Free Web NovelChapter 149: Chapter 148 - The Calm Before the Storm(Part 1)
Point-of-View: Inoka Fonseka
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"Sure they don’t want me to use it on one of the captives from Chaos yet?" I inquired in surprise.
"No, not yet...the higher ups have decided to first deal with Eden and their Outliers before dealing with the matter of Anarchy’s true identity," Replied Neo with a sigh.
Today’s the 2nd of September, and as of one hour ago, I had officially mastered Dispel! It kinda sucks that I couldn’t have done it without Anarchy’s help, but still, I had to put in a fair bit of effort regardless, and I’m not going to discount that.
On another note, I’d tried teaching it to Kiyana and Liling using Synchronicity, but they couldn’t figure it out using that method...which, I have to admit, certainly stroked my ego quite a bit.
Still, it’s worth trying out a bit more, there might be others like me who can figure out a technique by getting a taste of what it feels like to activate it.
Oh yeah, regarding the listening device we suspected of being planted somewhere in the campsite...Aurora managed to find it.
It was embedded behind a fuel pipe beneath Zoraiz’s RV, which was in the middle of the campsite. Its charging port had been taped to a wire, that must be how it had been kept charged.
Once we found it and looked up the model online, we discovered that it’s a highly sensitive device, and can clearly pick up sounds within a radius of a hundred meters or so.
It’s also incredibly expensive, but I’m guessing Anarchy must have used Dark Skill manipulation techniques to steal it or something.
At first, we were about to destroy it, but I realized that’d be a huge waste, so we switched it off and then put it up for sale online. Neo reluctantly agreed to deliver it to whoever buys it, just to make sure that it doesn’t turn out to be someone from Chaos buying it back.
It was in pretty good condition, and we were selling it for half the original price, so it shouldn’t be long before we get a buyer for it.
Anyway, Neo was here to check on Dieter, who yesterday had said that he’ll likely be able to fully master Thought Communication by today.
Once that happens, they won’t waste much time in heading for Eden’s new hideout. The higher ups apparently want me to join too, along with Aurora, of course.
Fenris had volunteered to come along to, and when asked why, he didn’t so much as hesitate in stating that he was doing it to impress Aurora. Which, well, really didn’t seem to impress her at all. However, the higher ups rejected his offer, saying that it was still too early to trust him.
Neo requested X’s cooperation too, probably as a way to confirm her allegiance, and while she did accept, she seemed scared...I guess after having been a prisoner of Eden for most of her life and finally gaining her freedom from them, she’s afraid of falling into their clutches again, huh.
In the end, the higher ups agreed that she’ll only go there to nullify the barriers in place, and Neo can portal her back here after that.
Additionally, all the Category 0s will be a part of this too. So far, I’ve met five of Harmony’s Category 0s, Neo, Tara, Richard, Elise and Kechik. There are seven others, I wonder what they’re all like.
So far, only Neo and Elise have been decent people. Tara’s a total bitch, Richard is a smug asshole, and Kechik is a cunt of an asshole.
"Well, anyway, I’ll go check on Dieter now. You can get back to your training," Remarked Neo, before heading for Dieter’s RV.
Oh, and I was currently training with Liling in hand to hand combat. Since the higher ups wanted me for this upcoming battle, and I’ve kinda been neglecting my combat training since I’ve been spending more time on my Light Skill techniques, they’d tasked Liling with whipping me into peak shape.
"Ready to continue?" She inquired with a smile, as I stood up and wiped my forehead with a towel.
"Yup, I’m ready," I nodded in response, as we began heading back into the woods.
"I have to say, while your movements seem a little bit worse than before, you’re hitting harder than you used to be able to, there’s definitely more force behind your strikes," She remarked with a look of curiosity.
"Oh, about that...I’ve been using my Light Skill technique Augmentation to help tone to my muscle definition. It’s like a workout shortcut," I grinned in response.
"Wow, you can do that?" She responded in surprise.
"Mhm, and if I overdo something, I can easily tweak and even undo it. I’ve figured out how to use Augmentation to weaken someone. I can totally wreck someone’s organs and stuff just by touching them."
"That’s, uh...kind of a scary thought," She replied with a wry smile.
"Yeah, I’d hate to be on the receiving end, that’s for sure," I laughed sheepishly.
"Your progress with the Light Skill has been nothing short of incredible...but you can’t be over reliant on it. I’m now going to attack you at full speed and strength. Try not to get hit," She grinned, before vanishing from my sight.
Crap, she ducked low and shot forward!
I quickly sprang back as she closed in on me and drove her fist at my midsection, her knuckles brushing against my stomach as I evaded just in time.
She then used her forward momentum to front flip, whipping her heel straight down at my head, which I ducked back to evade, the sole of her boot grazing the tip of my nose as her heel slammed onto the grass with a thud.
She swiftly got back onto her feet and zipped forward, closing in on me. I blocked with my right arm as she swung a rapid kick up at the side of my head, her leg suddenly halting halfway up, before she struck my right hip instead.
It wasn’t a very heavy blow since she’d halted her full momentum, but it was strong enough to slightly upset my balance, and she used that opening to swiftly drive her right knee straight at my midsection, as I just barely managed to blunt her kick with my palms, wincing slightly as the impact jarred my forearms.
She swiftly placed her hands over mine and grabbed my wrists, before rapidly pulling herself up, putting her weight on her arms, as I felt the weight pressing down on my wrists increase.
As she began to swing her left leg across at me, I grimaced as I burst out bone spikes from my body, with blunted tips, since I didn’t want to hurt her.
She reacted in time, letting go of my wrists and springing back, as I retracted the bone spikes with a wince of pain. Man, this technique really stings!
As I took aim and fired out a Light Blast at her, she rolled across to evade it and disappeared behind a tree to my right, which was surrounded by a row of bushes.
Not good, this area is pretty dense with foliage, she could attack from anywhere.
Suddenly, I heard a rustling to my left, I quickly turned that way as I charged up another Light Blast, my eyes widening in alarm as I saw a small rock nestling in a bush...crap, she must have thrown it to make me turn that way, that means-...!
I let out a sigh of defeat as I felt a light tap on the back of my head, turning around to see her with a triumphant grin behind me.
"You got me," I sighed wistfully.
"No need to look so glum, you almost got me yourself with that bone attack," She smiled in response, before flopping onto the grass as a gentle, pleasant breeze blew across.
Heh, or in other words, I almost boned her.
"Yeah, which you managed to react to and get away from pretty easily," I grumbled, as I took the opportunity to lay down beside her.
Her skin was glistening from the sweat, and her clothes were clinging to her skin slightly...nice.
"You know that I can feel you staring, right?" She laughed, as she lightly flicked my forehead.
"Mhm, don’t mind me."
"What if I do this?" She smirked as she took off her glasses.
"Damn it, I shouldn’t have told you that I have a thing for glasses," I sighed dramatically. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"Well...if I’m being honest, I don’t mind you staring," She leaned over and whispered, before putting her glasses back on with a sly smile. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
Gulp...
"And if I’m being honest, that was super hot just now," I remarked bluntly.
"I’m amazed you can just come out and say what’s on your mind like that," She responded wryly.
"I mean, it’s not like I say everything that’s on my mind all the time, you know. But I suppose I do have less of a filter than most," I admitted sheepishly.
"You know, I don’t dislike that. It’s definitely a part of your charm," She replied with a warm smile.
"M-my charm?" I stuttered, kinda caught off-guard.
"Mhm...," She whispered, as she leaned in close, her lips literally an inch from mine, "You’re more charming than you realize. To me, at least."
"I, uh..."
"Alright, then, let’s get back to it, shall we?" She suggested, as she suddenly pulled away and stood up, a teasing smile on her face.
Did...did I just miss my chance to kiss someone for the first time!? Damn it...I need a do-over, that was so not fair!
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