Gasping for his breath, Murai ended up facing the bloodied stone of the well that was not long ago, his hope. Blood seemed out of every hole in his body, and his mind shook amidst the pain. He didn't even stumble or struggled. He felt his mana turning, and itching along the instability in his Beast Core, indicating some issues.
He wasn't usable in any way, since he felt this strangeness in almost every way when the End of life was happening. This mana degeneration was another nail to his coffin, or so he thought.
Razmund smirked, wearing the same unblinking face. “I will give you death worthy of demonic beast, duck,” he uttered, and without much regard to the many villagers present, he began to pound the little duck on the ground. He kicked Murai with quite some strength and used his knees, elbow, and fist to his heart's content. He didn't use any abilities. Just his physicality and nothing else.
His face twisted in a sneer, revealing much enjoyment in this, while his eyes seemed the same as always, bloodied and focused and purposefully uncaring about any blood that danced around the well. His other two colleagues watched this in silence behind his back, thinking this was just a regular thing that neither of them found strange.
Dozens of kicks later, Razmund sighted in relief and picked Murai up to see his results.
“Well, it is still alive. It has some tough features, let's acknowledge that. I can feel its life too, but it's quivering. Waldorf, is this a normal duck to you? These eyes, this... lifeform?” Razmund raised a question, pointing Murai to one of his colleagues that wore a helmet and full body armor.
In fact, both Razmud's colleagues wore the same armor. They looked unlike Razmund, whose head was unmasked, and hair visible since he didn't wear his helmet. Their armor was of lower quality, made of a different metal and lighter color. Razmund's armor was a lighter mixture of tight metallic plates along with a neat leather combo. It was a much better uniform for flexibility and high combat capabilities and comfort.
“It does look like a duck,” Waldorf replied. “I find its life is in shambles, though. I can't tell if it is a demonic beast or not, however.” He almost looked identical to the other. Wearing helmets was the cause, while the only difference was a mustache visible under his nose.
“Well, and what is this then? This mana within this duck is strange... It leaked at the end of my pounding, but as I see it, it's weak. I fear I see a rare type of species, but I can't recall the case of the demonic ducks... It's not under the Centralis Kingdom's libraries, at least. What about this thing around its body?” Razmund pointed with his other hand to the bloodied backpack, that he tried to destroy but it didn't even flinch. It was a gift from a god, so it was no wonder it was tough.
“There is a lot that our libraries lack, sir. It... I don't know what that bag is, though. Looks like a spatial pouch, but bigger and purposefully made for this duck. Well, probably. Its strips can be adjusted, so perhaps even a wolf or dog can wear it.” Waldorf gave another answer to Razmund's question, but why this duck had such a thing around its body, he couldn't tell or guess it.
The bloodied leather was tough, albeit bloodied. Razmund could tell it was in a magnificent grade of material even after his beatings. He was definitely feeling interested in it since he tried to rip it open with his strikes. No regular leather, nor armor would survive that, yet this thing prevailed, and even this duck? He tried to kill it just now, truthfully, but he found the feathers flexible, yet tough when he punched or kicked it. The slash that exposed the flesh and was featherless, not so much.
Grinning the same as always, he tried to open the bag as one would do, but it didn't move an itch, similar to the time when Lazar tried to open it as well. It was sealed well. Opening it like a regular pouch was possible, but none apart from Murai and Lisa could do it. There was nothing one could do to open it up.
“What is this thing? Fuck...” Razmund cursed after trying his grip. He used all his one-hand strength to rip it open, but it didn't do a thing.
So, Razmund forced it with both hands. Murai was still consciously aware of what was happening, and his eyes still worked. He would love to make a comment about his sheer stupidity to open a sealed object, but couldn't. Regardless of his numb, and bloodied body that was limp below his backpack, he felt helpless.
His soul was shaking and trembling, amidst the struggles his body endured. It was the begging of something he felt many times over. Yet, there was something stranger in this death. His Will was still standing firm, allowing him to perceive it unlike many times before. His ability to perceive everything through the pain was clear like a sky, indicating that something was affecting him right now and causing this clarity.
It was a strange feeling. It was as if he was watchful over his own death and felt every second of it happening in real time. He was watching how his mortal body was ceasing to work properly, and he was even forgetting the pain, ignoring it away by reaching a strange state of mind. It was one thing he could do as someone with the Robust Spirit, albeit he wasn't aware of it.
That was, up until now.
His whole soul's perception of the dying changed when something shook his soul.
In fact, the present ordeal made his Will and Soul different from before, while a message spoke to his soul.
[Strange iteration of the Object - 92554 - detected. Breach of the System - Creating, adjusting, and calculating... Error detected, RULE forfeited in accordance with Object X's interventions and Will. Ruler's rule overruled by due intervention]
[Robust Spirit - Core Identity granted under the further degree - unleashing its effectiveness to a lesser degree, however]
[Your body is near destruction, but your Will is unshaken in terms of Higher Power. Core Identity is caused by the situation of the powerful Will and Soul. It's far from the pinnacle of perception, but it is a step!]
[Your Soul Power takes the first root to the Higher Power and is seeping around your Soul Space, making the Robust Spirit stronger, and allowing it to proceed with creating a Core Identity outside of ordinary rules]
[Soul Force unleashed by the Will of the Robust Spirit, causing the creation of the Soul Force]
[Soul Force - It is a Fusion of the Soul Power and the Will, becoming its own thing, yet the former powers still remain their own things]
[The case of the Soul Force is an identity of the Robust Spirit, creating new variables according to the breached power]
[What you can manifest with your powerful Will and Soul is following....]
[There are 100 points within your Soul Force. From this number, you can activate the special cases of Robust Spirit Identity Abilities]
[Robust Defense - 1 through 50 Soul Force]
[Upon activation, it can unleash a powerful Soul Force that will cease all abnormal and irregular harm. Your body will be shielded for the duration of each point. 1 second 1 per Soul Force. The limit is 50 but it can be adjusted by a firm grasp of the Robust Defense]
[Further use of this ability may improve its effectiveness and change the shape of the Robust Defense]
[The base structure is close to Mana-based Abilities like Barrier and Ward, albeit with higher efficiency]
[Grade - Unique]
[Level - adjusted to the Soul Power]
[Robust Will - 30 Soul Force]
[It will enhance your senses and Will. It can stop any negative elements of physical and psychological manners and issues, creating a Serenity of Order. Unlike the Robust Defense, the Robust Will works through the Will, easing the mind, while the body may still be under some pressure, but rejuvenated, and stronger. It has no physical defense improvements or offensive attributes.]
[The duration of the Robust Will is at its core 1 minute. It can't be adjusted but improved it cannot]
[Grade - Unique]
[Level - Adjusted to the Soul Power]
[Indomitable Strike - 50 Soul Force]
[It is a fully offensive ability. It is an accumulative power of the Soul Force, which will shake not only one's Will but strike the world of physical realms with terrifying power. The Soul Force can do so thanks to the perception and many ways, making it a powerful attack that can change the status quo]
[It is a powerful force, with dangerous ways of usage]
[While the Indomitable Strike is happening, the Soul Force will momentarily leave your Will, making you an easy target for any mental attacks and ambushes]
[The careful use of the Indomitable Strike may be a strike between life and death, leaving your Will up to the task or the body. One needs to be careful, or one may die with the foe]
[Grade - Unique]
[Level - in accordance with the Soul Power]
All the Core Identity Skills of the Soul Force are Unique abilities with powerful usage but forced adjustment to the Core Identity points. Soul perception and prowess of your case is up to the task of the Anatidae species, but XXXXXX'X interventions.
[Limiter given]
[There is a 10-point limiter of the Soul Force that one can get a day. Spending the Soul Force may be easy, but getting it back is not. Steading and getting your Soul Force back may take time, while its advantages are tremendous]
[Power of the Soul Fore is determined by the power of the Soul, Will, perception of reality, and fusion of it all - Soul Power]
[It may be difficult to gouge them, and the level of the 3 abilities will always remain on the same level as one's Soul Power and Will]
----------------------------------------
Murai heard this all, yet he wasn't feeling anything in particular. There was no happiness, nor gladness to achieve some incredible ability at such a bad time. He didn't even feel any boost, nor did Falconers notice he just ignited a Breach.
It may sound like a hopeful time at the end of life, but Murai was a realist in the far-reaching End, albeit it was no End for his Cursed Living. He was feeling the unsteady source of destruction coming his way...
It was coming back to him.
A New Beginning, along with the End of Everything.
A monstrosity that will drag everyone who dies. He never saw it but felt it many times over his Cursed Living and along the road to power. It was a crazy thing. None could stop its clutches, nor stop it. It was beyond the Laws or Reason. It was one thing that he never understood, as it stood beyond the sense of some measly Gods, who may die, but none will ever feel what was it like to feel what he felt.
Hence, what would be the point of using the Identity of the Robust Spirit when another End was coming back to drag him away? Small, if nonexistent.
His body was utterly useless right now, so what about a good old Will of the Battleworld and good hope? Should he fight? Will his vitality return to his body all of a sudden? How could he heal from this sort of damage that Razmund forced upon him?
His muscles were destroyed, bones crushed, and his lungs seeped with the blood of his species, making him seem like an excuse to be called an Anatiade. His Anatidae blood wasn't all that powerful yet, nor did he live for enough time. Murai was helpless at this very moment of his End. It made him recall situations like this, yet this one hurt much more for some reason. Murai hated it too since it didn't make sense. The fact that this Soul Force won't help him was obvious to him. It won't change the outcome or the past.
After all, the present man before him was Level 65. He was a powerful Blessed human in his own right, and someone completely outside his power.
Involuntarily, Murai completely stopped all of his efforts to stop his mana aura from appearing. He did so the moment his Will almost gave up, and Razmund beat him like a lunatic. It was a bit senseless if he tried to continue doing so. Murai recognized his own useless efforts, which was no wonder. He was very new to the lack of familiarity with the Beast Core and how to act like a demonic beast. There was no point in playing a regular duck, so he gave up trying to play it tough.
In truth, it wasn't even that different when he stopped all of his efforts. He had only so much fuel to do a thing. It only let out a more distinct feeling of his demonic origin, while Razmund was trying to open the backpack. He noticed the shimmering feelings of mana coming off of Murai's body, and some things, but it wasn't all that special.
It didn't even come to his mind, since this bloody body wasn't a threat, not something he should even consider to be one. Razmund was much stronger in handling the mana itself, and Murai was less than a threat. He also had more familiarity with how demonic mana felt, leading to his unimpressive state of mind. He didn't think Murai was worth anything, which was a fair point, since he didn't know, nor did he need to know about him.
So what if this duck was still alive in the Battleworld for a bit more time? Just to suffer? This was a Battleworld where lives were dying left and right. There was a law of the jungle, where the strong ate the weak.
Those were the Rules, and the facts that Razmund followed. Albait, what he found instead was frustration in the appearance of the backpack. It was interesting, annoying, and confusing. He almost turned his mind over itself and opened his primary pouch for a weapon, but that would be too humiliating.
So, in the end, he figured this should be something that he will take with him, whether it will be something bad or good. A treasure was a thing Blessed liked, and he was no different.
But for that to come to him, some things had to come off or become twisted away. Razmund wasn't so good at being gentle, and he didn't care about the strips enough. He gave up on them, similar to not giving a fuck about this duck.
At the end of his patience or the start of his desire, he grabbed Murai's right wing that wasn't bloodied from a deep cut. Then, he twisted his hand, breaking the bones at the section of the wing, close to Murai's body. Twisting it away, Razmund made sure one strip of the backpack was able to come off. Murai's neck was long, soft, and clumsy, so Razmund only twisted his neck slightly with little force to let all the strips around the upper body away.
As for the next ones, it was as simpler as the first ones. Razmund had only two things to consider. That was breaking the tiny legs, and twisting them away. That was enough to let the strips away from the body.
Murai didn't even though much about it, or what happened to his body since lack of life was more precious than some treasure. It wasn't like it would change anything, since this pouch was his, and no one else will say otherwise. It was a gift from a God, and no one else will be able to take anything from it, even though what was inside wasn't even worth a lot. Just loot from a single dungeon. What worth it had when he barely started this living?
Two crunching noises away, Razmund finally retrieved the pouch, that he handled with curious importance. The small backpack in the shape of a pouch was within his bloodied palm. It was a handful one, and rather light. Razmund held the broken duck in the other hand, but his interest was upon the pouch.
The use of this duck was over, so he wanted to flicker his hand and toss Murai back to the well where he came off, but a change occurred.
Behind him, towards the left side, a woman's figure, intangible to the eyes, shrouded in a cloak and with a dagger in hand, emerged. She appeared from a twisted space as if she had emerged from another realm of existence. Though, the reason was easier. She was using an Invisible Spell.
The one who emerged was Velga, who wouldn't take the Falconers lightly, so she prepared beforehand, adding an ambush to her purposeful chance.
In a moment, she stabbed Razmund 3 times with quick motions of her dagger. 1 stab went to his shoulder, while the rest went to his hand he put in a quick defense. It was the one with the pouch. This quick reflex saved his life, albeit he wasn't happy about it all that well.
This was no regular knife, after all. It went right through his shoulder and even his hand, which were all protected by highly valuable armor. Made of Mithral, famous blacksmiths from the Dwarf's Fortress forged the armor under Centralis Kingdom's rule. The dagger lacerated into it like butter, leaving bloody holes in his armor.
Upon noticing the sudden change, Razmund's colleagues went alert as well and since they were close, their actions weren't slow.
“Dark Mage!” Waldorf shouted and did what he should. Unsheathing his blade on his hips, he quickly cleaved at the enemy that wasn't facing him, but Razmund alone.
Alas, the strike hit the empty air. There was only shimmering space, and mana convulsing in mid-air. Velga teleported a few steps aside while her face was shrouded under the hood, making her appearance as deadly as mysterious.
“It is a powerful one!” the other unnamed Falconer shouted and charged forward. He had a massive hammer as the weapon, which wasn't the right weapon of choice against a mage, but what he could do as a knight? He used what he took with him for a simple mission, and considering the Falconers, he was a capable individual. He struck the ground with a powerful vertical leap, letting a shockwave lead to quite a powerful force.
It pushed Velga, Razmund, and even Waldorf aside, creating a perfect chance to catch up and cease the effectiveness of this ambush away - albeit, it will destroy quite a large space of this village.
And that was precisely what the Falconer with the hammer aimed for. Razmund stumbled to the ground from the shockwave, but he was able to get to his feet in a moment. He noticed he was still quenching Murai in his right hand, but the pouch wasn't on his left any longer.
What was seeping with blood was the left hand and left shoulder, which Razmund was sure was Velga's aim. Yet, he noticed there was also something else to his deep wounds. It turned the left side of his body numb and unusable. It was as if it disappeared, and he was half the man he used to be.
Velga also stabilized from flying away, crouching down not far away. The hood around her head loosened, uncovering a bit of her face. She was eyeing the pouch lying on the ground since she was unable to catch it just now. This was immediately noticed by Razmund, who felt more than capable to kill this woman with half of his body.
Turning half of his face to a wide grin, he spoke with utter confidence - albeit it was a bit hoarse and harder to understand him.
“What is this, woman? A Dark Mage of a Nightmare Guild, or an unnamed one? For you to be Level 55 and never met me... This must have been a terrible nightmare for you.”
“Shut your stupid mouth, dying moron,” Velga uttered in a cold voice and leaped forward without too much willingness to start a conversation.
“What is this? Are you that heretic who villagers mentioned?” Razmund asked again, also leaping forward with the right half of his body. He was feeling good, yet it was questionable if the veined face and his mind were also fine. Noticing his slower speed, he used the duck, which was still in his right hand. Frowning unhappily, he tossed Murai at the pouch, making it travel out of Velga's first reach.
She grunted in displeasure since she was a step away from one of the purposes she recognized. She knew her chances weren't the highest for what she was here for, so for the Falconers to appear, and her ambush to fail, she realized her chances.
With the failure of the charge, what was left before her was Razmund, while the other 2 Falconers were right past him. They encircled her to make this a 3-way attack, while the pouch was far away from her reach. She realized she can teleport there, but it would make her an easy target since the Falconers should've already realized that.
Velga gritted her teeth and put forth her left hand forward. She held some talisman and mumbled a series of quick incantations, creating a barrier around herself. It was a quick form of the 3 thick barriers on top of each other, which was an effective way to defend against these Falconers.
Though this high-level Enchanted Ward was enough for the Falconers, they realized the disadvantages and surrounded her with her lack of movement being one. They knew how to act against a proper mage, and when they would turtle up like it, it was half the job done. Since she was inside the Ward, unable to move, she shouldn't be able to teleport or use such spells while performing this Ward.
Inside a spherical barrier, Velga eyed Razmund with utter disgust and killing intent. “How about a deal?” she asked, looking through a swirling mana that was seen through, yet incredibly tough.
“What is that pouch?” Razmund asked, turning his right hand towards Murai, who rejoiced with his gift. Though he wasn't really happy about it.
“I don't know what is there, but have you never seen a spatial object? I doubt you didn't,” she replied with mockery since it was a doubtful statement.
“So what if I know it is a spatial object or not? Does it matter when you almost killed me for something like that? Such a thing is not worth it for a level 55 to fight a group of skilled Falconers.” Razmund asked while his bloody left arm was limp, along with the left side of his body. He was still more or less standing just on his right leg, and even then, he was quite fast and deadly - at least for a man that wasn't able to move half of his body.
“So, are you interested in my deal? I will force this if I will have to...” Velga continued.
“A deal with a bloody dark mage? What do you take Falconers for?” Razmund said, not one bit afraid of her words, nor her special dagger that penetrated his armor with ease.
“As a bunch of greedy people... I may offer some interesting things. I know you would be willing to listen.” Velga argued, trying her hardest to deal with these 3 Falconers. “I can give you some information that should work to your advantage, or how about 30 pouches of Grade A Mana Materials of your desires? I have a lot of them, so a price should be worth at least 20000 gold.”
Razmund still smiled in his strange smile. Even with such an offer that wasn't small, it further made things obvious.
“Paulfred, get me that pouch,” he ordered the Falconer with the hammer, who confirmed the order. “Yes, sir.”
He walked towards Murai, who was laying beside the pouch, and ignored the duck. He wasn't there to care about a half-dead duck, which was still breathing and glaring at him through one side of his face turned up.
This simple glance jumped his mind a little, but grabbing the pouch was enough before he tossed it to Razmund, who caught it with his right hand.