"Bring it on, you mangy curs!"
With brimming smiles, they all rushed towards me, grunting ferociously.
It seemed like they'd been waiting for me to take a stance. I didn't know why, for even the spectators' didn't look surprised at it.
However, Rald's smile vanished and a worried frown replaced it.
'Seems like my beginning stance portrays the Martial or Sword Art I'm going to use…so there really are things like that in this world?'
'I just hoped I've not given my trump card away!'
Mace-kun swung it high in the air, and my practiced eyes took note of its range.
I had to avoid coming within its range. I could duck anytime, but then, there was no chance of surviving a hit from that without armor.
They pranced around and surrounded me in seconds.
'Great…now let's see whether those movie clichés where the MC claps everyone even when surrounded works out!'
I went at ease, waiting for my body to take over.
Trident-kun swooped closer, swinging wildly.
My nerves bristled with excitement. 'This is it!'
Nothing happened; I just watched the pointy ends sailing closer and closer.
Just at the last moment, I sidestepped seamlessly like smoke. The trident swung harmlessly right in my front.
My reflexes had only snapped in at that crucial point.
I understood it now. It wasn't sentient, like a skill, so I, as the body's owner had to use those reflexes.
'This means I have to actually train to re-master it,' my face fell as I ducked a swing from the Sickle-kun.
The trident bounced from the ground in a wave of arxra. My eyes widened as its wielder leapt towards me, thrusting forward.
I sidestepped again, and it hit Lance-kun on his armored chest, knocking him out.
'Seriously, this is not a duel to the death? That strike could have cleaved in like a knife through butter!'
Well, one down, four more to go.
I wiped my face on my sleeve, eyes flicking from right to left.
I felt a sudden rush of air on my neck. Quickly, I kicked off from the ground, twisting into the air.
The mace swung inches below my inverted frame. Mace-kun's face scrunched in an amazed scowl, and I winked victoriously at him.
I landed in a bizarre crouch and watched the four of them advance menacingly. My breath came in short, fast bursts.
I expected myself to be out of breath due to this. Surprisingly, I didn't feel winded nor even nauseous.
Throughout the fight, I'd noticed a few things; one of it being that they seemed to be moving at half speed compared to me.
It seemed a bit tricky at the start, but I've gotten the hang of it a bit. Thanks to this amazing body.
I smiled victoriously. "Okay. Play time is over."
A cheer rose from the spectators as I flexed my muscles and beckoned my opponents on.
They all moved at the same time. The glints of different blades and a mace flashed into my eyes from different angles.
Their coordination was top-notch too. But I had a new trump card.
Just as I waited, a familiar feeling swooped on me. My senses screamed at me to stay focused but I just couldn't.
Yeah, because in my past, this feeling never brought good tidings.
'I'm being watched.'
Yeah, that's stupid, isn't it? I mean, there are spectators here, aren't they?
No, someone other than those here was watching me.
Distracted, I tried to glance around, but then –
WHAM!!!
A huge spiky ball crashed into my side heavily, spikes gorging deeply into my clothing and skin. A shout of panic went up from the spectators as I fell limply.
'Dammit, I was already within range?! Does this mean I've lost…I'd be kicked out?!'
My vision began to blur but I held on. Rald's face appeared above mine, swimming in and out of focus. He slapped my face, shouting around for a medic.
In the distance, perched above on a higher building, unnoticed by anyone, a thin tall man sighed and turned away.
"Guess he was a failure after all," he muttered disappointedly. "All my efforts across three generations wasted…!"
…
This couldn't be happening. If I'm kicked out, I'd lose my best chance of a noble life!
It might seem a better option for me, but I wouldn't prefer to live as an ordinary man. At least, I wouldn't have to worry about basic necessities here.
Also, I'm certainly shrewd enough to survive here.
'I can't just give up my stepping stone that easily!'
With a sudden grunt, I sprang up to my feet. Everyone around me backed away, surprised.
Blood streamed from the many gorges on my side, but I didn't care. I glanced down at my injury, eyes darkening in worry.
'For a guy with this injuries, I move pretty well. Must be this body…' I smiled, still amazed at my luck.
My eyes locked onto those four men and my smile evaporated. They stood at the other edge, exchanging triumphant guffaws and handshakes.
They had looked my way on hearing the noise, and now gazed at me confused.
'The only way to reclaim my honor would be overwhelming victory. I won't take any chances!' I took a stance, steeling myself for the worst.
Their lax grips around their weapons tightened, as they understood what I wanted to do.
I lunged towards them, eyes widened in maddened focus. They closed in too, unnerved by my maniacal glare.
I sidestepped like smoke, as the Sickle-kun sliced wildly. Before his sickle ended its arc, I gripped his neck and twisted hard.
He fell to the ground, dead.
Without a glance, I moved on. The Lance-kun looked wildly around, searching for me. Mace-kun swung too, but I bent over, halving my height. Coming up, I grabbed Lance-kun and propped him up.
The maze struck his neck ferociously. Blood spurt in violent bursts, as his head detached roughly from the body.
I plucked the lance out of his limp hands, and flung it to Sword-kun. His eyes widened as he watched it sailed toward him.
Some of the spectators looked away, horrified gasps escaping them.
The spear drove through his armor, sent him tumbling back and pinned him to the nearby wall. His head drooped unto his shoulders, his weapons falling out of his hands.
The fact that he'd been driven so far, and that his armor did virtually nothing, was a testament to the raw strength I now had.
Mace-kun looked at me in horror and dropped his mace in surrender. I walked up to him, whistling loudly, my expression blank.
He couldn't move an inch. He opened his mouth to plead, but couldn't articulate anything. I could even see his body twitching uncontrollably from a distance.
He was dead scared. No pun intended, since he was about to die.
Well, who wouldn't be?
"You did this to me, didn't you?" I gestured to my wound, grinning sadly. "A wound like this could kill an ordinary man, so you must have done it with the intention to kill, right?" I barked out the last word, startling him. He shut his eyes, shuddering wildly and gave no reply.
"You're a warrior," I tapped his shoulder, "and a warrior is never afraid to die!"
I swung my second fist at his head hard. However, when it hit, I didn't feel it rebound, like I'd expected it to.
It had cleaved into his head. White mushy brain matter spilled onto my fist and the floor. I withdrew my hand and wrung it clean, frowning. Mace-kun fell to the ground and more grey matter gurgled out, mixed with blood.
"Oops…didn't mean to kill him."
I turned away from the corpses, unnerved. I'd seen more gory sights back at the Hood, so things like this were common to my eyes.
An arcane sensation welled up in my chest, that kind that came after satisfying a craving. I was…exhilarated at what I'd just done.
I didn't know why, but this feeling hammered a distinct fear into myself.
Again, this wasn't me. I tried my best to feel remorseful or even disgusted by peering closer to Mace-kun's corpse but nothing happening.
Nothing at all. No increased heartbeat, no face wrinkling. Somehow, I felt nonchalant at what I'd just done.
'What on hell was this MC of a guy?!'
…
The old man watching far away turned away again, this time with a clever smirk etched on his face.
"Looks like my investment wasn't in vain after all."
…
I glanced at Rald and the others, whose eyes darted from the corpses to me, struck. Not with awe, but stark horror.
Just then, I heard it.
{Ding!!!}
{Conditions for awakening completed.}
{Condition: Murder three men in cold blood.}
{Syncing with Host in Progress.}
{Syncing Completed.}
{Welcome to the "Host Killing" System.}
'Finally, wait…Host what?!'