''He''s not backing down...''
Benard watched as Luke squared off against him in the narrow alley, the younger man''s face hardened into a taunting smile.
Thetticework of veins under his skin pulsed with some hidden energy, his eyes holding a ssy, almost ethereal gaze.
His voice had been quiet, almost eerily calm as he''d muttered, "Don''t die."
Something about Luke''s defiant stand made Benard''s instincts scream warnings in the back of his mind, yet he had a duty to uphold.
With a stern face, Benard summoned his discipline, his mind centering as he dered, "Martial Arts: Iron-Blood Monk."
Azure energy roared to life around him, wrapping his body in an ethereal armor of light. It pulsed with his heartbeat, reflecting off the cobblestones and casting eerie shadows that danced upon the alley walls.
Luke merely watched, his grin never wavering.
He didn''t seem to react to Benard''s disy of power, as if he knew all along, which sent a jolt of unease through the Guildmaster.
"Raaaaahhhhh!" With a battle cry, Benardunched himself at Luke. His fist, cloaked in azure energy, moved with blinding speed towards his opponent.
~WHOOOSSHH!~
Stay connected via m-v l|e''-NovelBin
However, Luke effortlessly sidestepped the blow, the movement fluid, almost as if he was dancing.
~FSHUUUU~
The air hissed where Benard''s punch connected with nothing, the impact causing a shockwave that sted the nearby debris away.
The ease with which Luke avoided him was shocking. His heart pounded as his mind began to buzz with uncertainty.
''Just who is this man?'' Benard thought, his previous confidence wavering.
But there was no time for doubts. Again and again, Benard attacked, his fists and feet shooting out bursts of azure energy, turning the alleyway into a storm of resounding booms and gusts of wind.
Each move was met with the same effortless evasion, as Luke continued to move around him, grinning, silent, seemingly unbothered.
Benard felt his chest heave with exertion, his sweat trickling down his forehead and stinging his eyes.
But he couldn''t stop.
''This man is strong! I have no doubts about that!''
If this person ended up being the culprit behind the Outpost''s destruction, he could only wonder what would happen to Terance if he let someone so dangerous walk his streets.
''No... no way...''
The desperation, the fear of what Luke could do to Terance if left unchecked, fueled Benard, and drove him into a frenzy of attacks.
~BOOOMMM!~
His energy output surged, his azure armor zing brighter, casting a harsh light on their grim battleground.
Yet, Luke remained unfazed.
Every strike, every shockwave, every st was met with an easy dodge or an uncannily timed deflect.
He seemed to be toying with Benard, studying his techniques, his abilities. An unwilling teacher to a keen student.
Each missed hit, each failure, gnawed at Benard''s resolve. His body screamed in protest, his energy reserves depleting rapidly. But he wouldn''t—couldn''t—yield.
"I have a city to protect!" Benard growled,unching another assault.
But his energy-coated fist met only air as Luke danced out of reach once again, his chillingughter echoing in the silent night.
Luke''s behavior was maddening. He wasn''t even fighting back, just... observing, grinning. This man wasn''t taking him seriously at all.
Fury welled up within Benard, hot and scathing. He was the Guildmaster, not some ything to be trifled with.
"Oraaaaaaaahhhh!!!"
Pushing past his fatigue, Benard roared, channeling all his remaining energy into a desperate, final assault.
His fists became blurs, azure shockwaves erupting with each punch, turning the alley into a cataclysmic storm.
~VWUUUUMMMM!!!~
"I will subdue you, Luke!" he shouted, his voice hoarse but filled with determination.
And then, before his punch could connect, Luke stepped forward, his movement swift like a striking snake. He casually deflected the energy-charged fist, his bare palm mming into Benard''s chest.
There was a moment of silence. And then, an excruciating pain seared through Benard''s body.
"Guaaarkk!"
He flew backward, crashing into the alley wall with a thud that echoed through the quiet night.
~BOOOOMMM!~
His vision blurred, the azure glow fading as he crumbled to the ground. His energy armor dissipated, thest of his strength sapped.
''A-ah... I... I... lost...?''
In his dimming sight, he could see Luke standing there, untouched, his grin wider and more twisted than before.
Thest thing Benard saw was Luke''s eerie, ssy-eyed stare, filled with a haunting madness.
It was a sight that would forever be etched in his memory, a chilling reminder of the formidable man he had crossed paths with.
Benard had given his all, fought with every fiber of his being, only to be bested effortlessly.
The harsh reality of his defeat rang in his ears, a cacophony of his own failures, drowned only by the merciless silence of the city of Terance.
''W-what... will happen... now...?''
He could only imagine the worst—his city in mes!
''Dear God...''
And then everything went nk.
********
[00 Months: 04 Days: 17 Hours]
I looked down at the fallen Guildmaster, disappointment washing over me.
"You didn''t evenst five minutes, old man," I muttered, my voice bouncing off the grimy walls of the alley.
My heart felt an odd pang of dissatisfaction. I had hoped for more of a challenge, for something to shake me from my stupor.
The sound of the fight, of azure shockwaves crashing against the cobblestones, echoed in my ears.
Yet, it felt muted, underwhelming. The raw emotions that had filled my chest before the fight was fading, reced by a hollow feeling of unfulfilment.
''I wanted to fight more, but...''
But then, something stirred within me. The heavy veil of despair that had wrapped itself around my heart began to lighten.
I could feel it retracting, fading away into the background. My thoughts felt clearer, my heart lighter. The fight, as disappointing as it was, had served a purpose.
"I guess I feel better now," I admitted, casting ast nce at the unconscious man.
There was a sense of normalcy returning to me, the overwhelming grief slowly being reced by the cold, calcting rationality I was familiar with.
''Looks like the work of <Visionary>...''
Not wanting to waste any more time, I heaved the unconscious Guildmaster onto my back.
His heavy form was nothing to my enhanced strength, but the weight of his defeat felt heavier than any physical burden.
''It wouldn''t do any good to just leave him here...''
All things considered, he knew of my identity. I could always change it, but it was best to at least question him and sort things out more thoroughly, and on my terms.
As I secured his limp form, I noticed the surrounding houses begin to flicker to life.
Warm light spilled from windows, scattering the shadows and filling the streets with an eeriness that did not bode well. The city was waking up, its inhabitants drawn by the ruckus.
People would starting soon. Curious onlookers, perhaps other Guild members, possibly even the city guards.
I needed to leave. Fast.
With a flicker of thought, I activated my Concealment Robe. In an instant, we were enveloped in an invisibility shield.
The alleyway, once a stage for our duel, was now quiet and deserted, the only evidence of our sh the scattered cobblestones and faint wisps of fading azure energy.
Just as silently as I had arrived, I slipped away into the shadows.
With the unconscious Guildmaster on my back, I stole into the night, leaving behind a city stirring from its peaceful slumber.
The alleyway returned to its tranquility, save for the whispers of a fight that echoed through the cold, cobblestone streets.
As I disappeared into the night, I found myself whispering to myself.
"What should I do now?"
*
*
*
[A/N]
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!