"Haah, haah," my breaths grew ragged, the evidence of surging fear coursing through me. But beneath that fear, frustration gnawed at my core. I couldn't forgive myself for squandering what might have been my best opportunity to end him. Every tremor in my hand was a painful reminder of my own inadequacy. Still, I dared not divert my gaze; looking away could spell my doom.
Eidos grappled with his own tumultuous thoughts, his initial plan of a sneak attack now in ruins. Prolonging this battle was an unforgiving disadvantage, a death sentence that loomed ever closer. Desperation welled up within me like a raging tempest. One thing remained certain in my mind: I had to act, and I had to act now.
"You..."
Eidos' body spasmed involuntarily at the player's voice, his expression a stark proclamation of impending vengeance, silently screaming, "YOU'RE DEAD."
In a chilling display of resolve, the player summoned a white axe adorned with intricate tattoos, gripping it with an air of ruthless determination. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, transforming the encounter from a one-sided attack into a battle to the death. The very air crackled with the imminent clash of two relentless adversaries.
My body instinctively retreated, an involuntary response to the unmistakable danger that loomed. Alarms within me blared, urgently vying to protect my fragile existence. Yet, amidst the clamor of self-preservation, an unyielding thirst for vengeance surged to the fore. I gritted my teeth and locked eyes with the player.
My actions were perceived as an affront, further fueling the player's festering wrath. His axe began to radiate a sinister, malevolent green glow—a sight I had encountered before. He was gearing up to unleash one of his devastating "skills," those ethereal maneuvers that had already claimed countless lives, both monsters and my fellow humans alike.
"AXE CHARGE!"
A surge of formidable energy propelled his body toward me with breathtaking speed. In the blink of an eye, he materialized before me, the white axe in his hand swinging down with malevolent intent.
"DIEEE!"
*TANG*
The world seemed to freeze for an instant as our weapons collided. Sparks of searing orange light erupted before the player's bewildered face, a result of the fierce clash between Eidos' sword and the player's axe.
As the moment unfolded, I felt a mysterious connection to my sword, knowledge of unfamiliar skills flooding my mind one by one. This one was called "parrying," and the one I had executed earlier was a "horizontal strike." These were the skills of a seasoned swordsman, and the question of how I had acquired them burned within me, though it was not the right time for answers.
"You little shit. You think you're good just by parrying my attack?"
*TRUUGSS*
Eidos' body was sent flying, a visceral "gah!" escaping his lips as his body crashed mercilessly against the unforgiving wall. Confusion swirled within him as he clutched his aching stomach, his vision wavering, and the bottom of the player's boots barely visible from his vantage point.
"A kick?"
[You receive 300 HP damage]
HP: 700/1000
A translucent message materialized before me. With the wall for support, I struggled to regain my footing, my legs trembling beneath me. I felt like a novice once again, though I understood that staying still was not an option.
"KAHAHA! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT, YOU WORTHLESS NPC? THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!"
The player pointed his axe menacingly in my direction, a cruel grin etched upon his face as he reveled in my torment.
"Well, at least I know what HP means," Eidos muttered, his words laden with a touch of playful defiance, with a small grin forming on his lips. The player, however, interpreted this innocuous remark as a taunt, and a tempest of anger surged within him. Vainness contorted his features, laying bare the raw intensity of his wrath.
"Are you mocking me, you little shit?!"
Eidos remained oblivious to the player's tirade, but the sight of the player's displeasure brought another smile to his lips.
"YOU FUCKER!"
The player's axe ignited once more, and he charged toward Eidos with the fury of a stampeding bull. Yet, in the player's reckless frenzy, Eidos recognized a golden opportunity to turn the tide. The blade in his grip began to shimmer, radiating an ominous energy that drew the player's gaze, locking them in a moment of dawning realization, though it was already too late to halt his mad rush.
Eidos swiftly planted his right foot, gripping his sword with unwavering resolve. His eyes narrowed with laser-like focus, akin to an athlete poised to strike a ball with a bat. The intensity of the impending clash surged to a crescendo as the two combatants hurtled toward their inevitable collision.
With the upcoming clash, the world seemed to hold its breath, suspended in the electrifying tension of the moment.
"AURA SLASH!"
Eidos' sword erupted with an even more brilliant luminosity, a blinding display of power that sent shivers down the player's spine. He recognized that skill – the pinnacle of what novice players could achieve.
With a death grip on his axe, the player hoisted it high above his head, intent on delivering a bone-shattering vertical strike. Simultaneously, Eidos swung his sword from below, an arc of incandescent energy surging forth.
"GAAAAHHH!"
Eidos and the player roared in unison as they unleashed their weapons with unbridled fury. A blistering trail of light trailed their deadly arcs, and upon impact,
*SLICCCCE!*
The brutal crescendo of the battle unfolded.
Two arms, gripping an axe with desperate determination, thudded to the ground, severed from the player's body.
[You gave 1200 HP damage.]
"AHHHHH!"
The player's anguished cry reverberated through the digital landscape.
"GAAH! IT HURTS! WHAT'S HAPPENING? THIS GAME'S PAIN SENSITIVITY SHOULDN'T BE THIS INTENSE! I SWEAR I'M GONNA SUE THOSE BASTARDS!"
The word "game" echoed persistently in Eidos' mind. What exactly did this player imply by uttering "this game"?
Eidos strode purposefully toward the player, who convulsed on the ground, tormented by excruciating pain. His every step radiated a chilling determination as he closed the distance. When he finally stood over the writhing player, his gaze pierced through the suffering figure as if he were a mere trash.
The player's cries for mercy faded into a haunting whimper, drowned out by the chilling intensity of Eidos' presence. It was a moment of absolute dominance, a stark reminder of the ruthless reality they both now inhabited.