"And these... are purple and gold if I'm not mistaken..." I muttered, wiping away all of the blue buffs, leaving three purple buffs and one gold. "These purples ones are good... but this gold one... isn't it just straight-up broken?"
Soon, the round started as soon as I finished picking the cards I needed. With all six of them stacking their buffs and one debuff on the monster, I felt a bit more confident than before. So, I quickly summoned my lesser fire spirits and also activated a few more skills that would give me the instant advantage once the round started.
[Demonic Flame Body] [Demon Eyes] [Eyes of Seduction] [Web of the Wony's Burning Heart] [Magic Staff Coating] [Magic Staff Enhancement] [Enflamed Presence]
[Mystical Pressure of The Mana Core] [Haste] [Empower] [Eagle Eye]
My eyes turned purple with a pink feathery outline serving as my eyelashes. My magic staff in one hand was engulfed in a dark red aura, syncing with my green flames that burned from the natural oils springing up from my body. My chest was set alight with buffs, especially with the skill that was proof of my noble lineage: [Web of the Wony's Burning Heart].
"I am unbreaka-"
...
"*gasp*... *gasp*... *gasp*..."
I couldn't breathe. My hands roamed my body, searching for any puncture wounds as slight tears subconsciously dripped from my eyes. A disgusting feeling of mana wriggling inside of me soon exited and with that, a new panel appeared.
.
[Legendary Buff - Return By Death has been activated]
[Death 1/100 has been used]
[Round will restart]
.
The round soon started, and the glimpse of white light that had blinded me just as the bell had rung, blinded me once more. My body instinctively ducked down, dodging what seemed to be a twisting mess of water spears twirling and melding together to form the tip of a lance. That is what had just killed me.
From the depths of my soul, I realized that I had just died. It was horrifying. That pitch blackness that lasted for only a second felt like it had lasted for an eternity, an endless epoch, an entire Eon. I felt like I had lived for an infinite amount of time in that darkness, but in reality, it was no less than a second.
"You're good," A chilling voice echoed across the stone brick room, sending chills to erupt across my fingertips. "But in the end, you're decent at best."
A man with baggy white robes laced with light blue string stepped forward. His pale complexion was uncaring and as his sapphire dangling ears jangled, dancing with the smooth movement of his sapphire eyes trailing across the room, I felt a threatening aura appear behind me.
It was slower than before, so I was able to consciously dodge it this time, but only by a few inches. It had clipped a part of my torso, tearing out a chunk of flesh that would lead to my death by blood loss within only a few minutes.
The man's hand lifted up gracefully like the gentle ascent of a swan, the sapphire ring on his right hand shimmering brightly. It summoned a staff with two sickle blades on the end. But what really drew the attention of my eyes was the massive diamond conducting and taking in all of the mana around me.
"[One Thousand Cuts]."
...
I can't breathe... it burns... it burns...
I coughed up a massive amount of blood as I gripped my chest, toppling over onto the floor. My vision was hazy with fear. I didn't want to die again. That cold darkness had once again enveloped me... I didn't want to experience that again.
"Ugh... Ugh... why... how..." I muttered, feeling blood drip from my skin.
.
[Legendary Buff - Return By Death has been activated]
[Death 2/100 has been used]
[Round will restart]
.
My head lifted up from the ground, seeing massive cuts litter my body and face. Instantly my regeneration kicked in, but they could hardly close the gap between the mana in my flesh. It tried its best, but it hardly worked, leaving scars to litter my beautiful skin.
"How... the injuries followed me even after death?"
"You're good... but in the end, you're decent at best... [One Thousand Cuts]."
...
[One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts]
[One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts]
[One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts]
[One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts] [One Thousand Cuts]
Over and over and over I was cut down. This wasn't a mage, but a fucking god. He destroyed me each time I was revived, but each time I did manage to last a little longer. Ultimately, every time I thought I was actually going to do well, I was cut down once more.
I used different combinations to expand the amount of time I was able to live, but the only things I had in my artillery were my magic staff and the sword I had retrieved in the first few rounds. My buffing skills worked like a charm, but each time I died, it was miserable. I couldn't get over the fact that I had actually been slaughtered.
On top of that, with each death, I collected more and more scars. Some faded with time but some were permanent and left a brutal reminder that I was nothing compared to this man. It was almost like he was created for the sole purpose of those asshole executives to watch me struggle over and over while he ruined my perfect body. n0veluSb.c0m
But, after exactly fifty-four deaths, I had survived long enough to gather concentration to activate [Throne World: Plane of Demonic Flames]. I clasped my hands together and quickly directed everything I had at the man dressed in flawless white robes. His pearl-white hair drifted with the gust of wind that erupted from my land of demonic flames and then-
"What a uselessly weak technique... [One Thousand Cuts]."
