Title Effect: The Cowardly prince.

The Leader shouted with boiling rage, "YOU FUCKEEER!!!"

But Mikael did not pay him any attention. He was busy fighting with Deon through direct messaging,

"What the hell?! Why did you stop me?!"

"You were going to kill them!" Deon fought back.

"Are you kidding me?! If we don't kill them, they'll kill us!"

"We can just escape using teleportation. Why do you have to kill?! I thought you were better than this, Sir Mikael!"

"Hah! Are you really an idiot? You have to nip these problems in the bud. Even if we escape through teleportation, they'll just come back to bite us when we least expect it." Mikael ridiculed, "Wake up, Princess! Humans are not as noble as you think they are."

However, their enemies did not wait for them to reconcile.

The mercenaries, driven by rage and shame of being toyed by a loser, charged at Mikael with their weapons at hand.

"SH*T SH*T SH*T! what do I do?! Psychokinesis is the only attack skill that I have!" Mikael panicked.

Despite their massive physique, the mercenaries displayed astonishing speed.

A blue panel suddenly appeared before Mikael.

<Collecting information…98%.... 99%...100%>

<Running simulations for troubleshooting…87%…95%...>

'#$%&@?!' Mikael internally cursed. He was not sure why his system was acting up, but the series of shining blue tabs only served to impair his vision.

The leader managed to sneak up on him.

Mikael's pale green eyes widened at the incoming sword aimed at his neck.

<Skill: Teleportation Lvl. 1 is activated.>

Mikael vanished and reappeared 3 meters away from his enemies.

"HAH! HAAH!" Mikael breathed heavily as he hid behind a tree. For a moment, He thought he was a goner—for the second time.

Mikael felt warm blood gush out of his neck. The leader's sword wounded him right before the teleportation.

Ping!

<System Recommendation: Use title: The cowardly prince.>

"Huh? Title?" Mikael turned his gaze on the new panel, wondering what in the world was happening to the system.

Ping!

< Title: The cowardly prince.>

<Title Description:

The third prince of Heinken Kingdom is known for his cowardice. However, a seedling of bravery had started to sprout in the young prince's heart. Though terrified, he boldly stepped out of his guard's protection to test his courage, bluffing his way through the trials. Thus, the system bestowed him the title effects:

(1) +10 all stats

(2) Opens 'courage' stat.

(3) Obtain skill: Bluff Lvl. 1

<Obtained Skill: Bluff** Lvl. 1.>

< Description:

(1) Release steam-like aura characteristic of a Weapon's master.

(2) Induce 'fear' state onto enemies (may cause Paralysis).

Current Limit: Enemies with:

(1) courage stat of 30points or lower

(2) level up to 10 levels higher than Player.

Skill cost: 10 MP per min.

Activation requirement: The titleholder must control the host either partially or fully. >

Mikael skimmed the contents with furrowed brows, 'Bluffing?'

Suddenly, an idea struck him and Mikael hurriedly messaged Deon,

"Hey kid, you can also read this, right? Let's do partial integration."

"I don't want to." Deon stubbornly refused, "Just teleport us out of here."

"ARGH!! You're so frustrating!" Mikael fumed, "We're not going to kill them, okay?! We'll just scare them away."

"Really?"

"Yes, so come here!"

"Okay…"

<Skill: Partial Integration Lvl. max is activated.>

Mikael gave up his control over the rest of Deon's body and just settled with his left hand.

<System Notification: Due to Partial Integration, the System has switched player mode from 'Solo' to 'Duo'>

<Host is given a new name: Kaede>

The Host's eyes flashed into two different colors—pale green on the left; hazel brown on the right.

Mikael and Deon's consciousness seemed to melt together. A new name turning them into one entity, Kaede, capable of wielding both Deon's and Mikael's skills with their unified mana pools.

As Deon held control over most of the body, his will influenced Kaede, but like he always did, Deon merely followed Mikael's instructions.

Kaede came out of hiding and boldly approached the men.

<Skill: Bluff Lvl. 1 is activated.>

"Hey bastards, where are you looking? I'm here." Kaede called.

The mercenaries turned to the sound of his voice,

"How'd this fucker get there?!" The leader asked, but then his voice hitched when he saw the rosy aura enveloping Kaede.

Ping!

<Attempting to induce 'Fear' state…>

The three mercenaries took a step back. They knew what that aura was. It was the symbol of power of the highest order of knights: The Crimson Knights. They were a group of knights serving directly under the king. They were Masters capable of imbuing their weapons with a crimson fortification that drastically amplifies the strength of their attacks.

"Wh-what is a crimson knight doing in a hunting competition?!" palpable fear was visible on their faces.

It was common knowledge that a single crimson knight could slay a hundred warriors with a single slash. Their crimson fortifications would slice through their enemies in an instant, leaving the battlefield with hundreds of dismembered bodies lying in pools of blood. But this also meant that crimson knights usually fought alone since their attacks were so destructive that it does not distinguish between friends and foes.

With such a huge disparity in strength, it was commendable that these mercenaries have yet to run for their lives.

"Hmm… I wonder…" Kaede leisurely walked toward his enemies, only stopping when his face was an inch away from the leader's scarred mug.

Ping!

<System Notification: Foes are in 'Fear' state.>

<Foes' courage stats are high. 'Paralysis' failed.>

The leader gulped, but he fought against the instinct to run. He slashed at Kaede, taking the opportunity when Kaede was weaponless.

However, Kaede vanished again, appearing behind them with the spear in his hand.

"But you know what? I'm in a bad mood 'cause you interrupted my breakfast. Also…" Kaede held the spear tip against the other man's neck. "You dared to spill my blood. So, it's only fair that I spill yours."

Kaede pressed the spear tip harder into the man's carotid artery. The man's artery strongly pulsated as his heart pounded against his chest.

But the man was brave.

Despite his fear, he sneakily stabbed Kaede with his dagger.

As Kaede dodged, his spear nicked the man's throat.

"Argh! F*ck! Kill him!" the man shouted but his comrades, drenched in cold sweat, did not hear him.

In their fearful eyes was Kaede's reflection. He was shrouded in a menacing rosy aura that raged like fire. Kaede flashily spun his spear, drawing a line between him and his enemies before getting into a fighting stance.

"Cross this line and you will die." He challenged.

'Please just go away…' Deon internally begged. He knew that he was at a disadvantage in a three-vs.-one fight so, he did his best to imitate his elder brother, Cain, by channeling his angst into Kaede.

The three mercenaries glanced at each other, a silent understanding passing through them—they were no match against a crimson knight.

"E-ehem! We'll let you get away this time but you better watch your back!" the leader threatened.

He backed off with his two cronies, leaving Kaede sighing in relief.

--Chapter end—

____________________________________________________________________________________________

** Bluffing is a tactic used by prey to make them 'look tough' to a predator. The prey may be completely harmless but acts as if it is ferocious and possibly dangerous. A predator may back off rather than risk getting injured.

In the skill, the system gauges the enemies' level and stat point (like how the blessing of the mist gauges Karma).

The higher the courage stat and level difference, the more resistant enemies are to the bluff.

As of now, Deon has no skill that allows him to see other people's level and stats so he could only hope that his bluff would work on them. Like trial and error.

* "Solo player mode" refers to when only one player controls the Host. It can either be Deon OR Mikael. while "Duo player mode" refers to when the two players control the host. Like piano players: one plays with left hand while the other plays with right hand.