"Hello Natalius. How has your day been so far ?"

I looked up at the old man. Looked to be in his forties, gray hair starting to settle in. Wrinkles are starting to win the fight and everything, It was of course Jarvis.

"Oh doc . . . Oh doc. It's been terrible. The other day I got kidnapped, and there's this old guy that keeps trying to force me into having gay experimental sex."

It indeed had been terrible, but it hadn't been all rain and puddles. After all, it seemed my brave, or maybe should I say stupidly insane self-sacrifice worked. Apparently, my basement buddies found a way to escape. It sounded impossible, but those dang guys did it.

On one hand, I was happy for them, you know getting out of this small hellscape, but on the other, I was quite jealous. I won't even lie, I was even angry for a second because they didn't come to find me but I guess that was just my self-pity speaking, I chose this after all.

I still remember the day it happened, It was pretty nice watching the dick heads freak out.

I was having a mildly annoying conversation with Jarvis that day when the door was fucking spartan kicked across the room.

...ok maybe not that far, but it felt like it.

Fat-Fuck burst the door open screaming his lungs off.

"I TOLD YOU THAT LITTLE RAT HAD SOMETHING PLANNED!"

Jarvis not realizing what was going on kept his calm trying not to get angry at Ugly-Fuck for interrupting the 3rd boring questionnaire that day, so he went:

"What... Are you talking about...Hugh."

Old-Fuck was nearly about to cream his pants out anger at the point, he looked as if his head couldn't take the heat slowly building up:

"I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LITTLE ASSHOLES THAT ESCAPED JARVIS, THE LITTLE ASSHOLES ESCAPED!"

At that point, Jarvis's cool dissipated at an exponential rate. His annoyance was wiped off of his face in real time I tell you.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THEY ESCAP-

"THEY ESCAPED YOU STUPID ASSHOLE, THEY ESCAPED. I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY-

"I DON'T CARE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW THE FUCK COULD THEY ESCAPE WHEN THEY WERE LITERALLY CHAINED TO THE FUCKING WALL!"

"WHYYYY THE FUCKKKK ARE YOU ASKING YOU IDIOT, YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SAID WE DIDN'T NEED GUARDS NEAR THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T ESCAPE, I MEAN WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU YOU YOU DON'T FUCKING GET IT-

And then Jarvis was all like:

"BLAH BLAH-BLAH"

And then Disgusting-Fuck was all like:

"BLAH BLAH-BLAH"

And, yeah, this went on for a good 30 minutes, before Smelly-Fuck decided to pin it on me, which of course didn't work but i guess it was pretty entertaining. Jarvis tried to explain the fact that I'd been the room the entire time answering questions, before giving up to let Old-Fuck question me in his usual anger management-less, condescending tone.

"Do you know how your little friends escaped because I swear on my life if I find out you're hiding something, I'll fuck you up in more ways than one."

Jarvis tried to say something about that last part but was quickly interrupted in the universal symbol for 'shut the fuck up, it's my turn to talk’.

Fat-Fuck's breath smelled bad, extremely bad. His ugly bug eyes looked as if they were trying to dig something out of me, and his hands looked ready to deliver the most power-packed punch of their lives. It was extremely nerve-wracking trying to come up with something that didn't get me spartan kicked across the room because at this point it didn't seem like Jarvis could do to stop this impulsive asshole.

'what the fuck does he eat for breakfast, fucking garlic? Jesus?!'

'What the fuck am I supposed to say here?'

'Ahhhhhhh . . . fuck it, it doesn't matter what I say he's still gonna search for a reason to fuck me over'

My mind raced through what the fuck I would say. I honestly didn't want to get hit. I didn't wanna show that his screaming got to me a little, but at the same, I didn't know what the fuck to say to not get hit. Yeah, I was a coward, you get hit thousand times and see how you like it. 3 seconds had passed and I went with the classic.

"I don't know."

Quick simple but effective fix to this mess. But of course, nothing ever goes that smoothly, I didn't know what I expected to happen when I said this. It wasn't like he was suddenly going to stop mouth breathing on my face after that simple one-sentence answer.

"What do you mean you don't know . . . What-Do-You-MEAN-YOU-DON'T-KNOW!"

"AAhh shut the fuck up you blubbering asshole, I said I don't know. How the fuck am I supposed to break them out of this shit hole from this room ?! With my mind ?!"

He took a second seemingly thinking about my response before proving me wrong immediately.

"Yes."

This time it was my turn to be in disbelief. I really wanted to explode on this guy, scream my ass off. Vent out my frustration over being kidnapped and not being able to do a goddamn thing about it, and then being suddenly blamed by my kidnappers of using my fucking mind to break someone out. But I couldn't.

So I responded with something else, trying as hard as I could to keep a nonchalant face.

"If I could that. Don't you think I'd be out of this shit hole already ?"

He tried replying but I wasn't done, and I wasn't gonna let him spout some more stupid bullshit.

"And before you say something stupid again, please think about it for more than 0 seconds, yeah ?"

A couple of hours of panicked and angered conversations between Jarvis and Fat-Fuck passed after that, and I wasn't exactly in the best of moods after that. Jarvis was a stereotypical cowardly scientist, and Hugh was a stereotypical high school bully who never fully grew up. It was the worst combination. Jarvis always tried to claim the high ground in the conversation, but he never truly persevered when Hugh cheesed his way through the intimidation process. It was sad. I wanted to defend him but it was conflicting. On one hand, he had a hand in kidnapping me but on the other, he wasn't a full-on asshole.

Stockholm syndrome was a hell of a drug.

But back to the present day things were more or less the same. I was moved to a small windowless room. It seemed they had gained backing and made use of the money immediately, they had more guards, and more personal, which meant more eyes on me, which meant my chances of escape were thinning by the day.

I knew I had to escape but I didn't know-how.

'Let's check it I guess.'

'Status'

Status

Name: Natalius Fortanach

Fate: Melomaniac

Class: Regular lvl. 0

Stats

-Vitality: 5

-Focus: 7

-Strength: 5

Fated Skills

Passive:

Emotionally Enhanced Experience

Active:

(None)

Class Skills

Passive:

(none)

Active:

(none)

General Skills

Earthling Language lvl. MAX

Titles

434th Region Seedling [Generation 0]

'Hmm, it's still the same.'

I had checked my status multiple times after unlocking it; Obviously. I mean I had a floating blue box in front of me that no one else could see so I did the only plausible thing I could think of which was exploring every single aspect of it.

The first thing that drew my eyes was the 'Fate'. At the time I was still inside the pseudo-basement so I was still chained, but when it said something about my curiosity being rewarded, I'll admit, I kinda freaked the fuck out. The skill it gave me was

[ Emotionally Enhanced Experience ] or Triple-E for short.

When I requested the skills info in my mind, this came up:

[ Passive: Emotionally Enhanced Experience ]

-Effect 1: When under the effect of emotion, based on the emotion a buff/debuff is applied at random.

-Effect 2: When not in a listening session debuff | Silence | is applied.

My first thoughts when I saw this skill was:

'Shit.'

Well I mean of course I would feel like that. The skill had 2 effects and 1 was negative AND they stacked, which meant a good 50% of my skill was detrimental to me. Mental. How bad was my luck? I mean, I was happy for getting a skill that literally made me stronger by doing the thing I loved the most, it was great, but it was also entirely dependent on emotions, and I knew how fickle mine were.

I didn't want to focus on the bad part entirely so I checked the next interesting thing I saw; my singular title.

[ 434th Region Seedling [Generation 0]]

As one of the firsts to be seedling in your region you gain privileges, and freedoms unavailable to your successors. How you choose to use them, however, is up to you.

-Ability to hide, add and modify elements to your status.

-Class Awakening Pool is widened

-

-

It seemed I had hit a jackpot. The fact that I was unlucky enough to be one of the first to be hit was actually a good thing after all. When I thought about it this title really was useful, especially its first effect. Because when not if, people found about the status he would be able to use this to make it look as if he was just a regular guy since according to this title there would be more seedling eventually.

'Interesting..'

'The Class Awakening Pool shtick thing seems pretty cool too..'

'Too bad I have no idea how to use it haha . . .'

I looked at the blank wall in front of me and sighed

'I really wanna get out of here..'

[ You have been deemed worthy of advancing your class ]

[ Choose wisely ]

'Wah-'

I couldn't help but try to stand up in surprise before sitting back down to process what just happened. This was the second time the system had deemed me ready and shown me something right after I thought about it. This couldn't be a coincidence. It was like it was trying to make him want what it had to offer.

'This thing has no concept of subtlety but I won't complain.'

[ Your options lay before you ]

-Brawler

-Wind Mage

-Support Mage

'Ahhh . . . I know I'm not meant to be greedy but don't these options seem kinda trash ?'

'hmm . . . Let me look at these more in-depth I guess.'

-You have been in at least 1 fight in the last week.

[ Class: Brawler ]

You itch for a fight at every moment, always looking for the next opponent you seek the joy of the brawl.

-Your desire for freedom matches those of one aligned with the winds

[ Class: Wind Mage ]

The winds bend to your will and you bend to theirs.

-You have at least one skill that has the potential to buff or debuff

[ Class: Support Mage ]

Support Mages are the reapers of battlefields. Strengthening themselves, their allies, and weakening their enemies they are a force to be reckoned with.

I was excited; Very excited, to say the least. These options felt like they were perfect for me. The first class, [ Brawler ] was amazing given the fact that apart from -listening to music the second thing I did the most was fight. Tae-Kwon-Do, Jui-Jitsu, Muay Thai you name it, I did it. It was mostly because fighting while listening to music was one of the most badass feelings you could ever get and I just couldn't pass up another aspect of my passion.

The second class, [ Wind Mage ] was probably the luckiest catch in this pool for me because I doubt I would've gotten it we're it not for my Gen 0 Seed title. The requirements were literally for me to feel a certain way while all the other class requirements were more numeric. Of course, this wasn't something I could pass up seeing how it probably would make me a literal fucking wizard. This was definitely my top choice at the moment.

As for the last class, [ Support Mage ], it sounded pretty cool too but from the way, it was described this was more of a team player class, and right now I was looking pretty teamless. The description also mentioned something about me being a to strengthen myself and it seemed this class was made to synergize with my one fate skill, but honestly, it sounded pretty boring wizardly or not.

I looked and re-looked over my options multiple times, and I couldn't think of a better option than [ Wind Mage ]. Though [ Support Mage ] sounded strong it wasn't something I really wanted. Wind Magic just sounded so much cooler, and it probably would have some skill to help me fly, and who didn't love flying.

I looked over my options one more time. I wasn't sure whether or not this was a permanent thing but if I picked something I wanted to make sure it was something I wouldn't regret.

-Class has been changed to [ Wind Mage ]

Vitality +5

Focus +10

Strength +5

-Wind Magic improved by 100%

-Mana Regeneration improved by 100% when in contact with wind

[ You've gained 2 new skills ]

As soon the class change was finalized I felt a sharp pain in my joints and muscles and a warm feeling in my chest. It felt as if the wind passed through my body and readjusted every minor pain and imperfection in my body. My muscles felt like they were ready bursts as they tightened and relaxed at a fast pace making my whole body feel as if it was cramping simultaneously.

My heart sped up and my breathing went chaotic as I lost control over my body and fell like a bowling pin, frozen. I couldn't even celebrate my class in its broken glory as the pain flowed freely through me.

I cursed repeatedly in my head, cursing myself, the world because the pain was just that great, but finally as it subsided, and my breathing calmed I rolled on my back and closed my eyes briefly.

'fuuuuuuck that noise.'

'I never wanna go through that again..'

I took one more deep breath and reopened my eyes.

'Okay let's look at this thing..'

'Mana Regen improved by 100% when in contact with wind ?'

'Isn't that like . . . all the time..'

A smile crept up on my face.

'Fuckin' sick..'

I stood up and felt my body up stretching, and moving around to see how I felt.

'I feel . . . really good'

My muscles felt like they could go through a marathon, and moving my hands around they felt like they were slipping through the wind no longer moving against it but with it. While I was continuing with the tests when I heard a knock on my door. It was time.

This time it wasn't Jarvis or ugly-fuck, but someone else. I never bothered these days to try learning the name of the new guy but it wasn't like it really mattered seeing as he would probably be replaced soon enough, he showed pretty often only sometimes to be replaced by another nameless guard. The security was tightening for sure, and I was definitely losing opportunities to escape, but now that I had gotten a class out of literal nowhere opportunities were bound to show themselves. So while I was walking with the new guy I checked the new skills that came with my class.

The first one on the list was a passive.

[ Passive: One With The Wind ]

All movements are enhanced by the wind, all movements enhance the wind, as you move the wind moves, you are one with the wind. All skills and techniques performed with your body are vastly improved, sharpened, and strengthened.

This one seemed to be the poster child of this class seeing as the description was somewhat similar to the class's. I thought about the description for a minute as I walked and nodded moving to the next one.

[ Active: Wind Control ]

Move the winds to your will creating drafts, breezes, and pockets of air of varying temperatures, speeds, and densities.

'Hmm..This one seems very versatile, too bad I can't test it right now.'

As I was pondering on what to do with all these new options the new guy stopped walking and tapped my shoulder leading me towards an open door. Entering the room I could see Jarvis sitting down with his hands strewn together in front of his chin looking towards the door I had just entered.

“Hello, Natalius.”

“Hello, Jarvis.”

He nodded.

“Take a seat please.”

I proceeded to do as such and putting my hands on the table in a similar fashion to his I asked him a question.

“So what do you need me for today, Jarvis.”

He took a deep breath and laid his hands on the table. Looking at me straight in the eyes he started talking.

“We’ve received information from our new higher-ups that seedling have a very special trait that I think you’ve failed to mention to us. Would you care to explain ?”

My eyebrows shot up while I struggled to keep a straight face.

‘Fuck, they found out already?’

‘System please hide my fate skills, change my class back to regular, hide my class skills, and change my title from [ 434th Reality Seedling [Generation 0]] to [ 434th Reality Seedling [Generation 1]]’

[ Status modification complete ]

I covered up every incriminating thing I could think of on the spot. If they knew about the status then my escape plans were as good as fucked. I was honestly surprised it even worked that fast but I was happy it did nonetheless.

“What do you mean?”

If I was going to get through this I was gonna have to feign not even knowing about the status at all.

“Are you sure you don’t know what I’m talking about? This is your last chance to come clean because if you don’t I’ll lose every bit of trust I have for you.”

I snickered.

“And why should I care to have your trust? In case you forgot I’ve been ripped out of my normal life by you and your buddies, I don’t even know what the fuck you’re talking about in the first place.”

‘SOMEBODY GET ME A FUCKIN OSCAR!’

He proceeded to squint his eyes lightly as if trying to fish out a lie but ultimately gave up as he started.

“Natalius, I’m gonna need you to do me a favor and say ‘Status’ for me really quick.”

I raised a single eyebrow this time, feigning ignorance.

“You mean like in those games? I mean sure. Status”

The status popped up as it usually did, and I prepared my face for the ride as I flashed between an expression of disbelief, interest, and amusement as I played around with it making it move and pop in and out of existence.

‘Leonardo DiCaprio loves me.’

The expression seemed genuine enough for Jarvis so he took it and ran with it.

“Would you mind showing me what you’re seeing?”

“Uhh, sure though this thing labels me as pretty normal I think so there’s not much to see.”

“It’s fine just show me.”

I obliged and willed my screen to move towards him so he could see the masterpiece that was my modified status.

“Hmm…[ Melomaniac ], I see. That does explain your love for music.”

“Doesn’t [ Melomaniac ] kinda make me sound like a crazy person?”

“I don’t know, you do have an obsession for not being in silence as you call it.”

“Well, yeah that’s because it’s boring.”

“If you say so.”

He continued to look at my status while occasionally mumbling to himself, and trying to interact with the apparition in front of him. Eventually, I guess he got tired of it and decided to start talking again.

“This is amazing. Imagine the kind of technology we could develop if everyone had these. Well since we now have a numerical representation of you as a whole I think I have a pretty good idea of what we should test next.”

“Mmk, let’s get it over with.”

These days I’d tried to be less of a dick and just went through the experiments. It wasn’t like I could’ve escaped so I just went with it because back then I hadn’t unlocked my class. This carried on until now. Now that I had something that was basically set up on my lap I would be an idiot not to take advantage.

And so I did.

5 months had gone by.

During my prep time for escape, I’d found out a lot of things. One, Hugh was still a massive asshole. He would purposely try to fuck with me so as to make me show my ‘True Self’. Going as far as to beat me up when no one was looking. He had somewhat predicted correctly that when my uses ran out they would get rid of me as the results I showed slowly weren’t enough anymore.

Which lead me to the second thing I found out about: Their sponsors. It was the multimillionaire Charles Enzo. Apparently, he owned a company that was funded by the government to research the seedling and seeing as it’d been a good 6 to 7 months since the seedling started popping up they probably had at least one Gen 0 Seedling to compare me to. As I could predict, compared to me the Enzo-sponsored seedling showed way more of his power than I did. Which was good for me.

This leads us to the third thing I found out about: My skills as far as I knew lacked a lot in terms of growth speed, but in terms of versatility, they were quite something to behold.

I trained [ One With The Wind ] and [ Wind Control ] daily whenever I was alone in my room/basically cell, and from the practice, I managed to get pretty far.

[ One With The Wind ] was great for my martial arts as I had guessed strengthening my hits as I expected. The force that I could feel leaving my body seemed almost strong enough to break concrete seeing as every time I tried a move a silent but heavy gust of wind could be felt. It felt as if the wind could feel the intent behind my moves and guided me. I still felt in control, but it also felt as if my body automatically auto-corrected.

[ Wind Control ] was a bit more difficult seeing as this time what I was controlling wasn’t my body but a force of nature. For a good 3 months, all I could manage was getting a small cold breeze to blow across my face but slowly I started figuring out where I was lacking. I was mostly trying to control the wind as the skill name told but I ended finding out that it was less about control and more about redirection. The wind was a force that I could never soon hope to gain absolute control over so I went with the second best and only took it off course.

In my 4th month of training the skill, I finally found some ground and managed to create a move that encompassed my act of wind redirection. The development of this move was rough as I only had a really rough idea of what I wanted and not how I could do it. My idea was centered around the concept of redirecting everything that tried to harm me.

Testing was rough as it mostly consisted of me using it when Hugh would try to get a hit or a kick in, of course, I would dodge too so he didn’t suspect anything but it was really risky. Having gotten the general idea down this move was actually really tiring to use. I could only keep it up for 3 minutes at most before I collapsed from lack of mana.

I had my tools, now all I needed was to execute.

—

In a nearby break room. The new guy who was spoken of before was having a conversation with his colleagues.

“I heard there’s been more seedling popping up these days. They’re like fucking cockroaches I swear.”

The aforementioned newbie looked uncomfortable as he replied.

“Isn’t it a bit . . . I don’t know mean to speak about these guys like that? I mean they didn’t even choose to be seedling.”

“Yeah yeah, cockroaches don’t choose to be cockroaches yet they’re still cockroaches aren’t they.”

These conversations were commonplace in this building as some people held hatred for the seedling. The outside world hadn’t received the sudden birth of new powers too well and the people getting new powers weren’t always saints either. The world was currently split in two; One side supported the protection and inclusion of the seedling in society, while the other supported their removal.

“I don’t know…”

“Dude we don’t really care, all I care about is the fact that we’re guarding this whole building because of one seedling and he isn’t even that much of a threat. I mean couldn’t they just put us somewhere else. This place is mad boring.”

Another guard joined in.

“Yeah I mean I’ve seen the guy and he’s basically kinda just a little bit above regular. The seedling I’ve seen on Youtube can literally tank bullets but this kid kinda looks like he would die from a knife scratch.”

“I wish he would just die already, I mean have you seen how smug he is? Like dude, you’re literally gonna die here, have some self-respect.”

“I honestly think I could take him in a fight. He’s not even that special, fuck.”

The newbie sitting in his chair had kept quiet for most of the conversation. He honestly didn’t think they knew what they were talking about as he had seen the man they were speaking of.

Every time it was his turn to go escort the guy it just felt like he was becoming scarier and scarier. The first time he went to pick the guy up it wasn’t that bad as he just looked like he would collapse at any second. His eyes were sunken in, and his arms were thinning by the day; he always kept a neutral expression so you could never tell what he was thinking. But one day, he changed. His body looked lean and his eyes looked energetic. Sometimes before coming to escort the guy, he would peek in his cell to see what he was doing, and to his surprise the fucker was doing flips! He looked like a damn Tae Kwon Do master the way he kicked.

Every day after that it just felt like the guy was getting scarier and scarier. He had seen their leader try to punch the guy and miss! It didn’t even look as if he missed on purpose it just looked as if something made him miss. And the worst part? The fucker smiled! Every time he was to go and escort the guy it looked as if he’d heard a funny joke and was trying his hardest not to laugh.

He’d seen what the other seedling could do and this guy was nothing compared to the more recognized seedling that were spotted from time to time, but it always felt like the guy was hiding something. He would’ve told someone already if he could but he felt like if he did the guy would kill him. He was the one who had to escort the guy most of the time so he would definitely be the first to be recognized and targeted.

‘Fuck-fuck-fuck-fuck, these guys are crazy. How can you laugh when you could die any second now.’

The worst part was he’d heard that the guy originally wasn’t alone. Apparently, there were 3 others and one day they vanished. Out of thin air, just like that. How could they be sure that those 3 would come back for their friend?

“Hey, John looks like it’s your turn to pick up the bastard.”

Someone called his name.

‘Fuck-shit-fuck, I really don’t wanna go near that guy.’

He didn’t want to go anywhere near him, so he did the only reasonable thing and voiced out his worries.

“I-I-I don’t know guys, I can’t be the only one who’s noticed how that guy changed right?”

“Dude don’t tell me you're scared of that bastard? GAHAHAHAHA-bro-HA-ha bro, the only reason he’s changed is because they stopped feeding him that hell food, like how are you scared of this guy. I mean even you could put him down.”

“N-no, I don’t know guys he’s been getting kinda weird lately I feel like he’s gonna try to escape soon and I don’t wanna be there when he does.”

“Escape?? How can he escape this place when he can barely escape manager Hugh’s fist.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean how can I know, anyways I’m t-tired of having to escort this guy, you do it.”

The other guard who he’d been talking to looked at him in a mocking and confused manner as he started walking towards the exit door.

“Oooookay, whatever dude, I’ll do it, but you’ll owe me.”

The newbie sighed. He felt like he dodged a bullet, he almost even felt happy. He wouldn’t have to get near that guy.

—

It was another boring day outside. I could feel the calm winds trying to worm their way into my cell only to be met by a blurry window. It was almost time. Time for my escape. I’d been at this for a good half a year now and I finally felt ready.

The knock.

It always came this time. Another one of their slightly deranged experiments. Ever since they found out my entire being could be quantified they stopped at nothing to see what could make the numbers change. Of course, I gained a point here and there, but they would ultimately never know how far I got.

Now though, I would show them my progress, whether they liked it or not.

I calmly opened the door and walked to the guard. It was someone new today. As we walked we quickly approached the end of the T-Shaped hallway, to the left would be Jarvis’s office, and to the right, the road to freedom. If I was going to escape I was going to do it now.

As I was about to wind up my move a familiar figure approached from the left. Hugh.

‘You’ve got to be shitting me.’

Well, it wasn’t like I hadn’t planned for something like this, knowing my luck it would quite stupid if I didn’t.

“Well look who it is.”

He started off with his signature sneer. Over the last couple of months, I’d grown to despise that sneer even more. It would feel so great when I shoved it in his face, but I’d have to bide my time a bit more. They both had guns, handguns. It would be hard to kick out of their hands so I’d have to catch them off guard.

I looked behind me.

“Who are you talking about?”

His face scrunched up. He always did have a short fuse, so maybe I could use this to my advantage.

“You . . . Are you ok? I mean if you’re hallucinating does that mean my-uh dreaddeddd seedling powers have finally ki-“

“Shut up.”

He lost his cool, but he quickly seemed to regain it back as if he had remembered something.

“Well whatever bastard, it’s not like you have much time left anyway. Don’t forget I keep my promises.”

Ah, it seemed I wasn’t the only one ready to get things over with.

“Uhhhh.. I don’t know Hugh, last time I spoke with your wife she didn’t seem to agree.”

The guard snickered trying to hold in a laugh as Hugh gave him the stink eye. I smirked, he didn’t seem to want to smirk back. He walked towards me, probably ready to get in his hit. This was my chance.

I jumped and twisted my body mid-air landing a roundhouse kick. His body looked as if he had frozen up as he fell on his back. The guard quickly reached for his gun but faltered which gave me the chance to land a reverse roundhouse kick to his face. And like a domino, he fell.

‘I’m so fucking crisp.’

I ran, to the right. This was it, this was my chance. My breath was calm, I was calm, I needed to be. If I let my guard down for one second it was over.

A gunshot.

I instinctively activated the wind armor technique, but it wasn’t enough. I hadn’t accounted for such force, or rather I wasn’t strong enough to redirect such force so my arm was hit. Right under my shoulder. It hurt; IT HURT LIKE HELL.

“FUCK.”

But I kept running eventually reaching an elevator.

‘I really hope this isn’t gonna be one of those scenes where I get mad at the elevator for not closing fast enough.’

I would find out. I reached the elevator and pressed the service button. It quickly opened and I got in just as fast. Now it was time for the door to close but as I had guessed, cliches were on my menu. I could see Fat-Fuck running towards the door and I quickly pressed the button for my desired floor he realized he wouldn’t make it so he started shooting.

‘Asshole!’

I leaned to the side and felt the whistle of a bullet barely avoiding my neck.

‘Jesus Fucking Christ!’

The door closed. I had barely made it and now I was in the endgame. The pain from the bullet in my arm was really messing with me and my vision was starting to dim. The calm sound of the elevator music permeated my ear as it blessed me with a quick surprise.

[ Calm music permeates your ears ]

-| Silence | debuff removed

-Health Regeneration speed increases by 10%

‘Ah..’

‘I almost forgot about that.’

As the ironically calm elevator music continued I slowly slid down from the wall to the floor falling on my ass. My fate skill was honestly kind of great when I thought about it, but in this situation, 10% and maybe 20 more seconds wasn’t going to cut it. I was going to have to go balls deep with no hesitation. Sure the pain was wearing off but that was just piss in the ocean, I needed something to numb the pain, and it seemed like my skill was the key.

I stood back up. I could feel it was almost time to get going again, and just as I had predicted-

Ding

The door opened, and I was left to face Jarvis, fucking Jarvis.

‘It’s like a bloody reunion isn’t it. First Hugh now Jarvis.’

“Well hello there, good to see you, Jarvis. Late for work aren’t ya?”

He stared at me as I slowly walked out of the elevator and circled him. We were on the parking lot floor and there was a clear exit, a clear pathway to freedom.

He frowned.

“You’re escaping aren’t you.”

“You’re quite smart aren’t you old man.”

I gave him a semi-meek semi-smug smile as I spartan kicked him into the elevator. His back hit the railing and it hit it hard. I could see blood coming from his mouth but I had no time to focus on that.

“Sorry about that dude, but I really don’t wanna stay here. If it’s any dimes to your name I didn’t totally despise you.”

And with that, I was off. If this was hunger then my body was revving up the fryers. Left, right, left, right. I was speeding as I jumped over one car and slid across another. This speed felt right. I kept running, but it wasn’t long until I felt something was wrong and activated my wind armor again.

A gunshot.

This time instead of taking the bullet like a dumbass I tried veering a little so it wouldn’t hit me in a vital area. Sadly once again I was too slow and the bullet hit my stomach. I couldn’t stop running or this would be it for me. The end.

My eyes were dimming by the second.

‘I wish I had some sad fucking music to listen to right now.’

I spotted the exit and beyond it was the woods. This was my ticket, and I didn’t want to see the guy chasing me so I used up the residual of my energy and started sprinting. Faster, faster, faster. The trees seemed like a blur and my mind was on its last legs.

‘Fuck-fuck…. FUCK.’

This couldn’t be just it. I had just made it out how could I just up and die here. At this point, my legs were on auto-pilot. I couldn’t tell how fast I was going but it felt pretty fast, no it felt really fast. Is this what it meant when it said one with the wind? My legs were still moving but it didn’t feel like I was running anymore. Everything was a blur. My vision was starting to slip when I heard something. Music. I went to it. It was all I could do.

And then I blacked out.