Subtlety Was Overrated Anyway

Whoever had kidnapped me clearly underestimated how irritatingly resilient I could be.

And I fully intended to teach them exactly how costly that mistake was going to be.

Huddled behind damp barrels that reeked suspiciously of moldy cheese and stale ale, I realized something important. Being subtle was exhausting. Tiptoeing around corners, hiding in alcoves, whispering sarcastically to the system I was officially done with all of that.

If I was going down, it certainly wouldn't be quietly.

"You know what?" I muttered aloud, standing abruptly, ignoring the painful ache in my legs and shoulders. "Forget stealth."

[Wait—what?] the system spluttered incredulously in my mind. [What are you doing?]