Elix gripped his halberd tightly, his pulse racing. The two remaining enemies, one wielding a card that enabled them to use magical vines, the other manipulating gravity with her sharp-pointed staff, were now focused entirely on him and Pon. The battlefield was in chaos, bodies lay motionless around them, the air thick with contrasting auras.

  Pon now stood beside Elix, unwavering, bow raised, eyes locked onto the gravity Cardmancer. The energy around the woman distorted, small stones lifting from the ground as the very air warped with her power.

  "We’ll take them together," Pon stated, her voice calm yet commanding.

  "Right," Elix replied, shifting his stance. His opponent sneered, vines twisting and curling around his arms, ready to lash out.

  Without hesitation, Elix lunged forward, striking fast with his halberd. The vine wielder sidestepped, summoning thick roots that shot upwards from the ground, aiming to ensnare Elix. He twisted, avoiding their grip, and brought his weapon down in a clean arc, severing the incoming vines. The moment they were cut, more erupted, heading straight toward him at speed.

  Meanwhile, Pon took aim at the gravity Cardmancer with her bow. The woman wasted no time, she thrust her staff down towards the ground, and suddenly, Pon felt herself dragged down. Weight pressed down on her limbs, and her breathing became strained.

  "Gravity card magic is nothing compared to precision," Pon muttered, raising her bow despite the pressure. She released an arrow charged with mana, its speed cutting through the air like lightning.

  The gravity Cardmancer barely deflected it, twisting her staff in the air to manipulate the gravity around her, sending the arrow off course. Pon had already predicted this. She adjusted her stance, flicking her wrist, summoning another arrow instantly, and fired again. This time, her aim was precise but not at her enemy, she had aimed at the ground beneath her feet.

  The arrow exploded, disrupting the Cardmancers concentration and causing her grip on gravity to fail for a fraction of a second.

  Elix, using his new found agility, ducked and dodged the vines at high speed, slicing through them as fast as they appeared. He then saw an opening, the vine Cardamncer had focused too much on attacking, leaving his defense vulnerable. With a final twist of his halberd, Elix sliced through his enemy's chest. A pain-filled cry came from the man as he staggered back, blood dripping from a large slash that now lay across his chest.

  Pon seized the moment, the gravity Cardmancer, distracted by Elix's success, loosened her hold on gravity for a split second. That was all Pon needed as she took her final shot.

  The arrow tore through the air, meeting its target perfectly. A flash of blue light erupted as it struck the woman’s staff, shattering it entirely. Gravity returned to normal, and before she could react, Pon jumped forward, pulling an arrow from her inventory and sinking it deep into her opponent’s neck.

  Elix finished his opponent off with a decisive strike to the leg, his halberd piercing through the vine user’s thigh, causing him to collapse onto the floor unable to move. Pon withdrew her arrow, stepping back as the gravity Cardmancer crumpled, defeated.

  Breathing heavily, Elix turned to look at Pon, he had not had much interaction with her but he had a new found appreciation for MIBs.

  "We won," he breathed as he swayed on his feet.

  Pon glanced around at the battlefield, surveying their fallen enemies before nodding. She seemed to be fairly unresponsive. She rushed over to where Ren was laying and crouched beside him with her bow in hand guarding his body.

  Elix noticed the driver standing by the carriage. He seemed to be staring emotionless at his defeated companions, who now lay dead on the ground.

  "A Level 20 and a MIB... I can't believe I have to get involved. How annoying."

  The party was still all out of commission. Elix felt drained after his battle, his stamina was low and his mana was almost empty. Pon had returned to protect Ren and seemed to have completed his orders.

  "So you took out the stooges, way to go, kid, and it was three on one. That is impressive, I guess."

  "Shut up and come at me, I really don't feel like listening to your monologuing."

  Elix was bluffing—he was running on empty.

  "I see you are quick to throw away your life, not that it matters. You are so insignificant, you have no idea," the driver smiled smugly.

  There was a clicking sound, and the door to the carriage swung open. Elix stood wide-eyed, as did the driver. Fear filled his aura, and Elix felt it. Whatever was coming had the driver worried.

  "What's all this commotion? Yosef! Are we there already? How long have I been asleep?"

  A gigantic leg stepped out of the carriage, followed by the other. Then, with one hand on the underside of the roof, a giant man stooped out of the door. As his feet landed on the floor, Elix swore he felt the ground tremor.

  "Master Jud, I... I... please, do not concern yourself. We have had a slight hold-up. Please, sir, forgive me." Yosef was sweating, and his body was shaking.

  Jud was a monster of a man—five times wider than anyone Elix had ever seen before.

  "Oh, look at that, those three new bloods have been defeated. Is that guy responsible?" Jud pointed at Elix, his giant meaty finger adorned with a gold ring.

  Hey kid, it’s Lef, that guy is bad news. I have heard of him before. Stay on guard and don't let his giant size fool you. He's way more powerful than he looks.

  Lef, I'm running on empty here. I couldn't fight even if I wanted to.

  Elix was leaning on his halberd, its sharp end sticking in the floor, as he tried his best to stay on his feet. Pon still crouched nearby Ren, immobile—clearly, she had been commanded to protect him while he was passed out.

  "Rude, very rude to ignore me." Jud's voice hit Elix like a fist.

  "I'm not being rude, I'm just a little tired from dealing with those three. Listen, big guy, I don't want any trouble. Why don't we just call it even and go our separate ways?"

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  Jud's face grew red with rage.

  "A G rank! How dare you address me in such a way. Do you know who I am? I am Jud, a legacy guild Cardmancer. You should be bowing in my presence, not giving me sarcastic quips."

  The anger was visible now on Jud's giant face as a vein became prominent on his forehead.

  Elix readied himself for Jud's attack. But it did not come. Instead, a card materialised between the giant man's fingers. There was an array of light that began to materialise between the two of them.

  Elix held his halberd, sharp end pointing at the materialising figure. The light disappeared, and in its place stood a huge monster.

  It stood upright on two muscular legs. Its arms were huge, with biceps that looked like they could crush boulders. The monster looked like it came straight from the top of a snowy mountain, with its thick fur and large black horns that protruded from its head like some kind of demon. Its fur was as white as snow, and its leather armour was basic.

  "You didn’t honestly think that I would waste my time on an insect like you, did you? Like I would dirty my hand with a peasant!" laughed Jud.

  Yosef also laughed, but Jud looked him square in the face with a telling look, which made the driver cower.

  Elix used Unveil. An M.i box sprang up:

  Abominal Wungon

  Level 25,

  G Rank

  A MIB found in cold places, and I'm not talking about your fridge. If you find yourself facing off against this monster, you probably won't need to worry about that thing you have planned for tomorrow.

  Level 25 and it's my rank. Damn, if I wasn’t so beat up already I would have a chance, thought Elix. It seemed that even though he was at the start of his adventure, he was getting used to facing impossible odds.

  Positive thoughts. Manifest the victory. If you believe it, you can achieve it. That's what some plot-armored, overpowered dude would do.

  Elix was having one of his internal monologues, trying to take his mind off how much of a bad situation he was in.

  Oi, kid, me again. Listen, I was saving this for a time when it would be some flashy reveal to shock that guild party you are travelling with, but I guess if you die I’ll get no more mana."

  Lef, is that you" answered Elix in his own head.

  No, it’s your other telepathic Leyef friend! Who else is it going to be, you idiot!

  Sorry, yeah, my head’s a little bit of a mess right now. What are you going on about? What were you saving? Are you going to transform? Please tell me you are going to evolve into some giant killing beast!

  Don’t be stupid. Right, hang tight, here it goes. Lef climbed out of Elix’s pocket and rested on his shoulder.

  Elix felt his shoulder become warm, like something was seeping into his body.

  What are you doing! Are you peeing on my shoulder?

  The feeling was strange, and as Elix took his eyes off the monster, he could see that Lef was glowing.

  No, I am not. I have been absorbing your mana, and that mana is stored within me. As much as I hate giving it back, I think it’s a worthwhile investment because if you die, I will have to go through the trouble of finding a new person to absorb mana from.

  Elix felt the mana seep into his body. He reached full mana capacity in seconds. But the effect did not stop there. His mana pool continued to grow. He was now at double his usual mana cap.

  Jud, who had been observing during the few seconds that this was unfolding, sensed Elix grow in power.

  "Geofrey, crush that guy. Do not stop until he is a stain on the floor," yelled Jud.

  "You called your giant snow demon monster Geofrey... of course you did! Damn, you’re obnoxious."

  As the monster bounded forward, Elix summoned a Stamina potion and gulped it down like a drunkard downing his first ale of the day.

  Elix was back at full speed. Having most of his stats in agility, like Gildamire had advised, meant that his reaction speed was greatly increased. The monster went on the offensive but quickly began to run out of steam as it failed to land a single blow.

  Elix began to taunt the monster, which only made it rampage more.

  Stop... Stand and fight me, a voice spoke in Elix’s head.

  Lef, is that you? Now’s not a good time, bud, I’m kind of in the middle of something here.

  Lef? I do not know any Lef. How are you communicating with me! Stand still and fight me.

  The voice was out of breath and tired.

  Is that you, George? Woah, you can talk, well, telepathically at least! That’s good for you, big guy. But there is absolutely no chance I’m letting you catch me. Well, since I have you on the line, why do you want to kill me so bad? Elix asked as he dropped his shoulder to go one way in a feint, turning in the opposite direction.

  I am bound to the master. I must obey; it is the way, replied George, his fist just missing Elix.

  Well stop, there’s no need to attack me. I don’t want to fight you. Why don’t you just refuse and tell him to get lost?

  Elix had never spoken to a MIB, except for Pon, but that was not telepathically, and she had barely spoken to him. He knew that in a battle of pure strength, George had the upper hand. But now that he could communicate with the monster, maybe he could use it to his advantage.

  "Useless, worthless creature! He’s five levels lower than you. Are you honestly that weak? I knew I should have traded you for Teth back at the last town," scolded Jud.

  Why would you put up with that? If I was a giant monster like you, I’d be telling that bastard to get lost.

  George stopped in his tracks. He turned to face Jud and roared at him.

  "What’s this, insubordination! I will be sure to trade you in when I get back to the guild."

  Jud’s eyes were wide, and shock was etched onto his round face.

  Elix laughed internally as he stood watching the MIB disobey his master. Jud held up a blank card.

  "Return!" he shouted, but nothing happened. "Return! Return! Re... turn!" he repeated, a little out of breath.

  George just roared more ferociously.

  Thank you for the advice. I feel different now. I think I will head home. If you ever need me, come and find me. See you later, strange little man.

  And with that last telepathic dialogue, George began to walk off into the trees.

  "Master! Master! What just happened? Are you alright! You must be cursed or maybe it’s an illness. We must get you back to the guild at once. Let us use one of the portal cards."

  Yosef was visibly worried, he looked like the ill one.

  "Yes, you’re right. This is unprecedented. I need to see the healers at once."

  A portal opened behind the carriage, a swirling blue circle of ethereal power. The cart, the creature pulling it, Jud, and Yosef vanished inside, and it closed.

  This left Elix standing there.

  Lef! What the hell was that? I had a full-blown conversation with a monster... I mean George. This is crazy, like more crazy than the zombie cow.

  It’s not uncommon for lineages to do weird things in terms of the M.I., but this is freaky even for you, kid. I could hear the whole thing, and to be honest, even I am shocked, and that’s saying a lot. Lef was resting over the edge of Elix’s pocket.

  "Well, whatever that was, it worked. Jud’s hold over his MIB was broken."

  Elix didn’t know how to feel about what had just happened.

  I would keep this between us. Even for you, this goes beyond abnormal. You are one scary dude, replied Lef.

  Elix looked over at Pon, who was still in the same position, giving the vibe of an NPC.

  Hey Pon, can you hear me? he thought in his head.

  There was no response.

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