Chapter 155: It's My Turn
You should leave the room. Its my turn. Derek said.
Thomas didnt argue. He walked across the room, avoiding as much blood as possible. Finally, he made it to the door, opened it, and left.
Derek nodded once Thomas was gone. Looking at Shae, he asked, Whats your stance on not revealing any information about my skills other than that they are good enough to pass for Onyx?
Shae frowned but answered. I like to think everything I see in here is confidential unless the Guild Leader directly asks me about it. He said, but frowned even deeper. I wont lie to you, youre a mystery, so I wouldnt doubt the Guild Leader asking me about you.
Dereks fingertips stopped glowing blue as his brows furrowed. No chance of you taking an oath or writing a contract, is there?
Shae shook his head. I dont think so.
Thats pretty shitty. Derek said. How is someone supposed to do this without revealing their best skills? Especially when up against someone like you.
Shae laughed. Oh, after that last showing, youve definitely passed. Anything else is just entertainment.
Derek snorted. Hed learned a lot during this test. Like, if Shae had seriously been wanting to kill him, he could have hit Derek in the head or the heart when he activated his last skill. Derek mentally put those at Onyx or above on his kill quickly list. Surely, there would be assassins at that rank as well. Hed have to be more careful than he has been.
Savannah was supposed to be safe, but Derek still wasnt completely sure about that. He would have to make it a point to ask Natalie once he could get a meeting.
Now, the question before him was, should he stop here, or keep going? To be honest, Derek wanted to continue. He hadnt been pushed like this since the first Void Beast he fought after arriving in Cydaria. He thought back to the people who already knew about his abilities. Most of them were under oaths. None of them knew exactly what they were, though. Except for maybe Alanah, and she was not under oath.
Your Guild Leader. Derek said, pulling Shaes attention back to him. Is he a good person?
Shae didnt hesitate even a second before nodding. Hes a very decent person. Hes top five strongest in the kingdom, so he doesnt answer to anyone.
But will he answer to someone? Derek asked. Like the King.
Shae snorted. That old fogie? I dont even answer to him. Sure, hes also top five in the kingdom and controls a powerful force, but for the last decade, hes been too hesitant to take any action against anyone at a certain power level.
Shae continued. With your skills, it may be good to let some of them be known. Strength is a pretty good way to wash a targe off your back.
Derek nodded. Maybe, but I doubt it.
Shae frowned. Do you mind telling me who you offended?
Derek laughed. Its not really a secret. I killed Gerald Toriths son after I found out he was involved with child trafficking. Though I would have killed him either way. Derek clarified.
Recognition flashed through Shaes eyes. That was you? Then he broke out in laughter. That man really kicked a hornets nest, didnt he? Then his tone got serious. Do you have proof of the child trafficking?
Derek shook his head. No. When he admitted it, he broke an oath. Afterwards, I killed him. I dont even think he actually knew much. Only enough to get sent to that backwater city, and just that there should be no link back to Gerald.
Thats a shame. I never liked the guy the few times we met. Always seemed off to me. Shae answered. I dont do much work in the Capital. I prefer Savannah. Me and Judy have built a pretty good live for ourselves here.
Derek nodded. By the way they interacted with each other, even though they were pretty formal, he had made that guess.
Hmm Pissing off Gerald is definitely not something that some strength would deter. Maybe if you were to meet the Guild Leader and become a Diamond Rank. Then he shook his head. No Youre good, but not Diamond Rank yet.
Derek made his decision. Keep everything between us unless specifically asked by your Guild Leader. Sound good?
Shaes teeth showed with a feral grin. That, I can agree to.
Have your skills cooled down? Derek asked.
Shaes smile got wider. What cooldown?
That surprised Derek. As far as he knew, all skills have some sort of cooldown. He was very intrigued about the class the man across from him had.
Derek slipped back into his meditation before the tips of his fingers lit up again. Before making a move, he tossed Shaes spear back to the man, which he caught and nodded, then cast his skills again, including one he hadnt previously.
With that, Derek clapped, and the room filled with lightning. The lightning slowed Shae down. Not a lot, but enough. The problem was that Derek couldnt move quickly when in meditation. So, Derek ended his meditation just before each attack from Shae. This allowed him to dodge some of the blows, and take lesser damage on the ones that connected.
At this point, both men were having tons of fun. Occasionally, a streak of lightning would connect with Shae and cause wherever it hit to become partially paralyzed for a short moment.
Can you heal through another real attack? Derek heard the voice come from his side. Derek only smiled.
Apparently, Shae took his smile as a yes. Soon, the same glow appeared after the man side stepped a couple streaks of lightning.
Just as the blow was about to connect, Derek stopped all skills and slipped into the void with Void Shift. Everything stopped. When he looked down, the tip of a projected spear was only a few inches from his abdomen, and there were two more lagging just behind. Surprisingly, the projection was still moving closer.
Derek reached for a ripple in the void and pulled himself to the side. The whole time, he was looking at Shaes face. Surprise couldnt explain what he saw. Shaes eyes were slowly following Derek as he moved. The mans foot even began to pivot to the side that Derek had pulled himself to.
The biggest downside of Void Shift was the fact that Derek couldnt attack until he ended the skill. However, he had a plan for this occasion.
Derek reached out and grabbed the mans spear just above his own hands. He channeled what void he could into the blunt end and came out of the void. With a light glow on the butt of the spear, he pushed forward, and it lightly connected to Shaes abdomen. A kidney for a kidney. Derek thought.
Derek had suspected that the mans skill that skewered him before was a projected skill because of the speed at which all three attacks hit him. He was correct. When Derek grabbed the shaft of the spear, the man had already begun withdrawing it. All Derek had to do was give it a little force to make it connect.
As the tap of the spear connected, Shae looked at Derek in shock. Then, he raised his foot to take a step, then vomited a mouthful of blood. His eyes opened even wider as he stared Derek down. Derek still had the same smile on his face.
With the way Derek used his skills, there was no real way for Shae to figure out what happened. Sure, he was able to track Dereks movement while he was in the void, but Derek didnt believe the man had even seen the glow at the butt of the spear because he was too busy staring at Dereks body.
What was that? The man finally broke the silence.
That was for me to know. Derek answered.
My kidney is gone, and I have damage in my stomach. Shae said as a red vial appeared in his hand and he drank it. Was that as hard as whatever skill you just used can hit?
Derek shrugged. What do you think?
I doubt i Shae stopped as his eyes brightened in remembrance. When you hit me on the chest at the beginning?
Derek chucked and bobbed his head in confirmation. Can you survive without a heart?
Shae frowned. Maybe. He said, to Dereks surprise. You have to have high Endurance to move as quickly as I do. Shae answered Dereks unasked question. And you dont get very far without at least some Vitality.
I see.
Yeah, I wouldnt know. Never lost my heart before. At least now I know that I can survive a kidney exploding after some minor lightning damage. Shae chuckled.
That liver shot earlier was brutal. Derek said. Did more damage than the first two strikes together.
At least you took some damage. Shae laughed. I think thats enough to confirm your Onyx Rank. Im not sure about Diamond, and Im not even going to ask you where you went for that split second.
Wait, what? Derek asked. What do you mean, where I went? He asked.
Shae frowned. You disappeared.
But you were tracking me. Derek argued.
I was tracking whatever ripple you were making.
That was something new he learned about his skill. When he used Void Shift, he actually disappeared into the void. That was useful knowledge. Youre the first person to track me. It was surprising. I hope you can keep those last skills to yourself the best you can.
I already said I would, and Im a man of my word. Shae held his hand out, and Derek accepted it.
Now, lets go get you a badge. Shae said. After that, I need a drink, too. What do you think?
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