My breath came in ragged gasps, each one tinged with the coppery taste of blood. "It's useless… I can't… I can't win!" I stammered, a fresh trickle of crimson spilling from the corner of my mouth.Every part of my body was a symphony of pain. The force that had opposed me had left me broken, battered, and on the brink of oblivion. There was no strength left to fight, no energy to flee. And even if there were, this being, this creature that faced me was faster, more powerful, and entirely invulnerable to anything I might have thrown at it.As it slowly descended towards me, its eyes locked on mine, the reality of my situation settled in. Sweat coated my skin, my heart pounding in my chest as the thoughts in my head spiraled into a chaotic whirlwind of terror."I don't want to die… I don't want to die… I don't want to die!"The fear was primal, a terror that reached into the very core of my being. I had faced danger before, encountered foes that seemed insurmountable, but this was diffe
"Get in formation, everyone!" Anne's voice rang out, assertive and clear, as she stepped forward. Her body began to glow with a fiery orange aura as she activated her Gift [Armament], preparing for battle. Damian watched the energy envelop her, fascinated by the transformation.As expected, the group positioned themselves to shield Damian, their bodies forming a protective wall between him and the approaching Demon. To them, the creature was a rapid threat, but to Damian's heightened senses, it appeared sluggish and unimpressive.He could sense every detail of the battle, even from his shielded position. It all depended on perspective, and his was honed to perfection."Stay behind us, Damian. Don't worry, this will be over soon!" Anne reassured him, her eyes filled with consideration and compassion. He was taken aback by her focused attention and suddenly remembered the tale he had spun.'Oh shit! I nearly forgot that I told her the whole story about my entire comrades being killed by
“Huu… good job, everyone,” Anne smiled, her face glowing with satisfaction. With a graceful motion, she wiped the sweat that had formed on her forehead while deactivating her Armament.A sense of ease settled over the group with the death of the Hobgoblin. Damian's eyes widened in astonishment as he witnessed their levels increase. Larry and Daniel advanced to Level 17, Peter reached Level 19, Anne soared to Level 22, and Lily climbed to Level 13—all from a single Hobgoblin subjugation!‘That’s… unbelievable… how low are their Stats for them to have all leveled up?’ Damian thought, his mind buzzing with the incredibility of it all.It occurred to him that perhaps their EXP had been on the brink of 100, so the death of the Demon tipped the balance and caused them to level up. That was the only reasonable explanation.When a Party hunted Demons, the EXP was distributed according to individual contributions. The system behind it was an efficient, uncomplicated method to gain Levels, and
Her inquiry into my Gift caught me completely off guard, landing with the force of a sledgehammer! It was the one question I hadn't been expecting. Even Anne and the other team members hadn't asked about it. It was Katie who finally dared to raise the question.Her voice, innocent as it was, had unintentionally attracted the attention of everyone present. Their eyes turned in our direction, filled with curiosity, and I knew I had to come up with something. A torrent of thoughts rushed through my mind, trying to form a coherent response.However, they all ended in the same panicked thought: ‘Oh crap, what do I say?!’“Oh, yeah. That’s true… I’m curious as well,” Peter chimed in, leaning in our direction, his interest piqued.Daniel, though busy with shrinking objects, glanced at us from time to time, his eyes betraying his curiosity. Larry remained silent, but his enigmatic Alignment meant I couldn't take his silence at face value.It was clear that everyone wanted to know.“I-I’m sorr
We continued on our journey, maintaining our usual formation. Anne was often behind me, her watchful gaze fixed intently on my movements. At the forefront was Katie, vigilantly scanning for monsters, with Peter's steadfast support.The others formed a balanced, airtight defense around us, taking care of our flanks. More than once, I felt Katie's eyes on me, a mix of curiosity and perhaps even a hint of envy.She seemed to long for the attention Anne bestowed upon me, a thought I found rather amusing.'You can have her for all I care… it’s not like I like having this overbearing woman around me,' I thought to myself, almost wailing at the idea.Our path led us to encounters with a few more Hobgoblins, though fortunately never all at once. The group dispatched them with the same proficiency as before, their movements seamless and practiced.We took pauses, of course, not only to work around the limitations of Daniel's Gift but also to accommodate the physical endurance of the team.Well
The realm was awash in a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors, an ever-changing dance of hues that seemed to transcend the boundaries of imagination. It was an environment unlike anything that could be found in the mundane world, a dazzling spectacle that could only be compared to the breathtaking beauty of the aurora borealis.This vast expanse, a realm that seemed to exist beyond both space and time, was filled with bright lights that illuminated every corner. These lights were vast and beautiful, painting the surroundings with an ethereal glow that evoked the glimmering stars of the night sky. It was as if a multitude of rainbows had converged, casting their vibrant reflections in a perpetual display of magnificence.In the midst of this celestial grandeur, massive figures floated, shrouded in white light that pulsated with an intense radiance. These were beings of another order, entities that had transcended earthly forms and limitations. They levitated effortlessly in the air, if ind
As our journey neared its end, we approached our destination - a Camp. But this Camp wasn't what one might typically imagine. Instead of roaring bonfires under the open sky or a heavily fortified military stronghold, this Apocalypse-era Camp held a unique charm of its own.Unlike conventional notions, this Camp wasn't sprawling; it was housed within a tall building. This structure had been repurposed to resemble a fortress, albeit a rather crude rendition considering the early stage of the Apocalypse. I couldn't help but think that it might improve over time.Standing amidst the ruins of other structures, the Camp building towered above, a lone sentinel against the desolation. I surmised that the scattered remnants of neighboring buildings served as potential barriers, a safeguard against potential monster attacks - although such threats seemed remote in this green zone.The makeshift gate, a stark contrast to the surrounding decay, caught my attention. Crafted from durable materials a
My vision was somewhat blurry, but I could make out the expression she gave me. Her warm, soft hands held onto me tightly, and I could feel the warmth of her grasp. The firm, encouraging voice she had embraced me, and I couldn't help but tremble due to the emotion I was feeling.I was trying my best to hold it in before my shaking would give me away... oh, the pure amusement I was having!‘Psych! This was just too hilarious!’They had all made entirely wrong assumptions by giving me their pity and attention, just like I wanted.Not only that, but the almighty Anne pulled me to her side and openly declared my acceptance into the new family, with a multitude of witnesses present to boot!It was a great feeling, being able to manipulate such simple-minded people into acting how I wished.Looking at them now, waving at the people who welcomed them, and smiling genuinely and happily... I already knew before, but this just emphasized it more.‘They’re idiots!’I wonder how they would have re