Chapter 178 (1/2)

Randidly frowned, confused. That had been way too easy. Why had the man not even blocked…? Well, it wasn’t that he hadn’t blocked, but the block had been rather…

Divveltian slapped his knee, laughing. “It’s not worth your time to practice against that idiot. He’s challenging you directly with images. And your Battle Intent is to the level that his can’t even touch you. You should-”

But then Divveltian stilled, and he looked out across the boats. “-well nevermind. It seems we have company. Move to the side, this is no longer a probe. It seems your absence has made them become serious.”

A group of 7 ran off of nearby boats and leaped, aiming for their boat. Divveltian’s face tightened, and it seemed for a moment he was locked in an internal struggle. But then he gazed at Randidly and his gaze softened.

“I suppose it really is time to stop playing around,” He muttered, and then he raised a finger. With a delicate motion, he waved it back and forth.

That strange music filled the air, and spears condensed, moving back and forth to a strange rhythm. These spears smashed against the leaping seven spear users. But before the spears could land, there was a soft tinkling of laughter. A woman with a long, dark pink dress with sleeves that covered her hands stepped up on the far boats.

“Don’t you think your reaction is a bit too violent, Divveltian?”

An image of a spear growing upwards like a vine out of the earth appeared in the air, smashing into the musical spears. Raising his hand, Randidly hid his shock at how powerful the shock wave between the two moves was. Was this the power of Adepts…?

The seven were buffeted by the winds, but the leader seemed able to disperse most of the force. However, the momentum of their leap was destroyed and the leader was forced to produce a small boat that they landed on, bobbing up and down on the water.

For several seconds, the woman, Divveltian, and the 7 spear users looked at each other. It was a long, dragging silence. Then Divveltian cleared his throat.

“To dare attempt to board a boat without permission… That sort of behavior is best nipped in the bud.”

The leader of the seven’s face darkened. “You fool. You usurped that boat from Uncle Izzie, a close personal friend. Those who dare behave like thieves should not complain about the decency of others. You even sabotaged his enterprise by dumping his wares! This will not stand. It is the opinion of the First Spear of Qtal-”

“If the First Spear had such an opinion,” Divveltian drawled. “Then why hasn’t he appeared and made it known? Do not casually use the name of your betters, boy.”

The man flushed. His boat began to slowly drift forward, towards their boat. Divveltian folded his arms behind his back and spoke quietly so only Randidly and his 3 spear attendants could hear. “Listen very carefully. That man is Jacktat of the Thunder Hammer Style. He is a kept spear user of the Merchant Association here, but before he sold out and lost his edge, he did have the legitimate power of an Artisan. Shal will be… busy with his training, and I-”

The woman in the dark pink dress waved brightly at the group, as if she knew exactly what was being discussed, even across the water.

“-have an old friend to deal with. I will not be able to assist with these seven.” Divveltian tilted his head to the side and squinted his eyes. “I do not know any of them aside from Jacktat, which leads me to expect that they are simply common bullies. But it will still be 2 v 1 for you three. Be careful.”

Helen smiled wickedly. Teliph just snorted. The male spear attendant just stood with his jaw hanging open, his eyes wide.

Randidly breathed in and out very slowly, clear on what Divveltian was saying. If Shal really was occupied, then that meant the pleasure of entertaining Jacktat fell to him. He spared a glance for the woman and her long pink sleeves. Who was this, that it made Divveltian, with the power of an Adept, so serious? Why were so many Adept level people squirming out of the woodwork?

As the truth seemed to hit the male spear attendant, he asked, “...but how can we manage 2 v 1? I can’t even-”

Divveltian sighed. “Fool, stop comparing yourself to the spear users you train with. Helen has a grace that is almost genius. Teliph is implacable and methodical. Randidly is unrelenting and is willing to brutalize his mind and body for power. You are just a spear user with an average amount of talent. But talent doesn’t mean everything. Where you train is often the more determinative factor in terms of outcomes. Be confident. Now quiet. They are arriving.”