…. …. ….
Battle cries could be heard all around the battlefield, followed by the constant clashing of swords and the relentless bashing of wooden shields.Amidst the soldiers fighting relentlessly there stood one terrified boy suddenly getting up from the ground, barely able to stand on his own.Being completely overwhelmed by what was happening around him.
'Where the hell am I?The last thing I remember is being hit by that bloody train!'
Looking down on himself to see his condition the only thing he could find was a blood-soaked short sword with it's handle being covered in rust accompanied by a small accessory around the wrist.A red rocky bracelet whose use was still unknown to him.It looked like he wasn't the only one wearing it.
The soldiers standing right by his side were also wearing it,some emanating different colors than others.
'A tool used to identify your allies?Something like a badge from my world.'
His clothes were made completely out of thin linen offering no protection in case of a attack.
'Did I actually reincarnate?In the middle of a battlefield?That doesn't matter right now.
Getting to safety should be first priority,I don't know what will happen if I die again that fast.'
I don't want to get the 'game over' after I was given another chance ' Thought Oliver trying his best to prioritize his survival and retreat.
'Sh*t I can't even retreat with how many people are constantly pushing'
Oliver was trying his best to find an opportunity slip away but it was all in vain.
His only option was to defend himself and pray that the battle will soon end.
'It shouldn't be that hard, I just have to take a defensive position and be calm, like the army taught me before'
After calming himself down, Oliver could focus more on the things around . In the distance, he could see a gigantic fortress with a impenetrable gate that not the even a trebuchet would be able to break it.
'That fortress is probably our objective'
Behind him was an enormous hill, perfect for observing the entire battle and seeing how it will unfold.
'Our camp is probably there,the higher-ups would probably be there too ' thought Oliver while ducking away whenever a blade was coming,his mind becoming more accustomed to his new body.
'Looks like this body is not that rusty when it comes to fighting,I am not that unlucky after all ' Thought Oliver while a long spear was aiming at his stomach dodging once again and managing to cut his attacker in one swift motion.
' A longer reach is useless if you don't have a space big enough to utilize it.'
'I just need to defend now ,no reason to be aggressive.'
Upon receiving the injury the soldier quickly fell behind and switch position.
Oliver once again fixed his posture and prepared for the next soldier this time a loud scream could be heard from the enemy lines.
A tall broad chested soldier showed up screaming in a unknown language that Oliver couldn't understand.
After hearing that voice Oliver mind received a sharped pain and in a instant he could understand some of the words the soldier yelled.
''Prepare yourself[…],no mercy […]weakling'' after that the soldier prepared himself and slowly raised his sword pointing it's rusty tip towards Oliver.
'Looks like we are on the same level when it comes to equipment' A smirk could be depicted on Oliver face after realizing that his foe was in the same situation as him.
'We are only cannon fodder hahaha after all,let's fight then' Even though the situation was one of utmost seriousness , Oliver couldn't help but be a little amused by this situation.
Only a rich noble could afford to cover himself with armor, while the poor were left with pitchforks and old swords if they were lucky.This reminded Oliver of his old world.
'Some things never change, no matter the time or world.'
After split second the soldier dashed forward thrusting the sword,aiming for Oliver vital organs.Constantly rushing and hoping than one hit will finally land.
'He is not that good when it comes to swordsmanship,but his physique can easily overcome that skill gap'
One wrong move and he can split me in two'
Oliver raised his blood soaked sword and immediately parried his opponent slow but heavy hit,leaving a tingling sensation in his arms while his opponent moved backwards and prepared himself for another charge.The two of them going back and forth with no way of predicting the outcome.
After a short exchange of blows Oliver left arm was soaked in blood .Luckily, his opponent's precision and strength were dropping consistently, making the blows nonfatal and only rendering it useless for the duration of the fight.
His opponent was trying his hardest to catch a moment of rest after all the heavy blows. It seemed he was no longer in the best condition after aimlessly swinging that rusty sword.
Constantly grasping for air.
'Sh*t this is harder than I expected ,I have to end it sooner or I am dead again.'Oliver mind was going rampant trying to think of a way to beat his opponent.
After thinking for a second, Oliver lunged toward his foe at full speed, aiming for his head. His opponent prepared himself to deflect the attack, only to be surprised by the scrawny boy's next action.
The boy wasn't actually aiming for the man's head. Instead, he delivered a downward slash at the soldier's legs, accurately cutting into the man's thighs.
The man cried out in pain and fell to his knees. Seizing the opportunity, Oliver lunged forward and stabbed him in the heart without hesitation.
But the blade didn't go deep enough, leaving Oliver's sword lodged in the man's chest.
The soldier immediately grabbed his own weapon and swung it with all the strength he had left.
"We're going down together, you ba*tard!" the soldier shouted as he thrust his blade toward Oliver's chest, leaving them locked in a deadly stalemate.
Upon seeing his new wound, Oliver tried his best not to lose consciousness and used what little strength he had left to finish his opponent, but it was to no avail. The blade was as stuck as Excalibur from the legends.
"Come on, you stupid blade…" Oliver shouted while blood was gushing out of his mouth.
"Damn it… don't tell me I'm dying again. I was given another chance, only to blow it again.I am really useless after all '.
Self reflection wasn't really his strong point.
Just before he lost consciousness, a majestic voice began to echo, jolting Oliver awake from his reverie. The voice resounded throughout his entire being. He could feel every word it uttered, as if it were speaking from inside his head, resonating through every synapse.
[Library of Knowledge – Unlocked]
[Welcome, Librarian]
[Initiating Affinity Detection…]
[Affinity Detected]
[New Element Unlocked – Ice – Understanding: Novice]
[Two new abilities have been unlocked. Basic knowledge shall be imparted to the Librarian.]
[New Ability Unlocked – Cold Resistance]
Description: You endured for a long time. After years of sorrow, your body has gained a slight resistance to cold environments. May your tears no longer freeze.
[New Ability Unlocked – Cold Control]
Description: Lying to yourself became second nature to you. You shall now use your new abilities to exert your melancholy upon others. Grants the ability to control and circulate coldness throughout your body and weapons. Your blade and body shall become instruments to inflict frost upon your enemies.
During those split moments, a sudden wave of energy surged within Oliver's body, circulating through every vein, bone, and fragment of skin. The wounds once inflicted by his enemy began to slowly close, restoring just enough vitality for him to pull himself away from the enemy's blade and continue fighting.
Not completely healed just enough to decide, once and for all, who would become the victor.
Upon gaining a basic understanding of his newfound abilities, Oliver quickly used [Cold Control], infusing it into the blade that was still lodged in his foe's chest.
A chilling wave coursed through his body. It began in his mind and rushed down into his arms. Within a second, the ability manifested small icicles forming around the sword's tip. They expanded violently, penetrating deeper into the enemy's chest and impaling his heart multiple times, ensuring he was truly dead.
[Congratulations! Your elemental understanding has increased.]
'Is it finally over?'
'My first kill in these world has to happen on a battlefield too.
How ironic…'
I had to do it….It was either me or him after all …
'I don't want to suffer another pathetic death once again '
'I don't want to die…I don't want to die….' Says Oliver after witnessing what he has done again.Trying to calm himself down thinking it was not his fault 'this time'.
Oliver scanned his surroundings to make sure no one had witnessed what happened. Everyone was still occupied with their own battles.
Afterward, he inspected his wounds. They were partially closed but still bleeding slowly.
'Can I use [Cold Control] on my own body to stop the bleeding?'
Curiosity overtook him despite the danger of the situation. Carefully, he ran his hand over the wounds and formed a thin layer of ice beneath his clothes,hidden from view.
[Your elemental understanding has increased.]
"This notification… Every time I use [Cold Control], it echoes in my head. Is it like leveling up? I only heard the rank 'Novice,' but it hasn't changed at all."
This life feels more and more like I'm trapped inside an RPG with these powers.
The bleeding has stopped for now… but without proper treatment, it will reopen.
My mind is completely exhausted,it feels like my brain is overheating.I should abstain for using it that often.
If I actually survive I should experiment more with it.That 'Library' saved my life after all today'
Oliver stood there, completely exhausted, staring at the corpse before him.
'I should get away from this body and move forward. I don't want to attract any unwanted attention right now…'
After taking a brief moment to catch his breath, Oliver forced himself to move once more, leaving the corpse behind as he pressed onward.
… ….
Standing around the ice-cold corpse were two black-cloaked men, their faces impossible to see. Around them, the soldiers whether they were foe or friend seemed to ignore them, going around every time they were in their way.Dodging that place like the plague.
After some time inspecting and looking at the corpse, one of them summoned a long staff and softly pinched the body with it.
"It seems that someone awakened."
"And not a weak one at that. The subject is strong enough to project that much ice and last this long too," said the man, looking at the head of his staff, which was now all wet.
"It shouldn't be a surprise… Awakening in the middle of battle is not that uncommon in the North after all. Not everyone has the time or money to study the elements."
"You are right… We should take the body away now. We can only investigate so much without proper tools."
With that, the two cloaked men disappeared along with the body, leaving no trace behind.