United in Hatred Arc: Chapter 23.
(I'll try to be more descriptive in the narration.)
"Minor Speed, Minor Strength, Fleet-foot, Minor Agility, Enrage, Small Boost."
Winter's whole body quivered, vibrating in power. He used the newly unlocked technique that he got from leveling up. Small Boost. It was a technique that slightly provides a boost to the currently active techniques.
(Where the hell is Bricks!? He's been quiet for some time. I could use some goddamned assistance!)
He tightly gripped the scorch dagger and then shot his body forward, leaping with immense speed that surprised the female assassin. The woman barely dodged the attack, slightly nicking her cheek.
The small wound then scorched, burning the skin. "Tsk!" The woman clicked her tongue; the scorching pain was present, but it was manageable.
*Slash!* Winter delivered another attack, then another. He didn't give her any time to gather her thoughts lest he lose his advantage. His technique was also going to expire soon, but he had another card to play.
"Ward, Protection." The woman activated two techniques, both of which are defensive in nature. Ward absorbs a certain amount of physical damage, while Protection nullifies a certain amount of physical damage.
The woman kept dodging, albeit barely. She could parry the attacks, but as of right now, Winter was significantly stronger. She concluded that parrying his attacks would either throw her out of balance or end up damaging her weapon.
(Activating that many techniques! He's going to suffer a heart attack. Is he suicidal or desperate?)
*Slash!* Another miss.
(I don't see that on his face, though.)
*Slash!* Almost a hit.
(Just a little bit more time!)
*Tchk!* A stab in the right upper limb. The wound wasn't deep, and it didn't bleed for long since the skin was scorched. The wound was effectively cauterized. The woman gritted her teeth and leaped backwards while holding the wound.
Winter then slowed down since his techniques had expired. A technique would usually only last around twenty to forty seconds. The effect would be longer if certain items or skills were present.
Winter grabbed his chest since his heart was beating rapidly. A common side effect of technique overuse. He fell on one knee, gasping for air.
The woman sighed in relief, cackling hard. "Hahahahahaha!"
"Whew! You gave me quite a fright. You actually put me on the defensive." The woman remarked that she sounded like someone who escaped a deathly serious situation.
"My heart was actually beating fast." She said, putting her hand on her chest.
"It's still beating fast."
The woman eyed Winter with a killer's glare. "That should teach me not play with my food." She said while slowly approaching Winter, whose head was bowed. He was heavily panting.
The woman stopped a meter away from Winter. She raised her right arm over her head, as if she were holding an invisible sword, ready to strike him down. Then, the mana around the air and inside her coalesced on her hand.
A sword slowly formed, made out of magical energy. Its color was of a blueish hue, and it had the length of an average sword, yet lighter in weight. She eyed the kneeling and panting Winter with an excited glare.
"Any last words?"
"I got just a few," Winter added with a grin.
"Minor Speed, Minor Strength - "
The woman wasn't about to let him activate several techniques; she quickly brought the sword down on his head, but Winter dodged it. He then quickly countered with a sweeping kick, knocking her off.
"Fleet-foot, Minor Agility, Enrage, Small Boost."
The woman was about to stand up, but Winter quickly kicked her right temple, instantly knocking her out cold. The last thing the woman saw was Winter's victorious face.
(Piece of shit...)
"AHHH!" Winter screamed in victory and cracked his neck while stretching his limbs. His bluff had worked; he couldn't help but be excited.
"Shit, I can't believe I've thought of that. I must be a combat genius." He added, rolling up his sleeves and showing off his biceps.
"In this world, there are side effects when it comes to the expiration of techniques." He said, picking up the woman and saddling her on his shoulder. "In the game world, there were no side effects whatsoever."
"And my body is more akin to a player than a human. I did it without your help, Bricks!"
Winter stopped, realizing something. Bricks would usually give some small tips, but this time, his pseudo-AI assistant was quiet. "Bricks? Something wrong?"
◆ [ I am here. ] ◆
"You didn't do your usual target analysis and that verdict thing," Winter said, walking towards the forest's exit while carrying the woman on her shoulders.
◆ [ Yes, I was in my deep optimization mode. A protocol that I made and activated if you were in a considerable amount of danger. ] ◆
◆ [ When that female assassin arrived and declared her intention. I instantly abandoned my assistance mode and switched to a deep-optimization mode. ] ◆
◆ [ I've 'overclocked' myself to boost your physiological processes. I boosted your healing potential, adrenaline, emotional suppression, fatigue mitigation, and your physicality. ] ◆
◆ [ I made sure that you'll survive no matter what. If the fight tilted against your favor, I would've notified you and pumped your body full of adrenaline. ] ◆
"You can control my bodily processes?"
◆ [ Influence is the correct term. ] ◆
"Ah, whatever. I am alive, and that's what matters." Winter said, briefly dropping the unconscious woman and then tightly wrapping her around with several green vines.
"There's gotta be a bounty on this assassin," Winter said, picking her up again and holding her bottom for a better balance. (It's flat...)
◆ [Reminder: Pick up your share of the money from the extermination task reward. ] ◆
"Thank you, Bricks. Also, do you have a theory of why Biggy disliked me?" Winter said with a slightly somber tone. He didn't like being alone. He didn't like adventuring alone.
He had some acquaintances here in the new world, but they were all part of a peasant revolutionary group. He didn't enjoy the idea of toppling fantasy monarchies and decimating the noble class.
◆ [Likely Reason: He disliked your combat recklessness and surprising capability. Verdict: Slightly insecure with an aversion towards the uncooperative. ] ◆