Listening to The Assassin

"System Failure. Commencing Retreat through Teleport."

"I did it! In one shot. Headshot."

"No that's not what it means."

Another cyborg suddenly landed.

"Gunther the Gunner."

"Mag."

They know each other then. Deductive reasoning improving!

"It's near midnight. You're wasting energy that should be spent for the Regionals."

Mag looked mad but voiced out calmly anyway.

"Cyborgs have infinite en-"

"Stop bragging your stats don't say so. My mana is higher."

"My use of mana is more efficient. You were almost destroyed by a level 80 cyborg."

"A special summon for the Cyborg Class?"

"The summons for the Class are weak. This one was created."

"An illegal combination of magic and mecha?"

"It's not illegal by game rules. The game rules have changed."

Mag gestured that he was shock. Well it's really hard to observe Mag's feelings with that mask on. I've only been able to tell those feelings if the mask is off and through voice. Pain was most clear back when he screamed.

"Sam was supposed to die as stated in contract. You interfered."

"Did your cyborg get destroyed by one spell?"

"You revived the prey."

"Since when did NPCs become your prey?"

I don't like where this is going especially being called prey. Hey, this cyborg has feelings when it speaks. Well, there's some emotion but it still sounds monotonous.

"Gunther has special forms and equipment hidden inside its wide body."

"I'm a man."

"You meant your real body? Fine if you're so offended with it."

"Any form of equipment that enhances one's strength is cheating in the Regionals."

"Unless you are of my class. The cyborg is limited to three powerups that the judge will warn of to the entire audience. Three powerups beyond and its disqualification and execution or destruction."

"Cyborg isn't a class yet. Cyborgs aren't even part of Errd lore."

"What's a powerup? What's equipment? What's an audience?"

I felt like asking something I kind of understood but felt confused about. Mag seemed annoyed.

"Just answer the damn NPC Gunther."

"No. I'll kill the target."

"Not here. At the Regionals. A loss is death in the Regionals anyway."

"You're keen to rule changes then. I know another important change you don't. Class battles."

Why didn't they invite me to listen...

"Are they out of their mind to turn the Regionals in to some sort of Guild Raid? It's always been an individual competition. I will report and advise the King immediately."

Ah I understand this better. Someone will finally protect me to victory.

"The King listens to the Lord of Darkness."

"So he changed the rules..."

"Yes. Many of the region's strongest will live as opposed to one individual insane enough to stand over the bodies of all.

"Has the heart of the Dark Lord changed?"

"There's a grand plan behind it perhaps."

"Perhaps."

That sounded smart alright as I finally got their attention. I need to ask.

"Who is this Dark Lord. What is a Lord of Darkness?"

Mag hesitated to reply. Maybe the strangling from before secretly casted a spell.

"...It's Yami. The one you call old man."

"Is the old man strong?"

The cyborg walked towards me and we were face-to-face.

"It's blasphemy to question Yami's strength!"

"It's bad if we stand around here in the flat fields near the Human Kingdom."

"Sam is right. We need sleep Gunther."

"Cyborgs don't need sleep. Just obtain a skill to eliminate the need for sleep Mag."

Mag tapped my shoulder.

"Regionals start by sunrise. A term for time you understand Sam. You are...sleeping alone."

Alright I can't wait to proceed to the World Finals already. I'll prove it to you Father.