Chapter 82: Bob

Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Bob

Daniel stared at the elf.

His face was calm. His expression was unreadable. His eyes were sharp and calculating, moving over the elf’s form with the cold precision of a predator sizing up its prey. His mind was racing, processing everything he had seen, everything he had learned, everything he needed to do.

The elf was standing there. Smiling. Smug. His wound was gone. His heart was healed. His body was perfect. The regeneration had worked flawlessly, knitting flesh and bone back together as if nothing had ever happened.

"You know," Daniel said, his voice steady and measured, "that’s a cool ability."

The elf tilted his head. The smile on his face widened, curling at the edges with arrogance and pride. "Oh? You think so?"

"Yeah. Regeneration. Very cool. Very impressive." Daniel’s lips curved into a smile of his own, but there was no warmth in it. It was a cold, dangerous smile, the kind that promised pain. "But it just means your death is going to suck even more."

The elf laughed. A cold, confident laugh that echoed through the ruined street. It was the laugh of someone who believed they had already won, someone who believed they were untouchable.

"My master said it was a gift," the elf said, his voice dripping with pride. "A gift only for me and him. Because I’m special. Because I’m worthy. Because I’m—"

Daniel ignored him.

He was already moving. His hand slipped into his pocket, his fingers wrapping around the familiar leather grip of a dagger. He pulled it out, feeling the weight of it in his palm. Then he dropped it.

The dagger fell. It didn’t hit the ground. It fell into a shadow, disappearing into the darkness like a stone sinking into water. The shadow rippled, then stilled.

Daniel watched it out of the corner of his eye. The shadow moved. It slithered across the ground, a dark, liquid thing that crept toward one of his clones. The clone absorbed the dagger, its form flickering for just a moment as it took in the weapon. Then it disappeared into the darkness, invisible, waiting.

Daniel smiled.

"—and that’s why I’m the strongest," the elf continued, still talking, still boasting, completely unaware of what had just happened. "That’s why I’m the best. That’s why—"

"What’s your name?" Daniel interrupted.

The elf blinked. His monologue had been cut short. He looked confused, thrown off by the sudden question. "What?"

"Your name. What is it?"

The elf straightened up. He puffed out his chest, his posture shifting into something proud and arrogant. "Bob," he said. "My name is Bob."

Daniel stared at him.

His eye twitched.

"Bob?" he repeated, his voice flat.

"Yes. Bob."

Daniel was silent for a long moment. He looked at the elf. At his silver hair. At his green eyes. At his pointed ears. At his smug, smiling face.

"That name doesn’t fit you. Not one bit."

Bob frowned. His brow furrowed, his lips pressing together in annoyance. "What’s wrong with Bob?"

"Nothing. It’s just..." Daniel paused. He tilted his head. He looked at Bob like he was examining a particularly confusing puzzle. "You’re this powerful elf with regeneration and monsters and a weird master. And your name is Bob."

"It’s a good name."

"It’s a boring name."

"It’s my name."

Daniel shrugged. "Fine. Bob it is."

He reached into his pocket again. He pulled out another dagger. This one was smaller, thinner, easier to handle. He started playing with it, twirling it between his fingers, tossing it up and catching it. The blade caught the light, gleaming.

"Listen, Bob," Daniel said, his voice casual, almost conversational. "Here’s the deal. You apologize. For everything. For the monsters. For the attack. For being annoying. And I’ll make your death quick. Less painful."

Bob stared at him. His mouth fell open. His eyes widened with disbelief.

"What?" he said. "Why would someone want an apology in this kind of situation?"

Daniel didn’t answer.

A dagger stabbed Bob in the neck.

It came from behind. From one of Daniel’s shadow clones. The clone had sneaked behind Bob, invisible in the darkness, silent as death. It had used the dagger Daniel had dropped. It had driven it deep into Bob’s neck, piercing through flesh and muscle, severing veins and arteries.

Bob gasped. His eyes widened. His hands flew to his throat. Blood poured between his fingers, hot and red and wet.

Daniel charged.

He commanded his shadows. They swarmed the monsters, blocking their path, protecting him. They moved like a tide of darkness, overwhelming, unstoppable.

Daniel reached Bob. He grabbed him by the collar. He pulled him close. Their faces were inches apart.

"You should have apologized," Daniel said.

He stabbed Bob. Again. And again. And again. Each stab was precise. Each stab was deep. Each stab was deadly. He stabbed Bob’s chest. His stomach. His side. His shoulder. He stabbed everywhere he could reach.

Bob screamed. Blood sprayed. His body convulsed. His eyes rolled back.

Daniel stopped. He was breathing hard. His hands were bloody. His dagger was dripping.

Then he sneezed.

He blinked. He looked around. He wiped his nose with the back of his hand.

"Hehe," he said, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. "A pretty lady might be thinking about me. Or is it talking about me? Either way, someone’s talking about me."

He looked at Bob. At his broken body. At his bleeding wounds. At his half-closed eyes.

"Alright," Daniel said. "About that apology?"

Bob looked at him.

His eyes were full of rage. Pure, burning, unquenchable rage. His body was broken. His blood was everywhere. But he was still alive. Still fighting. Still defiant.

"Go fuck yourself," Bob spat.

Daniel sighed. He shook his head. He looked disappointed.

"I figured you’d say that," he said.

Bob reached into his pocket. His fingers were trembling. His movements were slow. But he found what he was looking for.

He pulled out a crystal. It was red. Shiny. Glowing. It pulsed with an inner light, a light that was dark and hungry and wrong.

Daniel’s eyes widened. He didn’t know what the crystal was. He had never seen it before. But he knew it was bad. He could feel it in his gut, a cold, twisting sensation that screamed danger.

Bob crushed the crystal.

Red light exploded outward. It swirled around him, a vortex of crimson energy that pulsed and crackled and burned. It entered his body. It absorbed into his skin. His muscles. His bones.

Bob screamed. His body convulsed. His eyes rolled back. His veins bulged. His mouth opened in a silent howl of agony.

Then it stopped.

Bob stood up.

His wounds were gone. His blood was gone. His body was healed. Perfect. Complete. His skin was unmarked. His eyes were clear. His breath was steady.

He looked at Daniel. His eyes were glowing. Red. Burning. Hungry.

He smiled.

"Now," he said. "Let’s try this again."

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[Magic castle = 5 bonus Chapter’s]

[space craft = 15 bonus Chapter’s]

[golden gachapon = 20 bonus Chapter’s]