Poisoned Rationality

Time resumed at normal speed, and the bandit leader continued his attack, moving toward Seth.

Ignoring him for the moment, I rushed over to Ariana. She had collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from where her arm had been severed.

“Kill him,” She growled, before coughing heavily and wincing.

A green glow appeared and I realized that Sarya was crouching down next to Ariana, casting a healing spell. Ria was standing next to me. There was a rush of thought between us in a split second.

“Go fight him,” She told me. “I’ll watch over her.”

Why not the other way around? I demanded.

“You’re stronger,” She explained. “You have void. I do too, but it’s weaker than yours. If I really need to, I’ll cast [Share].”

I’ll go, I said. Ria nodded, and I turned to face the man, who was still fighting Seth. Void cloaked my body and I disappeared.

…

-Arisoth, leader of the Skull-Face Bandits-

The warrior I was fighting was very strong. I could not tell what his level was, but he wielded his blade with excellence only seen in true masters.

I growled as I attacked in a series of slashes, coating my sword in dark energy. My opponent leaped backward and slammed his shield into the ground.

An aura of orange energy appeared around him, and I jumped away to avoid being blown back.

Glancing at the girl whose arm I had cut off, I saw there were two more standing by her. The other one that was nearby when I attacked was glaring at me.

Then her body turned into black shadows and she disappeared.

Where did she-?

Pain.

Searing pain running through my entire body.

[HP at critically low levels]

[HP: 5%]

What happened!? How was I brought down to such low HP in a single blow?

I blinked my eyes and realized I was pressed into a tree, with a wild shadowy form standing above me.

I coughed and blood splattered onto my tunic. Grimacing, I realized that I had a hole in my stomach, where this shadow thing’s fist was.

“Die,” It growled as a large vertical slit opened in the front of its body, whirling teeth and lashing tendrils shooting out.

I shouted and tried to move my sword but-

…

-Nyx-

You have killed a [Level 58 Human]!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

Level Up!

[Alert]: Level 21 Reached! Retrieving Memory Group 3

Dangerous Situation Detected: Delaying Memories

Ignoring the message for now, I rushed to Ariana. She was lying mostly still, her chest barely moving with her breath.

Sarya was kneeling on one side of her, casting a healing spell, but it wasn’t doing enough. I could tell she was getting weaker and weaker.

“Use [Share],” Ria told me, softly. “It won’t let me do it. I think you’re the only one that can.”

I nodded and placed both hands on my girlfriends’ remaining arm. Pulling up as much void power as I could, I fueled it into the spell.

Energy flooded through my body and into hers.

My mind shivered and I closed my eyes, collapsing into unconsciousness.

…

-Ria-

Inky black burst from Nyx’s body, shooting out into the world around us.

The sky seemed to darken and color faded around her, as if they were being pushed away by the sheer concentration of void.

“What the heck is she doing?” Seth asked, running over. As he did so, he threw his shield at two approaching bandits, knocking them back with a blast. Even the bright orange glow was muted in color.

“She’s trying to use one of our skills to save her [Fated One],” I explained, holding out an arm to keep him back.

I could feel the deep thrum of energy in the air and the threads that were being passively absorbed by my body.

“Her arm…” Sarya murmured, looking down at Ariana. I did too, and watched in shock as threads of void appeared on the catkin’s skin, gliding toward her severed arm, where a new one was being formed out of the inky substance.

After it had finished, her body shuddered once before going still.

Oh no.