Fear and escape II

My mana points were down to forty

My mana points were down to forty, and though my entire system was on high alert__ screaming in panic at the situation unfolding __ I forced myself to focus. I funneled ten points to activate vine bind, a skill I was learning to control.

Summoning all my concentration, I directed the vines to wrap around the neck of the man towering over me. His sneering, mocking face twisted into shock and terror as the vines constricted his throat.

"What the hell. . . ?" He choked out, his hands clawing at the tightening vines.

The second man, who had been holding me down, froze for a moment, his mind racing to process the sudden turn of events. When realization struck, his face darkened with fury .

"You little witch!" he spat, his voice venomous as he released my arms and grabbed me by the throat. His grip was brutal, cutting off my air as he hoisted me off the ground. My legs kicked uselessly beneath me as I gasped for breath.

"Release him!" he snarled through gritted teeth. His eyes burned with rage and disbelief. "The Intel said you didn't have a mana core! How the hell are you doing this?"

My visions blurred. And stars danced before my eyes. Panic and despair flooded my mind as my chest burned from lack of oxygen. Was this it? Was I really going to here, strangled like an animal?

But then, a surge of determination drowned out the fear. A dark , primal thought took hold. Kill or be killed. I didn't want to take a life. But his grip tightened, cutting deeper into my throat. My mind wavered for only a second before instinct took over.

Focusing with what little strength I had left, I commanded my vines to find a sharp branch lying nearby, I felt the faint tug of its presence and directed it toward the man's exposed neck. The jagged edge pierced his throat, and a strangled gurgle escaped his lips as his grip slackened.

I fell to the ground with a painful this, gasping for air. My throat burned, and I coughed violently, saliva pooling out of my mouth because I couldn't swallow properly.

As I forced myself to steady my breath, my mind cleared just enough to take stock of the situation. I realized, too late, that my other captor had escaped. The vines around his neck must have loosened when the second man's grip on my throat tightened, breaking my concentration.

I cursed under my breath, the weight of what had just happened settling heavily in my chest.

I survived.

A robotic tone chimed in my head, calm and unbothered:

{System Notification: Number of Enemies Defeated (1/5)}

I exhaled shakily, trying to ground myself. "Show me my status."

A translucent screen materialized before me, glowing faintly in the dark.

Name: Aria Zarek

HP: 23/100

Mana: 30/100

Energy: 0/100

Core(s): Nature (Green) + Psychic (Viridian, Dark Green)

Tier: 1 (Low)

[Stats]

Strength: 10

Agility: 12

Willpower: 15

Stamina: 8

[Quests]

1. Escape Cage Captivity

(Completed)

Reward: +5 Stat Points (unused)

2. Defeat 5 Enemies Before the Sun Rises

Reward: New Skill: Symbiotic Recovery

Time Left: 59 min 16 sec

"What's a stat point?" I asked, staring at the screen, curiosity sparking despite the exhaustion weighing down my body.

{Stat Points are a reward to upgrade your stats, making you stronger.}

"How do I use them?"

{Imagine where you want the points to go, and it will be done. Be warned: you can't take the points back.}

I paused for a moment, considering my options. I needed more physical strength and stamina to endure the rest of this fight, but agility couldn't be overlooked.

"Okay," I murmured. "I'll place three points on strength, one on agility, and one on stamina."

The system confirmed, and a faint tingling spread through my body, like a spark of energy weaving through my muscles.

[Updated Stats]

Strength: 13

Agility: 13

Willpower: 15

Stamina: 9

It wasn't a drastic transformation, but I felt the change subtly settle within me. My limbs felt slightly more responsive, my core steadier, and my stamina, though still limited, no longer felt like it would collapse immediately.

A determined breath escaped me. This was just the beginning.

. I saw the faint glow of fire torches bobbing in the distance, heading in my direction.

They were looking for me.

I crouched low, my breath hitching as I scanned my surroundings. My eyes fell on the dagger clutched in the cold hand of the corpse I had left behind. Without hesitation, I pried it loose, wiping the bloodied blade on the grass. The weight of it was unfamiliar but reassuring in my hand. I slipped into the thick bushes, blending into the shadows.

"Where are you?"

The sing-song voice sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn't close, but I knew exactly who it belonged to: the leader. His tone carried the cruel amusement of someone toying with their prey.

"Don't be scared," he called mockingly, his voice echoing through the trees. "I have forgiven you for trying to escape."

Liar.

The footsteps of his subordinates drew closer, their firelight flickering as they swept the area. The sound of twigs snapping under their boots made my pulse quicken. I peeked through the leaves, my breath shallow. Two of them. Their backs were to me, each scanning a different direction, their postures tense.

Good. They're scared.

I grabbed a stone from the ground and hurled it in the opposite direction. The sharp crack of its landing cut through the stillness, making both men jump.

"What was that?" the heavier one whispered, his voice quivering.

"Go check it out," the other demanded, his tone firm but his frail frame betraying his fear.

The fat one hesitated, clutching his dagger tightly, but after a long glare from his companion, he began to lumber toward the sound.

Perfect.

I crept forward, each step deliberate, my movements as quiet as the wind rustling through the leaves. I could feel the tension vibrating in my limbs as I closed the distance between myself and the frail one.

When I was close enough, I sprang. My arm wrapped around his neck, my hand clamping over his mouth to muffle the startled grunt he let out. He thrashed, his nails scratching at my arm, but I tightened my hold. With the dagger in my other hand, I slashed his throat in one swift motion.

Hot blood sprayed across my face and hands, the metallic tang filling the air. His body convulsed, then went limp in my grip. I let him fall with a muted thud onto the forest floor.

"Sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling. "But your life has to end for mine to begin."

The sound of the body hitting the ground was enough to alert the other man.

"Hey! What was that?"

The fat one spun around, his torchlight illuminating the crumpled form of his comrade. His face twisted in horror, and he let out a shriek that pierced the quiet night.

"Someone's here!" he cried, his voice breaking.

He unsheathed his dagger, his hands trembling as he scanned the area, his torch shaking with him. I didn't give him time to recover.

I charged, my steps quick but careless. The snap of a branch beneath my foot gave me away. His head whipped around, and his eyes widened in panic. Desperation overpowered his fear as he instinctively hurled his dagger at me.

The blade whizzed through the air, too fast to react to properly. I twisted on instinct, the weapon slicing a shallow line across my cheek. A sharp sting flared as a bead of blood trickled down, but I kept moving.

Was it sheer luck I dodged it—or the extra point I added to agility?

There was no time to dwell on it. He was retreating, stumbling back toward the corpse of his fallen comrade, his movements frantic.

"No, stay away!" he shouted, brandishing his torch as if it could ward me off.

Then I stared back at him, and he stared back at me. We both knew he shouldn't have thrown that dagger. Now, he was left weaponless and utterly exposed.

I began to approach him, step by deliberate step.

"Please… don't… don't kill me," he stammered, his voice trembling as his legs gave out beneath him. He collapsed onto the ground, his wide, terrified eyes glued to me.

If the roles were reversed, would he have shown me mercy?

No.

This world is no different—

I stood over him, my legs straddling his prone form, and bent down slightly. Part of me wanted to ask him who sent them or who paid them, but I knew he likely didn't have any answers. And even if he did, I didn't have the luxury of time. Dawn was approaching, and I still had unfinished business.

Sensing the faintest movement from his hand, I realized he was reaching for the dagger by his side.

Too late.

With precision and cold determination, I drove my dagger upward, straight through his jaw and into his skull. His body jerked violently, his eyes rolling back as the blade found its mark. Blood dribbled down his chin as his life slipped away.

"Well, well, well, I thought I had seen everything."

The voice, dripping with amusement, froze me.

Before I could even turn to face its owner, a brutal kick struck my back with the force of a hammer.

The impact sent me flying.

My body crashed through a tree, shattering its trunk, before another stopped me. Pain exploded through me, and I coughed up blood as my vision blurred. My chest heaved, my head spinning, and for a moment, I felt my consciousness teetering on the edge.

"Leader, I think you overdid it," a familiar voice chimed in—one I recognized immediately. It was the man who had escaped my vines earlier.

"Go check if I killed her," the leader commanded, his voice calm but filled with authority. "We need her alive for the trade. Bring her back to my camp—this time, make sure she doesn't escape."

"Yes… right away!" The man's tone was eager, like he was basking in the approval of his superior.

I could hear his footsteps approaching, his confidence bolstered by the display of strength he had just witnessed. Meanwhile, the pain in my body screamed at me to stay down. But I knew I couldn't afford to.

Not now.

The man approached Aria's fallen body, his eyes lingering inappropriately on her tattered clothing and battered form. His twisted thoughts were evident in the way his hand reached out, inching toward her.

But his movement froze.

A sharp, searing pain erupted in his chest. His eyes widened, looking down in shock to see the hilt of a dagger buried deep in his heart.

The hand gripping the blade was trembling, dirty yet surprisingly delicate, and belonged to the bloodied girl he had thought incapacitated. Her face, smeared with dirt and blood, bore a tight, furious frown.

This— this wasn't the girl they had captured.

His brows furrowing as a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.

"W-who are—"

He didn't get to finish.

"I don't want to hear it," Aria spat, her voice low but dripping with venom.

Her hand moved violently, yanking the dagger out only to plunge it back into his chest. Again. And again. Blood sprayed across her face, soaking her already ragged clothing, but she didn't care. She kept stabbing, her anger driving her until his lifeless body slumped over.

One final stab, and she shoved his corpse away from her with all the strength she could muster.

The push nearly killed her, her weakened body screaming in protest. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps, and her hands trembled as the adrenaline faded.

Health: 15/100

Her time was running out—only 30 minutes left until sunrise.

"System, show my skills," she demanded, her voice hoarse.

[Skills]

Vine Bind (Lv. 1): Control plants to trap or bind enemies.

Cost: 10 MP

Seedling Growth (Lv. 1): Encourage the rapid growth of plants in your immediate area.

Cost: 10 MP

Telekinesis Push (Lv. 1): Use psychic energy to push or move objects, including enemies.

Cost: 5 MP

Mind Focus (Lv. 1): Sharpen focus and awareness to improve mental clarity.

Cost: 5 MP

"Is there a time limit on using these skills?" she asked.

{Yes, each skill has a ten-minute usage limit until upgraded.}

"And how do I upgrade them?"

{You need to gather mana to reach a specific threshold, which for now is 100. Once reached, you'll experience a 'breakthrough,' requiring solitude to ascend to the next tier. This process upgrades both your tier and your skills.}

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

{Your situation wasn't ideal for lengthy explanations.}

Aria gritted her teeth in frustration. "Fine. Do you at least have any ideas about how we can beat this guy?"

{Firstly, there is no 'we.' Secondly, I do not interfere. Assistance hinders host independence.}

She let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. "Seriously?"

Her frustration shifted to focus. Scanning her environment, her eyes darted across the undergrowth and trees, looking for anything she could use to her advantage.

That's when she spotted it—something useful, something that might give her a fighting chance.