Nihilea
patreon
Chapter 213: Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw
🕑 Added 2024-11-23 13:11:44 +0000 UTCChapter 213: Help! I'm a Teenage Outlaw
Emma was feeling quite relaxed after easily dispatching her first two opponents. Mindful of the eventual shrinking of the arena, she abandoned her walk around the periphery and began heading toward the centre. Not directly, but rather in a winding route that kept her close to cover throughout, winding between support pillars, stacks of shipping containers and the odd pipe. It was the obvious choice, as Emma was confident in dealing with just about anybody up close, whereas ranged attackers remained the biggest threat, as she doubted that slings represented the height of technological advancement as far as equipment went. Crates were becoming scarcer as she advanced, possibly due to greater competition or simply because not as many were present this far from her spawn point. Of the two she managed to find, one held a chainmail vest, and the other a can of Red Bull.
“Nah,” Emma decided quickly, after pulling the chainmail on to give it a try..
It was damned heavy, comparable in her view to giving Felix a piggyback ride when they were both younger; not unbearable in the moment, but guaranteed to tire her out the longer it lasted. Deciding to trust her own ability over that dubious protection, Emma tossed it to the side, taking only the energy drink with her. Drinking it as she walked, it tasted much like the few times she’d tried it in the past; a bit flat perhaps, but that was probably a consequence of it being at room temperature rather than fresh out of the refrigerator.
[Temperature simulation should be well within the capabilities of dungeon generation. Something to flag for the next update, I should think.]
A faint pitter patter alerted Emma that she had company; she tossed her empty can in its generate direction, drawing a startled squeak from the floorboards.
[Rat - Level 0]
“There’s mobs as well?” Emma questioned, keeping her eye on the rodent as it retreated.
It looked normal for the species, maybe a bit big but no more so than those that plagued London for many generations. The only oddity was that it registered in the System, unlike her two human opponents until now.
[Participant name tags have been concealed by default for this round. Some of the entrants have disguised themselves, altering the appearance of their simulated body, and Felix doesn’t want to betray their privacy.]
“So that means they won’t know who I am either?”
[Not unless they recognise you by appearance, but only a few family friends would manage that.]
“Stand and deliver!”
A loud voice called out to Emma as she rounded a corner, and found herself face to face with another contestant; the first to announce his presence with words instead of an attack. The first thing to catch her eye was the black tricorn hat paired with a domino mask, leading smoothly into a flowing black cloak, a sharp contrast to the bright white waistcoat and gloves and the jewel encrusted rapier in his right hand.
“Did Halloween come early this year?” Emma retorted.
Her opponent didn’t visibly react to the taunt, which was potentially problematic, because he was the first actual threat she’d faced in the event thus far.
[Outlaw’s Grace: Improves wearer’s speed and agility. Soulbound.
Tainted Kiss: Wounds inflicted cannot be closed.]
He carried himself with an easy grace, and both his outfit and weapon were enchanted. The latter was particularly problematic, as it meant that even a light injury could evolve into a serious problem, especially this early into the night, while a serious wound would be a death sentence due to bleeding out. He grinned widely, showcasing pearly white teeth polished to a shine, even going so far as to bow once at the waist.
“Alas fair lady, we are destined to meet on the battlefield tonight! But fear not, for I, Dione, am a generous soul prepared to spare your life. Surrender all that you carry, and you may yet depart this place in peace.”
“For that matter, why are your clothes Soulbound?” Emma pointed out, not dignifying the demand for her surrender with a response. “We spawned with nothing, and nothing I’ve found in the chests have been like that. Did you win the lottery, or is there something more underhanded at play here?”
Emma kept a careful eye on her opponent’s shoulders as she spoke, looking for the slightest hint of tension in his frame. As soon as the first spasm came, she raised her crowbar horizontally, preempting Dione’s lunge as he blurred, crossing ten feet in a single second to strike at her heart. His enhanced agility came into play, arresting his forward movement just before blade tip met crowbar, saving his weapon from an untimely end. Another second, and he was back where he started, though his grin was gone, replaced with grim focus and a hint of caution in his eyes. Then, he lunged again.
First the throat, then the waist, then the chest to the right this time, then the throat again. Emma caught each attempt, fending her attacker off and resetting the board with each move. Dione was fast, but he moved in a predictable manner with easy tells, his eyes, arms and posture betraying his intent. Compared to Sectmaster Horizon, who swapped between a dozen styles on the fly and demolished Emma even with his bare hands and his speed reduced to match her own, Dione might as well have been moving in slow motion. Unfortunately, whilst this kept Emma safe from his blade, it didn’t give her a chance to counterattack either, as he was always back out of reach before Emma could follow-up, and he never committed enough for their weapons to clash, sparing the thin tip of his rapier from destruction. They were at a stalemate.
“You should give up, you’re moving a lot more than me and will tire out first,” Emma advised.
“You’re further to the edge of the arena than me, when the map shrinks, you’ll die first,” Dione retorted, confident in his position.
So I will, Emma thought, running over the problem in her head. How to get out of this one, I wonder?
