Chương 77: Walk The Plank (3)

Hastily, I reached into my system inventory and pulled out the dagger I had been keeping as a spare weapon, only to find out that I was on the cusp of being ambushed. With my quick reflexes, I blocked an oncoming shot with my remaining blade mere inches to spare before it could touch my face. That could have been a detrimental blow which would have left me with permanent facial damage. Nevertheless, I escaped from that shock unscathed, breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

The bass drum in my heart continued to pound at breakneck speed, longing for its escape from the body of someone who was always involved in life-or-death fights against stronger adversaries.

"That was close." The dagger in my right hand had a significantly smaller blade compared to the sword in my other hand, but at least it was some sort of weapon. As long as it did the job effectively and efficiently, the difference was nuanced. My moves were not going to be abated by this difference. Regardless, I still swung the weapons in my hands with precision, only to see my shots blocked by the enemy. At that point, that was nothing new to me.

Having fought against other skeletons of the same level, having fought against a wave of skeletons just the day before, and having been involved in a multitude of other fights in the past, there was nothing new in this fight that worried me. I had been desensitised to violence long before becoming a Hopper; seeing severed body parts didn't faze me in the slightest. My aim while fighting this group of skeletons was to grab all of their swords.

I realised that I might need spares; if my sword broke again while I was fighting the adversaries, then that could breed trouble. [Skill, 'Strength (advanced)', has been activated.] [Skill, 'Speed (advanced)', has been activated.] Clang! Clang! Clang! Some of my shots were blocked, but not all of them, since I had picked up speed without the skeletons knowing. Using the sword in my left hand, I sliced one of the skeletons in two, causing the top half to topple and fall.

Being wary of the other skeletons' movements, I hurriedly teleported and grabbed the sword that the skeleton dropped, putting the dagger back into my inventory for the time being. Then I faced the other skeletons that were ready to take my head. And I pounced. [Skill, 'Teleportation (advanced)', has been activated.] Slice!

The sword in my right hand was just a few millimetres away from creating a solid cut on one of the skeletons' spines, but soon, I realised that the skeletons' levels were not to be underestimated. In an instant, one of the other skeletons turned around to face me, its sharp, unnerving gaze piercing straight into my soul. Sweat began forming on my forehead as I realised there wasn't enough time to completely sever the bone.

I thought my move had worked since I hadn't been using my teleportation skill much during this fight, but it seemed as though the omniscient skeletons also had that figured out. I didn't know how to react. Should I continue trying to sever the spine? Or should I fight the skeleton that had turned around, which could be a source of impending danger? Decision-making, like social interactions, had never been my forte. To summarise, I couldn't decide. Clop, clop, clop.

[Skill, 'Teleportation (advanced)', has been activated.] Reflexively, I teleported to an area of the deck where there were few adversaries. A tense atmosphere clung to the ship, engulfing me, Theo and Ben and ensnaring us in its vast, sticky web. I didn't bother checking on Theo and Ben, since that would only give me extra unnecessary things to worry about. Huff, huff, huff. [Skill, 'Recovery (advanced)', has been activated.] [Skill, 'Healing (advanced)', has been activated.] Whilst clutching onto the wound I had sustained from being surprise-attacked, I gazed at the skeletons that were about to attack me; they were wallowing in their own pride, admiring the fact that they were giving a puny, weak, timid Hopper the most gruelling endeavour possible. The skeleton I had struck, which was in that tiny group of enemies, was bobbing up and down thanks to its partially severed spine, tantamount to the bobbing of the ship I was on.

Thankfully, the waves weren't too ferocious and there wasn't much wind which could possibly distort my movements. Soon, once I had mostly recovered, I rejoined the battlefield, more determined than ever to cut down those skeletons like they were trees in a forest. [Skill, 'Teleportation (advanced)', has been activated.] [Skill, 'Speed (advanced)', has been activated.] Slash!

Instantly, the partially severed spine was completely cleaved, sending the building blocks of the skeleton toppling and falling like it was a building that had forcefully been demolished. The other skeletons had reacted on instinct, turning around frantically and pouncing, swinging their swords wherever they could. [Skill, 'Strength (advanced)', has been activated.] Clang! Once again, the familiar metallic hum rang out, filling the air with uncertainty.

Sword strikes were blocked and parried, the sound of metal penetrated the air, then the process repeated itself. Clang! Clang! Clang! However, I could tell that either I was losing strength or my enemy was getting stronger. Despite channelling all of my strength into my arms, I still couldn't find a way to penetrate the seemingly impregnable wall in front of me. Damn it, I cursed inside my brain.

I wanted to reach into my pocket and pull out some mana crystals, but since both of my hands were busy holding swords, that was impossible. No matter how much I longed to have a third arm or possibly even a fourth, my request would never be answered. Humans can only have two arms, and I had to live with that immutable, irrevocable and undeniable fact. The only thing I could do to pass the time was to engage in an endurance fight against the two skeletons that were attacking me. Clang! Clang! Clang!

At least no damage was being done to my eardrums. At least, with my eardrums still intact, after the fight, I could still listen to Cayman's torturous lectures, Ben's incessant and lightly impudent shouting as well as Maya and possibly even Ellie's sweet, angelic voices. Yes, think like that. Think about what you can do after the fight. Think of it as a reward. You'll be rewarded after such a gruesome, gruelling fight.

The whole deck was suffused with tension, unbearable tension that only did harm to my frantically beating heart. My stress levels were over the charts; it was even greater than when I was studying for my exams. This was something I had to get done at all costs, even if the beasts were at a level slightly higher than mine. If I were to estimate their stage, they would probably be at either stage 8, about to progress to stage 9, or just entering stage 9. And what about me? I was still on stage 5.

The difference was great, the disparity was unfair, but at least my skills could provide some attempt at closing the gap. Clang! Sweat trickled down my forehead as I continued fighting with strong conviction. Every strike counts, every movement counts, everything counts. If I falter, it could all be over. After all, blood was still flowing casually out of the wound on my side, staining my t-shirt with an indelible, sinister mark. Clang! Clang! Sweat dripped into my eyes, making them sting slightly.

I had to fight back the growing urge to shut my eyes, since that could breed serious trouble. Just a little more! Clang! Slash! Finally, a hit on the skeleton's bones. Some of the skeleton's rib bones smashed, crumbling on the floor and forming sharp shards similar to broken glass. If I delivered just one more hit on that skeleton, it would surely fall, easing the burden that I had to shoulder. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

However, one has to remember that reality is a cruel monster throwing obstacles at you everywhere you go. I certainly did during that moment, because a system window appeared in front of me just when I was about to launch my killing blow. [You have run out of mana.] Shit, I cursed in my head.

Without mana inside my mana core, the strike that was supposed to cleave the skeleton felt lopsided, and without the strength to slice through bones, the strike hit the bone head on, making me realise how tenuous sword blades really were. Crack! Just like with one of my previous swords, the sword that I was holding in my right hand shattered, causing tiny fragments to fall freely on the ground.

With no strength left in my hand to carry on holding the sword, I dropped the sword handle on the ground, making a very low grumbling sound. Boom. I stared up at the skeleton. It was almost defeated, but suddenly, its eyes looked more threatening and its bared teeth looked more sinister. Without mana, I was basically an ordinary civilian wandering into unchartered territory, staring at an omnipotent monster that was impossible to defeat. This was it.

I didn't even have the strength to reach into my pocket and grab a few mana crystals despite my right hand finally being free; my forearms ached like crazy, and I thought one of the muscles in there had torn. I was basically floundering around like a headless chicken without my main source of strength. Plop. My knees buckled, losing all of their strength. My bottom fell on the floor, unable to get back up again. Defeat. One of the strongest vicissitudes of life. This was what defeat tasted like.

I had experienced this feeling several times in the past, but none as serious as this. I was surrounded by not one, but two quasi-legendary beasts, and there was no one around me who could offer support. Were all of my actions just a futile act of bravado? Was I finally going to reap what I had sown? I could only stare as the two skeletons inched closer and closer towards me with swords in hand and menacing glares in their hollow eyes.

I had been in this position before; it had happened during my solo mission and even on the training ground. It wasn't a new feeling, but it was still a feeling that made my heart beat like a bass drum and sweat pour down my entire body like I was having a shower. Well, this looks like the end. Any attempt to reach into my pocket for mana crystals was pointless, since the skeletons were going to lunge in before I could even throw one into my mouth.

All I could do was sit there and wait for my impending one-way trip to the afterlife. And then, just like on the solo mission, the sword came down. Slash! I closed my eyes and braced for impact, but a few seconds later, I realised I still had full control of my body. With my whole body in shock, and with the pain in my right forearm still present, I opened my eyes, revealing two familiar faces, one of which held out their hand to support me. It was the person who had saved me during my solo mission.

They had just saved me again.

"Daniel?"

Helping others is a virtue that all people should have and cherish. People help others for a myriad of different reasons. It could be because the other person is a friend or because a person just wants to do a good deed. Regardless of the reason, helping others when they need it is universally accepted as a righteous deed showing that you care for the other person and that you are trying to be a good person.

That was Daniel's second time helping Robert when he was in a perilous situation, but did he really care about that? Not really. Daniel and Robert were friends, and Daniel had been socialised to believe that helping a friend in need was the right thing to do. So naturally, he would help Robert regardless of the number of times, because he believed that it was the right thing to do.

And because of that, with all the strength that he could muster in just that second, he cut through the skeleton's neck, severing the head and letting the rest of the bones drop like toppling wooden blocks. Clack! Clack! Clack!

"Daniel?" Robert's face was devoid of any colour. He had a blank expression, one which suggested that Daniel's abrupt arrival was out of his expectations. His eyes were open wide, and Daniel could see all the tiny details in his irises and his pupils. He was in shock, bewildered, astonished, letting the sword in his hand fall freely onto the floor.

"Yes, it's me," Daniel said softly.

"I have come to save you. Again." Daniel reached his hand out to support Robert. However, it took a while for Robert to respond, presumably because he needed time to digest this strange chain of events in his brain. Eventually, Robert took Daniel's hand, allowing Daniel to pull him up onto his feet. Immediately, Daniel recognised that Robert's legs were trembling. They were trembling quite badly, suggesting that he had just experienced something deeply traumatic.

Daniel wanted to ask Robert what had happened, but when he opened his mouth to speak, no words could escape from his lips. Instead, Maya opened her mouth and let out the words that Daniel had been planning to let out.

"What happened?" she asked, her sweet voice carrying a trace of concern.

"Why are you like this?" Robert sheepishly scratched his head, letting his mouth open. No words came out, but that was typical of Robert since all of his friends knew of his social awkwardness. Because of this, Daniel wasn't expecting an answer. He simply reached into his pocket, pulled out an advanced-level mana crystal, placed it in Robert's hand and then turned around.

"Robert," he said proudly.

"We'll take over from here. Take a break at the side of the deck. It's always good to rest and recuperate. Fresh legs have arrived, so take it easy." Daniel heard gulping noises behind him, indicating that Robert had eaten the crystal. Then, once he was confident that Robert was going to be OK, he turned his attention to Maya.

"Maya. Help me out. Cover for me whenever I need it. These beasts could potentially do damage to my human shield, so I need you to be extra vigilant."

"What?" Maya flinched and covered her mouth with her hand.

"Those beasts are at a level higher than my skill, so they are more than capable of breaking it," Daniel explained hastily.

"Look, there's no time to talk, because there's a group of beasts heading our way. Get ready!" Daniel, with a sword in each of his hands, charged forward, pointing his swords straight at the nearest skeleton's ribcage. However, before he could launch the finishing blow, the skeleton blocked the sword when it was just mere inches away from striking its ribs, creating a booming dissonant noise that filled the air with uncertainty. Clang!

"I knew it was going to get blocked," Daniel whispered to himself.

"These skeletons are at a level higher than the previous ones. It's not gonna be all fun and games anymore." Clang!

"However, I do have a way to weaken it." Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! Daniel launched a barrage of sword strikes in just several seconds, turning his rapid movements into nothing but a blur for spectators to see. Some of his moves hit the skeleton, but they were nothing more than just minor scratches on the side of the bones.

"Damn it," he cursed.

"This is harder than I thought." While briskly swinging his sword, Daniel thought back to the sob story Maya had told him when they were still on their own ship. At the time, it had taken six of them, yes, six, two of them being Cayman and Ellie Grace, to defeat a single beast at the same level as the skeletons he was defeating. And the same group now had to defeat fifty-nine of those bastards. Of course it was going to be tough. From that point onwards, there were going to be no more easy routes.

He had to take the difficult, arduous, thorny route every time, and he had to penetrate through that route with brute force. Clang! He had to face whatever challenges life threw at him. Clang! That started with defeating the skeletons. Clang! Clang! Clang! Due to his immense speed, Daniel soon began to perspire at a rapid rate, which posed another challenge for him: he had to shield his eyes from the sweat that could potentially cloud his vision and affect his progress.

"Must… defeat that thing… now!!!!!" Clang! Clang! Clang! Slice! How many moves had that been? It had to be at least ten. However, after a treacherous journey, the skeleton that Daniel had been fighting was dead on the floor, nothing more than a measly pile of bones.

"Phew!" He had just defeated a beast which had one foot touching the legendary level. He wanted to give himself a pat on the back. Maya, on the other hand, was also somewhat struggling. Her main skill was useless in a situation like this when her opponents weren't humans. And since the chance of the skeletons having working brains was close to zero, reading their minds would most likely be impossible.

Therefore, with all the strength and determination she could muster, Maya charged into one of the skeletons with her two swords ready to strike and sever. However- Clang!

"Damn it," Maya cursed.

"I should've known this was coming." She activated the skill that increased her speed, sending all of her mana to her arms. Instantly, her moves became a thousand times faster, if not more, turning into wild sword slashes aimed solely at the skeleton she was targeting. Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! The low metallic hum of the swords clashing, combined with that from Daniel's fight, created an unsettling atmosphere on the deck of the ship, enough to send goosebumps shooting up an ordinary person's arms.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

"If these sword strikes don't hit, I might end up tearing all my hair out." Clang! Clang! Clang! The vast majority of Maya's strikes were blocked, except for one, which cracked the front ribs of the skeleton. The skeleton, however, remained unfazed, continuing to unleash unabated sword strikes aimed at Maya's chest. Clang! With the sword in Maya's left hand, she blocked the strike that was just about a foot away from piercing her heart.

With the sword in her right hand, she continued to strike, landing a shallow cut on the skeleton's spine. She didn't stop there, however, since that strike gave her a burst of confidence and an insatiable desire to kill the enemy in front of her. Clang! Clang! Once Maya parried the sword strike that had been destined to tear her insides apart, she continued to block the skeleton's moves with the sword in her left hand while trying to land another hit using the sword in her right hand.

It took a while, but soon, the sword in Maya's right hand lodged itself nicely in the skeleton's spine.

"Just a little bit… further!!!" With all the strength that she could gather from her strength skill, and trying her best not to take her eye off the skeleton's moves, Maya continued to increase the size of the cut, increasing its severity and increasing the chance of the skeleton's imminent death. She thought the bones in her own forearms were going to break, but nevertheless, she ploughed on.

"Now!" Slash! The skeleton's grip on its sword loosened, and eventually, its fingers went limp. The strike that it had launched that was bound to perforate her body never landed; instead, it stopped a few inches away from Maya's solar plexus before the sword fell on the floor. Maya breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the few isolated beads of sweat that had accumulated on her forehead.

"This is painful," she groaned, fixing the crown on her head.

"I can see why Robert has already tired himself out. Just defeating one of those things is too taxing." She saw Daniel standing a few feet away from her, hunched over and not moving. Although she and Daniel were already experiencing a build-up in fatigue, there was only one way forward from here, and that was to help Theo and Ben before they end up suffering the same fate that Robert did.