Chapter 76: Moon Shiners

The streets from the perspective eyes of the people of Loegrey, was calm and peaceful. But, that was just a facade gifted to the untrained eye, for amongst the adventurers in the city, a rumor had taken root. A rumor worth 100,000 rydt. The dark-skinned Lycanian, that had taken the city by storm, had now become even more infamous.

So, it went that the Lycanian had excepted a request, which the reward was one Jade coin. Upon hearing that adventurers from all over the city had flocked to the streets surrounding the guild so the moment the Lycanian made herself known, adventurers would jump at the chance to duel her and take the item worth for themselves.

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Nathan: “You ready?”

Ash: “As I’ll ever be.”

Nathan and Ash stepped out into the streets of Loegrey, within seconds Nathan’s Threat Detection rang out in his head.

Ash: “Woah, this feeling. I don’t understand it, but I know there’s danger nearby. It feels weird, like something crawling under my skin.”

Nathan: “You’ll get used to it, but you can sense properly?”

Ash: “No doubt about it.”

Nathan use his ability “Co-op” to lend Ash his “Threat Detection”, along with his ‘hyper’ reflexes. Though their strength was halved, the two abilities were working side by side, making it nearly impossible to land a hit or be snuck-up on. Ash could tell right away, the group of people coming towards them had hostile intentions.

Nathan: “Here we go.”

Adventurer: “Lycanian. We challenge you to a, WOAH!”

Before the adventurer could finish his sentence, Nathan and Ash jumped into the group with both of them landing right in middle the group, with a dynamic entry. The adventurers were so stunned by the sudden movement; they forgot to finish issuing the challenge, before both Ash and Nathan took off running.

Adventurer: “Hey, wait! After them!”

Ash: “They’re coming.”

Nathan: “Like they’ll catch us.”

Nathan and Ash easily out-ran the slow group and several other groups who were giving chase. Belle had informed Nathan of a loophole that existed in the dueling system. A loophole, so simple, you would have believed it to be a joke.

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[Five minutes earlier]

Belle: “Just run away.”

Nathan: “………………….What?”

Ash: “Belle, you can’t run from a duel, the adventurer I.D. prevents that.”

Belle: “Let me finish…it’s true that it does prevent you from running away, but only if the challenge is issued. Right before a duel, what is the thing everyone says before they issue the duel?”

Nathan: “I challenge you to a duel…or something similar?”

Belle: “Right, a challenge can only really be issued verbally, but what do you think will happen, if the one they’re challenging is not there to hear it?”

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Adventurer: “Lycanian, I challen-”

Ash: “Nope.”

Adventurer Youth: “Ash, I chal-”

Nathan: “Denied!”

Adventurer: “I chal-”

Ash & Nathan: “LALALALALALALALA, CAN’T HEAR YOU!”

Nathan and Ash ran passed everyone who attempted to duel them, leaving all of them confused as to why the I.D.’s weren’t reacting to their challenges.

Ash: “I cannot believe this is working.”

Nathan: “Don’t complain, we’re free from all duels from now on.”

Ash: “I’m not complaining, I just wish I known of this sooner. Oh, all the stuff I’ve lost in those past duels.”

Nathan awkwardly laughed, as they continued their mad dash through Loegrey. They had made it to the center plaza, but found several adventurers now blocking their path. Regardless of what they did here, a duel was inevitable.

Nathan: “Alright Ash, just like Belle told us.”

Ash nodded as they made their run toward the first group. Nathan quickly used: “Pry.”

Nathan: “The highest is level nineteen.”

Ash: “And they are ranked lower than me, they are beginners.”

Adventurer: “Stop, we challenge-”

Nathan & Ash: “WE CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!”

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[15 minutes earlier]

Belle: “If you find yourself with no other option but to duel, make you issue the duel. That one who issues the duel can set the wagers.”

Nathan: “So just bet the duel for something else.”

Belle: “Exactly, since you can’t challenge the same person twice in one day, if you take advantage of both of these loop holes, then you will have no unforeseeable problems. Just be careful not to use up your three challenges, if you have to fight, take them out a quickly and as effortlessly as possible. A show of power will dissuade weaker opponents from challenging you.”

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Ash: “The wager is one bronze coin.”

Adventurer: “What, I don’t acce-.”

*Shnnnnnnnnng*

The adventurers’ party’s cards all lit up, meaning the duel was issued. Now that it was official, they had no way to stop it, unless they’d submit.

Nathan didn’t have to worry about a witness, there were so many people around, you’d think they were a main-event match.

Adventurer: “What the hell’s going on, this isn’t what we wanted.”

Nathan: “Doesn’t matter…Fights On!”

Nathan was on the leader faster than anyone could react in which he swiftly brandished his sword and swung upward towards the man’s chest.

Adventurer: “Woah!”

It was a solid hit, but thanks to the duels rules, no blood flowed from the hit, however the dueling orb, showed that the hit was successful. The man fumbled backwards, leaving Nathan to deliver a kick to his chest.

Adventurer: “Gah!”

The man flew and skidded across the ground, his sword sent flying out of his hand. The loss of the sword meant he’d lost the duel.

Gasps could be heard along with hushed conversations as within seconds, Nathan had taken out one of the members of the five-man party.

The other four went wide-eyed, seeing their leader being made short work of. In their stupor, they stupidly stared into Nathan’s eyes. Nathan wasted no time activating ‘Intimidate’, in as he did the four felt their legs lose strength, a fear growing ever stronger took them over.

*Clink**Tack**Cling*

Three weapons thumped to the ground, all three had submitted. The last one standing, barely held-on to his weapon and it took nothing for Ash, to walk up behind him and knock the weapon from his hand.

With that, the match was decided. All the people standing around went wide-eyed. They had heard of the rumor, Gaunt being defeated by the Lycanian with only a glare, but witnessing it was on a level all its own. Nathan looked down at the five people sprawled on the ground in front of him; it was one less party he had to deal with.

As the duel aura disappeared, Nathan sent Iris the signal. From high above, Iris began fulfilling her role. Without being noticed, for the breifest of moments, she held everyone in place as they tried to be the next to challenge Nathan.

Nathan and Ash took the chance to sprint away; leaving the group of people behind. Iris quickly let them go, leaving the people to believe that the reason they weren’t moving was due to fear and not because they were being held in place.

Ash: “You sure this is okay? Even I was surprised by the way you fought?”

Nathan looked behind them; the crowd had become sizably smaller. It seems the psychological part of the plan was working flawlessly.

Nathan: “Yeah, the crowd is way smaller, only the parties who think they have a chance are giving chase.”

Ash: “That’s what I’m worried about.”

Nathan: “Huh?”

Ash wasn’t as confident as Nathan. He didn’t believe himself to be weak, but seeing Nathan fight, he could only think someone troublesome was going to challenge them. He prayed it wouldn’t happen.

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Far off on the other side of the city, a man sat silently alone in the middle of a of a park. His eyes shut as a warm breeze rolled across his face

??????: *sigh* It’s lonely without you Ghost.”

The man had a sad look, his pet familiar had recently passed away, and he was reluctant to get another. For as long as he could remember, Ghost his Scouting hawk, had been with him, wherever he went. However, like all things, Ghost’s life came to a sudden end. He now sat around his home sulking. While relaxing, he noticed someone nearby. He waved his hand and the wind ceased, the breeze he’d felt disappearing all at once.

??????: “What do you want?”

Heeding his words, a women dress in a maid’s uniform stepped up to him.

Maid: “Master Virgil, a messenger, he wishes to speak with you.”

Virgil looked puzzled at the woman; he could have sworn that he told all his servants that he wanted to be alone. It wasn’t like his servants to disobey, meaning that whoever was here to see him, was someone he could not ignore.

Virgil: “………Fine, lead on to the meeting room, I will see them.”

The maid bowed and left Virgil alone once more. Virgil set for a minute more, before getting up and headed for the meeting area. He passed by a few servants who kept their distance from him, bowing as he passed, but he paid little attention to them. He was used to people keeping their distance from him; it was for their own safety anyways.

Virgil opened the door to the meeting room and found his maid serving tea to a short heavy-set man. The man seeing Virgil, immediately stopped what he was doing and turned to him and bowed deeply.

Messenger: “Master Virgil, it is a great honor to meet you. I heard much of your endeavors in Ziltharth. Most impressive.”

Virgil had recently accepted the title of Hero, two years ago from the Disciples of Riga Morte and was one of eight others. After that his life took a turn, where everywhere he went, he was greeted by everyone with a bow. His status henceforth had been reasoned to that of a Duke; wealth and land was given to him to do with as he wished. He didn’t really care about such things, in fact he turned them down initially, but there was no room for argument. To the people he now stood next to, having the title of Duke, but not the wealth and land, was strange.

He hated their smug attitude and stuffy lifestyle, so the first chance he got, he sailed away from Ziltharth and to the Central continent. He couldn’t escape his title and lavish lifestyle, but he could escape the stuffy faceless people, straining for his attention.

Virgil: “Enough, why have you come.”

Messenger: “R-Right.”

The messenger bowed again, while holding out a letter.

Messenger: “Master Virgil, I have a message from Guild Master Matthew.”

Virgil: “A message from Matthew.”

Virgil spirit seem to rise when he heard Matthews’ name. Ever since he had become a Hero, his actions as an Adventurer had ceased, in fact he wasn’t allowed to pursue such ventures while he held his title. He had written to Matthew a few times, they were old friends, when he was young, and he mentioned in a letter that he was so bored. Fighting Humans and Pristyne all the time had begun to take its toll on the once vibrant adventurer.

Taking the letter, he couldn’t help but smile as he read; the chance he was looking for had finally arrived. He had the maids escort the messenger out while he prepared for a trip. He may just get a little taste of the good old days.

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Nathan: “Haah!”

Nathan swung his sword around, as he fought simultaneously with two adventurers. One wielding a metal whip with jagged fang-like thorns, while the other, a rapier.

Nathan: “I don’t get why you’re so upset…Veronica was it?”

The woman wielding the whip recoiled back into her hands. She turned to Nathan, flipping her scarlet red hair out of her face, as she pulled at her whip.

Veronica: “I was lured in by the money, but, you will pay for making a mockery of our name.”

Veronica was unlike other adventurer’s Nathan had dealt with today. Ash had informed Nathan that she was the leader of the party ‘TwinMoons’ and that they were currently ranked second-strongest amongst the bishop ranks. A group of four beautiful women, experts in their field, however not in battle cries. Nathan burst into a fit of laughter when he heard them, stirring the wrath of the team.

Veronica: “Come Aeria, let us finish this.”

Aeria: “Yes, Sister.”

Aeria, rapier in hand, thrust it towards Nathan, who parried her attack with his sword. Aeria followed with a flurry of thrusts, which Nathan began to effortlessly dodge, much to Aeria’s dismay.

Aeria: “(How is she doing this?)”

Aeria had fought many opponents before, but never had she met someone who moved so fluently. Every thrust was avoided or parried in ways she didn’t think possible; in fact they shouldn’t had been. She moved as if she knew exactly where the strikes would land. That wasn’t too far from the truth, Nathan was simply allowing his abilities Threat Detection and Hyper Reflexes, work in tangent. As he left it to these to abilities he was virtually untouchable.

Lost in her thoughts, Nathan used that moment to parry her full-force attack, breaking her stance and leaving her open to attack. He quickly moved to rend her weapon from her hand, when suddenly his weapon stopped.

Nathan: “What the!?”

Veronica had her whip wrapped tight around Nathan’s sword preventing his movements. She tried to yank it away, but Nathan would not let go.

Veronica: “Tch. Aeria.”

Aeria quickly fixed her posture and thrust towards Nathan, but Veronica had underestimated his strength. Nathan forced his blade forward, catching Aeria’s rapier thrust, but he didn’t stop there. He forced Aeria’s weapon down towards the ground, leaning forward and using his weight to seal it there.

Aeria: “That won’t stop me.”

Aeria’s rapier was much thinner than Nathan’s broad-sword and she easily retracted her weapon.

Nathan: “Wasn’t trying to stop you, just getting out of the way.”

Aeria: “What are you talking about?”

Veronica: “Waaah, AERIA!?”

*Whomp*

Aeria looked up just in time to be met with the skull of Veronica. When Nathan swung forward and down, Veronica who was still firmly holding on to his weapon with hers, and thus her weapon was forced into the air. Nathan was leaning forward, to both block the attack and take Aeria’s focus to her weapon, so she didn’t see Veronica coming until it was too late.

Aeria: “Owwwwwww!”

Since they were both down, Nathan went for their weapons, it was over.

????????: “Solemn sprit of the frozen north, take aim, Frost Arrows!”

Nathan: “Woah!?”

Not far from Nathan, another team member had finished her spell, leaving a flurry arrows burling down on Nathan. He easily knocked away or dodged the flurry, but in doing so gave the two women on the ground enough time to recover.

The girl clicked her tongue, she was annoyed how easily her spell was destroyed, but she did allow her team to recover.

Veronica: “Melissa, good work.”

Melissa: “Ah, thank you sister, Veronica.”

Nathan: “Ash, what the hell!?”

Ash: “Flame Slash”

Ash had coated his blades in flames as he swung. A woman with a great-sword met his blade head on, enchanting hers with mana. Their powers collided and both were blown-back. Upon landing they shot off towards each other, clashing blades for the umpteenth time.

Ash: “Don’t look at me like that, I got my hands full here.”

Ash continued his clashing with the light armor-cladded, shield-bearing, sword maiden, Hilda. Meeting her blow for blow, or so it seemed. Ash didn’t want to admit it, but she was strong, he knew they were Bishop-rank adventurers, but he was with the Hero. So, when Nathan said they would both take on two and he would fight the two strongest, Ash thought it would be okay.

However, the sword-maiden Hilda; did not let up for a moment, allowing Melissa to throw spell after spell at them.

Veronica: “Melissa, sister Hilda has the stray pinned, focus your attacks on the Lycanian.”

Melissa: “Yes sister.”

Veronica: “Come Aeria, We will feel the power of the TwinMoons. Our ‘Moons’ are shining so bright.”

Aeria: “’Mooning’ you through the night.”

Melissa: ‘“Mooning’ you, with all our might.”

Nathan: “Pffftt, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, here’s hoping, yaw can moon me all day.”

Nathan’s mockery of their name was solely based on his world’s humor. Ever since they had begun the duel, there battle cries consisted of phrases like, “Prepare for your mooning” or You will be thoroughly mooned. Nathan couldn’t stop laughing every single time they said it. No one understood the real reason he was laughing, but it didn’t matter. Every time he laughed he just fueled his opponents’ anger and of those watching the battle.

Veronica: “CEASE YOUR MOCKERY, YOU WILL BE MOONED, AND IT SHALL BE GLORIOUS MOONING!”

Nathan: “And I keep saying, I’m cool with this.”

Veronica whip lashed through the air, Nathan dodged the initial strike, but the whip danced like a snake around him. Veronica’s control over her weapon changed, she began to move around more fluently. Back and forth, left to right, she no longer needed to recoil to strike again.

Nathan could no longer afford to stand in one spot and was forced to jump around. If he stayed still too long, the whip would coil around him.

Veronica: “Coiling Serpent…do you like it Lycanian?...I channel my mana into my whip and it gives it a life all of its own.”

Nathan: “Already figured that out, it not that amazing you know.”

Veronica’s attack was a good way to keep your opponent at a distance. With no way to plant seeds on the stone ground, he couldn’t effectively get close. However, Nathan felt Veronica was trying too hard to keep him at bay and her whip seem to be leading him. He figured what they were up to and decided to take the bait and go where she wanted.

Veronica: “*mumbling*A little more.”

Aeria: “Got you!”

Nathan twisted his body to the left avoiding the attempt to knock his weapon away.

Aeria: “What, Gah!?”

Nathan hit Aeria directly in the stomach, breaking her balance. Nathan closed the distance between them and grabbing and twisting her wrist hard.

Aeria: “Ahhhhh!”

*clinkclink*

Her rapier fell out of her hand, she was out, but Nathan held tight to her.

Nathan: “Next time, don’t announce you’re going to attack.”

Nathan swept her legs, knocking her off balance. Using her momentum, he flipped her over and flung her at Veronica.

Veronica: “Aeria!”

Aeria flew towards her with no way to stop; Veronica had no choice but to catch her. As soon as she was distracted, Nathan closed the distance and quickly disarmed her.

Veronica: “Dammit.”

Veronica cursed out loud at their loss, but Nathan was already gone. Melissa was his next target; she was trying to finish her spell.

Melissa: “B-Bird of flame-”

Nathan: “Nope.”

Melissa wasn’t a fighter, so when Nathan swung his sword, she shut her eyes. The attack never came, with her eyes closed, it took no effort for him to pry it from her and tossing it to the ground. Melissa’s legs gave out, visibly trembling as Nathan stood above her. Nathan paid her no more heed and turned to the last one.

Aeria: “I’m sorry sister, its my fault we lost.”

Veronica: “It is no one’s fault but mine; I failed to see the truth.”

Veronica understood, from the way Nathan moved, she never stood a chance. He had effortlessly disarmed three of them within seconds. Not only that, he had seen through their plans and use it against them. But the worst case was the fact that he wasn’t taken anyone seriously, even now, he could be ending the fight by helping his partner yet he was standing and watching. She could only think of one reason why the Lycanian would sit and watch or continue to dodge, instead of ending it sooner.

Veronica: “(The Lycanian is stalling.)”