Chapter 210

Chapter 210

The movement was blazingly fast and perfectly controlled. Only Miles wrist and forearm moved, his shoulder motionless, as he pulled something black and carbon from his inventory and pointed it at me.

Time slowed down.

Muzzle flare flashed three times.

It was likely only due to that the first few shots missed. Something too fast to perceive struck my shoulder armor and knocked me off balance.

Simultaneously, there was a metal blur as, freed itself from the pit and shot towards me.

I activated mid-fall. My hand-crossbow leapt into my grip and I aimed for the meat of Miles thigh. Then squeezed the trigger.

He screamed and fell. We hit the ground moments apart, but the hand crossbows pain effect didnt stop him from leveling the shaking muzzle of a stockless submachine-gun directly at my head.

Blackness overtook me. Smothered me.

And for a moment, I thought it was over.

But the gunfire continued, and the blackness that covered me emitted a harsh growl, radiating pain and anger. Rage overtook me as my mind caught up with my body. Miles brought a fucking machine gun to a crossbow fight. Hed be penalized if he killed me with it, same as I almost was at the beginning. And now Talia was paying for my shortcomings, shielding me with her own body.

No!

Stay. Talia rasped. Her body shuddered as she took another bullet.

An unbearable rage welled up from my core.

Im going to kill him

I felt the breath of her muzzle as she nipped my ear. Dont get distracted pup.

The meaning of her words hit like a bucket of ice water, bringing everything back into focus.

Okay. Ill bring you back as soon as I can. I said, my voice hoarse.

Click. Click. Click.

Across the gap, Miles swore, and there was a loud clatter. From the grunts of pain, hed run out of ammo. Was trying to get the bolt out of his leg and failing. I forced myself up on an elbow and peeked over Talia.

Sprawled out on his ass, Miles leveled a Glock at my head and I ducked back behind the wolf just before he fired. Staggered, panicked footsteps trailed away from us. Talias body dissipated, leaving me with a clear line on Miles, hauling ass deeper into the ripple. A series of notifications popped.



Rogue Bounty at The Gilded Tower, Floor 28 and 1/2

Threat Level: High

Time Limit: Until a condition is met.

You want him? Come take him.

The Crimson Nosferatu matched Azures description perfectly. My body trembled. And somehow, with monumental effort, I pushed myself up to my knees. It hadnt moved an inch, and didnt seem to be in any hurry.

I reached out to Miles with and felt significant pushback.

It was confirmation he was still alive, still conscious. Didnt solve the problem. The Nosferatu felt absurdly powerful, but that didnt mean it was intelligent. Maybe I could influence it. I reached out with

The connection snapped, and my vision dimmed to almost nothing. When it returned, I felt shell shocked, hollow.

Numbly, I tried to mentally review the resources I had, placing them on the ground in front of me.

The common silver knife and the arrowheads.

My crossbows, bow, and potions.

My mana was dry.

GET OUT

No. I could come up with something. I just needed a plan. Some way to distract it long enough to grab Miles and get out.

How. Its faster than you. Smarter than you. If youre lucky as hell, maybe itll even let you go.

The Crimson Nosferatus voice silenced my inner thoughts. How long do you intend to make me wait?

Helplessness overtook me. The same helplessness Id felt in the tunnel. Maybe Kinsley was right. Maybe we were better off with Miles gone. Hed come within seconds of killing me, and this thing had manhandled him like he was nothing.

Another voice radiated in my mind. One I hadnt heard in a very long time.

You have to choose what you want to be. And you have to keep making that choice.

For, perhaps the first time, I listened to my fathers words. This didnt feel like a fight I could win. Everything in my rational mind was screaming at me to run. But if I ran, my actions spoke for themselves. I would have pulled Miles into a situation he couldnt handle and abandoned him when it got hard.

And maybe it was Hasturs revelation of what my life could have been, or maybe Id changed. I didnt know.

Regardless of why, I gathered my things and stood. Crossbow in one hand, dagger in the other.

The Nosferatu cackled, and its aura pressed down on me. Finally. I hope your power exceeds your stature.

That was an odd taunt. Power aside, it was half a head taller, if that.

Someone cleared their throat.

I started and turned, blinking several times, unable to believe what I was seeing.

Ellison was standing next to me, his arms crossed. His stoic face held a hint of a smile. Sorry you had to find out this way, Matt. But its not always about you.