/*unedited*/

With confidence in his eyes, a figure dashes through like the wind and appears in front of s.h.i.+n Jiao in a blink of an eye. His right hand is already on the hilt of his sword and with a quick action suddenly took it off its scabbard in a quick slas.h.i.+ng manner like a samurai.

Lance Brad or 'Samurai' is a college student who is a j.a.panese samurai enthusiast. He likes the way the samurai fights and moves. That's why he chooses an a.s.sa.s.sin job in the game as an a.s.sa.s.sin has a boost in its dexterity. With his movements quicker than normal, he quickly disposes of his enemies and monsters in-game quick and easy.

"That's a cool skill, it's an advance a.s.sa.s.sin skill called 'Wind Walk'. I only heard of it from some of my friends but I think that is the skill with the fastest movement buff in the game so far."

"Wow, 'Wind Walk' is really a level 30 skill set. That's what you would expect in a big guild. Their players have already reached level 30. Sigh… I wish I can join those big guilds."

"If only someone can help us grow that fast."

The people muttered as they watch the skill of Lance Brad.

s.h.i.+n Jiao immediately reacted by lowering his stance. He was a bit startled at the speed of the guy, but his reaction speed is not normal either. So he quickly s.h.i.+fted his body to the left and the sharp edge of the sword barely grazes his body.

Swoos.h.!.+

A fast blade was pointed on Lance Brad all of a sudden. s.h.i.+n Jiao didn't attack the man as he didn't want any trouble. Since he was not hit, he would just let it be if the guy would stop.

But what he was thinking was a bit naïve. Lance Brad actually didn't stop because right now, he was shamed in front of the girl he likes. He could not accept the fact that he was easily defeated just like that in front of many people by a man who is still wearing a beginner's outfit.

Bursting in rage, Lance Brad immediately retracted his blade and parried the sword pointing on his neck. Then he quickly uses a skill… 'Slice and dice'.

Slice and Dice is a skill of a swordsman where their sword would lice three times horizontal and vertical at a really fast speed.

s.h.i.+n Jiao immediately senses the danger, and this time jumps back a distance. But he was still caught and received some damage.

His armor showed some torn pieces of leather on them, but it didn't cause his HP to drop that much.

"I guess you would really want to fight with me then… Is this between us or the whole party will be included in this fight?" s.h.i.+n Jiao confidently asked.

When the Crimson Crown Guild party members heard this they sneered.

"Do you think you can handle our Crimson Crown Guild 12th team?" Lance Brad sneered.

"I alone can take you down." He added then he positions himself in a quick draw stance.

His action as a samurai seems in contrast to his clothing which looks like a ninja. But s.h.i.+n Jiao just watches the man as he can feel the energy slowly flowing into the man's sword. The woman, Mia Madison, just looks at the two with a complicated expression on her face. However, she is a member of the 12th team, so she must support her teammates.

s.h.i.+n Jiao suddenly made his move as he dashes towards Lance Brad which suddenly showed a smirk on his face upon seeing s.h.i.+n Jiao's action.

However, right at this moment a guard suddenly stood in-between them.

"Halt! This is a warning! If you make your move, then we are going to take you to prison." shouted the guard.

As another two guards appear near the area.

"s.h.i.+t!" Lance Brad curses.

However, he noticed that Mia Madison sent a command to s.h.i.+n Jiao.

'Accept a party duel: yes or no'

When Lance Brad saw this, a smile appears on his face. He didn't want to stop the charge of energy in his sword. He was just too agitated that he forgot to challenge the man in an official duel.

Then suddenly in their ears they heard.

'Party Duel accepted…'

'Party Duel will start in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…'

Lance Brad immediately released the energy acc.u.mulated from his sword. A wave came rus.h.i.+ng towards s.h.i.+n Jiao who looks at it with a serious expression.

Then Lance Brad immediately feels his body being buffed.

"Hey, are we really going to gang up against a single beginner player?" the bulky man asked.

His in-game name is FistBuster, he is the tank of the team but his job is a monk. FistBuster likes to use his knuckles in a fight in real life. He is an MMA fighter, but decided to enter the virtual world because of his friends.

"That was his fault for offending our G.o.ddess, right, Mia?" the man who is considered as their party leader said with a smile on his face.

He too is annoyed at s.h.i.+n Jiao's reaction for not putting Mia Madison or May in his eyes. This causes him to resent the man and decided to teach him a lesson.

RedBlade is a famous name in other online games. He is a pro-gamer who became interested in 'Merging Worlds' after knowing that it will be a true virtual world. With his skills and knowledge as a pro-gamer, he became a member and a leader in the Crimson Crown Guild.

s.h.i.+n Jiao saw all of this and didn't hesitate to dodge to the side. But Lance Brad didn't hesitate to follow up his attack as he did his Wind Walk and appear beside s.h.i.+n Jiao. With all of his strength, he slashed down towards s.h.i.+n Jiao's head.

However, before his blade could touch s.h.i.+n Jiao, a blur can be seen as s.h.i.+n Jiao's figure s.h.i.+fted to the side with a turn while his other hand acted as a whip and strikes towards Lance Brad's temple.

This sudden change of situation made everyone dumbfounded and didn't expect that this sudden reversal would happen. Everyone is sure that the young man who challenges the Crimson Crown Guild members would suffer an utter defeat.

However, no one ever expected that this thing would happen.

Clang!!!

When s.h.i.+n Jiao's fist was about to hit Lance Brad's temple, a s.h.i.+eld suddenly appear between his fist and the stunned Lance.

Joana Johansen or 'Angel' has thrown her s.h.i.+eld to block s.h.i.+n Jiao's fist. As the healer and support of the team, 'Angel' is a very capable player and is very serious in her task. The entire team trusted in her capability as their healer and support. Plus they also knew that she is also a good fighter.

When s.h.i.+n Jiao's hand was deflected, his attack actually didn't seize as he twisted his body following the flow while dodging the second horizontal slash of Lance Brad's sword.

While on the lower stance with the blade pa.s.sing by his chest and his chin he suddenly turn and twisted with a quick draw of the sword on his hip.

When s.h.i.+n Jiao returns to his place in that quick exchange of blows he is not holding unto his sword but instead jumps back a few meter away and stood in a relax manner. On his other hand is a familiar sword which made everyone s.h.i.+fted their gaze towards Lance Brad.

Everyone could not believe what they saw right at this moment. Lance Brad who showed a confident look a while ago is also showing a dumbfounded look on his face. His hand is already empty and his weapon was taken. Plus his life is already in the red as he suddenly received five critical hits.

If s.h.i.+n Jiao hit him once more then his life would turn into zero. But since it is an official duel he would not suffer a penalty but will just be sent to the nearest inn and be resurrected. However, if this happens he could not go out of the inn until the party duel ended.

"This is now my loot. I didn't start this thing. You are the one who challenged me." s.h.i.+n Jiao said in a calm voice.

"b.a.s.t.a.r.d! That's my sword! How… How did you get that? Are you a thief? You're a thief! Hey guards get him! He is a member of the wanted guild! 'Man Hunter Guild'…" shouted Lance Brad in agitation.

How can he not be angry, he not only lost the fight he also lost his beloved sword.

Upon hearing his shouted everyone looks at s.h.i.+n Jiao in contempt with this news everyone would shun and despise him in the town.

Looking at the expressions of the players, Lance Brad knew that his quick thinking paid off. He not only can release some pent up frustration and anger, but he can also shame the man who made him lose face.

The three guards look at each other and turn their gaze at s.h.i.+n Jiao.

"Hehe… Let's see how you face this situation Newbie…" Lance Brad sneered in his mind.

Then what happened next made s.h.i.+n Jiao a bit confused.