Free Web NovelChapter 39: Hurt Pride
Moon looked at Liquid Mountain, then at the wooden stick in the warrior’s hand. He felt like it was not fair for him to put someone he idolized so much at a disadvantage.
It was just a practice, there wasn’t a need to use real weapons... It was even more so for Moon who lived as a weapon for others his entire life.
"Shouldn’t I change weapon too... you’re just using a stick." He suggested. Maybe using a wooden sword would be more fair for both of them.
The warrior waved his arm dismissively, [This is plenty.] He assured Moon.
Moon pursed his lips, with no way to refute the man, he bent down, retrieving Liquid Mountain from the grass.
He strapped it perfectly around his waist before slowly unsheathing it.
’It’s probably fine,’ Moon thought to himself, ’He’s by far stronger than me; I’m overthinking things.’ He assured himself as he exhaled slowly.
[Make yourself comfortable; this is just a spar.] The warrior reminded.
Nodding, "Sure, thank you." Moon took a stance.
Moon stayed unmoving for a moment. "Um," He hesitated for a moment.
"I don’t know if I’ll ever have a chance like this again, but I wanted to say thank you for everything," Moon said, genuinely grateful.
He wasn’t pinning the seal problem on him. It was his fault first for not paying attention to everything. He also didn’t know that there was a man like Samuel already where he would land.
[Don’t worry, things will fall into place when the time comes.]
The answer hit him off guard. Moon didn’t expect it, nor the certainty the warrior gave off.
Moon found himself smiling. "I’m ready." He declared.
[The first move is yours.] The warrior generously declared back.
Moon didn’t wait, nor did he linger. He was already in battle, and his mind was focusing only on the battle.
He charged like he usually does, confident, wild, weapon raised, and perfectly aimed.
Though his aim was not his target.
He lunged, blade falling at the warrior’s face. Only now did he realize.
The warrior had not yet taken a single move. The stick was resting still on his shoulder.
Moon felt that it would be disrespectful to this man; halting his attack would be very disrespectful. He also refused to believe this person didn’t have a plan, or could be hurt with something so basic.
Thus, instead of switching targets, Moon proceeded for the head with absolute, unwavering confidence.
Only to realize, the stick was already moving, closing onto the center of his faceas his was approaching.
He couldn’t retract his attack, it was too late, nor could he shift his body away from this point accurate attack.
Before Moon could pivot, before he could even register the miss of his own attack, a dry clack echoed through the plain.
Thud~
The tip of the wooden stick tapped him squarely between the eyes, forcing them shut. It wasn’t a world-shattering blow.
Yet, it was inevitable, and utterly breathtaking.
Though for some reason, when his eyes reopened, the grassy plains, the warrior, and the sky were gone.
Despite that,
Thud~
Thud~
Thud Thud Thud~
Something smacked his face. His eyes started regaining focus, only to realize he was now in his temporary room in Hall 1.
Thud~
Another hit landed between his eyes, too fast to see what it was.
He lifted his head to see,
Before,
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" His scream echoed inside the hall.
Running as fast as he could, Uon, who left the door open ajar in case Moon called or needed something, reached the door. "Little Moon, what’s wro—
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" before he screamed as well.
He ran out. "Teacher Samuel, help us, Mishu is inside the hall, he’s smashing Moon’s face!"
He screamed for help.
Moon instinctively shut his mouth lest he get beaten even more badly, waiting desperately for help.
Yet, the help Uon screamed for never came; nor did even Uon himself return.
No one came for his rescue, and Mishu... freewebnoveℓ.com
The small menace stood, hind paws on Moon’s chest, left front paw pinning down his chin, and right one just smacked him without stopping. freewebnoveℓ.com
Moon opened his eyes slightly, saw Mishu’s dedicated face and squinting eyes. He resigned himself to fate, and resigned his face to be unrecognisable for life.
But soon, the small menace stopped, jumping off his bed. He casually wiggled its tail left and right, making his way out of the room.
Moon stayed unmoving for a moment before jumping off the bed. He ran at the door closing it shut.
He ran to the mirror, expecting his face would be a mess considering the level of threat Mishu gave through Fate Alert.
Once he stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, he looked at his face.
It was absolutely...
"Fine?" He exclaimed. He was uninjured.
Only then did he realise that Fate Alert didn’t give a single alert throughout the beating he was under.
His mind raced, "Was that ba—" He covered his mouth lest the cat came back for another round.
’Was that bastard messing with me?’ He thought to himself instead.
He exited the bathroom.
He sat down, thinking about everything that had happened.
He stood, first took off his T-shirt. His body was still burnt and badly bruised in multiple places, especially along his arm and torso.
But he also noticed something on his chest, a mark that wasn’t there before. He went back to the bathroom to take a look.
Now that he could see it better, it wasn’t a branding-like mark. It was golden and looked like two overlapping rings. They were made of weird-looking letters or markings.
"So that’s what a seal looks like," he muttered.
Conflicted, he returned to sit down again in silence before putting his T-shirt back on. At least he knew not much time had passed. The wounds were still fresh-looking.
He called the crimson window and took a look at the very end.
Real-Time Logs
User’s Death Energy is unsafe for public use by the standards of Tower of Endless.
User must find a way to seal Death Energy or complete energy output.
User’s entire Energy output was successfully sealed.
He felt conflicted about it. Now he wouldn’t be able to use his energy, or rather, Echo entirely.
Knock!
Knock!
Someone knocked on his door, cutting off his thoughts.
He stood and opened the door instead of calling in whoever was knocking, and once he did, he saw Samuel at his door.
"Teacher Samuel?"
"You seem to be doing better than expected," he commented flatly.
"I guess."
"Find a way to convince that guy to split your Echo on your own. Also, be prepared for Ashspawns to arrive during this new wave."
Moon’s eyes opened wide at the mention of Ashspawns.
’He knows everything; the moment I came and held my neck, he had already known it.’ Moon was sure. Samuel had keen eyes, and he could read behind obvious lines.
"In this branch?" Moon asked first, knowing very well not all of his questions would be or could be answered.
"Probably not, not while I’m still here", Samuel gave a slight assurance before adding. "Your next trial might turn into a mess, though you can give it up and join the next one."
"How do you know they will be here?" Moon had his next question ready.
As expected, Samuel didn’t answer; he started walking away, leaving Moon perplexed, his anxiety rising.
At this point, he knew he could trust Samuel to an extent, not that he had a choice in the matter, but to trust the next-door-looking uncle.
But against all odds, Samuel suddenly paused...
He raised his index finger, pointed at his eye twice.
