I was honestly really confused. What did she mean that she knew this Dorian guy? And what did he mean by joining hands together to kill me? Just what sort of conversation did they have? Nevertheless, im glad Isabella wasn't swayed. I wondered why she wasn't, but I didn't really have time to. At the moment, all I needed to focus on was....
'Killing Dorian.'
This was the bastard responsible for everything. This Ceaseless Circle we have been walking, the damn animals with blessing abilities and me losing an arm! This bastard was responsible for it all! Im gonna make sure his death is miserable...
With the conviction made, I rushed forward. I had [Probability Pryer] activated, so I was able to dodge and anticipate every attack an animal made towards me. Whether using their blessing, or fists. It didn't matter, I was one step ahead.
I have always managed to learn how to turn it off and now on, but it's not perfect. Sometimes, I end up overusing it, sometimes I end up not being able to turn it on at all. At the moment, with adrenaline and anger pumping through me, I was able to control it to a decent extent. That helped me alot.
Eventually, I was standing directly infront of Dorian. Just a few meters away from him. We both were warily circling each other. I had the [Probability Pryer] off, since I didn't want to waste anymore innate spirit. This was gonna be an important battle and my first time actually murdering another human being. Will I be able to do it with ease?
There is only one way to find out.
"So, you are Dorian. How do you know Isabella, if I may ask?"
I wasn't genuinely interested. It's more of me just buying time until Isabella has lured the wild animals far away from us. From the corner of my eye, I can see her struggling against them, but she is holding herself together. Somehow. If worst comes to worst, she can always cause another air explosion. I have faith in her.
Dorian gave me a scornful look and spat.
"Why should I tell you, mongrel? Who even were you before joining The Mulligan? Some common thug? A slave to a corporate company? Or just the typical tramp?"
I chuckled, unaffected by the remarks. Instead, he responded with a smile.
"Oh, me? Well....I was a tramp, I guess. A homeless man living on the streets."
Dorian seemed to get even angrier at my admission.
"Then why the hell is she wasting time on you?On a worthless nobody like you?! What the hell does she see in you?!"
I shrugged, my tone nonchalant.
"I don't know. Ask her."
Nothing else was left to be said. My provocation seemed to have worked. This Dorian guy had barely any control over his emotions. Is that his curse, or just part of his nature? Nevertheless, it's something im gonna enjoy exploiting.
From thin air, he summoned a weapon. It was a long, shiny blade, the moonlight reflected on it. I used to see this sword in movies set in Ancient Europe. It was similar....
'A Rapier?'
How interesting. I never took Dorian for a guy to use a Rapier as a weapon. He seemed more like a dude who relied on brute force purely. So, I imagined something like a baton, or a mace. Something like that really fit his attitude. But a Rapier....
That's a weapon that required alot of skill and training. For him to choose it, either he has no other options in his arsenal, or he is talented with the blade. If it's the latter, im gonna have a problem. Facing a talented and experienced foe in a fight.....never ends well for me. Im just not like them. I don't have much experience in fights, talent or skill. I'll have to make up for it with my cunning and resourcefulness, there is no other choice.
After examining it for awhile, I inquired.
"That's an interesting choice of a weapon."
Dorian smirked, twirling the Rapier and getting into a fighting stance. He left hardly any openings in that stance, with only his back being the weakest point. The front was flawlessly protected.
"Indeed. A mongrel like you would know nothing about true skill. It's a shame i didn't get a chance to fight Isabella herself. I have always wanted to test my own skills against her."
Then, his smirk grew more sinister.
"But that's enough talk. I'll shred you to pieces and set Isabella right. She will come crawling towards me, begging for forgiveness, after the way she has treated me!"
I blinked, surprised.
'What an unlikable fellow....'
I now understand why Isabella seemed to always have such a look of disgust when looking at him. Dorian was just weird. Straight up weird. It even put my own weirdness to shame. Hah, maybe that's way she chose me over him! You know what? I'm actually enjoying his anger.
'Burn with fury, you fool!'
As I said that, I activated [Probability Pryer] just seconds before Dorian could step forward. But what I saw.....left me disoriented and momentarily stunned. It left me opended to an attack, that I barely dodged by jumping back, leaving behind a shallow cut on my shoulder.
Dorian seemed frustrated and kept on with his assault on me. I was dodging them. It seemed like I was having an easy time, but in reality, I was having the worst time one ever could! Fighting this demon was.....impossible using [Probability Pryer].
Indeed, that blessing ability allows me to seeing the probability of outcomes before they happen. That's useful. But what's the point when facing someone so skilled, there isn't a single 100% attack I have to avoid? Every single one had a probability. One could have a 96% chance of happening, while the other one could have 67% chance, that didn't mean he will always end up choosing the action with the highest chance of happening. I was overloaded by all sorts of these outcomes.
It was simply too overwhelming, too much. My brain couldn't handle all of these information. When fighting animals, their attacks would always be predictable and not too complicated. But when facing a human that's skilled, it's the opposite. Every move they make has a purpose, every attack is calculated carefully and they are always observing the moments of their enemy.
This meant that he could be attempting to strike from the side. The [Probability Pryer] could show it as 99% but at the last second, when I try to avoid it, he could alter it and suddenly, the attack that was 1% has become a 100%. This unpredictablely made me realize that [Probability Pryer] wasn't as overpowered as I thought. Instead, it left me mostly useless when facing an enemy of this caliber!
To truly match someone of this skill, I have to be skilled myself. There is no other way to win. Atleast, it seemed that way.
'But who said that I can't fix this issue?'
Barely dodging another attack, I grimaced as I felt the Rapier strike my chest, leaving behind an obvious scar that was dripping blood. But instead of being worried, I forced a smirk and said.
"You.....have feelings towards Isabella, don't you? You love her."
Dorian froze, his expression becoming complicated for a moment, before he gritted his teeth in anger and lashed out again with his Rapier. This attack less refined compared to before. Just barely, but enough for [Probability Pryer] to really shine. I was able to easily move out of the way.
'I just have to make him easy to predict.'
I glanced at Dorian once again and continued.
"Well, that's too bad. I don't think she carries the same feelings for you. Matter of fact..."
I paused dramatically, my smirk widening as I said the next words that made his expression crumble.
"She loves me. She even admitted herself. We even....had some fun together, if you know what I mean. She was very good with her hands."
Dorian's eyes widened in rage, hurt and disbelief. Just the way I wanted him to.
"You are lying...."
I laughed and shook my head.
"No, im not. Would you like me to tell you about all the positions we tried? Oh and she even once got her knees and...."
Dorian's face grew bright red in anger.
"SHUT UP!! She didn't do any of that!"
Dorian rushed forward. This time, his movements were less refined, less elegant and more feral. He was fueled with anger. With a desire to simply kill me.
'He's far too easy.'
"Stab towards the left side of my chest, 100%...."
'Just too easy.'
I moved out of the way with ease. Then, I grabbed his Rapier with my bare hand, wincing a little. It was a comfortable feeling, having my hand cut, coating the Rapier with my blood. But I had to do it to stop this feral animal.
Once he halted before me, I let go of it and clenched my fist.
Fury Counter: [21/1000]
I began powering my remaining fist with the stored fury. Dorian was already attempting to move away, but it was too late. By now, I am flawlessly capable of manipulating the stored fury. It just comes naturally for me, even though I'm not currently in [The Zone]. I would prefer not to be in that state, it gives me an advantage in battle, but also risks me from losing myself to Madness.
"Rahhh!!"
I cried out, slamming my fist into the cheek of the still frozen Dorian. The sheer of it all sent a Shockwave throughout the jungle, birds fleeing in panic and I could feel bones shattering underneath my fist. It was a satisfying sound.
Dorian was sent hurling through tree after tree, until his back slammed into a boulder, splattering his blood all over it. He seemed dazed, stunned and in utterly disbelief at the power behind my punch.
But still alive.
I was shocked he managed to survive that, but it didn't last long. Since I still had some innate spirit to spare, I was already moving my legs and rushing to finish the job. However, that's when I noticed something....
Dorian's lips moved, though his jaw was dislocated, he managed to say some words.
"Come here, my right-hand.....don't let your master die."
From on top of a tree, a shadow fell down, then wrapped themselves around the broken body of Dorian. It was the Sloth.
"Master.....don't....worry.....I am....here..."
It was glowing. The wounds of Dorian began to heal. Until he was as good as new. This healing effect was significantly more potent compared to the snake I killed during my fight with the bear. It was.....ridiculous. All of the work I had done was erased just like that. I froze in place, seething with anger towards that sloth.
'I should of killed it when I first saw it, dammit....'
Dorian stood up and stretched, as if testing the healing prowess of the sloth. The sloth, meanwhile, had wrapped it's body around Dorian, like a Koala. That was strange....
Does the sloth need to keep physical contact with someone to keep healing them? That makes sense. It can't heal from a distance, it needs to touch the body to heal. So, all I need to do now is to target the sloth....
Dorian walked forward and grinned at me.
"Those tales you told were interesting, mongrel. You managed to make me lose my composure, but it matters not. No matter what you have done with my Isabella, she will still be by my side in the end. Once I get rid of you, that is."
Then, after a pause, he adds wistfully.
"We will live together in The Mulligan. Somewhere far and safe, have a few kids together, grow old and die here.....this place is the future of humanity, even if you don't realize it. We both are gonna be the trailblazers who take the first step for humanity."
I couldn't help but stare at Dorian in shock.
'What is this dude talking about?'
Living in The Mulligan? This hellish place being the future of humanity? Just how delusional is this fool? I couldn't understand it. Honestly, the human world is much better! Even someone like me, a former homeless man, is able to realize that simple fact. After all I have been through in The Mulligan, this is simply the truth.
"You have lost the plot."
Dorian shook his head and laughed.
"Of course you wouldn't understand, Mongrel. You are a skilled fighter, I must admit. But there is no future for you here. With you around, I can't have Isabella. So, you must go."
I resisted the urge to facepalm. This dude was ridiculously infatuated with Isabella. Maybe a little too much. After this, I'll ask her what she exactly did to have this guy obsessing over her so much....
"Try me."
Dorian narrowed his eyes and prepared his Rapier, getting into that stance once again.
"Oh, I will."
My expression turned serious as well. This time, im not gonna hold back. I need to defeat him before Isabella ends up being overwhelmed by the number of wild animals she is fighting. So....I activated [The Zone] and then rushed forward without any hesitation.
There is no room for hesitation time left.