A massive serpent’s head smashed against Gilligan Albrinter. The force of the blow easily sends him flying back. Gilligan skids across the stone paved street like stone skipping over water. After Gilligan comes to a stop, he clamors back to his feet to try and gain a better grasp of the situation.

  Minutes ago, Gilligan had gone to look for a flank or try a different entrance to the temple. Unfortunately, before he could do a thorough search, a literal demon with a snake's head and an entourage of mercenaries had approached him and his men. The demon offered a deal, but Gilligan didn't care for it. The zealous Order of Nobility he originally came to fight was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he is fighting a demon and a bunch of men he has never met before. The troops under his command are engaged in a battle and Gilligan himself is left alone.

  “Gods damn it!” Gilligan picks himself off the floor.

  As he stands on his feet, Pengrime lances his head out towards Gilligan again. Gilligan puts his shield up to meet the snake’s head. The 14-year-old boy is pushed back again.

  “Is that all you have, boy?” Pengrime sneers. “You haven't even landed a single hit on me. Maybe I was wrong to offer you weapons and armor. I should have enticed you with some actual skill.”

  “Shut up, lizard lips.” Gilligan spat back.

  Gilligan is proud of the skills he trained for and the decisions that led him to acquire the strength he has now. The problem plaguing him now is that his strategies revolve around team composition, and he is fighting alone. He had done his research and styled himself and his troops in the shape of the current meta. He based his fighting style on the meta build for a knight with high endurance and the potential to be a tank or frontline damage dealer in a moment’s notice. He also hired people who matched the meta and built a team around the meta team composition. The problem Gilligan faced now is that his troops were scattered and barely functioned as a team. All because of the demon in front of him.

  “How sad it must be.” Pengrime took a mocking tone. “To have your team comp fall apart the moment I dangle a few easy kills in front of them. They all chased my mercenaries, thinking they were free picks. Such greed. I love it!”

  Having heard enough, Gilligan rushes at Pengrime with his sword.

  “Charging Slash!”

  Gilligan brings his sword up into the demon's long snake neck, only for the blow to bounce off the demon’s scales.

  “Heavy Slash!”

  Gilligan swings again with another powerful skill, but this too fails to even visibly harm the demon.

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  “Damn it! Why won't you die?!?!” Gilligan says.

  “It's demonic power, boy!” Pengrime sneered.

  With that, Pengrime delivered a side kick, right into Gilligan's stomach. Where Gilligan's shield had since defended him against the demon’s blows before, he now faces the full force of Pengrime’s might. Like before, Gilligan is flying back, but this time he is coughing and hacking.

  “Kaugh! Fuck!” Gilligan says as he clamors up to his feet.

  As Gilligan writhes on the ground and struggles to stand, Pengrime gingerly walks over. When Pengrime reaches Gilligan, he prepares to punt kick Gilligan like he were a sports ball of some kind. Thankfully, Gilligan was ready.

  “Counter!”

  Pengrime kicks at Gilligan, but he had his shield up. Once the kick impacted, Gilligan was not flung like the multitude of times before. This time he held his ground. Once he did, he brought his sword around in a bid to lop off Pengrime’s head. As the sword connected with Pengrime’s neck, the blade impacted with a horrid clang. A burst of light flashed before his eyes as the skill harnessed his martial prowess to generate a strike force that Gilligan could not have generated without the system gifted to him by the gods. When the flash of light finally dimmed, there was still no visible damage to Pengrime’s neck. Gilligan goes wide eyed at the reveal.

  “Huh?” Gilligan gasps.

  “Cute, but you clearly don’t understand how your own skill works.” Pengrime says.

  Pengrime punches Gilligan right in the cheek. As Gilligan reels back from the blow, Pengrime boasts at him.

  “Most counter skills are dependent on you taking damage. The skill outputs the damage you take back at your opponent. This of course requires you to take damage, and you used a counter after you blocked. What damage did you receive when you blocked my kick? I’m disappointed. I’m happy you want the benefit of the block and the power of slash. But you’re just too stupid to take them both.”

  Pengrime thinks for a moment before he continues.

  “I suppose this is why the Pact Prime Evil has an age requirement. The first devil saw this coming. Ignorant children grasping at power they don’t understand.”

  At this point, Gilligan had taken a beating like none he had experienced before. His injuries are mounting and pain throbs throughout his body.

  “If I’m too young to benefit from your demon pact, then what was all that talk earlier?” Gilligan staggers up as he speaks.

  “Like that’s stopped anyone from trying.” the demon says. “Mortals can prey on the young all they want, but the moment a demon comes into the picture the first devil throws a fit. That asshat authored the Pact Prime Evil and now we’re all just dancing to his tune. And you know what, why can’t demons prey on kids? Well, maybe that’s not the right word. Why can’t we tempt kids with awesome power? Why can’t we give kids grand magics? Why can’t we give kids guns?”

  “I’m starting to think it’s because you’re an ass.” Gilligan scoffed at the demon.

  The demon looks down at the struggling noble.

  “Then allow me to show you some .” Pengrime speaks with a sinister tone. “I’ll give you something for free. A free swing. Right at me. Go on.”

  Gilligan knows that this is a trap of some kind. Even then, he still hasn’t caused Pengrime any actual harm despite the variety of bruises and injuries he had taken. He really can’t say no to such an offer.

  “It’s your funeral.” Gilligan says.

  “Funeral?” Pengrime scoffs. “I’m a demon. A spiritual entity. Even if you stab me, I’ll be back in a new body.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  Gilligan cracks his knuckles and prepares his sword.

  “Bear’s Strength!”

  At those words, a dim blue light envelops him.

  “Burning Slash!”

  The sword in Gilligan’s hands begins to light on fire. With great heft, Gilligan swings his sword right into one of Pengrime’s eye. Despite all of the set up, the burning sword cannot pierce even Pengrime’s eye.

  “Hehehe.” Pengrime chuckles to himself.

  With a big wind up, Pengrime smashes his fist into Gilligan. The resulting impact created a crater. Pengrime dusts off his hands.

  “Well, that was a bust. Let’s see what else I can take.”

  here.