Chapter 6: Coolest Brother
"Haha! When I noticed some movement I thought it was gonna be the guards, but it was just some kids... Then again, me and the boys are getting a bit bored, so you might have come just in time for the party." He smiled disgustingly as he put his right hand over what I assume is a weapon and continued to approach us. This fucker won't even let his guard down against children... I'll have to be careful.
As he approaches I let Lilian down from my back as I get ready for the next move.
"Now that I'm a bit closer, you're a boy... Unfortunately for you, we do not need little snot shots out here!" He immediately pulls out his dagger and jumps to attack!
At this moment things began to slow down as I activated my bullet time using
before I followed that up with the activation of bothThe effects weren't fully notable for me, but I did feel something coming from me and something else being sucked in, which I assume was the doing of my skills.
Lunging himself at me, I could see the man slowly coming closer in the air, his expression slowly contouring as I assume he felt the effects of my skills, or maybe it was just his murder face, what do I know?
Enough observation was done, and it was time to take action. Somewhat forcing myself, I spring forward to the man and go for a punch in the solar plexus at full force.
It was not something I was used to and not something I was entirely sure of either. There were probably better moves to make in my situation, but unfortunately, I had yet to be trained in combat so I just did what I could and hoped for the best.
Maybe it was the right call, maybe it was luck, but whatever the case, my fist slowly indented itself in the body of the man, before I felt it slowly but surely breakthrough the flesh, muscle, and bones one after the other.
As if by magic the world resumed its normal speed and my arm was piercing through the man's body. He let go of his dagger as blood spilled out from his body with a few groans and shivers before he stopped moving.
Seconds went by when nothing happened, and I just stood there with my arm through his body as the realization of what I just did settled in. I didn't regret what I did nor did I think I had a much better option, but still there was this weird sense of unpleasantness, this bitter taste in my mouth, before this repulsion grow bigger and bigger... Until.
I couldn't contain it and vomited just then and there. My breathing started readjusting as things started to get back to focus.
Honestly, I have no idea what came over me, but whatever it was, vomiting made me feel much better even if the bitter taste in my mouth didn't go away one bit.
My arm was removed from the man's body and it fell to the ground. Turning around I saw Lilian looking at me with horror on her face, she was paralyzed to the point of stopping her own breathing and worried about her well-being I Immediately ran to her.
"Lilian! Are you ok?... I know this is scary and you just want to go back home with Crystal so we can go back to normal, but you're going to have to do me a favor, can you?" I shook her a bit to try and snap her out of it, but the emptiness in her eyes didn't fade away that easily.
Fortunately, she seemed to react and began nodding her head ever so slightly.
Seeing that I moved to the body of the man and got his dark cloak from his corpse as well as picked up his dagger, then took the cloak to Lilian.
"Good! Now, I'll need you to put this on." despite being drenched in blood and not smelling the best, it was still good enough for camouflage now that the sun was gone and the night was taking over.
Without complaining or saying anything Lilian put it on.
"Good, now, you have to hide in the bushes and follow me from a distance. Don't ever come out or make noise without me saying you can, ok?" Concluding that leaving her here is too much of a risk, and the time is far from enough for me to take her back, I decided to have her come with me, besides her ability will come in handy. Let's just hope she isn't taken, hostage while I'm fighting or something like that...
From then Lilian followed me silently as we moved as nimbly as we could. Getting closer to the big wooden cabin, I turn to Lilian and ask her.
"Can you see where in the cabin Crystal is?"
Not saying a word she points to a window on the first floor.
As expected... Honestly, I don't think I can sneak in unseen with my current set of skills, so it's going to have to be a takedown operation. I'm not sneaking, so I'll have to aim for one-shot kills as much as possible.
In sight, four men were rotating the cabin. A big one had a great sword on his back, while a lankier man had a long robe and a staff most definitely magic-focused. The last two were a heavily armored man with a big shield and a mace, followed by another man in robes this one wearing white ones, which made me think he was the healer.
Time left: 8:45
"Remember to stay hidden as much as possible." I warn Lilian one more time before I move out of the bushes and run toward the closest man with the newly acquired dagger in hand while activating my
The big man carrying a great sword on his back could not react in time as I jumped and shanked him in his neck. He fell down while trying to breathe and scream, blood pouring from him before he finally fell down and stopped convulsing.
I turned around and move to the corner to get ready to attack the next one while they are distracted by the body.
"Shit! What the hell happened?! He-" Before he could finish the man wearing white robes had his neck slit by me, dying similarly to his companion.
Sadly his screaming definitely alerted the others, now I have a more heavily armored man whose throat I can't cut and a long-ranged magic user. Obviously, I want to kill the magic user first, but they will definitely come to check things together and be ready for a fight.
Just as I was thinking of it they both appeared in fighting stances. The tanky man was in front protecting the mage who immediately started casting upon seeing me.
Not wasting too much time I grabbed some dirt with my free hand and ran towards the tanky man with my previous skillset still active.
Using the just-acquired dirt, I threw it at the tanky man who covered his face using his shield, which I jumped at and then used as a platform to give myself an extra impulse to get passed him and went straight for the magic user, who was startled enough by my presence to fail his casting breaking the magic circle he was crafting, and unfortunately for him, his reflexes were far from enough to avoid my attack. Just like that, another one had their neck cut.
Honestly, this fight was surprisingly easy, which I guess is because of how weak these guys are, but it would also seem that I'm stronger than I expected, the
By that time, the tanky man had already turned around only to find his companion dead. Maybe that frustrated him as he charged at me without waiting for another second. Not having much of an option in terms of attack because of his fully armored body, I instead opted for dodging his attacks. Now that he's the only one left all I have to do is wait a bit which is problematic considering my current situation, but I don't have enough firepower to pierce armor right now.
So, my best shot is to wait for my
Due to me being much faster and being able to use bullet time, it was basically impossible for him to hit me unless I just start trying to, so after dodging and guiding him for a bit he finally fell on his knee breathing heavily, before removing his helmet to stop himself from suffocating to death, it was then that I took the chance and slit his throat.
Time Left: 4:00
Ok, I have to hurry up and go get Crystal.
"Be careful Zandrius!" I heard Lilian shout as I noticed an arrow coming my way, I barely dodged it, and it scratched my cheek opening a wound.
Fuck! That was close!
"Look at what we have here! Stay still or say goodbye to this little princess here." Somehow my fears became true as a man I had not seen before got ahold of Lilian, probably the same that just tried to shoot me... This is bullshit!... But I have to think quickly.
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(Lilian's POV)
My life has mostly been calm, and there was never much going on, even if I always liked to tell myself I had a lot going on, at least that way I can get distracted from the stuff I don't want to think about.
From when I was really small, I was told that I was different from my siblings, and to wait until the right time for things to get properly explained. What are they going to tell me? That's what I don't want to know... All those dumb what-ifs that would pop up in my head all of the time.
What if I'm adopted? Would that change anything? I would like to believe it wouldn't but that alongside many other doubts would just keep coming to the center of my mind.
After all that worrying and doubting, am I just going to die here? In some random spot in the forest near my town, and worst of all in front of my younger brother that I dragged into this because I was afraid to deal with our parents, and the stupid mistake I made... I'm really the worst of all sisters to have both my siblings... I killed them, I deserve this... No, I deserve much worse...
As I was accepting my end, the memories I had with both were assaulting me.
I and Crystal were almost always together spending so much of our time talking about nothing, just stupid dumb things that don't really mean anything... But it was always so much fun to talk to her, it made me feel so welcome, so needed, so wanted... A part of the family... And that was all, I needed. In the end, if I actually think about it wasn't I just being dumb about it? Is it really a big deal that I'm somehow different? Honestly, I don't know.
All I know is that I had fun when I and Crystal would go on our dumb adventures when we got caught and scolded, and even when she was mean to me, I know that most of the time it was because she wanted me to be stronger, she always said I was too soft. Before I knew it tears were going down my face and I just couldn't help it, just like Crystal said, I'm not that strong, when I'm scared, I just cry.
She liked green but thought orange was an insult to fashion, sweet things disgusted her in terms of taste, but she didn't really like bitterness either, she really wanted to be rich and wanted to have a bunch of handsome servants just to keep her mood up, she really liked to munch on crunchy things, and even arguing with people she liked, it was weird but she said it made her feel important, she wanted to go to all types of parties with me and promised that she would never let me marry if she didn't like whatever, guy, I choose... She was possessive and a bit overwhelming at times, but she was always worried about me in her own way.
Then as all the moments seemed to flash by, my thoughts focused on Zandrius, my little brother. I don't really know that much or remember that much about him.
Since we were very young he was always so calm and didn't really say much if somebody else didn't go talk to him. He's super smart, kind, and always has a plan... That's it... That's as much as I could say before today.
Cause today, I saw him fighting and killing many evil people. At first, I didn't know what to say or think, killing people is wrong, right? That's what was on my mind, but as I saw my brother with his purple and red eyes each letting out a new glow I had never seen before, from his red eye a green glow like a lighting streak and from his purple, a yellow glow of a similar kind appeared before in a flash he jumped and impaled a man with his bare hands... Killing is wrong, right? Then why do I feel like cheering and congratulating my brother for being fricking amazing!
It did not stop there as after he gave me a robe to help me hide, he began defeating all these huge adult men all on his own! If that's not the coolest thing ever! I don't know what it is. But then using my ability, I found that there was still a man left and he wanted to shoot an arrow at Zandrius... I was scared and I wanted to cry, but I couldn't let him down, so I shouted to warn him.
Happily, it worked but before I knew it the man came running towards me very fast, and I was not able to escape. He grabbed both my hands with one of his and put a dagger to my throat... At that point, there was nothing I could do... I was too scared to do anything...
He started talking to Zandrius and he noticed the situation... I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm so useless, I was just trying to help, but everytime I do that, I only make things worse... This time, my stupidity will get both my siblings killed...
"I went out to hunt a bit for the boys and they go and fuckin die to a damn child! You have to be kidding me!... Whatever, I'll think of that later. Hey little monster, drop the dagger, or the little princess here is not going to back home ever again." The man started threatening him.
Immediately together with his glowing eyes, a weird red aura started to appear around Zandrius and began to grown bigger and bigger... It felt weird... Like he was losing control... I didn't like it... I don't want this, please just run away and leave me! Even though I wanted to say it, my fear wouldn't let my mouth open in the slightest. Once again, I could only cry...
I couldn't look at what was happening, so I just closed my eyes... I'm sorry... All I could do was apologize... Crystal, as usual, you were right about me, I'm a weak idiot.
I waited and waited... But instead, the dagger I felt on my neck stopped as I heard a splattering noise behind me.
Slowly but surely I opened my eyes and turned to see the man's skull was split in two with Zandrius' dagger resting in the middle of all the mess of organs... It was so disgusting I couldn't help but vomit.
"Are you ok, Lillian? He didn't hurt you anywhere did he?" Zandrius ran to me and hugged me as soon as I was done vomiting. Before I could say anything... I just felt so relieved... Once again, I was back to crying, but at least it wasn't because I'm scared.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! And I'm so sorry! This is all my fault and- " Before I could finish he stopped me.
"Shhh, don't worry about that. It's not your fault, now just remember that I'm here for you and it's all going to be alight." He hugged me even stronger than before and I couldn't say anything, I just felt good to be there... Thank you, you're the coolest brother.