Chapter 26: The Mysterious Woman part 2

[ ] = Doruuk's thoughts

{ } = System message

I freeze suddenly, as if my feet had taken root in the ground. My heart hammers in my chest with such violence that I fear it might break my ribs. A brutal-looking man is pointing his crossbow at me, the tip of the arrow glinting in the moonlight.

[I'm done for. Completely done for.]

I slowly raise my hands in surrender, each movement measured and cautious. I don't want to give them any excuse. The men surround me in the blink of an eye, their shadows enveloping me like a living wall with no way out. The smell of sweat, dust, and blood fills my nostrils.

[That woman! Why did she have to stare at me? Damn it! But even before that... why did I come here? I bitterly regret that moment of stupid curiosity.]

One of them approaches with heavy steps and brutally shoves me with the hilt of his sword. The blow hits my shoulder, making me stagger and clench my teeth from the sharp pain that radiates down my arm.

"On your knees, before we kill you," he growls in a hoarse voice. His eyes are black wells of cruelty. "Now talk: what were you doing here?"

I slowly lower my body to the ground, feeling the cold mud seep into my pants. I try to keep my voice calm, even though a storm of fear is raging inside me.

"I just came to look, nothing more," I respond in a neutral tone. "I have no connection to anyone. Just... curiosity."

The boss approaches, his imposing figure casting a shadow that completely swallows me. He narrows his eyes, studying me like a predator evaluating its prey.

"So you don't know anything?" His voice is low, controlled, and that makes it even more terrifying.

"Nothing. I swear." I keep my gaze fixed on the ground, avoiding looking him in the eyes. A sign of submission that I hope might appease his anger.

"Will you say anything to anyone about this?"

"I didn't see anything." The lie slides from my lips with surprising naturalness.

The men exchange eloquent glances. They begin to discuss among themselves in low voices, whispered words that the wind brings to me in fragments.

[Maybe I can get out of here... Maybe there's still hope.]

But no. It wasn't that simple. Not in this cruel world.

One of them steps forward, the tone of his voice as sharp as a freshly sharpened blade.

"We can't trust him. If he goes to the guards, or if he tells anyone what he saw, we'll be in trouble. Better to kill him here and now."

The others nod in silent consent, and even the boss seems to agree. His expression hardens; the decision is made.

[Oh, damn it.]

Panic grips my stomach like an icy vise. I can feel the blood pulsing in my ears with a frantic rhythm. There's no escape. Life or death. And death seems the only option on the table.

[I must act. Now or never.]

Without drawing attention, I slowly lower my hands to the ground. My fingers move feverishly, closing around everything I find: pebbles, sand, wood chips. Anything that might serve. My palms fill with this miserable improvised ammunition.

And with a fluid movement, I put everything in my pocket.

[I have to do something, anything.]

"So, since you want to kill me," I say with a surprisingly steady voice, "will you at least grant me my last wish?"

"Eh, why should we?" they respond with smiles that betray their contempt. Smiles that clearly say how little my life is worth in their eyes.

"I know it's not mandatory," I insist, maintaining a neutral tone, "but at least hear me out."

"Say what you want," says the boss, curiosity momentarily overriding his bloodthirst.

"I'm afraid of pain and being killed with swords," I explain, injecting a calculated vulnerability into my voice. "So I want to ask you to kill me by shooting an arrow directly into my skull. To make me feel as little pain as possible. And besides, I'm starting to get anxious seeing so many of us here, so could just one or two of you stay?"

They scrutinize me with obvious suspicion, eyes narrowing as they evaluate my words.

Anxiety tightens my throat like an invisible noose. Every breath is an effort, every heartbeat a hammer against my chest.

One of them, with eyes sharper and more intelligent than the others, is about to object. I can see it from the tension in his jaw, from the way he's about to open his mouth. But their leader interrupts him with a sharp gesture of his hand.

"Fine," he says in a bored tone, "it's not like you can do anything even if you want to. Do what he requested."

With these words, most of the men walk away, dragging the chained woman with them. I watch as she's taken away, her eyes still seeking mine for an instant before vanishing into the darkness.

Only three men remain with me: two swordsmen and an archer. I observe them carefully, evaluating every detail, trying to identify any weakness.

I wait patiently for the others to get far enough away, time passing with exasperating slowness.

Finally, when they are sufficiently distant, one of those remaining addresses me impatiently:

"Prepare to die now. Come on, get up and get in position."

I remain motionless as a statue, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Hey, get up!" His voice betrays growing annoyance.

I don't move a millimeter, even holding my breath.

"Hey, didn't you hear?" Anger is now evident in his tone.

He starts coming toward me with his sword extended, the metal catching a ray of moonlight and returning it in a sinister gleam. He approaches, unaware of the danger, until he's close enough...

{The character used "Escape"}

With a lightning-fast movement, I grab the handful of dust and debris from my pocket and hurl it with all my strength toward his eyes. He screams, bringing his hands to his face by instinct.

In that moment of vulnerability, I draw my hidden dagger and, with a precise and lethal blow, plunge it into his neck. Blood spurts hot on my hand, but there's no time to think about it.

I grab his staggering body before it falls and use it as a human shield as I lunge toward the two remaining men.

{ The character's strength has increased }

{ Fear has increased }

The two survivors begin to show increasing panic. The archer draws his bow and shoots arrows in rapid succession, but I defend myself with their companion's body. I feel the projectiles embedding in the dead flesh with dull and repugnant sounds.

[The passive skills of my Luminousa are working. Good, now let's see if they're really as strong as they believe.]

When I get close enough, I throw away the now useless body and lunge at the remaining swordsman. His face is a mask of terror as he desperately tries to defend himself. But his movements are slow and predictable compared to mine. My dagger dances in the air, seeking and finding the vulnerable points of his light armor.

I don't encounter particular difficulties in overwhelming him. His body falls heavily to the ground, eyes wide open in an expression of surprise that will never have an answer.

Without wasting time, I grab his fallen sword and lunge toward the archer, who is frantically trying to string a new arrow. The terror in his eyes is palpable when he realizes he won't have time.

With a fluid and precise movement, I reach him and end his existence as well. Silence suddenly falls, interrupted only by my labored breathing and the frantic beating of my heart.

[I must leave before someone sees me again. I don't have much time.]

As I'm about to disappear into the shadows of the night, a movement catches my attention. I turn abruptly, senses alert like those of a hunted animal.

A figure is observing the scene from afar, partially hidden behind a tree. Our gazes cross for a fleeting instant, and then I see her turn on her heels and run away, presumably to sound the alarm.

[So nothing is finished yet. My night becomes even more complicated.]

A bitter smile bends my lips as I grip the hilt of the conquered sword more tightly. The sensation of blood cooling on my hands reminds me that I am now involved in something much bigger than myself.

[But the game had just begun. And I'm not the type to abandon a game halfway through.]

Chapter-End.