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World: MSS - Loading...
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Falling into unconsciousness was a strange feeling. It felt like floating on top of water, yet submerged within. Everywhere I looked, darkness prevailed. No light of any kind could penetrated the thick curtain of shadow that surrounded me. Just like when I was dreaming, I was remembering and seeing at the same time. In a way, it was safe and secure. Nothing could get me here.
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“One day, I hope that you will trust me enough as your master to tell me your story, young one. If that day ever comes."
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Arrosh, piled upon his cloak.
I’d never get to tell him my story. He tried so hard to teach me, so I could learn how to defend myself.
No, what he taught me couldn’t be defined as simple swordplay. Arrosh had taught me the art of the sword. The sword was to a swordsman as a brush was to an artist. Your battle was the canvas and each movement, each maneuver was the brushstroke with which you painted. Blood was the ink of our craft, and our opponents the inspiration.
I channeled mana into my legs, trying to lift the orc. I still had [Leap] mimicked. If I could just bend my legs and lift us up into the air somehow…
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"Tell me... who are you really? Are you some kind of noble? Or a Scion of a Great House? Are you a bastard? Is that why they sent you here?"
"Why won't you say anything?"
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Clover deserved better than that.
If I could go back in time, I’d redo that whole conversation with her. She didn’t need to know the whole truth. I could’ve just told her that my name wasn’t Lock nor was it Slaveborn. That I didn’t remember anything before meeting L’teya and her. Clover deserved something close to the truth but I had failed her. For the gods’ sake, she regrew my arm.
I pumped more mana into my legs and felt something answer. The shadows in my vision retreated and like looking through a scope, I saw bits of the earth again.
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“That is a great name, Lock Slaveborn!”
“What say you to teaming up for this, Makoreah?”
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L’teya…
Since this whole thing started I’d never even caught a glimpse of her. The closest clue I had gotten to finding out about her was that the ‘expensive’ slaves were upstairs. But I came downstairs, listening to Arrosh. Had I just been fooling myself? If I had real courage, real strength I could have gone straight to her. But I was still too weak.
L’teya, the first one in this world to accept me.
L’teya, the one who never doubted me even for a second.
She trusted me.
I owed everything to her.
“AAAAAAGGGGHHHH”
I heard myself scream and the darkness around my vision cleared up more. I dropped my sword and clawed my hands into the orcs bicep and tricep, trying to pry his arms away from my neck. I sucked in great big gulps of air, regaining strength with each breath. I felt my fingers sink into his arm.
“FUUUCKKK YOUUUU” I screamed and bit down on his wound, tasting coppery blood as his wound opened up.
The orc didn’t even let out a grunt of pain, he just squeezed and I had to fight for breath again.
Countless scenes flashed before me.
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“You’re such a fucking fool.”
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The words I had said to myself when descending into the depths, knowing that I was facing death at the blade of the Lucky Beckoning Cat. It was the first time I had risked my life for other people, or done something for others, period.
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“Enough. We’re comrades.”
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When I first called L’teya and Clover comrades, promising that I wouldn’t abandon them.
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“I was just using you, I never took you seriously. You barely know me. I never did anything for you. I was just… I was such a fool, Arrosh. My friends, if I acted earlier we could have avoided all this. This happened all because I was only looking out for myself. I didn’t trust anyone, even you. God, I only got this far because of you guys. You even got hurt while trying to find me. What’s going to happen, Arrosh? Will I see you again?”
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When I confessed to Arrosh all the filthy things I’d done to him… and when he had no need to forgive me for it, because for him I hadn’t done anything wrong to him.
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"Right. You take care too... and I hope you find your master."
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Scarlet. A random mage I had met in the process of escaping those cages. Despite meeting him for only a brief moment, it left an impact on me. He was the first person that I worked together with voluntarily.
In a way, he got me started on this path. He was the first one outside of L'teya and Clover I had trusted, even if it was only for a short while. To protect the people important to me, I had recognize the fact that there were other people. I couldn't do this alone. I needed the help of others.
Arrosh, L’teya and Clover.
Now, I had two more names to add to the list, two more people to protect.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Skaris and Kyrian.
Kyrian was dying.
It didn’t matter that I barely knew him and that he had worked against me in the past. For this moment, we had fought in this battle together, tooth and nail with our lives on the line. We'd barely known each other for five minutes before going into battle, knowing full-well that we were leaving our backs to each other.
Everyone was counting on me.
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"If you make a decision... follow through with it till the end."
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My fool of a dad's advice.
I channeled more mana through my entire body and then fell into my own shadow.
Once more, I was submerged in darkness and the feeling of being underwater was back. This time though, I knew instinctively that I could weave the shadows around me and transport me to where I needed to go.
Manipulating the shadows with my mana, I leaped out from the berserker’s shadow and wrapped myself around his back.
｢Lock Slaveborn casts [Shadow Blink] ｣
｢[All Mages must Die!]: -1 Stack of [Shadow Blink] ｣
For the moment, I didn’t give a shit that I used [Shadow Blink] or how it worked. All I could concentrate on was the fact that I finally had access to this berserker’s vital point: his neck. No sword, no shield, yet my instincts demanded blood: I tore into his neck with my teeth, ripping off chunks at a time.
The orc screamed and I felt his hands try and get me off of him; but my armor was slick with blood. His fingers continued to slip and failed to find purchase.
I kept on sinking my teeth into his neck, biting through the thick layer of muscle.
Then I felt him run backwards and felt my back explode in pain. But my mind neatly compartmentalized that pain and threw it in the trash bin along with anything else that was unnecessary for what I was currently doing: chewing through this orc’s neck.
He slammed me into the wall a few more times.
Finally, after suffering for what seemed like an eternity, I felt my teeth sink into something soft and long. It felt different from the tough sinewy muscle I had been tearing my teeth into. Instinctively, I knew that my mouth had finally reached his esophagus.
I bit it off.
The orcs' movements slowed and he fell on his face.
Just to make sure, I cast [Hateful Wound]. The corpse convulsed but there was no life left in it.
I spat out the piece of meat in my mouth.
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Kyrian fell in and out of consciousness, his hands holding onto his intestines lest they spill out.
Through his stupor, he caught glimpses of the battle.
Skaris locked in mortal combat with the shining warrior, practically burning him alive. It didn’t take long for the orc’s ability to run out and even Kyrian could tell that the berserker was tired. Skaris stabbed him once in the heart and then in the throat, leaving the javelins there and picking up the halberd instead. When the reptilian beastman turned to help Lock, Kyrian saw the horrified look in his eyes.
Lock had literally torn out the berserker’s throat using nothing but his teeth.
As Lock stumbled to stand, Skaris recovered from his mental shock and helped the black-haired slave. Lending him a shoulder, Skaris looked around searching for something. Then his eyes landed on Kyrian and the two began to limp over.
“Was he… looking for me?”
That was not possible.
When Kyrian made his Mana Vow, he had expected for them to use him like… well, like a slave. A card that they could throw away anytime they found convenient. But he had no qualms with that. Kyrian had no home to go back to and certainly knew that his fantasy about getting revenge on Jason was farfetched. Everything he wanted was out of reach, just like his dear mother.
So he did what he could: he decided to go with Lock and help him save as many lives as he could.
Just like the heroes in the story that his mother used to tell him.
But he had been cornered by that berserker and knew that he’d die here. As a mage, space was crucial in fights like this. The berserker had already gravely wounded him; there was no getting away. Yet Lock, the man who should be hating Kyrian the most, risked his life to rescue him.
Kyrian had lain there, watching Lock’s back.
He’d never seen someone’s back while they were risking their life for him before. It was more agonizing than he imagined. Wanting to help but not being able to… the helplessness of seeing someone you want to help slowly lose life…
The pain of not being there for his mother had returned to him again and again throughout that fight.
He saw Lock get beaten down, coming close to death multiple times.
Was this what it was like for people who forged a path ahead for others? Full of pain and misery? This was what he was looking for? Someone in pain and constant suffering? Not for themselves, but for others?
Yes, Kyrian would never again serve tyrants as his ‘lord’ or ‘master’.
Kyrian Tricilan swore that if he survived, he’d be the one to watch Lock’s back as he forged the path ahead for everyone.
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I spat the blood out of my mouth and washed it down with water.
“Hold ssstill, Sssslaveborn.” Skaris brought a health potion over and began to pour it over my body.
I heard the sizzling of a chemical reaction as my skin regrew and knitted itself together, even returning my crumpled neck to its original state. As long as I lived in this world, I’d never get used to the pain of having a healing potion dumped on me after a battle.
Skaris had been in the best shape and had gathered Kyrian and me in one corner. Then he looted the berserkers and even the witch doctor, taking their dimension rings. We had no need for armor, but were in want of healing. Badly. Luckily for us, the dimension rings held enough healing potions to bring all of us back to life.
It wouldn’t recover the mental fatigue, but it was better than bleeding out to death.
There was an unspoken agreement that with a battle that hard, we needed time to just rest. I didn’t know about Kyrian but I knew that Skaris and I haven’t had a chance to rest in the last two or three days.
“Gods, just how long have I been down here.” I missed sunlight.
So the three of us sat, sorting through the dimension rings. I kept feeling my lips curl up into a smile. Ever since I lost contact with Clover I had wished more than once I had a dimension ring on me. Especially when I saw the Cores in the bird-cage room.
“Can’t I go back and get those Cores? Especially the Fire-Drake Core… if I had Skaris absorb that…” I shook my head, dismissing the thought.
It wasn’t worth it. Cores would be worth less than shit if I didn’t make it out of this place alive with everyone.
“Everyone. Huh.” That had a nice ring to it.
“Lock, I wish to ask you something.” The mage broke the silence between the three of us.
“Ask.” I closed my eyes and leaned back. “But afterwards I want to rest.”
“...Why did you come for me?”
I bit back a short laugh; there was no need to insult Kyrian. He did more than his fair share during the battle and most of all, I could trust him now. Hindsight 20-20 as they say.
“Because like I said, I don’t need an expendable piece. I need comrades that can watch my back.” I peered at him with one eye open. “It’d also be a waste of a mage.”
I had meant the last part as a joke but no one laughed.
It was one of those moments I wished I had attempted more humor back in real life. I simply couldn’t tell if I was unfunny or the people of MSS just ran on a different humor chord.
Kyrian wasn’t phased however. “But I-”
“You are the one who ssswore the mana vow, fool.” Skaris spat. “You forcsssed our hand in accsssepting you as one of ussssss.”
Skaris made it sound like Kyrian was an abandoned dog that showed up at our doorsteps and begged to be taken care of. In a way he was right, but Skaris had no responsibility to adhere to that. Yet he’d also protected Kyrian with his life. Could it be that Skaris had a soft side to him?
“That’s beastman hospitality for you.” The joke was on the tip of my tongue but I swallowed it.
I knew a tough crowd when I saw one.
Kyrian let the silence last for a bit longer than spoke. “I thank you both. Truly. I know I have already bound myself with the Mana Vow but for what it’s worth, I will give my life to see you two reach the end of your goals.”
“Stop that.” I shook my head. “Our goal is to leave this place. Alive and with everyone.”
“Now, when an adventurer says they want to rest, it’s rude to interrupt. Let's all rest.” I repeated, remembering when the red-haired mage had chastised me.
“You were an adventurer?!” Kyrian looked genuinely surprised.
I didn’t dignify that with an answer. I did wonder though, would 14 years of playing MSS count? Probably not.
“10 minutes. Then we break the waypoint and head up the stairs.” I outlined the general plan to the two and saw Skaris close his eyes for a brief respite.
Kyrian looked over his staff, making sure there was no damage.
I studied Kyrian. It was strange. I'd known him --and for that matter, Skaris too-- for less than an hour yet there was a bond between us that I couldn't place. Were we comrades now? Would we stick together even after we escaped the city? Yes, I needed mage in the party soon but would it be Kyrian? Could I trust him?
Surprisingly, I found that the answer was yes. He'd done more than his fair share in this battle. There was no doubt about it, Kyrian wouldn't betray us. He had his chance and didn't take it. The mage meant what he said; I could trust him to stand by my side and fight.
Yesterday's enemy had become a friend. Quite literally.
I wondered what that meant for the future.
Could I become comrades with orcs?
That wasn't a question unique to me. I had to consider what my current party members would want to do, namely L'teya and Clover. Now that Skaris, a former competing slave in a different party, and Kyrian were with me I had a lot of explaining to do. What if I ended up picking up an orc comrade along the way? Like Arrosh? Would they see him differently than our captors?
Actually now that I thought about it, what about me? Other than Arrosh I saw orcs as an enemy by default.
I felt a smile creep up on me. It was a wonder how I came to ponder such things.
That reminded me; had I used [Shadow Blink] during my battle with the orc? That wasn't possible. But it had happened for sure, I couldn't have escaped any other way. I wracked my brains, trying to think of a possible explanation. [Shadow Blink] was an active skill but I had confirmed that the active portion of my Core was [Sadistic Mimicry], or whatever advanced version the Named Core had given me. Could it be possible that [Shadow Blink] was an extension of my active skill? Or even passive?
After ten minutes had passed, I nudged Kyrian. "Kyrian. I need your help with something. I need to figure something out about a Core I just absorbed..."
Normally, there'd be a strong aversion to revealing anything about my Core. But this time at least, I needed outside help to figure it out. If I was right about my Core...
"Maybe grade-5? Hm. If I had to be specific I guess I could give it a grade of 4.7." Taking the Shadow Wolf Mimic Core might have actually turned out better than the InMyun Ho Core.
Soon.
Soon, I’d find L’teya and Clover. Then all of us could get the hell out of this place before all hell broke loose.
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