Chapter 33 : A skeleton mage(2)

"....."

The power hidden within the attacked would have surprised anyone but Bittu. Not being himself at the moment, his reaction to the attack differed from his usual self. He remained indifferent to the attack as he turned around and once again started to kill the skeletons and walk towards the mage that dared to go against him.

He ignored the attack and just focused on the one who was responsible. With a whirl of his hand, he killed three skeletons that were beside him that were too close to kill using his cards. Then he backed off and once again used his cards to kill the skeletons.

Using the shortest route possible, he made his was towards the blue skeleton. Strangely, the skeleton did not attack him on the way. If he was conscious, he would have definitely felt that this was suspicious and would have been more alert. But, with his condition, he made his way towards it, fearless. Each step building his momentum as he killed more and more skeletons.

After a while, he arrived before the skeleton, but right before he could command his cards to attack.

The skeleton pulled up a sneak attack as it launched six water blades his way, blocking all his escape route, forcing him to take the attack head on and from the power held by these blades, it was enough to slice him into pieces.

But!

"....."

Instead of dodging, he just gazed at them coming his way and suddenly, actually put his head down and for the first time, since this unknown energy took over Bittu, his mouth moved for something other than the word, "Die".

He let out a laugh!

"Haha"

"Hahahahahaha", his cold and aloof facial expressions changed into that of a crazed man. He then raised his head and looked at the skeleton. Instead of saying anything, he laughed out even louder. He raised his head high and looked at the walls above his head and spread his arms as if he was truly enjoying this moment.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha"

If it was anyone else in place of the skeleton, then they would have felt that he has gone mad at the moment of death. But this was who he really was. This was the Jocker.

The Jocker; He who laughs in the face of danger!

The water blades uncaring of the madness, cutting anything that came in between them and their target arrived before Bittu. It traveled and arrived right before his critical organs almost striking him. He could feel the wind already hitting him at the places that were about to be cut through, but right before the blades could hit him.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The sound of blades clashing with metal echoed in the room. The only three blades that were aimed at him were blocked by the cards and the three that were aimed at his escape route just hit the walls, not doing anything to him.

"Hahahahahahahaha"

The laugh still echoed in the dungeon, almost as if mocking the ignorant that tried to sneak upon the Jocker, a true lunatic. However, the skeleton, instead of feeling anger, felt fear listening to the chilling laugh. Its body began to tremble slowly the more the laugh echoed in the dungeon.

If Bittu was sane, he would have been surprised to see that the skeleton trembling, since how could these mindless undead feel fear. But, uncaring because of the energy, he mentally commanded the cards to finish the skeleton.

Boom! Boom!

Destroying all the skeletons on the way, the cards arrived before the blue skeleton and then killed it, just like all other.

[You have killed a Lv. 4 skeleton mage.]

An energy orb shot out with a blinding intensity, a radiant burst of white light from the dead creature, and travelled into him. He could feel a subtle warmth as it entered his body, tingling with an otherworldly energy. The orb's color transitioned from a dazzling white to a calming hue, leaving a lingering sensation.

But he ignored it just like the rest, indifferent to all expect his enemies.

He then turned around and once again started his massacre.

But, away from his eyes the skeleton dropped something just like others that he had killed until now.

...

Finally, after all this time, the number of enemies around him seemed to decrease rather than increase. All of which were Lv. 3, yellow skeletons with a sword in their hand.

Bittu just gave them all a look and the cards following his order killed them all as it circled the room.

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

....

Now, only ten skeletons were left standing in his perception. Only the sounds of the broken bones and cards moving in the air echoed in the dungeon. But right then, just the card was about to kill the nearest skeleton.

Badump! Badump!

He felt his heart beat with an intensity of a thunder as the veins that were already stretched to their limits tried to go past what they were capable of. The sudden burst of beat stopped him on his track, his body in shock.

"....."

But!

Ignoring it, he tried to finish what he started. The cards that has slowed down once again sped up as they attacked the skeletons.

Unknown to him, currently his body was spewing blood, quite literally. Be it from his eyes, his ears, his nose, and even from the corners of his mouth. It has been pushed to its limit; He has pushed himself too hard even when his body wanted rest.

"Waahhhhhh..... Cough.... Cough...."

He let out a mouthful of blood.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

"Cough.... Cough...."

Raising his head, he looked at the four Lv. 3 zombies that were still standing coming towards him.

Almost as if impassive and indifferent to pain and death, Bittu once again gave the cards that were just floating in air an order.

But!

"Waahhhhhh..... Cough.... Cough....", he vomited another mouthful of blood, soaking the ground in the deepest shed of red.

Right now, his very being was refusing to obey his order, and why would it not? No matter how powerful the unknown energy maybe, did he have an equally powerful body to handle the skill in the first place? No, he didn't!

But, with sheer will that originated from the very depth of this of this unknown energy and from his soul, the cards spun once again as they arrived before the furthest skeletons and finished them.

*slam*

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

[You have killed a Lv. 3 skeleton.]

[You are forced into unconscious because of your condition.]

Right after that, a notification flashed before his eyes. But, he could not read any of it at all since his vision and perception were both already blurry, his ears were ringing, his throat was dry just as his mouth and his body bathed in his own blood. He fell, tired and devoid of energy from every corner of his body.

But this was a God sent opportunity for the lone skeleton that was still alive and well, probably the last of its army. It with it burning eyes walked towards Bittu, carrying its sharp sword.

Because of his blurry vision and perception, he wasn't able to see what was happening around him, only to feel the direction they were in.

With his body slowly showing signs of paralysis because of its over exploitation, Bittu's eyes that seemed like the eyes of the dead didn't panic.

Instead, he moved his right hand ever so slightly as he positioned his hand in an attacking position and then he waited! For the arrival of the last of his enemies.

The skeleton, unaware, like a prey, was walking right into his trap, almost like a carefree child, oblivious to the world outside.

*step*

*step*

*step*

His constitution, though, didn't agree with his decision at all. It gradually went lethargic and paralysed.

Sheer will was all that kept him awake from the clutches of sleep; of eternal sleep. Since the moment he lost consciousness would be the moment, his ticket to hell would be written.

"Hehe.... Hehehe...."

After what felt like a lifetime of wait, a smile crept upon his face. He then, against all resistance, threw the dagger at the skeleton, but alas!

How could an almost dead man's body that was also paralyzed be capable of throwing the dagger with precision? With his will, the dagger had enough power to kill the skeleton, but it wasn't thrown in the right direction.

The skeleton was still coming his way while the dagger went another. Just as the dagger was about to leave the range from which it could be affected by his skill, a sigh echoed in the silence of the dungeon.

*sigh*

*snap*

Clank!

Right after that, a snap followed. Then almost as if with the hands of the God itself, one of three cards floating midair moved and arrived right before the dagger in such an angle that, after hitting it, the dagger deflected and arrived right before the skeleton and striked it right in its neck. Unfortunately, the dagger now didn't have enough power to pritch the skeleton's bone. It stuck itself right in the middle of its neck.

With his eyes closed and ears ringing, Bittu was deep in sleep, ignorant of the calamity that was about to befall him.