Chapter 44: Rolly vs. Janine

*Minutes earlier*

Janine was holding the fist-sized life-mana crystal in her delicate hands. The golden green crystal was constantly releasing a soothing aura, giving everyone an illusion of strength, like the time when you feel like you can wash the dishes even without your mother ordering you.

"Nice one, man! I thought that it would be unavoidable to fight with them. Just the thought of fighting hundreds of people made me scared."

Korban said in relief.

In his sentence, he didn't say a single harsh word to Insig, because he doesn't really blame him. After all, if it weren't for Insig, where would he be now? Insig was the one who helped him. The one who gave him hope. He wouldn't do something to harm him.

Insig also noticed this, and he felt... miserable and pathetic.

'I'm so pathetic. He genuinely cares for me, but I..... Hahaha. I'm such a bi*ch. Anyways, I've always been miserable and pathetic, what's the difference?'

"Hahaha, stop it. I know it's my fault anyways. I won't do it again."

Insig laughed in self-loath and apologized.

"Anyways. Do tell, is this the only crystal you have?"

Janine suddenly asked Insig.

"Well, I have a total of 20 here. I can lend you some more."

".... What are the levels of the crystals?"

"Level... 3 to..... 7."

"Hmm... That's good. Give me all the level 5."

Janine demanded. She has thought about it already.

'It would be suspicious if life-mana crystals randomly appeared in a bush. So the higher the level, the more they will be attracted to it, and the more they will forget the reason why a life-mana crystal appeared underwater. This is because they will be too busy fighting with their enemies. However, level 6&7 is too important. I can only drop level 5.'

Insig wanted to ask why, but he knows that this is not the right time for questions. The enemy is closing in soon and a single second of delay might cause a huge mistake.

"Okay."

Insig reached out into his pouch to get all of the level 5 and he gathered four of them.

Looking at the life-mana crystals in her hands, Janine felt her heart fill with relief. She looked at Korban and sent her orders immediately.

"Korban, with your powers and mine, we can sneakily send the life-mana crystals into their hands. This would attract the attention away from us."

"Sure!"

Korban said cheerily.

"Wait, including Rolly?"

Insig said in perplexion.

"Rolly? Who's that?"

Korban asked.

Hearing this, Insig realized that he hadn't told them about it yet. His involuntary face palmed in his own stupidity. He took a deep breath, smiled wryly, and explained.

"Ah. It seems I haven't told you yet. Anyway, the person behind us is my friend, Rolly. I'm sure he'll recognize me."

"You're just friends. Stop being naive. On the battlefield, it's normal to kill even your family. Don't think that you're special. Also, even if he did help us hide, he would try to get our help, especially since we have a healer and a wolf on our team. And if we decline him, he might expose us. We need to get the upper hand. We shouldn't unnecessarily expose ourselves."

Janine said nonchalantly, like it was quite normal, but there are actually also small details that she hid.

'If our teammates increase, my influence over the team would decrease, decreasing my chance of survival. Especially since my level is still quite low.'

Insig was still smiling, but after he heard this, his face froze. He didn't know how to refute that.

Now that he has integrated with Insig's memory, he found himself unconsciously trusting his 'friends', although technically, they're not. After all, their friend was the dead Insig, not him. After noticing this, sweat slightly poured down his forehead because of... nervousness.

'Am I... slowly turning into the old 'Insig'?'

As an existentialist and a philosopher, Insig cares about the smallest details of his own identity. It's really important for him to know his origin and self. After all, how can you fly if you don't know that you actually only have legs?

Insig believed that, if you failed to identify yourself, you won't know what will happen to you. This is why those spoiled bitches, who mistakenly think that they own the world, got punched in the face in the first place. Because they mistook their identity. They thought they owned the world. And Insig doesn't want that to happen to him.

Insig closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm down his nerves.

'That's right. You're not the dead Insig... stop thinking that you are. You are you. I think, therefore, I am.'

"You're right, I was too naive. We should continue."

Janine nodded in approval.

'Thankfully, he's quite easy to trick.'

With that, they continued on with their plan.

Korban used his magic to control the plants. The plants slowly moved to let the water take the life-mana crystal towards the scout.

After seeing the object that was radiating with life aura, the scout felt delighted and immediately grabbed it and flew upwards using his magic.

"Nice! Now, for one last time."

Korban said while he tried to sneakily send the life-mana crystal towards Rolly.

*Rustle*

The brush twitched a bit, like there was something moving in it. After noticing this, Rolly gripped his sword tightly and swung at the bushes.

He had a hard time cutting it because moving underwater was hard, but he was able to pull it off.

*Blurble*

After the large bush was cut down, a spherical golden-green object came into his view. It exuded a soothing aura and... it seemed out of place in the middle of the bushes, especially underwater.

Rolly merely floated there and looked at the life-mana core. He looked around nonchalantly, but you will notice that he was scrutinizing the surroundings with utmost caution.

'Is this a trap? I've been feeling that someone was watching me...'

He thought to himself. However, he can't seem to pinpoint where the gaze was coming from.

Helpless, he could only continue. Rolly carefully approached the life-mana crystal while gripping his sword. After finding no danger, he carefully picked up the life-mana crystal.

However, his attention was not on the crystal, but on his surroundings. After a while, only the sound of waves echoed in his ears.

'It's not a trap?...'

Rolly looked up and squinted like he was asking a question. After that, a glow flashed in his eyes and he continued.

"I did it! He took the scapegoat!"

Korban screamed in delight as he sensed Rolly pick up the life-mana crystal.

Insig sighed in relief, but deep inside, he was actually disappointed. He was hoping to have a companion who knows half of his identity.

'No... something is wrong...'

Janine thought to herself. All this time, after she woke up, a familiar aura has been sending signals to her, showing its location. At first, she didn't know where it came from, but now, she knows.

The signal came from her enemy, Rolly!

When she woke up, her memory was foggy. She could only peer into some small details and knew that she was in a camp. She didn't know what she did there or what happened.

'Maybe he knows something about me.'

Janine thought to herself. She was planning to talk to him, but not now. If she got exposed, even if they didn't kill her, she would be at the middle of the ladder. Her influence over the group would be quite low, thereby decreasing her chance of survival.

Anyways, right now, Janine felt an ominous premonition. This is because she sensed that the aura of the enemy didn't leave! Instead, it got closer!

"Prepare your weapons."

Janine said and prepared a water blade once again. The blades of water were so small and thin, but it was sharp, sharp enough to cut wood. Since she can only move by riding Guster, she went into the back of the team.

"What?"

Korban asked.

"He's getting closer. I think he didn't fall for it."

"What?! How could that be?! His skin is burnt and full of cuts! He must have been walking for days! How did he resist the temptation of recovery and maintain a clear mind?"

Korban shouted in shock. Even he, before he was saved, was so desperate and scared of death. He remembered crying and panicking so much and clinging to other people's legs, begging for help.

"I don't know, but get ready for combat."

Janine said, so Korban prepared his magic while Insig stopped hiding his death energy. His mana core looked like it had been split in half.

No one noticed that his aura had slightly changed, except for Guster. However, Guster didn't mind it because he had already witnessed his savior, Insig, using this power.

*Burble* *Rustle*

The sound of water splashed as more and more weeds were cut down, until he finally came into view.

His wet blonde hair clung to his skin, making him look exhausted. His bloodshot demonic eyes exuded a thick bloodlust that can shake you to your core. His muscular and wounded body made him seem like a mad and fierce warrior who feared nothing. His expressionless face made him seem like a cold-blooded killing machine.

Without even a word, Janine launched the clusters of water blades towards Rolly.

'What are you doing!!!'

Insig asked in his mind, but he wasn't able to voice it out because his body was too occupied looking at Rolly's eyes, laden with thick bloodlust.

*Swoosh*

The water was so fast because of the pressure, and the wind was cut because of its speed. The water blades exuded an surs like the waves of the ocean. It seemed like it could push you and topple you.

*Blurble*

Rolly entered the barrier and he looked at the approaching attack. He gripped his longsword tightly and imbued flame energy in it. The longsword heated up and exuded a warm aura.

*Hiss*

The surrounding water felt the aura of the flame and hissed like it was threatening it. However, Rolly didn't bother looking at it. He only looked at the approaching attacks and advanced.

He used only the minimum amount of movement needed to dodge and let the small blades hit his skin while cutting those attacks that are fatal.

Rolly's skin was scratched in his legs and arm, but this didn't hinder his approach.

'I should be careful of that girl. She has an advantage underwater and she's also quite good. She mixed feints in her real attacks quite well.'

Rolly thought.

'Damn it! I can't use all of my powers because of these two! If I was alone, I could have drowned him already!'

Looking at the fast approaching enemy, a cunning light flashed in Janine's eyes. She conjured another blade of water and launched it with feints while ordering both of her teammates at the same time.

"Both of you, come here. We're gonna retreat!"

*Swoosh*

The water blades quickly approached Rolly and he dodged them once again.

*Swoosh*

This time, a water blade was approaching Rolly in the face. Rolly raised his sword and was about to cut it in half, when he noticed something.

The water blade was... becoming white... no! It was freezing!

Seeing this, Rolly quickly twisted his longsword so that the water blade was facing the side blunt of the sword.

*Crack!*

The ice blade cracked and scattered while melting.

Rolly stopped advancing and stood for a while.

Seeing this, Janine frowned in silent anger.

'Damn it! He's quite good!'

Janine thought angrily.

'That almost caught me. If I sliced it, then it would still maintain its structure and hit my face... Amazing... She hides her trump card so well... Anyways, if I keep this up, they might escape from me. I need to use all of my energy in this one last attack and deal major damage.'

Rolly scanned his surroundings and hoped to find an important person. However, he discovered that the woman was blocking his way.

Helpless, he can only play with the woman.

Janine glared at Rolly and they exchanged glares. Their demeanor was of a veteran hunters', leaving not a single movement unseen.

There were no words, no sentences. Just gazes. However, it was as if they had a silent agreement.

'Let's end this!'²

Janine saw Rolly changing his stance. He shuffled his feet for a foot holder and stood on his toes while bending his knees. He lowered his body and gripped the sword tightly.

Meanwhile, Janine had already conjured another batch of water blades. In addition, the water barrier has also gotten smaller, increasing her influence over her surroundings.

The ground became more wet until the water reached up to the knees. The place was so cramped and humid.

*Boom!* *Splash*

Rolly used the explosive power of his flame energy to propel himself faster. The water splashed because of the explosion, but it was ignored.

*Splash!*

The water splashes with every step as Rolly keeps on advancing. Janine slightly squinted and launched all of her water blades at the same time.

*Swoosh*

The barrage of blades seems to have a pattern. Rolly discovered that wherever he moves, one of his fatal points will surely be hit!

'Clever girl.'

After discovering this, Rolly burned himself in his flames. He covered his body in flame energy and the surrounding water reacted violently. A thin fog covered the surroundings, it was the evaporated water.

Guster slightly retreated in fear. This high level of a fight was too much for a months old wolf like him.

*Swoosh* *Sizzle*

The water blades sizzled because of the heat, so Jane froze them to make them harder to evaporate. But it was all for naught, as Rolly's level was far too high.

'Damn it! His level is higher than mine! I can only empower him through endurance, but he won't even give me a chance!'

Janine complained in her mind.

She looked at the front and saw that Rolly was only 5 meters away from her. She released a pillar of water in her hands that connected her to the flood on the ground, this way, she can somehow control some part of the water.

*Splash*

The clear, cold water on the ground suddenly rose up and made a wall of water. The wall of water quickly freezes and then into a wall of ice blocking Rolly.

*Clang!*

A sharp metal sound reverberated as Rolly broke the ice wall with his sword.

*Boom* *Splash* *Crack*

With an explosion, the ice wall completely breaks into pieces. Every debris that fell splashed on the water and made the water more cold, but it was ignored.

*Splash*

Rolly kept on advancing. Once he passed through the ice wall, he saw that his enemies were already running away, but they were not that far.

Seeing this, with an explosion, Rolly once again used his power to propel himself towards Janine.

*Swoosh*

Janine saw that Rolly was coming towards her. He was so fast that he looked like a shadow. Janine seemed to be panicking as she hurriedly conjured a single spike of ice and launched it towards Rolly's chest.

*Swoosh*

Seeing this, Rolly was preparing to cut it with his sword, when suddenly, a bundle of grass reached out like tentacles at Rolly's back. They were aiming for his ankles. Rolly failed to notice it and he was caught.

Rolly tripped because of the inertia and he quickly used one of his arms to stop himself from hitting his head.

Meanwhile, the ice spike continued on and passed through above his head.

"No!!"

Janine screamed.

'Huh? Why is she disappointed and angry?'

Rolly was perplexed, but this confusion immediately disappeared as he saw what happened. The ice spike that was made in 'panic' hit a nearby grass. It cracked and bursted like it was normal. However, inside it was actually also full of ice spikes.

After exploding, the large ice spike froze the surroundings and the small ice spikes inside scattered and pierced it in every direction.

'I see. She acted like she was in a panic to make me lower my guard. After that, she made the first attack to extinguish the flame energy in my sword, and then bombard me with those small spikes. It would have dealt me massive damage if it weren't for my.... luck....'

Rolly was amazed at first, however, at the end of his conjecture, he seemed to... hate it... as if he hates... luck?

"WHY DID YOU HAVE TO INTERRUPT?! NOW MY ATTACK MISSED!! DAMN IT!?"

Janine screamed angrily. She poured massive amounts of effort into creating that single piece of spike, only to miss because of... her teammates.

Hearing her, Korban was flustered. He only tried to help because he thought it would be helpful, but...

"S— sorry."

"Guys, stop fighting! He's coming!"

Insig said.

However, his warning was too late. Both of them looked forward and saw that Rolly was already in front of them. It seemed that he had escaped from the grass by cutting it with his sword.

Right now, his sword was raised up and was already aimed directly above Janine.

It was about to slice her, when it suddenly stopped.

"Hmm? That voice... Insig?"

Rolly looked forward and saw Insig. He seems to be in a panic because he can't bear to attack Rolly, while he also wants to protect his teammates, but is helpless.

His pupil was shaking and he was biting his lips until it bled. His eyes had a look of self-blame and his emotions were so obvious in his eyes, like he was about to kill himself. However, he was far too disgustingly selfish to do that. He was all imagination but no effort.

Rolly wanted to protect him and greet him again, but he maintained his guard. He squinted his eyes and put his blade near the neck of the woman in front of him while asking Insig.

"Are you really... Insig?"

Rolly asked.

"Y— yes! Brother Rolly! I— I thought you wouldn't recognize me!"

Insig said in a hurry. His tone had a hint of relief that even he didn't notice.

"Are you really Insig? How can I be sure that you didn't possess him or anything?"

When Rolly asked that, Insig panicked.

'W--— What— Does he know d— Did he know that I'm not the original Insig?'

Insig smiled nervously. He hurriedly tried to hide the death aura in his body once again.

"I... don't know?"

Rolly squinted and looked at him closely. After a minute of intense staring challenge, Rolly finally let go.

Meanwhile, the four of them, including Guster, were already sweating bullets. Rolly's bloodlust was too much for them.

"Hahaha, silly me. You can only be possessed after you come near the mountain. It's impossible to get possessed here. I must be wrong."

Rolly said. He finally let down his bloodlust and sat on the ground.

"Geez! You guys are too much! I was only gonna communicate, but you suddenly attacked me!"

'You're the one to talk! Didn't you know that going around with that bloodlust would inevitably make people attack you!?'³

The three of them screamed in their minds. They were really scared. Now that Rolly toned down his bloodlust, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hahaha, you know, Jane, I didn't know you could be that vicious! You were even the first to attack me!"

Rolly said laughingly, like he didn't mind the attack at all.

"What Jane? I'm Janine!"

Janine retorted.

"Huh? What are you talking about? You're clearly Jane! Look! Blue wavy hair, D cups, thin pink lips, fair skin, slim and flexible body! It's you! The only difference is the... eyes.... They are darker than before, but that's all. You can't fool me."

Rolly snorted and insisted.

He even crossed his arms like he was proud of it.

Hearing his proof, Janine got angry, but she endured it.

'This damn rascal! Why did he even include D cups!?"

"I told you! I'm not really Jane!"

"Fine then. Look! This is the ring you gave me before the fight came. You said that you were worried about me so you gave me this water barrier."

Rolly explained.

Janine frowned in confusion. She was bothered by this aura all day long, and now she finally found the reason.

She was 0.1% convinced that she was Jane, but she really has no memories of it.

Meanwhile, Insig was both confused and shocked. Even though he expected her to be Jane, he didn't know that she had a side like this. The Jane that he knew was shy, soft, kind, vulnerable, and feminine, unlike the Janine in front of him, which is cold-blooded and rational.

'What the fuck? Why does everyone have hidden sides? They all appear like cute cats, but become ferocious tigers at the next moment!'

Suddenly, Rolly interrupted.

"Enough of that, anyways... help me, guys."