Chapter One-Hundred and Thirteen: Curiosity killed the Cat.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come on… It isn’t even noon yet and you''re giving up?” Drake said, looming over Shigure as he sat on his haunches next to the teen.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I-i can’t breathe! L-let me rest!” Shigure panted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What’s there to rest for? We have Jacqueline, she will fix you right up no problem, right Jacqueline?” Drake said looking over his shoulder.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, whatever gov. Oh Chelsea, pass some more of that bread, it''s bloody spectacr!” she said, chewing on a bite of meat.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Noo! You already ate yours! This is mine!” Chelsea spat, pulling her loaf away from her reaching arm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake shook his head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t want to ever see that vile woman ever again…” Shigure murmured, “I’ll have nightmares of being healed over and over again for weeks…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Aw, don''t sweat it. A good man goes through pain and trauma as they say, right? What better ce than here where you have your good buddies and an above-average-looking woman to heal you?” Drake said, moving his mask over to show his bright totally not menacing smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Who’s my buddy?! Is this really just because I made fun of your stupid cartoons?! You’re just like Sato!” Shigure replied, barely able to lift his head to re at Drake.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What?” Drake said, moving his eyes to avoid Shigure’s eye contact, “Of course, it isn’t… I just want to help you learn how to fight against someone like me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I hate you,” Shigure spat, his head thumping back to the ground.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ok looks like he''s kaput,” Drakeughed, “How about we give it a go then Bear? It’s been a whole two weeks since we sparred, what do you say?” he asked looking up to Bjorn who was also finishing his food at the table with the others.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn polished off his roast boar before answering, giving his mouth a wipe.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’d rather not. I’m trying to get away from proving people right that I’m a big scary guy remember?” Bjorn said, eyeing another loaf of bread and chuck boar roast.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t think we get to really decide that anymore with how things are Bear. You were the one that told me I had to be more, and I think you need to hear the same. If anyone has the right to do more and be more for people. It’s you, my friend. I wouldn’t have gone as far as I did for the people that were taken by the Goblins if it wasn’t for your little promise and now after everything I think it’s time for you to step up just like you made me step up,” Drake said reluctantly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn sighed, as he stood up from the table, many of the eyes at it following him as he did.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’ve been trying to stay away from fighting for so long, and this tutorial keeps throwing me into situations without any other options. Maybe I should consider just embracing it… I am pretty good at it, beat the shit out of you after all,” he smiled but his expression turned mncholy, “Maybe it’s just in me. I think we need to talk anyway. Don’t think I didn’t notice you’ve been avoiding exining what’s happened with you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned trying not to meet the big man’s gaze.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Fine, but only after I get to knock you around a bit. You know, for old time''s sake,” Drake said reluctantly but grinned back nheless.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, yeah,” Bjorn waved, shouldering his enormous sword, “We’ll see about that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait!” Shigure shouted from his lying position, “I would like to ask if we may spectate your fight? It would be a great learning experience to see.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t see why not, most people have seen what I can do by now, not that they can really figure out what exactly I’m doing so I don’t mind,” Drake said, agreeing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, should be a good show if Shot here does anything likest time,” Bjorn chuckled.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I had a bone to pick then… I’ve matured since then,” Drake said, earning him a loud guffaw from his group at the table, “Ok,” he coughed, “I’ve matured a little bit.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Only one way to find out, so let''s get this done,” Bjorn insisted.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then I will gather some of the people from the coalition to observe. Uta?” Shigure said to no one in particr.


    <span style="font-weight:400">The construct materialized next to him in a wisp of inky ck smoke her arms pressed in greeting as she knelt on one leg.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, Lord Shigure?” she asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Will you please go grab the heads of the coalition for me, and allow them to bring anyone they wish to observe the fight between Sir Bear and Shot,” he directed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“By your will,” she bowed and disappeared in a puff of smoke.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked over to Theodore, “Why can’t you do that?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“My Lord, this one is a Dark Magician, one of the gentleman arts. This one doth not wisp in a charade of smoke, this one melds, and quite eloquently at that,” Theodore said, putting a piece of boar to his mouth.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s fair. But maybe adding some ir to it will give you some variation Theo? Could give you a more dramatic and knightly feel if you came when the surroundings darkened and all that?” Drake offered, crossing his arms in thought.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This one will consider it My Lord.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Shot,” Bjorn said, nudging him with his heavily armored elbow.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ow, what?” Drake answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“We got some time now bro, here. Lend me your ear for a bit before we start I need some advice from the little voice in your head,” Bjorn said, thumbing a bit away from the rest of the group, and holding his hand up to stop Shigure and the rest of them from following for the moment.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Sorry peeps, private meeting before the fight,” Bjorn said smiling.


    <hr>


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn and Drake moved away from the group, taking a few minutes to distance themselves, not wanting to risk being in earshot of someone that may have increased hearing.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“So what’s the deal? You’re usually more open and straight with me Bjorn,” Drake said, his brow raised.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I need to speak to Natto about something that’s been going on…” Bjorn offered, getting to the point.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake nodded, and a small pink construct materialized on Drake’s shoulder.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I am against helping this oaf after what has happened previously,” Natto said, tilting her nose up.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come on Natto, he’sing to us for help. Least we can do is hear him out,” Drake said, trying his best to help be diplomatic.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Natto simply huffed and kept her head turned and tilted upwards in defiance.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake smiled gently and turned to give Bjorn a nod.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks,” Bjorn said, “Let me get straight to it before we get interrupted like always. I’ve been having some strange dreams since I finished using my skill stones. I have some of the highest rarity stones, and let me tell you they were not fun to use,” Bjorn began, Natto’s head turning slightly at the mention of skill stones, her interest piqued.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn continued, “They started out right after we fought. I just finished using them and was practicing. After the initial use and dealing with the power increase, it was going well. Then a few nights after I started getting weird dreams, almost lucid visions of a forest.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake looked around, trying to hide his smile as he ced his eyes on the surrounding forest.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No, I thought the same when I first saw it, but this forest is different. The trees reach the sky, literally. There is a mist about the ground that never leaves… There… were giants in the mist. Eventually going through the forest in some sort of.. The only way I can exin it is another body, I came to a mountain. Tallest thing I’ve ever seen, bro. It’s snowy peaks surrounded by clouds and monsters I’ve never seen.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake whistled, “That’s a pretty crazy dream alright.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s not the end bro… The mountain. It moved.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Drake,” Natto said her face now ring at Bjorn more than she ever had.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned to her his eyebrow cocked in confusion.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah?” he asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Do not fight him,” she said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“<em><span style="font-weight:400">Kill him</em><span style="font-weight:400">.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s face contorted in anger, but he reeled it in a momentter.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Why?” he said through gritted teeth.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“He can not be allowed to reach E-Rank.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What do you mean?” Drake questioned.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“This oaf has consumed more than one Legendary Stone. Or he was not born human,” Natto said tly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake’s head snapped to Bjorn in surprise.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn’s face was even but his eyes showed his confusion and his mind working in the background.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Those visions or dreams as he calls them are his psyche changing. They will get stronger the closer he gets to reaching level 30 and finishing his Rank Up Quest,” Natto exined, not taking her eyes from Bjorn.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait, wait, how do you know that? Aren’t you limited to things within F-Rank at the moment?” Drake asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Legendary Stones can be used in F-Rank, you idiot! Of course, I know how they would affect someone. Do you remember how your Epic and Rare stones changed you? Legendary Stones are of a different dimension entirely. How he has not gone mad is beyond me, his mental fortitude is impressive, I will concede that at least. But if he is allowed to change into what I suspect. You and your will regret it,” Natto said growling thest few words, the hair on her tail and ears standing on end.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What is he going to turn into that’s going to be so scary? I’m sure we ca-” Drake said trying to reason with her.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You can not! They are worse than what we are already suspected of dealing with now! Do you wish to add to the problems we already have to face?! The race he is going to turn into, care not for friendship, nor worldly desires. They only respect and vie for power and destruction. They are the consumers of worlds, the destroyers of universes, they ar-”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Titans,” Bjorn said, finishing Natto’s sentence.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait like mythology Titans?” Drake asked, bing more and more confused.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No. These are not like the Titans of your lore from Earth. Although some of their race are seen as such. These are world-enders, massive beings of power, destruction, and endless hunger. You know of the gods from mythology I assume? Or at least the basic ones from history,” Natto asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, of course, I’ve seen enough movies and anime to remember a few at least,” Drake answered.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Those are what these Titans are meant to depict. Those Gods as you have known them were no mere small men and women. They are enormous containers of Mana and they only wish to consume to grow. They continue to roam until they have been killed or continue to eat as they have grown to a point they can not be stopped. There is no in-between,” Natto said.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Drake turned to look back at Bjorn.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Him? Do that? You have to be joking Natto, he barely wants to fight let alone see entire worlds blown to bits. Right, Bjorn?” Drake asked, but Bjorn stayed silent in contemtion.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Bjorn..” Drake muttered in concern.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t know if what she is saying is true, but… I have been slipping,” Bjorn conceded.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Slipping?” Drake asked.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I used to abhor violence bro. I would only fight when I was forced into a corner or needed to defend myself or others. Now.. I don’t know, it’s different. I’m looking for it. And not in a good way. I may have said I didn’t want to fight, but honestly, I was looking forward to it when you asked,” Bjorn said, scratching the back of his head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“That’s normal, isn’t it? We are all in a situation now where we need that strength, that drive to get stronger and be able to protect what we hold dear, right?” Drake said, trying to offer him a leg to stand on.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Bjorn shook his head.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t have anything like that, Drake. My parents passed away shortly before the tutorial started up. I only had my dog and some very distant friends where I lived. Sure the townsfolk warmed up to me, but we weren’t friends. I have no girlfriend because, well, I think they’re a pain in the ass, and honestly I haven’t found one I liked more than for a few minutes. No kids or siblings to speak of. I try my best to be giving and that’s what I strived to do when the tutorial happened and I got on my own two feet,” he said solemnly, “If what the little Miss said is right. You''re going to have to kill me.”