He felt the first trace of cold sweat running down his face. His chest stilled while his heart started a drum roll. He suddenly found it hard to breath, his throat dry and sore, all from the effect of just having a brief flashback of his death scene at the narrow path. He quickly shut his thoughts in a cage, closing his eyes sharply, his head drooping to his chest in despair. But that didn't stop him from suffering the sick feeling of cold, curved steel lodged in his chest and the deadly way it grabbed his organs, yanking them out with the curved edge as his attackers tried to retrieve their long knives.
That was more than enough torture.
"Fine," Eric bursted out, sweating, hands shaking, knees turned to jelly. "I will do it, okay? I—I will kill my killers. You don't have to threaten me.'
[Good]
[New Skill Acquired]
[Skill: Killer Dash]
[Description: Killer Dash grants the user a temporary surge of speed, allowing him to dodge attacks with ease or close the distance to his target in the blink of an eye...But its true power lay in its ability to set up a deadly counterattack by dashing past an opponent, you could strike from behind, catching them off guard]
[Skill Duration: 3 s] — Can be stopped after a second, mid-dash, but once it reaches 2 s, it uses up the total time before the dash can be stopped]
[Cool-down Period: 2 m]
[Cost: -2 MP]
[This Skill Might Help You Subdue Your Targets For The Primary Quest]
The skill's description was clear. Without a sharp blade and precise technique, the dash itself was little more than a flashy maneuver.
But a he didn't quite grasp what these other terms were.
What does "MP" mean? What about these other stats that points were added to after he killed the Dead-handler? Why were the stats displayed in short? He needed a thorough explanation.
[Stat Description Will Also Be Opened Only After You've Completed The Primary Quest]
"What a bummer. I should be in total control of the system, but I'm here, locked out. This isn't fair."
[You Know What's Not Fair? The Price For Diamonds In COF]
"Really?!" He grinned, immediately excited despite himself. "You think so too? I mean, how do I get to pay a million coins for 500 diamonds? I suggested–"
[Like I Thought, It's So Easy To Misdirect His Thinking]
"Uhm, I'm very much present. And who are you taking to? Your other sucker system friends?"
[The Monsters In Your Next World]
He gulped, flinching.
Eric seemed to be getting the hang of this System already.
'Like I thought, it's all like an adventure game.'
'This Killer Dash skill might turn out pretty much useless if failed at the first attempt. Why should I wait for 2 minutes before using a skill?'
"Huhhh, weird system," Eric started sarcastically. "About this task...the one about killing your killers–"
[PRIMARY QUEST: Kill Your Killers]
"I should get a reward for that, right? Maybe another skill. Care to hint me what it will be?"
Eric waited, but there was no response.
'Seems it only displays what it was programmed to display. Or maybe it's just cocky.'
'Little use asking silly questions.'
[I Can Hear Your Thoughts, Jsyk]
"Alright, I'll go kill my killers before you threaten me again."
He tried the door again, expecting resistance, but he was surprised to see that it opened easily, creaking slowly as he pulled it open.
"Is this door bound to that man's soul? It wouldn't open when he was alive."
As soon as Eric was clear of the crematory, out in the dusk, he decided to try the acquired skill beforehand so it wouldn't come as strange to him when he was facing his killers.
Since its cool-down time is 2 minutes, I just have to wait a little before I start my manhunt.
'Might as well see if all this is true, and also how it works.'
[I'm On Fake!]
'I'm no fool.'
"Use Killer Dash."
Suddenly, Eric moved so fast, almost invisible, leaving nothing behind but floating dry leaves. It wasn't so much like moving, to him since he didn't feel his legs could actually keep up with that speed even though he was a good runner. He felt like he phased quickly from his former spot to his present one, stopping suddenly like he didn't just break a sound barrier with such overwhelming speed. He stopped, completely still, composed as he pulled off a stylish pose with the bloody katana.
Also, since he didn't stop the dash in the first second, he had used it all up and there was no chance of using it again until the cool-down period was complete.
'It was real after all. Call me a Samurai, folks.'
'Don't know what a Samurai means, but call me one.'
"Sucker system, what does a Samurai mean? I saw it somewhere but I didn't really grasp what it was all about. Care to hint?"
[I'm Napping. I Can Tell You All About Otherworldly Monsters Though. I'm Wide Awake For That]
"Tch."
He looked back at the spot where he stood a few seconds ago, and not even his instincts could prepare him about finding out how much distance he had lapped in that short time.
'Man, I was there just now.'
'This is becoming a whole lot of real.'
'Pretty cool, huh?'
'This should give me a massive advantage when I face off those bastards again. A quick dash to their rear and a quicker slash for all three. I hope they are all together, and if not, it only gets more fun.'
'Two minutes and I'm ready for the Killer Dash again.'
Eric walked down the same lonely path he took earlier with Void. It was mostly deserted even during the busiest of days in the colony, but it was even more deserted now since it was well past curfew.
Even creeps, beasts, and little animals seemed to be observing the curfew since it was eerily quiet. His steps filled the air with a lot of noise against the seemingly deserted world.
Two minutes...
But as soon as Eric rounded a small bend, three figures appeared far off before him, each one of them dressed in military uniforms, masked and imposing with their sniper rifles. They chattered happily like they were about to have a feast. Two of them walked in sync while carrying a dead beast hung against a horizontal metal pole balanced on their shoulders for support. They were headed in the direction of the Motherbase and they were going to tread the exact path Eric was on.
"Shit!"
"They are near. They are so f--king near."
Eric was losing it already just from the sight of them. The memory of Void choking on his own blood while battling for life forced itself into Eric's head again.
"System, how much longer till the Killer Dash cooldown?" he asked fiercely.
[Cooldown time remaining: 1m 30s]
"Shit!"
---
[Host's Life Will Be Lost For Good If Killed Again]
[Host Must Proceed With Caution]
'What? Are you threatening me again?
[Host Must Wait For The Killer Dash Cool-down Before Engaging Enemies]
'To hell with your cool-down now. I'll sneak a surprise attack on them.'
'Yes. Here's a good spot to lay ambush. They can't be prepared for this.'
'Also, with any luck, the Kill Dash cool-down would be complete by the time the heat is on.'
Eric grabbed and adjusted the mask on his face more tightly. The rough black leather gloves gave him better grip on the hilt of the katana as he unfolded it, ready. He hid himself behind a large tuft of grass, watching behind tiny openings and watching his killers approach without worry. From the way they moved and were gathered, Eric saw it was easier to at least give two of them a quick surprise death.
Two of them are walking in sync, carrying the dead beast on their shoulders. They are the easier targets here.
'But hell, I don't want their death to be quick.'
'I should stab them at their vital points and make sure they can't fight back. Then... I give them a slow, painful death.'
[Host Is Not Capable of Holding His Killers Off]
[...For Now]
"Get the f--king screen outta my face."
'How long till the Killer Dash?'
[Cool-down Time Remaining: 43s]
'I think that timer is crawling. But fair enough.'
'Inform me when it's complete.'
'But for now... I attack.'
"Yaahh!" Eric yelled as he rushed out of his hiding spot with his katana brandished and raised for all to see. It was a very surprising scene for the three beast hunters. They didn't have the time to unfold their own blades nor was there comfort in trying to take the guns out of where it was tied on their backs. By the time they could think of regrouping, Eric was already behind the two men carrying the dead beast.
The leader, also without weapon had decided to go with his fist and launched a heavy blow at Eric's masked face but he swerved right out of the attack range before dashing past him and the two other men to their rear.
'Whooo. I feel lighter on my feet than I can remember.'
Slash!
Eric quickly tore through fabric and skin with the sharp edge of his blade, sending the shortest man among the three dropping the pole and rushing backwards to regroup with the rest. He appeared tough and ready to go again as if he wasn't hurt, but Eric could feel the pain and discomfort in his faulty movement.
"Who the hell are you?" The leader of the group spoke up through his mask.
"Seriously, I don't know. But who the bloody hell are you too?" Eric retorted. "Care to come off with that mask? I should at least behold who I'm about to end."
The leader laughed. A sour one. The other two were already out with their long knives and the unhurt one was even frantically trying to remove the sniper rifle from his back.
"Tsk. Let me drop a hint as a token of my good will," said Eric. " You must kill me before 30 seconds or you'll never get the chance to do that again. Y'know, it's just that I have this cool skill currently loading and it'll get ready in 30... 29...28..."
"What a deadhead. I don't know why you're doing this but I advice you to get out the way. Even with your mask on, I can tell you're still a Becomer. You don't wanna mess with the colony officials that are out on a task. Just go, lad. I'll forgive the little damage you've already done," said the hunting leader.
"Tch. Hey you," said Eric, addressing one of the subordinates who was trying to get his rifle out in threat. "Quit trying to scare me with that rifle. We all know the colony will release you once you use that gun on anything other than a beast. Just come at me with your long knives and make it quick."
"Uhm...do we perhaps know you?"
"Figure that out yourself," Eric grunted a reply as he made a quick feint run to the leader's left side. The muscled masked leader who was prepared for any more surprise attacks, moved to block Eric's path with his hunting knife held firmly in his think hand.
'Stupid of you to think I'll run straight at you. I have learnt my lesson.'
And...
'Important rule of every hunting scheme... Target the weakest among the group.'
'So, I'm going for the short hunter with the wounded back.'
"Die!"
The wounded one turned on his feet and quickly blocked Eric's attacks with a fast parry with his knife, but Eric already expected a weak block like that so he positioned his body and timed his move so he immediately swerved a little far from from his reach and right past him, pushing his weight with the help of the contact between the blades and building momentum with it.
'Skilled with the knife, huh?'
"...But your injury has made you f--king weak and clumsy!"
SLASH!
Eric had gotten behind him and dealt a fatal blow to his back a second time, forming a deep wound that stretched diagonally through the whole length of his back and in opposite direction from the first cut. Blood oozed slowly, forming a dark pool that was expanding rapidly on his military uniform.
"Aaaaaaaarrgh!" The hunter let escape a deep cry of pain this time.
Eric felt good seeing how he has masterfully crafted an X mark on the hunters back.
'I should make that my signature kill-sign. Fuck Samurai. You should call me X-Man now.'
'That's a man fewer. I hope he doesn't die by the time I'm done with the other two.'
Without giving Eric a breathing space, the other two hunters were on him the second their colleague fell.
'How much longer?'
[Cool-down Period Remaining: 10s]
'It's a good thing my senses have become mysteriously sharper than I have any right to.'
'I'll make do with that and stall this fight out till the skill is ready.'
Eric engaged the other two immediately, dancing round the open group, jumping away from them at the slightest scare and sending his own feint attacks also. His long katana made him have a longer reach than the hunters who were using hunting knives, but even then, they managed to block Eric's attacks efficiently and edge closer to him because of their experience with knife handling. Besides, Eric was nimbler on his feet than they were, so he didn't just block knife attacks with the katana. He was also bouncing and dancing his way out of danger's reach.
WHOOSH!
The leader hunter managed to get close enough and immediately swung his blade with overwhelming strength and speed, in a wide arc and straight at Eric's head. Alarmed, his survival instinct kicked in, and just millisecond from the knife making impact, Eric ducked.
---
The quick action was too sudden for him, so he faltered and almost lost his footing, but immediately, there was a follow through attack from the hunters. The other subordinate hunter aimed a low stab at Eric's stomach. It was too fast, far too close for him to dodge and even his katana was too far on his right side to block the attack centred at his belly. So, Eric only had an option if he was was not to die again.
He shot out his left hand instinctively to stop the knife from reaching his belly. The sharp steel knife tore through his left palm, impaling it till it dug past the back of his hand, coming out with a bloody curve. He could see his inner flesh jutting out, muscles accompanying bloodied phalanges, to curse him with yet another excruciating pain he wouldn't forget anytime soon.
But there was no time to surrender to the pain. He absorbed it like a Sponge. Leaning on the hunter, he plunged his katana into his right shoulder, then pushed against the man's weight to jump backwards and out of attack range.
He staggered as he moved backwards, trying to keep his balance, but as soon as he regained his footing, he stumbled against the injured man on the ground. So, he fell. Blood gushed out of his injured palm onto his lap, and for some strange reason, it felt cold to him.
'What, I'm cold-blooded now?'
"Aaaargh!"
"Aaaargh!"
Both Eric and the hunter he stabbed clutched their injured spots and grunted in pain. The third hunter with the X-mark on his back was slowly trying to get back up. Eric, seeing this, gave a lazy slash on his back again, drawing a horizontal wound which cut right through the middle of the X mark present beforehand. The struggling man went back down in more pain.
"You keep forcing me to change my kill sign."
Eric looked up and saw that the unhurt leader and the hurt subordinate were already up with their blades and ready to finish him off once and for all. But Eric didn't bother to get
up and face them head on again. Instead, he gave them a sneer, then an awkward smile before wiping his mouth with his bloody hand. His upper face was already covered with the black mask, but now he covered the open lower part of his face with thick red, giving him an eerie appearance.
'It should be about time.'
"I hate to inform you guys, but it's well past 30 seconds and you've not killed me yet."
The two men did not seem to be in a mood for chit-chat as they advanced menacingly at Eric's apparently subdued figure.
Eric continued regardless. "You won't believe it, but I'm about to blow your fucking mind."
"See, I have this system in me that's been bringing up all sorts of utterly weird stuff that cannot be explained. It came to me after I died around this spot a couple of days ago. You must remember me, see?"
Eric yanked the leather mask off his face and gave a wide grin filled with hatred.
"I can't see your faces under those masks but I know you're looking very surprised right now. I was surprised too when the system said I had a second shot at life after you killed me.
"Second shot at life, for me, means I have to avenge the three brutes responsible for Void's death, see? Chill guys, it's not as if I hate you or anything. I actually would have forgiven you if the system hasn't been bothering me with a task screaming 'kill your killers. Subdue your killers'.
"So, here we are. Don't you think I dragged this fight longer than I did in my past life? I mean to be honest, yes, my senses have upgraded, I can even smell the killing intent in the three of
you right now. You see, the thing is—"
Whoosh! The two men attacked at once, cutting Eric's chatter short.
'Use Killer Dash.'
Fwipp!
From his sitting position, Eric dashed forward, past the two hunters with incredible speed and just a second after, he was standing firm and upright behind their backs. This time when using the Killer Dash, he was careful enough to stop the dash just after a second. So, he didn't dash farther than was necessary for his next line of attack.
"Speaking of my next line of attack, have a sample and tell me how it feels."
He ran normally to the side of the one injured on the shoulder. But before they could recover from the shock of Eric's sudden and strange disappearance, Eric crouched and looked a little as if preparing for a not-so-serious race, then positioned his katana
strategically so that the blade was pointed in their direction but his own body was positioned sideways to them. Then—
"Killer Dash."
Whoosh!
Another quick dash that lasted a second. Eric's blade, held firmly, tore clothes, underclothes, flesh, muscles and tendons on the backs of the two hunters and as he dashed past them,
a bloody trail, misty—more like an after-effect—followed him.
"Aaaaaargh!!!" The remaining two hunters yelled in unison.
"Hmm. They should add that move to the next video game."
The two hunters, badly injured and rendered immobile from a single strike, dropped awkwardly beside their already-fallen comrade as warm blood flowed from their cleanly struck backs.
"Now, fellas, you might think I'm done with you, but I hate to break it to you...I'm not done yet."
The sole reason for this rampage of his came rushing to mind once more, and he suddenly lost the urge to chatter or joke around any longer.
"You killed my friend, you scums. Then you treated it like you just swatted a stubborn fly."
"I won't give you the luxury of a good death, you damn bastards."
Slash! Slash! Slash! Stab! Stab! Slash! Slash! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Chunks of flesh flew up into the air, each rising and falling with its own trail of warm red. Little one decorated their backs like a child who had just discovered the use of crayons. Off with his mask he went as the warm blood splattered across his body.
He had always enjoyed warm baths, but never had he thought they would be more enjoyable when it's thick and in coats of red. With each slash, he revived his memories with vivid clarity. Memories he would now be forced to live with. Memories of his friend, whom he would never see again.
He continued stabbing, carving away until his hands turned too slippery with blood and the katana flew out of his grip. He looked down at the sight of his revenge-fueled massacre. Grotesque figures, as if ravaged by a thousand land piranhas, glared up at him. But he felt nothing but satisfaction.
Remorse has left the chat.
"Heh. That felt—"
[Murderous Intent Successfully Unleashed]
[Primary Quest Successfully Completed]
[3/3 Killers Subdued]
[New Skill Acquired]
[...]
[WELCOME TO THE MANA REAVER SYSTEM]
[FOUR MANA SOURCES DETECTED FROM...]
[HUMANS: 3]
[BEAST: 1]
[CONSUME BEFORE THE LIFE FORCE DRAINS AWAY]
[YOUR HUNGER HAS BEGUN]
"Huh... What?!"
[YOU ARE NOW A MANA REAVER]