(Heist 5) Gamble -(End Of Volume 2)-

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Michael, who was still healing his insides felt a weird noise travel into his ears. Sadly, he was unable to make out what it was, or who it was.

"....You...ar.....not....g..oing...a...ny...where"

What was that? I can't properly hear yet... Damn, this ringing really drives me nuts. Mabye Jenkins tried saying something?

'My throat is really sore, so I'll just try and push him a little.'

However, just as I twitched, an inconceivable pressure slams into my body. No, the pain did not originate from the impact, but the burning sensation coming afterwards. Running over my regenerated leg and stomach.

I try to scream while tumbling around in the dried earth. But the only thing that comes out is a steaming cup of blood. Rushing out from my mouth, covering my jaw and some of the tracks left behind.

Finally, my body stops. And although I have not fully regenerated, my skin seems to be able to feel again. It synchronizes the intense itching originating from both my legs and the side of my belly into one. However, I can now also notice small particles of ash twinkle over the rebuilt tissue. Rushing towards me through the heated atmosphere, as if I was some sort of beacon.

And as my legs seems to have been forsaken by the healing factor, the rest quickness its pace. And soon my hearing comes back.

The crumbling sound underneath me, the frantic air current, the storms and lightning strikes from above. They all make their way into my eardrums alongside some whisps of dust.

However, this, I could not care less about. For right now, I once again hear someone say my name. Someone who I know very well.

"You have served your purpose, Michael."

What? Jenkins?

I scream out from the depths of my mind. Trying to reach him in vain. But he continued no matter how much I fought.

"I could tell from our first meeting that you were a smart boy. Only inferior to myself infact."

"However..."

"I have no need for excess luggage who can do nothing but be lead astray by his own emotions and power..... No, by his own incompetence."

Something similar in texture to a pen hits my forehead. Sending a small jolt through my brain, and severing something I could not really put my finger on. That is, until, the wretched voice of the system informs me.

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[Familiar contract annulled]

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[Nemesis: Released]

[Jingwei: Released]

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After registering the notification, I try to rise up. But something similar to a heavy metal shoe slams me back down. Sinking my body further into the scorched crust supporting my body.

And after being hammered deeper down, I hear that damnable voice again. Now laughing madly. Why is he doing this? We signed a contract!?

"I am sorry, Michael. I can not kill you myself, but that does not count if you die by someone else's hand."

Yes, that is right. The contract didn't say anything about a third party. No, but I thought...

"I would without a doubt have killed you straight up back then if you had tried negotiating for better conditions. But it seems you figured it out before that kid could agree, huh?"

"However, Michael. Even though you are a loser, I will let you die with some dignity, and not by the hands of my acquaintance. Rather, I will let your crippeled body become nutrients for the soil resting in the deepest part of this territory."

My hearing, now not much different than before, brands the truth born of my ignorance into the depths of my mind. And while it burns, forever marking itself within, my vision starts returning.

Right there in front of me he stands, the blurry shadow looking down at my body. Its still not entirely focused, but I can see a purple orb resting near it's chest. Two amber lanters eye me down. And lastly, a whicked smile displaying pure mockery and ridicule.

"Farwell, Michael. I will try and remember your name after you die. But I can't promise anything for trash like yourself. Hahaha!"

The image of this laughing shadow is the last thing I manage to see before a white light surrounds me. Throwing my body into the air like a rocket, and over into the horizon.

I feel my mind wander for a second. Letting a familiar sensation rise from my torn core. Why was I such a fool to trust someone? Why did I make the same mistake twice?

While thinking of this, a feeling, a very familiar one in fact, baptized my soul. This, my own self loath and regret, once again drowns every single cell making up my existence. Where have I felt this before?

'Again...I was betrayed...'

While leaving this whisper behind, my consciousness fades away.

....

"You two are not going anywhere."

An invisible pressure covered Michael and Jenkins. However, the boy was unable to feel it properly as his body had not yet healed.

Noticing the tingling sensation wash over him made Michael move a little. However, this was not tolerated by the one above.

From within the death cloud, a scaly dark hand appeared. It's features would probably make you mistake it for the claw of some reptile, but the shape would remove this thought.

As it stretched out, the center of it's palm aimed itself in their direction. Causing the surrounding smoke wildly spin around like a tornado. Slowly making its way down the forearm in the form of a small whirlpool.

Not even a second later, the mist shot out. Taking the form of a large serpent barring its fangs.

Jenkins was the first one to react. Instantly beginning to chant.

"Dark Magic: Dark Storm!"

A grey fog started to materialise itself before him and Michael. Trying to intercept the snake with a barrage of yellow lightning bolts. However, it proved no match. Instantly shattering appart, but luckily dispersing some off the power from the attack.

The elf tried to reach his ring as the remanence of the strike approached, but was sadly too late.

The snake crashed into them and exploded. Sending the two men flying through the air, and slamming down into the ground not too far away from each other.

Jenkins, who was currently sliding across the brittle terrain, managed to slip one finger over the silver ring, retriving three white orbs which he hurled into the air.

After reaching the height of the flying individual they stopped. Starting to give of an astounding luster before turning into a white crystalline dome. Shielding him and Michael.

Seeing the futile struggle made the flying individual spit out a round of scorn and mock in the form of a hoarse chuckle.

"Haha, do you think this will stop me?"

The scaly hand directed itself towards the heavens. And as it did, all the wind within a miles area stopped in its tracks. Yet this was not the most shocking development, as all the storm clouds and patches of ash in the sky began forming into one giant hurricane of dense powder, and then finally condensing. Taking the shape of an island sized meteorite.

Jenkins, who was currently laying on his back, had a perfect view of the mass in the sky. The sight only added to his annoyance. Annoyance originating from the injuries he had suffered.

His right arm had been corroded into nothing. One of his ears were scraped off, and he had a large fleshwound covering the area where his heart was supposed to be. Showing a small part of what looked like a damaged purple orb. The ball kept sending off small purple sparks which rippled into the air while also blinking weakly from time to time.

Even though the sight of the majestic tower of destruction would impress anyone else, Jenkins only coughed out some blood with a sour expression. Kicking himself up not soon after.

"Damn snake.. To think this son of a b*** caught up..."

Jenkins's breathing became heavier for each passing second as he looked at the white barrier protecting him and Michael.

Suddenly, he brushed his thumb over the silver ring once more. This time retrieving a small white stick with some weird engravings covering it like a labyrinth.

As the item appeared in his hand, he then turned towards Michael who was coughing out blood just like himself. Both the kid's legs had been melted back off by the venomous cloud, and a cup sized hole was etched into his side.

"Too bad this thing only works for one person. I could have found some more usea for you if you had survived...Which you sure did..."

However, as he removed his gaze from the boy and towards the stick, a reluctant look surfaced over his face.

Jenkins knitted his brows as he starred at it. Only a bit more pressure and he would escape.

Nonetheless.....

'Damn, what is this bad aftertaste in my mouth? It's probably the brany I got... Or, the mead, as I told him...'

Jenkins frowned harder. Looking back at the boy with a troubled look.

'This victory...Why does it feel so sh***ty."

He did not move as he stood there. Letting drops of blood run down his arm, and purple sparks fly out of his torso.

"Even with twenty backup plans, I only had two where you lived.....*Sigh*..... This is what three hundred years of solitude does. Turns you into a f***ing vegetable like the rest."

As he cursed at himself, the man remembered the ones who had banished him.

The after taste in his mouth became more foul. However, as he looked at the boy, a sudden realization came upon him. Removing the thoughts he previously had.

"No wait!! This...WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS?!"

And as he finally found the answer he looked for, the meteorite decended. Smattering its way through the air, beyond space and time. Smashing straight down while sparking up a torrent of grey sand until finally hitting the barrier.

.....

The collision between this mass of death and the shield cancelled each other out. The island disperes into the surroundings, leveling every single inorganic and organic object with the earth. Creating an utter wasteland which stretched out into the surrounding land.

The scattered soot eventually evened itself out. Allowing you to see the crater where it had hit much clearer.

There, still in the same spot was the human shaped cloud. Waiting for the dust to settle.

'This should have broken the barrier...'

But as he was thinking this, a giant white arrow shot through the filthy air. Traveling up into the sky and then rocketing into the horizon.

'So that elf escaped... Well, all I wanted was the....'

Turning his green eyes back towards the crater made him stop mid scente. Shocked by what stood there.

Jenkins, although he had some blood now running down his forehead now, still smiled victoriously while looking at the trash before him.

The cloud was going to scream out in anger, but swiftly suppressed it. Collecting his thoughts into a more rational and calm state.

"Why?"

Hearing what he said made Jenkins smile even more triumphantly. Laughing scoffingly while pointing his remaining hand at the dumbfounded loser.

"This is how I gamble!"

The shadowy figure took a minute to process what he said. But after he did, the smoke around him thinned itself out. Showing the more human like features hiding behind the screen of black, yet still covered.

The scaly hand then found it's way towards its forehead. Planting itself there while the man chuckled even harder than before.

"You bet your life on the kid I crippled....? HAHA! To think that I even admired you at some point.."

However, as he locked back the two glowing balls of light onto Jenkins, he found out that the smile was filled with even more ridicule.

"I think you are misunderstandings something, my friend."

The figure's good mood abruptly disappeared. Gradually replacing itself with an unkown feeling of unease.

"I do not gamble unless I am guaranteed to win!"

The previous unease turned into an agonizing regret. Throwing his thoughts into discord. The green eyes started to glow brighter, and he aimed them back up to where the white star had traveled.

"Not even at the primordial layer, and you dare ignore me?"

Even though the cloud wanted pick up the chase, he was forced to turn back towards Jenkins who was now releasing an unfathomable aura.

Underneath the smokescreen the face of the figure madly twitched. Making up his mind and fully concentrating on this elf.

"Jenkins kra Bellioll. Do you have any last words?"

Jenkins's smile grew more radiant. But was masked by the sinister energy which now radiated from his body.

"Which hole do you want my boot through first?"

Anger swelled up from withing the black mist. Causing it to thicken once more and hide the facial features.

"Very well...."

A short silence placed itself over them. Allowing the last particles of dust and sand to settle upon the barren grey land.

"I will make sure you do not revive. Not ever again."

"Secret technique...."

The air around the figure spiked up once more. Turning the smoke covering it blood red.

After receiving the invitation, Jenkins quickly followed his example.

"Law Of Death...."

The sand and ash around him turned into grey mud while black strands of lighting shot out from his body. Slowly corroding away pieces of his flesh.

"Chaos Cobra!"

The blood red fog shot out at Jenkins. Taking the form of a red king cobra with several black spikes running all over. Even space itself seemed to melt away before this brute!

"Death Magic: Current Of Styx!"

Jenkins felt his body crumble away. Even the dungeon cores in his possession cracked appart. However, he still stretched out his hand. Launching out a grey pillar of water towards the snake. And as it traveled out, the faces of hundres and thousands of suffering men and women appeared from within it. Wishin to drag down any lifeform daring to get close enough.

The two attacks hit, creating a massive wave of destruction which transformed the surrounding dessert into nothing.

As his body withered away, Jenkins felt his eyes wander towards the horizon where Michael had gone off to. Leaving a single whisper behind for only the sky to hear.

"You better not disappoint me...."

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-(END OF VOLUME 2)-