Chapter 231: Countdown

It had turned back into crimson red. Looking at him, X pulled back the spear from Denny's neck and released her. "Did you finally learn how to talk?"

Rewen didn't say anything and walked towards Denny who was petrified, sitting as if she had become a stone. She was mentally exhausted.

X saw him coming towards her and 'kindly' made some space for him to move.

When Rewen came close enough, he stopped and looked at the person leaning on the sofa looking at him with half-closed eyes. Without saying a word, he picked her up and took her to a corner.

Denny pursued her lips to say something but eventually didn't.

Likewise, immediately after Rewen placed down his cousin at a safe place, he set his eyes on the X and noticed the remote that was in his hand. 

He had no idea who had fought for his behalf but after 'waking' up, he found himself having a detailed and complete recollection of everything that had happened for almost two minutes. 'Almost two minutes. Within ten seconds, the effect of [2x Power Spike] would wear off and if I don't manage to defeat him, I would die.'

Putting his hands on his pocket, he took out the [Distributor].

"..." X didn't know how he should respond. Right now, he felt like he had become the butt of a joke. The thing he was desperately trying to find was in Rewen's pockets. He wasn't dumb but because he had gotten too used to dealing to tough complicated problems, he slowly started to reject the simplistic ways proving him fatal.

Had he not been overconfident in his evaluation of Rewen and had actually checked his pockets, the fight would have been over long before.

After a second of silence, he burst out in laughter. "I'll admit that this was funny."

Rewen had no mood in engaging in a discussion with him since he was running out of time. "Let's do it. At the count of three, the two of us will throw both of our devices in the air."

He was desperate and had to comply with X's demands in desperation.

What else could he do?

Continue to fight with him for the remaining eight seconds?

Could he win within the time limit?

Time and again it has been stated that he was neither a Rank 3 Mage nor a D-Grade Martial Artist. He was just someone who had a physique comparable to them for a limited time. Is he going to rely on Rank 0 Skills to defeat X?

That'd be the biggest joke of the century.

Could he even escape with his cousin?

What other options did he have?

Only one. That is - to comply with what X says which is just enough to make him feel that there's the slightest chance of him and his cousin getting out of this alive. He was more than ninety-nine percent certain that X would likely not keep his word.

The most likely outcome would be - X gets the [Distributor], kills Denny, and then proceeds to fight him and also likely kill him.

X played with the remote in his hand, then touched his chin. "Alright. I'll do the counting. Three. By the way, if it's not too personal to ask, what exactly happened to you?"

"It would be too personal for me to answer that."

"Hm. I can see that. You know, Rewen. I want to admire you but sometimes, you just act too stupid for you to earn my admiration. Just when I thought that you'd be someone different and challenging, you proved me wrong. You're just like any other short-sighted person." Time seemed to move in slow motion from the perspective of the outside world as X casually worded out his thoughts about Rewen.

Rewen chuckled. "I don't understand where you are coming from."

X shook his head. "Oh, no. You do. You do know where I'm coming from. Don't act like you couldn't have cornered me had you not rushed to rescue your cousin. Did you seriously think I stand a chance against a District Expert with several commander units under him? If I were to be in your shoes, I would have just told the matter to the District Expert, and then proceeded to corner me."

"Sure, but that would run the risk of putting her in danger?"

"So what if she is dead? If the authorities captured me, you would have been responsible for saving hundreds of thousands and maybe even millions. Even though I don't doubt that I have a tough will, with advanced methods of interrogation, it's only a matter of time before I leak out everything I know. With the newfound power by your side, you could have also potentially captured the Travil Town branch of REAL WAIFUS CORPORATIONS LIMITED. Oh God, this name…

"Anyways, yeah. Surrounding the area I am in with the District Expert behind your back, you could have had a huge net profit. What is the life of one person in comparison?"

"I don't believe you didn't prepare yourself for that possible scenario," Rewen responded swiftly.

"Maybe I did but I'm definitely sure that I would be cornered. Take my word for it." X casually said, then continued. "The question I'm trying to get at is - Despite having a much more 'safer' and 'profitable' route, why did you take this route? Is it because you are too confident in your strength? Is it because she is your family? What is it that led you to take this route?"

Rewen spun the dagger around his finger. He looked at the person he came here to save who couldn't hear the discussion, then shrugged. "It's to make me feel better."

X's eyebrows slightly perked up hearing the unconventional reply. "Two. I understand what you mean and I'm disappointed, to say the least. I thought we could carry on with the business for a few more days but alas… Do you have something to say?"

"What would have happened if I had fucked the bitch you serve?" 

"Who knows? Maybe you would have gotten killed? Maybe you would have been spared… no, I can't see that happening. To my understanding of her, she would have likely made you her pawn. A whole lot better than how you are doing now."

"That's true. I regret it. If I were given the same choice again, I wouldn't hesitate to fuck the shit out of her." Rewen lightly snorted. "What about the little games she wanted to play with you? I'm curious about them."

"Let's put it this way. The moment you agree to let her keep track of you, it wouldn't have taken long enough for you to become her pawn. Again, it's a lot better than the position you are currently in. If you agreed with her, you wouldn't have been harmed… at least she wouldn't take your life, both Svety and Denny wouldn't have been involved. Unfortunately, your arrogance led you to reject the goodwill. Well, pay for it now."

"How generous of her," Rewen said in a sarcastic tone.

"I won't lie. I liked the fact you didn't give in. Days were getting boring for me. And now…"

"One." 

Rewen and X both threw the devices they had in their hand in the air.

The [Distributor] took a flight and went towards X's direction whereas the remote was thrown vertically and didn't move a single inch horizontally.

'As expected.' Rewen wasn't surprised by the action. He knew that this would happen. In fact, if something like this didn't happen, then he would be shocked. Taking a stance, he threw the dagger towards the remote that was in the air.

As if prepared for an action like this, X swiftly changed the direction of the dagger with the help of his spear.

By this time, Rewen had already caught up to where the spear was falling. Grabbing hold of the dagger, he rushed towards the position where X was standing.

X, who was preoccupied with catching the [Distributor] which was still in the air, was forced to focus his attention on him. Immediately taking a stance with his spear, he swung his spear.

Seemingly having seen this coming, Rewen dodged with ease and swung his left hand which didn't have the dagger.

River of Right Hand!

It successfully managed to strike X's neck leaving behind a small wound.

"Felt like a sting, I guess?" X gave a dark chuckle and again swung his spear towards Rewen's abdomen.

Already prepared for the counterattack, he brought his dagger closer to the spear. 'This is it…' Wearing a thin smile on his face, he felt his mind become more clear as every tenth of a second passed by. This was the first time he had felt so "free" and confident while striking something. The feeling couldn't be put into words.

It was as if every negative emotion of his had accumulated in the dagger.

*Clang*

The dagger and the spear came in contact with each other.