George and his lackeys slowly closed in on me, their presence filling the air with tension. George, as the leader, was the first to make a move. He threw a punch straight at my face with all the power he could muster.
It landed. And yet… it didn't hurt?
[Appraisal]
George Heart [Lv. 5]
Stat:
Strength: 4
Defense: 4
Endurance: 4
Intelligence: 4
Charisma: 4
[End]
... He's this pathetic?
In Daedalus Eternus terms, this was laughable. But on Earth, these stats would make him formidable. What I realized, though, was that the average adult had around 2 points in a stat, and George's 4 points meant he was still above the average—pretty impressive, actually.
No wonder it felt like I was being hit by two people at once.
As the realization hit me, I could see the shock on George and his lackeys' faces.
He… he took the hit!?
George's punch, often seen as monstrous in his martial arts club, barely made a dent. The force of it was staggering, but I stood there, unmoving, like a rock. His lackeys could barely believe their eyes. They knew just how strong George was, and yet I was still standing.
"Wh… what the hell are you?" George stammered, his voice shaking with disbelief.
"Hm? I'm Ethan... Ethan Blaze. What more could I be except for myself?" I replied, my tone dripping with a smile that felt more hostile than friendly.
George subconsciously took a step back. He could feel it—the danger that was now emanating from me.
"Tsk… Take this, you piece of shit!" He sneered and rushed at me, throwing a punch that was even stronger than the last.
A grin spread across my face. While George may have been quick to the average person, to me, he was nothing but a snail.
I guess having 60 Intelligence is quite broken.
I observed his slow approach, but then, I sensed something. I turned my head slightly and saw a familiar figure approaching from behind. My sister. She was almost here.
Perfect.
In the Game, there was an option to lower your character's stats to make the challenges harder or gain additional benefits. With a mental command, I dropped my defense to 1—half the defense of an average adult. This would hurt like hell, but it was the perfect setup.
The next moment, George's punch landed squarely on my chest. The impact was far greater than I expected. The sheer force sent me flying back, crashing into the wall behind me. Blood spilled from my mouth as I struggled to catch my breath.
Well shit, lowering my Defense to 1 nearly killed me.
The pain was intense, but I had to admit, it worked. My sister had witnessed it all. I had done it on purpose, but now, I was beginning to regret the sharp sting of my own decision.
Wait a minute…
Why was she here?
"Ethan!" Her voice broke through my pain as she rushed over. Panic and terror flooded her eyes as she saw me lying there, blood pooling around me.
George, equally confused and horrified, stood frozen, unsure of how to react. My sister's sudden arrival seemed to throw him off balance.
"Hey… Sis," I croaked, trying to muster some semblance of a smile. It felt forced, and my chest was on fire, but it was the best I could manage in that moment.
My sister's eyes darkened, her protective instincts kicking in. "Hang in there, Eth. I'm taking you to the infirmary," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument.
As she moved to support me, George opened his mouth to say something, but my sister shot him a cold, piercing glare.
"Don't you dare come near me or my brother, you fucking piece of shit."
The venom in her words was so intense, it sent a shiver down my spine. It was as if a demon had taken control of her, her protective fury radiating from her.
What the hell is going on?
As we made our way to the infirmary, my sister asked me a question I wasn't prepared for.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Caught. I had been too obvious. Damn it.
I looked away, scratching the back of my head. The small, nervous gesture was enough to confirm her suspicion.
"Figured…" she muttered under her breath. But then, she surprised me with something I wasn't expecting. "You know, Eth… Did you know you were unconscious for a month?"
A month?
I blinked in confusion. "What?"
She giggled softly at my reaction, but the sadness in her eyes was undeniable. "A month ago, I found you unconscious in an alley. I thought you were dying… I was terrified. I rushed you to the hospital, and they said you were just unconscious and needed rest. But… you were actually in a coma."
I froze, my mind spinning. Wait... Was I still in that coma? My thoughts flickered back to Arthas… Was I still him? Was all of this still part of the Trial?
Before I could gather my thoughts, my sister stopped in her tracks and looked at me. Then, without warning, she wrapped me in a tight embrace.
"Don't… leave me. Please," she whispered, her voice trembling with an intensity I had never heard before. Her words, filled with desperation, cut through the chaos in my mind.
For a moment, I hesitated. I knew this was just a trial, that this wasn't real. But the sincerity in her voice… It felt too real. Too raw.
In the end, my resolve faltered. Weak to my sister's love, I sighed.
"I won't… Don't worry. If I did, I'd kill myself."
[System]
Quest:
Do not leave your Sister's side until the Trial ends.
Rewards: ???
[End]
... Well, that's fucking lovely.
I sighed in defeat. There was no way I'd leave her now, not when I had the chance to protect her.
We kept walking, and I nearly forgot I was supposed to be heading to the infirmary. My sister quickly corrected her mistake and rushed me there, getting me treated for the wounds I had inflicted upon myself.