Chapter 4: A Pretty Bad Day

Walking through the halls of the museum things seem as boring as I expected them to be.

"Kids, stay in line and tell me if you want to go to the bathroom." The teacher said as she did her best to organize everyone today with the help of another adult... I guess he works there as well... Don't know and it doesn't matter.

Most of the kids answered with a yes and seemed a bit excited about what they would see, on the other hand, am not very fond of museums they honestly bore me, though I get the interest it's just not for me.

(I wonder if I can sneak away and meditate for a bit... At least get some work done while I'm here.) I began looking around to try and find an opportunity. (Once I find a good chance, I'm out.)

There! Using the opportunity I escaped and found an isolated place where I could calmly mediate without having to worry about the rest, they probably won't notice if I come back in 15 minutes.

"Hehehe, finally some peace." I couldn't help but smile to myself.

"Did you really sneak out just so you could sleep? Wow, even for you that's a new level of laziness." Sara calmly spoke to me.

"Why are you here?" I respond just as calmly while suppressing the twitching of my eyes.

"I like the Museum of Clay, but I've already been to most museums in the area a couple of times, and going through it again with a loud class doesn't make any more fun." She replied with a small smile. So this place is a museum of clay... That's something alright.

"Of course you do. The day Sara likes something fun is the day I'll run naked in class 3 times over." Rolls also popped up like it was nothing... Maybe I gave the teachers too much credit...

"Hey! You guys can't just go off and do stuff without us!" Jasmine complained.

"Don't yell so loud, they'll find us if you do," Naomi advised.

*Boom!*

As if the world was laughing at my wish for peace, the museum was blown through by a single giant fist.

Entering the room was a blue-skinned humanoid creature standing at about 3m(9'10). His body was muscular and wrinkly, and he was wearing very little in the way of clothing, having only a loincloth and boots. His eyes had a green-yellowish hue and his teeth were like serrated knives. As he looked at us, the monster laughed and I could see his tongue which was covered in round bumps, and when he licked his lips, the tongue touched the serrated teeth but was not harmed.

Behind him, there were smaller green creatures, all of them bald and long-nosed, their teeth sharp but not serrated, and their bodies scrawny and small, with a few muscular exceptions to be found amidst the crowd.

"Run!"

"No! No! No! Why did this have to happen while I'm here?!"

"What the hell are Slayers doing?!"

"Arrrggh! Run don't look behind."

"Look! It seems like a group of them are coming this way."

Various people's yelling could be heard from the other side.

Trying to run away from the danger, a young man came to this side, and as soon as they were close enough, the blue creature grabbed him by his head and squeezed bursting the head into pieces of meat, and blood splattered all over. Then he seemed to smell the body before recoiling and throwing the body at a wall disfiguring it even more than before.

At that moment, the blue monster pointed at us and then said. "#%@$&!"

As expected, I couldn't understand a thing he said, but it was obvious as about 8 green creatures came running our way.

Of course, I stepped forward and coated my hands in mana.

However, what I did not expect was…

"Guys! You to get out of here! I have this!" Rolls rushed at the green creatures without a second thought. "If you keep going that way you can escape! Don't worry and just run!"

(Is he insane?! I have to stop him now!) And just as I was going to step in to do something.

Using his mana in a similar manner to me, maybe even more precisely, Rolls decapitated 4 of the 8 green creatures in an instant.

(What?! How?... Is Rolls a genius?!) I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and while he did have more mana than the average person, it doesn't mean he'll be able to control it without training or a natural affinity for it.

"What are you doing?! He told us to run!" While I was busy being shocked by Rolls, Sara came in and pulled me as she ran away.

In a similar vein, Naomi and Jasmine were also running for it, as we left Rolls behind to mutilate the green creatures around him with his mana-coated hands.

"Don't shout! They'll come after us if you do!" Jasmine complanied.

"You're not exactly helping either." Naomi added.

Though it wasn't a time of focus for me and I was more worried about what was happening behind us.

(He's actually this strong... Unbelievable...) It couldn't register in my mind that this kid could do all that... And I never noticed... (Wait... Vandir! Did you know about this?))

{Know what? That the kid can control mana? Are you stupid? You can't know if someone can control their mana or not unless you are close enough to sense it when they do. Though I did have my suspicions, he's so insignificant I forgot.} Vandir replied.

(How can you be so relaxed? What if he was dangerous?) I couldn't help but point out.

{Then it would mean you are a weakling if that kid counts as "dangerous", though I will admit he's currently better than you at controlling his energy… I mean mana, yeah, that's what you're using right now.} Vandir retorted.

(That arrogance might get us killed!) I warn him.

{Hmph! That only happens if you are weak and at that point, it would be your fault since I'm giving you all the ingredients and the recipe to succeed. You're just not good enough to do it.} He rebuked.

*Sigh* (Why do I still try?) I shook my head and focused on what was going on around us.

It seemed like a phenomenon known as a monster break had taken place, and the museum was being invaded by monsters. I still don't know all that much about monsters and can't really tell if they are strong or not, but most of them seem to have about half as much mana as me, with a few of them having something closer to me or even above that, while the blue creature has way, way more than me.

(Do you know the difference between me and that blue creature?) I asked.

{Hmmm... He has something closer to 25 times your current mana pool. So it's not weird that you can't see through him.} Vandir expressed.

(25 times?! That's insane!! Can we even survive?!) I was made to doubt our ability to come out alive.

{Tch! Don't even start. It's not like you have to deal with this, Slayers exist for a reason, and even if it comes to it, don't be intimidated by a bigger mana pool. Having more mana doesn't make you better at using it, it just means you have more possibilities at your disposal.

{Energy control in general is a crucial skill to have and will always be useful. The energy in question right now is Mana and you can control it to a better degree than these dumb monsters! Use that advantage! Use your head! Don't fear your enemy or you've already lost half the fight, but be cautious at all times.} Vandir contrary to my expectations didn't just make fun of me...

(... Thanks... I guess...) I felt awkward thanking this guy, but it would be disingenuous of me not to.

{I do not require your thanks! I need you to survive and thrive!} And just like that, he went right back to being himself... In a bad way...

Just then I felt something approaching from the front and dashed ahead of everyone to find a green creature, but unlike the ones who attacked before, this one had a muscular physique.

At that moment my mana-coated hand went in as I threw a punch at the creature.

"Urgh!..." Spit and blood left my mouth, as I was the one punched back, and I could feel the pieces of teeth in my bloody mouth. I'm lucky I didn't bite my tongue off.

(It's so much stronger than the other ones from before... In one punch I'm already like this... F*ck!... I need to find a way to get out of this... He said I'm better at mana control... Right?... Then...) Even though I was hurt as an idea came to my mind, I knew what I had to do.

*Crack!*

The ground faltered under the pressure of the green creature's punch as I managed to just barely dodge by pumping mana to my legs. Accumulating mana when you're not born with that much like me, is quite a hard task, but today I've come to realize how little I actually have.

Right now I can use it a few more times, but I only have 2 chances to win...

Grabbing the tile of the broken floor, I threw it at the green creature, and it defended itself as it broke making contact with him.

Using this opening, I touched the creature's chest where the heart would be since it was covering its face.

(Die!!!!) I roared internally and immediately used mana disruption on it.

Blood came out of the mouth, eyes, and ears of the green creature, however, the reality was much harsher as the creature kicked me in the stomach, causing spit to fly out of my mouth as my ribs began cracking and I felt like vomiting.

My knees reached the ground and my face followed, I was incapacitated and defeated by some random monster.

(After all the work and mediation... Why am I so weak?... Even a random kid like Rolls is stronger than me... Am I simply fated to be weak, no matter what?! Why?! What have I done to deserve this fate?! All I want is to be strong for myself and those I love... Maybe that isn't enough... Maybe I have to strike for more...

(Higher! So high that so matter how weak I'm fated to be, my weakness will still make me the strongest to everyone else!! I can't believe that I am still so weak... Then if I must be weak, I'll be the strongest weakling ever!) My eyes jetted in fury as the blood left my mouth and my weak body quaked, my will refused to stay down.

The green creature stepped on my head and looked down at me with clear disgust, and that was its downfall.

Mustering any possible strength in me I grabbed onto his leg and sent a wave of mana disruption through his body, using all the mana I still had.

(If I'll die! I'll take you with me! I will never again fall without fighting for my life!) My grit was strong as my bones crackled.

The green creature however was experiencing worse! As its body tensed with all its veins visible and it began shaking before its eyes popped and its body fell to the ground. I had won as the blood of the green creature rested on the ground and on me.

(Damn it!... In the end, I still couldn't do anything I set out to... Though I guess this still makes 2 more victories than I ever got in my first life... How sad and pathetic...) I could only look at myself and was disappointed with how little I accomplished.

{Hahahaha! You moronic fool! All you had to do was take my deal and accept to make those girls your women in the future... How stubborn you are... Though I must say, I respect this side of you a bit more even if ultimately stupid...} Vandir expressed to my surprise.

(Shut up... We're both dying...) My vision was blurry and slowly fading away as all strength left my body.

{No we're not. You're quite dramatic, you should try acting. As for our lives, I'll keep you stable with the mana I've accumulated. You're lucky you didn't get hit anymore or even I wouldn't be able to save you... At least not in my current state. Anyway, all you have to do right now is stay still.} I really didn't understand that guy...

Does he hate me or not... I guess I'm getting used to having him around.

Still, my senses were weak and it felt like I was back to being a weak bedridden fool... But I'll get back up from this... Today was just a pretty bad day all things considered. That won't stop me though.

.....

....

...

Unfortunately, it seems I had forgotten I was still on a battlefield.

"No! Don't hurt Maky! Stop it!!" I could hear Jasmine's scream as the blue creature's punch approached my defenseless body.