The first to launch a thrust at Adam's neck was the leader, but Adam simply ducked, narrowly avoiding the slash. Immediately after, another bandit unleashed several consecutive strikes that, to Adam's eyes, were far too predictable. His body moved almost on instinct, guided by his previous experience.
At that moment, he twisted his left shoulder, evading a frontal thrust from the same bandit. Taking advantage of the opening, he grabbed the man by the wrist and drove his fingers into his neck, crushing his trachea and choking him on his own blood.
Instantly, he noticed another enemy. He used the dying man's body as a shield to stop a dagger aimed straight at his chest. Then he let him fall and jumped backward, as Vorren had charged again, attacking with rapid thrusts that Adam managed to dodge with relative ease, though he noticed that each attack was faster than the last.
When he managed to create some distance, Adam realized he had a cut on his arm and another on his chest.
"You're agile, brat. Tell me your name. Mine is Vorren," he exclaimed, looking at him with enthusiasm."Adam. My name is Adam," he replied, noticing that the dragon was still clinging to him, unbothered by all the movement.
Vorren nodded and lowered his guard slightly before proposing something. "What do you think about joining us, kid? With that dragon, our names will be remembered forever. What do you say?"Adam didn't answer right away. He only looked at the small animal on him. It seemed to feel his gaze, because it opened its eyes and growled at him, as if it were telling him something he couldn't understand.
'I'm not that kind of person.'
He looked back at the man and smiled. "Just when I was starting to get excited about the fight, but I'm sorry… I don't plan on joining someone weaker than me."He said it decisively, watching as Vorren's expression shifted into one of total displeasure.
"As you wish. You, attack," he ordered one of his men.The bandit smiled confidently and lunged at Adam, who remained still, watching him. When the sword was inches from his body, Adam stopped it with his bare hand, piercing himself and unable to avoid it. An intense burning sensation ran through his palm, a pain that, unfortunately for him, he couldn't endure. With a sharp movement, he deflected the sword, making it plunge into the ground.
The man lost his balance, and before he could react, Adam grabbed him from behind, placed both hands on his neck, and without giving him time to scream, snapped it with a dry motion.
'This shitty body… this shit hurts so much,' he thought as he looked at his palm. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt such an unpleasant pain.But while he was lost in his thoughts, he reacted too late. Vorren drove his sword into Adam's abdomen, and unbearable pain spread through his entire body, along with blood rising up his throat.
"F-fuck…" he spat, collapsing to the ground as the sword was pulled free."You should've accepted, brat… anyway, you'll die for nothing," Vorren said as he wiped the blade with a quick motion through the air.
Then he forcefully grabbed the small dragon, which refused to let go of Adam's leg."C-come on, damn it," he growled, trying to pry it loose.
Adam could only watch as the other bandits who were still alive drew closer. He looked at the dragon, still clinging to him, and let out a bitter laugh before spitting more blood.'Shit… this is embarrassing,' he thought as he stared at the blue sky, already somewhat blurry.
At that moment, the screen appeared once again.
[Tamer System]
[Notice: The host is in critical condition! Searching for an exit…]
[Notice: We have found a way out of this condition]
Host, form a soul contract with the SSS-rank Dragon. It shows favor toward you. A soul contract will intertwine your souls into one; if one dies, the other will also die.
Do you accept?
[Yes / No]
'An escape? This seems rigged,' he thought with a hint of amusement at such luck. He looked one last time at the little one, who was also watching him, as if telling him to accept.'Whatever… yes,' he thought, mentally pressing the option.
[Response obtained… linking the souls of both individuals…]
Soul contracts, or contracts of any other type, can only be formed when the user and the beast in question share a similarity in ranks (levels). However, thanks to the system and your unique ability, this restriction does not apply.
[Linking at: 60%... 80%... 99%... Completed]
As soon as he finished reading, he felt the grip on his leg disappear. When he raised his gaze, he saw Vorren holding the dragon in his arms, smiling triumphantly along with his lackeys.Noticing Adam's gaze, Vorren looked at him mockingly. "Still alive, brat?" he said as he approached, then pressed his foot against Adam's chest. Adam felt the weight on him, an intense pain that made him spit even more blood.
"I w-wouldn't say the same about you…" he replied with a twisted smile, stained red.Vorren, before he could respond, saw the small dragon spread its wings. The instant it broke free from his grip, it stared straight into his eyes.
"B-but what…?"The next second, a powerful blast of fire burst from the dragon's mouth, burning him instantly and disintegrating him. When the other lackeys reacted, it was already too late; the dragon had already thrown itself at them.
In the end, Adam lay on the ground, still bleeding, pressing against the wound.'That thing really is strong as hell,' he thought.
Suddenly, the dragon jumped onto his chest, making him let out a muffled groan.
[Mission completed!]
You have defeated the bandits and obtained a powerful ally.
[Reward: +50 XP and additional information about your statistics]
Do you wish to view them?
[Yes / No]
Adam could only stare at the screen with an expression of disbelief. He was bleeding out, and the system was asking him about his statistics.