[Auto Exam] Maze of Madness [Brenley]

[Smerdle]

He slashed at his doppelganger...

HP: 28/40
Damage: 4
Boss HP: 19/50  

[Smerdle]

...and hissed...

HP: 26/40
Damage: 4
Boss HP: 15/50  

[Smerdle]

...and spit as well as it did at him.

HP: 24/40
Damage: 6
Boss HP: 9/50  

[Smerdle]

With every strike, Brenley grew weaker. He had no idea how long he could keep this up or how close to death his double was.

HP: 24/40
Damage: 0
Boss HP: 9/50  

[Smerdle]

After a brief pause, the creature lunged, floating off of the ground to circle behind Brenley and clasp its hands around the boil's neck. When Bren jabbed his elbow hard into his double's stomach, eerily familiar laughter bubbled forth from it.

"You are not a killer. Yes. Of course."

HP: 22/40
Damage: 5
Boss HP: 4/50  

[Smerdle]

Bren paused, his breath wheezing through his nose and mouth. Maybe this... thing was right. Perhaps he would be better off embracing this base desire to stay alive at all costs. After all, Pachua had been willing to die to keep him among the living. Maybe he was... worth it?

But what did that mean when it came to the ones he called friends? Would he harm them too simply to keep himself whole?

HP: 22/40
Damage: 0
Boss HP: 4/50  

[Smerdle]

"Yes. You will. Haven't you seen it happen enough to know? When the choice comes between you and someone... anyone else, you will always win. Even against Piper. Your mother. No one will be safe if your life is threatened. And that is how it should be."

HP: 20/40
Damage: 1
Boss HP: 3/50  

[Smerdle]

A spark flared in Brenley's chest, a burst of emotion so concentrated and overwhelming that it coaxed a growl from low in his throat. Yes, the creature was correct. Yes, Brenley would fight for his life. He had proven that. But he didn't have to lose himself in guilt thinking about the day he would have to do so again long before he was ever confronted with the reality of that decision. When the time came, he would do what he had to. He could only hope it wouldn't prove to be such a drastic decision.

"That might be what happens. I can't say. But I will do everything I can to make sure it doesn't."

The gravel in his voice cleared with a shout, and then Bren was sprinting forward, sinking his blades into his own chest. The creature's dying shriek mingled with his own yell, and as the fog broke and faded away, hi real voice was all that remained. The boil fell to his knees, then onto his hands, shaking with exhaustion and adrenaline.

When he finally emerged from the maze a short while later, he barely stopped to pick up his certificate before he continued hurrying back to his dorm.

HP: 18/40
Damage: 6
Boss HP: dead/50