28 「Out of the Box」 (1/2)
Casually Jack came walking out of the front door of the house. Ninya was following behind him, yet before she could even greet the sun, there was a sudden shouting presence.
”Wait, don't!”
”How dare you lock me in a box!” Out of immaturity and anger, a bolt of ice came soaring through the air. It wasn't really meant to hurt anyone as it was a low-tier magical spell. However in that moment, the bolt clashed with Jack's bare shoulder and caused his skin to immediately became semi-transparent. Exposing his crystalline skeletal structure and his flaming jeweled sapphire eyes.
”Wha...” EvilEye lowered her arms as she stood there with the rest of the Adventurers from the Blue Roses. She was dumbfounded to see the glistening skeleton, along with his his transparent skin and organs that subtly wrapped the light around himself.
Letting out a low growl, Jack turned his head and cast a skill
「Flash Step」
In a split second, he was standing right behind the group.
”Huh?” Keno, also known as EvilEye, was just standing there for a few seconds before turning her head to look where he had gone. Only for her mask to break in half, fall to the ground, followed by her hair being cut just above her shoulders and the top of her red hood to be torn to shreds. ”Eh!?!??!”
Lakyus who had told her not both throwing the attack at the man, was standing there staring where he had once been standing.
He had been faster than anyone could see.
Looking over to EvilEye, she opened her mouth slightly seeing how her once long hair had been sculpted short. The look actually seemed rather fitting.
However as she was looking at her friend she saw him in the corner of her eye, his skin regaining its solid color and his skeletal form vanishing beneath it.
”What the hell are you?” She had her hand on her weapon, she was seriously sure he was a member of the undead. As a hero, an adventurer, there had been too many times where they had been evil.
”Wouldn't you like to know?”
Keno felt the shredded remains of her hood before checking her hair. She was surrounded by the golden strands which once adorned her shoulders and back. Her red eyes then locked on him, she was sure he was well above her level and even the combination of these Adventurers who were now considered her friends, were no match.
As she felt the shape of her hair, she frowned. It was similar to how she used to wear her hair two hundred or so years ago when she was still known as Keno, the young Princess of Invernia.
Seeing her red eyes, pale complexion and adorable face. Jack's sudden explosion of anger and retaliation quickly calmed down and his eyes rested on the Vampire who had hit him with ice.
He completely ignored the fact that the rest of the group were ready to pull their weapons on him. That was until he rested his eyes on Climb. ”You,” he pointed at Climb with a dull look on his face.
Ninya meanwhile hid behind the front pocket door of the house.
”Me?” Climb pointed to himself and exclaimed.
”Yes. You. The one who serves the Golden Princess,” he said the name in an indifferent tone.
Climb raised a brow as this man seemed to know his position. It was likely he knew the alignment of the particular party since it was often manipulated and used to give the Princess a better image.
Lakyus and Gagaran moved in front of him, as if protecting him from the pointer finger, whilst the twins flanked them on either side.
Lowering his hand, he smirked slightly at this, opening his item box; taking out what looked like a dark crimson vial of blood. ”You train to become stronger, yet all of its just a grind.” He gestured towards the item in his hand. ”Do you want to become even stronger than all your hard-work will allow?”
In his hand was the potion made by the 10th Seat of the Black Scripture, also known as the Strongest Human. It was clear if he were to give him this, he'd gain that man's physical prowess.
Lakyus kept her hands on her weapon, she had no idea what he was offering, but it was sounding too good to be true. It was also sounding like there would be a catch to it.
”What is that...?” Climb placed a hand on Lakyus's shoulder and moved in front of her, his free hand idling on the hilt of his sword. He was offering him power, which in turn he could use to protect Princess Renner.
”It's a potion, an Elixir of Accumulated Experience. This'll make you as powerful as Gazef, if not stronger.” Though even if he were to have this, he'd still be no match for him. Should Climb fight him later on some day, all Jack had to do was assimilate him.
”He helped Gazef, giving him that high-tier healing potion,” Gagaran surmised as she looked to Lakyus to see if the leader of their group would cease hostilities or if they were going to be brought into action.
Keno who was just standing there for a moment, locked her eyes on the vial. Despite the deep scent of mint and parsley, she could still make out the smallest scent of blood present. That item in his hand had been derived from a person.
Her sight glided over towards Climb who was naively thinking of taking it. If he took it, he'd be drinking another human being or sentient individual of great power.
Bringing her eyes back to center on the potion, she stepped forward.
”Stop messing around,” Keno sharply spat.
”Oh...” his eyes wandered over her for a moment before locking on Ninya who was walking off towards the headstones. His eyes followed every step and breath she took, before moving back to the Blue Roses and the Bodyguard of the Kingdom's only Princess.
”We have to take you to the Capital,” Climb stated watching Jack put the potion away the moment he spoke up. It seemed the deal was immediately off when he sided against him.
”You have today and tomorrow left to wait.”
”Why do we have to wait?”
”Because, its a custom you'll just have to accept.”
”A custom from what?”
”An extinct religion.”
”...”
They stared at him when he had referred to a religion as extinct. So it was clear he didn't worship the Four Great Gods from the human nations, or the Six Great Gods from the Theocracy.
Though of course that could be explained since he wasn't a human being from what they knew. He was some sort of entity, undead or otherwise Heteromorphic.
”Plus I recently gained a house guest last night, a spy from the Baharuth Empire, so I have a few things to deal with before setting off anyways...” His eyes trailed over towards the Villagers as people were beginning to do their chores and daily activities.
”A spy?” Climb's eyes widened as he stepped forward, immediately alarmed at the news. It was strange that a spy appeared the same night as the day they had arrived at the village.
”Technically four spies, workers really. I sent the other three on a task if they want to get their person back.” He seemed to be bragging about this, definitely making sure they knew that the Kingdom wasn't the only government interested in him and his ability to move the citadel.
”Four... While we were in the box,” they all seemed to stare through him.
Lakyus was curious of what he had made them go do in order to get their companion back. It was like thinking of a battle of morals. She wondered how he was treating the prisoner. ”What'd you send them off to do?”