What the hell is this?
Why am I up there?
No, the question is why am I an observer?
Multiple questions ran through Thren's mind as he looked at his body floating in the air, high above the arena.
It was so lucid and quite weird seeing the disdainful expression on his face. He wanted to say it was like looking in the mirror but that didn't make sense after all he'd never make that expression.
It was like a different person in the same body, he just stayed midair, as if basking in the glory of the setting sun.
If that's so, does that mean I am still dead? The thought hit him, but he dismissed it upon remembering what the system pinged before his resurrection.
Something about his body being occupied.
But who was that? And how is he flying.
Thren couldn't begin to fathom the amount of power it required to fly, afterall even paragons couldn't fly. That also explains the panic in the arena, after all even the Mayor was at most peak Acolyte, a level lower than Paragon, but the power gap was enormous.
If whatever that was decided to attack, this city would stand no chance.
But, if he is there, then who's body am I in?
No, that is not important. Wasn't this his chance to escape, while everyone's attention was up there, even the guards.
He quickly scanned his surrounding, he was lying in front of a massive pillar with gears spinning around and two wings poking out of the top, a symbol depicting the blacksmith God. Right at the center of the arena.
He looked towards the steamlock—the entrance to the arena designed to survive most impacts and almost impossible to forcibly open.
But now it was opened, most likely since they presumed he was dead, or perhaps to check what caused the power boost.
It worked in his favor either way.
The only issue were the steam sentinels, local guards, between him and the gate, two of them actually, most likely coming to check if he was truly dead.
But at this point there attention was focused on the figure floating above the arena. Threnos bet that there faces within those respirator helms were contorted with fear.
Maybe that's why they actually wear those things, to hide their emotions and just look scary.
Quite useful actually.
He could use the so called phantom Agility skill to dash and escape, but there was no way they'd just ignore him.
He had to take them out.
Right after figuring out how to get past their body armour made of laminated brass plates riveted together with obsessive precision, design for city control, yet dense enough to prevent attacks.
Ping. As if I don't have it bad enough, Thren brow twitched as he saw the quest.
[Quest Issued:
Escape Gunlag Arena
Condition:
None who saw you live must live.
Reward: 25 Will fragments.
Failure: Possible death]
He sighed, well at least I have an incentive now. He looked towards the sentinel once more.
The only weakness should be between the plates or the reinforced glass lenses. Luckily he had the element of surprise.
But he couldn't attack barehanded, fortunately a dagger was laying just next to his right hand.
Thren took a deep breath then his hands wrapped around the dagger. He glanced at the figure still floating in air briefly, there eyes locked, a faint smile appearing on the figures face before it looked away.
Thren frowned internally, what's with that smile, does it know I'm alive?
Throwing the question to the back of his mind, Thren looked back at the sentinels.
How do I do this?
[Phantom Agility] he mumbled and instantly he felt his body get lighter.
No time to waste, after all he had just six seconds.
He leapt up, and ran low, his body almost parallel to the grown, in a split second he was already upon the first sentinel.
Thren lunged forward.
The sentinel realized too late, before he could react, Thren plunged the knife into the thin gap between his neck and the helmet.
But the blade didn't go deep enough to kill, the sentinel was still standing.
Dang body. If it was his original body, he was sure a stab like that would have ended the sentinel.
But he had to improvise.
Thren smashed the edge of the blade, plunging it deeper into his neck, blood gushing out of the crevice.
The sentinel gurgled, his knees buckled as he came down.
A ping rang in his head, but he had no time to check.
Three seconds left, Thren reminded himself as he pulled the blade out of the man's neck. He dashed for the second sentinel.
But this one had already seen him, his attention was locked on him, and so was his steam powered rifle, the barrel pointed at the approaching Thren.
Luckily I have this.
Apply carnage.
Thren stepped to the side, away from the barrel of the gun. Simultaneously afterimages formed for each movement he made, like versions of him stuck in time.
The afterimages all lunged towards the sentinel.
Scared of the images lunging at him, the sentinel ignored the original Thren, not like he knew which was which.
He stepped back in panic and fired, but the bullet safely sailed through the afterimages.
Thren smirked as he circled around the man, and stabbed into his neck from behind, putting in extra strength to ensure success.
Another ping.
At that second, his body felt heavier. The six seconds had elapsed. Fortunately now there was no obstacle between him and the steam lock.
Thren quickly dashed forward, into the tunnel.
Once deep enough in the tunnel, Thren leaned against the wall while taking deep breaths. He wasn't tired, but that entire episode, the adrenaline, it was like he was holding his breath the entire time.
He willed to see the system, the so called notifications, even though it wasn't the ideal place or time.
[ First strike against blacksmith God: You have slayed a thrall of the Blacksmith God for the first time.]
[The arena fallen are thankful, 20 Will fragments x2{Multiplier active} have been gifted]
[You have Slayed a thrall of the blacksmith God
+10 Will Fragments x2{Multiplier active}]
Thrall? Thren frowned.
The sentinels, so the first kill granted extra fragments like a bonus.
[Sync Level 2 achieved]
Huh? Is that like a level up?
Status scre—
He paused, his ears perking as footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Someone was approaching.
The corridor was straight, covered with metallic frames, from the arena to the exit. There was no place to hide, the only choices he had was head back to the arena or attack.
But that wasn't much of a choice was it?
Thren flickered the blade and pressed himself against the cold wall as the footsteps got louder. Planning a surprise attack, luckily the corridor was a bit dark.
Thren gulped hard and slowly exhaled as the figure came into view. He quickly lunged, dagger extended towards the figures neck.
But the figure went low, using his momentum it skidded on the floor, avoiding the hit completely, Thren's body vaulting over him.
Thren quickly spun around, his eyes narrowed at the figure.
This was no sentinel. Sentinels do not wear top hats, a duster coat, a waistcoat over a shirt. Not to mention the adornments of gears which were trademark of high ranking nobles in Gunlag.
And he had that annoying pretty boy face.
The figure stood still studying Thren. His face scrunched up in disgust and surprise.
"What's a piece of shit doing here"
Right, Thren rolled his eyes, I now remember who he is. The prick who because he had a little talent treats everyone like shit. The spoilt prince of Gunlag, the mayor's second son, Adrian.
"I see those aberrants can't even finish a few bugs." He continued as he stood up.
"But that's to be expected."
He calmly dusted himself, not even bothering to look at Thren.
That was to be expected, after all he was a neophyte and the common belief was a normal human couldn't harm a neophyte—unless in special circumstances.
It was not like neophytes were beyond humanity, they had enhanced physical abilities and sure they would be a bit hard to cut. But due to arrogance and the fact that most people had praised him through his life, not to mention his disdain for humans. Adrian didn't consider Thren a threat, it was like he was just a Bug.
"Now come," He grinned as he slowly walked towards Thren.
As his hand was about to reach Thren, he flicked the dagger and slashed.
Adrian leapt back, avoiding the hit. His face scrunched up in anger as if questioning how a mere slave would dare stand up to his master.
But that wasn't the worst of it, as the sleeve of his shirt slid down, Thren watched with a gleeful smile as his face went from bad to worst. It was as if Thren had committed the biggest sin possible. Even with his pretty face it was still bad.
Yeah, he's gonna kill me now.
But Thren wouldn't give him a chance, he quickly dashed forward.
Normally Thren wouldn't stand a chance, not even with a 2x increase in agility or anything. But...
Thren grinned.
[Phantom Agility {Carnage added}]
Instantly he got faster, the speed boost catching Adrian off guard.
But he can still deal with it.
So Thren leapt back, revealing the afterimages which instantly lunged at the Adrian.
Adrian took a step back, confused. But he quickly recovered before the images reached him. He moved out of the way.
His eyes widened as the images twisted in an impossible way, lunging for him.
Seeing as they were too close to dodge. He swung his fist, attacking the images head.
But his fist sailed throw. As he had put in all his strength out of fear and anger, his body followed as he lost his balance.
And Thren seeing that opening came in from his flank. Dagger gripped tightly with both hands.
Adrian could only watch with fear filled eyes as the dagger plunged into his neck.
Thren pulled out and stabbed again, a faint grin on his face as blood splattered on it creating a disturbing image. But even he didn't notice this peculiar st
ate as he kept stabbing Adrian's neck.
Thren finally stopped as he heard the ping from the system.
[Prince of Gunlag slain, +50 will fragment x2 {Multiplier}]
[Humanity is impressed with your madness, +1 carnage]