[Flashback to Chapter 93]
- 1000 points sent from XXX (Anonymous - Higher System). Direct attack, Server 10, 3x Festival Bonus -
- 1000 points sent from XXX (Anonymous - Higher System). Direct attack, Server 9, 3x Festival Bonus -
Hold on… Are you serious…?
Could the chaotic freedom of this world's system have taken those 100 x 29 points and merged them with the 4000 points (1000 + 3000 bonus) from some goddess's earlier attack on Server 10!?
Back then, I didn't know whose server it was, but I wasn't careless. I checked every body I was possessing with the heroes and scanned all the monsters around the area—nothing! So I thought it wasn't my server…
Since it was a server-wide attack, not targeting anyone specific, just to mess with rival goddesses while their heroes weren't fighting monsters… the points got banked.
Then, when the timing was right—like when the system decided I was the prime target (goddesses piling on 29 attacks, twice in a row for 58!? The system saw it as a majority consensus!? Please let this just be my wild theory!)—it dumped all those points into this attack without waiting for that goddess's hero to kill monsters!?
So the points stacked up so much and focused in one spot that it created both special-grade monsters and a special area, like this wall trapping me in a forced fight!?
It can do that!? …
Or is this the start of the messed-up events that happen every 10 years, like I read about in the library!?
So they're spoiling it for me early, huh! Thanks, thanks a lot!!!
Damn it!!! But do I want this!? No, not with Grace's body, and not now! If it was Takuto, Chon, Ramsa, or Ric right now, they'd probably handle it just fine!
But 6900 points dumped on Grace, the weakest one, by accident!?
What do I do…
Those goddesses are watching—at least 30 of them up there! I can't do anything weird!
Ian's life is hanging by a thread.
Grace… I can't die either, or Melt will get demoted.
True Body: HP -6
Hug, swish, swish…
"Huh!?"
Ian gently patted my head… no trace of trembling.
"Luck's on our side. Since these monsters have brains now, they won't just charge in blindly. They're watching us first… probably because my level's higher than theirs."
"…"
A calm, strong, yet gentle voice came from the burly old man…
"Grace."
"Yes…"
"You've got [Possession], right? Hide in a rock or tree. I'll handle the rest…"
Ian… you…
"No way, Ian! That's…"
"Grace! Hurry… I think the fight's about to start…"
"…Ian…"
"Have you forgotten? I'm a former adventurer, Level 580! The guy who took down hundreds of bosses and became the guild leader of Sera City!"
"…"
Ian's eyes locked onto the monsters, intimidating them… He must've checked their levels too, knowing what they are…
His confident voice showed me strength, his face brimming with energy… But his body, growing feverish and sweating heavily, told me he wasn't sure he could win… Not with the gear we have and his age…
Here we go again, that feeling…
My power could destroy everything in this server with a single blink… but I can't reveal it. Not because of anything else but my own cowardice and selfishness…
I'm scared my power and everything I've built will be taken away.
Move, damn it… Pull off some epic anime protagonist moment… Be like those characters I hate so much…
It's so easy, isn't it…?
…
…
In moments like this, my power won't come out… It's not that it can't, but…
"Graaah!!!!!!" x11
"Piyong!!!!!!" x11
"Bufree!!!!!!" x10
As if sensing Ian's unsteady body heat, the monsters roared, signaling their readiness to attack.
"They're coming, Grace!!! Use [Possession] now!!!"
Why…
- Why… -
"Do something, damn it…"
"No!! I'll fight with you, Ian!!"
"I'm ordering you to use [Possession] now!!! You'll just slow me down!! [Powerload]!!!!"
Ian shouted at the top of his lungs, unleashing his physical power.
My heart…
- My heart… -
"Move, you coward!! Stop being so pathetic!!"
"Graaahhh!!"
The monsters roared with all their might, charging at the old man protecting the delicate, pretty-faced boy.
And as he sensed his fate… Ian turned to me, flashed a wide grin, and said,
"I… won't die, kid."
This is why I'm so weak…
- This is why I'm so weak… -
Wham! Thud!!
"Graaahhh!!!"
"Bufree!!!"
"Piyong!!"
Slash, slash, slash, slash! …
"Argh!! Urk… Hide… Grace…"
Ian took Total Damage 9560.
Name: Ian, Male, Age 74
LV: 580 SLV: 510
HP: 0/7430 MP: 2100/2640
End of Chapter 97
Why Is My Heart So Weak