SnowFlake (4)
One of the enemies was a mage. But he wasn't that strong. Probably just level 1 or 2 at best? No way a high-level mage would be stuck in a dump like this.
Still, it was dangerous. Even a chantless instant-cast spell flying our way would leave us helpless. All we could do was pray the mage had shitty aim.
The real problem was there were no countermeasures. No plans, nothing. The soldiers hadn't pinpointed our exact position yet, but the encirclement was tightening by the second.
Fractal didn't look good either. She was already a patient, and she'd been exposed to too much winter wind. We couldn't hold out much longer either way. No time to prepare anything.
"On three, we run. Got it?"
"Hoo..."
This felt like total insanity. No plan, nothing. Just charge straight ahead blindly and somehow touch the portal. And after entering the dungeon? We had no food, no torches. Could we survive in there with zero prep?
It was utterly hopeless... This was just a desperate flail to survive the moment.
"Scared?"
Fractal flashed a playful grin and poked my side, twirling her finger. It tickled, almost making me laugh.
"Who said I was scared?"
"Really? Looked like it to me."
She teased, but then checked my face and offered some encouragement in her own way.
"Newbie."
"Yeah."
"They say the smarter you are, the more scared you get. Smart people have vivid imaginations and think up all the negative crap."
Was I smart? No idea.
"And guys get dumber around girls."
With that, Fractal struck a weird pose. She swept her hair back with one hand, thrust her chest forward, and shot me a killer look, even biting her lip.
"Did you just try to seduce me?"
"Uh, yeah? Maybe?"
"Haha. That's what you call seduction...?"
It was so lame I couldn't help but chuckle. I'd thought she was about to drop some profound wisdom. Seeing me laugh, Fractal stifled her giggles, snickering away. A bit crazy, that one. No wonder she ended up in prison.
"Let's go."
"Yeah?"
Playtime over. Honestly, thanks to her—though I wasn't scared to begin with—the fear had eased a little.
"One... two... three! Run!"
On Fractal's signal, I kicked off from the alley. Straight-line charge toward the portal. Winter wind smacked my face. Hot breath steamed out.
Today was all I had. Tomorrow didn't exist. And yet, because of that, I ran to survive this day.
"Halt—!"
"Grab 'em! Escaped convicts!"
The soldiers guarding the portal spotted us and yelled. Swords, axes, spears—all aimed our way. One poke and we're dead.
Cold sanity masking madness. Only after starting the run did I realize: what I'd thought was a cool, realistic judgment was actually the craziest call.
My heart pounded like it would burst. Adrenaline and endorphins flooded my brain like drugs. Something knotted in my chest felt ready to explode.
I surrendered to instinct and roared.
"RAAAAAAGH!!!"
The front soldier leveled his spear. Extreme focus. One mistake and it's over. Without slowing, I timed it to his thrust, twisted my body sideways full-force to dodge, and swung my axe.
Die
Axe throw deals physical damage.
Mana: 0 / Range: 1 / Cooldown: Whenever I feel like it
Thwack! The axe blade sank right into the mage's forehead.
Eh? His body crumpled limply. I was the most shocked, even though I'd thrown it. Just a wild toss? I hadn't even meant to kill him. For real.
It was impulsive. Okay, I did yell "die," but...
Before the shock of my first kill could hit, Fractal slapped my back.
"Nice one, newbie!"
Nice? I just killed a guy? How can you say that so casually? This is...
But survival instinct screamed not to lose it now. Just think: I'm alive. No time for deep thoughts.
Downing one mage changed nothing. And I'd lost my only weapon. We were alive for the moment, but things hadn't improved.
The soldiers froze at the mage's death, but noticed my empty hands. With their precious mage dead, no way they'd let me go now.
"He's unarmed!"
"Don't let him reach the portal!"
Soldiers closing in from behind too. Hesitate and die. I pushed forward.
Portal just steps away. Almost there. Almost.
Left soldier thrusts his sword; right one swings. Back off and the rear guys get me.
Thud! Fractal's brick smashed one soldier's face. Mid-stride, I spread my arms and tackled him.
Sudden burn in my shoulder. Probably a blind swing grazed and sliced it deep. Tears welled up. It hurt so bad I screamed.
"AAAAARGH!"
I stomped the ground hard and surged forward. Shoved the off-balance soldier right into the portal. His head hit it and whoosh—he vanished.
One step from the portal. Just stretch out an arm and I'm in.
But I didn't. Where was Fractal? I glanced back.
Three soldiers charging. And one had just stabbed Fractal in the gut.
Ah. Then she grabbed the blade. Keeping him from pulling it out. From chasing me.
Her hand gripping the sharp edge was drenched in blood. Her lips moved. Trying to say something, but the wind drowned it out.
I turned back. Portal right there. This wasn't rational, wasn't cool-headed—none of that crossed my mind.
My body moved on its own. Crunch! I snatched the axe from the mage's forehead and slashed the soldier's throat.
It barely half-sank from exhaustion, but that was enough—he gurgled blood and collapsed.
I supported the blood-soaked Fractal.
"Get up, come on... We gotta go. Almost there. Right ahead..."
"Newbie, wait... I..."
Blood kept pouring from her stomach. It's fine. Just reach out to the portal...
Fractal grabbed my ear and pulled my head down. What...?
I met her gaze in confusion. Well, technically Gerda's face, the body she possessed. But a fake face didn't mean fake feelings.
Her lips approached, met mine. Cold and rough at first, then warming, softening—before pulling away.
She grinned mischievously.
"Sorry! Even if I die, I wanted to steal my first kiss."
What the...?
Push. She shoved me. My back hit the portal. White light filled my vision, linking to a whole new space.
A dark dungeon welcomed me. Stench tickling my nose, sound of dripping water. An underground world teeming with tiny monsters lurking in the shadows.
I quickly realized what Fractal had done and yelled.
"Fractal!"
Fractal— Fractal— Fractal—
My voice echoed off the round, elongated sewer walls.
But it would never reach her. She hadn't crossed the portal. She'd sent me in alone.
While she stayed behind with the soldiers.
My head burned. Fuck, why? I couldn't comprehend it. My brain refused to process.
I desperately wanted to ask. Was this really necessary? Couldn't we have found another way? Wouldn't it have been better together? Is this how we part?
Suddenly, I remembered we still had a way to talk.
"Community."
I activated the Possession Community to message Fractal right away. But just then, a new post popped up.