Chapter 104: Chapter104-The Real Fun

Wait! Na... That can't be... With those chilling words, he slowly lowered his right hand towards Lia's neck, his intentions clear... 'Stop!' "No! Stop!" I shouted, my voice hoarse with desperation. "Don't you dare touch her! You won't get away with this!" Mickey's eyes glinted with amusement. "And what can you possibly do about it, Michael? You know as well as I do that you're in no shape to stop me." "Stop talking nonsense, I can move!" I tried to move, but It didn't move a single inch... It felt like my body was made of stone. But I kept trying to move, but all I did was fail, fail and... Fail... Every time I tried to shift or stand, I was stuck, like I was glued to the ground. Time seemed to drag on endlessly, each second dragging with the pounding of my heart. Mickey was right there, his hand hovering dangerously over Lia, his smile showing he was enjoying this... The sight of him about to end her life was unbearable. If I didn't do anything, Mickey would definitely kill Lia just for his own enjoyment. "Move, move, damn it!" I repeatedly urged my body to move... Move...ple...ase! Move... My muscles felt like they were frozen, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't break free from this paralysis. Adrenaline was flooding my body, giving me a burst of energy that should have helped me act. But even with this surge of power, I was still stuck, and the adrenaline just made my frustration worse, without helping me move. 'Fuck! No, this can't be happening! No, no, no!' I screamed inside my head, feeling overwhelmed with fear and anger. The helplessness was suffocating. I was trapped, unable to stop Mickey while his cruel plan played out in front of me. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, I beg don't do this.. Mickey... Don't do it..." I shouted... Tears of frustration and anger blurred my vision. My state was pathetic... I could only watch in horror as time slipped away, feeling the weight of my own powerlessness crushing me. Lia's eyes widened in terror as she saw Mickey's hand inch closer to her neck. Desperation flooded her, but when she tried to move, her body felt just as paralyzed as mine. Her limbs, heavy with fear, refused to respond. She strained against this invisible force holding her down, her breaths coming in short, frantic gasps. "Huh... Look's like... It's the end..." Lia's voice was a mere whisper, trembling with fear... I knew that voice all too well... It was the voice of someone who didn't want to die but had resigned herself to her fate... Mickey's smile grew wider, a joy flickering in his eyes as he finally touched her neck. His hand hovered there for a moment, savoring the moment. "Auhh!" Lia said... Then, slowly, he began to tighten his grip around her throat. Lia gasped as she struggled to breathe, her body instinctively trying to pull away, but she was stuck, unable to move. Her eyes locked onto mine, filled with fear and, painfulness... Damn it... I can't do anything to save her... The feeling of helplessness, along with guilt and regret, was consuming me. I'm sorry, Lia... I'm so sorry... All I could do was stand there, powerless, as the horror of what was happening nearly drove me insane... "Michael... G-usgjj... Awa-" Lia choked out, her voice strained and weak as she struggled to speak, every word a painful effort. Her hands twitched, her fingers barely moving as she desperately tried to lift them, to push him away, to do anything to save herself. But like me, she was trapped in her own body, unable to fight back. Mickey's grip tightened further, and Lia's face began to turn red as she struggled to breathe. The sight was unbearable, her suffering like a dagger through my heart. In this situation also she keeps thinking about me and, hear I am can't even move an inch to save her... Just what kind of man I am? I should have said those words and, protected her but here everything opposite was happening... After arriving in to this world, my m She tried to claw at his hand, her nails barely grazing his skin, but her strength was quickly fading. Tears streamed down Lia's cheeks, her eyes wide with terror as she felt the life being slowly choked out of her. "Please... stop... I... I can't..." Her words were barely audible now, her voice growing fainter with each passing second... She finally notice herself... Recognized her pain... Mickey only laughed, the sound cold and devoid of any humanity. "This is what happens when you try to defy me, Michael," he sneered, his voice dripping with cruelty. "You should've known better." "Noooo, Don't do it, please... I beg you..." But he didn't heed my words... He kept tightening his grip on the neck... Fuck! I tried everything I could to keep going, but each time I just ended up failing even more... Pathetic! What a weak guy I am? I can't even stand up and protect my loved ones I'm just a coward A weakling How did I let it get this bad? Why can't I be stronger? Suddenly, the same memory that had crossed my mind just a few minutes ago came back, but this time it felt different. The girl in the memoryEmily, sitting next to melooked at me with sad, understanding eyes. "You know," she whispered softly, "if you had saved me, everything could have been different. I always believed you'd find a way, that you'd be there for me when I needed you the most." I finally understood, Emily... what you were trying to tell me all along. You were right, weren't you? I have to admit itI never truly gave everything I had to save you. I convinced myself I was trying, but deep down, I know I could've done more. And now, look at me... I'm breaking down, tears streaming down my face like some helpless child. While you all counted on me to be strong, to be there when it mattered most, I'm just sitting here, paralyzed by my own failure, completely useless just watching everything fall apart. I don't deserve really you... I don't deserve anyone. Every time I try, I just make things worse. What kind of person can't even stand up for the people they care about? They must be so disappointed in me. I'm letting everyone down. I don't belong here. Why can't I just be better? What if they realize how worthless I am? I should be the one protecting them, but instead, I'm the one who needs saving. How can I live with myself like this? I'm nothing but a burden. I'm failing them, and I can't stop it... But then, something inside me snappeda hidden source of power surged forth in response to my anger. Huh? What this? Suddenly a system screen appeared in front of me... (Rage meter: 77%... 95%... 100%...) (Rage skill (Level 1) Activated!) Without me knowing, the Rage spell had activated, instantly doubling all my abilities for a crucial moment... With a sudden burst of strength, I felt my body break free from the invisible chains that had held me captive... The rage that had been building inside me finally erupted, filling me with an energy I had never experienced before. I could move! My anger worked... My legs trembled as I took a step forward, then another... The paralysis that had gripped me for so long was gone, replaced by a burning fury... This time... I will ensure that I protect the ones I love... My hands clenched into fists as I focused on Mickey, who still had his hand around Lia's throat. "You're dead now!" I roared, the words tearing from my throat with raw intensity. Mickey's eyes widened in shock. "Huh? What? No, How the hell can you move?" he sneered, but his voice wavered slightly, betraying his surprise. I didn't waste another second. Fuck your question... With my enhanced speed, I launched myself at him, my daggers gleaming in my hands. The distance between us closed in the blink of an eye, and before he could react, I swung both blades toward his stomach with all my might... Let's see how you can escape. Mickey's reflexes kicked in just in time. As he released Lia's throat and twisted his body to dodge a fatal blow, one of my daggers still cut across his abdomen... Damn, I miss it... Blood splattered from the wound, staining his shirt as he stumbled back, his eyes now filled with a mix of shock and anger. "Argh! You bastard!" Mickey hissed, clutching his bleeding stomach. But I could see the confusion creeping into his expression, the realization that I was no longer the helpless victim he had toyed with. I didn't give him a chance to recover. Fueled by intense anger, I charged forward at my fastest speed, every muscle in my body tense with the intent to kill. My right dagger glinted as it cut through the air, aiming directly at Mickey's exposed abdomen. At the same time, my left dagger swung toward his throat, ready to deliver the final blow. This was itthe crucial moment. I only had a second left before my rage-fueled power would wear off, leaving me defenseless... But in this brief instant, I was unstoppable, my daggers slicing through the air with incredible speed. Mickey's eyes widened as he tried to raise his hands to defend himself. Nah, too slow... But he was too slowmy speed was far beyond his. His hands barely moved as my daggers raced toward him, his eyes filled with the terror of what was about to happen. As the blades got closer, just inches away from cutting into his flesh, I felt a wave of happiness washing over me. Why? Because, If I could kill him, I might receive something special from the government... According to the hunter association's law, any citizen who kills a top officer of the rebellion is promised a special reward. Although the specifics of the reward remain a mystery, there's plenty of speculation that it might be a rare skill book or a technique manual. Both would be incredibly valuable. Yahoo... It was win-win situation for me... I was filled with excitement for a brief moment. But just as my daggers were about to pierce his throat and abdomen, that excitement was abruptly cut short... My daggers slashed through the air with no accuracy, cutting through the space where Mickey's body should have been... But instead of the satisfying resistance of flesh, I felt nothing. Huh? What? My blades sliced through empty air, their lethal edges finding no target. My heart sank as I realized what had just happened. No way... Did he just escape? How? How could he have escaped? A chill ran down my spine as my momentum carried me forward, and I stumbled, nearly falling as the power that had surged through me just moments before faded away. The adrenaline that had fueled my every move drained from my body, leaving me weak and disoriented. My rage-fueled strength, the very force that had freed me from paralysis and driven me to this point, vanished in an instant. My legs trembled under the weight of exhaustion, and I struggled to catch my breath. Where did he gooooooo? I spun around, frantically searching for any sign of Mickey. My eyes darted across the dimly lit room, scanning every shadow, every corner. But he was nowhere to be found. Panic gripped me as I realized I had lost him. How could he have vanished so quickly? Just a second ago, he had been right in front of me, his face twisted in fear, his body vulnerable to my attack. And now... he was gone. My mind raced, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Did he have some sort of skill? A teleportation ability? Fuck! So, he used his special skill at just the right moment to save himself by teleporting to another spot. I cursed under my breath, frustration boiling inside me. I had been so close. So close to ending this, to protecting Lia, to claiming my reward... Ohh.. my reward... And now, everything slipped through my fingers... Wait! What if he is here? Yeah, what if his skill is something like invisibility spell? I again looked around again, desperately hoping to catch a glimpse of him, to see the any signs of movement... But the room was silent, the only sound my ragged breathing echoing off the walls. It was as if he had vanished into thin air, leaving me alone in the aftermath of my failed attack. My hands, still clutching the daggers, trembled with a mixture of rage and, panic... But I knew there was no one else in the floor... What was I supposed to do now? I was exhausted, my body barely able to stand, let alone fight. And Mickey was still out there, somewhere, possibly watching me, waiting for the right moment to strike. The weight of the situation crashed down on me, and I staggered back, leaning against the wall for support. The thrill of victory that had filled me just moments ago was gone, replaced by a gnawing sense of dread. I had failed. "Damn it!" I spat, my voice trembling with frustration. How could I have let this happen? How could I have missed? But, anyway... I have an won atleast... I was so caught up in thoughts of the reward and finding him that I completely overlooked Lia, who was on the ground in a bad condition... Just as I heard Lia call out, "Mich...ael!" 'Shit, I completely forgot about her...' I immediately turned to Lia, who was still gasping for breath, her eyes wide with shock and relief. I rushed to her side, my heart aching with guilt as I gently cradled her in my arms. "I'm so sorry, Lia," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so, so sorry I couldn't save you sooner." Lia looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, but she managed a weak smile. "You saved me, Michael. That's all that matters..." Her words were a balm to my soul, easing the guilt that had been eating away at me. I held her close, vowing to myself that I would never let anything like this happen again. I would protect her, no matter what it took. And as I held her, the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. I had tapped into a power I never knew I had, a strength born from my deepest rage and desperation. And while it had saved us today, I knew I had to learn to control it, to harness it properly, or risk losing myself to it completely. But at that moment, nothing was more important than ensuring Lia's safety and knowing that Mickey would never harm anyone again. I quickly reached into my pocket and pulled out five gold-rank potions. Their shimmering, golden liquid seemed to promise hope and healing. Gently, I helped Lia sit up and began to pour the potion into her mouth. "Lia, hang in there," I urged, my voice trembling with concern. "This will help you get better." She swallowed the potion, her lips barely moving as she gulped down the precious liquid. Almost immediately, I could see the effects starting to take place. Her wounded body began to heal, the deep cuts and bruises visibly mending as the potion worked its magic. However, despite the potion's healing properties, blood continued to seep from her wounds, staining the ground beneath her. Lia's eyes fluttered open, and she looked at me with a mix of relief and pain. "Michael thank you," she whispered weakly, her voice barely audible. Before I could say anything, loud roars echoed through the place, leaving me confused and panicked. "No way, are they here already?" Then, a system screen suddenly appeared in front of me, showing the message: (GET READY, HOST! THE REAL FUN IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!)