"Hahaha! Puny maid! Run away while you can!" I've always wondered how people end up in piles after a fight? Do they get punched and coincidentally land in the same spot? Does the victor intentionally pile them on top of each other? Is it even stable enough to stand on? Let's test that out. I did a little tap with my foot, causing a tiny shake on the ground below him and the knocked-out bodies of my friends. I expected him to at least flinch, but he didn't even shake a tiny bit. "Hahaha! Was that a party trick? I'll have you know I'm immovable."

Suddenly, a little girl in a maid dress walked from behind the man. By the way, although I can't tell you anything about the guy besides the fact he's wearing armour and has a face, I can tell you he has a giant sword. Like, an incredibly huge sword. Almost as tall as himself. Back to the little girl, I didn't even notice she was behind him. Aww… is this some sort of father-daughter relationship going on? So cute… except they're criminals. Oh my god, Stockholm syndrome? What the fuck is Stockholm syndrome?

"This delusional nonsense. I recognise it." Woah, what a non-little girl sentence. I'm kind of hurt now.

"Haha. Someone from that Maid School you say you went to?"

"A senior who carelessly frolicked the hallways on her lonesome, muttering away to herself in complete ignorance of her reputation. The sole survivor from that accursed year. To think I'd be forced to face her once again. I'm truly unlucky."

"Oh… is she the one from that story of a sole student beating up a bunch of teachers?" The man jumped off the pile of my friends, landing in front of me, and slammed his giant sword beside him, creating a crater next to him. "Want to fight?"

"Umm… not really. I just want to get my… I think she's my boss, then go back home. Except my home is burnt down. Maybe the princess will give us a mansion as a reward. Even better, let us stay in that castle she's in. I like castles."

"Hey boss, are you sure this is the maid that destroyed them all? I expected something more… bloodthirsty."

"Those insane ramblings are distinctive to her. That and she still wears the Maid School uniform."

"Hahaha… good." What does he mean by goo- AHH!!! I was sent flying right into a nearby tree. Goddamnit, I hate sneak attack punches.

"Uncalled for! You should've announced your sneak attack punch!"

"All's fair in fighting." He suddenly jumped towards, holding up his sword, preparing to swing. Oh god, an actual combat situation. I stomped my foot, creating an earth wall in front of me to block him. Okay, that should buy time. What off-topi- and he burst through the wall, still moving at the same speed. That did not stop him at all. I tapped the ground, boosting myself upwards and going over him, dodging his strike.

Okay, this time, I can go off-topic… and there's bloodlust coming from behind me. Great. I tapped my foot, creating an earth wave that moved me to the side, dodging a dagger thrown at my back. "A two versus one? Really? I didn't even want to fight! I'd rather have a date with two beauties on a cosy sunny beach. Maybe a nudist beach."

"Hahaha! She sure talks in a fight!" The man readied his sword. "I'm going to enjoy killing you."

"Stop playing around, Lorn. We have to eliminate her before she completely ruins the operation."

"Eliminate? Me? I'd rather not die." Wait… since they're trying to kill me… "Why didn't you kill them?!" I pointed at the pile of my knocked-out friends. Why do they get to sleep temporarily, but I'm forced to sleep permanently?

"Those weaklings don't deserve death. You, on the other hand, will die. Die a glorious death, like the warrior you are." He held his sword towards me and started running towards me.

Okay, the earth wall didn't stop him, and earth magic is my speciality. I also don't know where that little maid went… so… let's resort to the shadow clones. 

"Imprison my foes, those who lurk in darkness!" I lifted the hand that had the Ring of Lurking Darkness on, then quickly slammed that hand onto my shadow, causing a bunch of clones to appear. Some ran at the man charging at me, while the rest went to my right flank. I heard a little yelp come from my right. Good, the little maid has been captured. 

All that's left is for the guy charging at me to also sink into my shadow pri… son? Why isn't he sinking? Why is he still charging at me? Nearly a dozen shadow clones are hanging onto him, trying to drag him down, but he's still moving. I'm pretty sure he's speeding up. What to do… what to do… oh wait, the solution is simple. I stomped my foot one last time, visibly doing nothing. The man continued charging, but as soon as his sword was close enough to touch me, the ground under him collapsed, leading to him falling into it. Ahaha! The classic pitfall manoeuvre. Sometimes the basics are all you need.
"You coward! Lift me out of this pit and face your death!"

"I don't really want to die, and just to be safe," I tapped the edge of the pit with my foot, smoothing out the wall and floor of the pit, and had a shadow swallow his sword as extra insurance. Hmm… experiment time! I had a shadow clone appear in front of him, which caused him to panic a bit. Okay, I'll take direct control of the clone using the Ring of Lurking Darkness. It's moving its arm while I'm moving my arm. Good, good. Now, what happens if I choose to look into his eyes using a clone. Clone, look into his eyes! 

…

Nothing happened… well, that sucks. Clo- wait…

Oh. Well, that's convenient. Also, that cute ding ding is cute. It's like a sound effect, but there isn't a sound effect. I'm surprised the Creator is giving this to me, though. I kidnapped his kid, after all. Unless he's dead… oh god, God is dead. Whatever. Shadow clone, look into his eyes again!

That explains why I couldn't stop him. Hmm… well, I could wait here for them to wake up, or I could go in and approach the boss myself. I'll probably be fine. Onwards I go! Before that, I'll safely tuck them into my shadows to keep them safe. Shadows, consume my friends and Michelle. That sounded like cannibalism… whatever. Onwards I go!

Character profile: Lorn Marko

Sacred power: Immovable

Sword size: 187 cm

Description: The immovable object in human form. Lorn was born into a baron's house as the third son. From a very young age, he showcased proficiency in combat, besting his father in a duel in his teens. He would go on to become an adventurer, further fueling his battle lust. Soon he became tired of killing monsters and started attacking fellow adventurers to sate his thirst for battle. This all culminated when he first met Norika, a recent graduate of the fabled Maid School. Due to a string of misunderstandings, they ended up duelling, with Norika besting him. He chose to stick to her side, hoping to one day reach a point of strength where their fight would end up with them killing each other. 

Chapter namesake: Immovable Stone by Sylosis