My vision narrowed to the edge of the razor sharp dagger. I sucked in a breath, the air rushing through my nostrils and past my lips. I could see nothing else, because nothing else mattered but the fact that I was about to —

You’ve activated the feat: Incredible Focus.

You have 3 seconds at ¼ speed.

Use them wisely.

12…

11…

The notification blinked across my vision and then disappeared. The tiny counter had flashed into existence in the corner of my sight. I felt my hands moving slowly, both of them, my vision strangely clear.

10…

My fingers were wrapping around Zughat’s thick wrist. The stone blade was driving toward my chest. I tensed my muscles. Adrenaline surged in my body. I wanted to be afraid.

I was afraid.

9…

The orc’s strength smashed into mine and I felt the ripple effect shudder through my body. Up my arms, into my shoulders, down my back. My teeth clenched, jaw tight.

8…

I might have Strength 17, but I was way outclassed.

I felt my arms giving way, barely slowing the forward momentum of the chieftain’s glinting knife. My eyes turned up into his face, and I could see surprise slowly spreading across his features. Like I shouldn’t have been able to move so fast.

7…

Yeah, I thought. I shouldn’t. But you shouldn’t be so fucking strong.

There was a strange clarity to my thoughts, like I was thinking at normal speed while the world slowed around me. My reflexes were sharp, my muscles faster than they should have been. But not fast enough. I didn’t have room to maneuver, wouldn’t be able to dodge the incoming blade. The orc was too close, had positioned me perfectly. I couldn’t believe I’d lowered my guard, given in to the momentary urge to trust in his sincerity.

6…

So, instead of giving me the time I needed to escape, Incredible Focus gave me a slow-motion, cinematic visual as I was stabbed in the chest. I wanted to scream. But there was no time.

5…

The knife came closer. It was big. It matched its owner. At least six or seven inches of stone blade, chipped away to a deadly edge. I couldn’t help but be fascinated as the point drifted toward my skin. The fear and inevitability that wormed through my body was so overwhelming it was like everything was happening to someone else.

4…

My arms trembled again, and I wondered if I was even putting up much of a fight. The orc’s expression surprised me. His dark eyes had widened, jaw tight in a grimace of effort.

I shouldn’t have looked back down.

3…

I saw the exact instant the blade pierced my skin, watched the tip pricking me just under my sternum and slightly to one side. It slid through my skin like paper. I could feel my heartbeat pulsing through my whole body.

2…

Please… The involuntary grunt of pain strangled my throat, gripped my neck and squeezed. I couldn’t tear my eyes away as an inch of blade pushed into my body. Blood welled around the edge, liquid crimson in the slowly-drifting orange light of the flickering torch. No…

1…

Thud. The sound of a blade driving home.

Strange... It felt more like being punched in the gut than—

Oh. And there was the pain.