Chapter 11: If you don’t know how to lose… don’t play

July 17, 1325 - 09:00 PM - First Jump

“The ability of the bearer of the 10 Links is formidable. No wonder the captain wanted to eliminate her. But she's not invincible... there are ways to face her; exhaustion is the most obvious one.

“Still, I suppose it's worth trying a new approach. If it doesn't work, we'll always have another opportunity later. After all, when one controls time... mistakes don't matter so much. Heh, heh... let's see, let's see. Ah... I think I should contact my colleague. Don't you think so? Huh? Are you angry? Why?”

A young man with a black mask—an X over one eye, a line drawn across the mouth—stood on the rooftop of the building adjacent to the Bellafonte Hotel.

“Sorry, it's just that I'm not used to being alone with a woman. I shouldn't talk about others with you. But I want you to know that today I haven't killed anyone other than you, darling... So don't get jealous. Mmm... I was close to shooting the blonde, but she must have activated her stone's ability.

“It's an unfair ability, because it makes you look like a failure. However, it's interesting... it allows one to study time and reality in a way that wouldn't be possible otherwise.”

He played with the perfectly styled hair of the young woman. Her gray eyes, her beautiful face, painted with style and subtlety, remained motionless.

“Have they told you that your perfume is exquisite? It smells like lilies, quite sweet... but I love it.”

He brought one of her locks close to his nose, through the holes in the mask, and inhaled to fill his lungs with the aroma.

“You smell too good. Forgive me... but I want to ask you something important. Would you go out with me if I asked? I think I fit the profile of the mysterious broken boy that women love so much.

“And... let me tell you, I'm very broken. Living so long does bad things to someone. That's why having a short life like yours can be a blessing in contrast.”

He held her between his legs. He carefully caressed her hair.

“So, what do you think? Do you want to go out with me?”

The young man held the head like someone raising a glass. Their eyes met—his shining behind the mask; hers, opaque, were empty.

The woman's head was separated from her body. She was, without doubt, dead.

The scene formed a grotesque composition as well as poetic, where he, in profile, held the head high while staring at it fixedly. The enormous full moon in the background contrasted with the backlit shadow and, from below, the street illuminated their faces in a low angle shot.

What a cruel smile he hid behind the mask.

“I'm sorry you have to see your friends die. But it's only fair, since you murdered our captain... Miss Amélie. But I must thank you, because while he's present, I can't be myself... they keep me on a short leash, I'm nothing more than a dog.”

Nesty took the head between his palms. He searched in it for an answer that would never come before bringing it closer to him.

“We'll watch the twilight together...”

His thumbs gently pressed her cheeks, feeling how the warmth of his hands was lost in the cold skin of the deceased young woman.

He lifted his mask slightly, just enough to show his mouth, and very gently, holding her by the nape of the neck, brought the woman's lips close to his until they met... very delicate, even with tenderness. All accompanied by the whistle of the breeze and the distant chorus of people's movement on the street.

The stars saw how deep the hell that was inside him went.

“How sweet... are a girl's lips,” with that whisper he proceeded to trace her lips with his index finger. “How cloying...”

He set her aside, to grab his weapon and prepare to shoot, though his fingers missed the texture of his lover.

“Let's play with something more special this time...”

Nesty brought his hand to the lifeless face, gently sank his fingers into the cold mouth, and pulled out a small translucent die that gleamed under the moon.

“Thank you for keeping it safe. We're going to decide this game with your help. All my actions will be determined by chance. This way we'll see how destiny decides the future and not simple humans.”

He touched the side of his temple to activate the communicator.

“You're getting beaten up, don't you think? Do you want my help?”

July 17, 1325 – 09:10 PM - First Jump

I need to survive long enough... or should I let Ien handle it?

I suppose... the survival instinct is stronger than curiosity. Furthermore, I can't leave everything to him. If at least this timeline changes, maybe I can take something of value with me.

*Bzzz*

“Kuroha, take cover!” I shouted as I threw myself toward the section of wall that still remained intact.

Kuroha followed my example... but it wasn't enough.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The bullet passed so fast we could barely perceive it... Despite our perception ability being enhanced by the stone, it became imperceptible. Kuroha was in mid-air, having jumped trying to protect herself, but the shot was so fast there was no way to react.

“But what...?” Kuroha asked.

I asked the same question, because what had just happened made no sense. The fired bullet didn't go toward my companion, but toward the masked woman... his ally.

“That... is precisely what I needed,” she said while still being trapped by the gravity wells created by Kuroha.

She was bleeding... no, I correct myself: she had been bleeding from the wounds caused by Kuroha's weapon. Nothing was coming out anymore.

Her clothing was torn in various places where she had received our blows. On her abdomen, her navel was visible; between her collarbones, her cleavage showed slightly, and she had scratches that were already healed. On her right leg there was a hole that looked like a burn, where Kuroha's bullet had pierced through her.

“I needed that energy injection. Thanks, Nesty.”

“You're welcome~”

It was impressive: my assassin, who had been immobilized, exhausted and damaged after an exhausting fight, now stood upright, without any of the bullet wounds... She could move the arm I had broken.

“How?” I asked, but there was something obvious in the answer... The sniper's bullets did more than kill.

“Hmm, I prefer to spare you the details.”

Kuroha didn't wait for her to finish speaking. She fired two shots with her revolver, one to the left and another to the right.

*Bzzz*

But one of the bullets was intercepted by a shot from the sniper. The other met its end in a wall that the assassin distorted.

“And now, let it be one-on-one, don't you think?” the masked woman extended the wall until it reached the other building, creating a separation that divided the terrain.

On one side, me with her; on the other, Kuroha with the sniper. No, that's not accurate. If I think like that, I could die. The sniper has vision of both sides, he could provide support to his ally... not to mention that the masked one with the spiral still hasn't made an appearance.

“Nesty,” she spoke through the communicator, “do me the favor of not interfering. I want to at least kill one of them with my own hands. I need it...”

“Whatever you say. Just make sure to bring me a souvenir...”

“You're insane if you think I'll bring you their head.”

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but my best solution was to stay away from the opening in the wall. I took a few steps back, hoping she would come toward me.

“Robin!” Kuroha shouted from the other side. “Hold on, now that the floor isn't separated from reality, I called for reinforcements.”

Separated from reality... I suppose that's the best way to refer to what we experienced before. Good, we have more options: not just the [PATHFINDER], but also Amélie's portals.

“Are you worried about my friend on the other side?” the masked woman asked. “Don't worry, I'll make this a fair fight.”

She deformed the place again, but this time closing the open wall, leaving me enclosed within four walls with the elevator behind me and the masked woman in front.

*Bzzz*

*Bang Bang*

I began to hear gunshots and the buzzing of that bastard. On the other side of the wall, the fight had already begun.

“Look, I'm surprised you're so weak. At this point I thought I'd see something impressive,” said the masked woman as she slowly approached. “You're supposed to be the bearer of a single-link stone.”

“I don't know what you're talking about. I've only been here a few days.”

“That should be enough. Have they told you that the fewer links, the more powerful the stone? So far, I haven't been able to see your ability. What can you do?”

Powerful? Truth is, witnessing what my colleagues can do, I feel incapable. I would never confess that I can go back in time, though that doesn't change the fact that it's not very useful in a fight. Especially when I only have one opportunity in... almost twenty-four hours.

It seems like a big lie when they talk about fewer links being a more impressive ability.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but my ability can't be used in combat.”

“Too bad, but don't be discouraged. You still have some advantage. That mental case's bullet only healed my wounds, the stone's energy hasn't been returned to me. I can no longer do the tricks I did before. Now that I think about it, I don't remember what your name was.”

“Robin,” I answered without hesitation.

Am I an idiot for saying it? It doesn't matter much, I need to buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

“Pretty name. You can call me Joren. It's a pleasure to meet you, Robin. I'm the bearer of the thirteen-link stone. An unlucky number...”

This is weird... Not long ago she was furious with us for supposedly killing her captain. Now it seems like she wants to talk as if we were friends.

“Let's begin.”

She raised her arm upward, generating a wave on the floor like someone shaking a rug.

“Uaaah!”

The sweep was so strong it lifted me from the floor until I was on the ceiling, and behind me came Joren running with her palm open. It was the warning of a knife.

“Say goodbye!”

Before she could cut me, I stamped my foot on the ceiling to avoid falling. Using the strength of my limbs, I propelled myself backward... Joren's hand passed beneath me. I released my foot from the ceiling and with the momentum gave her a kick to the back.

With her feet stuck to the floor, she avoided sliding too much. She turned around to attack again. I jumped to gain distance, but she used her ability again to deform the space in both walls and make them close in to crush me.

I jumped and spread my legs to avoid being crushed, and Joren, without losing a second, prepared her hand to stab me.

She said thirteen is the unlucky number. Funny that room 1113 is next to me. So I had two options: either quickly get out of there to break down the door, or much easier, take Kuroha's bullet embedded in the door frame... A difficult decision...

I took the bullet and threw it toward Joren. It was like remembering when I played Flick Football at school, but with super strength, enough to embed it in her chest.

“Aaaah!” Joren screamed while clutching her chest.

The walls returned to their normal shape. It's clear that every time she receives an impact, her ability is affected. So, if I hit her enough, she won't be able to keep doing what she wants... Well, I suppose that's obvious.

*Bzzz*

Again. Always just before he shoots. Damn weird weapon... it must be some kind of sonic impulse or something like that. My ears hurt.

“Son of a...! Heh, heh...” Joren laughed while pulling the bullet from her chest. “Aaah... captain. Things weren't supposed to be like this... no. Not like this. I can't lose to this girl.”

She's delirious... She's quite weakened...

Come on Robin, just smile... And run!

“There's nowhere to hide!” Joren shouted upon seeing me kick my way into one of the rooms.

I entered abruptly and went behind the door, and as soon as she could, Joren followed me. However, she didn't expect that as soon as she entered, I'd greet her with a punch that broke the wall and threw her backward. I'm surprised how hard her mask is. It's taken several hits.

“Guu... You'll be...” she ended up at the back of the room and quickly got up. “Come here.”

Of course not. I simply showed her my finger and went back out to the hallway.

“Cowardly bitch. I'm not in the mood for games.”

She's conserving her energy. If she starts doing the crazy things from before, she won't last long. So she'll spend her time chasing me through the...

“Gyaahaa!”

“Huooo... Shit.”

That was a scream from Joren with which... she literally opened all the hallway walls in half... How to put it: if from floor to ceiling there are 2.5 meters (8.2 feat), between the half-meter mark and two meters high there's nothing. Ahm... almost as weird as the building not having collapsed.