266 4-V-1 (1/2)
Such a display forced the party to reevaluate the man standing before them.
”Since you're so eager to play, then allow me to oblige.” Trank licked his lips. Next, he vanished.
Right in front of them, the tall, hard-to-miss man had disappeared without leaving any footprints or a single sound. The party's opinion of Trank soared all the higher as they readied themselves for his attack.
”I expected more.”
With a sigh, Trank reappeared behind Rydel. Lightning coated his finger as the man's long arms extended with the speed of a gunshot for the hunter's forehead.
Rydel fought his body to forcibly evade the attack. He managed to avoid the finger, but his balance was thrown and Trank's second hand was already hurtling toward the hunter.
”Not bad,” snickered Trank. ”But too slow.”
Just as the finger was about to drive itself through Rydel's chest, a blade appeared to parry the electrocuting finger.
”Oh… So you're not just the party leader by name, but also in terms of ability.” Trank's face twisted even more as he got a good look at Jack, who had appeared in front of the vulnerable hunter. ”I'm definitely keeping you to myself.”
”Yeah, good luck with that. Some say I'm too much to handle,” Jack bantered.
Like Trank had done earlier, Jack also disappeared in the blink of an eye using his Sudden Death skill. Flanking the bounty hunter, Jack reappeared with his sword already swinging down on the man's right arm.
Surprisingly, Jack managed to make contact. Or so he thought. His blade glided through Trank's figure as if the man was a ghost, unable to be touched by anything physically.
However, just moments ago Jack had managed to not only touch Trank's finger but block it from killing Rydel. The hero quickly deduced what may be the cause and prepared for Trank's counterattack.
With his smile intact, Trank swung the same illusory arm at Jack. That time it made full contact with Jack's sword and forced him back a couple of meters. The leftover static electricity on Jack's sword numbed his hand, feeding some of Jack's fears and proving that the four versus one scenario may not give them an advantage.
”You've got some strange skills, huh Trank?”
”Indeed.” Trank proudly bowed to Jack, not fearing any possible attack that might come as he did so.
Jack explained his thoughts out loud, ”I'm guessing that your phasing ability is a skill you've either paid a high price for or you've developed yourself. It lets you use your speed to the fullest, making minute movements to dodge an attack while still appearing to receive it.”
”But that's not why you specialize in facing groups,” Jack continued. ”Even when I block your attacks, I still feel a numbing effect from the overwhelming static electricity. You don't need anyone to support you because you're able to support yourself by controlling the flow of any fight you're in.”
Trank's eyes widened as he again bowed. ”Splendid, absolutely splendid. Now that you know of my abilities, have you come up with a strategy to face me?”
”I may not look it, but I have a lot of PvP experience, so I think I already understand your build.”
”PvP? My build?” Trank finally showed some confusion. ”What do you mean?”
”What I mean is that I know you're a glass cannon,” Jack explained with a smile of his own. ”You've increased your speed and attack power to their limits, but you've ignored your defenses completely. And to make up for your lack of defense, you've created a strategy that mixes your incredible speed with your ability to stun opponents. But if even one attack lands on you properly, then you're done for.”
The man's smile twisted all the more as Trank spastically popped his neck to loosen up.
A moment of silence passed as Jack's party members took his words to heart in an attempt to better prepare themselves.