Chapter 38: A tactical retreat logged
After every fight, the silence that followed was almost deafening. The first chime that broke that silence felt all too familiar by now.
[Congratulations, Master.]
Falling through the fading dark mist, Mikel glanced at the screen once before his eyes rolled back into his skull.
TAK!
Half of the beaded bracelet, now acting like a whip from hell, clung to a barely hanging roof pillar while the other end tightened around Mikel's wrist, halting his fall. The Blood Chain extended until his body was near the broken wooden floor.
At just the right moment, the Blood Chain released the pillar, sparing him from a harder landing.
Thud.
Mikel landed on his side—not hard enough to cause injury, but not gentle enough to keep him unconscious.
"Ugh..." he groaned, opening his eyes weakly.
Triggering the curse on the malevolent spirit haunting this house, then feeding it to the chain before exorcising it, had drained not just his remaining energy, but even his reserves.
"Damn..." he breathed, wincing at the distinct pain in his side. It didn't feel like an external injury, but rather internal.