I was barely listening when Luke went on and on about how he started off in the apocalypse. Something about a rude woman in a bar who refused the drink that he bought for her. A bitch, whore, every insult under the sun, etcetera and etcetera. She turned into a monster, and somehow that was well-deserved. Nothing he said actually supported that claim, but maybe he's right. What if she was some kind of horse-eater? Then it was good that Luke plunged his daggers straight into her head. A set of weapons, that he's apparently hiding.

He also talked about his spear, the one that's actually long. Made of gray and black metal, with a thick piercing end.

Flaze asked about it, and he was more than happy to tell how it just appeared when he chose his Level 50 Class. I Identified the object, and found it to be of intermediate quality. That stroked my greed, until I looked down and saw my hooves, unable to grasp the weapon properly. A major design flaw, to be unwieldable by horses.

It was amazing how no matter how rude Flaze Clone was sometimes, as she was just tired of entertaining the two, they were still so happy to answer her questions and talk about themselves. I learned how Luke's abilities are pretty similar to Flaze's samurai form, a single charge single kill type situation. Meanwhile Matt is a front line that can tank decently well, and stun with his lightning.

I appreciated Flaze's foresight, to get this information out of them. A part of me questioned the necessity for it, but I quickly pushed down that arrogance. I'll get myself killed, and I'll get Flaze killed, if I keep that up.

I know. I know.

"And that's how we defeated a very muscular monster over level 70." Matt finished his story of how they defeated a misshapen humanoid monster. "It really isn't all about levels. There is power separate, and beyond that." He stared into my eyes, and presumably Flaze's, when hesaid so.

Oh, I agree. I returned the glare and smirked. You don't know how right you are.

I snickered afterwards. Seriously. Level 70. That's fucking pathetic.

Matt looked annoyed, perhaps having caught a glimpse of my unfathomable psyche. But before he could give voice to how I am a god compared to him, Flaze Clone stood up, summoning what little cheer she has left, and burying the building resentment, so she does not break character like earlier. And also to not let things escalate or whatever. Fucking honor student. She actually was an honor student. Nerd.

"Well, this has been fun." She lied as naturally as she breathed. "But I'm afraid we must go."

Matt turned to her, and eased the expression on his face. "Hmm? Go where? It's getting late, and we were thinking of escorting you, actually. Right, Luke?"

"Yeah! Just leave it all to us. We'll protect you."

"Uh. No thanks. I'm good." 'Tarissa' declined.

Luke and Matt looked at each other, in a brief moment of confusion. It was the former that spoke first, following after Flaze's Clone and grabbing her by the wrist.

"Hey, hey, hey. Wait a second. It's dangerous out there, and we're saying that we'll keep you safe!"

"Yeah." Matt agreed, and grabbed the lower-leveled woman's shoulder. His voice was kind, and understanding. "You must be tired of it too, right? Being the one to take on all the danger, when there's supposed to be a man among you? How many times have you almost died?"

Well, he's not wrong. Except, it's not just 'almost'.

Flaze Clone tried to shake his arm off, but he tightened his grip on her armor.

"Like I said, Matt," she spat. "We're not interested in teaming up with you."

Matt clicked his tongue, "Don't let some minor pride get to your head." He turned towards me and the real Flaze. "How about you, Clary? Jack, you must know that banding together in these hard times is the logical thing to do, no?"

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I looked at him, and then made an obvious gagging motion, dripping my horse saliva to the floor.

It sizzled.

Kidding. It didn't.

Flaze's head snapped to my direction with a disapproving glare that implored of me not to pick a fight, but she could not hold back herself from chuckling loudly.

Matt looked even more annoyed, lightning played across his form and sent a slight shock towards 'Tarissa' before he let her go.

The man strode towards us, a death glare aimed specifically at me. I returned the gesture, again, noticing from the corner of my vision that Tarissa was visibly trying to pull her hand away from Luke, but he would not let go. A tug of war, without a winner.

Matt looked briefly intimidated by my figure of black and white, heaven and hell, before he swallowed his wiser instincts and spoke. "What's you deal, Jack? Are you that happy to be able to have these women fawning over you? You even convinced one of them to put herself in danger in your place!"

"Or don't tell me..." His eyes widened, and turned towards 'Clary', a condescending expression on his face. "Are you sluts fucking this actual horse?"

. . .

I burst out laughing, meanwhile both Flaze and her clone just froze, the former's breathing both heavy and still. I could tell she was mad, and I get it. But if there's someone that's down for it, I would not let becoming a horse stop me. In fact, I'm sure there are those who would prefer an animal--

"Jackal Artonox Dolmer." Flaze spoke my full name, and I immediately snapped into attention.

I saw the glare she was giving me, and more importantly her clone's. 'Tarissa' had also grabbed Luke's arms back, and she stared right into my soul.

Ah. Okay.

Do not you regret this.

What happened next, happened fast. Flaze casually swung her sword, and Matt's hand went flying.

Luke was arguing with Flaze's Clone. "What the fuck are you doing, you bitch!? All you have to do is come quietly with us, and we'll take care of all the fighting, everything else!" He really should have understood what she was doing at that point.

A fireball floated right in front of them, it was gaining ground fast, dodging was already out of the table. But perhaps he could still have lessened the damage he took. Instead, Luke tried to dash away, one of his main abilities, but no matter that Flaze's Clone was weaker, he was still weighed down, and they both stumbled.

The fireball exploded, and the two of them were simultaneously set alight, tossed to the ground by the blast.

Matt was running for us now at this point, and I was keeping my distance, Flaze keeping him at sword's length, the make of her sword able to act as an insulator. This is why you shouldn't run your mouth. We knew all of their abilities already, meanwhile they only knew the basics about us. I run, 'Clary' slashes, and 'Tarissa' tanks.

None of the specifics.

Taunt.

Not of me, but of Flaze. Her clone, that is. Matt instantly turned, and started barrelling towards her. Meanwhile I ran straight for Luke as Flaze's clone incessantly clung to his burning form. Ah, how the tables have turned.

[Horsekick Gambit]!

I stomped on his head, it burst open after only two shots. The problem with lanky rogues.

Matt caught up to Tarissa, and I briefly fell back as he easily tore apart her already charred body, the woman unable to fight back, bleeding from several cuts made by the late Luke Surname, and then paralyzed on top.

"Fuck!" Matt screamed as blood and guts came flying. "What the fuck did you fucking do!?"

We all understood then, that 'Tarissa' could no longer answer.

Matt raised his head, and looked back at us. Surprise instantly colored his face, at how calmly we were behaving. There was another fireball just right next to him, and Flaze's katana was approaching his form.

The man reacted, and reflexively brought up his remaining hand, losing it too. My spell exploded as well, and set him on fire.

I didn't allow him the time to rest, and neither did Flaze. Another slash tore through his back, meanwhile my feet connected with his dumb face, letting out a blinding spark of light.

And then I felt it, a current of electricity that ran through my form, as our enemy had reflexively flailed his hands around and hit me with his stump of an arm.

It wasn't that powerful, but it was debilitating. I'm not paralyzed yet, but I would be greatly slowed, unable to muster any precise movements.

I smirked. You just dug your grave even deeper

[Blessed Heal].

[Curse of The Horse].

The ailment forced upon me was cured, but the hex imposed upon Matt was more sinister.

He froze in place, an expression of utter terror on his face. Flaze appeared in his vision a moment after, her moves unusually sluggish, a part of her samurai headdress having come off. His earlier attacks, must have reached the woman, when she dug through the flesh of his back.

And yet, he felt that there was something off about the situation, a searching look in his eyes. The woman had a different air about her, something almost ethereal. As if she's fading away, translucent, transparent.

"Tarissa..." Matt's eyes flashed in understanding. He finally understood the trick. "Son of a fucking bitch."

His head went flying in the next moment, beheaded by the real Flaze from behind.