I Got This (Right?)

‘You talk a big game there Leo. Now what?’ He asked himself looking at the charging bandits. Despite the show he put on with his fantasy high, this was going to be his second real fight. Not to mention, they were 15 of them on horseback. Would he have to kill them? Could he do that again?

[Hostiles approaching. Select skill]

“All right, all right.” It seems like even the system was growing tired of him just standing there. “Well… since they are on horses… there!”

ALICIA’S TERRAFORMING: EARTH BATH

A yellowish magic pulse emanated from Leo as he took a hard step. Within seconds the terrain underneath the incoming bandits turned into deep mud causing many of them to sink.

ALICIA’S VINE TRAP

Leo did not want to wastes chance with them in confusion and slammed the ground with his fists which were covered in a green glow. Tentacle-like vines grew from his point and began to ensnare most of the bandits. This shocked them as not even a mage could cast again this fast. Well, these were skills after all, he wasn’t exactly playing by this worlds true rules.

If possible, Leo was hoping not to take another life right now.

[Warning! 50% of MP has been used]

“Already?” Leo took a deep breath feeling the mental fatigue from MP loss, “Did the cost change because of the targets? That would have been useful to know.” Sure enough his MP bar was at half, no numbers showed up though. “Let’s see… Earth bath was 400… Vine trap was 6, times 15 that’s 90…”

“Oi!” A bandit called out to him breaking his concentration, “You got a lotta nerve Magician!”

It seemed that three of them had made it past Alicia’s vines. “Shit.” No they got out with their weapons. Leo reached in the spacious bag and pulled out Rebecca’s staff.

REBECCA’S LULLABY

Before Leo faced off the three who escaped, he used the staff to increase the skill’s range to put the remaining ones to sleep. He wanted to get the three as well, but then he could get caught in the spell. A light mist enveloped them and within seconds they were out cold.

[Warning! MP is now at 30%! Caution when using Magic Skills is advised]

‘You don’t have to tell me that!’ Leo was already feeling the excess fatigue, but he still switched out the staff for his sword.

ALESITER’S WEAPON MASTERY

Even though he was tired, he felt the skill activate. Physical/body enhancement skills did not use MP, but they still required him to be conscious to use them.

“We’ll guys? Your buddies are all tuckered out. Why don’t you join them, I heard mud is really good for the skin.” Leo attributed his speech to the adrenaline coursing through him. He knew shouldn’t make the first move and provoking them was the best course of action.

“Grah!”

And luckily the bandits obliged. One charged first, breaking their formation. A quick step to the side and Leo was able to dodge the incoming attack. The bandit was off balance, sweeping his legs with his sword Leo caused the bandit to topple over.

ZEKE’S STRIKE CHOP

With quick precision Leo stroked the back of the fallen bandit’s neck knocking him out.

“Bastard!”

“Rah!”

“Oh no…”

Leo was now on the back foot as the two were now focused. Separating them was now out of the question. While Aleister’s weapon mastery was extremely useful, it was no true swordplay. One on one it was perfect and could cover for all of Leo’s weak points. Two against one? It just made the fight last longer. He would have to thank Sophia again for suggesting his armor as he was taking hits that didn’t penetrate skin yet. They still hurt though.

Leo needed someway to end this fast as he felt himself slowing. He couldn’t use Zeke’s stealth skill as it was considered a magic skill. No point in risking MP when a lucky strike could still get him. ‘Unless, it ends the fight.’ Leo thought. The system said he had 30% left of MP. That one fun skill he used on the horned rabbits would definitely do the trick. Once he had an opening he raised his sword.

ALICIA’S GRAVITY BIND

In the next instant the two bandits found themselves in the air following the swords direction.

“What’s this!?”

“Hey-ye-ye! Put me down!”

Well… he did ask nicely. Swinging downward with all his might Leo caused the two bandits to come crashing down creating two small craters on impact.

[WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!]

[MP AT 10%!]

“I… ha… hear ya.” Leo said feeling the most tired he ever felt in his life. His muscles were extremely sore, and his head was groggy. This will be the first time he actually felt the adverse affects from Aleister’s weapon mastery. He was not trained to fight, so his muscles roared in pain for being used well pass their parameters. Normally, Leo would use one of Rebecca’s skills to alleviate his fatigue, but with his MP so low he didn’t want to risk it.

Leo’s legs then gave out and he fell on his back. The adrenaline wore off and he began to feel the pain. “Heh heh… damn, that sucked.”

“Leo! Leo!”

He heard Sophia calling him. He would have waved, but he didn’t want to move, “I’m okay… just going to need a minute.”

“We don’t have a minute! Come with me now! It’s Zentella!”

The panic in her voice and the mention of the girl’s name jumpstarted the muscles in his body. He quickly followed after Sophia around the caravan. What he saw was beyond his words.

All 15 of the initial bandits were now dead. All with slash wounds from where Leo could see. The hired party was about the place face down, but still alive as they weakly spoke.

“Sto..op.”

“Don’t hurt him…”

“Let him go!”

Leo followed their gaze to the center of the field… where Zentella stood emotionless as ever holding the warrior from the hired party by the head with her dagger at his neck. His legs and arms were slashed in perfect positions to make him at her mercy.

“Wait wait wait! I can explain! Please! Please! Plea-!”

SHINK!