"So you must be Ronna's men, huh?" I tell them, "Well, I'll let you know right now that I don't like her. She has a crush on me but she's a psycho who needs to be locked up in a dungeon somewhere."

As I was saying this, his men were picking up the bag and chips that fell over. Afterwards, they handed it over to him, "You come from the same world she does, the Celestial Plane."

"Yeah, let's go with that."

"Our Empress had told tales of how she was the fairest maiden in your world, but everyone was jealous of her beauty that she was cursed by a wicked witch named Stephanie, the same one that the people have made a Priestess. You fools are worshiping a false idol."

Of course she'd say that, "It's you who's worshiping someone false, and Stephanie is my friend."

"So you are indeed Same Manuals, the one who is going to vanquish her. I take it you have had your Divine Crisps already."

Then the guy who attacked me addressed him, "I do not care that he's had Divine Crisps. Let me handle him! I too ate one."

"It is as you said, you only ate one, but this young man had eaten plenty. You should be lucky he didn't strike you. His Attack power is greater than yours. Instead, I'll utilize one who can equal him. Carl!"

Upon being called, a guy had appeared before him. He was a big guy that didn't wear armor but had an x shaped strap around him, along with a loincloth. He had a large hammer and his muscles showed that he probably knew how to use it. The Captain then tells him, "Before you fight him, take this," and hands him a single chip.

"Captain!" exclaims the one called Carl, "I am not worthy," and takes it.

Upon eating it, he suddenly jolts up, holds on to his stomach and as if in pain, yells the loudest he could, and a flash of light emits from his entire being. His entire body was trembling, his eyes wide open as the lights escaped from them, and his screams were intense. Eventually, he calms down and with a wicked smile on his face charges at me.

Seeing his hammer coming towards me, I block it with my sword. I was pushed back as the impact was that great. Oh man, with my stats, one hit from that hammer, and my head goes splat.

He continues to strike me, smashing boulders, trees, even the ground itself was not spared. I'm not getting anywhere just dodging. I take out my sword and attempt to swipe him from the side, but he just jumps out of the way before the sword could even graze him. Damn, my stats are awful. I can't hit this guy. What good is Attack and Strength if it can't even land?

He keeps striking me and I keep blocking with my sword. The impact from every hit shakes my very body. Can my sword even handle being hit so many times?

Another hit and I stammer back. My arm hurts so much. I wonder how my stats are doing as I have no time to check them, but I bet the leader knows. He read my Level and Attack power, but how?

Carl pauses to taunt me, "This boy really is at a low Level! Ha ha ha! I don't care how high his Attack power is, he can hardly muster up the courage to attack me straight on like a man!" Everybody started laughing at this. "Captain, the Divine Crisp was a waste, for even Elric could defeat him."

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They are all distracted as they laugh and insult me. This is my chance to escape, and this time, I'll run even further than before. Yeah, I can't do this. I can't fight guys like these. They're crazy warriors who worship a bag of chips. I'm not messing with these bullies.

But... Ronna was the school's bully. Always making everyone miserable, picking on everyone, and was overall just psychotic. I always had to put a stop to her. I was the only one who would stand up to her. I had to, because...

Before I knew it, the hammer was once again about to strike me, and I jump out of the way. My chance to run away was missed.

With great vigor, I once again swipe my sword, and he just jumps out of the way. Damn, I can't do anything with these stats. No matter how hard I try, my sword is too slow and clumsy. Blocking isn't going to do anything either as it is just stalling the inevitable, and who knows how many poundings my sword will get before it breaks in half.

Another swing from the hammer and once again, I block it, this time he's putting pressure as he tries to make me drop. My legs hurt so much. I ran so far and I bet this fight has taken away so much of my... what was it... Endurance? I can't even think straight right now.

Without so much effort, he pushes me to the ground and I land on my back as I listen to how everyone laughs at me. They're not even paying attention to the fight, they already assumed I lost. "Captain," Carl says, "you overestimated him! This boy is nothing. Perhaps Elric should have continued his battle with him. His Experience points are nothing but crumbs for me! Ha ha ha!"

My body aches. I can't believe this. What was all this training for when I'm about to die now? He probably has the same Attack power as I do, and his HP probably matches, or perhaps is even greater. Is this it? Am I going to die?

He lifts his hammer ever so slowly. He's going to make me suffer before my end, isn't he? As his hammer is all the way back, he suddenly topples to the ground as the weight of the hammer makes him fall on his back.

No, it wasn't the weight of the hammer that made him fall flat on his back. Someone else had pushed him down as I see one of guards standing before him. It was the same one who was fighting me before.

"I've had enough of you Carl! You, and everyone, always insulting me!"

As Carl was getting up, he answered, "That's because you are pathetic, Elric. Even the gods do not favor you! If they did, then the Divine Crisp you ate would have augmented you. Ha ha ha!" Now the laughter and jokes were aimed in his direction. He was still wearing his helmet, but by his body language, I can tell he wasn't favored by anyone here.

"The gods are testing me," he says. "They wish for me to earn my power by my own will, not by some artificial means."

"You are pathetic. Just admit to yourself that the gods abandoned you. You have no favor with them. In fact, why are you even here, you worm? I shall strike you down right now and end your suffering!"

As he was saying this, he was lifting his hammer and Elric jumps out of the way before the hammer strikes him. He looks over to his Captain and pleads, "I was your best man, Captain!"

"You were," replies the Captain as he gives Elric a thumbs down, "but you lost favor with the gods. Survive and prove your worth." A look of shock and despair was on Elric's face as he was now the one being hunted by Carl. Perhaps taking a cue from my actions, he pulled out his sword and blocked the next incoming attack, only for the sword to shatter and the hammer smash him in the ribs. He skids on the ground a for few feet, and his cries of pain allowed me to listen his agony.

Carl gets in front of him, hammer in front, and tells Elric, "If you truly wish to know why the gods abandon you, then speak to them direct- UGH!" Before another word was uttered, I took my sword and stabbed him in the spine. My sword exited his chest, piercing his heart. In the corner of my eye, I saw the status window.

5,714 Damage

I pull my sword out quickly and he plops onto the ground, lifeless.

VICTORY

3,577 Exp gained

Oh my gosh... he's on the floor... dead... and I killed him!

"Elric," says the Captain, "your Luck had saved you yet again. Truly pathetic, depending on such a weak stat. But Luck is no replacement for actual skill. Everyone, kill them both!"

With that order, everyone started rushing towards us. Not good. One guy was too much, but this many? No, I can't be brave against this many, I got to run away.

I grab Elric and we both start sprinting. There was no time for questions, we just dart even deeper into the forest.