Noe… I don’t think I can last much longer… I think I have to bail soon.

  I spat out another mouthful of blood and took a look at my fast-depleting health. Even chugging all of the extra potions I brought, it wasn’t enough to offset the amount of damage I was taking from Eric, and as my Luck Charges continued to drain into nothing, the passives I was getting from Noe’s class decreased as well. I was feeling myself approaching the limit of what I could do, and I still had over five minutes left before the completion of the ceremony. Hell, even if I somehow survived another five minutes, I wasn’t sure if I’d be in any condition to fight, new abilities or not.

  “You need to buy more time, is there really no other options left for us?”

  I can turn my head into a lightbulb, think that will work?

  Another aftershock blasted me fifteen feet back and I landed head-first into a pile of mud and destroyed vegetation. I almost didn’t disentangle myself fast enough to avoid the next attack.

  “I don’t think that will help our current situation, my Host.”

  Then the only thing I have left is Molly’s charm, but using that here’s basically the same as me turning Xollon. I’m not willing to bet that some Wisdom god’s somehow unable to see Molly’s unique nature after she gobbles up its favorite Aspirant, and there's no way I’m sending the kids in here.

  “Lady Malice’s nature will only be known if she acts. We might not be able to have her kill Eric outright, but she can still help. Can you not come up with one of your plans that doesn’t involve her fighting?”

  I worked my fried brain into overdrive thinking of anything that could help. I didn’t even need to stall for that much more time; hell, I didn’t even need the full five minutes, I just needed a few moments to breathe and let the potions I chugged do their work without worrying about dying. If I just got two or three more minutes to rest, I think I can pull it off. But what could Molly do? Without accessing her unique abilities, she could, what, float in front of Eric’s face and distract him? I doubt her tiny hair darts would do anything either, which left me…

  Then what did that leave me with? I had just a handful of titles available to me, and I had nothing that could penetrate Eric’s barrier without giving my identity away. Hell, I didn’t even have the cool equipment that the other Aspirants had to supplement my abilities, and my Class gave me nothing useful without a lot of Luck Charges to spend. Outside of Noe, the only other advantage I had was the title system.

  That’s when a thought hit me, something that I had completely forgotten about until just this moment. Perhaps Molly could distract him after all. Without wasting any more time, I grabbed Molly’s charm and tried my best to call her over. She appeared a few seconds later and frowned when she saw the mess I got myself in this time.

  “Walter,” she sighed as she surveyed the current situation, “Why am I not surprised to find you half dead?”

  “Great to see you too, Molly,” I whispered, “Uh, I’m in a little situation right now.”

  She looked around, surveying the destruction. “I can see that.”

  “Need your help,” I added quickly.

  She rolled her eyes. “I can see that as well. Do you want me to take care of the floating fool?” She looked up at the moon and nodded. “The energies in this plane allow me a modicum of power.”

  “No, that’s uh, not a good idea, I’ll explain later.”

  “So what do you want me to do? I suppose I can record your final moments if that is what you wish. Where would you like to be buried?”

  I had to parry a huge rock sent flying my way that almost dislocated my arms, and I winced in pain.

  “Ha ha, Molly,” I whispered dryly, “But no, I don’t plan on dying today. I don’t have time to explain, but you still have human skin suits, right?”

  “I have quite a few from Bob, yes.”

  I ducked just in time to avoid decapitation. “And you can wear that even in doll form?”

  “Normally, no,” she replied, “But like I said, this location allows me more freedom than normal. You’re lucky that is the case, Dr. Walter, but I think you can hear the explanation later. What is it you need?”

  “Put a male human skin on and stand a bit outside that barrier, in view of the floating asshole.” I said quickly, “Can you do that?”

  She peered at the barrier and nodded. “Simple enough, what else?”

  “Just follow my lead after, I’ll do the talking.”

  “I know that I am a doll, but you plan to use me as a ventriloquist dummy?” She gave me the stink eye.

  “Um, yes?”

  Molly shook her head. “It’s a good thing that I like you, Walter. Let’s get this over with before you get beaten further, as much as I would love to see that right now.”

  “You know, you’re a lot nicer in person.”

  She rolled her eyes. “My main consciousness is with Bob and Alice. Just be thankful that I can show any emotion at all.”

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  “So I get tiny Molly here?” I said, grinning at the doll.

  That momentary lapse in concentration caused me to take a direct hit from one of Eric’s magic missiles and I grunted in pain. Molly sighed again and disappeared from view. A few excruciating seconds later, she reappeared, in the body of a dull human suit, a few feet outside the barrier. Eric’s barrage of attacks stopped immediately once he saw the figure. Right, that’s my cue.

  “Stop!” I shouted, projecting my voice in the rough direction where Molly stood. Her lips didn’t move, but I was hoping that Eric was too juiced up on god-mana to notice the small discrepancy.

  Much to my relief, he was.

  “Finally decided to show yourself, huh?” he chuckled, “Did you finally realize that your artifact has no hope of surviving by itself?”

  Noe, we still have that worthless title from way earlier, right?

  “Which one, my Host? The Trash Matrix imparted over 80 thousand worthless titles.”

  The groveling one.

  “It is there,” she answered, “Please remember that I cannot delete titles.”

  Whatever, equip that thing, please.

  “Already done, my Host,” Noe said, her voice still as calm as ever, “And if I think you’re about to do what I think you’re going to do, then we just might survive Aspirant Eric, but I hope you’re ready for the consequences with Lady Malice.”

  She’ll forgive me… I glanced over at Molly before recalling some of the things that she’s done. Uh… probably. I’ll ask Bob to smooth things over for her, he owes me for introducing the two.

  “If you say so, dear Walter, but you are on your own for that. No amount of Luck Charges will save you then, and I hope you enjoy the color purple.”

  It was a great book! Although I think you don't mean literature here.

  I shivered at that thought but quickly collected myself. Sorry Future-Walter, but you’re fucked no matter how I look at it. Maybe I can make a big donation to Hope’s Memorial or something.

  Shoving those thoughts into the deep recesses of my mind, I turned back to Eric. “Please, I beg you, oh mighty Eric! Please have mercy!”

  I turned my attention to Molly and pointed at the ground, miming prostrating myself. She gave me the worst scowl I have ever seen, and for a second I was afraid that she wouldn’t do what I needed, but eventually - whether that’s because she really did like me or due to a random brain hemorrhage - she went on her knees and clasped her hands together. I didn’t need Noe’s ability to translate body gestures to know that I’d be paying dearly for this later.

  I wasn’t sure what kind of magic was infused into that shitty title that the Trash Matrix gave me, but its effects were immediate. Hell, it was stronger than Noe’s Emotional Redux, which was a scary thought. Central’s system must really hate me if it put so much effort into such an otherwise useless ability, but I wasn’t complaining now! Eric had a huge lopsided grin and he subconsciously puffed up his chest when he saw Molly give up. Let’s lather on some more praise then.

  “I know that you can destroy me with ease,” I said, mimicking equal parts awe and reverence in my tone, “But I beg of you, supreme Aspirant Eric, please grant me just one feeble request before you obliterate me from the face of the earth.”

  I mimicked a more sincere pleading motion, crawling on my knees and bowing. Molly, thankfully, followed suit, although I could feel her rage building up by the second.

  “You will not survive her wrath,” Noe added with a hint of pity, “To think our great plan spanning eons will be thwarted due to this. Woe is me.”

  I had to force myself to ignore Noe. My ass she didn't have a sarcasm shard!

  “Yeah…” Eric grinned, “I can!” He started to laugh like a lunatic and unleashed random blasts of energy around him. Thankfully none of it hit me. “I am amazing, aren’t I? With Thoth’s help, I’m the fucking strongest Aspirant around. Fuck Jae-Hoon or whatever! I’m fucking better!”

  “Yes, oh god-blessed- no, you are mightier than that, you are god-king Eric!” I added, “You are clearly the strongest Aspirant on Earth! You will transcend the Trials and become a god soon, so please, can you hear the words of a lowly bug like myself?”

  He nodded. "You’re right… I’ll be a god, and I suppose a god should hear the pleas of their worshippers. You’re going to be my first stepping stone to godhood!” He nodded again, faster this time as if lost in some daydream. “Yeah… this will be practice for the future! Tell me, worthless insect, what worthless request do you have of god-king Eric?”

  Holy shit, how is this ability so strong? It’s like the guy became braindead within seconds. Hell, he even used the word "worthless" twice in one sentence; I mean, if you’re going to gloat, then at least gloat eloquently! If the title wasn’t so damned hard to use in combat, not to mention degrading, this would be a powerful tool to have. Imagine draining my opponents of their higher brain functions at will…

  “I know that I shouldn’t have to tell you this, my Host,” Noe interrupted, “But the title only works if the opposition thinks they are in a vastly superior position than yourself. You cannot use it in actual combat, hence why the Origin Matrix gave it to you in the first place.”

  I know. I sighed. At least let a man dream.

  “Speak!” Eric commanded again, and the seething scowl from Molly quickly snapped me out of my delusions.

  “I simply wish to gaze upon your mighty visage,” I said, putting awe in every syllable I bullshitted, “I wish to see how you destroy your foes with ease so that my soul will know true glory when I perish.”

  Eric’s grin turned ridiculous as I slathered on the praise. “Yes! You, worthless insect, are here against your will as well. I think it is only fitting that you are allowed such a sight before I send you off! Shall I destroy you with my strongest move?”

  “Yes,” I said, but quickly added, “But that would only allow me but a moment before I am vaporized, and it is not enough time for me to capture your greatness so that I may pass it on to my descendants in the afterlife!”

  Eric nodded, a bit of drool flowing from his half-opened mouth. “I suppose you are right. What do you think is adequately awe-inspiring then, worthless bug?”

  There was that word again... was that the only insult in his entire vocabulary? It was good that he was buying the bait… not that he could see that it was all a ploy since he couldn’t formulate proper thoughts anymore.

  “The Mission will end in mere minutes,” I continued, “and the villagers will undoubtedly attack again once that time is up.”

  “Hm, that is true. What is your point?”

  “Before you obliterate me with your might, oh god-king, I wish to see your wrath brought upon the heathens who dare tarnish your radiance! That way, I can fully appreciate your majesty before I, too, die along with them.”

  Eric paused to think, and in that moment I had thought that this request was so ludicrous that there was no way that he would agree to it. Thankfully, I had underestimated how stupid the Trash Matrix’s title made people, and he wholeheartedly agreed. What he was thinking about, much to my amazement, was how he would destroy his enemies in the flashiest, coolest way possible. Hell, he was using the few minutes before the ritual's completion entirely lost in his fantasies, which gave me all the time I needed to move into position. Molly had regained her footing, now that her part was over, and I just knew that I would have hell to pay if I survived this

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