Game's Extra: Starting With SSS-Ranked 1000-Death Talent-Chapter 69: Thrust Issues

The taxi driver, intimidated by Noa’s loud and demanding voice, stopped the car right away.

"Run!" Noa told him with the same urging attitude.

As the poor fellow felt the huge amount of pressure and saw the flickering lights, he stormed out of the way.

"What’s going on?" Martha asked, her body trembling.

Noa, already out of the car, repeated his observation.

"Someone was trailing us. Get ready and protect yourself. This is about life and death."

The words burst out of Noa, foreign and uncontrollable.

’This is dangerous.’

His death senses warned him with a scream, as if each wrong move would expand echoes he wasn’t ready to pay for.

He looked at Arthur, his head shaking—not from fear, but from barely contained rage.

"I felt something as well," the protagonist said, his every syllable and breath measured. "We are under att-"

Arthur’s words were cut short, his body lowering to the ground, spinning so abruptly that the boy couldn’t even utter a single word.

As for Noa, he tried to find the owner of the energy that left Arthur in that state.

Stepping back to create a distance between them, he fixed his gaze on the streetlight while trying to guard his neck from the sudden attacks.

There was no other life around him.

The busy street was unusually empty, with no sounds ringing in his head.

’Thank God we are one block away from the house,’ Noa reasoned, thanking his poor luck even in this situation.

Then he saw flashing shades.

His body moved before Noa could even allow it to, the sword blocking something he couldn’t explain.

But it was heavy and cold, almost freezing his fingers.

’Whoever it is, they aren’t aiming for the weak,’ Noa figured.

As for the attack, it was long-range with enough force to tell him something important.

Two different people aimed at him, and the third one kept Arthur in check—their grade reaching at least Returne grade.

"This is a punishment," a slithering, almost cracked voice echoed.

Noa wanted to question, but the number of enemies he managed to accumulate was close to double digits, giving him a few ideas.

Then the same man who had previously spoken showed up.

’Damn, he is altered, for sure.’

Only after Noa saw him from up close did he realize who his opponent was and why Arthur remained pinned to the ground.

As for the two archers or wizards, they remained hidden, concealing their location and identity.

The man neared him, his boots echoing gently with a sharp, militaristic habit.

And his eyes convinced Noa that he was the target.

"Punishment, you say?" he calmly repeated.

Then his body flashed, almost vanishing from the world as his hands moved smoothly and precisely, striking Martha’s unprotected neck.

The girl went limp and dropped to the ground.

Instead of stopping, Noa moved again, this time aiming for Rika and Ezra, knocking them out in quick succession.

The man stood idle, scanning the spectacle with an amused expression.

"What are you doing?" he asked when Noa glanced back at him. "Why would you destroy your already slim chances?"

Noa ignored him, patting Arthur on the back.

His touch worked like a charm and released the protagonist from the unseen shackles.

"Thanks," Arthur said, stunning him.

Just then, another quick strike flew in Noa’s direction.

The only thing that could keep up was his reflexes, his body struggling to catch up to the deadly blow.

Still, a heavy metal sound rang out.

It forced Noa to take three steps back, his wrists dizzy from the impact.

Thankfully, Arthur used the momentum to counterattack, his fluid and stunning hand movements hacking at the opponent.

The man pressed back and forward, relentlessly blocking and striking.

Noa’s eyes searched for the opening.

The inferior attributes and lack of skills made the task difficult.

Yet he didn’t give up, ignored the nosebleed he and Arthur experienced simultaneously, and feinted from the left side.

It forced the man to draw his blade wide.

As a result, Arthur was given milliseconds to drive his blade deep into the man’s unprotected right side.

Before Noa’s sword was intercepted by the man’s lance, Noa pulled back, changing the trajectory of his still-weak blade.

The assassin had to dodge or block two separate attacks at the same time.

But he chose the third option, disregarding both blows.

Instead, he allowed his flesh to be cut and got hold of Noa’s neck before moving the lance in a swift arc, sinking deep inside his ribs.

The pain erupted instantly, drawing Noa’s blood around him like a curtain.

One major wound was enough for him to drain Noa of his red liquid and harvest his life.

[ You died ]

Noa didn’t linger in the death realm.

His instincts kicked in and triggered the Echo of the Doom, bringing his mind back into his corpse.

[ Echo: 778/1,000 ]

Sure enough, he lost two echoes again.

But there was no time for him to dwell on it—the battle was far from over.

Fortunately, Arthur was still alive, but blood from his nose covered his entire body, draining his life force.

Just then, Noa rose from the ground.

He still looked like a corpse but was in perfect condition.

And as two Returne grade shots tried to intercept his sudden movement, Noa jumped forward, dodging and bringing his reversed-gripped sword to the man’s throat.

Arthur did his best to add an attack of his own, not letting the sudden confusion affect his cold mind.

Two separate swords were thrust upon the man.

Now it was his time to bleed like a pig. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Noa pulled back his sword and spun low, slicing upwards once more at the opponent’s exposed back.

More blood flashed on his face.

He was painted in red, but the absence of the metallic scent alarmed his movement.

This time, the long-range shots were aimed at Arthur, forcing the boy to sidestep two times.

However, the Altered man drew a deep breath before stumbling.

Turns out he was still alive, controlling Noa’s lost blood, his weakened face glowing with anger.