While the man appeared steady as he held the knife to Jessie’s throat, his mana flows were chaotic. I had him rattled.
“Oh, we don’t like the idea of me eating your heart?”
‘So long as I don’t proclaim myself “the night” or “the fist of god,” I won’t actually die from cringe… right?’
The system fed me vague prompts: clues about what to say to get into his head. It all seemed like nonsense, but I continued to unleash my inner chuuni.
“Kid, you are about 1500 years too young and 150 levels too low to fuck with me, but if you think you can be out the door before I pluck the eyeballs from your skull, by all means slit her throat.”
His eyes opened wide when I hit the word 1500. Something about it triggered him.
“You only have three options. One, you kill her. I capture you, and we spend this week learning how long you can scream before you burn out your vocal chords. Two, you attempt to fight me. You lose, and you get to watch me rip out your entrails. Or three, you release the girl and leave while I secure her against any more intruders.”
The man stared at me, dead eyed. “And you are just going to let me go? Why would I trust you?”
“You have no reason to. However, me honoring my word is the only option where you could possibly survive. Everything else is a certain and grisly demise.”
Silence reigned as we both thought. My mind raced, trying to consider all the angles. I maintained my calm, but there were too many variables and too many unknowns. The staring contest would only last so long.
I swallowed and tried to see the whole picture, pushing my thoughts as fast as I could.
Congratulations, You have unlocked the Ability: Battle Trance - Accelerated Thought.
Battle Trance - Accelerated Thought: An evolved form of the skill Battle Trance that can be activated when the user is in or is about to enter combat. Skill calms the mind and allows the user to focus without emotional concerns and increases the user processing speed. (1/10).
Skill detected, “Autodidact,” would you like to transfer 100 experience points to level Battle Trance - Accelerated Thought.? Y/N.
‘That was… well timed. What level? This one is probably going to save my life repeatedly. Max.’
Suddenly, the world stopped moving. Everything was perfectly still. I tried to move my head. Nothing.
‘FUCK!!! What’s- wait…'
I felt my head begin to move ever so slowly. It probably would have been imperceptible without Total Body Control, but I could feel it.
‘I am… thinking faster than eyes can process light?’
I started to go down the rabbit hole regarding the implications, but managed to refocus. I got what I needed, time to put it to use.
‘Okay Noah. Be deliberate. You really need to be sure about this. Don’t go with the flow. What's the best course of action?
Pro: If I kill him there will likely be no record of this persona. However, only likely, I can’t discount the possibility that someone watched from outside or that Durzad will heal. In fact, Durzad will probably regenerate, not that I think he’ll be telling too many people in the civilized world.
‘Con: I should get Jessie out of the area as soon as possible. This whole situation is a goddamn mess. Who knows who else will show up?
‘Pro: One less enemy for later. Although, I don’t know who he works for. If he is completely removed from the board, then I’ll never find out. If I let him go, I can track him down later.. but would I actually be able to track him down? Dumb question, I’m sure I can pick up a skill.
‘Would letting him go foreclose sneaking away? No, sneaking away would still be equally viable as before. Whoever was doing this would know she survived whether or not he returns. I definitely can’t fake a corpse with the time or skills I have.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
‘Con: Breaking your word is generally a bad thing. Although, fuck this guy. I can be honorable when Jessie’s life isn’t on the line.
‘What is my highest priority here? Safeguarding Jesse. Which outcome is best for that long term security…
‘Wait... I can teleport behind him. So I can definitely drop him before he can kill her… do I want him dead or do I want to track him?’
A split second later, I made my choice.
***********************
Lydia’s rush towards the trembling guard caused him to pull back, close his eyes, and brace for an impact.
‘Wow, literally zero survival instinct.’
She used the opening to slip past him, breaking out of the attempted encirclement. The other guards saw their plan fall apart and charged.
A swift kick to the “princess’s” back sent him flying into two of the guards in the front, halting their movement. A third reached her, thrusting his sword at her chest. The attack, which would have been considered well practiced in most armies, looked horribly slow.
A surge of exhilaration overwhelmed Lydia. ‘Is this what level 50 feels like!?' She was giddy as she sidestepped the blow, poured mana into Skullcracker, and swung her mace into the side of the man’s head.
Similar to before, his head exploded into a cloud of bone fragments, blood, and gray matter. However, unlike before, rather than dispersing harmlessly, the debris scattered as though it were shot out of a cannon. Another guard screamed as a skull fragment lodged itself into his eye.
‘AWESOME!’ Lydia felt alive. Skeletons were one thing, but this... this was an entirely different level.
It quickly became clear which guards had combat experience and which did not. Several were unphased by the new development; however, about half of the guards made another mistake. The explosion of power from the small girl in front of them shocked their system, halting their movement and further breaking any attempt at coordination.
The two in front raised their weapons. A kick to one’s knee cap, accompanied by a delightful, wet crack, dropped him to the ground. Then, as the other’s strike flew towards her, she deflected with her shield, and countered with a kick to his side that sent him tumbling over the prior guard who was trying to stand back up.
In this manner, Lydia tore through the remainder of the guards. She struck them down one after the other, with brutal efficiency and without a shred of mercy. With their difference in skills, experience, and levels, it could barely be called a fight.
Finally, all that was left was the guard she started with, curled up in a ball against the wall. He began to sob uncontrollably as she approached.
‘This is pathetic.’
She didn’t want to leave the job partially undone, but there was no fun to be had in this. It was just… sad.
“Ugh, I did say you get to die last. Let it be from old age. Now run, before I change my mind.”
After he bolted, she surveyed the room. The battle between the other forces was still raging around her. As much as she wanted to continue, those fighters were simply on a different level than the guards had been. And with that thought, she hurried out of the room.
***********************
“So, have you made your choice?” I asked, still watching the contrast of his chaotic mana versus his stone face.
“I thi-”
I teleported behind him, grabbed his head, and twisted it around. We made eye contact; he had just enough time to look surprised before the light fled his eyes.
I thought for a moment, then I ripped his head off entirely.
'Best to be sure.'
There was no need to be fancy. I had a primary goal, failing which, would render any further plans pointless.
I held my breath as I attempted to pop the man’s corpse into inventory…
‘Success. Whew, small favors. We’ll try to figure out what/who he is later.’
With one problem solved, I turned to the next. How do I transport a very much alive, but very much possessed Jessie and to where do I take her?
***********************
Magum watched Noah dispatch Creed.
‘He appears to have this well in hand and the sidekick is safe. Good. Time to go.’
Magum turned to leave, when a voice boomed into his ears.
Congratulations! As a result of your events you set in motion, Noah Jackson’s legend is being written and has earned a qualification of the Hero!
A Hero’s Duty: rescue of someone in need against his better judgment.
Congratulations! As a result of your events you set in motion, Noah Jackson’s legend is being written and has earned a qualification of the Hero!
The Universe’s favor: The uncanny ability to find what he needs when he needs it.
Congratulations! As a result of your events you set in motion, Noah Jackson’s legend is being written and has earned a qualification of the Hero!
Beacon of light: Inspiring a follower, upon their own volition, to perform a righteous deed.
Noah Jackson is now entitled to a mentor!
As Magum Conrad [Mysterious Old Wizard] was the driving force behind Noah Jackson’s ascent to [Hero Candidate], you have been selected to guide him on his path! Your mentor perks have been reactivated! Good luck!
‘... … … I think nightshade is in bloom this time of year.’