The Broken System Chose the Antagonist

"Rallying? Why would I need to do that?" Nadia asked as she swung her sword repeatedly atop a grassy hill. "If I’m strong enough, I shouldn’t need to depend on others for help, Uncle."

A man with silver hair and a weathered face with stubble stood nearby, facing the youthful teenager, who looked no older than 15, as he painted on canvas.

He was without a doubt old, someone who appeared to have seen all there was to see in the world, but his rather sturdy frame and energetic vitality seemed to suggest otherwise about his age.

With a serene expression, he let out a light chuckle. "Even the strong will have to suck up their pride to accept help, eventually."

"Ha? Are you calling me prideful?" Nadia looked over at her Uncle with a deadpan look.

As she was about to rebuke him, she watched as he turned the canvas around to reveal a magnificent painting of a knight in the middle of a swing with a tall tree situated behind them on a sky-blue background.

At that, Nadia subconsciously turned around to gaze at a tree that so happened to be situated behind her. Was that knight supposed to be her?

When she later turned back around to ask, her Uncle spoke with a voice filled with wisdom:

"Just like how a tree cannot rely solely on one root to weather a storm, a single knight will never be enough to fend off an army on their own. There will come a day when you will understand. And when that happens... that may directly save not only yours, but other lives too."

...

"... So fight with me, with everyone, and FIGHT TO LIVE!"

"RAAAAAH!"

Everyone charged forward with an echoing battle cry; their gaze resolute and brighter than ever before. Their Hearts, which had once been filled with doubt, fear, and uncertainty, were now filled with hope and determination!

The Predicaments eventually grew used to the weakness and pain brought by the rain, and when they did, they hastily charged at the rallied Vitalists with equal ferocity!

The two sides clashed under the intense downpour of rain! Both sides were weak and fought for different reasons!

The monsters fought to satiate their hunger, while the Vitalists fought to brave through the storm of Predicaments!

Both sides roared loudly under the heavy downpour of rain, fighting fiercely without a single thought of losing in their minds. Just as blood was quickly spilt, lives were rapidly taken.

Even if every aspect of the Predicaments was weakened by the weather, they were still strong — due to the night — in comparison to the Vitalists, who were either injured, tired, low on Vitality, or all of the above.

But that didn’t mean the Vitalists were fighting in vain!

Lying flat on the uneven ground, Seraphine took aim.

BANG!

Her bullet shot through the air, travelling with immense speed, and tore apart half the neck of a Scoundrel.

The monster was left stunned, and before it could heal, a Vitalist had seized the opportunity to take off its head!

SWISH.

The moment its head dropped to the ground, the Vitalist shouted in triumph:

"We got one!"

BANG!

Another Vitalist metres away also shouted:

"Make that two!"

BANG!

Then another in the distance:

"And make that three!"

Against the overwhelming wave of Vitalists, the number of Predicaments began to dwindle against the strength of their united Hearts. But the real troublesome one still remained...

The Soldier charged forward and ploughed through a crowd of Vitalists, its hulking body crushing them into pulp. In this single charge, it wiped out roughly 10% of their numbers.

However! That wasn’t without consequence!

Due to the rain eroding its rock-like plating and weakening its defences, the Vitalists were able to inflict damage on its hulking body! Unfortunately, these injuries didn’t last long due to its swift regeneration, even if it had been reduced to a Scoundrel’s level.

As the Soldier was about to charge again—

"{Resolution}!"

—A shimmering arc of light struck its side, leaving behind a harrowing wound.

The wound was semi-deep at best, but something about it was unusual. The properties of the light arc were disturbing its regeneration! Far more than the attacks it had sustained prior!

It took about thirty seconds for the Soldier to heal from that injury, and in that time, it was enough for it to be quickly surrounded by three individuals and an armoured Scoundrel: Nadia, Ross, and Roxy.

"We all are getting weaker by the second, so let’s kill it quick before we all collapse!" Roxy shouted.

Nadia and Ross firmly nodded in response.

Without wasting any more time, all of them charged in at once, brandishing their respective weapons.

In response, the Soldier roared thunderously. Without warning, it slammed its forearms against the ground, cracking it and sending out a powerful wave of vibrations!

THUD!

The three were caught off guard and stumbled from the vibration. As they tried to regain their balance, the armoured Scoundrel was the first to engage with the Soldier.

It lunged forward and bit down on its plated shoulder before clawing at its chest, like a savage wolf. However, due to the rain, it could only chip at its defences.

After a moment, it was slammed into the ground.

THUD!

A torrent of blood spilt out of its maw.

Right as the Soldier was about to deal the finishing blow, Ross was able to intervene.

With his metal gauntlet, he landed a decisive blow on its lower abdomen.

’{Force}!’

BAM!

An explosion of Vitality erupted from the point of contact and knocked the Soldier back by one metre. The plating he struck was cracked!

As he moved in for another attack, the Soldier lashed out. Having already recovered from its loss of balance, it swung its arm down on him in a way he wouldn’t be able to dodge!

The terrain was just too hazardous!

Ross widened his eyes and braced for impact. Luckily, that wasn’t going to be needed, for Roxy was quick enough to intercept the attack!

Roxy crossed her arms with her buckler shield facing the Predicament. "{Power Wall}!"

With her cry, a luminous yellow wall manifested before her, taking the attack in her stead.

THUD.

Ripples formed at the point of collision before rapidly turning into cracks!

"... Nghn!" Roxy groaned as blood leaked from her mouth.

Right as the luminous barrier was about to shatter—

"{Resolution}!"

—A shimmering arc of light flashed through the air, cleaving into the Soldier’s side like before!

Taken by surprise, the Soldier accidentally lifted its fist from Roxy’s {Power Wall}. And in doing so, it revealed an opening for Roxy to slash at its chest, right before Ross charged in to land another {Force}.

SWISH.

BAM!

The Soldier was blown back once more.

After it recovered, it was too slow to react to Nadia’s swift attack, which managed to slice through its plating!

This cycle then began to repeat.

Under the heavy downpour, the plating that covered its hulking body was rapidly being ripped apart! Its flesh had begun to be exposed, and its own blood began to spew from its body!

Despite never having fought together before, the three of them moved with near-seamless teamwork. It was like, at this moment, they had united their Hearts as one! To become one fluid being with one singular objective—to end the Predicament that threatened them!

By now, the Scoundrels of the Soldier’s army had all been killed, which, in turn—

BANG!

—Led to others soon joining the fight.

A bullet tore through the air, colliding with the Soldier’s left shoulder and causing him to stumble back. The plating that protected its shoulder was destroyed by the bullet, allowing a Talisman covered in flames to strike its flesh directly!

The Predicament roared loudly at the flames, which were quickly put out by the rain.

Nadia, who saw this, widened her eyes. ’Hilda?!’

With an expectant look, she glanced in the direction the Talisman came from and found a pale Beatrice hidden under a large blanket held up by two individuals.

For a split second, Nadia frowned before returning to her cold facade. She then charged in again.

...

The Soldier was heavily wounded. In the face of over 120 Vitalists surrounding it, it had lost an arm, all of its eyes, and most of its plating had been chipped away. But most of its recent injuries were centred around its head or neck.

Even with its regeneration, it was going to take at least several minutes for it to fully recover.

"It’s on its last legs! Attack now!" Ross commanded.

Sensing the parade of Vitalists rushing towards it, the Soldier couldn’t help but become aggravated and wrathful. The rain was constantly messing with its sense of smell, and even though it had evolved, it was being kicked around like it was a Scoundrel!

It didn’t enjoy it... and it wasn’t going to accept it!

"ROAHHHHHHHR!" The Soldier let out another thunderous roar that stunned the Vitalists.

But only for a split moment.

With all their Hearts united with courage, they continued their charge and parted way for the armoured Scoundrel, who was the first to reach the Soldier again.

It pounced forward, intending to bite down on the Predicament’s shoulder again.

And right as it was about to...

The Soldier grabbed onto its cape.

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