Meihua watched intently as Marcus strode purposefully toward the monstrous Flame Serpent, his sword emanating pulses of blue mana that cast ethereal shadows across the forest floor. As he passed Lysander's group, he moved past them as if they were invisible, his focus entirely on the creature before him.
Although Lysander was displeased by this commoner's display, he was too tired to say anything so he just made way for him, and so did his group. Well, except for one person. The girl beside Lysander – Sarah – reached out desperately, her fingers catching the fabric of his shirt.
"Marcus!" Her voice carried a mix of concern and familiarity that made Ambrose's eyebrows rise. He wondered if she was a love interest. From the way she looked at him, she seemed to be a childhood friend type. But Marcus merely pulled away without a glance, leaving Sarah's hand suspended in empty air, her expression frozen in shock. Ambrose was also shocked by this, he wondered if he was actually wrong this time.
But Meihua's thoughts were different from Ambrose, Meihua felt her understanding of events continuing to unravel. Her knowledge from the original story painted a different picture – one where Marcus, haunted by his encounter with this monster but aware of his limitations, had joined forces with Lysander's group to overcome it. But now he wanted to challenge it solo?
"Then again," she mused, "he's already awakened far earlier than in the story. Maybe that's where his confidence comes from?" But she still didn't understand why he did this. Marcus wasn't one to show off so why was he trying to fight it solo?. Besides, in the first timeline he had already fought the monster after awakening but still couldn't defeat it without help from Lysander. So then why was he doing something so useless?
And Meihua was also worried about another thing. With each deviation from the plot she knew, her carefully accumulated knowledge felt increasingly unreliable, like trying to navigate with a map that kept redrawing itself.
The battle began without a preamble. The Flame Serpent's humanoid torso twisted as it gathered magical energy, launching a barrage of fireballs that turned the air itself into a corridor of heat. Marcus activated his skill:
[Blade Resonance](S) - The pinnacle expression of sword intent that creates a spiritual resonance between user and blade. When wielding any sword, the weapon becomes a perfect extension of the user's will, dramatically enhancing cutting power and precision. The resonance allows the user to instinctively understand the blade's condition, optimal striking angles, and even grants the ability to project their intent through the sword, creating invisible extensions of the blade's reach. Extended use causes significant mental fatigue as maintaining the resonance requires constant focus.
His sword moved with impossible precision, each swing perfectly bisecting the incoming fireballs. The monster's attacks intensified, creating a wall of flame to keep Marcus at bay. But he activated another skill:
[Sword Force](A) - Enables the manifestation of sword intent as pure force. The user can project cutting power in the form of invisible blade-like energy, allowing them to strike at range or enhance their blade's cutting potential. The strength and range of these projections scale with the user's mental power and sword skill. While not as powerful as physical blade strikes, these force projections can catch opponents off guard and provide tactical advantages.
Invisible blades of force shot forth from his swings, slicing through the flame barrier. The Flame Serpent's eyes narrowed with something approaching concern as Marcus advanced steadily, his movements guided by yet another skill:
[Edge Perception](B) - A passive ability that heightens the user's awareness of all blade-like edges within their vicinity. The user can sense the position, sharpness, and movement of any bladed weapon within 30 meters. This awareness extends to potential cutting surfaces in the environment and grants intuitive understanding of optimal cutting angles. This ability becomes particularly potent when combined with Blade Resonance.
As Marcus closed the distance, the monster's strategy shifted. Its massive tail whipped forward with devastating speed, catching Marcus's sword at the perfect angle to send it spinning away into the underbrush. But rather than retreat, Marcus pressed forward, empty-handed. Activating another skill:
[Bladeless Cut](B) - Allows the user to transform their empty hands into blade-like weapons by concentrating their sword intent. While not creating a physical blade, this technique enables cutting attacks with bare hands that can match the sharpness of common swords. The effectiveness scales with the user's mental strength and understanding of sword techniques, though prolonged use causes strain on the user's arms.
His bare hands flickered with concentrated sword intent as he engaged the monster in close combat. But despite his skill, the raw physical difference became apparent. The Flame Serpent's superior strength sent him flying repeatedly, but each time he rose again, pressing forward with grim determination.
Finally, a particularly vicious blow sent Marcus crashing to the ground. He managed to rise to one knee, watching as the monster gathered its power for a massive attack. The fireball that formed above its head dwarfed all previous ones, its heat so intense it began scorching the ground before even being launched.
As Marcus stared up at the approaching inferno, a bitter thought crossed his mind: "Still not enough?"
…
Adelaide and Hualing maintained their protective positions beside Ambrose, watching the intense battle unfold. Adelaide's mind whirred with calculations as she observed Marcus's extraordinary display of skill. "Is this why the young master is interested in him?" she wondered, stealing a glance at her master's composed features. The raw power Marcus demonstrated seemed to justify Ambrose's decision to recruit him even though his talent was only Top Level.
Meanwhile, Lysander stood frozen, his aristocratic features twisted with disbelief. Everything he thought he knew about the natural order – nobles above commoners, the strong above the weak – crumbled as he watched Marcus fight. A commoner, displaying such power? It defied his worldview entirely.
Beside him, Sarah's eyes never left Marcus's form, though confusion clouded her expression. "Marcus?" she whispered, barely audible. The fierce warrior before her bore little resemblance to the person she had known. His movements, his determination, even the way he carried himself – everything had changed.
When Marcus finally fell to one knee, Meihua's anxiety peaked. This wasn't the Marcus she knew from the story – the one who never gave up, who always found a way forward. His sword lay tantalizingly close, yet he made no move to retrieve it. The Flame Serpent's massive fireball continued growing overhead, its heat distorting the very air around it. She wondered if he had given up.
Even Ambrose's usual composure showed cracks of concern. His enhanced mind raced through possibilities – was this the moment for the protagonist's power-up? Had something gone wrong with the story's progression? One glance at Meihua's worried expression confirmed his fears – this deviation wasn't part of the original plot.
"Dammit! I'll just wait a little, if he doesn't get it together, I'll have to intervene," he thought, turning to Hualing. "Get ready," he commanded quietly. His bodyguard nodded, her body tensing in preparation.
With mounting desperation, Meihua activated her ability:
[Statistical Analysis](A) - Enhances the user's ability to process and analyze large sets of data in real-time. The user can instantly calculate probabilities, identify patterns, and predict likely outcomes based on available information. This ability proves particularly useful in combat situations by analyzing enemy attack patterns or in gambling scenarios by tracking card distributions. The processing speed and accuracy scale with mental strength.
As the monster's spell reached completion, she pushed herself further, activating another skill:
[Risk Assessment](B) - Provides the ability to instantly calculate risk factors in any given situation. The user can process multiple variables simultaneously to determine the probability of success or failure for potential actions. This includes analyzing environmental factors, participant capabilities, and various possible outcomes. The analysis becomes more accurate with more available information.
The calculations painted a grim picture – the fireball's trajectory and power would prove definitively lethal. "Dodge to the right!" she shouted, her voice cracking with urgency. She didnt care if he wanted to fight solo, but he couldn't die here. After all, all the information she had was useful only if the Main Character was alive. But Marcus remained motionless, as if deaf to her warnings.
"What are you doing? Don't you want to live anymore?" she screamed, panic overwhelming her usual composure. But Marcus knelt there, unmoved, as if waiting for something. The massive fireball descended, its light turning the clearing into a hellish inferno.
The impact, when it came, shook the very ground beneath their feet.
A/N - rip lol