Author’s corner: HELLO HELLO! Impulsive decisions and smart serpents!

ANYWAY… Anyway… anyway… I’m kind of out of things to put here… Not really sure what to do… Hmm… Oh well, whatever.

ALSO, The church of Cygnas has reached 330 follower! Cygnas be praised!

ALSO(2), I might start a side story talking about how one of Gon’s friend got his class. This will happen either today or tomorrow. We’ll see.

Have a good read!

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“Crazy golem, VERSUS, Hothead. Round two. FIGHT!”

“…What the hell was that?” Asked the elemental confused.

“Well… I was… announcing our fight, you know?” I said a bit awkwardly. The elemental simply shook his head.

“Am I… Really having trouble with a person such as this?”

“…Sorry.” For some reason I could only apologize to him.

He once again sighed before focusing his gaze at me, or at least I think he did, kind of hard to tell when he has his face covered like that…

He was the first one to move, darting forward in a quick movement while aiming for my throat, I barely manage to dodge by twisting my body, then I land a kick on his gut which sent him flying. Then I proceeded to use my poison arrow on him with piercing shot.

-3 -25

-28 (412/440)

Hmm? Is his life bigger? Seems like he got an upgrade since our last fight.

He flinched for a moment as the feeling of poison started to settle.

-2 (410/440)

He looked madly at me, then charged at me once again. I stepped aside just like last time, but he foresaw this, as he suddenly twisted his body and hit me in the face with a round-house kick. I lost my balance for a moment and he took this time to land two blows on me with his daggers before I could roll away from him.

-5 -12 -8

-25 (365/390)

I turned to him and saw he grinning back to me, only to…

-2 (408/440)

He grimaced at this for a moment, and I mocked him with a laughter. He approached me with a nimble footwork and stabbed me in the side with one of his daggers while used the other one to aim to my face. I Barely managed to dodge the hit by twisting my head to the side, then I elbowed him to take him away from me.

-13 (352/390)

-4 (404/440)

What is that? Health not found?

…

Sorry, bad joke, I know.

I picked another arrow from my inventory as I hopped backwards, however he didn’t let me go too far before chasing after me. I aimed my bow at him making him dodge sideways, but I didn’t let go of the arrow, and instead extended my leg forward, hitting him in the stomach and taking away all his breath. I held the bow in the horizontal in front of me and smiled fearlessly at him as I let the arrow go. He widened his eyes as the arrow pierced his chest, before suddenly being thrown a few meters back by the wind arrow’s knockback. I took a freezing arrow from the inventory and shot at him, but he managed to dodge the arrow and it only hit his left arm. But soon after I used power shot thrice using the normal arrows. Although the first one missed, the other two hit him straight on.

-5 -18 (Critical) -14 -17 -17

Combo! (x1.1)

-78 (326/440)

Then the poison kicked in again.

-2 (334/440)

He looked at me furiously while using the right dagger to break the ice on his left arm. I tried shooting him a few more times, but he ran in zig-zag dodging my shots meanwhile. Just as he got to me he jumped in the air and a red light started to gather on his right dagger.

The skill he had used on me in our last fight!

I tried dodging, but he managed to twist his body and make the hit land. I contorted in pain as the dagger pierced my back, and before I could resist, he swept at my legs with his other dagger, followed by a kick in the back.

-32 -12 (snare)(snare resisted) -5

-49 (303/390)

I quickly got into a crawling position and used roll forward, standing up and avoiding a finishing strike that he used to pierce the ground. I took a normal arrow and shot him once in the shoulder, but the other arrows missed him.

-12 (322/440)

He ran towards me with his daggers on the sides, made a double slash which I barely dodged. However he quickly followed with a head-butt, and stabbed the two daggers on my ribs.

-3 -12 -9

-24 (279/390)

-2 (320/440)

I However, I didn’t let the chance go as I grabbed him by the back of his head and head-butted him back, stunning him for a moment, then I took the dagger I had equipped as an auxiliary weapon and stabbed him in the back a few times. He broke away from me afterwards, giving me a chance to access my inventory and take a few arrows from it.

-3 -8 -8 -8

-27 (293/440)

-2 (291/440)

“This is one annoying poison…” He complained after it ticked once more.

“That was the intention.” I answered with a shrug.

I took a few hops back after our little talk, but once again he didn’t let me go too far, slashing at me with his daggers. I barely managed to block it with my bow, which surprised him for a moment. But before I could take advantage of this opening he jumped back.

I took a stance with my bow and readied myself to shoot, but as soon as I did this, I could almost fell him smirking at me.

On instinct I cancelled the shot by rolling forward. And just in time, as I saw his body vanishing in a black smoke.

Is that invisibility?

My answer arrived when I heard something behind me as he slashed the place where I just was a second ago. I heard him click his tongue while turning back to him, but I didn’t have time to attack him, as he jumped towards me with both of his daggers shining with a black light.

I managed to block one of them with the bow, but the other one still managed to hit me in the chest.

-20 (259/390)

I cringed in pain while kicking him away. I was still holding the arrows I had taken from the inventory earlier, so I took a stance with the bow while crouching and activated quick shots on him with the four arrows, setting them to activate some time after each other.

-3 (288/440)

-2 (286/440)

Immediately I knew I missed the timing to activate the last one, but it wasn't that much of a problem.

-7 -6 -7 -6

-26 (260/440)

He simply charged throught the arrows, since they didn’t have that much stopping power and readied that powerful stab of his once again.

I simply snapped my fingers, and he suddenly stopped in his track as the stun arrow did it’s work. As soon as he felt the effects lessening, the next arrow activated, and then the other. All this time I was taking my distance and showering him with normal iron arrows, waiting for…

-16 -17 -32 (critical) -15

-80 (180/440)

-2 (178/440)

As soon as the poison ticked for the sixth time, it meant that thirty seconds had come and gone, and this meant that my strongest attack had come out of cool down.

I used piercing shot immediately with my iron arrow, followed by emptying my energy with two more power shots.

-25 -18 -17

Combo (x1.1)

-66 (112/440)

He fell to his knees for a moment while looking at me angrily.

“You mad, bro?” I teased him with my best smile.

It seems that he got mad at this, as he suddenly shot up and came towards me again. I prepared to block with my bow, but right before he reached me, he disappeared in the dark smoke.

-60 (Critical) (199/390)

-2 (110/440)

Bastard!

I rolled forward after receiving the hit on my back and turned back to him. But he still managed to land another slash on my chest before I could counter with a wind arrow in his chest.

-30 (169/390)

-15 (95/440)

He grimaced as he looked at his health while I smiled widely.

“I guess this is my victory…” I said smugly, making him grimace.

“You can’t be so sure!” He said angrily threatening to charge at me. I smiled widely and took a potion from my inventory and drank it in one go.

+100 (269/390)

“Said something? By the way, I still have a few more of these to go.” I taunted him, making him grimace even more.

You know, there is something about this guy that just make me unable to hate him, kind of like the old man. Heck, even when I had to spend pretty much all the remaining special arrows just to fight him I was having fun.

Now that I think about it, this was one very expensive duel…

Still, I actually find it really fun to fight him. Rather than an enemy…

Should I do it? I mean… I really want to do it!

Let’s bet on a cliché!

When I had the idea, I lowered my bow, leaving him confused. “Let’s make a deal here, alright?” I said with a smirk. “I let you go right here and now and you won’t risk getting caught. In exchange, you will owe me one. What do you say?”

“… Why are you doing this?” He asked cautious.

“Reasons. Idiotic, improbable, but reasons.” I said truthfully.

He seemed confused for a moment.

“And why should I trust you? How can I know you won’t simply stab me in the back when we meet again?”

“Why would I stab you in the back if all that I needed was to shout and then two overpowered friends of mine would be here in an instant?” He grimaced, but seemed to agree with my logic, as he started to turn back. But I called him back in the last moment and threw him a pot. “Don’t want you dying for a random beast after you promised your help.”

“…Increasing my debt. That’s what you are doing.” He said in annoyed before turning away. “And now the boss is going to be locked. Lucky day!” Just as he was about to go away, he stopped and turned his head slightly towards me. “I will pay my debt. But I’ll still kill you sooner or later, you hear me?”

And disappeared in a puff of smoke.

I waited a bit longer just to be sure, then turned back to the camp and walked happily.

I mean. That’s it, right? It is, right?

We meet in a fight where he easily overpowers me, then I barely manage to escape. After some time, we meet again, have a fierce duel where I manage do defeat him. Then he runs away while saying some threatening words around the meaning ‘don’t die before I kill you’. Later we will meet in a situation where I’m in a pinch and he comes in a badass way saying: ‘Don’t you dare kill my target!’ and helps me in the situation, then we start traveling together while always bickering at each other.

I mean… If everything goes smoothly, I might just get a rival!

What? Why would I want a rival? Why wouldn’t I?

Actually, why would I? I mean… It’s not like I needed to get one, right? And I’m not even sure if this will work, the last part of that scenario was but a delusion…

Heck, I don’t even know his name! Not even how he looks like! All I know is that he is a fire elemental NPC and that he is somewhat assassin like.

Did I just loose my sweet, sweet experience for an impulse?

Not like it’s the first time, though.

Oh well. I shrugged it off and started walking back to the camp. When I get there, I see Arcus and El tying up the remaining bandits with the ropes and Goulder is helping them. Actually, where was he all this time? He simply vanished when we started the cleaning…

He was also the first one to notice me coming back with my health low.

“Gondorrer! What happened to you?” He asked with some worry in his voice, but I could somehow see a small glint of amusement in his eyes. HE KNEW! HE SAW EVERYTHING!

“Eh… One bandit found me, we had an epic fight that could go to the records of the guild, I spent almost all the remaining good arrows I had while he landed skill after skill in me. In the end we both came to a stalemate and he ran away, swearing to take my head for the next time.” I said in a dramatic tone. El, still in her transformed state only looked at me coldly, while Arcus pouted.

“I wanted to see that fight. Must have been a good one for you to say that. Nin-Nin.” He said with his arms crossed. He was still sticking with that Nin-Nin thingy?

“Nin-nin?” Asked Goulder confused. Seems like he didn’t know everything that had happened.

“Yes! Gon here told us of these amazing guys called ninjas that are really powerful! And he said that for me to start to become a ninja I have to always finish my phrases with Nin-Nin! Nin-Nin!” Goulder blinked in surprise, then he looked at me while holding back his laughter, I simply shrugged. “Imagine this! If I train enough and become a ninja, then I can train other people to become ninjas then we’ll be the most powerful group ever! Nin-Nin!” He had glinting eyes by now.

I approached him then held his shoulders.

“Arcus, sorry, but that can never happen.” I said in a grave tone, and he looked at me confused. “There is something called the reverse ninja law that affects them.”

“Reverse… Ninja law? Nin-Nin?” He asked confused, and I nodded.

“A lone ninja can defeat a whole army, but an army of ninjas can’t defeat a single man. What is it means is that the more ninjas are together, the weaker they are. The way of the ninja is a solitary one!” I said while slowly shaking my head. His eyes widened in surprise, then he looked completely at loss.

“I… Never knew that… Nin… Nin...” He said while clenching his fists and looking downwards completely depressed.

I left him as is and went towards Goulder, Whisi and El who had taken some distance to avoid having their laugh heard.

“So, do we get a pass or a fail?” I asked happily.

“I would gladly give you a pass if you managed to fool that guy for so long!” Said the knight with a playful smile.

QUEST COMPLETE:

Admission test You, Elraira and Arcus have passed Goulder’s test. Now go back to the guild to get your rewards from the Knight.

You have received bonus experience for capturing your targets alive. Rewards:

Talk to Goulder

Ooh yeah!

And I even dinged level 9!

Hmm… Since I already have a good amount of vitality, and armor isn’t much of a problem, I guess I should invest a bit in mind… So, I put my new two to get me some extra magic res.

“Now, you guys can leave these bandits here, I already called the guard to come and arrest these guys.” Said Goulder. “So, what will you guys want as a reward? As long as it isn’t too much I’ll give you.”

“I want to receive some kind of training, then.” El said her answer almost immediately, as if she had been expecting the question.

“An unusual request, but fine.” He frowned slightly, but still accepted. Then he turned to Arcus who was still looking shocked. “And you?”

“Huh? Me? A new sword, I guess? Nin-Nin!” He said in a hurry.

“That is a bit more normal. Ok, I’ll get a friend to make it to you.” Lastly he turned to me.

“Well, since the rewards also include unusual requests…” I said with playful smile. “I want information.”

“Okay, information it is, then!” He said with a nod, then he turned back to me surprised. “Wait, information? What do you mean?”

“You see, I already told you about my hunt on the four gods. But I know next to nothing about them, so I want you to use your connections to find something about them. Location, levels, power, weakness, traits, anything.” I explained it to him.

“So… You were serious when you told us that earlier, huh?” He said surprised, and I nodded to him. “Okay then. I guess I can try to do that… But I can’t promise any immediate answers, is that fine?”

“I never expected that on the first place.” I said with a shrug.

Just when we thought we all had finished our rewards talk, the fifth person suddenly came in front of Goulder and started to talk to him.

“Shii-sha lala-shashala!”

Whisi was pointing at herself with her tail while hissing at him. Goulder looked at her confused for a moment then turned to Arcus.

“She was asking if she won’t get any reward…” He explained with a wry smile to which the knight answered with a laugh.

“Well… She did do a good job in scouting. So, what do you want?”

“Shala-la-shiii!”

“She said… a month worth of apples…” Arcus translated awkwardly.

“Apples? I swore she was carnivorous!” I said surprised.

“Actually, she is omnivore, but for some reason she really likes fruits.” He said while pointing to the backpack she always wore. “She actually uses that to transport some dried fruits, besides our map.”

To show us, Whisi nimbly used her tail to flip open the backpack and took a dried peach by coiling her tail around it, then she skillfully threw it up and ate it whole in one swift motion before closing the backpack again while hissing in delight.

It seemed that the scene surpassed El’s cuteness resistance as she immediately went and hugged the serpent again.

Goulder laughed loudly once again before promising her to give her the fruits she asked for.

On the way back, I took a better look at the bandits who were all knocked out cold. Most of them were NPCs, but their boss, the cyclops, his bodyguards plus a couple others were players. Does this mean that these guys actually joined a bandit camp in this game? And from what El told me, this group is fairly old, from before the beginning of the game. But how come the Cyclops is the leader then? Did he somehow manage to steal the position from the previous leader?

I didn’t let it bother me too much, as it would probably get me nowhere.

Our way back was a lot more uneventful than I hoped. The only things worthy of mention was that, when El’s transformation finally wore off, she had to ask for Arcus to support her, meanwhile Whisi came to me and used my head as a makeshift pillow to nap. The other thing was that as soon as we left the forest, we met with a couple of knights who were just arriving. They saluted Goulder before going into the forest to keep a look at the bandits who were still tied.

We got to the city when the afternoon was starting to end.

Goulder quickly went back to the guild to take care of the paperwork for us, while El turned to me and Arcus with a strange look in her eyes.

She stared at us for a moment, then finally sighed and said.

“Would you like to work as my bodyguards?”

The three of us were left stunned at her words and we looked at each other confused. In the end, the first to speak was me.

“Err… I really don’t think you need a bodyguard, you know?”

“… Sorry, it’s not the way I meant it.” She said while slightly shaking her head, then she looked back to us with a serious look “What I meant is: As you may have noticed, I’m a noble, and because the way I was raised, I’m not exactly…” She stopped while thinking of a word. “Street-smart? I guess that’s the word. I noticed this before we met to our mission here, while I walked on the streets and saw many things that were completely new to me.” She let out a long sigh. “I fear I may end up being tricked if I stay the way I am, so what I need is for someone who would actually keep me company and explain these kinds of things for me.”

Me and Arcus looked at each other surprised for a moment. How should I say, she was surprisingly realistic with her decision. I looked back at her with an apologetic expression and said.

“Sorry, El, but I don’t think I’m fit for this job.”

“I am willing to pay you for this.” She said seriously.

“Heck, I don’t really care for money.” Is brushed away the proposal. “The problem is that I already have a really specific objective in mind, so I really need to get working on it.”

“I see…” She nodded slowly, seemingly a bit disappointed.

“Well, I’m in. Nin-Nin.” Arcus said besides me, surprising El. “Different from stoney buddy here, I don’t really have anything I’m aiming for right now, so I don’t mind following you for some time. Nin-Nin” He then glanced to the serpent still sleeping in my head. “Besides, it seems that Whisi really likes you, so she will probably agree too. Nin-Nin.”

“Thank you.” El said honestly to him. “So, I guess here is where we part ways then?” She asked me.

“Nope, now is where I invite the two of you to go to a restaurant to have a blast before we part ways.” I said with a proud smile. Arcus looked surprised for a moment but laughed with the idea. El didn’t seem against it, and Whisi was still sleeping, so we took it as a yes.

How it went? Well, let me give you the run down. Firstly, El literally drained two BARRELS of wine from the bar while drinking absentmindedly. ALONE! She was barely tipsy after that. Strong drinker means nothing to her.

Arcus had his spotlight the moment where I told him that half of that Ninja talk was just me fooling with him, and he fell on four in the middle of the bar while lamenting all that he had done in the name of being a ninja.

Whisi was the one who paid for our tab. How? There were these guys playing poker on a corner of the bar who were annoying us. She went there and bet against them starting with a few dried fruits. Those guys took it as a joke and accepted, only to leave with nothing but their undies after a few plays.

Finally, I somehow ended up getting a bit carried away and started to tell them some stories from some games and manga I knew. By the time I finished, the whole bar had gathered to hear the stories. The most famous ones were the Sci-fi ones, since, for them, it was the most mystical and impossible ones.

When we finally left, it was almost the middle of the night. Me and El had to carry a knocked off Arcus who drank a bit too much back to his inn. After that, we disbanded and I went back to the Silver Gauntlet to look for a job that would fit me.