by Charles Dean
Instead, he decided that he would try to use the deadly Lunar Light Qi that Su Ryeon had said could pierce through and kill nearly anything of her level once a day. He wasn’t entirely sure how to use it, but he figured he could experiment during the fight.
No! Don’t waste that. You can experiment with anything else, but Lunar Light is a special elemental Qi. It takes a full night of moonlight to regather what you spend. Any amount of it you waste experimenting, you won’t be able to recover. It is true, as Su Ryeon said, that this particular element is powerful enough to kill other cultivators of the same rank, but it is also a one-off Qi use. That’s why it’s used by assassins, not soldiers.
If you practice or pick up a skill, you’ll be able to condense the Lunar Light into an arrow like Su Ryeon or a ray or a beam or whatever your ranged skill allows, but at the moment, you should consider it at best a melee-only skill.
Lars looked at his hands. He didn’t know what to do. He wanted to blast all of his Elemental Qi at the same time right into the enemy, but since he had to do it from melee range, he was still left with the issue of how to deliver the blow. He thought for a moment as he looked at its legs, wondering if an attack on one would result in killing the monster. Deciding not to risk it, he started jumping in place. First a few feet, then five, then ten, as he waited for the spinning top of doom to return. He wanted to get an idea of how high he could jump.
After a few bounces off the ground, though, he ran out of time. The whirlwind of smash and crunch was rushing toward him, and given how much its attack had hurt the last two times, he didn’t want to lose another 375 hit points to the monster in front of him. Feeling rather confident with this plan as he watched his prey approach, he jumped into the air, hoping he had a feel for the height as he soared on a trajectory above the creature and down toward his target: its back.
Come to papa. Lars smiled. His leap was set to perfectly land him dead center in the middle of the moving object. He felt a sense of pride that on his first real try, after getting used to his new strength, he was able to pull this off.
Thunk! The sound rattled through his brain as darkness momentarily obscured his vision. Lars struggled against all his dazed senses to realize what had just happened. He felt like someone had tossed him thirty feet underwater. What in the Clockmaker’s name? Lars blinked. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he was now on his back in the middle of the ring, staring up at the ceiling, and the scorpion of the apocalypse was once more creating distance between it and Lars. Then, before he could even stand up, his body convulsed in agony as pain shot from his toes to his scalp and down again. What the freaking . . . Lars gritted his teeth. It didn’t take him long to notice that as the pain ripped through him, 100 of his remaining 2,150 hit points fell away instantly.
When did I . . . but . . . Lars touched his chest, and he realized exactly what had happened. It had been so fast he couldn’t see it, but the moment he had come close to landing on top of the beast, it had whipped one of its tails out and spiked him right in the sternum so hard it instantly knocked him to the ground. To make matters worse, that convulsion of pain was a familiar feeling: poison.
Damn you, you stupid, freaking piece of crap. The pain shot through his body once more. He had been treating the fight too casually. This was his fault, and he knew it, but now he was down to 1,950 hit points—or a little over 19 ticks of this aching poison—before he would die. 19 ticks . . . Lars repeated that number in his head as he watched the gigantic whirling devil once more spin its wind magic and fly straight toward him. It wasn’t faster than before, but to Lars, it felt like time had stopped. Even though the monster’s pace was as steady as the turning of the gears on a water wheel, everything had frozen for him as his brain kicked into overdrive, much like it did when he was reading messages from Ophelia.
Even though his brain was processing things so fast it felt like time was moving in slow motion, he wasn’t thinking any faster. In fact, as his body began to move, he wasn’t thinking at all. He only concentrated on what he knew from the other magics as he slammed his feet into the ground, much like with the way he used the skill Stomp of the Earth King, and channeled every bit of Earth Qi and Wind Qi he could into the ground. He visualized it moving. He could feel it tearing through the earth. He could sense every piece of resistance the Qi ran into, each rock that it crushed or displaced. A moment later, the Qi burst out of the floor beneath the three-tail in the form of a pillar with at least a two-foot radius. The column of dirt shot into the center of the three-tail, and a gust of wind that accompanied the Earth Qi flung tiny pebbles in all directions as it circled the pillar of dirt smashing upward and into the three-tail.
The wind spiral around the pillar didn’t last long before shattering and being then scattered the moment it hit the wind that was levitating the three-tail, but it did manage to do the job of creating a small tiny break in the torrent of wind protecting the creature, allowing Lars’s Earth Qi to hit the monster, sending it flying into the air despite likely doing no damage at all to the monster.
After bumping against the ceiling, the three-tail glided down very slowly, and Lars charged at it with as much speed as he could muster while doing his best to control his direction despite how fast he was moving. He squatted down when he got underneath the slowly descending monster, and then, just as he had before, he put every ounce of strength he could into his legs, pushing up as he mentally focused on channeling his Lunar Light Qi into his right hand.
Nice knowing you, Ophelia. Lars still doubted whether or not he would make it, but he sprung through the air, his right fist making contact with the monster above him first. When the Lunar Light Qi made contact, it burst outward in every direction as if it were a volcano of energy exploding from his fist.
The beast’s shriek lasted less than a second before it turned into a glopping, splushing splat sound finally followed by the most familiar and welcome sound of all: the sound of Ophelia’s voice letting him know he’d just killed something as his body, fist first, punched into the center of the monster.
He burst out of the creature and straight into the ceiling above him. First his hand and then his face smashed against the barrier, and then his whole body flattened out against it.
Damnit, Lars cursed. But his anger didn’t last long before the familiar and intoxicating feeling of the three-tail’s Qi began to flow into him, washing away all of his pain and suffering, his humiliation from the faceplant, and, to a degree, even his consciousness from his body, replacing it instead with the warm and wonderful sensation of energy working its way through his body as he began to sink, free-falling to the floor.
Congratulations. You have successfully killed a three-tail. You have gained 3,845 stat points. Your elemental affinity with Toxin Qi has increased by 2,185. Your elemental affinity with Wind Qi has increased by 502. Your elemental affinity with Earth Qi has increased by 317.
That’s it . . . This is what I wanted, Lars admitted to himself a moment after his body thunked off the ground, bouncing a few inches before properly landing the second time. “This is what I wanted indeed.” He stared up above him and watched the mist from the blood of the monster he had hit slowly descending through the air like red clouds of rain being gently pulled downward. The red mixed with a bright white that then reflected in all directions, even off the droplets, like a hundred refracting rainbows.
Lars, don’t die unnecessarily on me, you moron!
“Huh?” Lars replied. He didn’t even need a response as the pleasure he was feeling quickly turned to a cold, gripping pain. Every one of his muscles tightened and began spasming, sending his joints into weird angles as his body tried to find a position that didn’t cause his muscles to hurt. “What the hell?!” Lars nearly screamed out in pain.
“It’s a shame that this young contestant, capable of soloing a mighty three-tail in nearly one hit, has to die such a tragic death from the poison so soon after. However, for the sake of bets, we shall consider this doubl
e death a tie. As soon as his pulse dies and breathing stops, those who bet on a tie may collect their winnings at the nearest office,” the monotone voice of the announcer said.
Su Ryeon yelled from the side, “LET ME THROUGH, YOU FREAKING—”
“No! You can’t administer aid. If he dies from the monster’s sting, he dies, and the fight is a tie. You must heed the rules,” the guard blocking Su Ryeon replied.
Lars turned his head as best he could, the pain too much to focus through.
“You’re going to have to heed my fist going up your mother’s backside and out her mouth as I trash that two-copper whore who spawned a piece of garbage like you if you don’t let me through!” Su Ryeon roared.
“Say what you want, but rules are rules, woman. We can’t let anyone disturb the fight until the winner, loser, or tie has been decided. Your master knew this before he signed up.”
“I do not want to die because your stupid, freaking, cow-faced, ugly, spineless self can’t move two inches to let me through!” Su Ryeon continued. She wasn’t the only one who seemed angry either. Ophelia’s voice came in more panicked than Lars had ever heard her before.
Lars! Focus! You don’t have more than a few seconds. FIX THIS. YOU CAN’T DIE ON ME! You are suffering from both the tail poison and the Toxin Qi. You’re going to DIE! FIX THIS!
But how do I— Lars panicked, and his mind raced through the possibilities as he tried to remember what he had done to handle poison the first time, when he had absorbed it from the baem. Then he remembered something he had only heard once, in passing, when he first got his skills. He could use stat points to raise them, and he started raising the best skill he could think of immediately: Toxin Immunity. In its current phase, it only protected him against Level 4 toxins, and his own Toxin Qi had already reached Level 7. It took 20 points to raise his immunity to Level 5, another 40 points to raise it to Level 6, and then 80 more points to raise it to Level 7. He had dumped 140 points down the Toxin Immunity drain, but given how hard it was just to mentally maneuver the points to raise the skill level even, he was grateful no matter the cost as he felt the poison effect and the effect from the Toxin Qi subside with each new level of Toxin Immunity.
Finally, the pain wracking his body, pulling his muscles tight in every direction till his joints twisted up, disappeared. He could finally relax again.
Ophelia, could you remind me sooner next time? Lars asked as he looked at the new level on the skill.
[160] Toxin Immunity Level 7 [3/10 Toxins Consumed]
His eyes darted from that skill back to how little health he had left: 415 hit points. It was more than he even expected to have yesterday, but now, it felt like so little that someone might breathe on him and kill him. Despite this, though, he didn’t panic. He just lay there for a few minutes, listening to the yells, listening to the annoyed audience members, listening to Su Ryeon—taking the whole thing in.
That was close, you freaking idiot. Don’t scare me like that again.
Scare you? Aren’t you fine even if I die? Lars asked. He was a little annoyed at her for not spelling out exactly how to fix the situation, only yelling at him to do it, but then he realized he had become too dependent on her. He was following her voice more than he was following his own instincts sometimes. She was like a light in the middle of a dark room he couldn’t help but walk toward. Sometimes, he didn’t know if he was a moth and Ophelia a flame, or if he was lost, and she was the guiding light of dawn cracking through the dark night sky. The only thing he did know was that he leaned on her too much. Eighteen years and he hadn’t listened to a single thing she had suggested, yet for the past three days, he had almost always barked back whenever she said, “Woof.”
You know that’s not the case by now, don’t you? You’re MY Lars. I thought you understood by now: I’m the only one here for you. Everyone else is a liar; no one else can be trusted. It’s just you and me, Lars. Of course, I won’t just be fine if you die. You’re mine, Lars. You’re mine.
Part of Lars felt that Ophelia’s speech was more disjointed than usual. The pacing of the words was erratic, and his brain clicked like a warning flag had been raised by what she’d said . . . but he didn’t care. He just sighed and took comfort in them instead. Yes, Master, he joked instead as he stared at the ceiling above him, noting that the red mist from the once-mighty three-tail had almost completely faded.
“We’ll be sending someone out in a few minutes to double-check, but it seems that the contestant, the hero of tales long lost, is still alive. The poison can’t seem to force him to succumb, and if he just stands up and leaves the arena on his own two feet, we’ll be able to declare him victor of the battle,” the announcer shouted over the mass of noise all around.
Lars understood why everyone was so anxious about this. Logically, it made sense. After all, betting on one person, betting on another—that happened all the time. He imagined there were lots of people that had bet for the three-tail or for him. However, the only one who would ever win if a tie were declared would be the house since the chances of it occurring were so low that no one in their right mind would bet on a tie. It was that one-in-a-million dream scenario for the house as far as Lars could guess.
Bastards, he thought as the idea ran through his head, finally motivating him to sit up, pop his shoulders, and stretch out his body in all directions as if he had just woken up from a four-hour nap that was only supposed to be twenty minutes at most.
“Uhh . . . it appears, ladies and gentlemen . . . that . . . that he survived the . . . that he survived the poison of the three-tail unscathed. After defeating the monster with only a single hit, we were sure he’d die from the wound in his chest that was covered with poison, and yet here he stands, once more, perfectly fine. This means . . .” Even if he didn’t spell it out with his words, anyone listening could hear the monotone announcer’s bitter reluctance to say it. “This means that kid is officially the winner.”
Lars looked over to find a man operating a device with what was likely Wind Qi in the stands and gave him a thumbs up. “Glad to see you’re happy I’m alive,” he joked. He was about to add, “No chance you got another one you want to throw at me,” just to be glib, but then he decided against it. There was a very real chance that if he said that, they might throw another one at him, and without his Lunar Light Qi, which he felt he couldn’t even consider using again, he wouldn’t be able to kill another one easily—or potentially at all.
Yeah, better not taunt them. He reaffirmed his decision as he looked over at Su Ryeon, who was now, despite her earlier yelling, screaming, and pushing in an attempt to come help him, standing calm and still as the sturdiest tree in the forest, as if nothing could phase her, and looking at the guard who had been blocking her.
“So, what’d I win?” Lars asked the guard as he walked over to them.
“The direct fight winnings would be 100 gold pieces,” the man replied as Lars got closer. “Though, given the odds against you and the amount that was placed as a last-minute wager, your total winnings combined with your initial bet should come out to 4,750 gold pieces.”
Yes! That’s more than enough for Mom! Lars mentally cheered with excitement as he pretended like this amount of money had been his goal all along, despite not remembering ever telling Su Ryeon to bet on him. This was more than enough to pay for his mother’s freedom. There was no way that a slave, especially one who had little to no powers at all, would be worth more than that. He didn’t know how many people he could purchase along with his mother, but at least with this amount, at least with over four thousand gold, one person would be safe. His mother would be safe.
And I suggest you focus on that fact as you go home and rest properly before trying to find the dokkaebi or two-tailed yeou-nim or whatever it is that might be beneath this gambling house. You’re way too close to death to be starting a fight.
Wait, you don’t want me to start a fight? Get more Qi? Go on a murder spree? Ophelia . . . Are you okay?
<
br /> I’m fine; it’s you that isn’t. Go home and sleep. You have your money, you have a slave to guard you, and if you remember that woman’s words, you have at least a week. There is no reason to rush things. You can go find the monsters you’re looking for after you’ve freed your mother from slavehood.
Yeah . . . that’s true. Lars nodded, remembering how much time he actually had. All I need to do now is go to an auction, nothing more. I should focus on that first. I should play it safe for a day. One day won’t hurt, he told himself.
Chapter 12
Name: Lars
Level: 7
Power: 2500
Speed: 3059
Fortitude (HP): 4500
Resistance: 4500
Unspent: 3705
Elemental Abilities
Toxin Qi: 2217
Lunar Light Qi: 2015
Fire Qi: 1077
Wind Qi: 997
Earth Qi: 563
Wood Qi: 467
Ice Qi: 376
Metal Qi: 280
Lightning Qi: 218
Water Qi: 115
Unassigned Qi: 325
Abilities
[10] Advanced Reading Level 2 [19,302/2,000,000 Words Read]
[10] Knife Hand Level 2 [1/10 Unaware Combatants Killed]
[160] Toxin Immunity Level 7 [3/10 Toxins Consumed]
[N/A] Unyielding Ice Veins [No Level]
[N/A] Falling Water Dancing over the Moon [No Level]
[N/A] Flame of the Pill God Level 6
[15000] Slave Lord Level 1 [0/100 Slaves Impacted by Skill]
Item Skill Progressions
Enslavement [3/5 People Enslaved]
Active Quests
Go slap yourself!
“I see that your fight went very well.” Su Ryeon had the most professional look possible—her entire self collected, her back straight, and her eyes forward—as she gave Lars a gentle smile. “Congratulations on a most excellent victory, master. Your skills are indeed astounding.”