22 21. Out the window

Static.....

Harvey stood, fixating on a screen that seemed to stretch into eternity. A blank canvas, a symbolic representation of his thoughts. Gradually, a film flickered to life in one corner, featuring Elizabeth. Her presence brought radiance into his life.

That radiance had faded, and though he couldn't reclaim it, he found something akin in Erra, vowing not to let it slip away.

Erra continued assaulting the Grey Stalker, seemingly unaffected by its counterattack. Casting a glance at Harvey, she knew he was the reason behind her safety. Harvey grinned, it was quick but he got the timing of the effect. Yet, by his side, a lifeless body lay.

Worick's body lay bisected, blood staining the ground and reaching Harvey's feet. As he stared at the scene, the crimson liquid enveloping him, the realization hit him hard – he was responsible for this. The thought echoed relentlessly in his mind, a haunting refrain.

"JUN!"

The shout snapped him back to the present, prompting him to evade the Grey Stalker's attack. Zachary rushed to his side, swinging his sword, yet it only sparked off the creature's defenses. "Are you okay?" Zachary inquired, shielding Harvey.

Death was not a stranger to Harvey, nor was taking a life. Yet, it never became easier; it never felt normal. "I'm fine," Harvey replied, swallowing his emotions, trying to regain focus.

"He's dead," Darwin affirmed as he rose.

"Tch." Kylian clenched his teeth, his staff glowing a bright red. "Fire Magic: Golden Barrage!"

A volley of large fireballs surged toward the monster, which effortlessly evaded them. Closing in on Kylian, it aimed to eliminate another threat. "Form Three: Cascading Water Basket," Zachary declared, drawing his sword to deflect the attack, unleashing a splash of water on the advancing creature.

"Now!" Zachary's voice echoed.

"Frost Magic: Frost Hold." Kylian swiftly cast another spell, incorporating the water drenched on the monster into his frost enchantment, enhancing its durability and effectiveness. Observing the freezing creature, Erra leaped off, landing beside Harvey.

While the creature was frozen, Erra remained vigilant. Her previous encounter taught her that even in such a state, it could still cast magic. Glancing at Harvey, she noticed his unwavering focus on Worick's lifeless form.

In Harvey's eyes, Worick's body periodically transformed into Elizabeth's. Closing and reopening his eyes didn't change the haunting vision. The realization struck him – he had killed Elizabeth once more.

Amidst the chaos, Harvey felt a sensory blockade – sound, smell, everything muted into silence. He stood amidst turmoil, losing his sense of self. Perhaps he was the problem, perhaps everything would improve without him.

Raising his daggers, he aimed them at his neck. His trembling arm struggled with the act, but he believed it was for the best. He lamented his inability to avenge her, but at least, he thought, he would join her. At least.

"Calm down."

All sound and sensation rushed back in an instant as Harvey looked down, Erra had been embracing him, her warmth intertwining with his. "It's me and you."

Zachary leaped away as the Grey Stalker crashed into the ground, now liberated from its icy restraints. Darwin tossed a potion into the air; upon colliding with the beast, it transformed into a silken structure that ensnared it.

The creature tore through the silk, lunging toward Zachary, swatting him away with its arm, sending him flying into a nearby pile of debris. Kylian cast a mud spell, slowly sinking it into the ground, yet even that wouldn't be enough as all he was doing was buying time for Zachary to return.

"No matter what happens, I'm right here," Erra reassured, her voice melodic.

Though she was much shorter than him, she placed her hand on his head, tousling his hair. "You saved me, that's all that matters."

Harvey eyed the beast, his daggers materializing in his hands. "Heh," He muttered before darting toward the monster at full speed.

He was forever grateful for the companionship of Elizabeth and Erra, who lifted him when he fell, Harvey slapped his face, jolting himself awake. "Okay!"

In a swift cut, Harvey severed the Grey Stalker's arm, his hands reverberating from forcefully tearing through the metallic exoskeleton. "One down!"

"Welcome back!" Erra dashed toward the monster, wielding the Marsh Dagger in her hand. Harvey followed suit, dashing toward the beast in tandem.

"Thanks," Harvey mentioned.

"Heh," She snickered, relieved that he was back.

They hadn't spent any time practicing combos in the forest, but at that moment, they moved in harmony. They both dashed in opposite directions as the Grey Stalker slammed into the ground. "Light Magic: Speed Buff," Darwin cast another spell.

Erra dashed from the right side, and Harvey from the opposite, both jumping onto the monster simultaneously, slashing at its scales. Though their blades didn't cut through, it didn't matter, before passing each other, they swapped blades.

"Form Six: Desolate Lightning!"

"Form Two: Static Teleport."

Harvey struck the beast's remaining wing faster than it could react, chipping into the metallic scales but not enough to break through. Suddenly, a blade struck it, and Erra materialized by the blade, targeting the same spot with the second dagger.

Watching her brown hair sway in the distance, Harvey smiled, she looked exactly like her. "Are you ready?" He asked, and Erra nodded. Quickly, both of them swung their daggers again, and again and again until they successfully cut through the second wing of the beast.

They darted back, exchanging their weapons as they fist-bumped. "Maybe you're on my level."

"Really?"

"Nope!" Harvey laughed as he dashed alongside Zachary. Both of them charged up their attacks, slamming the beast straight in its chest, sending it flying back.

With its wings severed, they had the upper hand in every way. They walked toward it slowly as it crawled through the snow, its purple blood staining the ground.

The beast crawled onto the Fledplains, a large ice rink where the town's children played. It was nothing but ice for acres, with snow descending on the cool floor, adding another layer.

Zachary gritted his teeth as he walked with his sword unsheathed, fueled by the chaos the beast had caused. The creature had killed an entire town and claimed the life of his teammate. Raising his blade, he aimed for the neck of the beast. His intent was clear – to avenge his fallen comrade and then return home for a drink.

Darwin sighed, feeling that the mission was seemingly over. He searched through his grimoire for an appropriate healing spell, but as he turned a page, blood suddenly poured onto his book. Bewildered, he looked around, realizing that his view had shifted. Weirdly, he was now looking at the feet of his teammates. Kylian ran towards him, and that's when he understood – he had been beheaded.

"Were humans always that delicate?" A voice pondered, and Harvey slowly turned toward it, his heart pounding in fear.

"I'll kill you!" Kylian screamed, attempting to concoct a spell, but before he could utter a word, his upper half fell onto the ice, intertwining crimson with ice.

"Kylian, Darwin," Zachary muttered as he backed up, his arms shivering so much that his sword fell from his grasp. "Who are you?"

"Am I that much of a fossil? The youngins have forgotten all about me." The figure laughed.

Harvey watched as Erra fell to the ground, throwing up. He didn't know what the presence in front of him was, but it was terrifying. Every fiber in his body told him to run, but his legs couldn't act.

Zachary crumpled to the ground, gasping rapidly as the figure approached him. "Are you scared? Of little ol' me?" It pondered.

Blinking furiously, Zachary now processed the creature within his sight. It possessed a humanoid frame, yet it was far from human. With the head of a wolf, featuring a smaller snout akin to that of a Catwoman, its arms and body showcased claws and fur, visible even through the clothing it wore.

Zachary continued his labored breathing, the pounding of his heartbeat growing louder until it abruptly stopped. Harvey looked on as the figure impaled Zachary's chest, extracting his heart and savoring the spilled blood.

"This must be your first time, given how scared you are. Quite saddening that it'll be your last." The figure said, now approaching Harvey.

"What... are you?" Harvey managed to utter.

"Well," The figure laughed, "I've never been good with introductions. Let your system handle it for me."

Harvey's eyes widened in dismay, this creature surpassed his strength on every level, and not only that, it was also suppressing his stats, enhancing its own power even further. He observed the message counter on his menu blinking, and upon tapping it, a notification unfolded with the following message:

[Unknown Encountered- Silver Fang]

[System Advice- Run]

[System Advice- Run]

[System Advice- Run]

[System Advice- Survive]

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION- IT IS TOO LATE]

Having skimmed through the game's introductory section earlier, he recalled details about the nine unknowns, they were immensely over-leveled bosses made solely for the game's raid system, that featured a thousand players or more.

"Does that answer your question, boy?" The Unknown spoke once more, cracking its knuckles.

Knowing there was no chance of defeating it, Harvey looked to his left. Erra was still on the ground, coughing. Turning his attention back to the Unknown, he realized it had darted toward him. Since leaving the labyrinth, this was the first time he encountered something this much faster than him.

Swiftly nullifying an effect, Harvey couldn't see or comprehend what he had negated, but the Unknown's hand was on his head, showing confusion at the lack of damage. "Probability manipulation?" Silver Fang pondered.

"Boost."

"Blitz mode."

"Flash Step."

Using all his techniques simultaneously, he sprinted toward Erra, aiming to evacuate her quickly, after that he would throw his blade as far as possible and teleport to it.

He understood that this creature couldn't be faced alone. As he grabbed Erra, seizing her shirt, his arm came off. While he was unable to witness it fully, the beast severed his limb.

Harvey tumbled on the ground, rolling over the icy surface. Clutching the wound, he wept—not from the pain, but from the looming fear of death. Silver Fang approached him, its claws gleaming as its eyes emitted a bright red glow.

Harvey laughed nervously

This was the end of the road.

He would die on this very day.

Losing his life to Silver Fang— The agent of death.