I greeted the party with a smile.
"Welcome, bounty hunters." [Solace]
The swordsman immediately aimed his blade at me.
"You treacherous bastard! I'll have your head for what you've done!" [Swordsman]
The swordsman raised his sword to charge, but the mage held him back.
"Don't be rash! It may be another trap!" [Mage]
The swordsman stopped in his tracks, eyes scanning me for anything strange.
"I'm unarmed." [Solace]
Little did they know that my hands were my main weapon.
"Do you think we're stupid? We know that you mainly use your fists for combat." [Rogue]
Nevermind.
"...How do you know that?" [Solace]
"Your information is public, you buffoon." [Healer]
The tank nodded.
"It's written alongside your bounty." [Tank]
"...So you're telling me pretty much every kingdom has my information? Like, does that include |Skills| and stuff?" [Solace]
"Not all, but a good amount." [Tank]
The mage smacked the tank in the back of the head.
"Why are you guys telling him this stuff?! If he didn't know we knew, then we'd have the advantage!" [Mage]
"But didn't the bounty say he should have |Manaless Syndrome|? He should be weak." [Tank]
The mage looked like he was about to tweak out.
"What part of |Manaless Syndrome| does he look like?!" [Mage]
He grabbed the tank's head and aimed a finger at me.
"Look! There's none of the effects! He should be haggard! The blue lines of his mana circuit should be stretching out across his skin! He shouldn't even be able to stand properly! Do you see any of that?!" [Mage]
"N-no…" [Tank]
"Exactly! So get your wits together and prepare for battle!" [Mage]
As expected of a mage. He was capable of perceiving that I've recovered. Anyway, because I was so entertained by their actions, I felt a bit generous.
"Coolio. I'll give you guys a choice. First, turn back and go home. Second and also last, fight me and end up losing all your gear." [Solace]
None of them seemed to take an interest in my offers.
"How about three? We take your head." [Rogue]
"I can get behind that." [Swordsman]
"I concur." [Mage]
They immediately got into position. The tank went up front and was flanked by the rogue and swordsman. Behind them were the mage and healer, a formation to make it more difficult to attack the ranged fighters.
"If you say so." [Solace]
Their levels were decent. Each around level 100 to 120. The tank was heavily armored, equipped with a shield and hammer. The swordsman had lighter armor and wielded a longsword. The rogue wore only hardened leather over his clothing for protection and kept his hands empty. The mage and healer held staffs while wearing robes of specific coloring and pattern. I can only assume they are affiliated with different organizations.
"|Armored Rush|!" [Tank]
The big guy came straight at me, shield raised. He was faster than he looked, but not fast enough that I couldn't react- not that I needed to.
"|Reinforce|." [Solace]
Strengthening myself, I halted the tank's charge with one hand.
"What?!" [Tank]
The swordsman and Rogue followed suit. They both flanked me, each taking a side so I couldn't escape.
"|Bloodless Sword Arts: Six Winged Slash|!" [Swordsman]
"|White Wick|!" [Rogue]
The Rogue blew some kind of white powder on me as the swordsman slashed into what looked like six swings at once.
("Well, that's interesting.") [Solace]
From |Unbound Mortal|, I could see that the six slices weren't hallucinations. I could understand its fundamentals, or rather its foundation. Five extra blades were formed out of mana to create six total swings, and I could see the point of mana supplying them.
("Ah… It comes from the wrist since the extra blades imitate the movement of the original sword.") [Solace]
Knowing that, it would be stupid to let it run. I embedded a little bit of mana into my finger and struck the swordsman's pathway to disrupt the |Skill|, causing the extra blades to vanish before I caught the real sword.
"Huh?! My skill-!" [Swordsman]
Before the swordsman could realize what had happened, the Rogue tackled him as the mage shouted.
"|Fireball|!" [Mage]
My eyes turned to a ball of flame, something that only took a mere slap to extinguish. However, things didn't go to plan. The fire that made contact with the white powder began to consume it, exponentially expanding and enveloping me in it.
"We got him!" [Tank]
I could remember it even now. The expression on his face as I peered over his shield with flaming tongues clinging to me.
"Not even close." [Solace]
"H-He's alive!" [Tank]
Stricken with either fear or surprise, it gave me time to rip his shield off his arm before striking his chest.
"|Piercing Blow|." [Solace]
The tank's eyes rolled back before collapsing. I didn't know if that killed him, so I chalked it up to chance. If he lived, that's fine. If he died, then that was all he amounted to.
"He killed Jared!" [Swordsman]
"I warned you." [Solace]
"Return to formation!" [Mage]
The rogue and swordsman retreated, maintaining a defensive position in front of the mage and healer.
"Really?" [Solace]
I observed them as they observed me. The only difference was that they were watching me out of caution. I was watching them out of interest.
"What will you do now? You know your fire isn't effective, nor is your physical capability. Is there anything else you would like to try?" [Solace]
No response. They whispered amongst themselves, which I assumed was them planning something out.
("Maybe I should go first.") [Solace]
All it took was one step forward for them to flinch.
"...No way. Are you… scared?" [Solace]
"Scared? That's illogical!" [Mage]
"Why should we be scared?! I relish the challenge in slaying evil like you!" [Swordsman]
They put up a strong front, but I could see anxiety in their eyes.
("To think there'd be a day where my opponents would be afraid of me…") [Solace]
I reminisced the days where my heart beat like a drum encountering foes far beyond me. To be more specific, probably Jukhan.
("I think… I'll cut them some slack.") [Solace]
I grabbed the tank and tossed him over with a loud thud. The party, surprised by my actions, stepped away from the tank.
"Jared!" [Healer]
"Don't heal him! It must be a trap!" [Mage]
The unwilling, they remained a distance from their fallen comrade.
"You've got to be kidding... Don't you guys get it by now? I'm giving him to you! Just go!" [Solace]
The party stared at me with suspicion.
"He's using honeyed words!" [Mage]
I facepalmed in both disappointment and annoyance.
"I'm trying to be nice! If you really want to continue I'll just kill you first, how about that?!" [Solace]
The mage's expression shifted at my threats.
"...Maybe he's not lying." [Healer]
Slowly, the healer approached the tank. His allies watched closely, anticipating something. It wasn't until the healer reached the tank and assessed that their ally was alive that they lowered their guard.
"You see?" [Solace]
The mage gave me a nasty look before issuing orders.
"I am commanding a retreat." [Mage]
Just as the swordsman and the rogue picked up the tank, I spoke.
"Wait." [Solace]
They all froze in their tracks.
"Before you go, I'd like you all to know that there won't be a next time." [Solace]
Even if I try to be kind, there is a limit to my patience. Especially to those aiming for my head.
"...Anything else you'd like to say… sir?" [Healer]
"That is all." [Solace]