After we ate, Nel was carrying Lilith on her back as the kid was clutching on tightly. I remained behind them while looking up at the cloud-covered sky in thought. Eventually, my focus fell upon the back of Dahlmor's head before sighing.

  "So, can you give me an idea of how my summon works since we have time? Like, I thought I would summon something and they would help me out," I started as Dahlmor laughed.

  "You thought. Normally, that is what would happen if you had a normal summoning role. This... is different from what the mortals use," Dahlmor stated, glancing over his shoulder at me, then focusing back forward.

  "What is so different about it? I summoned the skull of a Honey Badger before, but then it just up and disappeared," I pointed out, rubbing the back of my head.

  "Hah, yeah, that was hilarious," Dahlmor shouted before laughing. "He came back pissed because you did not offer a sacrifice."

  "The thing with the corpse," I whispered while looking at the ground.

  "Yes... and no," Dahlmor answered cryptically before chuckling. "You'll figure it out."

  "How would someone with such low stats figure that out?" Nel asked, facing Dahlmor, earning a chuckle from him.

  "You fleshlings always misunderstand things," Dahlmor commented before coming to a dead stop, which we all followed.

  No words were said as Nel even slowly put Lilith down and brought out her rapier.

  "What's happening?" I asked, looking around, confused.

  "We're surrounded," Nel said, getting into a fencing stance with the tip of her blade touching the ground.

  The sound of heavy footsteps came from all around them as foot soldiers walked out, being led by two individuals. One was a heavily armored man holding a giant tower shield, while the other had light armor yet held a bladed staff, which rested on his shoulder.

  "These are the ones that killed Benny?" the heavily armored one asked, looking between Dahlmor and Nel before his eyes fell upon me. "Sure as hell ain't you, since you got no gear."

  "He could be a mage," the swordsman replied, glancing at his shielded companion.

  "Whatever the case. Let's have some fun with the dark elf... after we deal with the kid and whatever the hell that thing is," the shieldsman said, looking at Nel, who glared.

  "You can have the elf to yourself. I will take no part in such activities," the swordsman said in disgust before preparing his blade.

  Dahlmor stepped forward and raised a finger to point at the shieldsman, gritting his teeth.

  "That heavy bitch is mine," the summon said, earning a laugh from the armored man.

  "Bring it on, you walking pile of bones. I will shatter your remains to dust with my shield."

  "So uncivilized," the swordsman said, taking a step forward and pointing his blade at Nel. "I will kill you, woman, so you will not have to suffer the pain of being raped by this pig of a man."

  "I doubt you can," Nel stated, raising her blade to point at the swordsman.

  "Make sure the child and the... hero do not escape," the swordsman said, unsure what to call me since I was still half naked.

  Dahlmor raced toward the shield bearer with frustration as he huffed. The heavily armored man brought his shield forward, stopping the impact and not moving an inch before laughing.

  "What did I tell you? Pointless!" the man said before Dahlmor grabbed the shield with both hands, panting heavily.

  "I'll show you fucking pointless!" Dahlmor shouted, raising his head and exhaling air. "Accumulated Impact!"

  I watched as Dahlmor slammed his head against the shield again, causing the man to slide back by an inch.

  "What the—?" he questioned as Dahlmor raised his head back, cackling.

  "Again!" Dahlmor screamed, slamming his head back down.

  This time, the impact made the man slide backward.

  "AGAIN!" he screamed, rushing at the shield and slamming his skull into its front, completely denting it and crushing the man's arm that was holding the shield.

  That one scream caused his footing to slip as he fell on his rear and used his shield to block Dahlmor's attack.

  "Yes! More! SCREAM MORE, YOU MARKED MAN!" Dahlmor screamed, grabbing the shield and beginning to slam his head into it repeatedly, to the point that the object was not only being dented but also crushing its owner.

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  "Save... me... please," the man begged as some of the soldiers rushed forward and brought their spears and blades down on Dahlmor to stop him in his tracks, but failed as their blades sank into his cloak and even pulled them in.

  The soldiers that were pulled into the cloak tried to claw their way out as their faces screamed in terror and pain before being pulled back in. During this time, Dahlmor slowly got off the shield, laughing and huffing, with the object completely splattered with blood under it. He turned to look at me with a smirk before the skull cracked.

  "Till next time, Gideon," Dahlmor said with a wave before the skull sucked in both the cloak and itself, leaving nothing behind.

  I stood there in shock as the soldiers looked at me and then rushed me. Fear began to fill my eyes before I raised my hand.

  "Summon!" I screamed as Nel and the swordsman were still fighting like crazy.

  A new skull appeared, but this time it was that of a bat. Like the ram, it scanned its surroundings as the soldiers froze with weapons ready. Soon, it flew past the soldiers toward the shield and blood splatter. I knew what was going to happen, but would it be possible as the skull flipped the giant shield off the pool of mashed flesh? I guess it did not matter as it sank into the pile of flesh before the body reformed and twitched. Unlike Dahlmor, its body was hunched and had the skull of a bat. Aside from that, it was the same.

  "My name is... Nycteris... f... fear me," he introduced while holding his hands close and hunching over in terror while looking around.

  I stared at the bat-like thing in front of me before blinking.

  "Dread... b... Beacon..." Nycteris whispered before inhaling deeply, only to raise his head and release it.

  The sound wave crashed over everyone within hearing distance before I watched as the footmen all charged at Nycteris. Their swords and spears impaled him as they began to stab and slash at his form. Pained grunts came from Nycteris as he was hacked and slashed before tendrils reached out at those who attacked him so closely. One moment, there were hordes of foot soldiers, but now more than ten were missing, and still they charged in fear only to have the same event repeat. I looked down to see Lilith taking a dagger and trying to reach toward Nycteris, which I moved and scooped her up, holding her against my form to avoid her fate falling to the bat.

  My eyes turned to Nel and her opponent, who were unaffected as they continued to fight.

  As soon as the foot soldiers were all gone, Nycteris looked around, then faced me as his skull cracked. He waved once before being sucked into his skull, leaving me behind with a now knocked-out Lilith, who was breathing heavily and shaking in fear. Nel's opponent jumped back and looked around in confusion as he found his ally and men were all either missing or dead due to the dented shield and a small pool of blood.

  "What the hell?" he said before glancing at me. "You..."

  I said nothing and simply flipped him off just as Nel thrust her rapier forward, only for the man to parry the sword.

  "Burn by thy flames and suffer thy sin," Nel whispered before swaying her hand toward the swordsman.

  He was engulfed in flames in mere seconds as he screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground, trying to put out the flames. Nel took this chance to quickly pierce his skull, killing him instantly. As she removed her blade and sheathed it, Nel sighed in relief and faced me.

  "Where did Sir Dahlmor go, and who was that other individual who was sucking in all those foot soldiers?" she asked, walking over to take Lilith into her arms.

  "He disappeared after smashing the shield guy with his own... shield," I explained, handing over the kid while looking to where Nycteris was. "And the other one was... Nycteris, I think... who also disappeared after dealing with the foot soldiers."

  "You indeed have a strange power, mortal," Nel stated with a hint of disgust before turning and beginning to walk off.

  "So, where are we going?" I asked, following after her, rubbing the back of my head.

  "...We are heading to the last bastion of demonkind," Nel said while closing her eyes.

  "And how far is that exactly?" I said, beginning to hold myself due to the cold. "And do you know a place where I can get spare clothes... or at least a cloak to cover myself..."

  Nel opened her eyes and glanced back at me in deep thought before looking to the sleeping Lilith.

  "We will stop by a house up ahead, where we will get you a change of clothes. I am sure our lookout was killed already, but he should have clothes for you to use," she replied as I smiled and nodded.

  "Thanks."

  "What were you before coming here?" Nel suddenly asked while keeping her focus forward.

  "What?" I asked, confused at her sudden interest in me.

  "The heroes who are summoned here are all authors of a story that was their most popular creation... the more popular it is... the more power it has," Nel explained, stopping and turning to look at me. "So I ask again... what were you before being summoned?"

  "A writer with very little attention," I admitted while rubbing the back of my head.

  Nel stared at me and scoffed before turning her focus forward and walking.

  "A fantasy story that has no readers. Must have been dull," Nel commented loudly without even looking at me.

  "...It wasn't fantasy," I called out, which caused her to sigh and turn to look at me as if waiting for an answer. "It was horror that I wrote... sure, not as popular as my fanfiction and smut story... it was my favorite story to write."

  This caught Nel by surprise as she just stared at me in deep thought before looking to the ground.

  "What are you thinking?" I asked, moving so that I could look into her eyes as a means to understand what she was considering.

  "You said you wrote horror... not fantasy?" Nel asked, staring into my eyes now as I nodded. "That explains why your summons do as they please... and it hints at why your stats are terrible. You are not built for justice or honor..."

  "Well, that's kind of cruel..." I said, taking a step back as she followed my movement.

  "It explains why you cannot die... in a world such as mine... being unkillable brings about a lot of opportunity. In a horror setting, though, being unkillable is a grave gift to the one torturing you," Nel explained with a smirk. "Which is why Sir Dahlmor was so violent with you."

  I was about to speak, but froze while looking to the ground in thought.

  "But I don't remember adding such an ability into the story..." I thought out loud.

  "Each hero gains the powers of their main character. Do you remember the main character's abilities?"

  "That's the thing. He had no abilities. He was just some apathetic dude while being employed in the agency that..." I stopped, and my eyes grew wide at remembering what Dahlmor said to the shield holder. "Scream more... you marked man..."

  "What does that mean?" Nel asked, raising a brow in confusion.

  "I do not know, but if I gain the powers of my main character... I am so fucked," I said with worry clear in my voice while groaning. "Because my main character is very powerful... but is also the easiest to control when it came to the director."

  "And who is this... director?" Nel asked, narrowing her eyes.

  "His name is..." I froze as my eyes grew wide.

  Shhh... no spoilers... a voice whispered into my ears as blood started to seep from my eyes, nose, and mouth.

  Just like that, I blacked out from the mental pain that struck me, with the last thing I saw being Nel rushing to catch me.