took no responsibility for. She’d always been this way; quick to resort to violence. Eager for bloodshed.
Perhaps that was a consequence of having spent so much of her life as a weapon? A spear can’t be used for anything other than its purpose. Is that how she felt now in her new life? Was she still inwardly a tool meant only for killing?
It occurs to me at this moment that I really don’t understand her very well. I should change that. I really should! But would I? Probably not. It sounded like a lot of personal effort would be required.
I really am a terrible parental figure.
Turning to Alvidia, I said “We’re not looking for a fight.”
Alvidia responded with an insolent smirk before saying, “It wouldn’t have been a fight, boy.”
Again, the urge to kill arose within me. A heated sensation that burst brightly throughout my body. Cut this foolish woman in half, it demanded of me. It wasn’t quite the lull of vampiric hierarchy, so I could resist it. But still…
I chose to stay in my human form, just in case. The changes I’d made through stat point distribution and the Gore Grimoire had improved my performance considerably. Even as a mere mortal man, I was a force to be reckoned with. It was a good thing too. Until I could get my head straight, it was potentially too dangerous to rely on my vampire form.
It was so frustrating trying to figure this thing out. One moment I felt brave, the next I felt fearful. My confidence ebbed and waned seemingly at random. I was overly emotional, sensitive to slights, quick to anger. There were also all the random thoughts I kept having about women…
Hold on.
I knew what this sullen feeling was. I knew it! It’s just been so long since I’ve allowed myself to wallow in it. The egotism, the anger, the desire to lash out at anyone who upset me, the unwarranted feeling of self-importance… I’ve experienced it all before!
By the shadow, this even explained my emotional instability! Why was I so uncertain of myself? Why did my feelings keep flip flopping like a pair of sandals caught on a bike spoke?
There’s an old saying that’s been bandied about for ages claiming that form defines function. You are exactly what your environment dictates. And when it came down to it, what precisely was my form? My preferred form, that is. What did I spend the majority of my time as unless circumstances forced me to rely on my vampiric form?
A human being.
A teenage human being. Fraught with uncertainty, hormones, and an exaggerated sense of being judged by others. Not too different from being a vampire, honestly. Just with less of a sense of humor.
It was all so silly that I had to laugh.
“Excuse me?” Alvidia said angrily before slamming her elbow into my belly with a sudden rotating motion that caught me completely by surprise and had me gasping for air. As I collapsed to my hands and knees, she raised her leg and delivered a painful axe kick to the back of my head that had me tasting dirt.
She must have thought I’d been laughing at her.
Clearly, not a woman to be trifled with.
And yet, as painful as it all was, I couldn’t help but relish my recent breakthrough. Suddenly, so many things made sense that hadn’t before. I was a kid! A young adult! I was on the cusp of maturity! It perfectly explained why I’d been such an erratic twit lately. I recall reading somewhere that a young man’s brain didn’t finish development until he was in his mid-twenties. Which would take around six more years for Kyler Evans’ body to reach.
Form defines function.
I was so deliriously happy that I couldn’t stop my giggling. For a horrifying moment there, I was worried that I was becoming someone else entirely. A stranger in the mirror, as it were. It hadn’t even occurred to me that I was going to suddenly start speed running my late adolescence.
No wonder I’d been such a jittery little fiend. Well, now that I’d diagnosed my condition, I suppose that meant it was time to start applying some treatment. Compartmentalizing your emotions is easy to do once you’ve realized they’re a mere biological sensation.
They’re even an enjoyable new toy to indulge in. Like food and sleep. Once again, I was filled with appreciation for the sheer novelty of the human experience. Look at me! Feeling things. Just like a real person!
Wasn’t it a trip? It was, wasn’t it?
The first thing I did was to disable [Appraisal]. I had all the relevant data now and leaving it active would be too visually distracting. I wouldn’t use it again in active combat until I had gained some level of mastery over it.
As Alvidia brought her foot down for another kick, I rolled out of the way into a crouch. Then I grabbed a handful of soil and tossed it at her face, which she dodged by leaping to the side, leaving her open to a kick of my own which I delivered with full force.
Instead of the expected crunch of a broken rib or two, I saw a flash of blue light momentarily surround Alvida’s body, outlining her in its dazzling illumination. Then, instead of falling backward from the force of my kick, she thrust an open palm into my torso that sent me flying away.
Impressive! It appeared that this woman possessed a means of absorbing and redirecting energy away from herself. Considering how hard she’d struck me, it seemed she could even use it to magnify her physical strength. I hadn’t seen anything like that listed when I appraised her earlier. Did that mean this was a hidden ability that couldn’t be scanned or was this a skill that she’d developed on her own through training?
If that was the case, I felt my admiration for her beginning to grow.
I just adore those who are strong and genuinely capable.
Whenever I encounter someone like that, I feel the urge to collect them.
“What’s got you so distracted?” Alvidia asked when she noticed my attention had waned.
“I was thinking that this was nice. I’m enjoying myself,” I replied.
“That’s all?” she asked with a skeptical look on her face.
“Well, that, and…you’re really pretty,” I said to her with sincere admiration and a slight blush.
Somewhere behind me, I heard Rachel groan in disbelief.
“You’re not wrong but that’s not something I need to hear from the likes of you,” Alvidia replied indifferently.
“Talking to attractive women is nerve wracking. Don’t I get any consideration for having the courage to express myself to you?” I asked hopefully.
“No,” she said bluntly. “And thinking that you should is pure entitlement.”
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“There’s nothing wrong with seeking an advantage in an uncertain situation,” I replied as I threw a straight jab at her face which she countered by ducking low and allowing my momentum to carry me over her shoulder.
“You aren’t seeking an advantage, you’re looking for a concession,” she said derisively as she stomped at the area where my head had been a moment before. “Convincing a woman to sell herself short is the same as demanding she lower her standards.”
“Well, what if those standards are too high?” I asked as we began circling each other. “You can’t blame others for not meeting them if your expectations are unrealistic.”
Alvidia snorted before replying. “Quitting before you try only shows that you would never have been worth my time. Warriors should rise to meet a challenge, not flee if they find them difficult.”
“You sound as though you’ve been frustrated before,” I said with some sympathy.
“You have no idea,” Alvidia said resentfully.
“She’s not even joking, her romantic life is a nuclear level disaster,” snickered Elphie Cross. “Seriously! I can tell you some stories!”
“Uh, oh, sounds like someone’s got the dirt!” Rachel chimed in.
“What’s her favorite color?” I asked Cross.
“Lilac pink,” she said helpfully.
“Really? That’s so unexpectantly girly,” said Rachel. “You’d think it’d be imperial purple or something from how she carries herself.”
“I can see why you’d think that but Alvidia’s a real kitty cat once you get to know her,” Cross said. “Isn’t that right, Alvie?”
“Say another word about me and they’ll never find your body,” Alvidia promised her.
“Yikes!” said Cross and Rachel simultaneously, before turning to each other and laughing.
“I like the color pink as well,” I said to Alvidia before we resumed fighting. “It’s nothing to feel embarrassed over. I find it to be a very soothing hue of the rainbow.”
“Would you wear it publicly?” she asked.
“Oh, goodness, never,” I said immediately. “It doesn’t suit my image at all. Maybe if I were wearing a disguise…but no, probably not even then.”
“It’s gender neutral!” Alvida said irritably.
“Which is fine, but I have a visual aesthetic that I already prefer,” I replied. “No need to fix what isn’t broken.”
“You’re just exposing yourself as another coward,” she said accusingly. “I detest men who are so wrapped up in traditional views of masculine adornment that they won’t even consider modernizing their look. Pastels can be very flattering.”
“I’d much prefer you showed admiration for my willingness to stick to my guns,” I countered. “Out of curiosity though, has my obvious charm begun to win you over in any meaningful way?”
“Not in the slightest,” she said.
“A shame,” I said regretfully. “Does this mean we have to begin fighting in earnest?”
“Boldly asked,” Alvidia said with a slight smirk. “As though you haven’t been struggling to keep your body intact this entire time.”
“I was just playing on your level to see what you were capable of,” I said with a light yawn. “Having now sampled your skills, I can say with all sincerity that you’re very talented and well on your way to becoming dangerous. One day.”
Now all traces of good humor vanished from Alvidia’s face as she stared mirthlessly at me. “Would you care to repeat that?”
“Goodness, look at that fierce expression!” I said playfully. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were under the mistaken belief that you could do something about the disrespect I’ve just shown you.”
Now Alvidia’s thumb pressed against the guard of her sheathed Katana, exposing a slight bit of cold steel to the evening air. Her other hand was now held just above its handle.
“Some words once said cannot easily be taken back,” she said as she settled into a light forward stance. “I would advice you to choose your next ones carefully.”
“An empty threat,” I said smugly. “You were obviously sent to collect us for some purpose. With that being the case, what harm could you possibly be allowed to inflict? You’re a wolf with no fangs.”
“Your assumption was incorrect, Mr. Evans,” she said. “I was sent to assess if you were first worthy of the audience you’ve been granted. You’ll go nowhere if I decide otherwise.”
Oh. I hadn’t considered that.
“In which case,” I asked with some hesitation. “Have you reached a decision?”
“I have!” Alvidia said brightly. “I’m going to kill you where you stand.”
“Can I convince you to do otherwise?” I asked.
“Survive my draw and we’ll see,” she said.
“Okay, I’ve had enough of this nonsense,” Rachel said. “Kyler if you don’t stop playing around with this cow, I’m going to—”
“Cross,” Alvidia said authoritatively without turning her eyes away from me.
Vines and roots erupted from the soil at Rachel’s feet before she could react and began wrapping themselves around her body. Within seconds, Rachel was bound tightly in place and attempting to yell angrily through the plant matter that was muffling her voice. Schultz growled angrily and prepared to come to her aid, but a wall of thick thorns had grown to surround Cross and Rachel, leaving him unable to reach them.
“Sorry, Rachel,” apologized Cross. “You seem fun, but orders are orders.”
“Imh gonnah tuhr yuth aparth!” Rachel warned her. “Seth mee phree!”
“Why would I do that if you’re going to kill me afterwards?” Cross asked skeptically. “You should never say the quiet part loudly!”
“She does have a point, Rachel,” I said. “Maybe we should consider this a teachable moment?”
Rachel yelled something muffled at me. It was probably rude.
“I think you have other concerns right now, Evans,” Alvidia said.
“I have no concerns at all,” I replied as I lightly tapped the scabbard of my sword with my forefinger. “Just a growing desire to end this business and be on my way. What say you?”
“I find your self-confidence offensive,” she said quietly.
“Then you’re really going to hate what comes next,” I promised her.
I took a deep breath and slowly released it as I let my body shift from mortal to vampire. When I opened my eyes to regard Alvidia, I copied her positioning to mirror her stance. Although Spiteful is a straight sword with only a very light curve in comparison to the Katana Alvidia wore, I was still confident that my draw would be faster than hers. Although her level was higher than mine, I still held the upper hand.
As I mentioned a while back, a vampire’s power increased the more lives he took. Although I’d been weak as a neophyte phage when my journey in this world first began, I’d killed quite a few creatures and people since then. Quite a few.
Dozens of goblins, Redcaps, kobolds and bandits. Not to mention the corroded knights and the siren. Over a hundred lives and counting, each not only contributing to my class level, but thanks to my trait [True Vampirism], they also increased my innate powers exponentially.
Back on Earth, I could never slay that many people at once and hope to keep my identity a secret. Garnering this many kills would have been the gradual work of decades, including eras of open warfare. But here, in this outlandish realm filled with endless opponents and opportunities for carnage?
It was as though it were made for me.
Alvidia’s eleven level advantage meant nothing. I had regained too much of my former strength. If I kept progressing at the pace I was on, then level thirty-eight or so would equal me at my peak in my former life.
Now it was time to demonstrate to this proud warrior what a real challenge was.
The surprise on Alvidia’s face when I took the initiative delighted me to no end. She clearly hadn’t expected me to be quick enough to strike first; seeing her composure shaken for the first time that night felt like a well-earned reward. Even so, her reaction time was remarkable. Despite my speed, she still managed to draw her sword quickly enough deflect the slash I directed at her neck. A good thing too, because otherwise it might have been a killing blow. Not that I was deliberately trying to end her life, but I didn’t see the point in holding back.
Alvidia Brask was strong. Far stronger than most hunters, I was certain. But her obvious superiority was detrimental to her further development as a swordsman. It wouldn’t do to let such a prospective talent become stagnant due to arrogance.
To that end, defeat was a key ingredient to true self-improvement. If her problem was that she believed she stood at the peak of skill, then I had to show her how boundless the horizons beyond the sky were.
With a piercing shriek of steel rending steel, Spiteful split Alvidia’s sword in half, sending the broken blade flying out in the night. With her eyes wide with surprise, I placed the tip of my sword at her neck, careful to keep the pressure light so that she wouldn’t be cut.
“Told you I’d win,” I grinned.
“H-how did you…” she stammered before gaining control of herself. “How did you do that?”
“Are you looking for pointers?” I asked mockingly. “Sorry. I only take one apprentice at a time. Keep practicing and maybe I’ll let you have a rematch in a few years.”
I couldn’t hear what Rachel said through her gag, but it sounded extremely smug.
“Hey, be nice! She tried,” I said to Rachel.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Cross said, her voice heavy with disbelief. “Alvie lost? Alvie never loses! What the actual hell?”
“Don’t be surprised when you can be impressed instead,” I admonished her. “Oh, and release Rachel or I’ll cut your head off. That’s a threat. I just threatened you.”
Cross looked at me fearfully before turning to face Alvidia. After a few moments, Alvidia nodded but said nothing else as she knelt, holding her ruined weapon. In response, Cross made a cutting motion with her hands. Within moments, the bindings on Rachel’s body dropped away, releasing her. Seconds later, the bramble that had prevented Schultz from reaching her dropped away as well.
“Uh, no hard feelings?” Cross asked hopefully, after Rachel finished brushing off bits of plant material from her clothing.
“We’re fine. I don’t hold grudges,” Rachel said primly.
“Oh, that’s good. I’m glad to hear that,” Cross said with relief before letting out a wheezing gasp after Schultz ran forward and shoulder checked her.
“The dog has a long memory, though. Just to warn you,” Rachel said as she knelt to give him an affectionate scratch around his ears.
“Well, I suppose this means our business is concluded,” I said as I sheathed Spiteful and rejoined my companions. “Thank you for the exercise, it really shook out the knots. Keep your training up and you might have a career in this line of work.”
“Wait,” Alvidia said as we began walking away.
“Hmm?” asked Rachel. “I’m sorry did you say something? Kyler, I think she said something.”
“I said to wait,” Alvidia repeated angrily as held up a hand. “Just stop for a moment.”
“Wow, that sounded like an order. But does the loser get to issue orders to the winner?” Rachel asked quizzically. “That doesn’t seem right, does it?”
Oh, goodness. Rachel was really enjoying this. Poor Alvidia!
Ah, but why pretend I was any different? I was enjoying myself too.
We’re really such awful people.
“You may have a point there,” I said in agreement. “Alvidia are you requesting that we stay or ordering us? I’m asking for a friend.”
An ugly look flashed over the proud warrior’s face for a moment, before she closed her eyes and fought it down. After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said, “Please allow Cross and I to escort you to Gardenia.”
“For what purpose?” I asked.
“To reward you for a favor you unknowingly did for the Norus family. And to make you an offer,” Alvidia said.
“What favor could I have possibly done for the Regent?” I asked with genuine puzzlement. The Regent was the highest ranking noble in the kingdom as well as its uncontested ruler.
Such a lofty position was occupied by a member of the three great families who controlled each of the three city states that comprised the nation, elected to lifelong service at a convocation that occurred after the death of the previous leader.
Impressive as I always am, I didn’t recall recently rubbing elbows with any such important political figure. A mistake had to have been made.
As if reading my thoughts, Alvidia said, “I assure you, you’re the one he wants. The fact that you…defeated me is proof enough that you’re more than capable of the task he has in mind for you.”
“I’m not looking for work,” I said bluntly. “I’m not even certain I’ll be staying in this country any longer than it takes to walk to the border. What interest could I possibly have in accepting your invitation?”
Alvidia’s face flushed with displeasure at the perceived disrespect I’d just shown her master. Her grip tightened on the handle of her ruined sword as her expression began to darken.
“How about revenge?” Cross asked, cutting in before Alvidia could say something in anger.
“Revenge?” I asked. “Against whom?”
Cross smiled like a cat about to indulge in a saucer filled with cream.
“How about the Velas family?” she asked. “The ones who framed you for a crime you didn’t commit and drove you away from the city to die in disgrace? How about your own family who deliberately mistreated you for your entire life in favor of your golden boy half-brother?”
“How much do you know?” I asked in bewilderment.
“Everything,” she said confidently. “We had you thoroughly investigated. And if you join us, we’ll make them all pay for what they did. How about it, Kyler Evans? Are you ready to show the world how wrong it was about you?”
I’m NOT KYLER BLOODY EVANS, I thought angrily to myself, furious at once more getting dragged back into his story. How many times did I have to say that revenge was for idiots?
The only reason I’d bothered injuring Pankratz back in the fracture was due to this body’s overabundance of hormones! But now that I knew what had been unbalancing me, it would be easy to maintain my self-control. I’d never again fall prey to petty emotionalism! There was absolutely no need to put forth any effort on behalf of a dead boy, tragic though his circumstances were. I am not and never shall be, an avenging angel.
It just wasn’t who I am.
But before I could open my mouth and decline this unappealing offer, Rachel suddenly jumped in front of me and said on my behalf, “Hell yes! Where do we sign up?”
“Rachel, what are you doing?” I whispered into her ear.
“We’re going to make this right,” she whispered back. “It’s about time we took care of this, don’t you agree?”
“No! I absolutely don’t agree—” I began to say before she squeezed me in a tight embrace and said, “Please?”
“Rachel, we don’t need to—”
“Please?” she repeated.
“Rachel, I understand that you feel strongly about this, but we can’t be expected to—”
“Please?” she repeated again. Over her shoulder, Orby suddenly appeared and burbled a strange noise that sounded as though he were repeating her request. Peeeas? Peeeeas?
“And just where exactly have you been?” I asked the vexing blood orb as I jabbed a finger into its squishy exterior.
“Orby doesn’t like violent confrontations,” said Rachel.
“Orby was created to partake in violent confrontations,” I said sourly.
“Kyler,” Rachel said. “Please. Let’s do right by Evans. He deserves it. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have ended up here. In a way, we owe everything to his sacrifice.”
“It was hardly a willing sacrifice,” I said.
“All the same, there’s a debt that needs to be balanced,” Rachel said. “So, let’s do it. We don’t have to be rational about this. We don’t have to pretend we’re righteous, either. We’re going to do this because we feel like it and nothing more.”
“We’ll make enemies,” I warned her. “Lasting enemies. No one ever walks away from an affair like this without consequences.”
“I don’t care,” she said stubbornly. “These pompous pricks are in the wrong to begin with. If they’re too stupid to realize that and want to push things further, then I say we turn them all into fine dining and eat their entire fucking lineage.”
“Rachel,” I said, shocked by her vehemence. “Language.”
“Oh, sorry,” she said insincerely.
“Uh, guys?” said Cross uncertainly. “I can’t really hear what you’re saying, but was that a yes or a no?”
I sighed to myself, knowing what the answer was going to be.
“Sure,” I said gloomily. “Who could say no to such a tempting proposal?”