Thursday . Week 2 . Year 1

Sponsored Content

Toru .

Level 34 .

Type: n.o.ble . Martial artist .

Relations.h.i.+p: Friend .

HP: 100% (+7%)

MP: 100%

Stats: Dominating stat is Attack .

Special abilities: HA! Too bad your relations.h.i.+p status isn't high for this .

Skills: Your relations.h.i.+p isn't high enough for this, desu .

Magic abilities: your relations.h.i.+p isn't high enough for this, dips.h.i.+t .

Secrets: your relations.h.i.+p isn't high for this, desu .

Clyde shook his head, chewing the blow pop, ignoring his imagination of Chika doing things to it . She wouldn't…right? He already had to accept that it came out of her mouth, well-coated . He pa.s.sed it off as a pretend tongue kiss .

Toru got into an unfamiliar stance . Clyde took his . Fumi looked as if she was holding her breath, nervous . Quite adorable for a slime girl .

[Toru activated Brawler's shout . Toru gained 15% attack and 20% fighting spirit . ]

A dim white aura surrounded Toru as he dashed toward Clyde yelling, "let's go!"

Clyde blocked his punch, returned one which also should've been blocked .

[Mystic powers and abilities replace all of normal attacks, etc . ]

The punch sent a wide-eyed Toru skidding backward five feet .

Sponsored Content

[Toru's HP has dropped to 103%]

[Clyde activated Energy ball]

Toru dodged then reengaged Clyde . The young man closed his eyes, listening to the airflow, nature's whispers, Toru's mood, and breathing . He moved accordingly .

He opened his eyes to see Toru's satisfying surprised expression, his mouth agape .

"I'm not the same weakling," Clyde said .

"I suppose we should stop holding back, leader," Toru said .

"Exactly . "

"I'll show you my new skill . Fumi helped me train, though she doesn't like fighting . "

[Toru activated Zen Mode . ]

The purple aura that reminded Clyde of Frieza's from Dragon Ball, surrounded Toru . His eyes glowed pink, and holy c.r.a.p was his movements different . He blurred toward Clyde, airflow undetectable .

Clyde braced himself for the blow . It came as a blast of air, his fist making no contact . Pain blossomed through his chest, spreading as he hit the ground .

[Your HP has dropped to 101% You have been stunned . ]

[Toru activated Raining Blast . ]

He watched the cloud of grey and pink energy hit him like a meteor . It felt like taking a steel bat everywhere .

[Critical! Your HP has dropped to 65%]

The airflow gave him only the barest of hints to get the h.e.l.l up and dodge . Fighting the lingering pain was a challenge but he would not be beaten so easily .

Sponsored Content

[You invoked Mystic Wrath]

The two faced each other, grinning, standing as glowing t.i.tans . Like usual, civilians didn't see them . They also took other streets and paths, unfazed .

[You have attracted the attention of someone powerful…]

Clyde had no time to wonder about that message . He and Toru's fist collision shook the city with shockwaves that rattled windows . They matched blows again and again, laughing .

[Toru's HP has dropped to 70%]

[Your HP has dropped to 44%]

Clyde leapt backward, annoyed with the health point difference .

[You've activated Mystic Scatter Shot . ]

His energy b.a.l.l.s were green instead of yellow-white, launching out three at a time . Normally five emerged . He fired twenty at Toru . The b.a.l.l.s moved incredibly fast—the n.o.ble struggled to dodge even half of them .

[You activated Binder's Hand . It has no effect on Toru . ]

[Toru's HP has dropped to 54%]

Clyde darted toward the n.o.ble, reengaging him with everything he knew about combat . Toru danced too .

[Your HP has dropped to 30%]

[Toru's HP has dropped to 40%]

Sponsored Content

They panted, standing fifteen feet apart, fighting stances holding strong . Suddenly, the glow from Toru winced out like a blown-out candle .

"Dammit, I wanted to try some of my mystic lightning . "

Clyde walked toward the panting man, smiling . He whistled Cell's theme song from Dragon Ball . Toru dropped to one knee .

"I expelled more than my limits, trying to keep match with, whatever that is . "

"It's called Mystic Wrath," Clyde said .

"I see . Mine is called Zen Soul . Or Zen mode . "

Suddenly, Fumi blocked his way, stretching her arms in a protective motion .

"Don't hurt him," she said .

"No need to worry," Clyde said softly, deactivating his Mystic Wrath .

"Well, you win," Toru said, laughing . "I'm a bit short of strength . I need more practice with Zen and chi . "

[The spar has ended . You've gained 1 combat level for both intermediate combat and mystic combat . ]

Chika was on Clyde in an instant, holding his s.h.i.+rt collar .

"I need to talk to you about this stupid hunt thing, alone . Maybe your place . "

"Pretty sure Al—" he snapped his mouth shut at her raised eyebrow . "Let's just go take a walk . "

"I insist we find somewhere private," Chika said quietly and urgently . She said aloud, "besides, let's leave these two lovebirds alone for a while . "

Fumi's illusion returned, but not before kissing Toru . It appeared to have some kind of healing effect—the n.o.ble's strength returned to him .

Clyde caught Chika's meaning, her slightly jittery movements, brief but multiple caresses of his arm, the l.u.s.ty yandere twinkle in her eyes, which almost s.h.i.+ned .

[Your relations.h.i.+p with Chika has changed to closer level 3, ???, and very intense s.e.xual desire . ]

[Talent: main character stuff . Detect Status . ]

[Chika has accidentally consumed aphrodisiacs . ]

Clyde almost laughed, almost, but they were on a time crunch .

"Just use a vibrator," he hissed .

Chika gave him a severe look then hissed back, "never! You can't take a girl's virginity and not bear responsibility . My body is yours alone . Well… your body is mine . Now let's go to that love hotel across the street or I'll ride you right here in public . Don't think I can't . "

Time crunch…but was it really that big of a deal? Of course . He made the decision to scout as a leader .

That's when he remembered all of the warnings . The succubus's taunt, Toru's exclamation, the uneasiness in the eyes of the others . He was just about to do something stupid again . If only he could tap into whatever power, he used the prior night—maybe this mission would be successful . He looked at the jittery girl, noticing the slight glisten of fluid that would soon run down her leg .

"Toru, I'm an idiot . "

"Tell me something I don't know," he replied . "Have you come to your senses?"

"Yeah," he said . "Let's cancel the mission for now . We'll need to come up with another way to scout as well as a plan just in case the vampires decide we're better off dead . Maybe some training too . My power level's at thirty, which is kind of pathetic . "

"Don't start being modest," Toru said . "You're different from us . You've got some kind of power that if you learn to control, will allow you to overcome level differences . "

Clyde did take notice of him purposely avoiding the word "monster . " He shrugged, doubting he could overcome the level difference . Maybe get lucky, but that was all .

"We'll still meet at noon—"

Chika pulled at him with both arms .

"Come on . "

"What's gotten in you?" Toru asked the yandere .

"Didn't I tell you, I needed to speak with him alone," Chika snapped .

"Whatever," Toru said, walking toward a car that resembled a fancy BMW . Annoyed, Clyde pulled his arm away from Chika .

"G.o.dd.a.m.n, is everyone around me rich?"

"Money is worthless," Chika countered . "You don't see me flaunting it . Besides, if you needed such a thing, I would know . I'd take care of you if you'd let me . Now come on!"

Clyde looked at her, surprised .

"Why? I mean, I've barely done anything that's worth your attention . h.e.l.l, I considered putting everyone in danger without thinking . "

"Of course, you won't see it," Chika said bitterly . "And I'm not going to explain . It'd keep your ego in check . Sheesh—I'm trying my hardest not to jump you right now . "

Clyde's eyes widened .

"Is it really that bad?"

"Clyde, there are many, many things I want you to do to me, things that I in my most out of control states wouldn't dream of, so don't start with me . "

The pair took off . What made Clyde freeze was the sight of Gamen driving off in his old car . There was no mistaking that face, the posture, the look . He doubted the man would have a twin—but how the f.u.c.k did he survive? There was no way .

Sponsored Content