"Who are you?" I yelled, watching the woman in front of me. "Are you here to fight?" I summoned my sword, readied it, and waited for a reply.
"Duhhh, dumbass… the game set us up to kill each other, not chat," she barked, calling out loud for her weapon in response. "Dusk and Dawn… help me strike down my enemy!"
Two sleek and sharp knives formed in her hands, one a pale ebony white made of bone, the other black like obsidian, cut from stone. Each gave off a distinct mana, enveloping her hands completely where she held them.
"You'll be my third kill in two days… sit tight and die!" she yelled as she charged in, one blade aimed to strike. "If you're good and listen, I'll make it as painless as possible." She then let out a malevolent laugh, bringing her blade down.
In a blink, my sword was in front of my face, blocking the attack as I moved my body out of the way. Her blade slid off mine, shooting sparks to the ground and lighting up the room for a brief second. Realizing there was no other choice, that it was either kill or be killed, I called out, "Domain of Absolution!"
From my body, a black orb grew outward, revealing the open floor of nothingness. My mana responded in kind, flowing outward uncontrollably. As I lowered myself, readying for a strike, dense purple mana gathered at my feet. Using the built-up power, I launched off, sending my body forward like a projectile.
Angling my body, I swung my blade, the momentum carrying me forward faster. She jumped out of the way, causing my blade to find no purchase. "You're fast… any way we can maybe talk this out?" I joked, readying to block her next strike. "I don't really wanna hurt a chick…"
"Then die instead," she yelled as she swung her blades again. Her attack blocked, she jumped back, then launched sideways. "Fucking let me kill you!"
She quickly worked her way behind me just out of sight, launching an attack at my exposed back using brute force instead of thinking.
"You don't get it… I guess you aren't giving me much of a choice here," I said as I gripped my sword, feeding mana into the blade. In response, mana gathered around my sword, enhancing the bladed end and granting me power. "I'm done holding back… I'm sorry…"
I launched myself forward, sword at my side to bait another attack out. A moment passed before she moved, falling for my trap and lunging toward me without thought. The moment her feet left the ground, I stabbed the sword into the floor, using it as an anchor to pull myself out of her reach. She flew by my face in a blur. Flipping my blade to the blunt side, I brought it down with force, catching her midair and slamming her into the ground, fracturing the floor.
As her body crashed, blood and vomit spilled from her. She grabbed her stomach tightly as she rolled on the ground, gasping for air. I waited and watched as she writhed in agony, the blow from my blunt end
"I'll ask one more time before you force me to do something I don't really want to do…" I let the woman regain some life before continuing. "I'll give you one more chance before I go all out."
Lifting herself up while spitting blood, she once again lowered herself into a battle stance. "You read the rules… yeah? One winner. What happens if we don't listen to the system?" Mana began to gather around her as she spoke. "That hit was a fluke… I won't let it happen again!"
She drove both her blades forward, aimed at my heart and throat. Time slowed as I raised my sword, forcing more mana into it and making it glow brighter. Lowering myself, I brought my strike down, slicing cleanly through the woman and sending her body in two separate directions past me.
As blood sprayed out, covering me in its warmth, my system panel flashed in front of me. I caught my breath and read over the page as the blood soaked into my clothes.
[ QUEST: INVESTIGATE THE SHIBUYA TRAIN STATION: COMPLETE ]
[ REWARD: 2 SKILL POINTS + MINOR HEALTH POTION ]
[ PLAYER ELIMINATED ]
[ +1000 XP ]
My hands began to tremble as I read the text, I had been rewarded for killing someone. Nausea and regret welled up inside of me, forcing me to bend over and dry heave until my abdomen burned. I began crying as I thought about how cold I had acted, how I had given in so easily once my skill had been activated. I raised my sword looking it over one last time before willing it to vanish.
Leaving my hands empty, my attention was brought back to the present. I was covered in someone else's blood and they were dead beside me. I looked over at the women's half closest to me, sending my mind back into a panic, causing me to vomit again. I tried to swish my mouth out with water, but the acid still lingered on the back of my teeth.
In favor of finding somewhere not covered in blood or death, I began walking the tracks again. An outlet came into view with a large sign, on it read. Yokohama Station in big bold letters.The area seemed deserted, no signs of demons or other humans.
"Guess I'll stay here for now, let my mana regen… and rest up a bit," I whispered, crawling out of the tracks and onto the cement floor. "I hope the security room isn't locked…" As I turned the knob something in the distance made a sound.
Once inside I locked the door, moving the chairs and desk inside to block the door hiding behind all of it.
The systems panel reappeared with vigor, this time with a new message.
[ ANGELIC INTERRUPTION LOCATED ]
[ KILL ON SIGHT ]
[ BONUS XP GIVEN PER KILL ]
[ HAPPY HUNTING ]