[Drei05]: This chapter is will be much longer than the others, enjoy :3
~~~~~
[Ruby's POV]
"Say, if you really hate me even though I didn't do anything wrong. What about having a duel against me?"
The man in front of me, Raven, said.
He looks calm and collected, but his words were arrogant and provocative.
Digging through his informations earlier, Raven is supposed to be an <F-> rank. But based on what I see now, his rank is higher than that.
Raven spoke again as I was thinking.
"You're 2 ranks higher than me so to make things fair, lower your rank."
In today's technologies that have magical items, there are artifacts that lowers or restrains one's rank.
They exist to catch or restrain strong ability users.
But even lowering his rank, Velcro, the man Raven's arguing with, supposed to have more experience than him.
Not receiving a reply, Raven put up a dissapointed face and talked.
"Well, if you're scared then there's no need to force yourself."
It was then, Velcro, who's holding his anger back, exploded.
"I'll fight! When should we hold the duel?!"
Velcro shouted ignoring my disappointment on him.
'Looks like Raven, this kid have a knack for making people mad.'
I thought, shaking my head and glancing at the smirking Raven.
"Why need to wait? I just need to test some equipments anyway."
Raven said while smiling innocently. But his words just fueled Velcro's anger.
"Fucker! I'll wait for you in the arena!"
Velcro exclaimed as his veins all over his body seems to pop out of anger.
Bam!
Not waiting for Raven's reply, Velcro left the room and slammed the door.
Raven is just smiling all this time.
"Are you crazy?"
I asked Raven.
Raven looked and me. Then nodded.
"You can say that."
I frowned at his answer.
Even though he's young. He doesn't act like one, more like he seems to be bored in life.
Raven exudes a weird mature and confident demeanor. He's not that handsome but there's this weird things that makes him attractive.
I shook my head inwardly to remove such thoughts. Then I asked Raven.
"Can you win?"
With a casual glance at me, he answered.
"Huh? Obviously not."
His eyes were asking if I was right in the head for asking such questions. My smile twitched and almost collapse. Almost.
The other reason I thought he's weird is because my charm doesn't affect him, it works on him, but his mind isn't being clouded by it. Men or even women usually can't resist my charm.
I was about to say something but then I heard Raven whispered to himself.
"Not if I fight normally."
He then stood up.
"Where are you going?"
I asked him out of curiosity.
"Why, you wanna come with me?"
He answered. With a shrug, I gave him his own medicine that he used to Velcro, provocation.
"Aren't you just going to run away?"
Raven, who noticed my intention, sneered.
"Don't worry, I'm just gonna go shopping."
Then he left.
"What's with him?"
'He's so weird.'
***
[Raven's POV]
I'm currently at the shopping area of the [Paradise].
I'm looking at the daggers that are being sold.
Using my claws for close-combats have some downsides, I learned that after going to the dungeon. Feeling my hands and claws digging through flesh.
'Disgusting...'
Just remembering the feeling made my stomach churn. So I decided to wield a dagger again.
Claws have shorter range than daggers, they're also not as sharp as daggers, and it also hurt me using them as they're part of my body.
While glancing each shop that sells daggers, I caught a glimpse of a black dagger.
Its handle and blade both have black hue.
The design is also simple but cool, just my taste.
Going near it. I appraised the dagger.
=====
[Black Dagger]
-Made by a great blacksmith.
-Sharp and have a great durability.
-Imbuing mana into it is easy.
=====
Its function aren't bad.
But the name is so lame.
'Well, simple is better than cringe.'
I then looked at the dagger's price.
[20,000 Zeals]
It's pretty expensive. I checked my balance.
=====
<Balance>
[20,372,647] Zeals
=====
I got 20 million Zeals as an early pay for [The Stygian Lair]. The map is also included on it.
I signed the contract under the name of [Night] again.
I also sold the monster cores that I got from the dungeon. I saved some for Yuki to eat.
Currently, Yuki is sleeping inside the [Ring of Gluttony]. She seems to be absorbing the mana from the monster cores she ate.
Anyway, selling some of the monster cores and red wolves's corpse earned me of about 90,000 [Zeals]. I'm pretty proud of myself.
I didn't sell the [King Wolf]'s corpse just on a whim. I'm still treating it like a trophy.
Anyway, I bought the dagger.
"Having money really is nice."
I mumbled while smiling.
I went in to a secluded area and took out the last <Item Upgrade Scroll> that I have from my spatial storage.
Contemplating for a while where to use it.
To the dagger or to the [Nyx].
But it didn't take me long as the answer is obvious, after unrolling the scroll, I tore it in the middle.
Then the [Nyx] emitted a bright black hued light.
Like the [Ring of Gluttony], the [Nyx] didn't get upgraded in the novel because it's just stuck on Aoi's shelf.
After a while, the light died down.
[Upgrade was successful]
And the system's notification came.
I made the system show [Nyx]'s new effects.
=====
[Nyx]
-Unique skill <Magic Bullet>
<Magic Bullet>
-You can engrave magic to the bullets by applying mana to [Nyx].
-Using the skill cost the same mana needed as casting the magic normally.
=====
"This is good."
[Nyx]'s new skill made me smile unconsciously, too bad I can only use low tier magics at the moment.
After that, not wasting any more moment, I headed to the arena.
I did some science research on the way.
***
Arriving in the arena's entrance, Ruby was there and seems to be waiting for me.
"I thought you would run away."
She teased. Giving her a confident smile, I spoke.
"What are you talking about? I'm gonna win."
"Whatever, Here."
Ruby then handed a black mask to me.
I tilted my head looking at her. Waiting for explanation.
"It's to hide your identity, there's some people watching as Velcro gathered a lot spectators to humiliate you."
Ruby shrugged.
"I see."
I'm still a student afterall, being here is absurd so I need to hide my identity.
"Thanks."
I took the mask and gently placed it on my face. It fits well that it feels like I wasn't wearing a mask.
"Don't lose helplessly."
Ruby said.
"You're worrying too much about me."
I replied.
"Well I took a liking to you."
"Then how about a kiss when I win?"
I said giving Ruby a sly smile.
"Sure, but I'll decide the time and place of the kiss myself."
Ruby replied back in a more sly manner.
"Fine by me."
I shrugged my shoulders and walk toward the arena.
***
Upon entering the arena, I felt gazes gathered toward me. A lot of spectators came.
All I can hear is murmurs of the spectators.
There's no cheering or sneering, it looks like they doesn't have any expectation to me.
Looking around the arena. It's an oval shaped battle ring with some few big rocks scattered that serves as obstacles.
"Are you getting nervous?"
It was then that a mocking voice entered my ears from the opposite side of arena.
It was obviously Velcro.
I looked at Velcro and shrugged.
"No, not really."
I can hear him gnashing his teeth from here at my casual reply.
'So simple minded.'
I thought looking at the angry Velcro and analyzing him at the same time.
Velcro have a big sword hanging on his back and he's wearing a bracelet that reduces one's rank.
Appraising Velcro's stat again, I can see that he's currently at <F+> rank, the same as me.
Velcro is said to have more experience than me as he probably raids dungeons frequently.
'This will be a good experience for me.'
Even if I win or lost, my life is not on the line anyway.
'But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna go for the win!'
My heart started beating wildly.
I'm so excited that I started to smile unconsciously.
My mana aura along with <Monarch's Presence> spread all over the place.
Velcro got startled by it making him frown.
My cold sharp eyes then suddenly turned to the man in the middle of the arena between me and Velcro.
He was the referee.
I just noticed his existence now.
I aimed my aura directly at him. The referee is <F+> rank too.
Opening my mouth.
"Start the match."
I commanded him.
The referee flinched and raised his hand.
"Fight!"
Then he started the match without even asking Velcro's opinion.
Everyone noticed that and the murmurs became louder. The referee, got shocked when he realized what he just did.
Velcro, having his existence ignored made him angrier.
***
After clenching his hands into a fist tightly from anger, Velcro kicked the ground and propelled himself toward Raven. His figure disappeared.
Raven immediately jumped sideways to left.
Boom!
Then a big sword landed and destroyed the area where Raven is standing earlier. Velcro reappeared few steps away from Raven.
Raven immediately aimed [Nyx] to Velcro. He saw Velcro looking at him with a smug look.
Velcro is mocking Raven's [Nyx], because guns are known for being weak.
Velcro plans to openly recieve the bullets Raven would shoot since the beginning of the duel to humiliate Raven.
And knowing that, Raven smirked.
"Idiot."
Raven mumbled and pulled the trigger.
Psh! Psh! Psh!
3 bullets consecutively was shot. The sound produced by the [Nyx] was a lot more quieter than any guns had ever Raven used.
Puk-
The first bullet hit Velcro's chest and dug into his skin, which is unexpected to him.
"Keuk"
[Nyx]'s fire power can pierce through <E> rankers' skins, and Velcro is currently <F+> rank.
Velcro's eyes widened and tried to dodge the other bullets.
Whoosh–
But black mana ropes erupted from the bullet in his chest, it covered his whole body and restrained him.
Raven used one of the [Nyx]'s skill, the <Magic Bullet>, and imbued magics to the bullets he fired.
And the bullet that just hit Velcro was imbued with <Bind> magic. Because of the magic ropes, Velcro's movements was halted.
Phuk-
And in that short span of time, another bullet dug to his skin.
The 2nd bullet was imbued with the magic <Weaken>. It's a debuff magic that weakens the target's physical strength.
And because he's weaken, Velcro couldn't forcefully break free from the <Bind>.
Before even the 3rd bullet reach Velcro. Raven kicked the on the ground and dashed toward Velcro.
"<Accelerate>, <Strengthen>"
Raven casted buffs to himself midway as he close the distance between him and Velcro.
Phuk-
The 3rd bullet hit Velcro when Raven was near him. The bullet was imbued with the debuff magic <Slow> that decreases the target's speed.
Velcro, feeling himself being weaker and slower, has a surprised face.
Arriving before him. Raven placed the [Nyx]'s muzzle between Velcro's brows.
Velcro snapped out of shock and his attention went back to Raven. But it's already too late.
In Raven's right hand, [Nyx], currently raging with his mana. And on Raven's left hand, there's a magic circle.
Before Velcro could even process what's happening. Raven pulled the trigger. Twice.
Boom!
Much to everyone's surprise, A small explosion was heard and not a gunshot's.
It's because Raven combined a simple but complicated fire magic and wind magic. <Ember> and <Gas>.
Raven used a 1st tier wind magic, <Gas>, and collected the gasses; Hydrogen, Oxygen, Methane, and Acetylene. In one area, to be exact, in front of Velcro's face.
The mentioned gasses are explosive, Oxygen is not but it can trigger explosions. Raven did his science research earlier.
As of how Raven specified the gasses in the air and collected them, the system helped him by directing the magic's target accurately.
Meanwhile, Raven's bullets was imbued with the 1st tier fire magic, <Ember>, so when Raven fired them, the explosion happened.
Because Raven knew what's gonna happen, He was able to swiftly dashed back to avoid the explosion before it even reach him.
Dense smoke followed the explosion hiding Velcro's small but muscular figure.
Swoosh–
But not long, Velcro came out from the smoke with an angry face and burns on his head. He's bare fisted as it looks like he left his sword.
Raven knew that explosion wouldn't bring down Velcro, so he have <Insight> acrivated.
After predicting Velcro's trajectory. Raven rolled sideways and took out the [Black Dagger] from his spatial storage and held it in his left hand.
Bam!
Velcro's fist struck the ground Raven's standing on earlier.
"Ugrh."
A small groan escaped Raven's mouth as Velcro's fist grazed him. And because of that, his balance was slightly disrupted.
And even before Raven try to fix his balance. Velcro appeared to his left side.
Velcro's fist was raised and covered with dense blue mana.
Raven raised his left arm to attempt to block it and injected mana to the [Celestria] that is in the form of a ring; it slithered to Raven's left arm and reformed as a black circular blunt shield.
Bam!
Then Velcro's fist collided with the shield.
"Urgh...!"
Crack-
Even after blocking it completely, a bone in Raven's left arm cracked!
But instead of worrying about that, Raven used the force of Velcro's punch to twist his body.
Raven's body spun to the left. Holding the [Black Dagger] imbued with mana in his left hand.
Raven imbued mana in the training bracelet on his left wrist, and adding the the momentum of his spin. Raven stabbed Velcro's right shoulder.
Phuk-!
"Grrgh...!"
Velcro let out a pained groan.
Not that Raven care.
While the [Black Dagger] is stabbed into Velcro's shoulder. Raven dragged and slashed downward the dagger.
Slash–!
"ARRRRRRGHHHH!"
This time, Velcro screamed as he launched a punch using his left hand toward Raven as a reflex.
Raven crossed his arms into an 'X' and imbued mana to the [Celestria] that covered his arms.
Bam!
"Argh..!"
Raven still felt Velcro's attack even after blocking it. He jumped backwards to reduce the damage he will recieve and was sent flying away in the air!
After Raven gently landing on the ground, he noticed he was sent flying for about 15 meters.
Raven looked at Velcro, Velcro's enraged expression is still on his face. But after a while, Velcro let out some deep breathes and calmed down.
Raven can still feel his anger, but Velcro is now thinking calmly.
"Well... Shit."
Raven mumbled.
Because of Velcro's anger, Raven easily predicted his movements. Velcro's actions until now were hasty and reckless, clouded by his emotions.
That's why Raven provoked him more before the duel started.
But now that Velcro is thinking calmly, fighting him will be a lot harder.
As a proof of him calming down. Instead of rushing at Raven again, Velcro retrieved his sword. And pointed at Raven.
"I'll come at you seriously now."
Raven swallowed a mouthful of saliva and wiped the blood coming out from the corner of his mouth.
"This is exciting."
Raven mumbled with a crazed smile.
And seeing that. Velcro frowned.
"You're crazy."
Right after his words ended. Velcro immediately disappeared and reappeared in front of Raven. Slashing his sword diagonally down.
Raven jumped backwards to dodge.
Boom!
And the sword hit the air and soon met the ground, destroying it upon contact.
Tap-
Swooosh–
When Raven was falling from the air, he extended his left leg first to the ground, and when his left foot touched the ground, securing a solid footing. Raven immediately kicked his left loot and dashed at Velcro.
Raven stored [Nyx] into his spatial storage and covered his right hand with mana.
It all happened in seconds and Raven is already in front of Velcro. Raven then immediately grabbed Velcro's sword's blade.
"<Devour>"
Raven muttered and black mana coming from the [Ring of Gluttony] in his right hand engulfed Velcro's sword.
After that, the mana covering Velcro's sword disappeared.
Velcro got startled. Raven didn't miss that moment and stabbed straightly to Velcro's face.
But because Velcro is now thinking calmly, he saw Raven's attack and swiftly dashed backwards.
Though, Raven predicted that so he sent the [Celestria] to the [Black Dagger] and extended the dagger's blade by 2 meters with it, making the dagger look like a long sword.
Slash-
Velcro tilted his head violently to avoid the sudden extension of the blade that was aimed at his face. By doing so, the supposed to be attack that will put a hole on his head was reduced to just a graze on his cheek.
Velcro dashed back again to put a distance between him and Raven.
Looking at his sword that has seemed to aged for years even though he just bought it some weeks ago. Even the idiot Velcro can't help but notice that it was Raven's doing.
Velcro also felt his mana being drained earlier when Raven grabbed his sword and muttering something.
"You have a lot of tricks."
"Of course, do you think I'll win against you normally?"
Raven casually replied.
'Extending blade and draining one's mana.'
Recalling back throughout the fight until now, Velcro noticed that Raven had used complicated and unpredictable moves.
'Bullets that weakens me and explodes. Shields that also appears out of nowhere.'
Velcro became wary of Raven that might still have some cards under his sleeves.
Raven on the other hand is on the edge as he already used most of his so called 'cards.
'Fuck! How can he dodge that?'
He complained in his mind.
Raven regained his fighting stance and observed Velcro.
Then he used one of his best cards.
"I'll finish this."
Bluffing!
Velcro calmly thinking also have a downside, seeing that he's being wary of him, Raven decided to spout bullshits.
And because of Raven's actions until now, the stupid Velcro took Raven's words seriously.
Though instead of being over wary like Raven predicted, Velcro became carefree instead.
'Fuck I don't know! I'll just fight without thinking again!'
Velcro hates thinking too much. And Raven didn't add that up to his insight. Velcro being stupid helped him this time!
Even though Velcro recieved more hits throughout the fight, Raven is still at the disadvantage. Just receiving one solid hit might even kill Raven with Velcro's strength!
Raven knows that so he said bullshits to make Velcro hesitate on his moves. Though just like mentioned earlier, it didn't worked as he expected and he don't know this.
Swoooosh–
Raven propelled himself at his fastest speed to Velcro. He plans to attack him while he's off guard.
But Velcro who gave up thinking too much swung his sword vertically down without an ounce of hesitation.
Because Velcro is wary of Raven, he attacked with the intent to kill. In short, Raven's plan backfired, twice!
Because Raven have his <Insight> on, he knew that if none of them stop, his head will be split open!
'Shit!'
Unfortunately for Raven, he can't stop his advance and Velcro shows no sign of stopping either.
'If that hit, I'm dead!'
Only thoughts about dodging the attack entered Raven's mind out of desperation.
Fwooo–
Raven is already using 100% of his brain, and because he's short in time, he pushed his brain even further beyond the limit!
Along side with the trait <Calm Thinker> and the skill <Insight> that are activated to their max efficiencies.
His brain searched everything in Raven's possession, even his body parts that Raven doesn't even know that exist.
Raven's brain worked to the level that surpassed humans!
And when Raven's brain found something unknown inside him. Raven used them without caring for the consequences, because he will die anyway if he couldn't avoid Velcro's sword.
After grasping and using the unknown.
The whole world seems to slowed down for Raven.
Raven saw Velcro's sword few centimeters away from his head, and its still closing in.
Though Raven can see it, his body can't keep up as he is also moving slowly.
'W-what?'
Raven was in shock, his brain is currently processing so fast that it made the world seems much slower.
And because of that, Raven witnessed what the 'unknown' is.
A blinding white light engulfed his body and soon was absorbed inside him.
After that, Raven felt his body overflowing with tremendous energy and power. Raven doesn't know but his stats was amplified and increased to <E> rank. Raven leaped 2 ranks forward!
And by instinct. Raven poured a huge amount of mana to the [Celestria]; it slithered to his back and clutched his whole torso.
Whoosh–
Then a pair of beautiful black wings grew on Raven's back made with [Celestria]. Manipulating the mana engulfing the wings, Raven flapped them once.
Swoosh–
Raven's body was dragged as he flew backwards and shot upwards.
It all happened in a short span of time.
Boom!
And the next thing everyone saw was Velcro's sword slamming on the ground and crushing it. Debris scattered everywhere.
But everyone's eyes was locked at Raven's direction, even Velcro have his eyes open wide.
Their gazes were filled with awe staring at Raven on the air as his majestic wings are flapping and keeping him in the air.
Raven also doesn't really know what happened, he's in shock too and as surprised as the other.
The world is now flowing normally to him again.
Surprisingly the wings feels natural to Raven.
But because of Raven's <Calm Thinker>, he was not stupefied, coming to his senses, he shot himself toward the dumbfounded Velcro again.
Using his surging power and wings to amplify his speed, adding his falling momentum.
Raven's speed was terrifying!
Raven covered his right leg with mana, his wings disappeared as he falls. He sent [Celestria] under his right leg and reformed it as a blunt blade.
When Raven was near Velcro. Raven did a front flip and used all of the momentums he gathered and launched an axe kick.
BAM!
The kick came in contact with Velcro's right shoulder.
Crack-!
A loud cracking sound echoed. It was from Velcro's bones being crushed.
"KEUKKK...!"
While Velcro is trying to suppress the force of Raven's kick.
Crack- Crack-
The ground Velcro is standing on also started to crack.
Boom!
In the end, Velcro wasn't able to withstand the pressure and his knees gave up and folded, slamming his whole body to the ground.
Raven jumped backwards and landed softly to the ground. He was about to lose consciousness because of mana exhaustion.
Raven's head and whole body is aching.
-Kyuu...!
It was then, Raven heard Yuki. Yuki was now awake and looking at him with worried eyes.
Yuki opened her beak and started to absorb mana from the surrounding. Relieving one of Raven's worry.
As Raven recover a bit of his mana, his complexion got better. He didn't let his guard down and looked at the dust and debris where Velcro is suppose to be in.
Once the dust and debris faded, Raven saw a figure kneeling on both knees.
Velcro have his teeth gnashed together. His eyes are wide open and glaring but it's all white indicating he's unconscious.
Bloods are dripping out of his mouth and nose.
And seeing Velcro like that, silence engulfed the arena.
Just after a while when the referee regained his calm and raised his hand.
"V-Velcro lost and Night won the duel!"
Night is Raven's alias.
After the announcement, loud applause and cheering was heard all over the spectating area.
"That was intense!"
"That was awesome!"
"I lost the bet, but it's understandable!"
Looking the spectators for a brief moment.
Raven headed toward the waiting room.
He's too tired to deal with them.