Chapter 278 - Santa's appearance

"Enabling the decorations feature."

In that instant, I saw the whole world filling with information. As if I was transported to a futuristic world where augmented reality was a thing, I saw windows popping up above literally everything. From the barrier that was shattering above me, to the man standing in front of me, I could literally read everything about them from those boxes!

"Nelson Bu'Ha'Dai"

"Age: 47"

"Cultivation Realm: Saint, Essence Control"

"Title: Protector of the Draconic Sabre Sect"

"Attributes:

Strenght: 7214

Agility: 5441

Intelligence: 6412

Wisdom: 2908

Constitution: 9317

Resistance: 8136

Charisma..."

With everything outlined right before my eyes, I could even see a short story describing his life, most important events and greatest fears that this guy faced in his life.

Just what the hell did I miss right off the bat when I was given this system?

Do you wish to say that only now, when even the system realised that this is a critical situation I was privy to know what I was supposed to have?

My entire vision was flooded with various information. From the recommended routes of development, hints at the usage of the system all the way to potential allies and status of their trust and devotion…

I guess this is what it means to have your life flashing right before your eyes!

But suddenly, it all disappeared. Or more likely to say, it was as if my point of view moved to the back, just as if I was now watching a movie instead of being in the last moments of my life!

"Autopilot enabled"

Only now did I realise that everything that I saw appeared only for a split of the second. Does it mean that human perception of time changes when they are about to die? Interesting…

BOOM!

If I thought that the explosions from my fireballs were big, then I was truly a frog in the well taking the sky for the entire world!

Before even the shockwave managed to reach the guy that was dropping his fist on me, the point of view of the camera that was showing me the ongoing events suddenly changed, as if I raised back to my feet and even grew a fair bit!

While I was still able to do anything that I would normally be able to do except for any activity, I realised that there was no more of me!

Instead, I could see parts of something that looked like a damned medieval bishop robe of the Catholic Church, just that it was coloured in red! A long, expensive-looking crozier didn't escape my attention either!

Is this the Santa costume that I received back from my gift package? How dare Bonger use my belongings as if they were his own! But well, if it helps me survive through this ordeal, I guess I have nothing to complain about...

"My, my… He really went overboard this time…"

As soon as those words came out of my mouth, the entire sky darkened. Is this one of those legendary tribulations appearing to strike down those who dare to stand against the heavens? But how does this apply to me? It's all Bongers fault, not mine!

I felt my hand raising up, and suddenly brushing through something soft. It took me a while to notice that it was actually a long, white beard of mine, that somehow grew out of my usual bald chin! I didn't miss the fact that just a simple act of raising my hand caused the damned space to ripple!

"Just who the fuck are you!"

Under the pressure of my costume, this guy that was supposed to be several times stronger than me was unable to even lift a finger, not to speak about executing any attack. Limited only to speaking, he made sure to use this opportunity.

I guess he was just stalling for time in hopes that the heaven's retribution will strike me down… Little did he know that this costume was a gift directly from God!

"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Nicholas, otherwise knowns as Santa. I came here in order to bring a Christmas gift of suffering for all those who dare to lay their hands on my dearest disciple!"

Mixing an amiable smile with both kind and devious words, I involuntarily raised my hands and snapped my fingers.

In a flash, the clouds in the sky turned completely dark, as if we were in the middle of the year-long, catastrophic thunderstorm. But while even the air turned tense, nothing was happening yet.

"What do you mean by that?!"

Clearly, on edge, this Nelson guy was sweating as if he just left the sauna and was heading for a cold shower. Looking at today's weather, I guess he didn't even need to go look for a damn bath!

"Ah, nothing much. Just proper rewards from being a bully. Three hits from the whip!"

Suddenly bursting in laughter, I almost bent over, unable to stop the amusement.

"Regretfully, I don't have a whip on me, so we will have to do with this small rod."

Raising my hand, I brought the crozier up a bit, before slamming its end on the ground.

Boom.

As soon as the bottom of my bishop's staff hit the ground, a thunder resounded in the air.

Boom. Boom.

Two more hits to the ground and two more claps of thunder.

While I had no idea what it meant, it sure did look cool!

And then it happened.

The familiar sound of something soft falling down on the hard stones that the city's roads were made off.

As if the rain was finally ready to pour down, the frequency of this sound increased with every 'flop'.

"Now, begone and try to weather through your punishment."

Without a care in the world, I raised my crozier once again and brought it back down on the ground. This time, however, real lighting appeared and struck the protector guy away. In the cloud of dust that appeared all over when it happened, I finally reverted back to my silly self, with a string of windows flashing in the corner of my vision.

While I was eager to check them out, my highest priority, for now, would be reaching Eve's place and escaping from this doomed city.

If this sound meant what I was worried it did, and if my assumptions about the meaning behind it weren't wrong either, there was not even a second that I could lose!