"I just used a skill called [Area Heal], which can instantly regenerate injuries based on their severity and time when it occured. It works on up to five people and can only be used once a day. The only downside is that I can't use it on myself, but for a B-class skill I created, it's pretty impressive," Jett explained.
"You can make skills? What are you?" the druid asked, disbelief etched on her face.
"Me? I'm just a normal kid about to join a normal academy," Jett shrugged as he slowly walked closer to them.
'He's a monster. We need to get out of here,' the archer thought, scanning the surroundings for the best escape route.
The archer felt a growing sense of helplessness. The weight of their own inadequacy pressed down on them, each breath becoming a reminder of their impending doom. They had faced threats before, but nothing like this. The air seemed to thicken with their fear, their minds clouded by the realization that escape might be impossible.
"Looking at you guys now, I realize how dumb this is. I need guinea pigs that can survive my attacks. So, I guess this is it for you. Your skills aren't even worth copying compared to my arsenal," Jett lamented, gripping his sword tightly.
"What's he even talking about?" the archer yelled, frustration seeping into his voice.
"I have no idea, but we'll have to use our strongest skills if we want to kill this kid," the warrior, now standing in front of them, suggested.
"Right. There's no way he's strong enough to take on our best attack," the druid assured herself.
"Let's goooo!" the archer yelled again.
[Berserk]
[War Blessing]
[Boost]
[Beastman Avatar]
[Octave Shot]
[Snipe]
[Swift Shot]
"Whoa, a lot of skills just to kill one kid. They definitely aren't paying you enough," Jett said, almost commending their bravery. "Come at me one last time."
The warriors lunged at Jett, their combined skills creating a chaotic storm of attacks. [Berserk] amplified the warrior's strength, [War Blessing] enhanced their defenses, and [Boost] increased their speed. The archer unleashed a flurry of arrows with [Octave Shot], [Snipe], and [Swift Shot], each projectile aimed with deadly precision.
The druid transformed into a fearsome beast 3 times her size with [Beastman Avatar], claws and fangs bared.
Jett stood his ground, unflinching. As the first arrow whizzed toward him, he deflected it with a swift flick of his sword. An instant later, he countered the warrior's powerful strike, his blade moving with blinding speed. One by one, he met each attack head-on, parrying and striking back in a seamless flow of motion.
Despite the onslaught, Jett's counters were precise and lethal. The druid's beast form was no match for his skill; he sidestepped her lunge and delivered a decisive blow. The warrior fell next, his defenses crumbling under Jett's relentless strikes.
The archer, seeing his comrades fall, made a desperate final attack, but Jett was faster, closing the distance and ending the fight with a single, swift movement.
Jett stood among the fallen take in the quiet aftermath of a battle won.
"It's their own fault for accepting a job like this," he muttered, pausing to glance at the egg hovering around him. "I need to work on that. Didn't really sound cool, did it?"
He took his time walking down the rocky path, each step measured and unhurried, towards where he had left Cormac.
*****
"Why don't you just give up? The kid's probably dead by now. I'm sure my men are just taking it easy, waiting for us to finish here," the leader taunted Cormac.
"Yeah, there's no way the child is still alive and kicking. Why don't you stop fighting a futile battle?" the mage added, her arrogance palpable.
Cormac had remained silent, not wanting to engage in their conversation, but he finally sighed and gripped his spear tightly.
"I think it's time we end this. I must admit, your defense is beyond what I can handle, but it's checkmate from here," he said to both of them.
"Huh?" They were confused by his confidence.
"Target locked."
[Target Lock]
[Tracing Tribulation]
The old lady looked left, right, and then left again before looking Cormac dead in the eyes, as though wary of something.
"Third floor, second door, five knocks," she said, not uttering anything more.
Cormac stood up without a word of thanks and walked into the building, making his way to the location the lady had stated. At the door, he knocked five times as instructed before it finally opened.
The room was dark despite it still being midday, with only a luminous stone at the center of the table casting a dim, eerie glow. A figure sat opposite him, clad in black and covered in a dark veil. Two guards flanked the host, their eyes fixed on Cormac.
"Look what the cat dragged in. The Thunder God Executioner decides to pay the Owl Vine a visit," the host announced in a flattering manner, her voice feminine and tender.
"I need some information, and I'm sure you have what I want," Cormac said, pushing a pouch of coins across the table before dropping another bag. "This man; what can you tell me about him?"
The host carefully opened the bag to reveal the head of the tanker Cormac had previously defeated. She maintained her composure as though it were a normal occurrence.
"Of all the things you had to bring to our doorstep," she sighed, waving to one of the guards, who took the money and the head away.
"Just tell me what I need to know," Cormac replied.
"He was the vice leader of a mercenary group called Looters. A run-of-the-mill band of mercenaries ready to do whatever for money. Mind telling me why his head is facing me right now?" she asked, feeling impatient.
"They attacked me and my young master on our way here. Tell me, do you know of any recent jobs they might have taken from a noble?" Cormac inquired.
'His deduction skills are incredible, shame he doesn't work for us,' she thought, secretly and unknowingly admiring him. "Yes, actually. A week ago, our people spotted two men going in and out of the Looters' hideout by chance. They looked too suspicious to be ignored."
"Tell me about them," Cormac said, now getting impatient.
Here's the revised version with enhanced descriptions, dialogue refinement, and added depth:
---
"We only identified one Ivan Dyno. The other had a mask and hid his presence very well," she replied.
'Dyno? Then the young master was right,' Cormac thought, slowly calming his nerves as he realized the significance. "So, the news about the teleportation platforms was fake?"
'That's top-secret information even in our organization. Did he just guess that on a whim?' she looked at him in awe. "Ehem, that's as much as your money can get you. Please leave."
*****
After toiling for the whole day, Jett went to the pub to wait for Cormac. To kill time, he went through the skills he had acquired, wondering if his choices weren't just plain stupid.
[Poker Face D]
[Dispel A]
[Shadow Blend C]
[Feather Movement B]
"I'm not proud of the first one, but it's alright, I guess. Where the hell is Cormac, though? Whatever, I'll just go get a drink. I still haven't tried alcohol since I got sent to this world," he salivated, daydreaming about the taste of beer from his past life.
He walked up to the bar, dodging anyone who tried coming into contact with him. "A cup of your best beer, please," Jett ordered.
"This is no place for a child like you. Why don't you run along now?" the bartender responded dismissively.
"Excuse you?" Jett got a bit annoyed. "What does it ma..."
He stopped halfway, unable to believe his eyes. Right in front of him was a legendary weapon, Hack Jaw.
The sight of the weapon took his breath away. Its blade gleamed with a deadly edge, and intricate runes adorned its hilt, pulsating with a faint, otherworldly light. Jett's annoyance evaporated, replaced by a mix of awe and curiosity.
"That's... Hack Jaw," he whispered to himself, his eyes wide with wonder.
*
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I deeply apologize for disappearing without a warning. Now let the journey continue.
Big thanks to DaoistuTcOyd and every other review I've gotten so far, I'll try to fix my shortcomings.