Villain Ch 170. Hot-blooded
The atmosphere in the cave suddenly grew heavy, as if the very air had been sucked out, leaving behind an eerie silence. The usual sounds of dripping water and distant echoes of footsteps faded into oblivion. Player_Eater's sharp gaze darted in all directions, his eyes searching for any sign of movement, while Greg, standing steadfastly by his side, mirrored his unease.
"Where is he?" Player_Eater muttered under his breath, frustration was evident in his voice. His eyes darted around the dimly lit cave, desperately trying to anticipate Allen's next move. Player_Eater had become familiar with Allen's tactics over time. He knew that Allen excelled in stealth and precision strikes.
"I bet he'll attack you from behind," Greg chimed in, his tone casual and confident. As former teammates, they had spent countless hours training and battling alongside Allen. They had observed his fighting style, memorizing his every move and strategy. Greg knew that Allen had a penchant for exploiting critical points and launching surprise attacks. It was no surprise to them when they learned that Allen had chosen the Dual Dagger class in Hell's Gate.
Player_Eater couldn't help but scoff at Greg's remark, a mix of admiration and frustration coloring his voice. "You know him so well," he mockingly replied.
A couple of seconds later, as they expected, a distinct sound of shifting pebbles echoed through the cave. Player_Eater's grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. He swiftly pivoted on his heels, raising his hand in a sweeping motion towards the source of the sound. "Vine attack!" he called out, commanding the mandragora to strike with its menacing tendrils. His intention was clear: he wanted to toy with Allen, to make him suffer and crush his pride.
The ground rumbled as the mandragora responded to his command. Thick, sinewy vines shot out from the earth, poised to ensnare and attack anyone within their reach. But to his surprise, the vines did not find their mark. They flailed aimlessly, missing their target entirely.
At that very moment, as if appearing out of thin air, Allen materialized behind Player_Eater with deadly precision. The coldness in his voice sent shivers down Player_Eater's spine. "Still reckless as usual..." he muttered, his dual daggers pressed firmly against Player_Eater's neck.
Time seemed to stand still as Allen's daggers glinted ominously in the dim light of the cave. Without hesitation, he unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes, each aimed at Player_Eater's vulnerable neck. The blades sliced through the air with lethal accuracy, targeting the critical points that Allen had become so adept at exploiting.
A wave of pain coursed through Player_Eater's body as Allen's daggers found their mark. The sensation was both agonizing and humbling.
Player_Eater's head was brutally severed from his body, and the sight of his lifeless form lying in a pool of his own blood sent a chill down Greg's spine.
[Congratulations! You won the duel!]
[You have managed to kill a player.]
[Kill players 9/10]
Player_Eater's head was filled with a mixture of surprise and frustration as he tried to comprehend how Allen had managed to outmaneuver him yet again. He had always prided himself on being a strategist, but it seemed that Allen had found a way to stay a step ahead.
Greg, standing beside Player_Eater, watched the scene unfold with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. He had witnessed Allen's prowess during their time together as a team, but seeing him in action now brought a whole new level of respect. It was clear that Allen had honed his skills during his absence, becoming even more formidable than before.
Allen stared at the lifeless body coldly. He knew that facing the two of them, he wouldn't be able to use his usual tactics, so he improvised a bit by using the orc's fang item in his inventory. He kept it since it was one of the materials to make his equipment later. But since it was easy to get, he didn't hesitate to use it in battle.
That was why he needed some time to hide and retrieve that item from his inventory before he approached Player_Eater and used it as a distraction. As long as he didn't leave a certain area the duel would not be canceled automatically.
Allen glanced at Greg, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the craftsman. Without further ado, Allen swiftly sent Greg a duel invitation. The notification popped up on Greg's screen, and a hint of surprise flickered across his face before he composed himself.
"Wow, wow, wow. Hold on, Allen. You know I'm a peaceful guy," Greg protested, attempting to maintain an air of innocence. His innocent smile clashed with the tension in the air. It was a feeble attempt to deflect from the reality of their situation.
Allen's gaze remained fixed on Greg, his expression hardened. He wasn't buying Greg's sudden transformation into a peaceful soul. Their shared experiences had shown him the truth—that Greg was anything but peaceful. In fact, compared to Darren, Greg had always been the more hot-blooded.
"Peaceful guy?" Allen echoed, his voice laced with skepticism. "You almost made me laugh." He couldn't ignore the contradictions in Greg's behavior. The notion of Greg pursuing a life of peace amidst the virtual world seemed absurd.
"Well, people change, Allen," Greg responded with an air of indifference, attempting to brush off the accusation. "Don't compare me to Darren. I know I won't be able to kill you. I have no interest in getting into a battle I can't win," he asserted, his tone casual.
"It's fancy hearing that from your mouth," Allen retorted, a hint of sarcasm seeping into his words. While he wanted to believe Greg's claims, he couldn't simply take them at face value. The trust had been shattered between them, and it would take more than empty words to rebuild it.
Greg maintained his nonchalant demeanor, seemingly unphased by Allen's skepticism. "Yup!" he replied, his voice light. "I'll go first then. I'd rather hunt the Devil Emperor than you," he added, seemingly redirecting his focus. But instead of going to the exit, he went towards Allen, to the deeper dungeon.
But then, as Greg got closer, the countdown appeared in front of him.
[Duel will start in 3… 2… 1…]
[Start!]
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