"This is?"
Kai looked at Alice, who had bitten her finger until it bled and was now drawing something on his and Baron's arms.
"This is a mana transfer spell. I learned it from a mage who lives next door to me."
She then wrote her name on their arms.
A strange sensation rose within them. Both Kai and Baron suddenly felt stronger than usual.
"Hey, aren't you afraid you'll run out of mana?"
"If it were someone else, maybe. But for me, it's a little different..."
"Different how?"
"Well... my energy stat is 15."
...
"You're serious?" Kai broke into a cold sweat.
For reference, the average person's energy stat was 5, and a genius would have 7.
Sure, talent points could boost this stat over time, so even a low starting number wasn't a big deal... except for me.
The maximum human energy stat was 20. To go beyond that, you'd either have to break your limits somehow or use buffs.
That's all I knew. I never actually read that damn book all the way through.
And yet, she... had 15.
I could only hope it was because she trained hard.
"I didn't train at all. I was surprised by this stat too."
Come on, don't break me any further...
Baron then stood up and looked at Kai.
Since he was currently deaf, talking like normal was difficult. So, he communicated with his eyes instead.
Kai nodded, ready to move.
"Wait! If you want to stop my mana transfer, just use your blood or someone else's to cross my name out."
"Got it! Now call the cops."
The two of us rushed toward the battle while Alice prayed for our safety.
***
Snap!
A surge of electricity shot toward the enemy, shocking him violently.
"RAGHHH!!!"
Rocker charged in, swinging his fists despite having already lost one hand.
The cannibal, taking a barrage of punches, tried to bite back—but a sword stabbed into his cheek, getting stuck there and preventing him from closing his jaws.
Kai quickly drew another weapon and slashed his back before using his skill.
"STUCK!"
Instantly, the sword became immovable, embedding itself deep into the cannibal's back.
Baron snapped his fingers again, sending more electricity coursing through their foe.
The three of them attacked relentlessly, giving the cannibal no room to recover.
If this continued, he wouldn't be able to eat anything to heal himself—he would die!
As the battle tipped in their favor, the cannibal suddenly shredded the sword lodged in his mouth and spat the broken shards at Rocker.
Caught off guard, Rocker was pierced by the fragments.
The enemy then bit into the ground and burrowed down.
"What the?!"
Seeing the hole in the ground, the three of them exchanged glances.
"Rocker, try smashing the ground."
"Let's see."
Rocker raised his arm and slammed it down.
The earth trembled, disrupting the cannibal's attempt to dig.
Baron snapped his fingers, sending electricity down the hole. The ground glowed as the current spread.
Seconds later, the cannibal burst out, collapsing onto the ground.
"Heh."
The three of them smirked.
"FINISH HIM! NOW!!!!!"
Kai drove two swords into the cannibal's hands.
"STUCK!"
The blades locked into place, pinning the cannibal down.
Rocker delivered a devastating punch to his stomach.
Baron's entire body crackled with electricity, his eyes glowing like a thunder god.
He raised his hand—Snap!
This time, instead of a simple electric shock, actual lightning struck.
Dark clouds formed overhead, thunder roaring as a bolt of lightning prepared to descend upon the cannibal.
But in that split second, the enemy simply opened his mouth.
Inside his throat, a strange tattoo began to glow.
"Gluttony."
A powerful force erupted, blasting all three of them away.
Kai was unlucky—he got sent flying straight into the weapons shop.
The lightning finally struck—but the cannibal ate it.
Rocker gritted his teeth and charged forward recklessly.
Baron stood up, preparing to fire more electric attacks.
But as Rocker's fist flew, the cannibal dodged and sank his teeth into Rocker's remaining hand.
"Ugah!"
Baron snapped his fingers, sending another electric blast toward them.
But the cannibal swung Rocker with immense force, using him as a shield.
!!
Rocker was struck by the electricity, convulsing in pain.
The cannibal then hurled him at Baron, knocking them both to the ground.
He lunged toward them, mouth wide open.
Rocker, seeing the imminent danger, looked at Baron.
"DAMN IT!!"
With no other choice, he raised his remaining arm.
The cannibal bit down hard, blood spraying everywhere.
Rocker gritted his teeth and clung to the enemy, holding him in place.
"BARON! DO IT!!!!"
Baron couldn't hear him, but he understood the intent.
Yet, he hesitated.
His attacks were strong, but this monster had survived everything so far. What if this one didn't work either?
And more than that—he didn't want to hit Rocker too.
Kai, meanwhile, had gotten back on his feet and realized how bad the situation was.
Scanning for a weapon, his eyes landed on that purple sword.
He rushed over to grab it.
"HEY! WAIT, DON'T TOUCH THAT!!"
The shopkeeper, who had been watching the battle, shouted in alarm.
The moment Kai grabbed the sword, an overwhelming exhaustion crashed over him.
"Aghh!!"
He collapsed, struggling to let go—but he couldn't.
"You idiot! That sword is cursed!!"
A... curse?!
"You bastard! If it's cursed, why the hell was it on display?!"
"To attract customers, duh! I love money!"
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!"
Kai felt utterly hopeless.
His mana was being drained at an alarming rate.
If this continued, Alice would be affected too.
…In that case!
Kai forced himself up and ran toward the cannibal.
Now, while he was struggling with Rocker—this was his chance!
Just before reaching his target, Kai used his own blood to cross out Alice's name on his arm.
The mana link severed.
His body grew even heavier, but his determination kept him moving.
The cannibal had just torn off Rocker's last arm and shoved him away—when he suddenly sensed a terrifying aura behind him.
Turning around, he saw Kai lunging with the cursed sword.
"I'M TAKING YOU DOWN WITH ME!!!"
SLASH!
The blade stabbed deep into the cannibal's chest.
With the last of his mana, Kai shouted.
"STUCK!"
Suddenly, his grip released from the sword.
He collapsed, watching as—
"GUUHH! GUUUAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Mana drained uncontrollably. The tattoo in the cannibal's throat flickered wildly.
Baron and Rocker watched as the monster writhed in agony, suffering under the curse.
He gagged, vomiting blood.
The cloth covering his face fell, revealing…
A gaunt middle-aged man.
His hollow eyes widened slightly as he gazed past Kai.
A vision appeared—
A woman holding a child, smiling at him.
His lifeless eyes regained a flicker of light.
"...wife... child..."
The tattoo in his throat vanished.
His body swelled—then exploded.
Blood and flesh rained down.
…
Kai smiled faintly.
"Finally… I can rest."
He blacked out.
Rocker and Baron, exhausted, followed suit.
Leaving behind a battlefield soaked in blood and carnage.
Footsteps echoed as the police arrived, with Alice among them.
"Great. We're late."
"No surprise if we get a pay cut."
Alice surveyed the remains, overwhelmed by horror.
But at least… only one person had died.
And that guy deserve that? I think?