Day Sixty-Seven:
1620 Words
Kaiser's thoughts were jumbled despite the fact that 'Poker Face' was completely activated. Finding a way out of the problem he shouldn't have gotten himself into in the first place rendered his skills useless, and his emotions erupted. Princess Eleonora is slowly dying, and he hasn't been able to erase whatever the possessed Greg done to her.
If only I moved quicker...
If only I hadn't allowed him to get this far...
If only I hadn't tried to take advantage of her...
His head was filled with these regretful feelings.
Kaiser inspects Eleonora once more. Her practically transparent white skin was gradually turning purple in places, her little pink lips had lost their color, and her amethyst-colored eyes were dull.
'What should I do?!' 'He thought to himself.
Things would not have turned out this way if he had not let Greg take her away and had taken action back at the castle. His goal would have been accomplished if he had just saved her while both she and Dawn were being beaten mercilessly. But the consequences of his abilities were far more dreadful than he could have imagined; it ignored Dawn's survival and let her suffer, and it allowed Greg to capture Eleonora so that her impression of him would be like that of a 'prince in a white horse saving her from a dragon that abducted her.'
And if he had kept running while carrying her while he still had the chance, things would not have turned out this way. Kaiser was so absorbed by his skills that he was unable to experience 'Gut Feeling,' one of humanity's few chances of survival.
He couldn't feel fear, so he ignored the potential threats.
Despite knowing he was inferior to his opponent, he nonetheless gave him the 'home town' advantage.
'Tch' Kaiser inwardly click his tongue 'I won't get anywhere if I continue to regret, I need to find a way out of this!'
But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find a way out. The only hope he had was if a 'irregular' showed up in the field, but that was wishful thinking on his part. Kaiser couldn't afford to gamble on the possibility of a 'irregular'; in a battlefield, nothing is more unreliable than waiting for things to improve; instead, he needed create his own chance. So Kaiser concluded to himself.
'...Although I don't want to, I could just let her die and get away.'
Kaiser had always considered abandoning Eleonora if the situation was bad to him. That was the result of 'Quick Calculation,' which was supported by 'Poker Face,' his skills were prioritizing his survival. But the instant his emotions surfaced, his posture shifted; he couldn't let someone die while he was around. With that resolve, Kaiser furiously cranked the gears in his brain, knowing that even if there was a little probability, he needed to find one. Then...
Swsssh...
...Kaiser ran towards the decapitated corpse laying on the ground like a bolt. He wasn't sure, but if, and only if, he could obtain something from it, he hoped it would be something that would turn the tables on the possessed Greg. When he got close, a 'Ting' sound echoed in his head, and a light blue screen emerged in front of him.
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[Notification]
A corpse has been spotted; 'plunder' is possible.
Name: -Greg Urman's Body-
Class: Swordsman of Black Magic
Level: 247
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Blessings: Blessing of Dark Follower
Titles: Possessed by a Dark Follower, Obsessed
Health: 0
Mana: 0
Strength: 612
Intelligence: 514
Agility: 411
Dexterity: 350
Stamina: 610
SKILLS
-Passive Skills-
Darkness Veil Lvl 6
Sword Master Lvl 11 (+1)
Bow Mastery Lvl 3
Spear Mastery Lvl 4
Shield Mastery Lvl 2
Magic Mastery Lvl 5
-Active Skills-
Stealth-Shadow Assimilation Lvl 8
Dark Magic Lvl 9
Soul Sacrifice Lvl --
Possession Resistance Lvl 1 (New)
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"!!" Kaiser was taken aback by Greg's level, which was over ten times higher than his. But he wasn't startled by the figures on his stats because Kaiser had enhanced his own by stealing them from monsters he killed.
'Show me something, please!'
As he scrolled over the screen, Kaiser came across the 'Skills' page and stared at it like a lunatic. Until he noticed two skills that appeared to be useful.
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[Notification]
Soul Sacrifice Lvl --
Sacrifice one's soul
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[Notification]
Possession Resistance Lvl 1 (New)
The user has greater resistance to possession.
A 0.01% chance of removing possession on the user.
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"..." Kaiser stared at the two skills alternately, but no matter how he read the descriptions, they were meaningless.
'No way, no no!' It's still too early to throw in the towel! ' He thought. His optimism had returned to full throttle now that his 'Poker Face' had been disabled. Kaiser cast a glance towards Greg, the one shackled with his 'Everyday Earth Magic' -Earth Bind-, who was still standing there with his arms crossed and a sarcastic smile on his face.
Kaiser returned to Eleonora's side when he saw no movement from him; now that he had Greg's status window on his screen, he could move back. It did not vanish when you left the target, as it does in games.
'Perhaps there's something concealed here!'
One of the two skills may have a chance to achieve something, similar to his 'Fear Conversion,' which has a vague description but enormous effect.
'...Possession Resistance, It's useless...' huh'
The 'Poison Resistance' that he possesses and the 'Possession Resistance' that Greg possesses have nearly identical descriptions, and they would only function on the person who possesses that skill; so, it would be worthless. '
"Soul Sacrifice' is too risky,' he reasoned. Despite the fact that he knew he couldn't get out unless he risked his and Eleonora's lives. The idea of sacrificing one's soul is genuinely absurd. You'd be insane to follow through on such an activity.
"Haha" a dry laugh escaped Kaiser's mouth.
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[Announcement]
~ You have 'Plundered' Greg Urman's Body Level 247's 'Soul Sacrifice Level --' a new skill have been acquired.
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Kaiser gazed at Eleonora, then at Greg, his cocky expression indicating that he didn't notice anything.
Hoo... Haa…
He takes a deep breath in and out. Then I activated 'Poker face' once more.
His mind clear of any obstruction, Kaiser used 'Soul Sacrifice' his target... of course the possessed Greg Urman. But...
"!!!" Greg, no, the one possessing him, knew what was going on right away. His eyes became serious, and the smile on his face faded.
Cracked-
Boom!
He kicked the ground and accelerated towards Kaiser. He readied for a sweep kill by raising his blade in his right hand. Kaiser, on the other hand, maintained his stance, his Haki Reindeer Dagger poised in front of him, ready to receive Greg's sword. And when their weapons collided, although Kaiser's survived for a brief minute before being flung away towards the wall, his dagger was broken in half.
-
That was the previous event, and Kaiser was still avoiding Greg's attack. Despite his lower level, his numbers, which were already in the hundreds, were augmented by 'Fear Conversion,' allowing him to barely manage. But it's only a matter of time before he and Eleonora both perish. Attacking was impossible because his opponent had significantly greater stats than him and could regenerate indefinitely; he also couldn't utilize his broken left hand from Greg's attack earlier.
Everything was going against Kaiser.
A chilly notion crossed his mind: 'Escape.' He would forsake Eleonora and flee, confident that Greg would let him live because he had already indicated that he would.
'Survive and Escape!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!' 'Survive!!!'
Kaiser's 'Poker Face' and 'Quick Calculation' skills, which prioritize his life, yelled for him to flee, and his body moved in response. He rolled to the side and jumped back, avoiding a strike from his side. Greg trailed behind.
"Thou will not escape; only death awaits thee!"
As a downward slashed neared, Kaiser utilized 'Everyday Wind Magic' to drive his body forward, narrowly missing the blow. But it wasn't the end. Greg kicked the ground, the tip of his sword pointed at Kaiser's chest.
'I can't avoid it...'
Kaiser had no choice but to raise his able right arm and shield his chest while in mid-air.
"...!!!"
His hand was stabbed, delivering severe anguish to his body, but Greg's sword didn't stop there, slowly encroaching on his chest.
"...Khk!"
Greg yanked the blade from Kaiser's grip and swiped at him as he moved his right hand away from his chest. A diagonal line emerged on Kaiser's butler's uniform, and a red liquid slowly trickled out of it.
Thud-
Kaiser collapsed to the floor, knee first, as his entire body went numb.
As he saw the notification in front of him, he thought, '...I'm done.'
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[Notification]
~ 'Cold Eyes' have reached its continuous limit. Deactivating skill. Visual acuity returning to normal.
~ 'Poker Face' have reached its continuous limit. Deactivating skill. Emotions returning
~ 'Quick Calculation' have reached its continuous limit. Deactivating skill...
~ 'Fear Conversion' have reached its continuous limit....
~ 'Grim Demeanor' have...
~ 'Night Vision'...
--- Due to the damage accumulated, magic usage is impossible.
--- Due to the damage accumulated, movement is impossible.
--- Due ….
--- …
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All of his mental buff abilities shut off at the same time, rendering his mana and body ineffective. Even with his emotions restored, Kaiser couldn't feel anything, no emotions or pain, as he gazed at the lying girl behind golden-eyed Greg.
'It's a damn shame...' I'm completely incompetent when it comes to plotting....'
- Writer
