Chapter LXXVIII – Operational Time Efficiency Tracker: 352,942,984 – The Hunted

Chapter LXXVIII – Operational Time Efficiency Tracker: 352,942,984 – The Hunted

My danger sense activated in an unusual way. I paused from killing another monster while assessing my surroundings. No hostile targets nearby. Calculating probable sources of threat. Long range observation most likely.

I quickly began to change my current location. The sense of being observed persisted. Location could not be determined. It was a general observation, that was using the energy of the Controller, but not the Controller. There was hostility present, a high level of hostility. Threat level could not be determined. Stealth was compromised.

Once I covered enough distance and reached another city, the observation stopped and I figured it out was only a temporary or local event. When it started up again a short time later, that assumption was no longer accurate.

As time continued to pass and I regained energy from monsters, and practiced drawing in energy, the hostile observation continued unabated. Perhaps it was a general change to the Controller and how it was observing everything. Unfortunately, I could not request information on such an event.

My energy reserves were rapidly falling, and I began drawing in more energy. It would take time to recover, but I couldn’t fail my primary objective and die. The attrition damage was quickly adding up. I had no skill that would be useful to counter all the summons that were being used to constantly put pressure on me.

I couldn’t spare the energy to try and find an option while obeying my directives. My motivators saw no path forward that I would survive, which was unacceptable. Any option to change my current circumstance was unacceptable.

If I could have retreated to a level 4 area, I might have been able to lose my pursuers, but those zones were not part of the areas I was allowed to act in. I was being worn down with no chance to escape.

I was hit with an Acid Shot, and then a second. My combat functions quickly began to degrade. I had failed my primary objective.