''Not planning to answer?'' The Trickster turned the dagger around and wiped the remainder of the blood with Isaac's shoulder.
''H-How…'' A blurry whisper reached the Trickster's ears.
''Hmm?'' He bent closer, positioning his ear in front of Isaac's lips, ''What did you say?''
''How… Are you…'' Whenever Isaac opened his mouth. He felt like an invisible power pushed his lip down.
''Strong?'' The Trickster finished the unspoken words he expected to hear.
Isaac barely managed to nod.
''Well, does this answer your question?'' He opened his Interface and made his level visible to the eyes of others.
[Level: 50]
Isaac's eyes quavered. A mix of astonishment, worry, and disbelief.
''Let me introduce myself.'' The Trickster fixed his collar and stood up with his shoes rattling.
Rattle!
''My name is…'' The Trickster took off his top hat and politely bowed, ''Trolhelm!''
[Trolhelm]
Isaac etched that name into his memory. His hyper-focused mind ran in overdrive, making his nose bleed.
The driblets of blood trailed down his soft skin.
''Oh, that's filthy.'' Trolhelm took out his napkin and got rid of all the driblets of blood.
''Now…'' Once he was done, he tossed his dirty napkin away and rested the dagger's edge on Isaac's throat, ''How didn't you perish?''
''I…'' Isaac opened his mouth but was incapable of speaking.
''Hmm… The poison worked well… This is bothersome.'' Trolhelm slipped the dagger back to scabbard and took a notebook out, ''I gotta take notes. Remember, not to use heavy poison against weaker opponents!''
''It is a waste of money and time!''
Once the words appeared on the notebook, he shut it and returned it to Inventory.
Clap!
''Let's do this!'' He unsheathed the dagger and slit Isaac's throat.
''GAH!''
''Ah, fuck!'' A flood of blood stained Trolhelm's face in red, ''Pah!''
He used his sleeve and wiped the excessive blood away. Once he opened his eyes, he saw Isaac trying to breathe, unable to do so. However, the injury was gradually closing.
Once the injury was healed, Isaac took a long and relief-filled puff.
''Hmm, fascinating.'' Trolhelm walked circles around Isaac like a scientist analyzing a guinea pig.
Isaac shook his head and was sure that everything wasn't normal. Soon, he noticed that he couldn't manage to see everything as clearly as before. It could only mean one thing.
White Death was ending!
'No!' Isaac screamed inwardly. His situation was one of the direst ones he had been in.
The only way he managed to survive till now was because of White Death.
''Hmm?'' Trolhelm saw the change in Isaac's face. The side of his mouth twisted into a sickening grin, ''I see… You aren't immortal… Is there a time limit?''
He placed his chin on Isaac's shoulder and whispered, ''And it is ending soon..?''
Gulp!
''Hehe…'' Trolhelm grinned after hearing Isaac's dry gulp. He felt immense satisfaction for getting such a reaction.
If there wasn't a time limit, he would spasm into ecstasy and would want to spend more time torturing. However, all good things have to come to an end.
''I want you to know… This ain't personal.'' Trolhelm grazed Isaac's skin with the sharp blade.
When he was about to thrust his dagger forward, his grinning expression froze as a giant bear with blood-red fur appeared from the other side of the clearing!
[Blood-Thirsty Bear]
[HP: 707/707]
''RAWR!'' The Bear's prominent snout managed to smell the scent of fresh blood!
''Come on!'' Trolhelm pointed the dagger at the Bear, ''Go away, you piece of meat!''
''RAWR!'' The Bear did not like the comment even slightly. With four limbs, it was only a matter of time before reaching Trolhelm and Isaac.
''Fuck!'' Trolhelm sheathed the dagger and spread his arms open.
The bear rushed forward at an ambling pace. Both the front and back feet moved together. With remarkable synchrony, the speed kept increasing.
The tips of Trolhelm's fingers began moving. At first, his fingers moved like he was playing the piano.
From the tips of the finger, a purplish hue seeped through. Trolhelm moved his hand forward. The fingers stopped playing the piano and began to shred!
The finger's imitated the movements of any bladed weapon. Spear, sword, dagger, halberd, hatchet.
''Roar…'' The Bear slowed down. The head was still arrowed downward. However, the head was soon lifted, allowing them to see captivating purple eyes.
Trolhelm grinned and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The Bear's calmness vanished like it was never there. It became a murderous beast whose main goal was to kill everyone in sight!
''RAWR!'' The Bear began to move its arms around rapidly. Onlookers wouldn't understand what the bear was doing. It seemed to be fighting against an invisible enemy.
''Heh, now… Where were we?'' Trolhelm asked while slowly dragging his body around. When his body stopped rotating, he saw the white-haired youth holding something between his two hands.
''What is that?'' He extended his hand forward, but Isaac had already ripped it in half!
Rip!
Two halves of the golden ticket disappeared into golden particles.
''What did you do?'' Trolhelm asked. His previous act was slowly crumbling apart. His confidence, arrogance, and playfulness were gone.
''Haahh…'' Isaac finally smiled. His smile was one of the most real ones he had ever shown in his short life.
''What did you do?!'' Trolhelm screamed and slashed in a downward motion. However, the blade disappeared when the dagger sliced through Isaac's arm!
''Wha—'' Trolhelm looked at his bladeless dagger. Only the handle remained.
''Goodbye.'' Isaac grinned and was shrouded in a golden cocoon!
Trolhelm released a barrage of punches, trying to break the cocoon's shell. However, he was unable to do so and had to watch as the cocoon disappeared.
…
''Mmmh…'' Isaac felt a warm feeling spreading throughout his body. He wriggled his toes around, trying to regain his bodily functions.
He knew that his paralyzation was over after moving his fingers, toes, and legs.
A calm breeze of wind fluttered his white hair around. His eyebrows squirmed as his eyelids gradually opened.
''Woah…'' Isaac slowly stood up, his gaze still stuck on the beautiful night sky. The sky was crammed with stars and a clear moon.
The stars seemed to be close enough to be able to grasp them. However, the distance was more than apparent when Isaac tried doing so.
It was a distance of a lifetime.
