Reflection of Power

Haruto slumped over and rolled to the floor. Aki and the System came to his side. Still in Stick Hero, his face had become more childish.

The stick in Haruto's hand began to extend, growing and shedding vines and leaves. It reshaped itself to its original form, yet more resplendent than before. It was still a "vaguely sword-shaped stick," just as his job required, but seemed to be more.

"You three saved me." Haruto said, looking to Aki, the System, and then to Yggdrasil. "Thanks, guys!"

"Yeah... No problem." The System said, his eye changing to a happy yellow.

"I knew that a big, strong man would save me." Aki said with a wink.

"Okay. Enough congratulations." The System threw Haruto his clothes with his new hands. "We're still on a timer."

"Why?" Haruto asked, putting on his old clothes. "We dealt with the problem, right?"

A loud banging started beyond the closed double doors. Once, twice, and then another, as the doors exploded from their hinges. Haruto dove over Aki as the doors flew across the room, nearly hitting them.

"It's too late." The System said, fear in its voice. "Don't fight, Haruto. We look for an opening, and we run."

Dust spread from the recent explosion. A boss fight warning appeared just as it did with the chief, only the skull wasn't orange. This time it was black.

"So you're the new bodyguard?" A man's voice sounded from the doorway. "Man, it sucks to be you."

Haruto helps Aki to her feet as the dust clears. A human man with short black hair and silver eyes stood before them. An air of incredible danger came from him as Haruto's eyes darted between him and the black skull floating above him.

"What does a black skull mean?" Haruto asked the System.

"A black skull indicates a challenge that results in... imminent death." The System began to sweat.

"Whoa, now. This ain't gotta get ugly," the man said flippantly. "You just hand over the System and I'll leave lickety-split."

"He's lying." The System said. "The boss warning wouldn't have shown if he meant that."

"Aha! Don't tell him." He laughed. "Death's easier to accept if it comes snappy like."

"What do you want it for?" Haruto asked.

"It ain't told you yet? We want to be able to change jobs. That's all." The man took a step forward, looking at the Gob-uh-lins. "You take out these fellas?"

"Haruto's not like the others." The System shouted.

"Ha! He ain't special." He said, looking at Haruto. "You're the 13th bodyguard it's had in the last two months. It tell you that?"

Haruto glanced at the System and back to the man. His grip tightened on Yggdrasil. He felt no fear because of his Imaginary Bravery skill, but it seemed like leveling up Stick Hero gave him more control over his impulses to jump straight in.

The man looked at the stick in Haruto's hand and smiled. "Oh? You wanna get feisty? Come on. I'll give you the first shot." He motioned to his face, sticking out his mouth.

Haruto's bravery overwrote his caution once again. He rushed forward, slamming Yggdrasil into the man's mouth. The man didn't move. Haruto felt the sting and warmth in his mouth as he was thrown back. He grabbed his face as blood spurted from his nose and mouth.

"Haruto!" The System shouted. "I told you not to fight him."

"The name's Kael Stridant," he said, giving a chuckle. "I'm a Damage Reflector. You smart enough to know what that does?"

"How the hell does someone get that job?!" Haruto screamed at the System.

Kael cracked his neck and strolled forward, boots crunching over splinters of broken door. "You seem a bit tougher than the others. I think Boss'll like you."

Kael began to beat into Haruto with martial mastery. He attempted to parry and block, but every slight tap with Yggdrasil that would deal any damage at all immediately landed against himself. He was already fatigued from his previous fight, and now he was facing a relentless assault of punches and kicks, all while damaging himself.

Haruto fell to his knees, and Kael grabbed him by the collar. "No, no! We ain't done." Kael landed a punch in Haruto's face, and the same hand felt the impact as well. He could reflect the damage he dealt to himself too!?

Haruto's addled mind raced. He searched for any idea to stall his inevitable death. Flashes of other Isekai protagonists came to mind. Then it came to him. What would Genzō-senpai do?

He reached up to his tie, changing to Blue Tie Assassin. Kael's next attack was dodged and wrapped as Haruto locked the movement in his joints. Genzō-senpai would grapple!

It wasn't a solution, but at least it kept him at bay for a moment. Haruto somehow brought Kael to one knee. He laughed once again.

"Whoo! You got some moves." Kael said, flexing his muscles. "You ain't gonna hold me with such little strength, though."

Kael pulled one arm free and grabbed Haruto by the face, flipping him over and slamming him to the ground. He raised a hand, ready to land the blow that would end Haruto for good. Aki and the System could only watch in horror.

Suddenly a paper rocket squealed through the air and exploded with a squeaky pop! A barrage of sparkling pigs flew toward Kael, causing him to release Haruto. They both dove out of the way as the piggies collided before detonating in bursts of spark and smoke.

From the doorway, a girl burst in, resting a long copper tube on her shoulder. She wore oversized goggles, her fiery hair was tied with twine, and her tattered tunic was stained with soot.

"Aki!" she yelled. "I've come to get you!"

"Lyra!" Aki’s eyes lit up. "You found me!"

"We've got multiple search teams out looking for you!" Lyra said with a huff. "Let's get out of here!"

"Hold on, girly!" Kael shouted. "You think I'm just gonna let you ruin my fun?"

Aki threw a vial at Kael, shattering it on his chest. A sticky white glob began to expand and cover him. He pulled and ripped, but the goo just fused back to itself. It stretched and expanded, and Kael stopped struggling.

"You better take advantage of this opportunity." Kael cracked his neck and smiled as the expanding mass made a globe, completely encompassing him.

"What is that?" Haruto asked.

“Thank goodness it worked right." She said with a sigh. "It's a homemade restraint gel. It's shock absorbent and grows stronger if you struggle.”

The globe began to pulse slowly, growing larger with each one. Shockwaves rippled through the cave, knocking dust from the walls. They could feel it in their bones.

"We should leave!" The System screamed.

"Come this way!" Lyra said, leading them out.

They ran down the halls of the Gob-uh-lin cave. Loud but muffled booming followed them. They grew in frequency and power until suddenly they stopped.

The team burst through the rocky mouth of the cavern just as the sunset began. A carriage waited for them, with a driver in the seat holding his hands up. As Haruto's eyes adjusted to the light, Gob-uh-lin women surrounded them, arrows trained to strike.

Haruto thought fast. He changed to Fan Service Delivery Boy, which automatically unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. The Gob-uh-ladies swooned over him and lowered their weaponry.

"Soooo handsome!" they squealed.

"A strange man has attacked us." Haruto said plainly. "Could you help us?"

The Gob-uh-lady in charge stepped up, grabbing his hand and petting it softly. "Don't worry, babe. We'll protect you."

"You sure about that?" Kael exploded from the cave behind them.

He didn’t hesitate. He lunged, delivering a haymaker that sent one Gob-uh-lady flying through the trees. They attacked him like a swarm, but he knocked each one away.

Kael fought like his job was Martial Artist. He took each club, dodged each sword, and used the Gob-uh-ladies as shields to block arrows. Haruto had struggled against a similar group of Gob-uh-lins, yet he didn't break a sweat.

Aki began to pull Haruto to the carriage. The System screamed at Haruto to hurry. But Haruto noticed something.

"Wait!" Haruto said to himself. "Why is he dodging?"

They piled into the carriage, an open-top, steam-powered vehicle. Lyra set to work, hanging herself over the side, lighting a fuse with her finger. It hissed to life as she rolled back into the cabin.

"Hold on!" she said.

Sparks flew from under the carriage, and away they went. It curved the carriage to the sky. Kael got smaller and smaller as he fought the Gob-uh-ladies. It pushed them higher and higher above the trees as they flew toward their destination.

Haruto could see a town far in the distance. The carriage spun as it rose higher. Lyra laughed as the man in the carriage seat went pale. Haruto screamed, only stopping to feign coolness as Aki hugged up to him. The System used his new hands to hold on for dear life.

"Is this a firework?" Haruto asked over the roar of the rocket and wind.

"Yeah," Lyra said. "My job is Firework Maker."

"Is this thing going to explode?" He asked.

"What? No way." She said, brushing off his concerns. The carriage evened out and began a slow glide as the driver pulled a lever, releasing canvas wings. "See? We're fine."

The sparks began to sputter out and stopped flowing. The carriage detonated in a burst of flames and confetti, and the passengers were launched from the cabin. As they fell, they screamed, with Haruto feeling a great sense of deja vu.