Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen novel Chapter 367

Eileen held her gun with a steady hand, each step bringing her closer to the seemingly unsuspecting young man.

She stopped right in front of him.

With the barrel pressed against his temple, the boy’s eyes widened with terror, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. He looked like he might shrink into himself at any moment.

Eileen nudged the gun deeper against his skin, her voice icy and unyielding, "Who are you?"

The boy stammered, "I-I'm Regal. I'm from Crestonia too... but I grew up in the States. I, I..."

Regal’s fingers were clenched tightly around the edge of his shirt, tears brimming in his eyes. He picked nervously at the seams, as if the action could somehow calm his nerves.

Eileen studied him, her brow furrowed.

Regal continued, "The Valiant Quest... the top ten get prize money. My mom... she's sick. It was supposed to be my brother, but he got injured last minute, so I came instead..."

His voice quivered with emotion, tears threatening to spill over as if Eileen’s presence alone was enough to break him.

Still wary, Eileen shifted the gun to the center of his forehead, raising an eyebrow. "How did you know I was here?"

Regal blinked, his small eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Everyone knows."

Eileen narrowed her eyes.

Regal hunched his shoulders, "Someone saw you ambush Dick’s crew here. I landed just as they were leaving, and I overheard them talking..."

Eileen glanced at him once more.

After a moment, she holstered her gun and turned to grab her supply bag.

All the while, Regal remained pressed against the wall, watching her with a mix of fear and awe.

When she retrieved her bag, Eileen frowned slightly. She had deliberately turned her back on him, and yet he hadn’t attacked. Maybe she had been too suspicious?

With her supplies slung over her shoulder, Eileen turned back. "I don’t team up."

She brushed past him without another word.

Regal hurried after her, not daring to say more, but keeping close like a shadow.

Once outside the building, Eileen headed straight for the rooftop of the old school building.

Pook was still hanging from the building’s exterior.

His wrists were swollen and red from the bindings, his hands clutching desperately at the railing, palms rubbed raw and blistered.

He looked like a man at the end of his rope, ready to give up the ghost at any moment.

Eileen glanced at the health monitor on his wristwatch.

His legs were severely injured, and he had been hanging there for over half an hour. His health points were down to twelve.

A little more time hanging, and he'd be "eliminated."

Regal, breathless from climbing, reached the rooftop just as Eileen pulled a water bottle from her bag. She unscrewed the cap and, gripping Pook’s hair, poured the contents down his throat in one go.

Regal approached tentatively, eyes full of naive admiration. "You’re helping him. That’s so kind of you."

Eileen didn’t respond, focused on emptying the bottle.

Pook, parched and desperate, had started gulping greedily, only to find the relentless flow made it hard to breathe.

He had no choice but to keep drinking until the bottle was empty, leaving him utterly exhausted.

Eileen checked Pook’s health level again. The water had restored some of his points.

Now at eighty, she crammed a piece of dry bread into Pook’s mouth.

"Ugh... mmph..." Pook was almost choking!

After forcing him to swallow, Eileen saw his health was back to full.

Satisfied, she stood up, her tone icy, "Once the blizzard hits, you’ll lose a point per minute. You’re at full health now, so even if it blows right in your face, you’ve got a good hour and a half before you’re out. Happy hanging."

Pook: "..."

Regal: "..."

Wow, she’s fierce!

Eileen turned away, uninterested in the pathetic sight, and slung her bag over her shoulder.

Pook called out desperately, "I-I need to use the bathroom! Can’t you let me down for that?"

A sly smile tugged at Eileen’s lips. "Think of it as a bonus. Everyone watching will see you wet your pants. Instant fame."