Ch. 66: How Utterly Repulsive...

Mr. Gloomy-Face stood frozen. His eyes were wide, fixed upon me.

At that moment, the revolver slipped from his grasp.

"Wh-what?" he uttered, slowly turning around.

In that instant, a shadowy human silhouette emerged behind him, plunging a knife into Mr. Gloomy-Face's neck.

My eyes flew open. Mr. Gloomy-Face died just like that?

Seriously? One who should have been the Villain meeting such an ignoble demise?

This unforeseen development!

A bead of thick crimson blood dripped from the knife's tip, staining the earth with a dark blotch.

Two drops fell to the ground before the shadow withdrew its blade.

William?

Was that William?

I saw Mr. Gloomy-Face's lips part halfway, as if to cry out but the words caught in his throat.

Not long after, the shadow whipped the knife through the air, splattering the clinging blood in every direction.

At that moment, Mr. Gloomy-Face started vomiting copious amounts of blood from his mouth and neck. Slowly...he collapsed to the ground.

On the other side, I shifted my gaze to the shadow, or should I call it William?

It turned towards me as well. Its eyes were red, staring sharply, the knife pointed straight at me.

It did not look towards Furina.

So its aim was clear...me!

At that moment, it suddenly charged at me.

Utterly merciless! It did not afford me a moment's respite!

Curse you developer!

In my wearied state, truthfully it was difficult for me to evade...damn it!

Before long, the blade rent my flesh, opening a gaping wound spewing fresh blood.

With my remaining strength, I kicked at the shadow.

It staggered backwards. This was my chance!

With the brief opening, I naturally put some distance between us.

Yet the shadow, which should have been William, showed no mercy whatsoever.

Again and again with blinding speed, it renewed its assault upon me.

The knife flashed in its hand, wielded with such masterful technique. A Treasure Hoarder was indeed skilled with bladed weapons!

I continued dodging and weaving to avoid its relentless onslaught. Yet my energy slowly drained away.

Sweat drenched my face as I struggled to parry the lethal slashes.

This was dire, so very dire! If I overtaxed myself, I could lose consciousness!

Mustering my last reserves, I attempted to kick the shadow and knock it down. But it seemed to read my movements. It nimbly evaded, then with one massive hand, seized me by the head.

Damn it, release me!

As I tried to break free of its iron grip, a flurry of blows suddenly rained down upon my face.

One, two, all the way to ten punishing strikes it unleashed without mercy.

It hurt like hell, bastard!

The eleventh was a clean, powerful strike that sent me hurtling until my back slammed against the massive trunk of a tree.

Ah, I could feel the tree swaying from the impact, and not long after it toppled with a thunderous crash.

I curled my bloodied lips into a grimace - it felt strange...it seemed I had lost my sense of taste.

Were I to look in a mirror, I might have laughed at the sight of my battered, bruise-covered visage.

I tried to rise, but my body refused to obey.

In the distance, I heard Furina's muffled voice calling my name, drowned out by the encroaching fog.

Craning my head upwards with gritted, bloodied lips, I gripped the hilt of my sword once more.

I leveled the keen edge towards the still haughtily standing shadow.

"William! Do not blame me if you die here!" I cried out, gathering my remaining strength for this final confrontation.

Final, yes, for there was the chance...

I may not return.

I glanced at the skill menu. Then, I curled my lips into a grim smile.

The shadow seemed agitated and angered when I spoke William's name. Its expression hardened, jawline clenched tightly.

Heh, it did indeed seem to be William!

At that instant, the shadow charged straight at me with staggering speed.

I had no choice but to counter.

Swiftly, I activated my Electro abilities, enshrouding my entire body in a cloak of violet lightning.

Energy surged through my veins, sharpening my senses and fortifying my tensed muscles.

I set my stance, gripping my sword tightly.

The shadow's first wild slash I easily sidestepped with my Agility, though my stamina continued draining from the prior battles.

The whistle of cloven air as my blade and its knife clashed, showering sparks.

We traded blows without quarter, affording no openings.

The clashing ring of steel filled the air, accompanied by the scuffing of our boots as we nimbly twisted to evade.

The shadow continued unleashing punches and kicks in between its knife strokes.

Several times I deflected the blows, but more often it struck home, opening fresh wounds that leaked crimson trails to the ground.

The longer this unending duel raged, the more my vigor ebbed away.

Yet at this moment, I drew a deep breath.

It is finished...

The contents of my mind blended into a swirl, humanity and malice. Inside my head, it was as if they waged war.

My wounds slowly closed. My vigor returned as before, even stronger than before.

On the other side, I saw the shadow, frozen where it stood.

Its body trembled violently as if wracked by immense agony, yet unable to move or retaliate. A long, strangled groan escaped its frozen lips.

The shadow thrashed against some unseen force. Its agonized screams rent the silence of the fog-shrouded woods.

Throbbing Fiend!

Slowly, I approached it.

I continued my steps, the wet earth squelching underfoot, wading through the blood-soaked ground.

I trod over the corpse of Mr. Gloomy-Face with his children until at last I stood before the shadow.

My lips curled into a cold sneer, the corners lifting slightly in a contemptuous expression. Then, I spat towards the shadow.

The shadow remained motionless, utterly still.

At that moment, my grip on my sword's hilt was tight and firm. Then, with a hand that did not tremble in the slightest, I thrust my blade forward, straight towards its heart...

Rational reason? Heh, how foolish...

As my sword's edge pierced its flesh, the shadow gradually dissipated from its corporeal form.

Slowly, the familiar visage of William materialized before me. His body swayed with a gaping chest wound. Fresh blood spurted forth from the injury, spattering his face and trickling from the corner of his mouth.

William coughed, more blood spewing past his lips. With immense effort, he rasped to me in a hoarse whisper:

"Stay away... from that girl..."

After uttering those words, William's body crumpled lifeless to the earth.

I regarded him for a moment, feeling no emotion whatsoever.

How utterly repulsive...

***

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