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| − | ==R7==
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| − | ''2 years ago.''
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| − | "Wing Chun, Shun Zhang."
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| − | "Wing Chun, Wen Zhang."
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| − | We entered our respective stances, our hands inches from each other, our eyes hyper focused.
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| − | I can do this.
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| − | I stepped in, pushing Wen's hand out of the way and went for a feint, but Wen had already predicted this and deflected my other hand before it could even land. Wen closed the distance and brought his hands up, shoving me back and unloading his Chain Punch, catching me on the chest and the side of my face as I instinctively stepped back.
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| − | His legs are open.
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| − | I launched a leg kick, but Wen was faster, deflecting my kick with the inside of his foot and kicked me in the side with the same leg.
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| − | I stumbled back and brought my hands up in my form again, stabilizing my balance.
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| − | Wen smiled as he brought his hands back up, assuming his stance.
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| − | "Are you really going to lose to the little brother, Shun?"
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| − | "What did you just say?!" I snapped, as I charged, launching a strike to his face, then his midsection, but both attacks were dodged. I launched another strike at Wen's side, but Wen managed to catch this one, and began snaking up my arm elegantly.
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| − | "Shit!" I yelped, as I tried to defend myself, but Wen had already grappled on to me.
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| − | "Augh!" I shouted, as Wen struck me in the side of my head, then my ribcage, then used my arm and threw me onto the ground, unloading another Chain Punch against the side of my face.
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| − | "I win." Wen said, as he cleanly got off me, brushing his clothes.
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| − | I stared at the ground.
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| − | "You-"
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| − | "Sorry, Shun. But I guess I get the savings. Have fun dealing with our psycho father."
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| − | I watched as Wen walked away. He had already taken my job from me. He had taken our savings too.
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| − | I had no money, no prospects.
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| − | I looked back at our run down house. Dad was yelling at Mom again, threatening to divorce and kill our pets to survive.
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| − | "Wen, please. Take me with you. Take me-"
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| − | "Sorry, Shun. But it's every brother for themselves. That's what it means to be human. That's what Dad drilled into our heads since the day we were born. You were just too soft to admit it. I'm not gonna waste another opportunity to escape from Dad and this family."
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| − | "And Ming? Yun? You're gonna leave our cats behind too?!"
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| − | A tear ran down Wen's cheek as he kept a stoic expression.
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| − | "That's just how harsh this world is. I'm leaving this family and all the shackles behind. Even if it means destroying the elder brother to do it. I can't live with Dad anymore. I can't live with the guilt. I'm leaving it all behind."
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| − | "What if it doesn't work out. You're gonna be all on your own. I'm not gonna be there with you anymore!"
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| − | "Maybe. But unlike you, I am a full Shaolin Warrior Monk. I have what it takes to be a Kung Fu Master and open my own school. With this money, I can. I have a whole future laid out for me once I become older and my skill becomes greater. You spent your days in the Temple procrastinating and skipping classes. All you had was a half assed background in the staff as a Shaolin Disciple. The only style you still remember is Wing Chun. And I still beat you with that style despite not even practicing it for years."
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| − | Wen called the coach as he stepped inside. I ran up to it, banging on the glass.
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| − | "Wen! WEN!"
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| − | Wen put his hand on the glass, right before mine.
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| − | "But don't get me wrong, Shun. I'm going to miss you. But as what Dad always said."
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| − | The driver began to start the cab as Wen drove away, leaving me with our crazy family.
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| − | "''Mo ban fat.'' Shun. No choice."
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| − | After Wen had left, I dealt with Dad for another year. That's right. My father was abusive and psychotic. I found myself having to resist the urge to strike him, because if I did, I would end up doing something I would regret. I would spend the long days and long nights putting up with Dad's outbursts. Resisting the urge of violence as he threatened to throw away Ming and Yun. Mom defending him, telling me that Dad didn't mean the things he said.
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| − | Wen and I always had each other.
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| − | For the longest time.
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| − |
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| − | Until that day Wen had left with all the savings and the job offer. Wen and I were disciples in the Shaolin Temple since the age of four. But despite being brothers, we had very different fortunes.
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| − | Wen was a skilled prodigy. Every kung fu style he learned, he perfected.
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| − | When Wen and I were in the temple, we picked up Wing Chun to try to impress the monks and get their attention. So we could learn from them.
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| − | Wen demonstrated his aptitude in Wing Chun, and his impressive speed amazed everyone in the temple. The monks said that Wen possessed the spirit of a true master. And many of our fellow Disciples said the same thing. Wen was acknowledged, and learned from many of the monks, his skill only ever kept increasing. He mastered the staff, bare hand. The dao. The spear.
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| − | Me on the other hand, I guess I just wasn't cut out for kung fu. Because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember the forms. No matter how much I practiced, I kept forgetting. I was slow, and inflexible. I was clumsy.
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| − |
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| − | But the one thing that I seemed to have going for me, was for some strange reason, I was built very differently from Wen. While Wen had an athletic build, my body grew muscles at a rapid pace. And with these muscles, the power of my strikes were far superior to the Disciples. I was able launch an entire training dummy across the room with a single punch. I was able to break concrete blocks with my bare hands. A single side kick was able to uproot trees.
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| − | My sheer strength was what allowed me to keep up with the others in the Temple. But it wasn't enough to appease the monks and get them to notice me.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | Because kung fu wasn't just about pure power. And pure strength.
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| − | You needed to be precise. And you needed to have technique.
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| − |
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| − | And technique was the one important thing that I didn't have.
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| − | At some point, Wen and I returned home from the temple. Wen had become a Warrior Monk, and I... well...
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| − | I was still a Disciple. In fact, it was so bad, that I was with the foreigners in China, because my skill was considered at their level. The Shaolin Disciples had given me a nickname.
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| − | "''Gwai Jai Shun.''"
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| − | White Boy Shun.
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| − | Because I was always with the foreigners. Since day one. And even after all those years.
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| − | A few months later, Dad and Mom moved to my birthplace. Nara. We were staying, renting out a busted ass basement. We all had to sleep in one room. The bathroom was busted, and we ended up having to dig a huge hole out in the woods to piss or shit whenever we needed to go. And it always had to be done in secret.
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| − | Because like what Dad had always said.
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| − | Mo ban fat.
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| − | No choice.
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| − | "Damn it all." I muttered, as I kicked at the rocks along the pathway. It was night time.
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| − | "''Shui jai!'' Go ahead and leave! I never wanted you for a son!" Dad shouted at me when I told Mom that I was going out for a walk.
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| − | "That old bastard." I growled to myself, as a couple of citizens yelped and backed away from me. I walked into the forest, as I stared at a nearby boulder.
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| − | I imagined the boulder had my Dad's face on it. I made a fist with one hand and wrapped it with my other, lifting it into the air and facing the boulder.
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| − | "Shaolin Wushu. Shun Zhang."
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| − | The boulder didn't respond. Thankfully.
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| − | My eyes widened as my vision turned red. I yelled a battlecry as I stomped forward, launching an open handed strike at the rock face. The boulder crushed from the sheer force of my strike. Cracks forming as I yelled, launching another strike. And another. And another. I wanted to destroy that face. I wanted to bust it open. I wanted to destroy him.
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| − | I spun around and fired off a back kick as the boulder exploded from the force, hurtling into the darkness as I yelled.
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| − | The face was gone from the boulder, but it was still there. On the ground.
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| − | "Piece of SHIT! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" I screamed as I went low, punching the ground. Over and over again. My chain punch, bashing the ground. Dirt flying as I began to dig deeper and deeper.
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| − | "RRRRAAAAAGH!" I roared.
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| − | Kung Fu.
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| − |
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| − | Was about precision. Controlling your breathing.
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| − |
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| − | It was about learning to harness your emotions.
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| − |
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| − |
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| − | But right now, I was letting it all loose.
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| − |
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| − | Suddenly, I stopped. Something was here. I felt it.
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| − |
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| − | "What-"
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| − | ''Quiet. Boy. Your body is now mine.'' A voice said as I felt something evil swarm me. A red energy.
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| − |
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| − | "Who are you-"
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| − | ''There is no need. You will cease to exist. Your body is truly amazing. Your strength is incredible. Your rage is immense. Your mental instability. Everything about you is perfect.''
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| − | "Perfect? For what?" I stammered, as sweat poured down my face.
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| − | The yokai chuckled.
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| − | ''FOR POSSESSION.''
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| − | ==R7==
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| − | ''RING RING RING''
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| − | I heard the rustling of sheets as Jack Flock woke up from the little bed of sheets he had made on the ground.
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| − | "Mmf. Morning guys." Flock muttered, as he trudged to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
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| − | I stared at the ceiling of the broken run down church that I was staying at. There were holes in the roof, with light leaking down from above like some holy covenant or something. There were no lights in this place, meaning the best way to gage whether or not it was morning was to see if I could make it from the fridge to the sheets without bumping into anything.
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| − | I flipped over to my side to see if that nasty drunk was still asleep.
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| − | "Mmmm. Piña colada...."
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| − | Vala threw the pillow over her head as she put her hand on her mouth.
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| − | "I'm gonna throw up."
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| − | Good for her. That's what she deserved. Divine punishment for wasting all the money she earned on the bar and getting absolutely wasted while Flock did everything. I guess I wasn't any better with the finances department for the Vala Legion, considering I spent all them money I earned on what Hiiro described to be mental fortitude training.
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| − | I closed my eyes to go back to sleep.
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| − | What seemed like five seconds later, I heard Flock rustling me awake.
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| − | "Shun! Shun! It's time to hit the dungeon!"
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| − | "Seven more minutes."
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| − |
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| − | "You said that seven minutes ago! The dungeon isn't going to clear itself."
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| − | I covered my ears with the sheets.
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| − | "Then clear it yourself. I don't care about your stupid journey to become stronger or whatever. Calypso is your girl, why do I have to be involved?"
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| − | I slowly removed the sheets to see Flock pouting.
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| − | I guess maybe it was worth going with him today.
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| − | I sat up as Flock's face beamed with a smile.
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| − | "Thanks, Shun! You're the best! I'll see you at the guild at 2pm!"
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| − | Flock went up to Vala and bowed.
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| − | "I'm off, goddess!"
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| − | Vala turned to her side, smiling.
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| − | "Be back before sundown, Flock."
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| − | "I will!"
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| − | I watched Flock leave the church as he ran enthusiastically to the outside world.
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| − | "Man. I wish I had that kinda energy. I would have been main protagonist level status."
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| − | Vala rustled in her sheets on the bed. Mind you, it was the only bed we had. My back ached from sleeping on the ground. And I was sure Flock's did too. He had a knack of pretending this stuff didn't bother him. Me on the other hand...
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| − | "You could always go with him, Shun." Vala said, as she tried to sit up, resisting the urge to impart divine vomit all over the bed.
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| − | "This is his journey. He wants to become strong to stand by Rosewald's side. I couldn't care less."
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| − | I propped myself against the wall.
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| − | "When are you going to reveal what you can really do, Shun? You could help Flock out. With your level-"
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| − | "I ain't about the public image, goddess. I prefer fighting and being strong for my own benefit. Besides, if word got out that one of the only two adventurers in the Vala Legion is a Level 9 I'd get stolen by other Legions instantly."
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| − | Vala left her bed and sat in front of a mirror, combing her bedhead.
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| − | "Speaking of that, it seems Rosewald and Lunaro's squad have managed to clear the 87th floor."
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| − | "Oh?" I said, as I drank some tea from the counter.
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| − | "Rosewald has hit Level 9."
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| − | I spat out my drink.
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| − | "What? For real?"
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| − |
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| − | "Yes." Vala's drunk face suddenly turned serious.
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| − | "Apparently, the Queen of Knives killed the Floor Boss all on her own. Such power. Not even Oxar Uxas managed to do something like that, and he's the strongest Adventurer in Folia as a Level 10. I can see why Flock admires her so. Yet..." Vala began to grumbled, her eyebrows furrowing.
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| − | "Somebody's jealous." I joked, as I threw on my hoodie and headed out for the door.
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| − | "Shun." Vala said. I turned around.
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| − | "You're strong. You've kept it a secret for the longest time. But even your strength isn't enough for everything. Don't get cocky just because you're the only Level 9 adventurer that isn't in the Big Three Legions. I can continue to keep your true power a secret from the people of Folia, but that isn't enough to justify you slacking off. You can't keep being a background character forever. At some point, we will need your power. So please, train, and keep growing stronger."
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| − | I nodded grimly, as I headed out the door.
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| − | And now it had begun. The long awaited tribulation. The wait.
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| − | "You may now come in, Mister Zhang."
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| − | I bowed as I entered the office. The old man gestured at the chair.
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| − | "Take a seat."
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| − |
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| − | I sat down.
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| − |
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| − | "As you know, you are one of many candidates for this position. I will not be hiring you for trivial circumstances. I want to know what you can bring to the table to my company."
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| − | I managed a smile.
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| − | What was this tense interviewing process?! All I was going to do was manage a food stand!
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| − | The supervisor's head gleamed in the sunlight through the window.
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| − | And what company?
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| − | I took a deep breath. Steel your nerves, Zhang. You can do this. If you don't get this job, the Vala Legion was fucked. Flock could only do so much in the Dungeon, and because my true power couldn't be revealed, I was stuck at Level 2. My reputation in the guild was at an all time low every since word got leaked about a Vala Adventurer frequenting the nightclubs in the Pleasure Sector. I had tried explaining it was for mental fortitude training, just as Hiiro had explained it to me, but no one seemed to buy it. As for Vala, she always blew her paycheque on alcohol. There was no use getting her to deal with the bills.
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| − | "I've done a few jobs similar to this before." I said, as I began to fidget. I need this job man.
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| − |
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| − | "Such as?"
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| − |
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| − | "Well, I've dealt with clients before." I remembered that time I launched an open handed uppercut strike at a goon's jaw as per one client's request.
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| − | "I have a pretty clean record when it comes to service. I never leave a job undone." I said, as my memory flashed back to the time I fought twenty men in a rivalling gang for Boss Lok of the Red Circle Gang.
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| − | The old boss rubbed his knuckles.
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| − |
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| − | "I see."
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| − |
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| − | For the next few minutes, the boss interrogated me, asking me questions and scenarios where I would respond and talk about what I would do. Then he started asking me about my skills and everything.
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| − | The boss nodded, then gestured at the door.
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| − |
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| − | "The exit is this way."
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| − | I flashed another smile as I hid my fist.
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| − | So that was another rejection. Great. So that would make... fifty six rejections? This week?
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| − | I walked down the street as I watched a bunch of people sell stuff. Damn. Being unemployed sucks.
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| − | In this town, there were many occupations. Being an adventurer was one of the many, and was by far the most popular. Since you got to be strong and have fans if you were one of the best. If you got picked by a popular Legion, such as the Apollo Legion, you would get girls fawning over you instantly.
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| − |
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| − | Course for me, I ended up in the Vala Legion. Because no Legions wanted me.
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| − | I walked by a couple who was holding hands. The guy gave me a distasteful glance.
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| − | "Bum." He muttered.
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| − | I made my way to the guild. That was strange. Flock wasn't here. I was supposed to meet him at 2. I guess maybe he was preoccupied with something.
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| − | The adventurers were chatting up a storm, but the moment I entered the building, they moved to one side, looks of disgust plastered on their faces as I made my way to the front desk.
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| − | "Hi, I'd like to cash in on this week's earnings." I said, as I handed the lady my adventurer card and a bag of monster shards.
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| − | The woman operating the desk took my card and processed it, with little to no interest.
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| − |
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| − | "Still Level 2, huh."
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| − |
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| − | "Yep."
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| − |
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| − | "Not even your stats changed."
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| − |
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| − | "Yep."
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| − |
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| − | "And this doesn't bother you at all?"
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| − |
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| − | "Yep."
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| − |
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| − | The lady threw the card back at me.
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| − | "You should be more like Flock. He sets the example for all adventurers to be. Kind. Nice. And he works hard-"
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| − | "I don't need a lecture, woman." I snapped, as I took my card and went to the entrance.
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| − | Of course I didn't need to know that. Flock was everything I wasn't. I didn't care about that. But the problem was, I needed to make a living. No one would hire me. No one would party with me. No one wanted me in their establishments. No matter how hard I tried. Being enthusiastic. Being skilled. Being overqualified. Being under qualified. Heart. Logic. Sympathetic. I tried it all. And I was still unemployed.
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| − |
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| − | Vala had once told me.
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| − | "Humans are interesting. When it comes to getting a job, they can spew whatever nonsense about experience, skills, attitude, and all. But here in Folia, almost every candidate basically has the same schtick. The selection is random unless you've got something that ''really'' stands out. Like cleavage or something. What I'm saying is, it's all luck, Shun. So don't feel bad."
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| − | I leaned against the pillar as I watched the world around me go by. Everybody here seemed to have a place. A purpose. A job. And some kind of thing to contribute.
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| − |
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| − | Except for me.
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| − | "Hey. Look. It's another one of that drunk goddess' followers. Apple don't fall that far from the tree." A group of adventurers were pointing at me and smirking.
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| − |
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| − | "I heard this dude can't even make a living by adventuring."
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| − |
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| − | "Isn't he that dude who got rejected from like over two hundred job openings."
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| − | "What a loser. Once the Troy Legion is finished with that other Vala scum, they won't even need to bother with this one. He'll die from poverty!"
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| − |
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| − | I ignored them as I stared at the horizon.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Hey. You." One adventurer walked up to my face.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Get a job, why don'tcha? Sulking like that ain't gonna get you hired."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I tightened my grip on my forearms.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I've been trying." I said, keeping my cool.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "If you were, you would be hired already. Quit playing that tragic victim card. It's pathetic. But then again, you are the follower of that drunk."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I snapped to my side, power welling in my body.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''Shun-sama.'' A voice appeared in my head.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''Control yourself. Breathe.''
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I took a deep breath and walked away, as the adventurers continued jeering at me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''Even if we struggle to find a place here, the peace is something we never would have had. It was peace or living with blood on our hands as a member of the Red Circle Gang.''
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Thanks Hiiro. But times like these make me wish I was still back in China. At least if I killed, I could make an earning. I'm not getting anywhere here."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''"I heard this dude can't even make a living by adventuring."''
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''"Isn't he that dude who got rejected from like over two hundred job openings."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''"What a loser. Once the Troy Legion is finished with that other Vala scum, they won't even need to bother with this one. He'll die from poverty!"
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Die from poverty huh." I said, as my feet scraped the ground.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "''Once the Troy Legion is finished with that other Vala scum, they won't even need to bother with this one.''"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | My heart stopped.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | What...
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Troy Legion?
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I spun around.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The sun was setting. I had been walking around the guild building for hours. And Flock never showed up.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The Troy Legion...
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The Troy Legion...
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | A bead of sweat ran down my face as it splashed onto the ground.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Hiiro! Lend me your senses!"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''As you command, Shun-sama.''
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | My senses dialled up to eleven. Find him. Search for him. That smell. Those memories.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "It's not like I want to be the best." Flock once said.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I just want to become strong enough so Calypso can notice me. I don't ever want to look weak in front of her again."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Jack Flock. The Rising Star. That was his adventurer title.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | You had so much heart, but like me, no Legion wanted you.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | You ended up with a drunk of a goddess, the one goddess no one wanted to be around. The one goddess who hated mortals. But your kind heart turned her around. Your kind heart made her fall for you. The most despicable drunk in all of Folia fell in love with you because of your determination and pure soul.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Yet all we did, both Vala and I, was drag you down.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I dragged you down, Flock.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Because I chose not to reveal my power, so you could continue forging ahead to your goal. That was why, but look where it ended up getting to.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | You being attacked by a Legion. Jealous adventurers who couldn't accept the fact that Vala's follower was rising the levels.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I ran forward, sprinting and leaping from building to building. Seeking and searching.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I want to be a hero, Shun. Just like Calypso!"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | That smile must be protected at all costs.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I narrowed my eyes and focused, until I caught a group of four Legion adventurers surrounding a kid with long black hair, and purple eyes.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Flock!
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I leapt to a building and was about to join in, when suddenly, I stopped.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "How are you... still able to fight?" One of the four Trojans muttered, breathing hard, as Flock staggered forward, sword in hand.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Because I have a goal. Someone to catch up to. I can't fall here!" Flock yelled, as he ran forward, holding off all three.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I was in disbelief.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "How is he..."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "His skill. Limit Break." A husky and deep voice bellowed next to me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I turned around, to see a large seven foot giant in minimal body armour. But even I knew he didn't need any. This guy was the top of the top. Folia's only Level 10. Two large broadswords were strapped to his back as Folia's strongest adventurer watched the fight from afar.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Poseidon watches Flock. He has taken interest in the young adventurer. Limit Break is an ability that allows a warrior to fight beyond his limits. The only ever adventurer who had a similar skill, was the greatest of us. Leonidas Swallowtail of the Hades Legion, prior to his fall."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Oxar's eyebrows furrowed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Jack Flock." He said.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I watched as a Trojan closed in and swung at Jack, who yelled and swung back wildly. Fighting for dear life. Heart and fury, tied hand in hand.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Even so, I'm not letting him fight on his own. This is a lynching. I'm going to-"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Lord Poseidon has ordered me to keep others from interfering." Oxar cut me off as he stood in front of me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Even you, Red Beast."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | My eyes widened.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ''Shun-sama. How has he... how did he know who we were?''
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You know." I said, dangerously, as Oxar unsheathed one of his swords.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You suppress your power. To keep the dream alive for Flock. This is why you cannot intervene."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I brought my foot back as I assumed Hiiro's Hung Gar stance.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You have me mistaken for your stans. I take it you think I'm gonna back off because Oxar Uxas is threatening me?"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Oxar regarded me with no emotion. A devilish smile formed on my face.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I blasted forward with Hiiro's Demonic Speed, my footstep creating a shockwave on the ground as I launched a punch at Oxar's face, only to have it deflected. Oxar was unfazed, as his body remained still from the shock.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I flipped sidewards, spinning in a circle as I launched a side kick, only to have the kick deflected again by Oxar's blade. This guy didn't move a single inch.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Tch." I muttered.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You are slow, Red Beast." Oxar commented, as I sidestepped, sending punch after punch, kicking after kick, side kick, roundhouse, back kick, flip kick. Unloading combinations at the guy.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I don't need no UFC commentary. Especially not from some lackey like you." I snarled, as I leapt into the air and launched a flying kick, clashing against his sword.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Oxar's eyes narrowed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Even so." Oxar pushed me back as I used the momentum to latch onto his hand. I flipped and swung myself, digging into his body as I instantly breached his defences. I brought my foot and arm back, but then switched my stance.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Oxar was momentarily stunned as I changed my style to Wing Chun, unloading a Demon Chain Punch up his chest and all the way to his chin. But before I could finish the combination, the big guy dashed backwards, brushing his chest and clutching his sword, inspecting the damage.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You are strong. Perhaps even stronger than the Queen of Knives."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Are you praising me or fighting? Can't do both, buddy." I said, as I charged forward, but Oxar held out his hand, putting his sword away.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "The offer to join the Poseidon Legion still stands. As a Level 9, you are more than qualified to join our Legion. We will not discriminate or judge. We will even keep quiet about your power from Flock or anyone."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "And what makes you think I'll join your band of Folian elitists?"
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "To destroy the fourth Demon Lord." Another voice appeared beside us. I spun around, to see a young girl wearing a beige robe with cyan arcane decorations along the side.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "We need all the strength we can get. We cannot afford to have this Demon Lord rampage our city again, just as it did those many years ago. Surely, you understand the gravity of this situation. Astolfos has informed us. Informed the gods, and surely, have informed you, Stray Dog. The strongest Demon Lord is prophesied to have returned to this land in the 150th floor. For the sake of protecting our world, we must become strong."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I clenched my fists as Lunaro walked up to me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "A Level 9 adventurer that no one knows exists. Except for the gods." Lunaro extended her hand to touch my face.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You have suffered enough discrimination. Why must you continue? Join us. And we can give you a life of recognition. Fight by our side. Fight by the side of Oxar Uxas and Calypso Rosewald. Fight-"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I smacked her hand away, as Oxar gave no reaction.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I'll get strong, don't you worry. I'll wipe the floor with this Demon Lord's corpse once I'm done with him. But I don't need to pair up with you elitists. I'm not keeping my strength a secret because I want to. I'm doing it for Flock. If it means suffering all the discrimination in the world as a mere Level 2, it's good enough for me."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I pointed my finger at Oxar.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Flock is going to be the hero of this story. The one adventurer with the kind and pure heart. For sure. And I will always stand by his side to make sure he reaches his goal. I will always be there for him. But even so, I have my own path to walk. And that path includes surpassing Folia's strongest. I'll beat you, Oxar Uxas, with my own strength. Me? Join your Legion? No chance in hell!"
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | A breeze parted our silence, as Lunaro smiled.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Let us go, Uxas. Words alone will not convince this boy. After all, reason cannot be imparted to strays. And he chooses to continue his life as a Stray Dog."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Oxar bowed to Lunaro, as he followed her on the way out.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Yes, Lady Lunaro."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I continued to watch Flock, surpassing his limits, and managing to fight off all four Troy adventurers on his own. He was breathing hard, as he limped away.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I- I hope I didn't worry goddess too much. Gosh. Shun is going to be so upset."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I'm not mad at you buddy. Not in the slightest.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | You got your own path to walk. You're the main character in this story. Not me. And that's perfectly fine. I'll stand by your side and make sure your dream comes true.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I took a step and nearly collapsed, clutching my side, then coughing into my hand. I inspected the damage. To my disbelief, my hand was stained with a deep crimson. My body began to flare in pain, from the damage Oxar had inflicted on me. I had thought all he was doing was defending while I was attacking. But this whole time, he was countering. And I didn't even know.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "No way." I muttered. So I'm not even strong. But whatever. This doesn't bother me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Because you're a hero Flock, unlike me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | There is no heroic ending for stray dogs.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==R7==
| |
| − | "Dude! Are you okay? What happened?!" Flock ran up to me as Vala held me in place, tapping my numerous bruises with a wad of medicine.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Our ditzy Shun fell down some stairs on his way back. What an idiot!" Vala laughed, as Flock gave me an exasperated expression.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Are you sure you can go to the dungeon today, Shun? We can always go another time."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "We can go. Just give me a few minutes to heal up. I'll just use my skill here." I responded, as Vala continued treating me. I waved Flock off.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | We waited until Flock left the "med-bay". Which was basically the bathroom. Because we had no med bay to start with.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Vala's expression changed.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You fought Oxar Uxas, didn't you." She said.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Yeah." I replied.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "You idiot." Vala muttered, as she continued wiping me down.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "To know that you lost isn't surprising. The only Level 10 in Folia, and the strongest Adventurer who mentored Calypso for a time. Might as well have been fighting the Black Dragon in crutches." Vala said.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Wow, thanks for the encouragement."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "But what's surprising is knowing that he injured you this badly. What happened?"
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I thought back to the fight.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "I fought him using my foreign martial arts. No one in Folia should know my style."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Hung Gar from that Japanese Demon, right?"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Yeah. Oni Chinese Kung Fu. But even when I threw out those punches and strikes, he was able to deflect them ''standing still''. I don't get it."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "So he increased his Ultimate Defense."
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | I undid my hand bandages as I threw them into the sink, soaking in the soap and cleaning off all the dirt, sweat, and blood. My hands had blistered again. They tended to blister whenever I carried heavy loads, or fought.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "When I fought Oxar, it seemed all he did was defend. But then minutes after the fight, my body exploded in pain. Before I knew it, the damage had taken effect. He was countering this whole time, and I couldn't even detect it."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "He's gotten stronger." Vala sighed, as she wrapped up my body with a bunch of bandages.
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Vala put her hands on her lap.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "Do you understand, now? Your current strength, although very formidable, is not enough. I get you want to keep it a secret for Flock's sake. So he could grow and become the hope to defeat the Fourth Demon Lord. But ''you'' need to be strong too. Level 9 doesn't come close to the Black Dragon's power. Level 9 didn't even faze Uxas."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "There's no place for someone like me, Lady Vala. I'm just a lackey in this whole scene."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Vala glared at me.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | "It's not a matter of you being unimportant. Every adventurer has a purpose. As you walk by Flock's side, you will begin to understand that. I admire your persistence to keep yourself humble and out of the spotlight. But that doesn't give you an excuse to do nothing. No more finding jobs. Fight alongside Flock. Guide him."
| |
