After the director placed his fingertips on Luna's neck, which was caught between his hands, Klo realized that if he took even the smallest step forward, that hand would slip and sever her neck.He did not move from his place; he remained still, waiting for a moment when even the tiniest gap would open, fully aware of the danger it posed to her and to himself despite his ability of rewriting.
As he and the director locked eyes, Klo cast a quick glance at what lay behind the hero, trying to use it.He found a small pond of water. Klo stared at it, realizing he could use his ice element, and in that same instant raised his hand to form a blade that could pierce the hero's body.
But unfortunately, the hero sensed it with his powerful aura and darted away, leaving Luna collapsed on the ground. Klo rushed toward her, scooping her up, then leapt toward the door that led out of this massive chamber. But the director was already aware of every step Klo would take.
He intercepted him in a fleeting moment at the door, staring at him while pointing his finger behind Klo with words that carried taunting courage."Go back there, Klo, and let's finish our duel."
All hope drained from Klo. He had no choice left but to return and continue his fight with the hero who would undoubtedly spill his blood.Klo stepped back, leaving Luna with Lumi, who sat upon the rocks. Lumi didn't utter a word, nor did she move even slightly. All she did was stare at their battle, awaiting the revenge Klo would bring her after she had granted him power.
Klo and the hero stood face to face, while Luna held her head in fear for him. He glanced at her briefly and felt a sudden rush of happiness — the fear someone had for him was one of the best things he had ever written down and something he wanted to experience.
He turned his gaze back toward the hero, who was chuckling lightly. Both drew their weapons: Klo unsheathed his sword, and the hero revealed his dagger, both darting at each other with movements like shadows.All Luna could see were faint blurs moving faster than the eye could follow. Against an S-rank trainee, the sight was like those flickers at the edge of vision when one looks straight ahead.
Their blades clashed, ringing so sharply that Luna and Lumi covered their ears against the sound.
Amid the duel, Klo used his ice magic to form a slippery surface behind the director to topple him, but the hero, quick-witted, dodged the trivial trick and countered against Klo, who seemed helpless.
The hero leapt above him, seizing the scarf that covered his neck from the cold, pulling him close while thrusting his dagger toward Klo's temple. But Klo opened a pit beneath himself with his earth magic, forming massive rocky spikes at its depths, and grabbed the hero's shirt to drag him down with him.The hero, however, unleashed wind magic from below, propelling both himself and Klo out of the trap.
In midair, the hero hurled his dagger toward Klo, grazing his face. Klo assumed it was a mistake — until he felt the hero's hand tug toward him and a sharp pain pierced the side of his abdomen.
Klo could no longer control his movement after the blow. He surrendered and crashed to the ground.
Luna screamed, trying to run toward Klo, but Lumi conjured a transparent wall that blocked her path. Luna, bewildered, struck against the unseen barrier with force.
Dust scattered around the place where Klo had fallen. He felt humiliation — despite the power he had received, despite everything, this man, with his rank and the abilities gifted to him, had defeated him.
The hero approached him with calm steps, eyes fixed on the bleeding Klo. Klo looked up at him, mocking."I suppose the first scenario has ended. Why don't we move to the next one?""Sometimes I think you're insane, but I understand… in a way."
Klo stood, mocking further as he played with his hands in the air."You'll never understand, despite your slyness like a fox.""Hey!" Lumi shouted from afar.
Amid Klo's defiant gaze, a system window appeared, urging him to spin for a random gift.Klo smiled as blood dripped from his head downwards."As always, you pick the worst times for this."
With difficulty, Klo lifted his arm and spun for the gift that would be granted to him this time. Even as the words shifted, he endured the pain and heaviness.Finally, the ability was revealed:
"Writer's Eye."
If I were to use the Writer's Tool, which lets me edit anything in this story, my death would be certain. With the Writer's Board, I could read the abilities of beings around me. As for the Writer's Hand… I don't know what it is, but I'll use it.
Klo tapped on it while the hero stared, laughing at his despair."What is it, Klo Yuthnir? Have you gone mad enough to start playing with your hands in the air?"
Klo activated it, and his vision shifted to show him glimpses of his own future. He stared at the new window — the only effect was a slight drain of his mana.
Klo returned his gaze to the hero. He felt dizzy, but he had no choice but to adapt to the ability.The hero approached impatiently, all he could think of was the glory he'd earn from Klo's head brought to the kingdom.
With a few steps, he stood before the defeated Klo, raising his arm slowly, then slashing swiftly — a strike no one could escape. But Klo evaded it, using the new ability.
The dizziness worsened; he had seen the moment of his blood spilling from that strike, yet continued as if nothing happened. The hero, surprised, attacked again, but Klo avoided it once more.
Klo retreated quickly and kicked the hero in the chest, shoving him back, then drew his sword and charged. The hero responded in kind, pulling out his dagger to parry Klo's strikes.
Klo was drained of strength, his vision filled only with the deaths he narrowly dodged — failed futures entwined with the hero's relentless blows.He staggered left and right, ducking beneath the blade aimed at his head, stepping back from the kicks, dodging all manner of attacks.
Slowly, his strength returned as his health bar shifted from 10/350 HP to 232/350 HP.
He glanced at Luna briefly — she was helping him from afar, lending her support.He smiled faintly, but his joy was shattered when the hero hurled his dagger at Luna, slicing beneath her chest. She collapsed upon the rocks where she had been sitting.
Klo's eyes widened. He propelled himself with doubled force toward the unconscious Luna.He caught her, staring into her eyes that had dimmed into unconsciousness. He turned his head slightly, glaring at the hero who scratched his own head as if bored."Come on, Klo, I'm starting to get tired of this."
Klo ignored him, drowning in grief, desperately trying to save her."Think, think, Aethan…" Klo muttered to himself, over and over, while Luna's health bar dropped beside him:
HP 80/240
No other choice. Klo searched his system bag for something useful and found an antidote — it would reduce the damage and delay death.
He cradled Luna's head in his hands, pouring the liquid into her mouth, then glanced at the system interface showing Luna's data.The effect was taking hold.
Klo felt relieved, but his joy would not be complete until he reduced the number of those intent on killing him.
He turned his head slightly toward the waiting hero. In Klo's mind, the thoughts swirled — either the hero was foolish, or he underestimated him, or else… his story was nothing but cheap.