บท 19: Turnaround
Exhaling, Adam grabbed hold of a javelin in each hand.
The large, muscular, pot-bellied ogre rushed at him, it's eyes reddened in anger.
In moments, the ogre was upon him.
How could Adam let himself be killed.
How could he let himself die when his journey had only just begun.
'Unacceptable!' This defiant thought thundered in Adam's mind.
If he ran, he would be smashed into paste.
The ogres breaths were uneven, as it appeared before Adam.
It would do him no good to back down, especially now.
His grip strained, holding the javelins, he stared up at the giant of a ogre.
Its shadow casted over him like a house before a car.
He would be fine.
He would get through this.
The ogre lurched forth. His arms swinging, trying to smash him with its oversized fists.
Adam moving back, his motions made unsmooth by his weight, narrowly avoided the ogre, as he chucked a javelin at it's eye.
Luckily, the javelin pierced it. Its wailing loud enough to overwhelm his eardrums, causing Adam to gnash his teeth, in pain.
He willed his body to refrain from collapsing, as his eardrums nearly burst.
The ogre, incensed by the painful throbbing of it's pierced eye tried to grab at him.
It's eyes snapping and shuttering open, in an attempt to regain it's vision.
Not succeeding, it faltered forth.
Its hands making grabbing motions, trying to squeeze to a pulp, Adam, who had halved it's vision.
Through making use of it's flawed vision, he was able to distance himself by moving to the side with weaker vision.
The momentum provided by his new advantage, seeing the mouth open of the ogre, an idea flashed in his mind.
If he could pierce its mouth, damaging its internals, he may be able to stay alive.
Being extra careful with it being his last throw, he thrust the javelin towards it's mouth.
It's trajectory wavering, it instead pierced the throat of the ogre.
Locked deeply into it's throat, blood started spilling out.
Even in it's dire state, it would not give up on trying to crush him.
Seeing the ogre's fists falling towards him, Adam rolled out of the way.
Dodging again, narrower than ever, Adam's breathing haphazard, he fell to his knees.
He watched as the ogre flailed. The trees in its range being smashed apart as it's rage fell with the splattering blood of it's neck.
Its skin pale, it looked at Adam furious, with traces of denial.
Weakening, a pool of blood before it, it crashed to its knees.
Its eyes damp, a frustrated stare met Adam's eyes, as the light from it's eyes faded.
Falling flat, a tremor running through the surroundings, its heaving, staggered breaths, ceased.
Victory wasn't always sweet.
Sighing, Adam limped back to the cave, a sharp note of the system playing in his ears.
A notification badgering his eyes.
[Ding! For overcoming the size disparity between you and a stronger enemy, you have earned the skill: [Critical Piercer] ]
Sitting down, he examined it's description.
[Critical Piercer: Your attacks tend to become critical hits. You gain the ability to do extreme criticals, doubling the damage of lethal attacks.]
The effect of the skill gave him pause. This at first sight would empower a range-based skillset. However, it could apply just as well to close-quarters combat methods.
Adam wanted to avoid 'settling down' so to speak with a combat style.
Regardless of what style he chose, it would be of help to him now.
His first instinct was to try it out. However, Adam needed to recover from the battle with the ogre.
The smell of the cave getting to him, he decided to would sleep under the stars tonight.
The ogre's appearance gave him peace of mind as everything in the nearby radius was too unsettled to stay close for the time being.
Returning to the tree from the first day of the test, he climbed it.
His legs having been run ragged, took some effort and time for him to climb it.
Reaching the same branch, he watched the sky, arms behind his head.
The dawning light gradually transforming into the light of dusk.
The stars marinated the vibrant sky with light of various shapes and colors.
He had done well.
He may have been crossed by Marcaine, but, there were decent people too.
Elaina and Vinn.
A part of him wished that Marcaine would not pass the test.
Another part knew that defeating the Demon King would require everyone. One less hero, albeit a not so heroic one, makes things all the more dire.
If he had not bound the system, he may have run away like Marcaine.
Or even earlier.
No, he should not think like that.
Relaxing, he took a deep breath of the night air.
As he was in another world, he should keep doing his best.
Having a system was the greatest opportunity for him to leave his mundane life behind.
His thoughts at ease, his eyes cradled shut with the tedium of his flowing breaths, he fell asleep.
With the morning sun pulling his eyes awake, he descended, and headed over to the boundaries of the forest. For where Adam and the rest of the heroes had started.
Seven days, seven long days.
'Freedom!' Adam exclaimed, as he took his final steps out.
Close in distance was a carriage with the coachman resting against it.
He did not see the heroes, so he squatted down, and waited.
Eventually pulling out of the veil of the forest's shadow, was Vinn.
Followed soon by Elaina.
Both who were in unideal conditions.
Hours passed, the evening beginning, Marcaine eventually appeared.
But, he was missing an arm.
All the heroes having been accounted for, sat down in the carriage.
An awkward silence hung in the air, before Elaina shattered it.
"Adam, you seem to be doing well as ever." She noted, slightly smiling.
Returning a reply, he said: "Thankfully that's the case." His gaze turning to Marcaine.
Marcaine's face flushed, his gaze shaken, his arm holding the stump of his missing arm.
Whatever he dealt with...
Adam would forgive him this time.
Their carriage smoothly returned to the castle.
The light of the fading sun to their backs as they hopped out.
The castle walls and arches towered proudly.
Adam was back.
It was time for his journey to truly begin.
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