Chapter 54 : Ranked Adventurers (1)
As Agni focused her thoughts she realized that her past tutelage with Wayla bore unexpected fruits. She could hear Wayla’s voice spurring on her actions.
“This world may have many laws of reality that resemble a “game-like” world, but I assure you, it is real. As an adventurer you may feel near invincible at times. While an arrow to the eye socket may not necessarily kill you, a punctured heart may only drain 80% of your health in a single blow-- rules of combat still apply. If you are struck in a vital point then you WILL experience a world of pain, regardless of your level -- at least to a certain extent. If you’re ever in a life or death situation, or even if the odds are stacked against you -- always target your foe’s vital points.”
Wayla’s guidance came flooding into her mind the moment Katrin and Agni were surrounded and the Succubus made good on the knowledge. It most likely helped that her first three attackers overestimated her due to her Rank 0 status, after all Agni assumed that there was no way one could judge strength other than rank. This assumption was now coming back to bite her in the neck as three foes before her seemed to be able to accurately gauge her strengths as they stepped forth to do battle.
“You two, take the Succubus and don’t pull any punches. Rough her up nicely, but don’t kill her.” Fargo commanded as the two men at his side were spurred into action on his order.
“I’ll handle the Scribe.” Fargo said, a broad smile spreading across his face as he licked his lips. Katrin grimaced as a thought of the man’s tongue coming anywhere near her body was enough to make her want to vomit. She firmly grasped the scroll in her hand as she held her Mag-gun at chest level, ready to fire at any time.
Agni felt a sense of oppression as she gazed upon the two men walking towards her. It was something that her body recognized from the heat of battle -- being confronted by foes who were superior. She clenched her halberd and lowered her stance in preparation of the encroaching threat, her senses sharpening to a razor’s edge so that she could react at any given second.
“Heh. She’s ready to go, isn’t she?” The dark skinned of the two fighters said as he pulled a long, pointed dagger from a conceal sheathe. A broad smile flashed across the Fighter’s face as a fierce, red energy began to emanate from his body. The aura encompassed his body like a gently burning flame as a wave of intensity lashed into Agni. The feeling of intimidation was so intense that she struggled to stand her ground. Because she’d faced off against so many Grimlock in the shards already, her body reacted on it’s own by likening the experience to the atmosphere and presence of enemies within the red shard world.
Agni quickly created a mana cloak in proportion to the perceived threat facing her, something she’d learned to do by intuition. In this case, she chose correctly as after doing so the feeling which made her want to shrink away in fear faded away. The Fighter’s face took on a hint of surprise as he flicked and flipped the dagger in his grasp.
“Ha. She nullified my ‘Intimidation’ skill. I guess Specialist categories really are different.” He responded as the red aura slowly faded away from his body.
“Well, the boss said to take her without killing her. It will be a pain if she spawns out. Let’s go with the usual combo.” The dark skinned man said to the pale skinned fellow to his left. This Fighter had a distinctive face tattoo which covered the entire left side of his face. It reminded Agni of her own magic circuits which appeared any time she used a substantial amount of mana.
The pale skinned man smirked, then made a quick movement to unsheathe a dagger along his waist. In the commotion of that moment Agni’s attention was divided for a split second -- and this is when the dark skinned man chose to strike by hurling his dagger directly at her face.
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“If you come quietly, I promise things won’t get too physical.” Fargo said with a grin as he reached for a large, wide, blade along his back. He effortlessly pulled forth his weapon which seemed peculiar to an extent. It’s length was roughly one meter in size , while it’s width was twenty cm.
Katrin gripped her pistol and released a couple of shots. In her mind the time for talk had passed and she would not be outdone by Agni. She didn’t expect the shots to strike her opponent, rather they were sent just to test his reaction. Fargo didn’t move, rather he held his blade frontward, the end pointing towards the sky as he gripped the handle with both hands.
Katrin watched with astonishment as her bullets simply disappeared the moment they struck Fargo’s blade. Rather than impact and dissipate, the bullets themselves seemed to be absorbed. Behind the blade of his weapon Fargo grinned, betraying his need to gloat at displaying but a fraction of his ability.
*Guardian Class, huh?* Katrin thought to herself as she accessed her foe.
From what Katrin knew, there were practically hundreds of adventurer classes in Adventia. Of those, the most common seemed to come from two categories -- Strikers and Casters. The number of Beastmen came in as a close third. Nearly seventy percent of the population were attack type classes. Among Strikers, Guardians were known as one of the more useful classes for their ability to deal with Casters and other Strikers alike. Now Katrin understood why as she watched Fargo’s blade begin to resonate faint blue particles of mana energy.
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Agni couldn’t help but focus on the sound of Katrin’s gunfire, unfortunately it was ill timed as the dagger was quickly careening towards her face. Agni shifted her weight to the side and began her swing to attack the incoming Fighter and this is when she realized that she’d lost track of him entirely.
“Where did he go?” She whispered to herself as she gazed around wildly. The dark skinned man still stood a few meters away, grinning as he lifted his hand. The dagger passed by uneventfully but in another moment it returned to it’s wielder’s grasp. As Agni struggled to register what was happening she felt an overwhelming sensation of heat overcome the back of her neck. It was as if she could feel the “danger” directed towards her.
*Agni! Duck!* Shula shouted.
Hearing this Agni did as told, squatting to touch the ground as quickly as possible. The sound of splitting air whistled by just a few centimeters above her head as the presence of the second Fighter became known. He faded into view, as if a cloak of invisibility was being eaten away by some unseen force. The pale skinned adventurer had a sinister smile on his face as he stood, his arm extended -- as if he’d just attempted to swat Agni at the back of her neck.
“She’s good, Glint. Really good.” The pale skinned man said as he gazed down at Agni who had nearly been caught unaware from the stealth attack.
100% likes this, 99% of us cant draw, 100% likes the pic
link of agnis image is dead, both here and on RR
Yup, nothing's there
Love the picture. Actually pretty close to what I was seeing in my head. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to more chapters
Thankies. I've updated with a first version of Katrin.
The first picture doesn't shows. It says "Expired URL".
I want a colored version of these illustrations!
Whaaaat!? Succubus wearing something that is Not a Battle Bikini set?!? How outrageous!!!
Imho big goat horns would be nice to have for warrior-like MC rather than those punny decoration other than that pelvic tattoo would be nice to have too, like cute bat wings with little horns in the middle-top
Oh, and mc in the picture looks kinda old? 25-30 ish, maybe? And Too Much Clothes!!!!!
niiice
Thankies. I've updated with a first version of Katrin.
Thx
First about the pics: I want to be able to draw like that...Especially Agnis pic fits her really well. But i think Katrins breasts might be a bit big. Except that thanks for this wonderful sight
Second i just thought about this whole fighting scene again and it doesn't make much sense. Agni choose the battlefield because she told them to come out. So the argument they planned this attack at that point is rather unlikely just as the knowledge about the guards doesn't really apply because it isn't the planned ambush site(where they knew the terrain and other factors). The city also doesn't seem so small for someone to know where all the guards are. At the same time they were on the way out of the district so it is rather unlikely they are in some back alley without anyone else around.
Agni knew about the guards because her familiar, Shula warned her. She told her the # of people who had been following her.
They circled around through alley ways when confronted.
@DreamOfRen you misunderstood. Yes Shula told Agni about the pursuers but how did the pursuers know there weren't any guards closeby and what about the stalls and shops Agni just frequented. Did Agni walk from the big road with all the stalls into the small alleys in a district they don't know very well and hoped to find the way out of the district?
Maybe you could argue that they bought one of the guards to leak the pattern to get the Succubus but then they could have acted before and wouldn't have to wait until Agni leaves the village or reaches another specific point to attack.
Furthermore instead of attacking when Agni left the city and help is unlikely to come they are attacking in broad daylight close to stalls and shops of other adventures.
What are they calling themselves? Idiots'r us? Loosing nearly all advantages and risking getting caught because others most likely will get involved very soon deserves that title. 1 scream would be enough for everything to go to hell
@matze3 The lay out of Sprim Row makes it divided into basically 4 areas. There are 2 main streets which intersect. The stalls are in the center of where those two streets intersect.
Imagine a cross shape.
Agni and Katrin were ambushed while walking down the main street of Sprim Row, they didn't need to venture into any side streets -- their snatchers ducked inbetween houses and alley ways while following them.
As far as why it was so easy to ambush them in the middle of the day without repercussion, there are reasons related to that which would spoil the story if I told you. Also for the same reasons they attacked while in Sprim Row.
They would actually have been at a disadvantage and most likely would have been stopped by other adventurers if they waited until Katrin and Agni left Sprim Row.
While i get your concerns, you only feel the way you do because certain parts of the puzzle are currently missing for you.
Rather than do a ton of explaining, I prefer a more organic feel to presenting the story.
That way you learn about the world as you go.
Ironically, most of the things you mentioned are now being discussed / revealed in the current chapters (I wrote up to 75 just the other day)
@DreamOfRen damn how cruel telling us there will be cookies and then telling us we have to wait another 20 chapters for it.
Everyone for the author for that.
na just a joke still keeps one on edge. Rhetoric: Are these Zula's goons trying to convince Agni how dangerous the world is for a specialist? Are they the mentioned punishment from the domina for peeping? Someone else who wants Agni to work in the "entertainment" industry? Or someone who investeted in the "entertainment" industry and wants to get rid o fher because she could somewhat break that market?
Really looking forward to it
@matze3 No, Zula is not involved in any way. Nor are they people who want Agni to work in the "entertainment" industry.
But.... there are a few foreshadowing events that make this particular attack relevant.
@DreamOfRen Noo no spoilers. I just wanted to speculate a round that's why i wrote rhetoric before these speculations
@matze3 Maybe Abina sold info on Agni to gangs/chapels for money of her monthly “intel” mission