re. The air around him smelled of ozone, and the hair on my arms stood on

ghtning

me. Fast, but now the world felt a little slower, or maybe I was faster. I t

ND

d behind me, my skin stil

et faster?!"

n charged from the left, his sword blazing brightly, flames coil

AN

e branch had managed to hold the sword. It hadn't shattered, leaving only a slig

Impos

ngs happened today," I r

of the branch only grazing his arm. A little blood, but still progress. Reno came in again from the right flank, their coordination quite good

R

hallowly. It hurt so much,

h, you

to reduce the number of players. Quickly, my eyes immediately locked on the tar

t Dimas!" K

tily. The arrow missed. Good, I got in

"W-w

the branch a

AC

g him back. Then I stabbed him in the chest with a swift motion. Instantl

ication

target

Root ac

onger, hotter, more addictive. I closed my eyes for a split second. It felt like my

cation app

lit

erit

na

ga

el

5 re

olution a

broken. It changed, lengthening slightly, growing more thorns. The surface became darker, its shap

ification

talk → Tho

ion co

sm

"O

there is visi

eeing a nightmare. A fair reacti

ve to kill

tanding, Reno

K-Kev

have to

he'd said all day.

"Shu

fortable, more balanced, sharper. A nice improvement, but still ugly, but effective. I stepped f

you step ba

the ones who want

e fire on his sword trembling slightly. A breach of trust was detected.

coming anym

n away, very wisely.

"R

t to faint. Kevin looked around, at the bodies, the blood. Two of his friends were dead, one had run awa

e can

ase. It's interesting how morals and dip

I'm a monst

wallowe

That

rce sit

ng. I shook m

"N

ys are just

ose the easi

ranch reflected a faint light, a

listen," I

's my turn

o turning back. Kevin roared and charged, his

AN

r now. We were locked in a fist for a few seconds. Ke

uld be dead!

at him

"May

and I stabbed. The thorny branch pierced his side, and time seemed to slow down. Kevin froze,

"A

akened, his

AN

hing heavily. My body was covered in minor injuries, my clothes dirty, and my

ication

Knight

absorptio

he writing, s

High-

in's body, and this time the energy entering was much greater. Brutal,

ns appear i

eng

ali

istance

agment o

uired: Em

ga

7 re

ked down at my own hands, trembling slightly, not with fear. Adrenaline, power, I chuckled. Slowly, in disbelief

the child already sitting limply. His f

on't kil

for a few second

"G

gla

"H

"G

He just ran away as fa

the Thorny Branch in my hand. This weapon was only its first evolution. Meaning there were still many stages to g

CHAPT