Kine’s Perspective

As Kine did the walk of shame back to the orphanage, he seethed. He couldn't believe he was bested so easily and so quickly by that asshole.

At first, he was excited that there was someone else that had shared his life experiences, being reincarnated was amazing. He lived an estimated 15 lives; a sizable amount. The skills and resistances he had gotten from those were pretty decent; [Dodge Rush], [Enhanced Hearing], [Deception], [Predator Sense], [Running] and [Pain Resistance], [Slash Resistance], [Hunger Resistance] and [Cold Resistance]. Only, they were clearly nothing in comparison to what Ione had, her skills and resistances were leagues above his own, and she had many of them. Yet, those skills were in the wrong hands as he couldn't help but notice Ione’s abysmal attitude. She was a rude, disrespectful, arrogant, cheat. He could never work with someone like that. He would only be smothered.

Oh, how he desperately wanted to kill her. The desire to tear her limb from limb and bathe in the crimson that would spurt from her separated appendages was so strong he was half tempted to turn back and surprise her.

Yet, he didn't. That would be suicidal.

In his first life, he was on top of the world. He was a serial killer, yes, but he was never caught. He thought himself too smart, too calculated. Kine was a mastermind of his own making and he excelled at everything he did. Only this time, he didn't.

‘You follow what I say, and you don't question it.’

Those words continuously bounced around in his skull. The face she made when they were exchanging blows rattled his bones. Wild-eyed with a demented smile full of teeth.

The face of a monster.

She was having fun; having the time of her life, meanwhile, he was fighting for his life. He genuinely thought she would kill him.

He would show her. He vowed to ruin her life and he’ll start that tonight; she’ll never know what’s coming. Kine laughed to himself. She should have killed him when she had the only chance she would ever get.

Ione has no idea what she’s awakened.

Ione’s Perspective

Ione stood there at the mouth of the lake until Kine walked out of range of [Spatial Awareness]. Then she tried giving herself the heimlich. It wasn't very good, but everytime she did it little bits of water would shoot out.

It took some time, but she eventually got all the liquid out.

She turned off [Underwater Breathing] and took a few deep breaths before gagging, the water tasted really, really bad.

Then, she laid down.

Ione wagered the fight was about 45 seconds, maybe a bit less, and she smiled at that.

Kine was a lot weaker than she thought he was. He didn't have drowning resistance, he couldn't breathe underwater, her strength was leagues above his own, his stamina was a lot lower, she could jump higher than him and she was faster. In comparison to her, he was weak.

She still wouldn't underestimate him. As much as she learned about him, he learned about her. There was no way he would reasonably believe that he would win in a battle of strength, so Ione bet that Kine would try to win in a battle of wits. He would most likely try to use Coranne or Fellis against her and that thought stirred an urgency within Ione.

She had to kill him. Soon.

There were a few reasons why she didn't kill him in the clearing; one, was that someone would have seen him follow her, two, was that she couldn't think of a good enough cover story for how he would have died, and three, she couldn't risk the attention that sort of thing would bring her. If she was near a human child and they died right in her presence she would most likely be blamed.

No, she had to kill him, tomorrow night. If she tried tonight Ione knew he would be waiting for her and call out to everybody the moment she appeared. Her plan would go up in smoke.

Tomorrow night she will drag him out of bed and into the forest. He'd be kicking and screaming, but she could just hold him by the neck to limit noises, Ione was certainly strong enough to. She laughed at the image, but the little shit deserved it. She was aware he didn't give any confirmation that he would leave Coranne or Fellis alone, which in itself, was confirmation that he wouldn't.

There wasn't really much she could do. Urgency pushed her to make a hasty plan, but she knew she could kill him. It would just be a matter of time.

~~~~~

Surprisingly, Kine didn't make a fuss about his bloody knuckles and bruises, so Ione passed the day watching Fellis and Coranne like she was an overprotective parent. She didn't want to leave them out of her sight for one second, lest Kine do some bullshit.

Unfortunately that came with the side effect of Coranne looking at her weirdly whenever she caught Ione peeping at her. In those moments Ione wished for a skill that allowed her to actually see outside of herself, rather than just pings on a radar. Maybe someday.

It was just before bed when Coranne joined Ione in the bathroom.

“Soooooo…” Coranne started.

Ione spat into the sink and then sighed.

“Okay, so for the sake of transparency I’ll just tell you now; Kine…Is also reincarnated. Is that what you meant by us having something in common?”

Corannes eyes widened, “that’s definitely not what I had in mind,” her voice wary, “I suspected, but I was just referring to you two’s behavior. How you two ask questions and generally behave, but that probably should have clued me in.” She cocked her head, “how did you find out?”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Just before Ione opened her mouth to respond, she caught someone lurking in the hallway.

Ione stood there with her eyes narrowed and Coranne whispered, “Ione?”

With a finger to her lips, she slowly made her way to the bathroom entrance. She waited a few tense moments.

They didn't move and Ione gritted her teeth. She peeked one eye around the corner and saw Kine lean against the outer bathroom wall, head cocked. Listening.

Motherfucker.

She slowly made her back to Coranne whose face was a mixture of quizzical and peeved. She whispered, “Ione, what in the wor-”

Before Coranne could finish that sentence, Ione clamped a hand over her mouth and quickly walked her to a stall. She closed the door and brought Coranne's ear down to her face.

Ione whispered as quietly as she could, hand cupped around her mouth and the woman’s ear “someone is listening.”

Kine didn't move; he didn't hear. Ione let out a sigh of relief, unfortunately right into Corannes’ ear and the woman jumped away, frantically digging a finger in her ear to get the moisture out.

Coranne glared and Ione whispered a sheepish, “sorry,” before gesturing her to come close again.

“Meet me tomorrow outside near the big rocks. I’ll explain everything.”

Coranne drew back and gave her a long inscrutable look, before nodding. Her face changed and she excitedly said, “okay Ione you have to wash your face!”

Ione grinned, immediately picking up what Coranne was putting down and whined, “But Sister Coranne, I washed my face this morning!” She stomped her foot and pouted.

The nun had to cover her mouth with her hand, smothering her laughter until she said, “No buts! You know the drill, c’mon. Grab the wash cloth and get to it.”

Ione loudly groaned, but did what she said. As she playfully followed along, she got increasingly angry at Kine. The little turd wouldn't leave, and she was getting tired of this ruse.

By the end of it, Ione gave Coranne a miserable look and the nun gave one of pity; she knew Ione hated this charade, but as soon as Coranne exclaimed, “okay, Ione it’s time for bed!” Kine started to walk away and Ione nearly cheered.

She gave Coranne a bright smile. The woman returned it, seemingly understanding.

They made their way out of the bathroom silently, Ione held onto Coranne’s sweaty hand, the only evidence of her anxiety, and eventually made it to the girls dorm room.

Still paranoid, Ione quickly whispered, “please have a weapon with you tonight, and don't sleep. Whatever you do, keep yourself awake. I’m begging you, Coranne.”

Coranne’s brows rose, but she nodded nonetheless. Ione was astounded by how much the woman trusted her and squeezed Coranne’s hands in thanks. The nun looked down at their conjoined hands with a smile and then frowned. The woman grabbed both of her hands and a green light suffused them, and before Ione's eyes, the skin on her knuckles were smooth and healthy. Ione gave her a hug.

“Have a good sleep Ione.” Coranne smiled.

Ione dipped her head in thanks, “I’ll try.”

Coranne followed her into the room and set about saying goodnight to each of the girls. Ione waited until she left and then she went to go talk to Fellis.

After a brief conversation, Ione went to bed. She pulled the covers over herself and anxiously awaited tomorrow. Sleep eluded her for some time until the peaceful darkness drew her into its embrace.

~~~~~

It wasn't too long when she woke up due to [Prey sense] alerting her that she was being stared at. She still had the covers over her head thankfully and she laid there wide awake. Ione waited a few breaths, and then heard the slight shifting of weight to her left, the floorboard creaking. [Danger Sense] screamed at her.

There you are.

Ione shot up and swiped the covers off.

It was Kine, haloed by moonlight that drifted into the quiet room, the blade he held above himself glinted in the white light. He froze, his face a mask of surprise and his voice wavered, “you're not Fellis.”

Ione's lips curled, she activated all her skills and she shot out of bed, faster than he could use his dodge skill, she brought her left hand to curl around his neck as her right grabbed the fist he poised above his head. She immediately ran out of the room, dragging Kine's resisting body; his only free hand clutched at the wrist near his neck and his legs attempted to dig into the ground. Ione laughed as she ran as fast as she could, making her way outside to then launch herself and Kine up on the roof.

The hand around his neck was arms length away and she got a good view of Kine gagging, his hand trying to lessen her grip. She gave him what he wanted.

He gagged before exclaiming, “what the fuck!” Kine’s wide eyes stared at her.

Ione was silent as the smile she wore only grew, and then she started dancing, dragging Kine along with her to participate.

“S-stop! Let me go!”

A song she used to listen to on Earth dominated her mind, and she started humming it, her movements going along with the vocalized beat.

“Clair De Lune, really?” Kine asked.

She stopped humming, but continued to dance to the beat only she could hear, “yea, I thought it was quite fitting, wouldn't you agree? I miss it” She paused and murmured, “Would be nice to hear it once more.”

Kine tried to capitalize on the nonexistent opportunity for escape. “Well, maybe if you let me go, I could actually be a dance partner.”

She snorted. “Not happening.”

“Fuuuck!” He whined. “Please just let me go, I promise I wont do anything!”

“Nah. You lost your chance. What were you gonna do? Kill Fellis with the knife you killed Neve with, and then frame me for both murders? Fuck that. You made a mistake, bud, and now you’re paying the price.”

“Why the hell are you dancing with me then?”

“Because I'm having fun. You know how boring this stupid orphanage is. And then once you die it’ll go back to the same old same old once again.” She said casually.

Kine was silent.

She stopped dancing. "You fucked up. Real bad. You should have learned that I wasn't stupid when we fought. Honestly. I tried to give you a chance to see that I actually had a working brain, that little drowning trick came from one of my resistances. And then you go ahead and try to kill Fellis.” She clucked her tongue. “Once I caught you listening outside of the bathroom I knew it was either going to be Coranne or Fellis tonight. I told Coranne to ready herself after you left, and then asked Fellis to switch beds. Poor girl thought it was some sort of weird sleepover I concocted. Well, I guess it was, and it certainly saved her ass.”

He grimaced and his legs renewed their kicking. Ione kept talking.

“I almost feel bad for you. Being this stupid. You could have lived a great life here, a world of levels and skills and attributes! Who would’ve thought? You could have been a good person, done great things, or maybe even just lived for yourself.” She shrugged, “you didn’t have to be good, or at least what my definition of that word is, but you could have built yourself to heights you've never experienced. But, no. You're a little murderous creep who decided to go after people I care about. If you'd learned that you can't have everything you want then maybe things would have been different…”

“I know!” He attempted to scream before she gripped his throat to lessen the noise. He coughed and she let him continue. “I know I’ve done wrong and I’ve fucked up, but you just don’t understand. The rush I get…” He trailed off, “...It’s like nothing else.”

[Predator Sense] was keeping track of his heartbeat, and it was going a mile a minute.

“Aw boo-hoo, you can't control yourself and now you can't kill anybody no more. Should’ve thought of that before you decided to punch above your weight class. Are you scared?”

He looked away from her.

She pouted, “awwww, doesnt feel nice does it? Now you know how Neve felt when you were slicing and dicing.”

“You’re an edgy little bitch, you know that?” Kine spat on her face, a big loogie landed right on her cheek.

Ew.

“Pot calling kettle, and this ‘edgy little bitch’ has your life quite literally in her hands,” She dipped her head and wiped the spit off on her shoulder, “so I suggest you buckle up and shut up, because I’m going to make this a literal hell on Terrestria...”

She leaned into his face, gray eyes boring into black, “...because you ain't seen nothing yet.”