BXBX NOVEL Chapter 392: Choices and Consequences
"Phew…" Billy expelled a long breath, a hint of relief softening his features. The thought of being someone's slave was enough to make his skin crawl.
"Alright, partner," he drawled, using his usual term of address. "What now? Am I free to go?" He gestured towards the exit with a raised eyebrow, his expression a mix of hope and skepticism. He knew freedom wouldn't be easy to come by.
Daniel let out a faint smile. "I offer you two choices, Mr. McCarthy," Daniel began, showing two fingers. "First, you walk out of here as a freeman."
"Ohhh! I like this choice already! Goodbye!" Billy quickly dashed toward the exit, but Daniel snapped his fingers, and thick vines suddenly appeared from the ground, binding Billy and stopping his movement.
—
Card: Entangle Vine
Image: A large green vine entangles both a thief and a deer, while a druid in a brown robe watches the scene with amusement.
Rarity: Common
Type: Enchantment - Attachment
Mana Cost: 1 Wood, 2 Non-Element
Description:
This card may be cast as a quick spell. Tap Target Creature; the targeted creature doesn't untap during the start of the turn. Creatures with this enchantment get -3 to Power.
Flavor text: Entangle Vine, a spell druids most prefer, is easy and effective in apprehending both prey and criminals.
—
Billy shot a hostile glare at Daniel, his expression full of distrust.
"How rude of you to try to walk out in the middle of a conversation, Mr. McCarthy," Daniel remarked, walking over to where Billy was bound. He stood in front of him, blocking the exit, indicating that Billy needed to listen before he could leave.
"If you were to leave without hearing the end, and something happened, you might misunderstand me and my people. I don't want to deal with vengeful individuals who bring harm upon themselves and blame me for it," Daniel said, looking directly at Billy, implying that Billy could be such a person.
Hearing this, Billy grumbled, feeling angry but unable to do anything with the thick vines binding him.
"Now, let's continue. You have two options," Daniel continued. "First, You walk out of here, a free man. But freedom comes with a price. The consequences of your existence, they'll be yours to shoulder alone. We won't acknowledge each other, nor will my men.
But the Vatican won't be so forgiving. Their Secret Exterminator Unit will be hot on your heels. Because I'll not conceal your existence from them." Daniel paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
After a moment, Daniel continued, "The second choice." He paused for dramatic effect. "Make a contract with me. Five years of service in exchange for my protection. Your problems become mine, solved with the full force of my resources. You'll be well-compensated, your choice – cold, hard cash or a piece of the Philosopher's Stone itself.
Lodging is included, of course, befitting one of my valued employees. And at the end of those five years? True life, Mr. McCarthy." Daniel gestured toward Billy.
Billy's eyes widened in disbelief. What Daniel was offering sounded like a fantastical promise, bordering on impossible. Sensing Billy's stunned silence, Daniel pressed on.
"True!... Life! Not this mockery of existence fueled by dark magic. You'll breathe again, feel the sun on your skin. You could have a family, a new life – truly living, not just an undead puppet defying the natural order." Daniel's words painted a vivid picture, his hand outstretched towards Billy in a gesture of possible salvation.
Billy was stunned, the vivid picture of his family flashed in his mind. This was something he had longed for a long time before his life took a turn for the worse, and he became hunted by the Hightower Mages as a rogue mage. It would be a lie if he said he wasn't tempted.
Unlike the mages who studied at the Hightower Academy, Billy was a self-taught mage. However, he knew the difference between true life gained from a resurrection miracle and the undeath brought about by dark magic.
True life, as granted by a resurrection spell or miracle, felt like being given a second chance at life after death. On the other hand, undeath was a forced return to life through unnatural means, leaving the individual in a state of death while walking the earth, clinging to life by twisted methods.
It was like comparing someone who had legitimately earned a second chance at life to someone who used dark means to cheat death and continue existing.
Billy fell silent, then a defiant laugh escaped his lips. He met Daniel's gaze with a rebellious glint in his eyes. "I choose freedom, but on my terms. True resurrection? You? Don't make me laugh.
You're a mage, not a god. Even if you could do it, my life belongs to me, and my will alone dictates its course!"
Daniel tilted his head, a sigh escaping his lips. "Pity then. It seems we've reached an impasse." With a wave of his hand, he activated a spell card, dispelling the enchantment that bound Billy. The vines withered and crumbled to dust upon contact with the spell, releasing Billy.
"Good luck, Mr. McCarthy," Daniel said, turning to a soldier. "See that he's provided with clothes and basic weaponry."
The soldiers wasted no time, retrieving a set of casual clothes – jeans and sneakers – readily available items for Billy. The weapon offered was a standard revolver, nothing fancy. As Billy donned the clothes and examined the gun, finding it functional with no strange occurrences during a test shot, a peculiar glint appeared in his eyes. This change wasn't lost on Daniel either.
Despite his potential amiability, Billy remained an outlaw at heart. Freedom was his lifeblood, and rebellion his creed. While freedom reigned supreme, the rest mattered little. However, being hunted was a close second on his list of dislikes.
He glanced around, taking in Daniel's confident posture, his soldiers – some clad in sleek suits, others in hulking power armor. He needed a plan to avoid the Vatican's pursuit. An idea sparked: hold Daniel hostage. He could threaten them, making it clear that any Vatican aggression would result in their leader's demise.
Billy watched Daniel, who was now focused on his soldiers, seemingly oblivious to Billy's intentions. Daniel even strolled casually from the exit path, as if offering Billy a clear escape route. Billy gauged the distance between them – a mere 2-3 meters, a trivial gap for someone with his agility.
Muttering the incantation for his chosen spells – the Blessing of the Gazelle and the Blessing of the Bear – Billy, fueled by these shamanic enchantments learned from a Native American tribe, surged forward. In a blink, he closed the distance and had Daniel in a chokehold, the revolver pressed firmly against the mage's temple.
"Don't move!" Billy barked, his voice tight with urgency.
The old fort cemetery fell silent. Everyone froze, yet an unsettling calm hung in the air. Unlike what Billy expected, there was no scramble to protect Daniel, no flicker of panic in their eyes. It was unnervingly…strange.
Daniel, however, remained unfazed. His voice was even, devoid of fear as he spoke, "So, it seems you've chosen the worst possible choice."
"What!?" Billy's world lurched. A startled yell caught in his throat as he squeezed the trigger. But... his finger wasn't there. Panic surged as he realized it had been severed without him even feeling it. A whirlwind of blue light erupted, a blade flashing within it, and with a sickening tearing sound, both his arms were ripped open.
The lack of blood was a chilling reminder of his unnatural state. It was as if something invisible wielded the weapon with deadly precision.
As Billy reeled in shock, Daniel effortlessly slipped free of the chokehold. He grasped one of Billy's mangled arms with a look of disgust, then unleashed a torrent of alchemical fire from his palm. The dead flesh instantly turned to ash, scattering on the floor like a grotesque snowfall.
"There's a saying, Mr. McCarthy," Daniel intoned, his voice cold. "Treat others as you want to be treated. And since you treated me as an enemy…" His eyes flared a menacing red as a colossal surge of mana erupted from him. He began to levitate, the energy coalescing into a towering, 30-meter Avatar – a monstrous construct of pure mana shaped like a titan.
Its two massive arms were crossed defensively over its imposing chest, glowing red eyes peering down at Billy with disdain, as if he were nothing more than a repulsive insect. Behind it, ninety-eight additional arms materialized, hovering like a menacing halo. The scene resembled a nightmarish judgment day come to life.
Billy gaped at the colossal figure, a mix of terror and awe twisting his features. "You... what... what are you?" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
Daniel remained silent, his expression unreadable. He boomed in a voice that resonated with power, "Now, Mr. McCarthy... are you ready to receive the treatment you so readily offered an enemy?" The overwhelming display of raw power shook Billy to his core, draining his confidence and resolve.