The quick action was too sudden for him, so he faltered and almost lost his footing, but imdiately, there was a follow through attack from the hunters. The other subordinate hunter aid a low stab at Eric’s stomach. It was too fast, far too close for him to dodge and even his katana was too far on his right side to block the attack centred at his belly. So, Eric only had an option if he was was not to die again.
He shot out his left hand instinctively to stop the knife from reaching his belly. The sharp steel knife tore through his left palm, impaling it till it dug past the back of his hand, coming out with a bloody curve. He could see his inner flesh jutting out, muscles accompanying bloodied phalanges, to curse him with yet another excruciating pain he wouldn’t forget anyti soon.
But there was no ti to surrender to the pain. He absorbed it like a Sponge. Leaning on the hunter, he plunged his katana into his right shoulder, then pushed against the man’s weight to jump backwards and out of attack range.
He staggered as he moved backwards, trying to keep his balance, but as soon as he regained his footing, he stumbled against the injured man on the ground. So, he fell. Blood gushed out of his injured palm onto his lap, and for so strange reason, it felt cold to him.
’What, I’m cold-blooded now?’
"Aaaargh!"
"Aaaargh!"
Both Eric and the hunter he stabbed clutched their injured spots and grunted in pain. The third hunter with the X-mark on his back was slowly trying to get back up. Eric, seeing this, gave a lazy slash on his back again, drawing a horizontal wound which cut right through the middle of the X mark present beforehand. The struggling man went back down in more pain.
"You keep forcing to change my kill sign."
Eric looked up and saw that the unhurt leader and the hurt subordinate were already up with their blades and ready to finish him off once and for all. But Eric didn’t bother to get
up and face them head on again. Instead, he gave them a sneer, then an awkward smile before wiping his mouth with his bloody hand. His upper face was already covered with the black mask, but now he covered the open lower part of his face with thick red, giving him an eerie appearance.
’It should be about ti.’
"I hate to inform you guys, but it’s well past 30 seconds and you’ve not killed yet."
The two n did not seem to be in a mood for chit-chat as they advanced nacingly at Eric’s apparently subdued figure.
Eric continued regardless. "You won’t believe it, but I’m about to blow your fucking mind."
"See, I have this system in that’s been bringing up all sorts of utterly weird stuff that cannot be explained. It ca to after I died around this spot a couple of days ago. You must rember , see?"
Eric yanked the leather mask off his face and gave a wide grin filled with hatred.
"I can’t see your faces under those masks but I know you’re looking very surprised right now. I was surprised too when the system said I had a second shot at life after you killed .
"Second shot at life, for , ans I have to avenge the three brutes responsible for Void’s death, see? Chill guys, it’s not as if I hate you or anything. I actually would have forgiven you if the system hasn’t been bothering with a task screaming ’kill your killers. Subdue your killers’.
"So, here we are. Don’t you think I dragged this fight longer than I did in my past life? I an to be honest, yes, my senses have upgraded, I can even sll the killing intent in the three of
you right now. You see, the thing is—"
Whoosh! The two n attacked at once, cutting Eric’s chatter short.
’Use Killer Dash.’
Fwipp!
From his sitting position, Eric dashed forward, past the two hunters with incredible speed and just a second after, he was standing firm and upright behind their backs. This ti when using the Killer Dash, he was careful enough to stop the dash just after a second. So, he didn’t dash farther than was necessary for his next line of attack.
"Speaking of my next line of attack, have a sample and tell how it feels."
He ran normally to the side of the one injured on the shoulder. But before they could recover from the shock of Eric’s sudden and strange disappearance, Eric crouched and looked a little as if preparing for a not-so-serious race, then positioned his katana
strategically so that the blade was pointed in their direction but his own body was positioned sideways to them. Then—
"Killer Dash."
Whoosh!
Another quick dash that lasted a second. Eric’s blade, held firmly, tore clothes, underclothes, flesh, muscles and tendons on the backs of the two hunters and as he dashed past them,
a bloody trail, misty—more like an after-effect—followed him.
"Aaaaaargh!!!" The remaining two hunters yelled in unison.
"Hmm. They should add that move to the next video ga."
The two hunters, badly injured and rendered immobile from a single strike, dropped awkwardly beside their already-fallen comrade as warm blood flowed from their cleanly struck backs.
"Now, fellas, you might think I’m done with you, but I hate to break it to you...I’m not done yet."
The sole reason for this rampage of his ca rushing to mind once more, and he suddenly lost the urge to chatter or joke around any longer.
"You killed my friend, you scums. Then you treated it like you just swatted a stubborn fly."
"I won’t give you the luxury of a good death, you damn bastards."
Slash! Slash! Slash! Stab! Stab! Slash! Slash! Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Chunks of flesh flew up into the air, each rising and falling with its own trail of warm red. Little one decorated their backs like a child who had just discovered the use of crayons. Off with his mask he went as the warm blood splattered across his body.
He had always enjoyed warm baths, but never had he thought they would be more enjoyable when it’s thick and in coats of red. With each slash, he revived his mories with vivid clarity. mories he would now be forced to live with. mories of his friend, whom he would never see again.
He continued stabbing, carving away until his hands turned too slippery with blood and the katana flew out of his grip. He looked down at the sight of his revenge-fueled massacre. Grotesque figures, as if ravaged by a thousand land piranhas, glared up at him. But he felt nothing but satisfaction.
Remorse has left the chat.
"Heh. That felt—"
[Murderous Intent Successfully Unleashed]
[Primary Quest Successfully Completed]
[3/3 Killers Subdued]
[New Skill Acquired]
[...]
[WELCO TO THE MANA REAVER SYSTEM]
[FOUR MANA SOURCES DETECTED FROM...]
[HUMANS: 3]
[BEAST: 1]
[CONSU BEFORE THE LIFE FORCE DRAINS AWAY]
[YOUR HUNGER HAS BEGUN]
"Huh... What?!"
[YOU ARE NOW A MANA REAVER]
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