Chapter 156: The Second Encounter (4)
V9nsGIbAmy realized that Freeman was more tactical than she had expected.j0TT
Cb5With the mastery of Schema and Compound Eye, even a 3 percent Anti-Magic was enough to neutralize her sniping.jJFMtVx
7jHShe could fight at all distancesclose, mid, and long.DMg9
R4J“Have you been hiding there?”4FxO02l
MtVhaHolding a gun loaded with Magic Bullets, Freeman soared into the air. The process of stepping on trees to dominate the distance was so rapid it seemed disjointed.ReSIn
pszGVvpThe ensuing battle turned into a chase.jnQuBpO
gbqQGNjDespite her continuous attempts to snipe him, hitting Freeman proved elusive. No matter how much she backed up her Red Eye, a 3 percent margin of error always crept in.5TCPXeZ
S06Getting up to mid-range seemed feasible, but it essentially meant entering Freemans turf.NfD
liHXNR“There’s no other way.”jRL
ALxrmPOAmy stubbornly continued to snipe, but Freeman, who didnt even need to dodge, was almost yawning.uP6
aX1Whatever method she thought up, it didnt matter. Her snipes would miss, and if she approached, he could just evade with his Compound Eye.5mYga5y
4eCeK0“I heard that a mages mental strength has its limits…”6opj
kzVuSOIn the early stages of combat, a mage who didnt need to reload had an advantage, but over time, the momentum was bound to shift towards the gunner.iRafVJ
PsLqwAs the speed of her Flame Strikes slowed, Freeman began to actively hunt his prey.OP8
SkJfQEAmy was out of mental strength to cast any more spells. It felt as if her mind was bleaching out. The Omniscience and Omnipotence were not sticking.0h2Ed
rQEfOTdHa. Ha.nQp
fANwvYet, Amy squeezed out every last bit of mental strength she had. And finally, she cast one last Flame Strike.ASO
LSGXwzFreeman watched the approaching magic calmly. True to his expertise in ballistics, he had already noticed the strike was minutely off target.gUBn
zYzv5x4He raised his two guns and hooked his index fingers on the triggers, confident she couldn’t even maintain her Fly magic anymore. It seemed safe to think of her as an ordinary girl now.IZxvb
M7AjrXBang!YcTZ
m2wpZ7lIn that moment, a powerful shock struck Freeman’s temple. For the first time, emotion showed on his face.BTCzoR1
uNUConfusion and awe.DY7Xzp1
mHD7OBSurely, the Flame Strike had deviated by 10 meters from the intended target. How then could it have impacted him?vL6
aGdi5His thoughts went no further. Struck in a vital spot, Freeman crashed to the ground with a thud, sprawling out as flames began to rise from his face.2AXxG
49jHbSEMarshaJR1LuQC
gCFjyClinging painfully to a tree as she descended to the ground, Amy couldnt help but collapse onto her buttocks.iTpg
OJ828VvThe fatigue was immense, far surpassing the weariness of an ordinary person staying up for four nights straight.ZVv
fvrbh6Yet, the feeling wasnt all that bad since her risky gamble had paid off.eV786Q
ZUzwhHuff! Huff! Done. I won.5JI
ddsFs18The range of Amy’s last attack in Sniper Mode was actually no more than 100 meters.cSIu
SW6unwIf Freeman hadnt approached, the Flame Strike would have vanished before even reaching its target.Bw5s15I
j8btNipBut he had charged in, and that was his critical mistake. The 200 meters Amy had relinquished in distance were countered with a Deviate Formation of the Four Way Formation.JGY
wwjIPSuch a maneuver ensured the Flame Strike, held in its own zone, could change its trajectory and strike Freeman.FrWiiXw
5f6LUZWith this method, even 3 percent Anti-Magic couldnt evade the attack.j3DE
BdeIf before they were throwing stones, this time it was as if she had grabbed one and struck directly.8tMktlC
YsGiAnyway, Im glad I won. It would have been embarrassing to die and not even make it to heaven.y1Cc
dEFrer8As her friends were likely still embroiled in their own battles, Amy had no leisure to recover her strength. She trudged towards the cliff with a stooped posture.rPKE
Zwcd0***5ZxZy
tqPYYFreemans face was burning, yet he made no sound.gXmkDy
DLIsWAIFrom the moment he regained consciousness from the pain of his burns, only one thought occupied his mind.vqOmI
D80Zfz3I need to get to Marsha.fSVucD3
wSPDespite the flames continuously scorching his skin, Freemans body was regenerating at a matching pace.3v6pT
fyOU1Caught between the dual extremes of pain and relief, Freeman recalled his younger days spent with Marsha.VRa
GzekNEh? Its Freeman. The cowardly Freeman.wajIoI
ESU0QgUnibrow Freeman! Why arent you crying yet? Cry, I tell you!zcE
QzOHcFreeman was always the butt of jokes because he was a coward.z5YB1
VJCHv9Of course, no one is born a coward. He believed his severely sloped unibrow was the cause of all his troubles.EYW
IgR0Stop it. It hurts, he protested.TEAx
LZpKOVRThen cry about it. If you cry, Marsha will come. Pretty Marsha, that is.6OfR
ReZDont bully Marsha!xKfl
npPStupid, Marshas the boss around here, whod bully her? Plus, shes fun! Anyway, just start crying already. Eh, eh.qhcbZ
i8zAaaaah! Marsha!BBNlh6
qdy44sBUnable to hold back his tears, Freeman fled.GKD
79UHOc1The children were desperate to make him cry. They would poke his face with branches as a matter of course, and sometimes even throw stones when they were particularly harsh.ND1I6
ApileAHey! Tell Marsha to come here! Were going to play war.uwQ
OJuThe children cried Freeman to bring Marsha out to play. Yet, despite this, Freeman always ran to Marshas house.1IW
LisheIt was the only place the bullied boy had to go.AEt
XXLEach time, he felt the loneliness of her home. Her father, a mercenary, didnt even bother to furnish the house. When he went on jobs, he would stay out all night and upon returning, he would invariably beat Marsha.RXN
cWmdOpening the door to Marshas room revealed a starkly empty space. A leftover piece of bread and a glass of milk occupied the only corner in a room devoid of a bed or desk.DlYc
1NgMarsha, hic, the kids hit me.D3pDW
GDJIHJMarsha, always with her hair cut short but beautiful nonetheless, greeted Freeman with a warm smile.91KR
HA7You never get tired of being bullied, huh? Why do you even hang out with those kids?ll71Jtj
jQBIts not by choice. They find me and bully me.yyO86
yoFL1qAlright. Ill go talk to them. Where are they?fxX
JhZ0Freeman, wiping his nose, pleaded,8Di9Ek
VJvBCant you just not go? If you leave, uncle will come in and beat you up.vL8YGM
1N46Its the same whether Im beaten by him or the kids. Ill tell them not to bully you anymore.9FKTc
5IDHJNo! You dont like playing with those jerks either. Youre just forcing yourself because of me. I hate seeing Marsha smile at those jerks.7XSkXlk
i0xOh my, thank you for that. Then try to be a bit tougher. Dont talk big if you need help.FaWfsV
0ZVdy3mMarsha playfully poked Freemans forehead as he became annoyed and ran towards the door, spreading his arms and yelling.Tu7P8
WeJLQI still dont like it! Dont go!7MSF
Iq8jI6Why are you like this today? Try talking big to the other kids too. Oh, are you jealous because I play with them? Is that why?RmT
lQuoFreemans face flushed red. He was so nervous, his heart pounded audibly, and he felt like he might vomit.L8mtG
Y2iAmused by his reaction, Marsha waved her hand dismissively.LzeKu
ciEHey, Im just kidding, just kidding. You’re such a small fryRfRyKY1
tWhaUHMYes! I like you! What are you going to do about it, huh?YsF8
M2vNP3Marsha looked at Freeman blankly.06x
5ucSo what if I like you? Did I ever ask you to reciprocate? Liking someone is my own business, why do you get to dictate that? Am I not allowed to like someone because Im a coward?pnV5DQ
RyjXZP6Freeman, usually poor at expressing his feelings, yelled as his emotions got the better of him, escalating the situation until Marsha stepped forward with her hands out to calm him down.cz8R
wiRBuOkay, okay, I get it. Im sorry. Liking someone is certainly your prerogative.mn501U
zL5DhDamn it! Even you treat me like a fool!D86YeoO
NqNgzZAs Marsha spoke to him as if he were a child, Freemans anger grew. She then chuckled and grabbed his wrist, pulling him over to sit in her usual spot.vRZuKW
O3xUVwDI wasnt treating you like a fool. So calm down a bit.ZXsv9
bY2eFUMarsha wrapped herself in a tattered cloak and prepared to leave.i3z
bmqkI2Feeling embarrassed by his outburst, Freeman fell silent for a moment before sheepishly looking up.5cVG
aryAre you really going to play with them?GZ1iHTw
CNxsNo, Ill just scold them a bit and come back. Lets play together later.GFA
uRbIFFreemans expression brightened immediately.aaime
sA8Really? You have to come back soon!za0
4j16CDYes. If youre hungry, eat the bread and milk. Ive already finished mine.jZzJX3B
uMJHAs Marsha left the house, silence fell again. Freeman, too, seemed to merge with the impoverished surroundings, his expression turning glum.QO4
2HA0Ah, I was going to say this when I gave it to her.AGeovoi
1BoREMFreeman took a small hand mirror out of his pocket. It was something he had bought with the little money he had earned from running errands for three months.IeX
xBG8tzWMarsha owned hardly anything else, as her stepfather took everything else.irWJs
J8DShes a girl, after all; she should have a mirror. That uncle is really strange. Why does he treat such a beautiful daughter like that?0P64I6M
s9qNThinking that Marsha would like the gift, Freeman smiled. However, the reflection in the mirror was not a smiling face.uqeOzj9
laby5It was his severely drooping unibrow.u40s
teDb6vBecause of this brow, he had been nicknamed a crybaby since he was young, and having lived like that for ten years, he had indeed become a crybaby.lOK6c9O
pg8zdIs it really that strange? I think its okay.kz61
oKFF0As time passed, Marsha and Freeman had both turned 17.Vf6RQm
hPhK0Freeman was still known as a coward around the neighborhood, but he worked diligently, earning him a reasonable reputation.3jsm4
O5vsHowever, the only person he genuinely connected with was Marsha.nrfLF
ezBI7IHe saved the money left over from his living expenses to buy her gifts.lqU5jZ
lRMDespite the fact that her father took everything he gave her, Marsha was genuinely happy to receive the gifts.20s3IS
bKEWFreeman would spend any amount to see her smile.BFEHL
k2jCAt some point, she seemed to have lost her smile. He had a vague idea why. Recently, her stepfather had been abusing her more severely.Fql
G0swvL5Most of the kids grew up in similar family environments.4oPOE1
XEZFreeman also lived with a drunken father who insulted him daily.iDDJy6
cKy7FThen one day, Freeman finally understood. The type of touching Marsha endured from her stepfather was completely different from typical parental discipline.DEir
o8sm7lMarsha, Marsha?iey
7MenIt may have been fate that led him to Marsha’s house that night. He had been concerned since seeing her unusually gloomy face earlier that day.bxJci
C07XYolAs Marsha did not respond to his knocking, his anxiety grew.xqk6Ki
6g9hWith no choice, Freeman climbed through the window. Since there was nothing to steal, the window was usually left open in the summer.PGonGcz
C3GAN1aHey, Marsha? You were in your room? But why didnt you answerZC8B03
jlMS14Freeman froze as the moonlight revealed the scene inside the room. Marsha was seen kneeling, appearing soulless.rwSQ
z614s8She was holding a knife, and blood dripping from the blade flowed along the floor to a corpse.nAk6i
LIYMar-MarshaHUlULTR
P5U9bdyFreeman suddenly snapped to his senses and rushed over. He didnt know where this , but he knew he had to do something if Marsha was unresponsive.p8RXnvx
5ulGet up. What exactly happened?cfcl
zLIHe shook her shoulders several times until Marsha regained her senses.4wjB4n
jN2sb3GShe looked up at Freeman with a dazed expression and then a shocking confession came from her lips.1YSaaR
NBohEXDad he tried to assault me.jPbr
pnRJJFreeman lost his words.pJYIUxb
3kRHe had always thought the man was creepy due to his reticence and shady eyes, but a parent is still a parent, right?mhT
uGXAs the unimaginable truth unfolded, revulsion flooded through him.gYY5Tw
wC4G7ULet’s run away. Uncle is a mercenary. If his colleagues find out, they’ll come for revenge.PmG
C7ZxFreeman was right. Marsha, ever so astute, snapped to her senses as soon as she heard his words. They needed to leave the house immediately.lEXQQ0K
P4I1gA burst of ironic laughter escaped Marsha as she realized she had nothing to take with her; she owned nothing after all.KS9
2cWFreeman grabbed Marsha’s wrist and pulled her out of the house. The two ran non-stop until they reached the entrance of the village.plPyt
OTSX“Huff! Huff! That should do it. We should be safe for now.”soBR
bN4WgZC“Yes. They probably won’t chase us this far outside the village.”07Cg
aGePanting, Marsha managed to calm her racing heart. Although she was fearful of her stepfather’s colleagues, she was confident she could run to the ends of the earth if necessary.dmno
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