Last Pact Standing (9)

[01:13:59_59]

[The safe zone is shrinking.]

[Stay within the safe zone to avoid disqualification.]

Pact God's Beloved Children were once again within the safe zone. 

Julien was starting to find it suspicious. The safe zone had shrinked thrice by now yet his team was not outside it even a single time. 

Given his own history, he should've been consistently outside the safe zone and struggling to barely reach it every time it shrinked. How did his curse not flare up yet?

He would've rejoiced if his curse didn't act for a few hours, but it was almost a whole day by now. He had multiple encounters where things could go wrong, but nothing went wrong.

To Julien, this felt more like a calm before the storm and made his heart palpitate in nervousness. 

Would everything come crashing down all at once? Was that why nothing went wrong so far?

"Stop." Julien stood beside a creek and said. 

"Yes, Master?" Jackie turned around and asked. Amelia followed suit. 

"I feel uneasy." Julien decided to be honest. "I feel like… something really bad is going to happen soon."

Jackie frowned and Amelia's lips curled down too. This was not a good sign.

"Master…" 

Julien showed his palm and gestured Jackie to not interrupt him. 

He continued, "Although I feel like this, you two don't have to worry. This is not related to you, but myself. If I travel alone, you two won't suffer."

Jackie shook his head. "That won't do."

Amelia joined her hands and said, "God has blessed me with a second chance in life to serve him and Master. My path is where Master walks, even if it means going to the deepest depths of hell."

Once again, Julien was left speechless. Weren't these two too devoted to him? How did he get such loyalty from them? 

Their words were certainly warm and made him grateful for their presence, but they had to understand that…

"…you'll die if you are with me. I am death's beloved child and it seeks me at every turn. It's best if you guys go about your own—mmhfff!"

"Master, death cannot cast its shadow without the presence of light in life. If you are death's beloved child, then we are the light's faithful servants, determined to illuminate the path and protect you from the darkness." 

Amelia explained while hugging Julien firmly. 

Julien did not listen to a single word she said. He was suffocating in between something soft and trying his best to breathe.

Damn, this nun was strong!

…and soft.

Shit. What blasphemous thoughts am I having…

Julien's face heated up as he realized the position he was in. 

Watching him struggle, Jackie thought maybe he wanted to run away. 

To stop him, he went behind Julien and hugged him firmly too.

"Master, whatever comes, we'll face it together. If it's death, then so be it. I wouldn't have survived anyway if it wasn't for you." Jackie said his heartfelt words in a soft voice.

Julien was once again dumbfounded. 

He felt someone soft hugging his back. It did not feel like a boy's firm muscles at all!

Plus, the two's sweet scent was making his head spin from ecstasy. It was too much stimulation for his virgin self!

"Master, we are in this together, okay?" Amelia looked at the top of Julien's head and said.

Julien couldn't answer, so he extended his hand out and tried to give her a thumbs up.

Noticing that, Amelia smiled and said, "Wonderful. Let us take the lord's name and carry on."

She finally let go of Julien. Jackie broke the hug too.

"Haah… Haah…" Julien breathed profusely. 

He almost died right now! It wasn't a lie when he said he was death's beloved!

A few moments later. 

Amelia and Jackie walked in front while Julien followed them from behind. 

He couldn't stop looking at Amelia's covered up self. 

Although she was covered up, her clothes clung to her body perfectly. There was a long slit at the side which revealed a part of her legs clad in black stockings. 

And it was only now did Julien notice that this tall nun was actually wearing heels!

How tall did she want to be!? 

No wonder he and Jackie looked like children in front of her.

Also, Julien did not want to think in this direction, but Amelia was definitely packing! Everything was hidden but—

Ahhh! Stop having these blasphemous thoughts!

Julien slapped his face and forcefully tried to stop thinking about this. 

There were more pressing matters and the situation here was serious. 

"You guys, let me lead you from here on!" Julien said and jogged ahead of the two, not wanting to have his eyes dart on the holy nun's back.

…..

 [00:23:59_59]

[The safe zone is shrinking.]

[Stay within the safe zone to avoid disqualification.]

It was strange. 

Very strange. 

Throughout their journey, Julien's team did not encounter a single enemy or obstacle. Everything was smooth sailing. 

Julien pointed it out and later Jackie did too, but Amelia kept reassuring them that everything was fine. 

What was even more questionable was the fact that not a single team had been disqualified. The number was still at 63, meaning the Loph twins were the last team to be disqualified.

Something was definitely brewing in the background. 

Perhaps, all teams had formed a temporary alliance? 

Just as that thought crossed Julien's mind, Jackie suddenly whispered, "Someone's coming. Take cover!"

They were near a cluster of trees, so Amelia cited a prayer, and the branches gently wrapped around their bodies, lifting them into the canopy. A hollow opened within the trunk, and the three hid inside.

Moments later, four men in dark clothing arrived at the spot where Julien's team had been standing a few moments ago.

They scanned the area, their eyes sharp and probing.

"No trace of anyone here either, Captain," one of the men reported, frustration lacing his voice.

"Keep searching. The safe zone will bring them to us soon!" 

The men left after being instructed.

Watching them go, Julien said, "If my suspicion is correct, then all teams have banded together. They're looking for that one team which is not with them."

"That would be us." Jackie replied.

"Yes." Amelia added. 

"Though…" Jackie interjected. "I think with Master's strength, taking on all the teams won't be an issue."

"What?" 

"Yes. Master, you could defeat Christopher with one kick, and knockout the Loph twins with one hit each. They were the strongest novices, others can't compare to them. Master should have an easy time defeating everyone." 

"No, Jackie." Amelia shook her head. "Charging head-on is too risky."

"I never said we should charge head-on." Jackie said. "We could go for a war of attrition where we engage in small-scale skirmishes and slowly reduce their manpower. Ambushes, sabotages, psychological attacks…"

Julien did not understand half the things Jackie said. He was an average person in his past life, not someone actively engaged in war. 

Being a nun, Amelia did not understand warfare either. Unlike Julien, she spoke about it.

"I do not understand what you said, but as long as it's not charging head-on, we should be fine." 

Jackie nodded. "Yes, we'll be fine. In simpler terms, I meant that we should start killing the people coming in search of us."

"Oh lord…" Amelia gasped. "Kill people!?"