Nilbog spotted his party a ways off. He stopped when he saw them, and then wove his way around the forest ground as best as he could. He snuck behind a tree to their side, letting himself go prone to hide under the cover of the upbreaching roots.

There was another party a short sprinting distance away. They stood without their weapons draw, nor did they seem on intent on attacking, though their menacing appearance was enough to send the shivers down Nilbog’s spine.

Two of the four were large, bulky, and with a sword and a shield. Scars litterted their heads like a messy drawing, leaving their faces disfigured and oddly shaped. The third was a spear-bearer, and though he was spiney and thin, his height and long stretched arms would prove him to be a formidable opponent.

The fourth was a plain swordsman with a bow strapped to his shoulder. A quiver with half a dozen arrows were loaded. There was nothing notable about the man himself, but upon him standing in front of his party, his figure seemed to grow in size.

“We’re supposed to believe you?” 666 said in a mocking tone, “with that bow strapped to your back?”

This fucker. Did the others see what he did, or did he lie?

“Quiet!” the 663 hissed. “Ignoring his tone, the idiot does bring a good point. How can we trust you?”

Huh? Why should the bow--oh.

“You have no alternative,” the swordsman said, shrugging. “Either you go the other way, or you end up like the last party that we encountered.”

“Like hell we’ll-” 666 began, but then was stifled with an elbow to the left by 664.

665, the Rogue, was still missing.

“Fine,” the 663 said, but then made no indication that any of them would sheath their blades. He held his spear in one hand while the other grabbed 666 by the back of his shirt, dragging him along as they went towards different direction.

From what Nilbog already knew about the 663, retreating was what he would have done regardless. It seemed he wanted to put on face, as if to warn them that they would be ready if followed.

“Hold it,” the swordsman said, a slight grin on his face.

“What is it?” the 663 replied, tensing.

“Won’t you take your little sneak with you?” he said with triumph. He folded his arms and nodded to himself, his grin widening.

Nilbog flinched. He held his daggers tightly. Would he run or would he follow his group? What about 666? Would they just kill him?

“What sneak?”

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“...the rogue that you have hiding under behind the tree roots,” the swordsman said, pointing in Nilbog’s direction.

Instantly Nilbog turned into the other direction. He’ll trust no one.

His legs and arms pushed up, but his upper body remained attach to the ground. Panic almost gave Nilbog a heart attack before he glanced around to find a young woman standing behind him with one hand pressed against his shoulders, her cheeks barely holding the chuckles.

Her other had a dagger against Nilbog’s neck, freezing him in place. “Quite,” she said in between barely contained giggles. “Lets play a prank!”

663, however, just laughed. “Nice try, but both of them already died,” he said, and then walked away.

The swordsman stood awkwardly, his mouth agape. “B-but…” he began, his face red. His arm stretched towards the 663, shaking in embarrassment. His face then snapped towards Nilbog.

“Eris! That was the cue to bring him out!” the swordsman said, rubbing his eyes.

“Serves you right! Acting so haughty!” she said, finally letting the laughter explode. He felt it quiver through the small hands that held him against the floor.

Life Force Empowerment. He couldn’t do anything. He clenched the dagger’s tightly. His arms could not reach around to knock her off, nor did he have the strength to even bulge. The best he could do was not provoke any further action.

If he was going to die, he might as well take someone with him.

“Eris! We’re wasting time,” he said, placing his hands on his hips. “Leave the poor kid alone.”

“Let the girl play, Sai, she’s a child, too,” one of the other shield bearers said. “He’s probably one of the few boys that are as old as her.”

“She’s bullying him!” Sai said, pulling her away by the ears, against her whining. “That’s not how you play with others!” he said, turning his back on Nilbog.

Seeing the opportunity, Nilbog lunged forward, one dagger aimed at his back while the aimed at the girl’s neck. The moments the daggers would sink Nilbog would run the other way. They would probably bleed out, and the three others were not fast enough to catch up.

You have taken 34 damage!

Critical Damage!

You are stunned!

The next thing Nilbog saw was the ground and his feet hanging in the air.

Sai had threw his foot back, thrusting his heel into Nilbog’s guts and nearly breaking him in half. He fell, gasping for breath as his body quivered on the ground. He couldn’t find it. Pain began to dim everything.

“And you” Sai said, turning around, “just because she was mean to you, does not mean it makes it okay to stab her! We’re leaving. Clearly he won’t have a good influence over her.”

“Hey, Sai,” the shield bearer said, scratching what few spots of hair was left on his head.

Nilbog’s vision was gone, and his hearing soon followed.

“What?”

“The force field is coming.”

“So?”

“It doesn’t look like the kid’s getting up anytime soon,” he said, chuckling.

“Hmph! He’ll probably wake up when it starts burning him. A fine punishment for his misbehavior. And you, Eris, stop whining. We’ll find better friends for you.”

“Sai.”

“What is it this time?”

“I think you’re the one that is a bad influence on her.”