Hurry Up and Decide

Jax's eyes locked onto Nerissa's. For a moment, he felt like time seemed to freeze. His heart pounded him so hard that he could even hear it inside his head.

Then, when he thought that escape was definitely the only plausible option left now, something unexpected happened.

Swoosh!

The mermaid vanished from Jax's sight, leaving his eyes wide open. Then, after a second, a voice whispered right behind him.

''You're looking at me so intently that I thought you were begging me to pluck your eyes out.''

And again, Jax's heart skipped a beat. He wished he could turn his head around to see the person who had just spoken, but to his grim, his muscles stiffened, induced by the sense of fear growing intensely in his heart.

This monster... Was she already there behind him? When did she...

Wonder and disbelief had just formed inside his head when suddenly, the same voice sounded closer, growing colder and sounding more menacing.

''But what the hell is this? Why do you possess that bag?''

Nerissa's anger and malice were palpable, her eyes narrowing at the familiar white quiver wrapped around Jax's waist. "I clearly remember I lent it to my favorite pet. So, why do you have it now? Don't tell me...''

Danger!

Jax could feel it well. He didn't need to turn around nor think deeply — his life right now was barely hanging by a thread. That was if he didn't do anything right that instant.

Before the mermaid could think of anything more sinister, Jax didn't stay idly anymore. With a SWOOSH, Jax suddenly vanished, leaving not even a trace of him.

Stealth!

Jax finally got the chance to utilize one of his newly acquired skills. With the third phase of his ability, Vessel of Countless Souls, he could absorb three different kinds of souls. When he absorbed a certain kind of soul, he could gain access of one of its abilities and make it his own.

That being said, his skill, Stealth, was a stolen skill from one of the monsters that King had killed so far. To be more specific, it was the monster that was also the owner of the bag he was wearing right now.

The Spectral Seamonkey.

Nerissa's eyes widened for a longer moment, her malignant gaze frozen in surprise. She wasn't startled by the ability itself, but by its familiarity

That human... And that stealth skill... How could a mere human brat know how to use that skill exclusive only to her favorite pet's species, the Spectral Seamonkey?

''Good job, brat, for serving as a good bait...''

She was still yet to keep up with the sudden surprise when a voice, harboring the same coldness as hers, snapped her back to reality. She recalled that there was still another human brat lurking somewhere that she needed to deal with.

Swoosh!

Divine Punishment!

Nerissa only heard those words before something sinister happened. She failed to see it with her own eyes, but when one looked at it from a third-person perspective, a pillar of purple lightning descended from the sky above.

Her body was struck by a disastrous force, leaving her completely ruined. Her body convulsed, as she could only open her mouth but couldn't even scream. The lightning struck her fiercely that her beauty and superior demeanor were shattered, and her beastly form reverted to its original state.

She crashed to the cold ground, unmoving and barely clinging to life.

Nerissa's breathing was uneven and sharp, her consciousness fading rapidly. She knew her time was running out. Any moment could be her last.

Meanwhile, on top of the tree, there stood Jax on the same spot. He was now visible, but his condition didn't seem to get any better. Looking closely at him, his eyes totally widened and his mouth still agape.

He only went invisible, but he was still yet to flee from that same spot. That being said, when that purple lightning struck Nerissa all of a sudden, he saw it right before his face and gave him a new and strange chilling experience. He felt like his heart was about to burst open, seeing that mermaid suffering the misfortune.

Just what the hell happened? Who the hell caused that?

Amidst his attempt to guess what could have happened, Jax suddenly found King approaching the seemingly lifeless body of the mermaid as he stood beside her and looked at her so intently.

So, it was King! Jax was made certain. He only needed to take a single glimpse of that guy for him to tell what this guy had done.

And that somewhat annoyed him.

''Hey, King! What the hell did you do? Are you trying to kill me?!!'' Jax roared up there, his finger pointing accusingly at King. If he had been hit by that lightning earlier too, then death was certain.

''Isn't this what you want? Now that this little mermaid is reduced to this state, you can absorb her soul all you want, right?'' King responded coldly. He didn't even glance at Jax as his gaze remained fixated on that mermaid.

Regret, frustration, and a little bit of worry could be seen flashing in King's eyes. Now that he had done it, it was more likely that her kin would be rushing ever more furiously in their direction now.

Things could only get more troublesome if they stayed there even a second longer.

''Agh...'' Jax's anger faltered. He could only grit his teeth and swallow his words. Now that King mentioned it, wasn't this something he eagerly intended to happen to begin with?

Right, he shouldn't be angry about small things. With a resigned smile, Jax jumped down from the tree and walked closer to the mermaid and said, ''Haha, don't worry King, my friend, I was just asking. Don't think about it too much.''

He took a moment of pause before he shifted his gaze at the mermaid intently. Then, with a greedy glint flashing in his eyes, he spoke again with a malevolent smile, ''Now then, I shall absorb her soul and make her my own.''

''Ah, right, I must tell you this first before you do anything against her.''

Jax was just about to touch the mermaid when King suddenly interrupted him. He shifted his gaze at him as he asked, ''What is it now?''

''I know you're greedy of souls. But if you make her your familiar, I think it's much better.'' King replied.

''Familiar? You mean a pet?'' Jax caught on, his eyes lit up with understanding. If that was something similar to the role-playing games he played on earth, then he had an idea how this pet thing worked.

''Yes,'' King nodded as he continued, ''Not only you can raise an elemental like her to obey your every order, but she is also a mythical creature. I believe you already know, but a mythical creature is no joke.''

''Not to mention their monetary value, their potential help and whatever they can do is something that any man would desire.''

''It is simply a waste to take her soul away.''

King, as if resigned to give up on the fate of the mermaid, and accepting the fate that would befall them sooner or later, took a moment of pause before he went on again.

''Ah, by the way, you must hurry to decide. Now that we've harmed a mermaid, and a royal blood at that, her kin, especially the Royal Knight and her army must be rushing their way here, by now.''

''Whatever your decision might be, you will not be able to avoid execution once they catch you.''

A confident smile appeared on King's lips before he spoke again.

''Of course, I can protect myself, but I won't guarantee your safety anymore. So, I also strongly suggest that we should escape this forbidden land as soon as you finish doing your job.''

''So, hurry up and decide.''