MTLNOVEL Chapter 105: The Third Return
Shu collapsed.
His legs gave way the moment his feet touched the ground, and he landed on his knees.
The soldier's blade, still embedded in his chest, propped him up, preventing him from falling completely.
The tachi had pierced his heart, dead center.
But… a wound like this… I should be dead. Why can I still feel the pain? Why haven't I lost consciousness…?
But right now… I'm as good as dead…
This is ridiculous… Did I jinx myself? I promised to bring Bronya a souvenir, and here I am, kneeling like an idiot, waiting for the sweet release of death.
Why isn't it coming already…? He felt utterly humiliated. This is what rock bottom looks like, wanting to die so badly…
The pain began to recede. He thought for a moment, then realized this was probably the most dignified death he'd had yet.
He recalled his previous demises—
Crushed by a Honkai beast. Crushed by a Honkai beast.
Wow, a new way to die! Not bad, not bad…
And unlike those unavoidable accidents, this time he'd actually defeated a Honkai soldier in a one-on-one fight.
A dual-wielding soldier, no less! Not just some mindless zombie, or a common Scythe or Archer soldier. This was an elite, on par with a Soul Reaper!
Even Kiana couldn't take one down alone back at the station. I did it!
So… I'm basically stronger than Kiana now, right?!
Heh…
Wait, why am I not terrified? This is death! Why am I so… chill about it?
Probably because I know I'll come back. That's why I'm so fearless. This ability is seriously overpowered. It lets even a coward like me face death with a smile…
But it still hurts like hell… My face, my leg, my stomach… this agonizing pain… I don't think I'll ever get used to it.
Ugh… I'm… fading…
I'm dying, aren't I…? Let's see… what did I learn this time?
The city center is dangerous. I found the route there. I know where Fu Hua's family lives. I have a new power. And these people…
…Do I really want to go through this again? The Honkai beast followed me. If it weren't for me, that shelter wouldn't have been attacked. They would have been safe.
We wouldn't have had to face the beast. We could have found Otto and the others and escaped…
That… sounds like a pretty good path too…
…It's over…
Shu slowly closed his eyes, letting go.
But am I… resigned to this?
Truly resigned?
Treating my life like a disposable resource, even with the ability to rewind?
…No.
He wasn't ready to give up, not like this.
Shu's eyes snapped open. His vision returned, and his remaining arm instinctively reached for his waist.
The soldier froze, completely unprepared for a counterattack from someone with a blade through their chest. It scrambled backward, pulling its tachi free.
But that moment of hesitation was all Shu needed.
How long did a human need to launch an attack?
With a sword, a second.
With a spear, less than half a second.
What about a gun?
He couldn't recall the world record for a quick draw, but in that moment, he knew the soldier wasn't getting away.
He raised his pistol, aiming at the retreating figure, his one good eye squinting along the sights.
"Goodbye," he whispered to himself, and pulled the trigger.
Fire erupted from the barrel, a bullet streaking through the darkness, reaching the soldier in an instant.
"Clang—!"
Sparks flew. The impact of the bullet deflected the soldier's raised blade.
A smile spread across Shu's face.
He remembered clearly. This gun—had two bullets left.
The second bullet bypassed the blade, striking the soldier squarely between the eyes.
"Click!"
The sound of the empty chamber mingled with the thud of the collapsing soldier. Silence descended.
Shu's eyes, heavy with exhaustion, watched the motionless form. He pulled the trigger again, the click of the empty chamber confirming his victory. He finally lowered the gun, watching the soldier intently.
After a long moment, the soldier didn't move, didn't twitch, didn't try to rise and finish him off. He knew it was truly dead, just like the other one.
"Heh…" He laughed, a genuine, unrestrained laugh, the first since he'd arrived in this world. The laughter shook his weakened body, and he collapsed onto his back, staring up at the sky.
The moon, hidden behind the clouds, emerged, its pale light illuminating the corner of the black canvas above. It had missed the main event, but it was here for the finale.
"See that, Kiana?! I'm not useless anymore!" Shu shouted at the moon, his voice raspy, choked with blood.
"I took down two! One that dodged bullets, and one that could knock my sword away!" He laughed, sharing his victory with the moon, as if Kiana were really there beside him, listening.
I'm probably going insane… or maybe dying really is this cathartic…
"I won!" he repeated. "I won! I have power! I won't be a burden anymore! Hahaha… Now I'M the boss! Kiana, I don't need your protection anymore! I can protect all of you now!"
"See? I just took care of that big problem for Bronya, didn't I? If I had another chance, I could do it without a scratch! I'm sure I can go back!"
"I can feel it, this is just a fraction of my true power! If I can master it, I might even be able to get revenge on that Honkai beast!"
"I can…"
"THUD!"
A heavy thud echoed, the ground trembling beneath him. Shu's rambling ceased as he turned, startled.
A massive white pillar had appeared in the middle of the street. He looked up, meeting a familiar, yet unsettling, red eye.
It wasn't the same Honkai beast from ARC City, but it was here, standing before him.
Shu met the beast's gaze, his heart strangely calm.
Then, he grinned.
"Honkai beast," he said, "we'll meet again."