Chapter 7

Kei is inside his room circulating his magic energy.

Phew

Kei wiped the sweat on his forehead and changed his shirt. “I can only do 2 revolutions without Remy’s help. 1 day in a hotel costs me 20000 won, this hurts my soul.”

Kei promptly left the hotel and went to a restaurant to eat. He was greeted by a staff when he saw Fether inside the restaurant. He quickly went to Fether and sat in front of him.

Fether just glanced at him and continued eating. Kei ordered some food and ate. While cutting his steak, Fether asked him. “What are you here for?”

Kei responded to him while munching on his food. “I’hm hwere to Gulp ask you to take me to any Gate. I can help you and the pay will be cut 60-40, 60 for you and 40 for me.”

Fether realized that he had nothing to lose and agreed. “Alright. Do you want to make a team with me? I’ll be the captain.”

“No, I just want to enter Gates. I don’t think being in a team really helps me, if possible, I want to fight on my own and you just sit in the back.”

Fether bit his steak he was putting in his mouth really hard. “You’re really underestimating me, aren’t you? Are you looking for a fight?” He then placed his hand on his sword behind his back.

Kei swung his hand and answered. “I’m not really looking for a fight, but I do want to try fighting you. How about this, if I win, I’ll be the captain and if you win, you’ll be the captain?”

“Deal! Get out now.” Fether left money on the table and stood up. Kei did the same and they both went out the building.

“Follow me.” Fether walked and Kei followed him.

A moment later, they stand in front of a huge gymnasium. “This is the closest combat testing grounds here.”

They entered the building and Fether showed a card to the staff. The staff bowed to him and allowed him to enter. “Hey Fether, what’s that card?” Kei grew curious and asked him.

“It’s a Hunter’s Identification Card. You get it when you apply as a hunter, it’s quite useful.” Fether answered.

Inside the gym, Kei saw multiple raised square platforms and saw people fighting. Using wooden swords or their fists while the others use fake guns. The platforms were like boxing rings but a size bigger.

Fether entered an empty platform and gestured to Kei to come. Kei entered behind him and stretched.

Fether stretched his right arm and pointed at Kei, he then curled it. “Come at me.”

Kei sneered and asked. “Are you sure? One punch from me can isekai you, you know? You might meet the swordsman who breathes water and slashes demons.”

“Stop with the chitchat and start. I just want to say that, obviously enough I’ll hold back, I don’t want to kill you.”

“You don’t talk much but every time you speak, you get on my nerve. You got that?”

Fether didn’t reply and just curled his finger and gestured to Kei to attack. Kei charged at him with a punch.

Fether drew his sword and counter attacked forcing Kei to jump back. “Why? Can’t get close to me? Guess I’ll be the captain then.”

“Shut your stinking mouth, I was just testing you.” Kei retorted.

Kei then disappeared from Fether’s vision. ‘Behind!’ Fether jumped in front, dodging the kick coming from behind.

‘How did he know where I’ll come from?’ Kei was shocked that Fether dodged him. ‘Eh, even if he can react, if I’m faster then it all works out.’

Kei then disappeared again, moving too fast for Fether to see. Fether closed his eyes and held his sword in front of him and spoke. “Barrier of the Sea.”

He then slashed in front of him even if no one is there. Kei suddenly appeared in front of Fether, seeing the sword slashing down towards him, his eyes grew and he hastily dodged sideways.

‘What the fuck? His eyes are even close, damn it.’ Kei slowly became annoyed. He kicked the ground cracking the platform. Pieces of the platform flew randomly, some flying towards Fether.

Fether slashed at all the pieces flying towards him. Kei noticed that any of the stone flying towards Fether within 3 meters were slashed at least once and the bigger ones were cut multiple times.

“There’s like an invisible wall around him.” Kei kicked the ground stronger causing the crack to grow bigger. He then picked up a huge piece and threw it towards Fether. While Fether was cutting the rock, Kei appeared behind him and punched.

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Fether was punched hard in the back of his head, hard enough to cause a concussion for a normal person. He slammed into the platform and rolled far away. The bystanders noticed the sound of Fether slamming into the ground.

“Look, holy fuck, that guy’s dead.”

Fether stood up with his face covered with blood. He held the back of his head and light appeared from his right arm. His injuries started healing and the spilled blood slowly returned.

“Won’t you get infections by doing that? Those blood are dirty, you know?” Kei was curious so he asked.

“Don’t worry about it, the heal cleans everything.” Fether held his sword properly and charged at Kei.

Suddenly Fether split into four in Kei’s vision. One jumping, one each at left and right and one in the middle.

They all slashed towards Kei and shouted. “Slash of Mirage.” The four then disappeared and reappeared around Kei, surrounding him from all sides.

Kei jumped up to dodge them but the four followed him. They slashed at him midair forcing Kei to pick a side to attack. “Three of these got to be fake.” The body that Kei attacked dissipated in midair giving Kei hope. He rotated midair to find the real one and planned to dodge it when he felt three swords cut him. Kei fell and hit the ground hard.

“I’ll admit, you’re strong. But you’re not good enough. Seeing one avatar disappear immediately lowered your guard down. Since we’re going to be teammates anyway, let me tell you this. I’m a unique ability user.”

“That’s cool and all but you talk too much.” Kei endured the pain and stood up.

“Did he just say that he’s a unique ability user? Go look into him, go find out who he is and if he’s in a team. If I can have him as a teammate, I’ll be profiting hard with less danger.” Bystanders heard him and the crowd around them grew.

“Is he in a guild? If we can invite him, our Lion Ruler Guild will have two unique ability users.”

“We’re both injured, how about we settle this now?” Kei asked Fether to which the latter nodded.

They both held their stance and then charged at the same time. Kei faked a punch and Fether reacted by slashing at his arm. Kei then suddenly ducked and kicked at Fether, the kick connected and Fether’s balance was shaken causing his slash to lose its target.

Another Fether then appeared behind Kei and slashed down. Kei rolled away and jumped back, after taking a few breathes he charged again and appeared behind Fether punching his back.

Crack

Fether flew forward and rolled on the ground before standing up.

‘He’s getting faster every time we clash!’ Fether realized something and fear appeared in his eyes. ‘I need to end this quickly.’

Fether charged at Kei and brandished his sword, he held it with his right hand and ran towards Kei. “Tears of the Lightning Dragon.”

Kei could see Fether charging towards him, Fether slashed his sword down as fast as lightning. Kei could hear the roar of a dragon and realized that he couldn’t dodge it. His feet were stuck in the ground.

In the face of danger, Kei’s instead became calmer than before. He circulated magic energy in his body and forced it all towards his left arm. His arm glowed, the viewers closed their eyes, expecting Kei’s left arm to be cut off.

Klang!

When they opened their eyes, they saw Fether on the ground, with blood covering his face. He coughed out blood and fainted. They then looked at Kei’s arm and saw that it was still intact.

“What the hell happened?” The viewers were bewildered and asked anybody around them what happened.

“I saw it, his arm glowed then the sword hit it and nothing happened, it was like the sword encountered metal. Then he just punched the guy till he fainted.”

The outcome the people were expecting didn’t happen and what did happen shocked the soul out of them.

…

Kei was sitting beside the bed Fether was sleeping on. He was circulating his magic energy when Fether woke up.

“What are you doing here? And where is this?” Fether opened his eyes and saw Kei sitting beside him.

“This is the clinic in the gym. Now that you’re awake I’ll be leaving, let’s go find a gate tomorrow. Of course, I’ll be your captain now.” Kei couldn’t hide his smug smile as he spoke.

“Oh wait, I don’t have a place to go. It’s almost morning, stand up and let’s find a gate after eating.” Kei dragged Fether out of the bed.

“Is this how you treat a patient? After punching me so hard, you don’t even give me time to rest.” Fether complained but still stood up.

They saw the clinic doctor as they opened the door. They thanked her and bowed and left. “You’re not fully recovered yet, rest for some time before doing any strenuous activity.” She shouted at them as she entered the room.

…

They went back to the restaurant they ate at yesterday.

“You slept for like almost a day, I haven’t eaten anything.” Kei grumbled and told the waiter his order. “Carbonara, Ribeye Steak Medium Rare, Fried Chicken, Waldorf Salad, Mushroom Soup.” He spoke while pointing at his order in the lists.

Fether spoke on the side. “The same for me please.”

Kei and Fether didn’t speak a word while eating, they both focused on eating their foods and chewing properly. But the difference in their upbringing were shown in how they ate. Fether’s side was clean and everything has its own place, the bones on the side and such. But Kei’s side was the exact opposite, his side was very dirty and he ate noisily. Ridiculing eyes were looking at Kei but he didn’t care and just ate.

After finishing their food, Fether asked for the bill and paid for the both of them. “Let’s go. We need to register as a subjugation team. We also need to find other members.”

“Other members? Aren’t we strong enough to do it all ourselves? Weak people will just drag us down.” Kei disliked the idea of bringing others into the team.

“We can’t be called a team with just the two of us, we’re more of a duo instead of a team with this.”

Kei was convinced and agreed. “Fine, but I’ll pick whoever will join us, ok?”

“But before that, we need to think of something important.” Kei stopped Fether.

“What is it?” Fether asked.

“What’s the team’s name?” Kei answered him.

“That’s not important! We’ll just go with whatever they suggest.” Fether shook his head and left Kei.

“What do you mean it’s not important? Being part of a team with great name gives you pride you know? Imagine being called ‘Team A’, not as awe-inspiring, is it? That’s why we need to decide on a great name.” Kei convinced Fether wholeheartedly.

Fether stopped and pondered for a moment before agreeing. “Ok! How about Water Blade Team?”

“Dumbass, this is not your clan. I don’t want to hear any suggestions with water in it. How about straw-hats?”

“You’re also an idiot, we’ll get copyrighted for that. What about Demon Slayer?”

“Sounds too straightforward, we need mystery. Mystery!!” Kei’s was oddly excited about the name and couldn’t decide properly.

They were talking while walking towards the Korean Hunters Association.

In the end they finally decided on the name Devil’s Tear with the meaning; Tearing up devils limb by limbs and making them cry tears of blood.

--End--