I Want to Die, But I Am Immortal-Chapter 40: The Price of Victory
Adam heard it. The rushed, impatient footsteps of the lead assassin ascending the stairs. It was the sound he had been waiting for, the sound of a professional making a fatal mistake.
He opened his eyes. He saw the first masked man burst onto the landing, his pistol raised, his attention completely focused on the locked doors at the end of the hallway. The frantic pounding from Anastasia’s room had drawn him in, a perfect distraction.
Adam thought about attacking him then and there. But just as the first assassin rushed past his hiding spot, the second one appeared on the stairs, moving quickly to follow his leader. This was it. This was the perfect opportunity.
Adam exploded from his crouched position. He swung the heavy cast-iron frying pan in a wide, vicious arc, aiming for the second assassin’s head. The man’s attention was focused forward, on his partner’s back. He didn’t see Adam coming. He didn’t even realize he was under attack until the heavy pan crashed into the side of his skull with a sickening thud.
The force of the blow was immense. The masked man stumbled, his body going limp for a fraction of a second. Adam seized the opportunity. He moved in behind him, his other hand, the one holding the small paring knife, flashing forward.
He plunged the blade deep into the assassin’s neck, just below the ear. The man collapsed to the floor without a sound, his body hitting the wooden landing with a heavy thud.
The first assassin heard the sound and spun around, his professional instincts taking over. He saw his partner on the floor and Adam standing over him, a bloody knife in his hand. He didn’t hesitate. He raised his pistol and fired.
The silenced pistol spat out three rounds in quick succession. One bullet struck the body of the fallen assassin on the floor. The other two slammed into Adam’s chest.
The impact was like being hit by a sledgehammer. Adam was thrown backward, the air knocked from his lungs. A searing, white-hot pain spread through his entire body. But he didn’t fall. He wouldn’t allow himself to fall. He had to finish this. He had to kill the last man standing in this hallway.
He still held the knife. He pushed through the pain and charged forward, moving in a frantic zigzag pattern, trying to make himself a more difficult target.
But the assassin was a professional. His aim was steady, his hand unwavering. He kept firing. Three more bullets struck Adam, one in the shoulder, one in the stomach, one in his leg. The pain was unbearable. His body was screaming at him to stop, to give up, to let the darkness take him. His vision was blurring, his movements becoming sluggish.
He knew he was dying. He knew he only had a few seconds left. He brought his free hand up to cover his face, a desperate, instinctual attempt to protect his head. It was a move that saved his life, for a moment. Two more bullets struck his arm, shattering the bone. Another grazed his cheek, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
But he was still moving forward. He ignored the pain, the blood, the failing strength in his limbs. He was running on pure will. He reached the assassin. He leaped, his body a missile of pure, desperate rage. He brought his arm, the one still holding the knife, back and then forward, plunging the blade towards the assassin’s head with all his remaining strength.
The assassin tried to dodge, to move his head out of the way. But he was too slow. Adam’s augmented speed and strength were too much for him. The knife struck him in the face, sinking deep into his eye socket. He went down instantly, his body collapsing to the floor in a heap.
Adam fell with him. He landed on the floor next to the man he had just killed, his body a mangled, bleeding mess. He could feel his life force draining away, his strength fading with each passing second. He was dying.
As the darkness began to close in around him, he heard a new sound. The pounding on Anastasia’s door had stopped. He turned his head, his vision blurry, and saw her bedroom door swing open. A third masked figure, dressed in black, stepped out into the hallway.
And then, the darkness consumed him completely.
The familiar blue window appeared in the void.
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[Host has been killed. Sending to nearest respawn point.]
[Congratulations! Host has successfully eliminated two professional-level assassins.]
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Adam’s eyes snapped open. He was back in Sophia’s bed. He sat up instantly. But this time, something was different. Two new system windows were hovering in the air before him.
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[Reward Selection: Assassin #1]
[> Skill Set]
[> Stat Points]
[> Equipment]
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[Reward Selection: Assassin #2]
[> Skill Set]
[> Stat Points]
[> Equipment]
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Adam stared at the windows, a slow smile spreading across his face. He considered his options. He had enough raw power. What he needed was technique, was skill. He made his choice. From the first window, he selected "Skill Set." From the second, he selected "Equipment."
The moment he made his selections, a flood of new information poured into his brain. He felt a dizzying rush of new knowledge, new instincts. He now understood how to move silently, how to track a target, how to handle a firearm, how to fight in close quarters. He possessed the skills of a professional assassin.
At the same time, a small pile of items materialized on the bed in front of him. A silenced pistol, a few extra magazines of ammunition, a combat knife, and an old-fashioned, button-operated mobile phone.
He picked up the pistol. It felt comfortable, familiar in his hand. He checked the magazine, then placed it on the bed beside him. A genuine smile, the first he had felt in a long time, touched his lips. "Now," he whispered to himself, "fighting these assassins won’t be so difficult."
He picked up the old-fashioned mobile phone and slipped it into his pocket. He now understood how they had found him, how they had moved so silently, so efficiently. They had been watching him for a long time. They had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But now, he had their skills. He had their tools. The game had changed. And he was ready to play.
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A massive thank you to every single one of you for joining the adventure! Your support means the world. If you’re enjoying the story, your Power Stones are like mana potions that keep me writing, so thank you for every single one!
Now, for a bit of fun! I want YOU to be a part of this world. Our hero is about to name their new signature technique. What should it be called?
Drop your most creative ideas in the comments! I’ll pick my favorite, and it will become canon in the story, with a special shout-out to you.
Can’t wait to read your brilliant suggestions! 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
Alphaboss
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