Tick.
I realized I had made a terrible error.
Tock.
I ought to have invested in Strength or have acquired an artifact that improved Strength.
Tick.
The Time Dilation Watch was undoubtedly helpful in allowing me to perceive just how perilous our current situation was. Leo was right; we were too close to the explosion and were being hit by its effects with each passing moment. With a temporary boost of 500 to Perception, I could practically see little fuzzy specks of light radiating from the blast and prodding into us. Interestingly enough, it also allowed me to move faster than physically possible with the temporary boost to Dexterity. Heck, if I was in better shape, perhaps I could have even run all the way home from here before the watch hit midnight.
Tock.
However, what the watch's power did not alter was that I was weak. Nor did it help that, in this situation, I was the only one who could utilize the watch's power. The physical toll on my body was immense. My muscles ached and trembled as I carried Elda away on my back. My shirt clung to my skin, drenched in sweat, and every step felt like a struggle against an invisible force.
"UGHHH!" I rasped in frustration, my voice strained from the effort.
My little sister couldn't have weighed all that much, but my arms burned from carrying her. I rested and looked back at where Leo still was, with the colorful mushroom cloud looming further out in the background. I had managed to go a distance of around fifty skulls, which under normal circumstances would have made me proud. Unfortunately, I still had a ways to go if I was to reach the location that Leo had initially suggested we remain at, but which was too far for Julius to blow up the Wobbly Pebble.
Tick.
Here's to hoping his calculation was correct about that distance.
I adjusted Elda on my back and moved forward, every step sapping more of my strength.
Tock.
However, soon enough, I had to rest again. I was simply too weak. The relentless physical strain left my body in agony. My arms screamed in pain and felt like they were on the verge of tearing apart, while my legs felt like lead, barely responding to my commands.
I clenched my jaw, frustrated by the situation.
I hadn't even managed to move Elda into a safe location yet, but looking back, I still had Leo, Julius, and Henry to carry over, all heavier than my little sister. Then there were the other guards, which I almost considered leaving behind, but I knew my conscience wouldn't allow me to do so. They were members of the Frey Manor as well, after all. Finally, there were the desert riders and carriage; unfortunately, I couldn't leave our only mode of transportation out of this forsaken desert behind.
And just how in the world am I supposed to carry those giant birds and carriage over??
I rubbed my eyes with the balls of my palms, trying to organize my thoughts and push away any useless tears of frustration.
The only one I can carry without any trouble is Leona.
I felt the small lump inside my breast pocket.
I blinked.
An insane idea came to mind.
Click.
I stopped the watch.
"What the—?" Elda exclaimed.
"I'll explain later; I need to concentrate," I quickly told her. "I'm getting you to safety."
I ignored her other questions and turned my attention to Leona in the palm of my hands.
>
Leona cocked her head to one side.
"Peep!"
Do you mean if I can store everyone in my other stomach?
"Peep!"
Would you like me to bring out everyone?
Leona fluttered back atop my chest, ready to assist in any way she could.
I nodded.
SOOSH.
The golden grass bent and creaked as everyone was brought out, their bewildered voices filling the air.
"How'd we get here??"
"What happened?"
"I saw the world whoosh by me!"
"SKEEEEE!"
Confused voices surrounded me as people removed their dark face shields and looked about. Most notable were the screeches of the desert riders, which, to our luck, did not run off and were quickly secured by the guards.
"Luca! Are you alright?" Elda was the first to spot me in the grass. She ran over, her bob of red curls bouncing with each stride. She kneeled beside me, her green eyes wide with concern.
But her look of concern quickly shifted to one of fear as her eyes spotted Leona. "That bird ate me. Just what in the world is it?"
Elda's green eyes were wide, and she didn't take her attention away from Leona, as if doing so might prompt Leona to eat her again.
> I replied using the Whispering Necklace. I didn't have the energy to speak, but I could think.
I needed to assess the damage and decide on the next steps.
[ Certainly. Due to the penalty, this shift will take two days. You will be unable to access certain functions during this update, and others will be error-prone. ]
It wasn't ideal, but it was what it was. Besides, if anything, I was already accustomed to a broken access state.
Elda wiped the blood away with her shirt sleeve. I now noticed that there were more splotches of blood that she must have wiped away before she ran over.
"Ah, this darn nosebleed," Elda muttered.
She held her head up and waved over one of the guards who procured some gauze to plug her nose with.
"Elda, are you alright?" Leo ran over, noticing her nose bleed as well.
"Better than you," Elda retorted. "Did you finish throwing up your guts?"
I blinked and sat up. I examined Leo, noting how unusually pale his completion looked. His skin was a dark brown, so to ever call him pale seemed ridiculous. But in this moment, he did seem to have lost some of his color.
"We were too close to that explosion," Leo stated with a serious expression. "If we're going to try that again, we'll need to find a more suitable way to cut into the Wobbly Pebble."
"Yes, we'll be more careful next time," she agreed with him.
"Next time?" I asked, my eyes shifting between the two children.
Were they being serious?
Elda's attention returned to me. A wide grin spread across her face, and her green eyes twinkled.
"Yes, next time. Luca, you said you had access to more of these Wobbly Pebbles, right?"
I had momentarily forgotten how obsessed with explosions my sister was. And I had just provided her with the pinnacle of explosions the world had ever seen.
AlekAundra
Again? (ᴗ)°.*･｡ﾟ
Thanks for reading and commenting!
As usual, you can read 5 chapters ahead on Patreon.
Tick.
I realized I had made a terrible error.
Tock.
I ought to have invested in Strength or have acquired an artifact that improved Strength.
Tick.
The Time Dilation Watch was undoubtedly helpful in allowing me to perceive just how perilous our current situation was. Leo was right; we were too close to the explosion and were being hit by its effects with each passing moment. With a temporary boost of 500 to Perception, I could practically see little fuzzy specks of light radiating from the blast and prodding into us. Interestingly enough, it also allowed me to move faster than physically possible with the temporary boost to Dexterity. Heck, if I was in better shape, perhaps I could have even run all the way home from here before the watch hit midnight.
Tock.
However, what the watch's power did not alter was that I was weak. Nor did it help that, in this situation, I was the only one who could utilize the watch's power. The physical toll on my body was immense. My muscles ached and trembled as I carried Elda away on my back. My shirt clung to my skin, drenched in sweat, and every step felt like a struggle against an invisible force.
"UGHHH!" I rasped in frustration, my voice strained from the effort.
My little sister couldn't have weighed all that much, but my arms burned from carrying her. I rested and looked back at where Leo still was, with the colorful mushroom cloud looming further out in the background. I had managed to go a distance of around fifty skulls, which under normal circumstances would have made me proud. Unfortunately, I still had a ways to go if I was to reach the location that Leo had initially suggested we remain at, but which was too far for Julius to blow up the Wobbly Pebble.
Tick.
Here's to hoping his calculation was correct about that distance.
I adjusted Elda on my back and moved forward, every step sapping more of my strength.
Tock.
However, soon enough, I had to rest again. I was simply too weak. The relentless physical strain left my body in agony. My arms screamed in pain and felt like they were on the verge of tearing apart, while my legs felt like lead, barely responding to my commands.
I clenched my jaw, frustrated by the situation.
I hadn't even managed to move Elda into a safe location yet, but looking back, I still had Leo, Julius, and Henry to carry over, all heavier than my little sister. Then there were the other guards, which I almost considered leaving behind, but I knew my conscience wouldn't allow me to do so. They were members of the Frey Manor as well, after all. Finally, there were the desert riders and carriage; unfortunately, I couldn't leave our only mode of transportation out of this forsaken desert behind.
And just how in the world am I supposed to carry those giant birds and carriage over??
I rubbed my eyes with the balls of my palms, trying to organize my thoughts and push away any useless tears of frustration.
The only one I can carry without any trouble is Leona.
I felt the small lump inside my breast pocket.
I blinked.
An insane idea came to mind.
Click.
I stopped the watch.
"What the—?" Elda exclaimed.
"I'll explain later; I need to concentrate," I quickly told her. "I'm getting you to safety."
I ignored her other questions and turned my attention to Leona in the palm of my hands.
>
Leona cocked her head to one side.
"Peep!"
Do you mean if I can store everyone in my other stomach?
"Peep!"
Would you like me to bring out everyone?
Leona fluttered back atop my chest, ready to assist in any way she could.
I nodded.
SOOSH.
The golden grass bent and creaked as everyone was brought out, their bewildered voices filling the air.
"How'd we get here??"
"What happened?"
"I saw the world whoosh by me!"
"SKEEEEE!"
Confused voices surrounded me as people removed their dark face shields and looked about. Most notable were the screeches of the desert riders, which, to our luck, did not run off and were quickly secured by the guards.
"Luca! Are you alright?" Elda was the first to spot me in the grass. She ran over, her bob of red curls bouncing with each stride. She kneeled beside me, her green eyes wide with concern.
But her look of concern quickly shifted to one of fear as her eyes spotted Leona. "That bird ate me. Just what in the world is it?"
Elda's green eyes were wide, and she didn't take her attention away from Leona, as if doing so might prompt Leona to eat her again.
> I replied using the Whispering Necklace. I didn't have the energy to speak, but I could think.
I needed to assess the damage and decide on the next steps.
[ Certainly. Due to the penalty, this shift will take two days. You will be unable to access certain functions during this update, and others will be error-prone. ]
It wasn't ideal, but it was what it was. Besides, if anything, I was already accustomed to a broken access state.
Elda wiped the blood away with her shirt sleeve. I now noticed that there were more splotches of blood that she must have wiped away before she ran over.
"Ah, this darn nosebleed," Elda muttered.
She held her head up and waved over one of the guards who procured some gauze to plug her nose with.
"Elda, are you alright?" Leo ran over, noticing her nose bleed as well.
"Better than you," Elda retorted. "Did you finish throwing up your guts?"
I blinked and sat up. I examined Leo, noting how unusually pale his completion looked. His skin was a dark brown, so to ever call him pale seemed ridiculous. But in this moment, he did seem to have lost some of his color.
"We were too close to that explosion," Leo stated with a serious expression. "If we're going to try that again, we'll need to find a more suitable way to cut into the Wobbly Pebble."
"Yes, we'll be more careful next time," she agreed with him.
"Next time?" I asked, my eyes shifting between the two children.
Were they being serious?
Elda's attention returned to me. A wide grin spread across her face, and her green eyes twinkled.
"Yes, next time. Luca, you said you had access to more of these Wobbly Pebbles, right?"
I had momentarily forgotten how obsessed with explosions my sister was. And I had just provided her with the pinnacle of explosions the world had ever seen.
AlekAundra
Again? (ᴗ)°.*･｡ﾟ
Thanks for reading and commenting!
As usual, you can read 5 chapters ahead on Patreon.
