My Fate System

As its claws were about to pierce the older knight's arm, Henry was swift to send it flying with a strike. Nikolai knew that the man was plotting something due to his talent, but it seems Henry retained the ability to scheme. 

'This is powerful,' 

As much as Nikolai wanted a mindless puppet, it was also fortunate that the target didn't turn into a machine of senseless violence. Henry didn't attack right away because he schemed to eliminate the kobold and blame the monsters for the murder.

"There are three of them," reported the extorting knight as he ran forward, slashing at the kobold which the older knight deflected. The monster's scales shimmered with light as there was a resounding clang, making blue blood splash on the ground. 

The wounded monster retreated to its fallen comrade before the two disappeared into the night. Nikolai looked around to find the kobold blocking the light and realized it must be on a high tree. 

"There," the older knight muttered as he ran toward the tree and began to run toward the top. Nikolai made a note of the knight's skill before sneaking toward Henry and the extorting knight. 

"Where are they?" Henry walked cautiously toward the location of the two kobolds. The extorting knight sniffed again and pointed in a specific direction. 

As the two ran after the kobolds, Nikolai did the same. He also kept an eye on the older knight who reached the top of the tree and slashed toward the kobold before the monster lunged itself toward him. 

Despite losing an arm, the monster took a firm grip of the knight's shoulder and tore through his chainmail. The two fell toward the ground amid their struggle. 

Turning back to look at the older knight's fate, Nikolai realized that he used his skill to lessen the impact of the fall. However, a person's skill was their secret and must not be revealed at any cost. 

"If you ever had to reveal your cards, make sure that no one lives to tell of them," Lilith once told him, but Nikolai knew she would kill without a real reason anyway. 

Henry and the other knight closed in on the kobolds, and they attacked from each side. A mirage of a blade appeared as the extorting knight struck, and the slash passed through the kobold's claws to strike its neck. 

As its comrade fell to its death, the other kobold tried to run away. However, Henry was quick to use his skill as well, and a blinding light tore through the monster's neck. 

"Phew, these monsters are quite annoying," the knight said to Henry as he walked to pick up the loot. Beautiful red and purple crystals floated above the monsters' bodies, and the extorting knight greedily walked to pick them up. 

'Hm? Is he someone important?' 

There was no reason for Nikolai to feel as such other than the man's attitude, as it was a rule that loot should be divided before it was picked up unless there was an abnormal situation. This knight didn't care about Henry proved that he had a reason to do so, and Nikolai hoped that no problems would come after this. 

As the knight bent to pick up the crystal, Henry appeared behind him with a grin. The bewitched man grabbed his hilt, and there was a flash of light before the extorting knight's blood gushed out like a fountain. 

"You..." the knight muttered before he fell to his death, his blood pooling beneath his cold corpse. Henry began laughing as he stabbed the body again, again, and again. 

"Where is your father to save you now, huh? Hahaha! Take this! Fucking leech!" the stabbing continued as Nikolai walked toward Henry with his stealth. 

"You've done well, my puppet," Nikolai appeared beside the knight, the blade resting on his neck. "I hope you enjoyed your darkest desires before your death," 

"No..." the knight's eyes were shaking as he looked at the corpse in front of him. "I didn't do this!" he shouted hysterically, and Nikolai ended his life. 

'Odd, did he snap out of the bewitchment the moment he listened to his dark desires?' 

Nikolai stood in the middle of the forest as the light was beginning to return. After he picked up the loot, he went ahead to have his meal. Then, like a monster, he unhinged his jaw to devour the souls of the two knights, and euphoria flooded through his mind. 

[You have devoured a Living Soul. The curse has been sated. Time remaining: 78 h, 19m, 21s.]

[You have devoured a Living Soul. The curse has been sated. Time remaining: 135h, 59m, 09s.]

As if the throbbing and itching parasite in his heart calmed down, Nikolai finally felt at ease. The corpses around him were a living reminder that he was far from a human, not anymore. 

'Curse of the Banished,' Nikolai thought it was a befitting title of his current state. There was no room for him among humans, and this curse left him in the middle of nowhere with nothing but unfulfilled dreams modeled as corpses. 

"Who are you?" 

A voice broke his reverie, and Nikolai turned to see the older knight looking at him warily. There was a wound on his shoulder, but it seemed to do little to hinder his movement. 

"You killed them?" instead of rage, the knight looked at him with apathy. "For someone foolish enough to against the knights is a first." 

Nikolai didn't say anything and simply disappeared. The older knight smirked and shook his head with disapproval before turning around and bolting. 

Seeing the man who talked big moments ago run as fast as the wind, Nikolai couldn't say he was surprised. Most knights weren't exactly passionate about their job, and only a few were loyal to the kingdom. 

The dark dimension, his hideout, paved the path for him to chase after the knight. The middle-aged knight couldn't see him, and he was growing desperate. 

The knight suddenly turned and slashed with his sword, sending a mana attack toward Nikolai. This was not a skill but a property of the knight's mana. Nikolai had to slide on his knees to avoid the attack's range because that would break his stealth.

The knight resumed running, and he dived deeper into the forest. As he ran after him, Nikolai began noticing a couple of broken branches. His mind linked the dots, and the next scene confirmed his suspicion. 

"Help!" the older knight rushed to Alias, which was tied to a giant tree using a rope. The person sitting on the railing was none other than Yuxi, and she stared at the knight with suspicion. "There's a murderer after me, and I need to use your ship!" 

The mute archer simply shook her head and picked up her bow. Yuxi nocked her arrow before aiming at the knight threateningly. However, the threat was of minimal effect with Yuxi's small frame and youthful appearance. 

"Hand over your ship or except severe consequences, child!" the knight roared, his features morphing into ones of desperation and utter wrath. The archer flinched, but she didn't hesitate to release her arrow, and it traveled to strike the knight. 

The knight used his skill again, and a small force field deflected the arrow away. As Nikolai arrived behind him, he realized that this man could use force in any way he wanted. However, the archer's actions earned his approval, as she didn't shy away from danger to protect their ship. 

As the knight began running on the tree's trunk to get to Alias, a resounding shot reverberated throughout the forest to strike him down. The flames surrounded the knight, who screamed and fell to the ground. 

Lex blew away the smoke of her gun as she stood on the railings. Then, choosing to ignore the knight screaming with pain, she turned to the shaking archer. 

"Are you okay?" muttered the Gunmaster, and Yuxi nodded in response. 

Nikolai glanced at the knight, who had a giant wound in his chest. As expected of a Gunmaster, her weapons were fearsome. Nikolai retreated away and chose to leave the scene after making sure that the knight breathed his last. 

After that, Nikolai returned to the corpses of the knights and monsters, throwing them into his pocket dimension to leave no evidence. Then, he used his darkness to take care of any remaining blood, doing the same for the three kobolds. 

Taking out water from within his pocket dimension, Nikolai washed up and ensured there was no scent of blood on him. Then, he walked toward Alias, acting as if he was simply looking for them. 

"What happened here?" Nikolai asked the gathering three, who flinched at his voice. They jumped to hide the body of the knight from Nikolai's eyes, but it was useless. "You idiots killed a knight?" 

"He was trying to take the ship," Lex said with disdain. "I've met knights before, and they all want to rob you." 

"For you to kill a human so easily," Nikolai shook his head. "What a terrible person you are, Gunmaster."