Chapter Thirteen: Consecutive Kills

So Chen Qi feigned indifference as he drew the long blade that had pierced the captain’s chest, ready to face the charging warrior head-on.

With the blood-soaked effect triggered by the blade, Chen Qi brimmed with confidence. He believed he would not lose to an ordinary contract holder who had only experienced one or two worlds, even if the opponent launched a charge.

Clang!

Blades collided, and Chen Qi felt a surge of force through his sword, pushing him backward. Yet he stood his ground, pretending not to care as he swung his blade at the warrior.

Seeing their captain slain in a single exchange, the distant mage girl grew anxious, her aim with earth spikes wavering as a result.

The contract holder firing bolts at Chen Qi quickly tried to reassure her, saying, “Xiaoyu, don’t be afraid! That man must be at his last gasp. The three of us together will surely avenge the captain!”

But the mage girl’s face remained pale as she protested, “But just now, he only used a single skill to kill the captain!”

Hearing this, the man’s face also paled, but he continued to shoot bolts at Chen Qi.

Chen Qi pressed close to the warrior, deliberately overlapping his silhouette with his opponent’s to avoid being struck by any more bolts.

Admittedly, the archer contract holder was quite skilled, firing nearly ten bolts at Chen Qi in just a few seconds without hitting any allies.

Chen Qi had already been struck three times, his health now down to thirty-one percent.

He activated his Insight skill against the warrior contract holder, seeking his weaknesses to quickly defeat him.

Information appeared before his eyes:

Name: Paine
Health: 99%
Mana: 40
Strength: 12
Agility: 7
Constitution: 14
Intelligence: 4
Charisma: 6
Skill 1: Basic Two-Handed Swordsmanship (Passive Lv.1)
Skill Effect: Increases two-handed sword damage by 6%, grants basic knowledge and techniques in two-handed swordsmanship.
Skill 2: Charged Heavy Slash (Active Lv.1)
Skill Effect: ???

Skill 3: Shock Blade (Active Lv.2)
Skill Effect: ???
...

Seeing his own stats overwhelmingly superior, Chen Qi felt a bit more at ease.

He adopted the same approach he used against the Iron-Armed Savage Ape, sticking relentlessly to the warrior contract holder, not giving him a chance to charge up.

Their figures tangled together, making it difficult for the mage girl and the agile contract holder behind to intervene.

The two exchanged glances; the agile contract holder stowed his hand crossbow and drew two daggers, charging at Chen Qi.

Meanwhile, the mage girl took out a scroll shimmering with icy elemental power and began to chant.

Chen Qi caught their actions out of the corner of his eye and realized he needed to finish off the warrior quickly.

His bladework grew sharper, and with a significant advantage in agility, Chen Qi forced the contract holder into a defensive scramble.

Though the warrior’s health began to drop, he managed to hold out for a while.

Chen Qi considered his options, pausing momentarily.

Seeing his allies about to join the fray, the warrior contract holder activated a skill.

“Shock Blade!”

Chen Qi watched as the warrior’s two-handed sword, glowing yellow, swung forcefully at him.

He curled his lips in a cold smile and suddenly crouched; the blade swept harmlessly overhead.

Relying entirely on his superior agility, he sliced his long blade across the warrior’s abdomen.

Seeing his health plummet, the warrior retreated, stabilizing his stance and aiming to buy time.

Chen Qi tried several powerful strikes, but found himself just short of breaking the warrior’s defense, growing anxious.

At that moment, the agile contract holder, daggers in hand, was almost upon them.

Chen Qi calmed himself, taking several deep breaths.

He quickly opened his skill panel and upgraded his Basic Blade Technique by one level.

[Upgrade skill: Basic Blade Technique Lv.2. Upgrade requires 500 universal points and one basic skill point. Yes/No?]

Chen Qi swiftly confirmed. The space promptly sent a message:

[Skill: Basic Blade Technique upgraded to Lv.3]

Feeling his bladework grow even sharper, Chen Qi launched a furious attack at the warrior.

The contract holder, accustomed to Chen Qi’s previous speed, was caught off guard as his blade accelerated, his two-handed sword knocked aside.

Chen Qi struck the warrior squarely in the chest.

The warrior collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.

The agile contract holder, just arriving, was shocked to see his comrade fall and immediately turned to flee.

Chen Qi, about to meet his daggers with his own blade, was startled. Changing direction, he finished off the fallen warrior.

Feeling a chill spreading around him, Chen Qi knew the mage girl was nearly done chanting her spell scroll.

With such a lengthy incantation, the spell’s power must be considerable; he had no intention of taking the hit with his already depleted health.

Suddenly inspired, Chen Qi summoned the PL-15K compact pistol from his storage space and fired a volley at the mage girl.

Protected until now by the agile contract holder, the mage girl had never faced such a scene.

Usually, the agile contract holder shielded her from flying projectiles, so she was completely unprepared.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A bullet grazed her arm, breaking her concentration and interrupting her chant.

Chen Qi watched as she collapsed in agony, suffering the backlash from the interrupted skill. Sweat poured from her delicate face, twisted in pain and terror, resembling a wounded fawn.

He ignored the agile contract holder, whose silhouette had vanished, and strode up to the mage girl with his blade.

Seeing death approaching, she tried desperately to rise, but the backlash from the interrupted skill sent her crashing to the ground.

Chen Qi grabbed her hair and raised his blade to behead her.

The scent of her perfume drifted to him, but he felt no pity.

How many villains had died for showing mercy? Though Chen Qi didn’t consider himself a villain.

“Wait! I can offer something for my life!”

As his hand tightened around her hair, the girl cried out.

Hearing this, Chen Qi paused, his blade hovering at her sweat-soaked throat.

This battle had brought Chen Qi nothing; he disliked such fights, but her plea opened a new path for him.

“What can you offer me?” he asked coldly, releasing her hair but keeping his blade poised.

The mage girl, eyes squeezed shut, gasped for breath and hastily replied, “I can give you two thousand universal points—that’s all the money I have!”

“Not enough.”

Chen Qi drew his blade back, preparing to strike.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she pleaded, “I’ll do anything you want—please spare me, I beg you!”