Stab! Squelch! Stab!
Three more Homunculi died by his hands, and he still could not get used to the sensation of impaling flesh and blood.
It took all that he had to not collapse on his knees and hurl his innards out, his once pale skin now marred crimson by the blood of his victims.
"Huff... Huff..."
He staggered backwards to create space between him and the five Homunculi that were slowly approaching him.
[Are they ganging up on me?]
It was exactly as he mused, they were intelligent enough to notice his unfair advantage in reach, which has allowed him to kill four others without sustaining much injury.
Shik!
[!!]
One of them loosened an arrow at him, and it was much faster than he had expected it to be.
"Argh!"
Specimen 2946 arched his neck to the side and the arrow whizzed by his face, grazing his cheek bone. Had the Homunculus's aim not been a tad bit off, the arrow would have been embedded in his eye and he knew it.
Ta! Ta!
[!!]
Before he could even recollect himself, two Homunculi flanked him, aiming to impale either of his sides.
[Ugh! They're so fast!]
His measly, below average Agility stat of 4 was barely enough to keep up with their speed.
But...
[I can predict their movements!]
Perhaps due to his high intelligence stat? He was able to predict where they were aiming to attack, based on their body language, velocity and trajectory.
[If I can just...]
He readied his posture, his muscles coiling like springs as he patiently waited for them to be at an optimal distance.
[Now!!]
As soon as the duo swung their swords, specimen 2946 quickly lowered his center of gravity and clenched the shaft of his spear as tightly as he could.
In that same breath, he pivoted both his ankles and twisted his waist to the extreme, resulting in a rapid rotation.
Slash! Slash!
"Aaargh!", "kugh!!"
They bellowed in pain, one had his waist completely severed from his body, the other's legs were rotating high in the air like propellers.
But Specimen 2946 had no time to focus on them, because...
Shik!
[Damnit!!]
Two arrows came hurtling at him, and he quickly leveraged his crouching position to leap high in the air to evade, but...
Stab!
"Argh!!"
One of the arrows found its mark and went deep into his thigh, but he refused to let go of his spear even as he felt such an unbearable pain, because there was another impending attack to his right side.
[!!]
A sword whistled in the air, perfectly aiming go disembowel him.
"Kugh!"
Specimen 2946 contorted his body in mid-air and attempted to parry the attack with the shaft of his wooden spear.
Crack! Slash!
A foolish decision, but what other choice did he have?
And thanks to his quick thinking, what could have been a fatal cut was but a mere gash.
Splinters of his spear flew high in the air and he felt a sharp pain on his side as he rolled around on the muddy Amphitheater soil.
"Wheeze..."
He winced and forced himself to stand, his right hand stubbornly carrying the shortened spear, and his right leg bleeding profusely, he could only hope that the arrow did not pierce his femoral artery.
"I have no other choice..."
He muttered under his weak, trembling breath. He was about to do something that he had honestly hoped to save as a last resort.
[There's still a lot of them left... Around 50 maybe?]
He quickly analyzed the bloodbath ensuing all around him, and then turned his bright pink glare back to his three remaining opponents.
[Status Window!]
[... It's not much, but it'll have to do.]
He glanced at his MP Value, and focused deeply within himself.
[...]
[There it is... An untapped Pool of energy.]
Ta!
A Homunculus charge at him with one more following behind him, whilst the last one drew its arrow.
Specimen 2946's breath became steady despite the imminent threat to his life, and he prepared his lips to cast a spell:
■ Mana Augmentation! ■
[!!]
As soon as those words escaped his lips, a potent surge of energy gushed through the entirety of his being, his Mana flowing through his newly developed Mana Veins.
Ba — Dump!
He felt powerful, like he could destroy anything in his path, the feeling was so addictive that he couldn't suppress a grin.
Ding!
________________________________________
Status Window.
> Congratulations on your notable accomplishment! You have awakened to Mana!
Ding!
> Strength, Vitality, Agility, and Intelligence stats have been permanently augmented by +2.
Ding!
> MP stat has been temporarily reduced!
- MP: 6 (-5)
- WARNING: Mana is now sustaining your body!
- WARNING: If MP depletes to 0, temporary immobilization will ensue!
Ding!
> You have been awarded +12 Experience for your notable accomplishment!
Ding!
> You have been awarded +3 Attribute Points for your notable accomplishment!
Ding!
> The class ¤Spearman¤ has evolved to - ¤Magic Spearman.¤
- Proficiency has increased by 12 %
__________________
"Argh! Just shut up already!"
He rebuked the status window notifications and placed his left foot forward, leaving a deep footprint on the ground.
He then clenched his spear and prepared to launch it, his muscles bulging and taut as though they would explode at any moment
"Hup!! "
He launched the spear, and it tore through the air at speeds near that of a bullet.
[!!]
The Homunculus charging at him stood no chance, and was instantly impaled.
But that was not the end of it!
Even the one behind him was impaled by Specimen 2946's spear.
Shik! Shik!
The remaining Homunculus unleashed three arrows at him, but...
Ta! Ta!
He moved so rapidly that he left a blur in his wake, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye and he unleashed his fist.
Splat!
The Homunculus's head exploded upon contact, resulting in a rain of brain matter.
Thud...
"Huff... Huff..."
Specimen 2946 collapsed to his knees, his entire body trembling.
[Did I overdo it?]
He caught his breath and turned his attention to the arrow embedded on his thigh; he dreaded all thoughts of removing it.
But he had no other choice, its jagged end would only sink deeper into his flesh until it reached his bone marrow.
"Fuck, fuck. Fuck!!!"
His clenched the stump of the arrow and bit down on his fabric.
[Come on!!]
He riled himself up and quickly pulled out the arrow.
Squelch!
"Mmmmfrgh!!!"
His muffled cries echoed within his chest, and his blood and flesh splattered onto the ground.
"Huff... Huff..."
He knew not to stay down for too long, and so he raised his vivid pink eyes to —
[!!]
His eyes met those of what could only be described as a predator's, his achievements seemed to have drawn its attention.
Step... Step...
Time seemed to decelerate as the figure approached him, its bright crimson eyes never once breaking contact with his.
The figure in question was neither Charymos nor his insectoid subordinate, but it carried an air of such pressure.
Yes, it was another Homonculus, just like Specimen 2946.
On her left arm, she cradled three decapitated heads, and on her right hand, she clenched tightly to a bloodied chain that had a sickle at its end, swaying by her hip with strands of skin and flesh hanging loosely from it.
"..."
He was frozen in place, and he could have sworn that he saw her smile despite her cold and indifferent expression.
________________________________________
Status Window.
Name: Specimen 2946.
Race: Homunculus (Newborn)*
Level: 1 (Exp: 21/100)*
Class: Magic Spearman- 12% proficiency (Sealed)*
_________________
Core Stats.
STR: 2+(2)*. INT: 7+(2)* LCK: 0.
AGI: 4+(2)* MP: 6. VIT: 3+(2)*
%##%: ???
_________________
Derived Stats.
HP [VIT + Gear Value+³]: 8(-6)*
STA [VIT + AGI(30%)]: 6.8*
ATK [STR + Weapon Value+⁰]: 4*
EVA [AGI + LCK(50%)]: 6*
CRIT [(LCK(20%) + ATK)/100]: 0.04*
_________________
Skills.
Mana Sensitivity: A+ Rank.
Low-level Regeneration: E+ Rank.
Creator's Eye: S- Rank.
#>@$: SS+ Rank (Sealed)*
____________________
Attribute Points: 3*
Alignment:Chaotic Neutral.
_______________________________________