We stared at each other, unsure of what to think for a moment. However, the sounds of combat outside snapped our attention back to the main view.
"Dude, what are you doing, stop yourself!"
The new copy said holding their head like they were watching someone throw something valuable and were stressed about it.
"I can't exactly move myself here, what do you want me to fly!?"
I asked wiggling as if to show a point. The copy rolled their eyes and reached a hand out, grabbing it they said.
"Ok, use me as a springboard and get to the… the… eyes or something!"
I wanted to take a moment to argue that a plan like that didn't have much merit, but I heard Liora cry out in pain as I saw my spear stabbing her through the side. I gathered myself and launched as hard as I could. My weird inner mind self-got to the front. My vision seemed to sink back into place like a sword returning to a sheath. My spear was inches from striking Selene. I yanked my hand to the side, the tip scratching Selene, but missing otherwise.
"Y-your back?"
Selene asked, her breathing heavy as she looked at my clearly startled face. My muscles hurt from moving, my breath was ragged, but I was more worried about what I had done to the others. However, before I could turn, I heard a voice in my head.
"Looking over the logs, looks like Thalia is at 10/18, Kaelen is rocking 9/16, Liora has 12/20, and you only nicked Selene, so she had 30/41."
I looked around bewildered before a felt a weird small pain in my head.
"Focus, this is a fight, and why are you surprised, we just met!"
I wanted to focus on the fact that a train of thought of mine had now seemingly come alive and was barking orders at me, but we were in fact still in a fight. Turning around I saw there were in fact 4 of the blood clones staring us down.
Jax was still being held down, but he was now unconscious from the bleeding effect he had taken. Looking back at Ymer, he was grinning, his teeth showing as he gave me a mocking smile. A feeling of rage bubbled in my veins as I thought about how he had toyed with us, used me to hurt my friends, and used Jax as a hostage so they couldn't fight back.
Glaring back at him I was unsure of what we could do. However, Ymer didn't seem to be waiting for us to decide as he stretched his arms.
"Seems like the little alchemist woke up from my spell. Now that you have tenderized your team mates a bit, let's see how long you all can last."
The blood clones took this opportunity to rush us. One swung its blade down as if to cut thalia in half. She whipped her strings out and grabbed the blood clone's arm. However, as Thalia started to pull the blade was coming down too fast. The attack sliced into her, a large slash from shoulder to hip. Thalia let out a cry of pain before falling over unconscious.
I wanted to help, to get in the way, but as a thrusting attack came for my side, I was forced to lean back, my spears shaft cracking under the force I was redirecting. Behind me I heard Kaelen cry out. I turned my head, His arm was split, from the elbow down to his hand, the arm opened up like a maw of a creature. Kaelen layed on the ground, the pool of blood spreading and growing as he layed there.
I turned to see Selene starting to rush at the blood clone that attacked Thalia, but the fourth slid behind her, ready to stab Liora tried to intervene, but the Blood Clone changed the course of its blade, stabbing Liora trough the stomach and ripping the blade out the side. Something spilled out of the wound, but I couldn't see them. My mind was racing I only had 2 healing potions, and everyone was in critical condition!
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Temp party member Thalia has taken 24 damage
WARNING WARNING WARNING Temp party member Thalia is in critical condition
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
You have deflected the attack
Warning, your Basic Spear is breaking down, it won't last much longer
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party member Kaelen has been struck in a Vital Spot CRITICAL HIT
WARNING WARNING WARNING Party member Kaelen is in critical condition
Blood Clone has used item Vermillion Rapier(D)
Party member Liora has taken 23 damage
WARNING WARNING WARNING Party member Liora is in critical condition
It was horrifying. We had taken down a Blood Trent with only a single person falling unconscious, we had explored an unknown dungeon and survived despite getting sneak attacked twice and even got two of the items from the dungeon. Selene was looking at me, tears on her face as it was clear she was looking to me for what to do, but what could we do!
"Fighting's not working, you just got a skill about talking, so talk, buy time until someone comes to help!"
The copy in my mind yelled. Their voice was centering, and seemed immune to the chaos, fear, and despair of the outside world. I don't know what to say though, w-were gonna die! I thought, but like a snake getting grabbed by the neck the mind copy killed that thought before it could fully form before it said.
"He's a prideful jackass, so get him talking. Remember Book 9 of the 7 stars, they got that demon talking, and it bought them time to make a plan, get him talking!"
Before I knew what I was doing I took a step forward and yelled.
"Ymer, what's your end game?"
Ymer turned to me, a look of pleasant surprise on his face as he asked.
"My endgame, whatever do you mean by that?"
"Don't act coy, we can't win, but the longer you have this skill up, the more likely stronger adventurers, or even monsters will notice, if anything toying with us will only benefit us, so why?"
Ymer grinned at me, seeming practically eager that someone finally asked him. I passed the remaining two healing potions back to Liora and gestured to Kaelen, hoping she would get the message to get him up as he could heal the others.
"Well, my plan originally was to simply take what is rightfully mine, you see this world has nothing but the worst intentions for me, so it's only right that I am owed everything."
"Kaelen's up, keep him talking!"
The mind me said as I tried my best to flare my arms out and make myself seem outraged.
"You are owed everything, on what grounds!?"
Ymer seemed to have a flash of anger cross his face as he roared.
"The day when I was named a kill on sight for the misfortune of being born with an Other class!"
His voice echoed as a small curiosity broke out in me.
"What do you mean Other class? What are you talking about?"
I asked, however I heard Selene behind me stop, turning I saw she was pale, as Ymer was looking at her an evil smile on his face.
"Oh, you didn't tell them what you are? Well, no wonder they trust you so much."
I wanted to ask, but before I could, there was a sound like cracking glass. Looking up the sky was cracked, the cracks spidering down as Ymer looked up in surprise. He turned down to look at me as all 4 of the blood clones rushed at me, but as their blades centimeters from reached me they shattered away as we returned from the blood dome to the farm. Ymer turned to our vehicle. Standing on the ballista mount was Ms. Oxhouse. Several Ballista bolts were laying on the ground, like they had been sticking out of something and fell when it broke. I turned back, ready to take on Ymer in his now weakened state, but he was already pulling out an item. Holding it over his head he yelled.
"Why don't you tell them Selene! Tell them how your very existence may have then all executed!"
I ran to try to grab him, but as I did, he threw the item on the ground, a hole formed under his feet as he fell in. The hole closed before I could get to him.
You have Escaped a Deadly Situation +250 XP
You have learned a new skill outside of leveling up +500 XP
I wanted to feel relief, to sit down and lay out like we had when we had won against the Blood Trent. However, as I started to let my knees buckle mind me yelled out through my head.
"Your teammates are injured, help Kaelen!"
I turned to the rest of my group. Liora was currently holding Jax as Kaelen healed him. A bit to my surprise Kaelen was only using his right hand, his left laying limply at his side. I rushed over, helping him heal Jax before running over to Thalia. It took around 10 minutes, with Ms. Oxhouse coming back with a bucket of water to wash the wounds, but as we brought everyone back to consciousness Kaelen grabbed me by the shoulder, his face slightly pale.
"A-Aiden, I hate to ask this of you, but I need your help."
I turned, now worried with the tone of his voice, however as I turned, I had to resist the urge to vomit. Kaelen's arm was still split in half, held together by rope, the insides had been healed as if they had always been like that, but by the paleness of his face it was clear that he was in a large amount of pain.
"W-what?"
I started but Kaelen squeezed my shoulder.
"Y-your the only o-other person here who k-knows about m-medicine. You need to grab a towel to put in my mouth."
A cold sharp feeling settled on me as I realized what he was asking for. I resisted the urge to throw up as for once the little voice in my head was deathly silent. I grabbed a towel and placed it securely in Kaenen's mouth as I washed the end of my old, but still sharp spear. Kaelen took a few quick and sharp breaths to brace himself and nodded.
The process took 3 minutes. 3 minutes of Kaelen thrashing, screaming trough the towel, tears streaming down his face. He passed out 3 times only to be awoken by the pain again. All I could do was apologize, so I did, over, and over, and over, and over.