"It's no use hiding... I can sense your presence," Stan said. "Come on out, or I'll take the fight to you,"

Stan’s threatening tone made the uncertainty slowly build up on Arka, making her brain draw a blank. She cleared her throat. She then stood up behind the boulder she hid, and slowly stepped away from it to reveal herself to Stan and Lily.

She looked at the wide bloodstain on the ground, and then back at Stan. She felt suspicious of the one-sided aftermath.

"That fight— that fight... was too one-sided... What did you do?" She choked mid-sentence as she said this.

Suddenly, Stan made a proposition to her. "You wanna know...?" He smiled. "Then, entertain me a little," He said this with wide-open arms at her.

As Arka saw Stan open his arms, she made a closer inspection of Stan's handwear. I was revealed to have combat-ready short, blades at the knuckles of his leather gloves, donned with metal plates on the backhand and thumb; his steel gauntlet meanwhile, possesses small studs on its knuckles.

Knucklebusters...? No... More accurately, Cestus gloves. He fights with those? Arka recognized the gloves Stan was wearing.

Arka immediately understood Stan's suggestion of 'entertainment'. She doesn't want to get herself tangled in such a fight right now.

"I didn't come here to fight," Arka wanted to diffuse the situation.

"Well, tough luck! I'm bored, get it?" Stan told Arka. "And if you try to run, I guarantee you'll regret it," He said as he cracked his fingers.

She did intend to run... it was the first thought she had. After all, what would be the point in wasting her time on this? Although, she did feel that the person in front of her has already kept her in check. Perhaps it was already too late to back out now... her option of avoiding conflict has been restricted. Fighting was the only choice she had left in facing this situation.

"Stan," Lily suddenly spoke up. "We don't have time for this. Tyr's going to open the portal any moment," As Lily said this, Stan suddenly dropped his arms.

Stan looked at Lily. "Just relax..." He said to her in a low tone of irritation. "It only took us seconds to kill these humans," He said. "One more kill... shouldn't make a difference," Stan gestured with his index finger as he emphasized the word 'kill'.

Lily snapped at him. "Sure, fine. Do what you want,"

As Stan noticed her angry tone, he couldn't help but ask with squinted eyes: "Are you still..."

“Do what you want,” Lily firmly told Stan. Stan instinctively raised his chin.

After that, Lily distanced herself from Stan with a look of displeasure, not wanting to look at him.

Stan's eyebrows furrowed as he cast an annoyed glare at Lily, dumbfounded by her behavior of shunning him. He felt his pride repressed into him, unknowing of what he said, or done.

That's what you get for being stuck up. Arka thought as she understood the situation.

Arka dropped her filled bag, drew her sword from her waist, and held it with two hands in a downward, forty-five-degree angle. She's getting ready to fight. Not knowing how the brawler in front of her will strike, she readied to react to whatever may happen.

Stan looked at Arka, as he saw her fighting stance.

He eyed her weapon. "Nice sword," Stan commented. He began to approach her in slow increments. Arka slid her left foot forward, to keep her guard on her right side.

"Though, pointless if I could just—"

Arka's eyes widened as Stan disappeared suddenly in her field of view.

"—stand toe-to-toe, right?" Stan said to Arka, as he suddenly stood next to her on her right side.

Their toes were indeed next to each other.

Arka immediately did a quick, horizontal cut to the right, grunting due to the sudden appearance of her opponent. As Arka made her cut, she hopped back, almost losing her footing.

Stan ducked in perfect succession just before Arka's sword could make a clean cut on him.

"Nice reflexes," Stan said, while crouched down.

Arka kept hopping back until she covered a two-and-a-half meter distance. As she did so, she returned to her stance with both of her hands on the grip of her sword. "So that's how you beat that guy? A speed hack?" Arka said to him.

Stan raised his chin, and his eyes squinted, as he looked at Arka after hearing an unfamiliar term. "A speed hack? What are you talking about?"

Arka understood Stan's words as feigned ignorance. "Cheater," She rebuked.

Stan chuckled at Arka's remark. "I see, now," Stan said. "Hmm... it's just occurred to me... all the others told me the same thing..." Stan said. "Before I killed them, of course," He smirked as he said this and shrugged—expressing his nonchalant reaction to it.

Arka knew Stan was trying to intimidate her. She kept her nervous feelings in check at the sudden thought.

Suddenly, Stan dashed forward.

Within the spacing that Arka covered between them, Stan closed their distance in a half-second.

Within those moments, Arka saw Stan intending to throw a fist at her during the distance she has covered. She didn't have time to think as she instinctively raised her sword—hoping that she held it in the correct position.

A successful block.

As Arka felt the force of impact on her blade, she quickly stepped back maintaining a low body posture for balance. At the same time, Stan threw another quick fist only to be closely evaded by Arka.

After Stan threw this second fist, Arka swung her sword in a vertical swing, leaning closer this time. But once again, Stan also evaded this, hopping back as the blade neared his face. Stan looked at the moving blade directly without a change of his complacent expression.

Lily blinked an instant widened-eye reaction at Arka as she spectated the two fighters outside their dueling field.

Arka quickly brought her sword back and once again, made an appropriate stance ready for the next move. After Stan hopped back— "Impressive," He complimented her. "And you almost overextended," He said, with a fist at the ready on his waist.

Arka loosened her shoulders this time; beginning to ease into the movements of her opponent.

"Are you finding this fun...? Cheating?" Arka berated. "You'll ruin everyone's fun if you keep that up..." Arka told Stan.

Stan made an open grin with his mouth. "What?" He asked. "You still think I'm cheating...?" Stan laughed as it went on for a few seconds. Afterward, he sucked some air and exhaled with a 'Hoh' trailing off from his voice. "That was laughable," He exclaimed. "And believe me, what I'm doing isn't ruining anyone's fun,"

Arka held one hand near the end of her blade, with the other, still holding on the grip.

Stan didn't mind Arka's unusual way of holding her sword, as he once again, attempts to close his distance toward her. This time, he pivoted his body towards the right and raised his left leg.

Stan did a roundhouse kick at Arka only to be successfully blocked once more. His leg landed on the blade near the guard of Arka's sword, as his armored greaves prevented it from getting cut.

Suddenly, Arka rapidly leaned forward and elevated the sword's blade she held in her hand; circumventing his leg, and aiming for Stan's neck.

As Stan saw this, he finally changed his expression with a look of surprise. He quickly dropped his leg and leaned back to avoid the unexpected move Arka did. A close shave it was, as he rolled backward and landed on a crouching position.

After that, he put on the same, smug expression. "Amazing, that was..." he complimented her once again as Stan placed a hand on his neck instinctively.

Arka quickly returned to her usual stance.

So he claims this is his natural movement...? That can't be true. Arka thought.

"I'm not only talking about the players... you'll also ruin this server— this game for everyone..." She said.

For some reason, she recalled Banelfsing and Mikrim in the back of her mind as she said her words.

Stan looked at Arka with his eyebrows furrowed with his dead-fish-shaped eyes. "Trust me, you don't know shit about this world," Stan said as he stood up.

"Then... tell me about it," Arka retorts.

Stan broke his lips into a smile, amused at Arka's demand. He almost chuckled at her pointless request. Stan thought about whether he should tell her... Then again, he didn't start a fight with her to share pleasantries... so why was he even entertaining her in the first place?

That's when he deduced—the first few moves on their dance of death... he felt amusement. A thrill during their fight... something he hasn't felt in a long time. He became curious about her, but also perhaps, pitiful as he understood the thoughts behind her demand.

Arka recalled the incident a while ago, in hopes of getting Stan to talk some more.

"Before you killed that player a while ago, it sounded like you were looking for something," Arka said. "What's your aim?" She asked, hoping that the person in front of her might spill the beans.

Stan stopped smiling. "So, you did eavesdrop on us after all?" Stan affirmed his suspicions, as he began cracking his fingers. "Has what you've heard been over the top...?" He said this, as he slowly made each of his digits sound the release of pressure for each press with his thumbs.

It didn't take long until he stopped this midway. "I suppose... I can let you have a slice of the cake," He said.

Lily darted a look at Stan, giving him a look of disbelief. This worried expression can be seen in her eyes due to Stan who was about to let the confidentiality of their mission be compromised.

"But first, some action," He said.

As Arka blinked—Stan, once again disappeared in front of her eyes. She couldn't determine how he could do such a thing. Within those moments, she heard the dirt of the ground beside her shuffle with some weight.

Without looking, Arka moved away from her right and sidestepped left. As she looked to her right, she saw her opponent who just launched a jab at her.

The next thing he did was close their distance once again in moments.

Stan threw a forceful punch, but Arka ducked at the last moment.

She swung her sword horizontally, aiming to decapitate Stan's legs. He jumped, however, evading her sharp blade.

While he jumped in midair, Arka immediately rolled away, carried by the weight of her sword swing.

Arka read the instantaneous movements of her opponent. She predicted that he would attempt to strike again with a crushing blow on her, landing on his feet.

Her hunch proved correct, as he landed with the dirt and rubble, smashed in front of her.

Some spacing is set between the two once again, as Arka stood, returning to her sword stance. Stan turned towards her in the few meters they face.

"So, me and Lily here—we've actually been at this for days now... searching for a key," Stan said. "This key is the whole reason for the end of the world... and our sources tell us that chumps like you, have it." He said.

"Why would you want that? Just who're you people anyway?" Arka asked. "Could it be... do you actually want to destroy this game?" She said with sheer resolve.

"Tut, tut." Stan clicked his tongue twice and raised his index finger at her. "I said I’ll only share a slice of the cake." He said. "So, I have a proposition. You tell us where you're hiding this key, and maybe we'll leave you alone." And then, Stan shrugged in a nonchalant demeanor. "Although, I already suspect that you don't know a thing about this... but you see, I'm tired. Will you tell me, I'm wrong?"

"I've never heard of anything like that in this game." Arka replied without hesitation.

He went back to his usual smirk. "Then, entertain me some more," Stan said.

Stan charged toward Arka once again, covering their distances within a few milliseconds. This time, he closed in on her with an open palm strike.

Seeing this explosive movement coming from her opponent, Arka reactively stepped back and decided to block with her sword that she held with two hands on her grip.

However, instead of striking her, Stan grabbed hold of her blade and pushed it towards her to hinder Arka's movement. Due to his gloves protecting his hands, the blade didn't make any incision.

He then made a strong blow at Arka's side with his steel gauntlet. As it struck her, Arka's avatar flinched, as her HP dropped to 88%.

Another consecutive jab— even quicker this time, further dropping Arka's HP down to 79%.

Surprised at the quick drop of her HP, Arka slammed her fist down to Stan's steel gauntlet, before he can make another quick strike. This knocked his hand away from her. And then, she kicked Stan in the stomach—stopping his hold on her blade, and making him stagger backward.

She quickly followed up with a stab to the head for a determined kill. However, Stan leaned sideways at the last moment, as if already anticipating her attack which only pierced his shoulder.

An ample amount of space was set again between them as Stan hopped back. He looked down at his shoulder. Sure enough, a stab wound was punctured through his vest, which almost pierced through a lethal spot on his body.

Lily glared at Arka. Not anyone could just harm Stan and continue to stand. There hasn't been anybody who could do that until now.

The reason for this could be due to the exhaustion that Lily and Stan succumbed to over their arduous journey. Still, it shouldn't be enough for a mere person to keep up with speed and reflexes alone against people... or 'beings' like Stan and her... this baffled her. She focused intently on their fight.

"Your use with the sword is superb. It's been a long time since I've seen anyone else do as you do..." Stan said.

Arka's confused by Stan's wording when he said, 'a long time'. The game only just began two weeks ago. But the way he worded it—it was as if Stan's been playing Helsfate more than that. What does he mean?

An idea shot through Arka's mind, but it was just absurd to even conclude with the given assumptions.

"The way you fight with your Kampilan— you keep your opponent at a neutral distance, and observe for information... then, you find opportunities for timed strikes at close range... all pure reaction," He told her, as if he already understood the way she fights.

"A rough and unpolished fighting style, yet you've made me bleed... Tell me, are there others like you, or are you just that skilled?" He asked Arka.

But she said nothing to Stan's question. All she wanted was more answers from him. And the more she knew, the less she understood.

"Nothing to say about it...? I suppose the benefit of a doubt makes it more interesting," Stan said. "But this is as far as you can go. You're still just a human, after all,"

Still just a human...? What is he talking about? Arka just kept wondering, and doubting her crazy ideas.

Then again, she shouldn't even be led by what this person was saying in the first place. Could it be that he was just one, crazy person...? Or maybe... she is the crazy person for even attempting to construe the meaning between his words.

She expressed a puzzled look beneath her helmet.

"I've said all that I had to say... it's time that we should end this game of charades, don't you agree?"

Arka stood on guard, getting ready for Stan's next move. She kept her eyes peeled at him.

Here he comes... Arka thought.

However, this time, Stan stood still, and just raised one of his arms. A serious look on his face this time, with eyes looking straight at Arka, with intent to kill.

Suddenly, his arm burst forth something gruesome... It towered over Stan beyond six feet. Its fleshy structure trickled blood, drool, and bits of flesh that dripped on the ground.

It seemed to depict a mass of entrails—the innards of a living creature. Though, each thick, filament was dissimilar from the other. It twists, turns, and oscillates as if it possesses a mind of its own.

Arka's eyes widened and gritted her teeth; surprised as she looked up at this grotesque thing.

And then it launched towards Arka. Its speed was blindingly fast as it immediately snatched her, and raised her in the air.

She began to struggle; pushing and tugging herself away from the mass, as its grip grew tighter and tighter.

"It's useless! Just forfeit now, and you can have solace at your so-called, 'main city'!"

Just then, she released her sword arm underneath the tight grip of Stan's monstrous arm; recalling a similar experience she's had in the mountains. Arka quickly stabbed and hacked the entrails wrapped on her whole body.

And just then, Stan winced. It didn't take long until Stan let go of her.

"What...!?" He exclaimed.

Arka landed safely on her feet. And readied her combat stance with one arm in front. Due to the height of the landing, this decreased her HP to 64%.

Arka was sure she hurt him.

"Persistent..." Stan uttered.

"Stan!" Lily called his name.

As Stan heard his name being called, he immediately looked behind him. He saw Lily, and next to her—a large, floating sphere of energy was touching the ground. It emitted an orange color.

"The portal's up," Lily said.

Stan's eyes squinted and made a fricative sound through his teeth. After that, he looked at Arka.

From the way she was tensed up, he can tell he has her perturbed due to the unexpected attack he showed her.

It was all bad timing and a shame that things have to end this way. Things were just getting good.

And then, his grotesque arm quickly, and smoothly entered back into his body, as his cloak and messy hair undulated due to the wind resistance. It went back to the way it was... a gloved arm.

"Apologies for the sudden change of plans... Let's resume this at another time... or perhaps not?" Stan said. And then, he walked toward Lily with the opened portal.

As he approached her, "I'm done," was all Stan said.

Lily looked and blinked at Stan, with the same glare in her eyes as earlier. After that, she turned her back on him and entered through the portal.

Stan frowned.

“Warrior, what is your name?” Stan turned to face her.

"Arakar,” Arka said, lowering her sword.

“Arakar...” Stan repeated as if cementing her name into his memory. “Everything you know about this world isn't what you think it is,” Stan said. “It's best if you direct your fun to somewhere else,"

And then, he entered the portal. This portal quickly contracted on itself, until it disappeared leaving a faint, orange trail.

Arka—confused at what just transpired and steadily settling herself from the turn of events, began to slowly sheathe her sword. After she hid her blade, she sat down on the forest ground.

It didn't take long until she noticed a notification symbol at the right corner of her HUD. She accessed it, revealing it to be a message from Banelfsing, received just ten minutes ago.

The message read: "you must be done with the mountains by now. how was it?" Banelfsing's message said.

Arka replied—

"you're right, it just had more mobs." She said.