Chapter 62: A Desperate Gamble

My weak period lasted for more than an hour. However, after half-an-hour, I can already move freely. Throughout the whole time, my stats stayed single digit. Even my MP became 0. Only the HP didn’t change. It made me realize that while Overdrive could give me abilities beyond my capability, the drawback wasn’t small.

This ability could only be used as a last resort, a trump card.

I had to remain on the bench for the rest of the battle. While Urt and Sepi dealt with humans that ran into the forest, I stayed where I was and observed Logier’s last stand against the humans. He had already lost his appearance, his memories, and even his consciousness. But the battle instinct as an orc hadn’t left him. Even with the grotesque body that he had gotten himself, the majesty of a chief was still there.

He was born nobility, so to speak. The pride has seeped into his very bones. It wasn’t easy to forget them even though he was no longer the Logier I knew.

The number of humans he fought was no less than a hundred. And yet, he fought gallantly, disregarding all harm to his body. Maybe, it was because he couldn’t feel it, or it might be that his bloodthirst had reached a tipping point, making him forget everything else.

“Oh, hey guys look! We have a rare thing here.” While I was busy reminiscing about the past, a few humans had sneaked up on me. They should be from escaping bunch and met me by coincidence.

If it was during normal times, I wouldn’t have minded their presence. But, they just happened to meet me when I was suffering from backlash. I was like a sitting duck to them.

“You are right.” A stocky man with a bald head said as he inspected me. “It’s a rare Dream Weaver!” He checked me out greedily, as if he was inspecting a rare treasure. I saw a bigger than normal scimitar strapped behind his back. It was bloody, probably due to recent use.

My legs were shaking at the sight of their arrival. At the moment, there were no orcs around as I had sent them to hunt the humans who entered the forest. They spelled trouble, and I knew it. Moreover, the woman said guys, which means aside from this bald man and the woman with long white hair, there were probably a few more.

Suddenly, I felt a spine chilling coldness behind me. I knew someone was standing behind me and emitting killing intent. Though I was able to move, my health hasn’t recovered due to the weak phase.

However, perhaps it was because of the life in this cruel and dark place, instead of fear and anxiety, I felt absolute calm. After I calmed down, I began to assess the situation. There were three humans with an unknown strength. But, they were definitely stronger than me. Not only that, but they should also have a better battle experience than me.

I took a peek at my stats.

[HP: 100/100] [MP: 25/25(200) (Regen: 0.1(5 MP/min))]

[STR: 10(31.2) DEF: 17 AGI: 8.8(27) INT: 10(85) WIS: 5(45)]

It was horrible. The aftereffects of Overdrive hadn’t yet passed. I hadn’t expected to find myself in this situation. Curiously enough, I didn’t have a sense of helplessness.

“A Dream weaver, damn! If we capture it, we won’t have any worry for a few months.” The man exclaimed while giving me greedy looks. It reminded me of how people would look at chicken or pigs before they were about to be slaughtered.

“Don’t daydream. Dungeon monsters can’t be taken out alive unless you have formed a contract with them.” The woman retorted sarcastically.

So there is a way like that!? I got a piece of valuable information from their banter. In the future, this information might come in hand in case I want others to leave this place. In fact, I was worried about Urt and Sepi. When I complete my achievements and allowed to go out of this place, what would happen to them?

“Enough chit-chat. Just kill and dismantle it before the orcs and goblins come here. We don’t want others to see it.” It was the same cold voice of the assassin standing behind me. Until now, I didn’t dare to turn around in fear of getting attacked by the two standing in the front.

“You are right.” The man nodded to his partner and came towards me, holding his dagger carefully. His calculated steps told me that he wasn’t the least bit careless against me. In my peripheral vision, I saw the woman was preparing her crossbow silently. I couldn’t see the one behind me, but I was sure he was also battle-ready at the moment.

Suddenly, I realized that It would be the toughest battle after my rebirth.

Infrared Vision I used my non MP using skill first. I still wasn’t sure what was the source of energy for this skill. The world transformed from colorful to red and black. The two humans in front also vanished, replaced by red humanoid shapes with black outlines. With the help of the skill, I could also see their heart’s position in their body.

While I was observing the human stalking towards me, I saw an unusual thing. Every time he took a step, a slight fluctuation would occur to his body heat. To be more precise, the leg he would use, that part of his would glow a brighter shade of red. It was only visible because of me actively using the Infrared Vision. Because when it was in the passive mode, such things wouldn’t appear.

‘I can use this to predict their moves!’ I had a sudden epiphany. If every time a glow appear as they move, then I would be able to predict their movements to some extent. Thinking of this, I became excited.

Suddenly, the man’s left leg and right hand glowed. Behind him, the woman’s right hand, especially her biceps also started to lighten up. Raising my index finger, I fired two Dizzy spells by imploding the magic toothpick created from Cast Illusions.

Unprepared and caught off-guard, they were hit by the full impact of the dizzy spell. Their mouths hung, and eyes glazed out. The woman even had to let go of her crossbow, as she was too weak to keep holding it.

[Cast Illusion Failed.]

[-2 MP]

[Cast Illusion Failed.]

[-2 MP]

Two notifications popped up, but I paid them no heed. I leaped forward as I knew another stood behind me. However, I miscalculated my speed. Due to the effect of Overdrive, my agility had dropped down to only 9 points. And due to that, I barely missed my head getting separated from my body. Though, I suffered a bloody gash on my back.

[You have suffered a physical attack!]

[-20 HP]

[HP: 80/100]

‘Ugh!!’ I moaned in pain, which came out as a high-pitched screech. Something warm flowed from my back with unbearable pain accompanying it. It was the first time I got wounded after rebirth as an Imp. My HP dropped 20 points, that including my 17 points DEF. The attacker must have at least 30 points of ATK at the very least.

Before I could get up, I felt a searing pain in my abdomen and thrown like a football towards a tree. The man kicked me after failing to take my head. I coughed out spit after crashing against the tree, and before I could get a hold of myself, my vision darkened due to the man stepping on my face.

It was very painful, especially my face on where he was stepping. He must have applied all his strength in an attempt to crush me to death.

It was painful, yes, but what I felt at that time was humiliation and anger.

I tried to struggle against his foot but failed due to my low strength. I could have used Dizzy on him, but with my wounded back and the pressure on my face, I didn’t have enough mental strength for it. Unlike my other skills, Dizzy needed me to actively control all its steps.

-5 -5 -5

I lost 5 HP every second, making me feel weak at a very rapid pace. Maybe it was because of the foot on my face that applied force or the wound on my back. No matter which was the cause, if I didn’t do something, I will die in the next few seconds.

With one hand on the sole of my enemy, preventing it from crushing me, I reached for the vial containing goblin lord’s ultimate potion. I broke the stone vial before rubbing the liquid on the man’s soles.

Attracted by the smell of flesh, the virus instantly invaded the man from all sides. Of course, the only reason I could see them because of Infrared Vision.

“Ah! Ah!!” The man howled in pain as the virus ate away his flesh while he was still alive. I took sadistic pleasure in his pain. The humiliation he made me feel was too much for me to endure, forcing me to take this desperate gamble.

While the virus was still in its infancy, I struggled to stand up and made a run towards the woods. I have seen the horrors of it with my own eyes. I can’t wait here to be eaten to death.