When the dart hit me, the only thing that had gone through my mind was a moment of silent panic. When I dropped to my knees, unable to move, visions of Selene ripping me limb from limb over and over again invaded my mind as I could hardly breathe, much less scream. When my system screen filled with the message
Your soul Quakes
Your soul Quakes
Your soul Quakes
Your soul Quakes
Your soul Quakes
I didn't care because I could hear Selene coming. A part of my mind screamed for me to run, that she will kill us and rip us apart slowly, while a desperate part clung to good memories, begging myself.
"Don't do it, please, please don't look scared, please by the gods above, don't look scared, I can't do that to her, I can't let her think she is just some monster, PLEASE!"
When she saw me and stopped her expression was one that I could describe as terror, horror, acceptance. Truly the part that seemed to be acceptance was the cruelest part, like somewhere deep down inside she had been waiting for this moment. Then tears fell, small, quiet tears that seemed to more mourn what she had lost than they were sad tears for the moment. It was in those tears I saw Jackson, the one who had made me feel insignificant and showed me all my progress was basically pointless. Jackson who had pulled the trigger.
My engine roared with power as I felt the heat building brighter and hotter than ever. I could feel my skin burn as flames danced from my mouth like an over fueled fire. However my eyes were locked on Jackson across the Arena. My system Screen Flashed at me with announcements as if it had been delayed by the poison, but I stared through it.
Your soul stirs, a skill has formed from broken fate
You have acquired Thick Skin(E)
Your max HP has increased by 30
Your soul stirs, a skill has formed from broken fate
You have acquired Run Redline(E)
You can greatly enhance yourself however pushing your body that hard will cause damage in return.
Your soul stirs, a skill has evolved from the broken fate
Skill Accel Spearmanship(E) has evolved into Accel Spearmanship(D)
Your soul stirs, a skill has evolved from the broken fate
Skill Fragmented Will(D) has evolved into Fragmented Will(C)
You have developed will: Thrive
Your soul stirs, a skill has evolved from the broken fate
Skill Accel thought(E) has evolved into Accel thought(D)
Your reaction time has improved
Normally Will was a source of a second opinion in matters like this, however as I dropped to a stance to rush after Jackson, I heard Will and a new voice as all 3 of us in unison roared.
"JACKSON!!!"
I rocketed forward, my feet racing as the blazing engine in my chest pushed them faster. My spear danced with spiraling flames as I saw Jackson turn with a look that must have been alarm. I spun, the shaft of my spear striking Jackson's side as I heard a satisfying gasp of lungs being emptied of air as they flew and slammed into the wall leaning a spiderweb of cracks running up it. I landed, my foot carving up dirt as I launched myself at full force, spear out. I saw a flash of Orange as Pip grabbed my spear, both of us skidding to a stop as Jackson landed on a knee, coughing. Pip stood, one hand holding the shaft of my spear as my feet dug into the ground.
"Hey, Jackson, you ok?"
Pip called as if I wasn't even there, as if I couldn't pose a threat. My engine roared, but I knew there was another gear I could use, and a new skill to push myself even further. However, the cost gave me pause, even with the anger pumping through me like molten magma. However watching Pip stand there like I couldn't do anything, not even facing me made my blood boil so hot I would burn even without the Revolution core, and yet what cemented my resolve was when my eyes drifted to Jackson's pistols, the image of Selene's face as tears began to roll like she was saying goodbye to something she had cherished. My scream wasn't words or held any tactics in them. It was a primal scream that came from pain, rage, and the desire to rip the bastards in front of me apart.
You have used skill Run Redline(E)
Your Strength increased by 50
Your Constitution increased by 50
Your physical abilities are greatly enhanced
You take 10 recoil damage
The Engine Exo Armor(C) has reduced the heat of the Revolution Core V2
The Engine Exo Armor(C) has gained 2 pressure charges
The heat of the Revolution Core V2 deals 8 damage to you
You have overclocked the Revolution Core V2 into Nitro Mode
Your Strength has increased by 30
Your Dexterity has increased by 30
While in Nitro mode, the Revolution Core V2 burns too hot for your flesh to mend, you must shift down to heal
The engine surged with a wave of power as I felt the strength to rip up mountains and throw buildings pulse through me. Pip turned back, hearing my Revolution Core V2 screaming as it couldn't move any faster no matter how hard I pushed as even the mechanism itself was glowing a bright red. Flames burst from my mouth, ears, nose, and eyes as I felt a wave of agony rush over me, I could only mask with a roar as I slammed my fist into Pips Side. My hand went through skin and flesh, my fingers wrapping around a solid mass of bone as Pip's eyes widened in surprise. I yanked my hand over my shoulder as I thrust my spear forwards. The blade finding fur, skin, flesh, and coming out the back with so much force I saw Pips legs bounce while his torso flew. I could already hear his flesh bubbling, his healing beginning to grow new legs even as he flew, but I didn't care. My target was Jackson.
"JACKSON!"
I bellowed as I saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. Despite the fear however his mouth moved as if puppetted by another.
"Wow, so ready to burn yourself to death, or did you forget you are a melee fighter fighting a courier, try to keep up."
Jackson launched from the wall, trails of lightning flashing from their eyes as they wove around the Arena. My engine roared so loud I felt deaf to anything else as My feet carved the earth. As Jackson ran and I pursued, I saw a building fear in his eyes as I was not only keeping pace, but I was faster right now. As we ran my eyes caught a glimpse of the projections from the arena of our fight. Streaks of fire and lightning seemed to practically illuminate the walkable terrain as I chased Jackson no matter where they ran. Jackson ran, leaping from a wall as they wheeled around, firing a barrage of bullets at me. Before I had heard the crack of a gunshot and woken up as my injuries were healed, but I could see the bullets as they flew, My spear whipping around so fast I could feel it cracking under the speed. I leapt at Jackson swinging my spear down in a cruel crescent designed to cut him in half from shoulder to groin as I let the flames flare, blood running down my face and evaporating just as fast. The Impact slammed Jackson into the ground as with a loud snap I saw my spear shatter.
You take 20 recoil damage
The heat of the Revolution Core V2 deals 23 damage to you
You have used item Spear of the Seven Hunts(D)
"Jackson" has taken 78 damage
Spear of the Seven Hunts(D) has shattered
I landed with a sound like I shattered a whole road of stone, my fist cocked back to deliver a heavy haymaker to Jackson's face before I was hit by a sudden wave of flowers and life springing up around me. I rolled hissing ready to rip into the deer guy who I thought was out of the fight, but I saw Alex Sylrath, a glow of purple and green emanating from him as nature seemed to bow like it was welcoming a king. I felt my rage, belligerent and boiling being quenched as if siphoned away by the plants around me, a part of my grasping and clutching for that rage that let me fight through the wave of debilitating pain that rushed through me. I reached a shaking hand to my chest where I slammed the small panel on my right shoulder under my ripcord. A groan of pain mixed with a gasp of relief rushed out of me as I fell to my knees coughing as blood poured from my eyes, nose, ears, and mouth and dribbled on the floor.
You have used Revolution Core V2's Heat Vents have opened, Revolution Core has shifted from Nitro mode to High Gear
Exo Engine Armor(C) has used Heat Shunt, Revolution Core has shifted from High Gear to Low Gear.
You have force stopped the Revolution Core V2, it will be unusable for one minute
With the heat gone from my chest I felt a like my body was falling apart, the nature around me seemed to mend my wounds slightly, but it was slow as everyone turned to Alex who landed softly in the grass as if he could fly.
"Attention all contestants, I have been made aware that the city is under siege from a giant monster that is rising from the sewers, teams have been mobilized to handle this. What I ask of you all is to assist civilians in getting to safety to make room for the teams to work."
I heard Alex's words, but as my eyes drifted back to Jackson who seemed relieved, the sparks of anger desperately tried to catch again as I began to stumble towards them.
"Hey Aiden, were supposed to be smarter than this, you're not the only one angry but people are in danger."
Will said in my head as I continued forward, my legs getting stronger as the plants slowly healed my injuries.
"Who cares about random people, he is not getting away with this."
"Wow, and here I thought you didn't like Ymer, but you're doing so well acting just like him."
Came a different voice from Wills. I paused, my glare turned inward as I growled a thought.
"What did you just say?"
"I'm saying that if you can't even think about helping people because you are so obsessed with revenge against someone, you might as well gather a team of over leveled people and try to hunt them down, maybe even throw poison into the mix. Oh wait, now who does that sound like."
I couldn't respond, my mind wrapping around it as thoughts of attacking Jackson, helping people, avoiding being like Ymer, saying who cares and killing Pip for starting all this. I stood, my fists clenched and my arms were shaking as I looked around the arena looking for something, anything to push me in a direction. My eyes landed on Selene, who was running towards the gate with Beatrice. My eyes landed on Jackson who was beginning to stand as I growled.
"I don't know which player you are and I don't care. If you do anything to me or any of my friends like that again, I will hunt down every character you ever make."
I didn't wait to see Jackson's expression or even wait for a reply as I ran after Selene and Beatrice, the sounds of an echoing roar rattling the entire coliseum as I ran.