The voices carry throughout the shaded woods.
“We can’t let IT escape now. It’s a unique monster. Just think about all the EXP!” The sword thrust forward. “We fight! [Rally]!” Purple particles wash over the three,
“Thanks for the buff. But how do you suggest we kill it? My arrows are useless!”
“…” The staff hesitates for a brief moment. “T-the blood-filled cube. It looks important! It might be ITs phylactery. Let’s aim for it.”
Running away, I hear them loud and clear.
No! Please don’t!
What did I ever do to you?
And no, it's not my phy… phyl… whatever it is.
And please don’t aim for my precious cube. It is my first. My most precious.
As I make my escape, I slither towards the shadow of a particularly large tree.
The trio pursues me.
The murderous look in their eyes only grows darker.
I hide in the shadow without a hitch.
But it seems I have erred.
Unlike me, my cube isn’t made out of darkness. It is left exposed. Just hovering above the tree’s shadow.
“Here it is!” The sword is aiming towards it.
“Quick! Smash it!” The impotent bow urges the sword.
Fuzzy Balls! – I curse internally in a stolen curse.
What is that saying? – You can’t have a pie and eat it, too.
Hence, It’s time…
> Cube, I choose you!
Using Manipulate I throw the cube towards the charging sword.
If they want it. They can have it. It’s just a RedBerry Juice cube anyway.
The cube smashes into the sword wielder's head, dyeing his face berry juice red.
It was super effective.
I’m even greeted with an unexpected System message.
But I push it away for a moment.
“Cough… cough!”
“Are you alright?”
“Careful. IT is still here!”
“Cough… Urgh? URGH!” The sword wielder roars as if angry.
“This doesn’t feel right. IT did something to him.”
“S-sorry. It wasn’t a phylactery. And i-it’s best if you back away from the sword!”
“Huh?” The bow looks at the staff in incomprehension.
“Rahhh!” The sword wielder goes Berserk.
The sticky juice blinded the sword wielder.
The sword rages in impotent rage, its blade well away from hitting anything.
“Rahhh!” – *Swish, *Swoosh!
“What do we do? I can’t even see IT! Is IT still here?” The bow struggles to aim at the right shadow.
“YES! I feel Its presence. Over there!” The staff points at the shadow.
Beggar’s beard! – I am busted.
However, the bow hesitates to fire an arrow.
*Swish, *Swoosh! – the blinded berserk sword cuts nothing in particular.
And the staff hesitates. But it doesn’t hesitate for long.
“O’ holly light, gather in my sacred rod…” the staff glows in a renewed chant.
“Good call! IT didn’t like it last time. Kill it”
I panic for a moment.
I could either FLEE or FIGHT.
I choose the right option.
I rise from my hiding spot. My body hovers above the tree’s shadow. My inner vortex is spinning. I am getting ready.
"…strike down the wicked, in the name of God! [Smite] !" the staff burst with power, sending a blinding blast towards me.
However! Not before I make my move
> Manipulate
Two things happen all at once:
Divine light washes over my body.
The staff and its owner are knocked away from each other.
Will I take damage? Probably.
However. I don’t think it will get me in one hit.
Then… Then the light hits my shadowy membrane.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Oh my! What is this sensation?
It tickles, hi-hi-hi! My vortex spins in laughter, salivating at the divine spell.
A System message pops into my vision:
> Chaos thrives in the Darkness. Chaos triumphs over the Light.
> CONSUME
It activates without consent.
And then it simply swallows the flashy spell.
Hmm?! – Delicious! Yum!
The staffless owner looks my way. Her eyes are big like grapefruits.
“M-m-monster!”
The bow trembles in my spell-consuming presence.
“Impossible… what now?”
What now? Now it’s my time to attack.
I’m done being bullied for no reason.
> Manipulate
I grab the lost staff.
> Throw
I use the skill I’ve learned by throwing my chosen cube. Thank you, System!
““!!!””
*BONK* – It was super effective.
I knock out the staffless human.
“No! [EnchantedArrow]!” Despite the better judgement, the bow spits a frightened arrow.
> Contain
I grab it in mid-air.
> Cube, I choose you! > Throw
I fling it before I lose control.
*BONK* – It was not that effective.
The containment breaks, letting loose the arrow. However, the cube was tilted at the wrong angle. The arrow flew up into the sky.
“Guys! I’m back! What's going on?”
The sword wielder clears the sticky juice off his eyes.
“Quick! Help!”
“On it! [EnchantedBlade], [Charge]!”
The sword charges towards me
> Manipulate
I react quickly. Pushing my energy at the charging human.
Urgh! This one is heavier than the one with the staff.
> Your skill level is too low
> Contain failed
It was a good attempt. I shrink back to the tree’s shadow. Dodging the overly obvious swing.
“Rotten Pie! IT got away!” The sword cleaves the shadows, hitting nothing. “Where is it? I’ll get it!”
“No! Let's run!” Bow protests.
“But the EXP!” The sword turns to argue.
“No! We don’t know what we are fighting. And! Our Priest is down.”
Oh… a priest. No. The Priest.
It sounds like it’s important. Like it’s a job class of some sort.
Dunno why but it makes sense.
At that moment, something bubbles in my core. The knowledge I didn’t know I possessed is unlocked to me.
I can tell their chosen Class.
Curious, I watch them from the shadows.
“But… No, you are right.”
The Swordsman rushes to the unconscious priest, picking up the limp body and the nearby staff.
“Hurry! Let’s run back to the Guild.”
The Rogue is already making an escape.
That’s right. I’ve never meant them harm. I CHOOSE to let them FLEE.
And it’s not like they did any damage to me.
This…. This was but a miscommunication.
But, it’s a shame I’ve lost my berry juice cube.
My Precious! You will be remembered!
Either way. I don’t feel like making friends with Humans anymore.
But Goblins? My core felt something when I saw the cute pair.
Surely, they couldn’t have run far.
And! I feel confident that this time I will communicate my PEACEFUL intent better.
“GOBLINS! Come out, come out wherever you are!”
I go looking.
Stranger.
