CHAPTER 99: STUDENT SKIRMISH

Daru laid down on his bed, sighing.

It seemed that Lucas was still busy.

Thus, he decided to focus on completing his mission in the Myriad Sword Realm first.

The world warped from his room’s ceiling to a familiar white void as he pressed his palm on his faintly glowing sword mark.

Another moment later, Daru realized he could only see black, and he couldn’t breathe.

He should’ve left his husk in a more comfortable position...

Daru noted this, stood up, and stretched lightly, moving around to ease the soreness from his awkward position.

Only when he felt fine did he proceed to exit.

He was quite fortunate that he had to pass in front of the mirror, or his mission would’ve undoubtedly ended in a disaster.

Daru noticed that the mud had become too thin, especially around the face area, so he quickly retrieved a mud pile from his inventory and reapplied it to his skin.

Only then did he leave his rented room, checking out from the counter and resuming his search for the Kahsar Novice Grove Merchant.

He did a quick search in the NeoNet before he entered, and the article he read said that all Novice Cities, from the moment of creation, would automatically have a few essential Waykeepers, the merchant being one of them.

This grove should be the same.

He just needed to take his time and search.

Based on the note on the Satyrian Quest, Kazuraga cannot leave, or he would be forfeiting a fourth of his soul.

Daru knew he still had a little less than three weeks to complete the mission; no rush...

Arriving at the exit of the inn, he carefully peered through the half-gate.

He hit the gloomy streets only once he was sure that there were no Grove Sentinels nearby.

Daru then proceeded to the rope and climbed to the second level, back to where he left off earlier today.

There were very few novices in the grove, saving him both the mockery and the risk of alerting a sentinel, though this didn’t mean he was having an easy time.

He was still in enemy territory and navigated very carefully in the next forty-five minutes.

With cautious effort, he was able to explore a majority of the misty streets, especially the major ones.

Daru left only a few extremely narrow alleys unchecked.

He was now in the middle of the fourth level, but he had yet to find the waykeeper he was looking for.

’Sigh...where is that merchant? How would people buy from you if you’re difficult to find?’ Daru complained inwardly. ’Maybe this one isn’t too talented in business...’

It was only natural that he would find it a struggle to relate to the minds of the pale-gray-skinned race.

After all, humans and the Veshari had very different definitions of which place was lively.

He could only find out the hard way.

Utilizing what remained of his time in the realm today, Daru climbed all the way to the fifth and final level of the grove, slight warmth creeping through his scalp.

He didn’t think that the merchant would be up here, but he had to check nonetheless.

Then, when he was expecting it the least, he noticed someone in the distance, near the end of the massive wooden bridge suspended between two colossal redwoods.

A short waykeeper with a comically disproportionate, massive backpack wearing a unique, ragged yet formal-looking attire and a black, beaked mask.

’What...why would you sell things here?’ were his final thoughts before his vision changed to the ceiling of his room.

Daru was complaining inwardly when he left, but he was relieved.

All he needed to do tomorrow was walk closer, purchase the maps, and then leave.

As long as he navigated carefully on his way back, he shouldn’t encounter any problems.

Daru hadn’t expected that the supposedly extremely dangerous infiltration mission would be this smooth...

Donning a faint smile, he left his dormitory to wrap up his day.

It was unfortunate that he forgot something important in his room in his delight.

Briskly walking through the serene night—a chilly breeze fleeting by—chuckles echoed from the shade of a nearby oak.

A group of seven young men then emerged, training swords in hand.

Leading the goons was a tall young man with spiky blue hair.

"Yo, Daru Finnley. Let’s see how tough you are tonight, yeah?"

Daru turned to look, frowning.

’Ah...I forgot my sword...’

He looked around. There were no branches or sticks nearby...

Lucas burst out laughing at the subtle action, his face settling into a ruthless grin afterward.

"Do you think we’re beginners at this, or something? We naturally did our preparations. After all, wouldn’t it be a shame if your hazing site was untidy? " the A-ranker snickered, motioning to his underlings to circle their target.

Daru’s eyes darted to the left, then to the right, keeping the positions of the other students in mind.

He then snorted.

"Hmph, you’re disappointing, Lucas Petrov. I was looking forward to fighting you. I never expected that you, the sword prince of the famous Ancestral Davidson High, would be this unconfident."

Lucas’ eyes narrowed, and the grin on his face lessened.

"Hoh? And how is being ’thorough’ disappointing?" he sneered.

"There are seven of you, yet you still had to make sure I’m unarmed. You’re a coward, Lucas Petrov."

Veins popped at the sides of the blue-haired A-ranker’s head.

"You’re about to be a vegetable, yet you still dare spout such crap? Ahh...damn it...what if I just kill you? My family’s influence, would it be enough...Ahh...." Lucas clutched his head as though he was going crazy.

"Hmph, you speak too much. Just attack if you will." Daru snorted once more, arms ready. "I highly doubt that cowards like you have the guts to take a life, anyway, so just stop with your lame act. It disgusts me."

The blue-haired A-ranker felt like his heart and lungs were about to erupt.

He had never been angered this much in his entire life, as no one even dared talk back to him.

He was physically talented and had violent tendencies, plus his family was very influential.

Lucas never expected that Daru, at death’s door, still refused to show even an ounce of fear.

When would the lowly F-ranker break? He wouldn’t be satisfied like this...

"You think so?" the A-ranker rasped, voice trembling while slowly looking at his underlings, following up with a chilling order that made even his subordinates shudder:

"Kill him. My and Boss Skylar’s family will take care of the mess."

"L-Lucas, are you sure yo–"

"Didn’t you hear me? Or is there a massive, rotten wax in your ear, huh? I said kill him. Ask again, and you’ll go first."

Lucas’ subordinates were naturally forced to go in and beat their target down to death.

Unfortunately, how could such fearful hearts and hesitant minds beat one who is calm?

Daru decisively charged at the one on the forefront first, taking advantage of the short moment of doubt.

He moved his head and dodged the vanguard underling’s desperate stab with minimal effort, proceeding to grab the goon’s wrist and twisting it before sending the guy flying with a vicious back kick.

Daru’s confidence skyrocketed the moment he grabbed his first sword.

However, there were too many opponents, and the most skilled among them was also the most cunning, sneakily circling to his back.

Lucas had a wild look of anticipatory vindication as he brandished his sword at Daru’s neck.

Daru sensed the attack a bit too late, and he could only exchange the inevitable hit with another, less vital one.

But he ignored the attack completely. Because he noticed a familiar silhouette already rushing from the side, wooden sword in hand.

A faint smile appeared on Daru’s face, and he focused on the opponent in front of him—a competent B-ranker—instead.

In the next moment, a synchronized clack sounded as two pairs of training swords clashed, echoing in the night like firecrackers in a silent town, quickly followed by a grunt that hinted at a mix of displeasure and disdain.

"Hmph, I knew you bastards were up to something."

Realizing that his opportunity was ruined, Lucas’ anger rose to the high heavens.

"Cody!!" snarled the blue-haired A-ranker, proceeding with a furious threat: "You dare cross Skylar for this worthless piece of trash just because you’re both from the same high school?! You really think no one can touch you inside the academy, huh?!"

"Hmph, as if your donkey of a boss scares me. You think I’ll just let you guys mess with my brother? Your brain must be as small as your lil billy!"

"YOU DARE INSULT ME?!"

But then, before the skirmish could continue, a loud, feminine voice resounded from the building crowd:

"S-STOP!! Fighting is against the rules! I-I’ll report you all if you don’t stop!"

Everyone turned to look at her clumsy running figure, courageously splitting Cody and Lucas, both quite famous at the academy.

Daru’s brows rose, recognizing the purple-haired young woman by her face.

"Elune Tseradze?" Lucas muttered with narrowed eyes. "Move."

"N-No! Fighting like this isn’t good." Moonpiercer decisively shook her head, her heart racing and her hands trembling as she reprimanded:

"L-Look at you two. You’re both A-rankers, aren’t you? Why are you ruining your futures like this? J-Just leave it for the inter-class representative competition, no? You can beat each other to death there!"

"The hell are you talking about, you nosy b*tch? Move!"

Cody couldn’t help but shake his head at Lucas’ words and actions.

"Heh, Miss Tseradze’s right. Why not solve this in the inter-class representative competition? Stop throwing a tantrum like a snotty brat. You’ll look more pathetic than you already do."

The blue-haired A-ranker felt that his heart and head were about to explode. He had never been this angry.

Fortunately, a sliver of reason still remained in him.

It was simply impossible to continue like this, as there would be way too many witnesses to silence, plus winning wouldn’t be easy with Cody Han in the equation.

In the end, Lucas could only curse out loud to cope with the anger in his heart:

"DAMN IT, DAMN IT ALL!!!"

He then pointed viciously at Elune, Cody, and finally, Daru, with trembling hands.

"You...You three bastards...you’ll see...you’ll all see..."

Lucas and his goon squad left like so, his subordinates dragging their unconscious comrade away.

Daru and Cody followed the group with cold gazes.

But not for long, as a dull thud sounded just a few meters away from them.

The Ashton duo turned to look at Moonpiercer, who just plopped on the red brick floor, seemingly clutching her head in despair, terror, and regret.

"No...No...why was I so stupid...Why did I put myself in Skylar’s sights, too?"