NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 13: A Cruel Wake-Up Call
Alex peers down from his small wooden tower, watching the chaos unfolding beneath him. The village palisade, once quiet and still, is now swarming with Baroque Works agents climbing the walls. He can hear the clash of weapons, the desperate cries of villagers, and the grunts of the mercenaries fighting to defend their positions.
To his left, he spots Thato in the thick of it. The tall South African swings his new white-quality axe with deadly precision, striking down an agent from the Millions rank. The unfortunate soul tumbles backward off the wall and falls with a sickening thud. Whether the agent dies from the blow or the fall doesn't matter; either way, he's not getting back up.
Alex can't help but feel a spark of admiration for Thato. He moves with the grace and power of a seasoned warrior. In contrast, Alex has spent most of his life sitting in front of a computer. He grits his teeth, steeling himself for what he knows he has to do.
"Focus. Find a target. Take them out," he reminds himself.
Scanning the battlefield, Alex spots the group of women—Patricia, Roja, Eirini, and Perlah—struggling against two Millions agents wielding sabers. The women are dodging frantically, barely keeping ahead of their attackers. Alex takes a deep breath, steadies his bow, and releases an arrow. This time, his aim is decent, though not miraculous. The arrow strikes one of the agents in the back, staggering him.
He doesn't celebrate; there's no time for that. He swiftly draws another arrow, aiming at the second attacker. The agent, sensing danger, tries to dodge, and Alex's arrow only grazes his arm. But the distraction is enough. Patricia, quick to seize the opportunity, swings her axe, cleaving the first agent's head clean off. Roja, not one to be outdone, lunges forward and drives her hunting knife into the throat of the second agent, silencing him for good.
The brutal execution leaves Alex stunned for a moment. Roja, who had seemed so cold and dismissive earlier, is clearly a killer when it matters. He makes a mental note to stay on her good side.
Eirini and Perlah, having regained their composure, take aim with their bows at another Millions agent charging toward them. Their arrows strike true, wounding him, and Alex follows up with a final shot from his tower, delivering the killing blow.
You have dealt 15 damage to Millions agent.
You have dealt 7 damage to Millions agent.
You have earned 100 contribution points.
You have earned 50 contribution points.
You have dealt 17 damage to Millions agent.
You have killed Millions agent.
You have earned 200 contribution points.
He quickly scans the battlefield. The immediate threat seems to have subsided, but the sounds of fighting persist from other parts of the village. His eyes dart around, seeking more enemies. Just as he's about to regroup with the others, he hears shouting from a distance.
"Forget taking them as hostages. Kill these fuckers!"
The voice is different, harsher, more commanding. Alex's stomach drops as he sees several more formidable-looking men advancing toward them. Billions.
These agents, higher in rank than the Millions, are far more dangerous. They draw flintlock pistols from their belts. Alex's heart pounds in his chest as the mercenaries around him hesitate, realizing the peril they're in.
"Oh shit…" Alex thinks, his pulse racing.
Without waiting for orders, the mercenaries charge at the Billions, desperate to close the distance before the agents can take their shots. Alex, too, joins the fray, but his inexperience shows. He swings wildly with his [Inferior Woodcutting Axe], trying to keep up with the more experienced fighters around him.
A sharp pain erupts in his shoulder, causing him to stumble. He looks down, dazed, and sees blood pouring from a gunshot wound.
Billions agent dealt 26 damage to you.
Your left shoulder is bleeding, losing 1 HP per minute until you stop the bleeding.
Alex lets out a scream, more from shock than pain. He feels the warmth of blood soaking through his clothes. But there's no time to retreat—he has to fight. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, he charges at the agent who shot him, his vision blurring with rage and fear.
He swings his axe with all his might, catching the Billions agent by surprise. The blade cleaves through the agent's neck, decapitating him in a single stroke. The body crumples to the ground as Alex stands there, panting, blood dripping from his shoulder.
You have dealt 28 * 3 = 84 damage to Billions agent.
You have killed Billions agent.
You have earned 500 contribution points.
The battle turns into a chaotic melee. The close-quarters combat makes it impossible for the Billions agents to use their pistols effectively, but they still fight fiercely with blades. Amid the chaos, Alex feels another sharp pain in his chest. A dagger finds its mark, and blood begins to flow from yet another wound.
Millions agent dealt 10 damage to you.
Your chest is bleeding, losing 1 HP per minute until you stop the bleeding.
Weakness floods through Alex's body. His HP bar is dangerously low, dropping from 50 to just above 10. He can feel his life slipping away as blood pours from his wounds. Panic sets in as he realizes how close he is to death.
An agent stands before him, raising a saber for the finishing blow. Alex's mind screams for someone, anyone, to save him, but no one comes. With no other options, Alex barely dodges the strike and makes a desperate decision. He leaps off the wall, hoping the fall won't kill him.
You take 8 fall damage.
WARNING: Player has less than 10% HP remaining.
WARNING: Player is about to fall unconscious.
Pain shoots through Alex's legs as he hits the ground, but he's still alive—barely. His vision swims, and he can feel the darkness creeping in. Desperation takes hold. His mind races, searching for a way out. Then, he remembers the healing herb he found earlier.
With trembling hands, Alex fumbles for the [Healing Herb], pulling it from his pocket. He shoves it into his mouth, chewing it frantically, hoping it will work before he loses consciousness.
You have used Healing Herb.
30 HP will be restored over 30 seconds.
Just as the edges of his vision begin to darken, he feels the herb's effects kicking in. His breathing steadies, and the warmth of the healing spreads through his body. He isn't out of danger yet, but for the moment, he is alive.
His whole body trembles as he lies on the ground, the herb slowly knitting his wounds. This isn't a game. It isn't some save file he can reload. He's going to die if he doesn't change how he approaches this world. If he didn't have that Healing Herb, it would all be over by now.