The System's Hold Over Me

Frizz finally let go of Mill when they left the club; the almost-bald man was nowhere to be found. Earlier, he witnessed their departure through an alternate exit, escorted by a different bouncer.

"I guess they're not going to go after us," Frizz said as he looked around, anxious.

Mill was about to mount his motorcycle when Frizz stopped him. "Don't drink and drive, man. Don't be like me; I had to learn that the hard way." With a reluctant sigh, Mill handed over his keys.

"We'll come back for our vehicles tomorrow. They're safe here," Frizz assured him.

Mill drunkenly turned to the three women who followed them. "Come with us, ladies. We know a place to hang out."

Frizz gritted his teeth; it was because of them that they almost got into a fight, and Mill was inviting them. He can't stop Mill, and he barely has the energy to keep him in check. (Crap, I'm way too drunk.)

"Sure!" the women responded in unison, though they cast wary glances over their shoulders. Keeping an eye out for that unsavory character earlier. Frizz opened his mouth to protest but held back. He'd tried to stop him from making mistakes, but if Mill insisted on making out with these women, that would be on him.

Ayah stepped forward, her phone in hand. "I called a ride earlier already. Where are we going? Don't worry, we'll pay." A car pulled up just as she finished speaking and honked at them.

"Mill will tell you," Frizz said as he walked toward the car. He opened the door, letting the women climb in before joining them in the backseat. Mill took the front passenger seat. Kae leaned toward Frizz and guided his hand to rest on her leg. Too drunk to care, Frizz, let it stay. (I want to go home.) he thought.

Four minutes later...

The car stopped at a beachside bar. Mill stepped out and, with Ayah at his side, headed toward the shoreline. Frizz stumbled out behind them, followed closely by the other two women. His legs wobbled, and his stomach churned as he walked erratically. From behind, the sudden screech of tires cut through the silence of the night, but he paid it no mind. (Just another car in a hurry), he thought.

Frizz collapsed onto the sand, groaning and mumbling. Waves of nausea made him feel like he was spinning despite lying still. His vision swam, and his head throbbed. Kae sat beside him with a seductive smile while Aylin looked around.

"Hmm?" Frizz muttered weakly, his voice barely audible. Mill may be familiar with these partygoing women, but he barely knew them at all. (Why are they so goddamned horny?) He internally screamed to himself.

From the corner of his eye, Frizz saw Mill and Ayah getting cozy by the water's edge. His heart sank and tightened. Mill had a girlfriend, yet here he was, about to betray her without a second thought for some partygoing girl that he defended from a bunch of drunks in a bar.

"This is the worst night ever," Frizz muttered as he exhaled.

"You haven't even seen my techniques yet; have you got any protection?" Kae said with a seductive smile as she caressed his jeans.

"I have a force field." Frizz's answer caught both Kae and Aylin off guard; they both looked at each other confused and then chuckled. Kae stood up and sat on the sand beside Aylin.

"I guess we are all too drunk. Let's not make any mistakes," Kae said as she rested her head on Aylin's shoulders.

"Hey!" A shout broke the fragile calm of the shoreline.

"Pieces of shit, think you can get away!?" Someone shouted with a heavy voice. Frizz lifted his head and spotted several figures in the distance.

"We fucking followed you." The voice boomed across the beach, causing them to turn their heads around.

Kae stood up, her expression switching from calm to rage. "You followed us here? Get lost, you pervert!" she yelled, only for Aylin to pull her back, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Mill marched toward the intruders with his fists clenched. "Get the hell out of here!" he barked. Ayah grabbed his arm, trying to hold him back, but Mill shook her off.

The leader of the group, the almost-bald man, stepped forward, undeterred and confident. He kept his eyes on Mill as he approached.

"You think you can scare us, you little shit? Leave the girls and this won't get ugly!"

(Is there something worth fighting for these three women?) Frizz mulled as he scratched his head.

Mill launched himself at the almost-bald man with both of his fists covering his face. The man focused and put his left hand forward. Mill launched a quick jab, aimed at the man's jaw, but the man parried it and delivered a punch straight to the stomach. 

"Oof!" Mill grunted as he smiled and stepped back. He kicked forward the sand beneath him, causing it to go into the man's eye.

"Ahh! My eyes!" The almost-bald man screamed as a punch connected to his jaw. *Thump* The man fell to the sand, dazed and disoriented.

"The hell? How drunk was he? He's usually the one bringing someone down first." One of the almost-bald man's friends exclaimed.

Before Mill could retreat, the almost-bald man's six friends charged. Mill raised his hands to defend himself in desperation. One tackled him to the ground, and the others piled on, raining down punches, kicks, and stomps. He tried to shield himself, but their relentless blows left him bruised and bloodied.

"Stop!" Ayah screamed, her voice breaking. She stepped forward, pleading with the attackers.

One of the men sneered and raised his foot for another kick, but before it landed, he was yanked backward and fell to the sand. *Thud* Frizz, wobbling but resolute, stomped the assailant in the chest. The man crumpled, grunting in pain.

The rest of the group turned to face Frizz. "He's with him! Get him!" one shouted.

The tallest of them threw a punch aimed at Frizz's head. The blow landed, but the man recoiled after the impact, shaking his hand. Before he could react, Frizz punched him in the chin. The man dropped, clutching his face and gasping.

"Five left," Frizz muttered, his voice low and steady.

"GODDAMNED DRUNKS!" Frizz shouted at the top of his lungs. 

[System]

[Enrage] activated.

Another attacker rushed him and landed a punch square on Frizz's face, but to no effect. One of them pushed Frizz, making him fall, and the group descended on him. They kicked and stomped, but every attack felt strange, like hitting something soft and malleable. Frizz grated his teeth, waiting for their frenzy to subside.

When the kicks slowed, Frizz struck back. He lashed out at the two closest to him, his fists smashing into their groins. They fell to their knees, howling in pain. Another man stomped him in the groin. Frizz felt the damage and winced in pain. Frizz replied with a kick to their groin, making them fall and groan. Frizz hurriedly stood up and stomped their chests, ensuring they wouldn't stand up for some time.

As Frizz faced the one in front of him, someone smashed a rotten plank of wood against the back of his head. Staggering, he turned to face his attacker, his glare ice-cold, and in disbelief that they would resort to lethality.

"I could have died!" Frizz shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hit him now!" The one who struck him from behind shouted. Before Frizz could retaliate, another man landed a punch to his stomach. Frizz grunted but grabbed the man's shirt and delivered a devastating but sloppy uppercut. The man's head snapped back, and he collapsed unconscious onto the sand.

The last assailant, still clutching the plank, swung it wildly and hit Frizz on the shoulder without flinching.

"Go ahead. Hit me." Frizz provoked the last man standing to hit him.

*Thump!* A hit in the face.

*Thump!* A hit in the left shoulder.

*Thump!* A hit in the head.

*Thump!* A hit in the right forearm.

The man stopped to catch his breath, his eyes still focused on his unflinching target. Frizz stepped forward, his eyes filled with rage. "Run," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

The man threw the plank at Frizz and bolted toward their car, leaving his comrades behind. "Piece of crap!" He picked up the plank of wood and was about to throw it. "No. He's fleeing." He mulled.

"Crap," he muttered as his body swayed. Finally, he crouched onto the sand and puked out his insides.

"It's over," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

[System]

New Name is now level 7.

Please select a perk: [Mage Slayer] [Weakening Strikes] [Shock Absorption] [Charge Up].

Frizz's vision slowly waned, but he felt like he needed to choose now.

"Weakening strikes, I'll take that," he chose as he slumped. He was about to fall until Kae caught him.

"Hey! Are you okay!? Aylin, where's the police? How long?!"

"Check...Mill." Frizz coughed. "Is he okay?" Frizz lost consciousness...