03 - Greater Villainess [3]
Thanks to the carriage barricading us in front, we were able to get a moment of respite.
Though brief, it was necessary that we had that.
During this time, we searched around our immediate vicinity, seeking any nearby allies.
There was no one.
It was just me and Eris.
Even the two men who rode the carriage were nowhere to be found.
It was bothersome.
Briefly, I considered our chances and options of survival, something I would also expect Eris to be doing right now.
'Either they have been killed, or they are in on the plan too.'
The two men who were responsible for conveying us to our destination were ordinary individuals—civilians, to better put.
They had no powers or abilities of any sort.
It was understandable for them to naturally flee.
However, there was something worrying about their actions.
I recalled that during this time, Link was tagged with Eris DeLorentis for a reason.
They had been paired for a mission.
Following their success, the contractors had offered to take them back without requesting anything more.
'Were those guys part of it or was it just a coincidence?'
Many things went through my head all at the same time.
Who were these attackers?
Who was the target precisely?
What did they want? To assassinate or to kidnap?
It was bothersome that I couldn't account for these variables.
Otherwise, I might have come up with a more solid plan.
"Link, was it?"
Hearing my name, I turned to Eris.
That was surprising.
'I thought she didn't want anything to do with me.'
I nodded, affirming her. "Yes. Link Remington."
Eris turned her face to the side, averting her gaze from mine. "Thank you."
I blinked multiple times, shocked at what I just heard.
"What did you say?"
I could hear her grit her teeth after I asked that question.
"Fine. Never mind."
I heard her clearly, but I was taken aback by the fact that she acknowledged my actions earlier.
Nevertheless, that was the sourest 'thank you' I have ever heard come out of someone's mouth.
I rolled my eyes. 'My God, did your family really make an emotionless machine out of you? Tch!'
'Wait a minute…'
My eyes sharpened, picking up on something.
I had been distracted by the present events that I did not notice.
'Did Eris' bond stat just go open?'
[Name: Eris DeLorentis]
[Bond: 10 ❤︎]
'Shot up straight to 10!'
I had not expected much from someone like her. Perhaps that was the reason I hadn't put my mind to it.
If it had not been this glaring and glued to my face, I might have missed it nonetheless.
[Ding…]
[Congratulations!]
[You have created your first bond]
[Would you like to see your rewards?]
[Yes / No]
Immediately, I replied to the system in my mind.
'Of course, yes. Show m—'
—Boom!
****
"Let's see her stop these ones."
The man spoke, bent down in front of a small group of men who were all similarly dressed and crouched behind him.
Red attire that covered every part of their bodies except for their eyes.
They looked like ninjas from Earth.
After the man, who seemed to be their leader, spoke, another batch of arrows was released by one of them, striking the carriage in the distance.
As the hooded leader observed what was about to happen, he couldn't help but wonder why the carriage was yet to blow up.
'Slicing the arrows won't stop the bomb attribute since they were imbued with essence. No way she has reached that level in her swordsmanship…'
The man was puzzled.
The outcome of their surprise attack did not match their expectations.
'Did we get wrong or incomplete intel?'
He narrowed his eyes watching as the carriage eventually went up in a violent burst of flames, blowing up everything around it and sending them flying.
"That's more like it!" he reacted excitedly, not realizing himself in time to control it.
Yet, even with this, he still couldn't help but wonder why it failed the first time.
"Attack! Kill everything that moves there!" he commanded his underlings.
Quickly, they all sprang into action including the leader himself.
A total of five assailants vanished from their hiding spot, leaving only the long range archer behind to give them the needed cover during their attack.
****
Meanwhile, Eris and I were blown several metres away from the carriage.
The explosion was unexpected.
We were fortunate enough to have only been flung backwards.
Knowing full well that our enemies would seize this opportunity to strike, it was obvious we had to do something.
My entire body ached from slamming my back into a nearby tree.
Pain seared through my whole body in seconds.
I winced, trying to regain composure.
"Shit…"
Under that gasp, I noticed it again.
The system panel still lingered in my face.
I was yet to make a decision on my reward.
'Thank God,' I prayed in silence.
Maybe this was what would save me.
I turned to look at Eris, who was already getting up.
Though the smoke was present, it hadn't obscured our views.
I was certain that Eris could handle herself. I was confident of that much.
The main issue right now was my survivability.
If they attacked us in this state, I was doomed.
Eris would have her hands filled, and I would have to fight a handicap death match with a sword style I've not even mastered.
'Tch! What great luck I have.'
I cursed in my heart and spat out saliva onto the ground.
"Yes."
[You have bonded with the Greater Villainess—Eris DeLorentis]
[A link has been formed]
[You are now able to acquire abilities from the bonded]
[Abilities Allowed: 0/1]
[Please choose]
My lower jaw dropped, almost hitting the ground.
That's crazy!
No. It was beyond crazy.
No such ability existed in The Account of a Failed Villain.
It wasn't even a matter of if I was sure or not.
Such an ability, even if it was used by a character with poor screen time, was powerful enough to draw attention, enough to stick to one's memory.
Ability to use the power of those I bond with? Now we are talking!
[Ability List]
[1. ********** ************]
[2. **** ** *** ******]
[3. ****** ****]
I looked at the list, ready to choose like my life depended on it.
Ahem! It literally did.