“Apparently, this won’t be a fair duel,” I think to myself.
The ropes? They’re the same as the ones the longnecks were hanged by.
Is he going to hang me too? What if I never die and become one of his puppets? A shiver runs down my back.
It’s horrendous, but I fear burning alive much more. If I have to die like that, I need to end it myself beforehand.
But could I even do it? Could I take deep breaths of smoke and kill myself that way? Wouldn’t my own body refuse?
I refuse to even think about experiencing that. Maybe the enemy will kill me in a different way. A less painful one. I try to comfort myself.
"Please, just not the fire." I whisper with my eyes closed.
*Fwoosh*
*Thud*
I see the outline of a forest in flames as I’m hurled dozens of meters. The enemy tosses me to the edge of the fire, right into the charred bushes, lying face-up. Smoke, sparks, and burning particles fill the air.
He turns away, and as he leaves, I notice he is incredibly tall, far taller than any human I’ve ever seen or heard of. A huge health bar hovers above his head, shining brightly, but I can’t read the letters—my eyes are out of focus.
Pinned down by some unknown force, I lay motionless. I feel the tremendous heat on my head. I can’t identify it, but it feels like my hair has caught on fire.
I open my mouth, and my dried lips crack, tearing off bits of skin.
"The time has come."
I take the deepest breath I can manage.
*Cough, cough.*
Again! Inhale!
*Cough, cough, cough.*
Again!
*Cough, cough, cough.*
Again! Inhale, I must do it!
*I start to choke.*
Again! A deep inhale! Come on!
I feel it now. Oxygen deprivation. Darkness forms in front of my eyes. Soon, I’m unconscious.
----------------------------------------
*Ding*
My eyes snap open just as I’m about to faint.
*Ding*
Wait, what?! I regain consciousness instantly.
*Ding*
Are my senses messing with me?
*Ding. Ding.* Two quick notifications ring in my ears, snapping me back to awareness.
*Strong exhale*
What the hell is going on?!
*Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.*
What the fuck? Suddenly, I don’t want to suffocate.
*Ding. Ding. Ding. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Di.. Din.. Din.. Di.. Din.. Di.. Din.. Ding.. Ding.. Di.. Di.. Din.. Din.. Din.. Ding.. Ding…* The system notification stutters, struggling to handle the sudden load.
Suddenly, I feel motivated. Focusing on my goal, I ignore the pain and heat.
Still unable to move due to the weight on me, I whisper, “Skills.”
A display appears in front of me, half-buried in the ground. I can only see my name and half the stats. I can’t raise my left hand, and my right is still pinned near my face, tied by that heavy rope.
“Strength. Everything to strength. Please,” I whisper, tears in my eyes.
*A satisfying drumroll interrupts.*
Something stirs over my body, like a horde of insects crawling under my clothes. I feel the urge to move, but I can’t.
No, no—it’s under the skin, not the clothes. It’s both pleasant and unpleasant at the same time, like scratching an itch.
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Looking down at my thigh, I see muscles and veins bulging through the fabric. My entire body pulses and bubbles.
“Aaaargh!”
Tremendous pain shoots through my arms, legs, and back. My muscles start contracting. The heat is still there, but I ignore it.
My body twitches and rolls to the side on its own, my nose scraping against the hardened, dry soil and bushes.
I can move my left hand a bit. The burden is slowly lifting. Dehydrated, overheated, sweating, and slightly burned, I shift my weight and roll away from the fire.
Muscle cramps seize my body, leaving me feeling like I’m planking on the ground. Clenching my teeth, eyes shut tight, I shake uncontrollably.
"Just stop already!" Every second feels like an hour.
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It’s done.
My muscles finally relax, and I collapse like a bag of liquid tossed on the ground. The pressure eases from my head to my toes. I open my eyes and see dark clouds of smoke and sparks in the air.
I try to breathe, but cough instead. My body feels different—heavier, sturdier. I sit up and try to free my locked arm from the rope. As I flex, the rope digs into my neck, cutting my skin instantly.
“Tschk.” I grunt.
Using my left hand, I grab the rope and pull. The strands burst one by one.
*Puck!*
The rope snaps, and the rough fibers scratch my skin.
“Skills!” I yell.
“Fifty-fucking seven?” I almost choke.
“Are you kidding me?” I wipe my eyes.
I can’t comprehend the emotions surging through me, but joy and excitement dominate.
Markus Hale foreigner level 57 Strength 59 no skill Agility 3 no skill Willpower 4 no skill Endurance 4 no skill
“Oh. My. God.”
“Uuuuuuuuffffffffffffffff,” I exhale my entire breath shakily.
“Concentrate, Mark! You need to test it out before making quick decisions.”
I jump to my feet and scan my surroundings. A tall, dark figure looms in the distance, heading toward the pinned couple.
“Items!"
"Gosh, my hammer!”
Still holding the broken rope, I stash both halves in my inventory.
Disoriented, I look at the ground to see where I was dragged. My body feels heavier, and my steps are awkward, as if I’m learning to walk again. Did my newfound strength and weight affect my speed too?
I decide to sprint toward my hammer, keeping an eye on the tall figure. He moves slowly but steadily. The chaos of flames is noisy, masking my approach.
With each step, I feel more in control. Did this boost affect my speed? Let’s see.
I push off with my right leg, a surge of power launching me into the air. For a moment, I feel like a grasshopper, but the jump isn’t high. I fall flat.
*Thud*
“Ouch!” I crash into the ground, face-first in the dirt.
Did I just jump uncontrollably? It was higher than I’ve ever jumped!
Approaching my hammer, I’m eager to feel its weight. Will it be light? My fingers close around the handle, and I feel… the same weight as before. Not lighter or heavier. I frown in disappointment.
What now? Sneak up on the tall figure, or…
No, no. That’s not my style. I shake my head.
I sprint toward the enemy. My steps are heavy, each footfall thudding against the ground. The soles of my sneakers are so flattened, I feel every bump. I can’t keep my grip steady on the hammer as I close the distance.
The figure notices me just as he nears the pinned couple. I stop mid-run, crouching slightly, ready to jump.
My thighs and butt burn with effort.
*Fwoosh*
My sneaker soles flatten as I push off hard. I soar through the air. It feels like flying, but I’m not high enough to clear a human or a car.
As I aim to land a hit, the hammer suddenly feels heavier, pulling my hand down. It hurts my wrist and forearm. The pain is unbearable, so I release the hammer.
It drops fast, slamming into the ground, burying itself hammerhead deep.
I switch tactics, landing both feet on the enemy’s chest, knocking him off balance. It’s a dropkick. I barely notice his name before I crash down.
The Exiled One, level 55
He’s tall, nearly a giant, but skinny, with a gray beard, dead fish eyes, and a long, dark robe. That’s all I can make out at a glance.
Mike moves in the background. Without his shirt and jacket, he stands and picks up his sabre. The weight effect is fading. Astrid sits up slowly.
Mike doesn’t hesitate. He thrusts his sabre at The Exiled One. The blade barely scratches the robe, repelled instantly. The sabre falls, burying itself in the ground.
"Seems that while threatened, he can't control his burden spell on all of us at once!"
Mike crashes down again, clutching his wrist. As I watch, I feel a surge of energy as I regain control.
Grabbing my hammer, I try again, but the same thing happens. The weight magic forces me to drop it. Mike, now in just his underwear, raises his fists.
I chuckle, admiring his persistence.
“As you wish.” I pull off my shirt and ready a punch.
I aim for his abdomen—the highest I can reach. The Exiled One clenches his left fist, and suddenly, the ground around us stirs.
Ash, dirt, grass, and gravel swirl and move.