160 160 – Former Colleague
“Your request is already close to that location, Raymund.” The voice of Frei, the goddess of nature, came out of the communication icon in my game UI. “But, sorry. I’m only going to do this once. I don’t want to destroy the balance of nature. I’m doing this because you’ve already helped me, and I’m Kilev’s friend.”
“Thanks, Frey.” I stay focused on the scene in my magic pond.
“I know, this is not the place for me to talk like this.” Kilev sighed. This time, she wore a skimpy kunoichi outfit, almost similar to Yua’s, but in black. “However, wouldn’t it be better for a life to be lost than for the dress to be taken away?”
“Sorry, but I have to take care of the feelings of my servants.” I could have asked Elise not to care about Rupert and attacked Zak or asked the female warrior to keep chasing Mattias.
However, Elise would hate that. Maybe she will think of me as evil.
Kilev raised both your hands. “This is your duty. What I said was just a suggestion. I will not intervene in any way.”
***
“Let him go, Zak.” Lynn stepped forward slowly and carefully while Elise was still standing in her place. The female warrior glanced at Mattias, who had thrown the rope out the window.
Zak pressed his knife further into his brother’s neck. “No, don’t come any closer.”
The woman with the big braid stopped. She just realized that the little brother’s hands were shaking. And a few seconds later, she realized something else. Something that suddenly made her hold her breath.
Mattias had come down from the window.
“Perhaps you’d better go after that wizard, Elise.” The veins on Lynn’s face tightened even more. “Let me take care of Zak.”
Elise frowned. “But…”
“Rupert is dead.”
The female warrior widened her eyes. Zak released Rupert, making the big brother’s body fall.
“You…” Elise growled, about to come forward.
“Don’t meddle with that, Elise. This is Lynn’s business as their friend.” Raymund hastily stopped his servant. “You better focus on chasing Mattias.”
Gritted her teeth, Elise turned back and jumped from the room’s window.
“Please, I don’t want to kill anymore, Lynn.” Zak started walking forward. “Join us.”
Lynn shook her head. Her tears started to flow. “He’s your brother, Zak.”
“But, he got in the way of this holy crusade.” The little brother continued his speech. “Listen to me, the reason we followed Mattias was….”
“I already knew that from Mattias.” Lynn interrupted. “And I’m not going to believe that bullshit. Rituals to gain god-like powers? Go to the realm of God? Seize the throne of a god? What a fucking joke.”
Lynn forced her way forward even though her leg was still in pain. She swung her sword, but Zak was able to block and strike back. The two traded attacks, giving each other a stab or slash. Sometimes, they manage to hit the opponent’s body, which is still protected by a magic barrier.
The fight was evenly matched, but Lynn started to get overwhelmed over time.
“Remember, Lynn.” Zak managed to stab the woman in the waist. “I am the number one fighter in the corps, and you are only number two.”
“No, I’m always number one,” Lynn responded. “Because my leg is injured, my movement is hampered.”
“Really?” Zak laughed sarcastically and swung his knife again, this time hitting Lynn’s arm. The woman grimaced when she saw the bloody wound on that part of her body.
The magic barrier on the woman’s body has been depleted. If this continues, then she will die.
She then blocked a stab from her opponent. “And you’re not very good at looking around you.”
“Huh?” Zak didn’t expect that Lynn’s next attack was just a push. He fell down the stairs. His body rolled down with violent thuds before finally lying on the first floor.
Zak groans and can’t move while Lynn jumps from the second floor. The woman stepped on the man’s stomach with both feet. Because she jumped from a high place, the resulting impact made Zak scream in pain and clutch his stomach.
“This is unnecessary… Absolutely unnecessary.” Lynn was also lying on the floor, clutching her left leg, which felt like it was going to break. She regretted making that move, though she did it to save time since she didn’t have to go down the stairs.
“Ah, it reminds me of when we were new to the corps.” Zak let out a violent cough. “You really like making flashy moves like that because of the martial arts discipline you’ve studied. It took a long time and repeated advice from higher-ups until you stopped it.”
“Shut up. Don’t use the nostalgia card on me.” Lynn crept toward her former colleague. “Give up and accept your punishment.”
“Never.” Zak threw his knife, but luckily Lynn was able to dodge.
The woman with the big braid frowned when she saw Zak’s face again. “Really? Are you crying now?”
“Of course, Lynn. Rupert is my brother, and I love him.” Zak took a deep breath. “Unfortunately, he will continue to get in my way if he remains alive. So do you, Lynn. I will take your life if you keep getting in my way.”
“You really are lost.” Unable to stand up, Lynn crept up to Zak again.
The man tried to give a combination kick while lying down. However, Lynn was able to avoid all of that, then began to wrestle with Zak. Both struggled to make submissions to their opponents.
“Sorry.” Zak managed to trap Lynn’s neck with both feet, making it hard for her to breathe.
However, the woman pulled out her knife from the sheath on her belt, then stabbed Zak in the thigh.
“Arghhh!!!” The man was forced to release his submission.
Lynn didn’t waste the opportunity. She moved behind Zak’s body, then wrapped her arms around the man’s neck.
“I won’t kill you, Zak,” Lynn said with tears in her eyes while Zak was desperate to free himself. “You have to take responsibility for all of this.”
Several minutes passed. Zak’s hands fell limply to the floor, and his eyes closed. Lynn released her submission and checked her former partner’s breath and pulse. She sighed when she found that her former partner was still alive.