Chapter 62
This is a fictional story by realTensai
The stars illuminated the night, their lights decorating the sky. Alvis stared at them, a sense of peace washing over his heart. The chilly breeze of the night never failed to calm him down and relax his brain after having overused it all day. He could feel his mana core filling up with mana by just standing within the Mana Forest.
It was the last night before the fateful day. Once again, he was just one day away from the festival. Once again, he would fight him.
Alvis took a deep breath in and out.
Voyzez Knaxius, the Devil Cult's Priest of Insanity and Alvis' avowed enemy. No one had caused him more pain than he. No one had cornered him to such an extent. No one had driven him so insane. Tomorrow would be their last fight. This was Alvis' last life. If he failed now, it would be over. There were no more respawns left. He was just a regular human.
His left pinky finger twitched. As soon as Alvis noticed this, he smiled.
"This is how a human is supposed to feel the night before a great battle!"
He wouldn't back down and hide in fear. No, Alvis had left behind this life back then when he had left his room. Alvis would live a life of no regrets.
"Boss, all the preparations are done."
"Woah!"
Alvis stumbled back, a shrieking shout escaping his mouth. However, as soon as he realized it was just Adler, his cheeks reddened. He cleared his throat in a desperate attempt to hide his embarrassment. Alvis had already lost count of how many times this had happened.
The way he spawns always surprises me!
"Well done," Alvis said, acting like the leader he was. Getting used to being the leader of 500 assassins in just a few days was a bit too much to demand, yet Alvis tried his best to fit his new role. Having Adler on his side was a big help to command his men. "Thank you, Adler. You all have done very well."
Adler just bowed.
"We are the ones who are grateful," he said with a level of respect that made Alvis scratch his cheek and avert his gaze. "You gave us the chance to take revenge. We owe you more than we could ever pay back."
The sincerity in Adler's eyes gave his words a certain weight that impacted Alvis' heart. Just looking into his eyes was enough for Alvis to understand his feelings. His dark eyes were just like a sea in the night, which the stars' light had abandoned. The yearning for this light was reflected in those two eyes. He would never be able to rest before he would get his stolen light back.
Alvis' mouth almost moved on its own, wanting to find out what this man had to go through. Yet Alvis controlled himself. It would be a tactless act to ask someone about his traumas. It was as if Alvis had to talk about all his failed runs and the pain he had suffered. His heart would shatter before he would even get to the present. Alvis couldn't demand this from him.
"Do you want to know about my past?"
However, Adler saw right through him.
"Would you be willing to tell me?"
Even though Alvis knew it was selfish, he couldn't hold back his curiosity. Since the first time he had seen Adler, he noticed his immense hatred for the Devil Cult. Someone with his dignity and honor could hardly control himself if one just mentioned them. Even the leader of the Assassin organization said no one resented the Devil Cult more than him. Adler was his right hand, yet he still handed him to Alvis so he could finally get his revenge.
What did they do to him?
Upon seeing Alvis' genuine interest, Adler smiled.
"I will tell you. The story of how I've lost everything."
Alvis held his breath, preparing for what was about to come.
"But not today."
"Huh? What?"
"If I tell it to you now, it would only be another burden on your mind."
Alvis couldn't deny that his mind was fully occupied with his incoming battle. Adler had seen right through him.
"For now, we should focus on slaying this insane priest."
Alvis exhaled upon hearing Adler's reasonable words. He gulped down his curiosity and smiled.
"You are right."
Seeing that, a vain smile also appeared on Adler's face.
"Let's win this tomorrow."
"Yes."
He bowed and then vanished.
"Hah~ I really wanted to hear his story."
——
"Yes, we'll do it like that. See you later."
Alvis put his phone back into his pocket.
"Who was that?" Lia asked.
"Priest Zaini. We went over our plan one last time."
"Do you feel ready?"
Alvis stared at the pond before him, his heart and body being just as calm. With the addition of the assassins to his battle power, he had more than enough strength to kill Voyzez. However, Alvis still hadn't forgotten what had happened that one time he had contacted the military to fight alongside him. Even worse, things would happen if Alvis sent his men to fight Voyzez upfront. But he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. For his plan, he only needed Adler. The others had already done their part by preparing the battlegrounds.
Before Voyzez could attack the festival, Alvis would stop him. Just like last time, their battle would take place in the Mana Forest. All that was left to do was to kill him.
Once again, Alvis opened up his system.
Level 3: Trial Of Insanity
Mission: Survive
STATS
Name: Alvis Silva
Level: 15
Class: Mage
HP: 260
MP: 350
-----
Strength: 16
Agility: 20
Health: 21
Sense: 15
Intelligence: 28
----
Available Ability Points: 0
Skills
Skill slot: 4/7
[Passive]
Evasion Lvl. 4
[Active]
Advanced Mana Manipulation Lvl. 7
Assassin's Eye Lvl. 5
Mastermind Lvl. 10
Inventory
Bandaids
Earth
Rocks
Daily Quests
- Push-ups [100/100]
- Sit-ups [100/100]
- Squats [100/100]
- Run [10km/10km]
"Yes," he answered to Lia's question, "I'm ready."
Lia smiled, but then her lips trembled as she went silent for a few seconds.
"I really want to fight with you."
Her voice was low yet still full of feelings.
"We already have enough combat strength," he said. But as he looked into her emerald eyes overflowing with eagerness, he sighed. "Lia, I could never forgive myself if you were to die in this battle. Everything I've struggled for would be for naught. So, please… don't."
"I can feel your worries and I also understand them, but just like you are worried for my sake, I'm worried about you. If you were to die in battle, wouldn't everything be for naught, too? I just can't let that happen. If I don't use my strength to protect my loved ones, what use does it have then?"
Her voice was trembling at the end as she looked at her two hands.
Alvis opened his mouth, wanting to object, yet he couldn't. Her arguments had reached his brain and her feelings his heart.
She is right.
Everything she had said made sense, and Alvis would be a fool if he were to argue with her. Still, he wouldn't let her take part in the fight.
"Let's make a deal," Alvis said, turning his full attention to her. "I already have a plan that I think will succeed. But if it fails, you can jump in and help in the fight. I will let you wait on standby, just like the other assassins. How about it?"
Lia didn't answer right away, though, after a few seconds, she nodded.
"I'm fine with that."
They both smiled. As long as I do everything right, Lia won't have to jump in.
"What about Dane?" Lia asked.
Memories of that loop flooded Alvis' mind, and his face darkened.
"I haven't told him about it. This time, I'm not allowed to rely on him."
Lia's eyes widened as her lips curved downwards. She just looked at Alvis' face and grabbed his hand.
"Al, the same way you worry about the sake of your loved ones, they worry about yours. Don't think you have to do everything on your own. Your friends, your family, and I will always be on your side to lend you a helping hand. So please, accept it."
As Alvis saw her soft smile and heard her words, heat built up within him, emerging from his heart and reaching his eyes. Before he knew it, a tear flowed down his cheek.
"Huh?"
Alvis wiped it away, only for it to be replaced by two more. His body just reacted on its own, Lia's words having deeply resonated with him. Suddenly, a sweet-comforting smell trickled Alvis' nostrils, and he felt Lia's warmth now on his entire body as she went in to embrace him. The vortex of emotions had Alvis' mind spinning, yet one feeling dominated.
"Thank you, Lia."
Filled with gratitude, Alvis' resolve strengthened. He raised his hand and gently caressed her long, blond hair.
I will win today and protect her!
——
Alvis' fingers wouldn't stop twitching as he waited within the Mana Forest. Priest Zaini and Adler were right next to him, also waiting for their enemy to appear. Judging by the time he had encountered him in the last loop, he would soon come.
The Priest of Insanity, Voyzez Knaxius.
His heart threatened to break out of his ribcage as cold sweat shrouded his body. Just thinking about his enemy made Alvis' mind remind him of the nightmares he had to go through. With each loop, things got worse. Yet he always could try again. But not this time. The trembling of Alvis' hand increased.
If I fail now, everything is over.
He had known that ever since he got that notification, but only now did reality hit him. Every cell of him reminded him of the fact that he was just a regular human. No matter how much he had braced himself, he couldn't stop his body from shaking.
"Alvis, never forget the fear you feel right now," Zaini said. Alvis faced him and noticed how his hand was also trembling. "This fear shows you care about your life. It's the most human reaction. However, the reason we humans, as the sole race without mana, are still living today is that we use this fear to grow stronger. Instead of backing down, we stare it right in the eyes and conquer it! That's how we humans survive. No, that's how we win!"
Priest Zaini's motivational speech forced Alvis to take a deep breath in and out. After that, he slapped himself two times.
"You're right, let's do this."
Alvis clenched his fist, ready to fight.
"Here he comes!"
Even without Adler saying it, Alvis knew. After all, every hair of his stood up, sensing the approaching menace. A swarm of birds rushed past Alvis' face, fleeing for their lives. The ground trembled as animals of all sizes ran away. Their survival instincts had taken over. The bushes hushed, the trees trembled, and the entire forest was in an uproar.
With every second that passed, it became harder and harder to breathe. His killing intent wrapped itself around Alvis' heart, trying to break it before the fight had even started. Alvis' knees shook. His feet acted on their own and took steps back. Even though he had encountered him so often, it was the first time he felt genuine fear.
Don't suppress it, conquer it!
Alvis gritted his teeth and bit his tongue. The warm, metallic taste of blood spread through his mouth and he used this pain to make his body obey.
Then the man finally made his appearance. Priest Zaini and Adler could only stare at him, and it was Alvis who spoke first.
"Voyzez Knaxius!"
A man wearing a black robe came into sight, his bald head full of scars matching perfectly with his insane gaze. His yellow eyes widened as he saw Alvis and the others. He scratched his head, the intensity and speed increasing with every second that passed. Blood dripped down his head, flowing right into his wide-open eyes, yet they only opened up more, his sclera turning red. But then he stopped, and a spine-tingling chill seized Alvis as he saw something grotesque.
Voyzez smiled.
"Ohhh, what an honor, honor, honor. The white-haired boy gathered his friends and walked all the way here just to welcome me. Ahhhhhhh, how insane! Insanity!"
"You never change, don't you?"
"I don't remember meeting you before. No, no, no, no, don't tell me I forgot! Ah, how ungrateful, ungrateful, ungrateful," Voyzez shouted, hitting his head with his balled fists. "Forgive me for my rudeness. Let's start all over again. I'm the Devil Cult's Priest of Insanity Voyzez Knaxius."
"And I'm Alvis Silva, the one who will kill you."
"Ohhh, big words you spout there. How insane that I'm here to do the same to you."
"Then let's see who will win. Let's settle this once and for all, Voyzez Knaxius!"