Explosive Kunai

"That better be worth it, Bloody," Arlen said. "That better be worth it."

Kai didn't reply. Arlen had been chanting these words since the moment he had rescued Kai. The broomstick was flying so fast that it felt like it was falling forward. The sudden feeling of emptiness in their stomach couldn't be anything else.

Fear? Yes, it could be that. But Kai and Arlen would never admit to it, at least not to each other.

Kai was like a twig on fire. His back was splintered with hundreds of wooden flakes. Hidden among those scratches and wounds was a gash, pale red and white. There it was, the snapped wooden branch, rattling against his bone. Every time the broomstick shook, Kai had to choke on a blood-curdling scream in his throat.

'I knew he would come,' Kai thought, blood rising in his eyes. 'I knew it.'

Kai didn't have trust in Arlen. If there was a trust, then it was in Kai's judgment. With Desmond and Sonia gone, Arlen couldn't afford to lose a single guard anymore. And to make sure he won't decide otherwise, Kai had made him an offer Arlen could hardly refuse.

Poison!

2 drops were enough to turn the tables in a fight. With 3, Arlen could do much more.

"That better be worth it, Bloody," Arlen said again. Kai knew he wouldn't shut his mouth until running out of these hills.

CRY.

Kai didn't want to, but he did. For the tenth time, he turned his head to look at the death's hand. Hundreds of Great Redshanks, adults and fledglings alike, were swarming towards them. The depressions within the swarm made it look like thin long fingers, uncurling, and reaching out for the two of them.

Kai could see their bills, longer even than a broomstick. Their wingspan seemed to have no end. And their numbers blanketed the moon and stars, moonlight struggling to seep from the gaps between their feathers.

'Fuck!' Kai cursed. That's all he could do for now. When he looked away from the sight, he finally gave some attention to the stony-gray notification.

[

Congratulations…

You have unlocked 1 Title

Title: Poacher

Specification: Kill 10 magical beasts collectively. The magical beasts' grade must be equal to or higher than Contestant's equivalent floor number

Status: (1/10)

Effect: Agility +1, Perception +1, Charisma -2

Note: Only 1 Title can be equipped at a time

]

'You can never have too much of Perception,' Kai told himself. It took him time, but now he was understanding which Stats mattered more than others. Perception was one of the top Attributes. 'Abilities need Perception, planning needs Perception, Skills do too, and then there is the sense of danger.'

If Kai didn't have the Glitch, he would have thought the entire game was about Perception.

Sigh! A breath escaped Kai. His HP wasn't regenerating as fast as he had thought. That broken branch inside his back was making it worse.

CRY!

This was almost in his ears. Kai felt the weight of death weighing down on his shoulders. He turned his head back. There it was, the fastest of the flock. Kai could only see the spear-like bill first. Over 2 meters tall, it was leaner and sharper than the fledgling's. The red tip of the bill seemed to glow like lava, the black shaft as cold as frozen steel.

'I can't survive this one,' Kai reflected. 'Not even Arlen can survive this one.'

The magical beast was gaining distance, its wings appearing and disappearing with every flap. It was as if someone was firing the same bullet repeatedly.

Kai had to do something, and he had to do it now.

'Yes!' Kai remembered. 'That should buy us time.'

Kai traced his Inventory and took out the newest Item he had got. He felt a heartache remembering he could get more of these if his Luck was of any good.

'It should do, for now,' Kai thought, doubting. 'I guess.'

The black blade shimmered under the little moonlight falling over it. It was as sharp as his longsword. 'No, Sharper!' Kai told himself. The strip of paper attached to it had strange diagrams. Kai didn't understand any of it. But this was Item; Items had Stats.

[

Item: Explosive Kunai

Grade: Easy

Specification: Explosive Kunai of a Rogue Ninja

Requirement: Perception 11, Breath 5

Attributes: Base Damage 20 points (Maximum 60 points)

Skill: Condensed Explosion

Effect:

1. Consume SP and detonate in targets' proximity

2. Explosion's intensity depends on SP supplied

3. +10 points to Base Damage with every 10 SP supplied

Quality: 80%

]

Kai's mouth felt dry. This was the first Item he was seeing which had an application of SP. By itself, it seemed little at a glance.

'But if I had more of these,' Kai shuddered, thinking about the damage he could do.

CRY!!

The cry was almost a challenge. Kai found the red spear blade just a few meters behind him. One more flap and it would thrust the bill through Kai and Arlen. Kai didn't waste any time. He brought his legs up and sat on the broomstick with his back touching Arlen's back.

The sudden pain from the splinters jolted his mind awake.

"What are you waiting for?" Arlen asked, shouting out his lungs. "Throw it."

A heavy, nauseating feeling welled up inside Kai. The SP bar dropped. They weren't high, to begin with, his SP points. But he poured them all save 10. Now, he was truly dying. His HP was low, MP was dwindling, and SP was almost there and not there.

A sudden spark appeared on the Kunai's paper strip, and it caught fire.

'This?!' Kai knew he must throw the Kunai then. But the moment he aimed at the magical beast, it lost height. Kai suddenly aimed low, but then it went sideways. No matter what Kai did, the magical beast never stayed in one place.

The paper strip was half burned.

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Arlen shouted, his voice full of anger. He shoved Kai sideways, and the wand appeared in his hand. A powerful burst of Mana surrounded the broomstick suddenly.

And Kai's ears rumbled when Arlen shouted out the incantation.

"Petrificus Totalus!"