“Well, well, I had enough fun with you all,” the warden spoke in a completely different voice, and Stark’s eyes widened.
He knew it, he fucking knew it: no chance that thing was using its full power, or even trying in that regard.
It lifted its right arm, its yellow pupils glowing as it looked at Sora, who was not bothered.
“Prisoner Chain,” Warden used one of his [Legendary] skills, and a powerful-looking metal chain that was enveloped in sculk came out of the ceiling and rushing toward Sora’s neck.
“Once I get rid of you, the other prisoner will tremble in fear and surrender,” Warden slowly got up, as if his injuries were nothing more than an act, as if all that rage was just a show, “But truly,” he smiled, “Did you really believe that I was even trying? Did you really think you could defeat the warden of this prison with such useless attacks?”
Sora hadn’t noticed the chain yet, too focused on Warden, although she couldn’t deny she was surprised to see him this carefree after all her attacks.
“FUCK… TIME VISION,” time slowed down around Stark to the extreme, the chain that was now only a few meters away from closing around Sora’s neck slowing down as well, “THINK… THINK…”
Stark’s brain was working at 120% at this very moment, the vortex in his eyes growing darker, and his crimson aura taking over not only his face but also his body.
He had a choice to make, one that would determine his entire fate: sacrifice Sora and hope that he would be strong enough to take the warden (unlikely) or… he could save her and possibly sacrifice his [Revive Token].
Sora was needed, there was denying it, her flower powers were the real deal and could deal more damage than he could.
But… would she really be worth a [Revive Token]?
In his mind, all Stark was thinking was for the best way to win, he didn’t even care if she died or not as long as she was useful…
And by the end of his reasoning…
[3 seconds have passed, deactivating ‘Time Vision’]
~FWISH, DASH~
Stark used all his energy to dash toward Sora, he ran the fastest he had ever done yet, closing the distance in less than a fraction of a second.
The chain was right behind her, on the verge of closing in on her and essentially kill her.
But…
~PUSH~
Stark slammed onto Sora, pushing her out of the chain’s way.
And instead…
~CLANG~
The metal chain slammed into Stark, embedding itself into his neck with a sickening crunch and closing in on him as its edge was like some-sort of collar that couldn’t be removed.
“A hero now? Humans sure as dumb aren’t they…” the warden sighed, “Oh well, that heroic act is going to be your last…”
“WARDEN SMASH,” he infused his hammer with even more sculk, making it glow extremely strongly, and held it with his two hands to increase the power and damage, approaching Stark, who couldn’t move anymore as the sculk was slowly taking over his body, the liquid submerging his head and soon enough his chest.
It was a horrible way to go when you think about it: you couldn’t see and couldn’t do anything.
And when you expect it the least…
~SMASH~
The warden would use his hammer to smash your head, killing you instantly.
Sora watched in horror as her partner was killed right in front of her eyes: for the first time in as long as she could remember, her expression was something other than that neutral one she had.
Stark had saved her, and although such acts wouldn’t normally sway her, the way he had gone after sacrificing himself was horrifying.
“One down, one more to go,” the warden calmly turned toward Sora, “Oh yeah, before I forget…”
“SCULK INFUSION,” the sculk around his body fused and bulged, taking over his entire armor like some sort of veil.
And after a few seconds…
“+400000,” he had been mostly healed, “That’s better…” and so he continued walking toward Sora, who was ready to cause chaos.
“THE FLAMING ROSE,” this was also the first time Sora was angrily using a skill, and she didn’t know how her friends or family would react if she saw her actually showing some kind of emotion for the first time.
But for now… she just needed to kill that thing.
~FWISH, SPARK~
A vine came out of the ground and opened up into some sort of display, inside of it being a red flower with fire around it.
~NOM~
Sora ate that flower in one gulp, and the aura around her became much more powerful.
“Oh?” the warden tilted his head, “Is this one of those tricks? You do realize they won’t work?” he was truly mocking all of them.
“…” Sora didn’t answer, instead she focused on her hands, and they began to be surrounded by fire as well.
…
[Skill: The Flaming Rose]
[Type: Legendary]
[Description: Eat the flower, and you will temporarily unlock the power to send fireballs using your hands, those fireballs have a chance to cause the ‘BURN’ effect!]
…
~FWISH, FWISH~
Small balls of fire, the size of her palms, appeared inside her hands, and she began to repeatedly send them toward the warden like some sort of rifle, not stopping for even a second.
And yet…
“Futile,” the balls hit the warden’s armor, yet he didn’t even seem affected: all the balls were disappearing as soon as they hit the armor or sculk, “Did you really believe any of your previous attacks would have worked under normal circumstances?”
~FWISH, FWISH~
Yet Sora didn’t stop, she kept sending dozens upon dozens of fireballs, who all did NOTHING to the boss except tickle him.
“Prisoners never learn, do they,” he shook his head lightly, mocking her even more, “Your companion died, and here you are… PATHETIC…!”
“SCULK SURGE,” he pointed his left arm at her, the one that was taken over by the sculk, and he sent a burst of the dark blue liquid at her.
~STEP~
Sora instinctively stepped to the right with phenomenal speed.
But what was awaiting her in this spot… was Warden’s foot.
~KICK, SLAM~
Completely different than before, he actually predicted her movements using [Horns Detection], his two horns repeatedly glowing on and off to check out his opponent’s next moves.
And so…
“Argh…” Sora was sent flying backward as the armored foot hit her in the stomach.
“-27162!” and even more terrifying, the damage he did was actually high.
“Come on,” the warden sighed, “Show me something interesting, or else you’ll just join him while doing nothing…”
The warden considered them as nothing but bugs, pretty normal with just how strong it was.
And what it REALLY wanted was to show the ‘prisoners’ that they were nothing but trash that could be taken out at any time, which is why he actually allowed them to hit him at the start and think he was weak.
Now… their despair would be amplified.
Or that is what he thought… because behind him… something great was happening.
“…”
[Revive Token used since host is dead!]
The token that resembled a gold coin, the symbol of two angel wings on it, appeared above Stark, then vanished out of thin air, the golden particles heading toward his body.
And once all of them were gone…
[Stark has been revived!]
Stark opened his eyes, remembering everything that happened.
