Having completed his goal for now, Vincent bid his pack farewell and began a trek to Zar-Rhah's place. He decided he would go it alone today. It saddened him that he rarely hunted with the family anymore.. He blamed it on them not needing him but Vincent knew the truth. He neglected most things in favor of work and training these days. Deep down he knew that. Loneliness was the price of power, Zar-Rhah had said one time. If Vincent really wanted to be the strongest he had to forsake everything else to improve himself. "You have nothing when you stand at the top.."
He didn't know what he meant at the time..
The trip didn't take long. It never did anymore.. If he wanted to, he could travel at the speed of sound. That was pushing his skills to the absolute limit though. Today he took a much more leisurely pace, collecting materials and studying the scenery. Still it took less than twenty minutes to reach their destination.
When he arrived the grizzled old master was making tea and a familiar face greeted them. Vincent smiled wide. "Gildarts! It's been a long time my friend. How have you been keeping?" For just the briefest moments some part of Vincent's instincts wanted him to take a defensive stance against the Orc man as he closed the distance between them, but his logical brain smothered the impulse immediately.
The Orc in question boomed in laughter and clapped his much smaller friend on the back with the force of a freight train. Vincent nearly face-faulted not expecting to still be so outclassed by the jade giant. 'That definitely confirms it.. If that had been the real Gildarts I fought a month ago, I'd be dead.' He chuckled internally to himself.
"I have been well, Vincent. Thank you my mighty friend. Truly you have grown. I can sense the stirrings of an Aura within you. Astonishing given your.. condition." Vincent snorted. Gildarts always seemed to approach the subject of his inability to level with tentative care which was just weird considering.. it was Gildarts.
"Y9u have no idea. And it's not like I'm some kind of cripple. Besides, when you become king I have to be strong enough to at least seem like a somewhat competent royal guard." Vincent joked. "No way I'm not living it up in the palace with you."
Gildarts shook his head. "I would expect as much from one such as you. Content with second place. Though your powers have grown, your spine is still pathetic bahahaha!" Gildarts Roared back in what amounted to his attempt at a joke.
Vincent flashed a genuine smile at his friend before walking to the back wall of the cave, which was poorly lit. "Freaking vampire." Vincent muttered. It annoyed him how dark his master liked it. The four walls of Zar-Rhah's cave were lined with various potions, many of which were actually created by Vincent himself over the last few years. Alchemy was not one of the areas Orcs excelled in. For someone like Vincent, who created more potions in a single day them he knew what to do with in a month, sparing some of his stronger ones in exchange for favors or information seemed like a win win.
While the man was proud of all of his works, the back wall of the cave in particular was extra special. It contained the strongest spirits, you see. Vincent grabbed a robust, black bottle that was entirely unmarked save five X's across the thickest portion. He pulled the cork off with a resounding 'pop!' as he made his way back over to his friends. They wasted no time pouring three large glasses and cheering one another before partaking in the savory, succulent liquor.
It didn't take long for the three of them to find their happy place again agyer what had felt like so long of all work and no play. "You know.. *Hiccup!*" Vincent began slowly, measuring his words. The two Orcs looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I really wish the damn blue window had a stat that tells you how fucked up you were.. or wereren't..?" He asked in confusion to no one in particular.
Gildarts placed a pacifying hand on Vincent's comparably tiny shoulder. "Vincent.. I never told you this, but I feel I would be remiss in my duties as your 'bestest friend' if I did not inform you of your error in judgment. You're the only person I've ever met that can see this 'blue window'." The Orc admitted. Vincent's eyes went wide as saucers. "Get the fuck out. All those times I rambled on about it and you just nodded as if you completely understood what I was saying?" He wondered.
Gildarts shrugged and drank some more. "Originally, I honestly just assumed you were a lunatic.." Gildarts began, causing a tickmar to appear on Vincent's forehead. "...But the things you know and the things you're capable of.. I came to realize you were special. And perhaps an outcast. Like me." He said sincerely. Vincent was torn between feeling squishy from the heartfelt sentiment and feeling like he should kick hsi friend's ass for treating him like he was a child who still believed in Santa clause.
Suddenly Vincent gasped, spinning around to face his master. "But wait a minute! You too Zar-Rhah!?" He yelled in disbelief.
His master stared at him with a stoned face expression. "I have never seen the blue window. No living Orc has." He said simply.
Vincents mouth hing open in shock. "But I just assumed.." He stammered, but his master finished for him. "That everyone else saw what you saw? I've tried telling you you are unique, dimwit. Sometimes the system speaks to us. But it does not communicate. For those of us born in the Nexus.. We are slaves to an intangible God." He said casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"As intelligent as you are, you really don't pay much attention, Vincent." Gildarts observed with a shrug. Drinking from his mug. "Agreed." Zar-Rhah concurred, as he too began to drink.
"Gonna get himself killed."
*drink"*drink"
"Probably."
*drink" *drink* *drink"
Vincent looked back and forth between the two of them with confusion and irritation. "Why does it feel like the two of you have reversed this?.." He asked with annoyed, squinted eyes. All joking aside this really did seem like a shocking and import revelation. Which just made it all the more annoying that the two beings before him couldn't seem to care less about the subject. He sighed and decided that if you can't beat them.. join them, as he too began to drink excessively.
It was roughly an hour later when Vincent finally decided that he needed to address the issue he had originally come to discuss with his master. Running into Gildarts had merely been a happy accident and a stroke of good fortune.
"Gildarts.." Vincent's voice lost all pretense of joy and optimism as he looked at his best friend and then his master. ".. and you too, master. We need to have a talk. I ran into some of the depraved." He said solemnly. This in turn caught both of the Orcs' full attention as Zar-Rhah leaned in closely and Gildarts finished what was in his mug, narrowing his eyes over the rim.
"They always just seemed like mindless beast.. driven by instincts.. but.. They weren't. Everything we thought we knew about them was wrong…" Vincent took in a deep breath as he recalled the events that took place that day. He told them all about the battle and everything he learned throughout the battle. He explained how, using that empowered state he had initially been winning.. until the Gildarts doppelganger showed up. Once he'd finished he looked at his friend with serious eyes.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"That Depraved somehow managed to copy you down to the subatomic level, Gil. His soul was even made of the same flows of energy yours is. That shouldn't even be possible." He said, still somewhat not believing what he'd seen. The two Orcs patiently waited for him to continue, as it was clear he had more to say. "Although.. I should have known something was off when the shape of your Aura and Soulspace were different. I guess that's one thing they can't replicate. Probably because they're based on our personality and life experiences." Vincent concluded.
"Our Karma." Zar-Rhah agreed.
The three of them sat in silence for a time as Vincent's words and the gravity of their situation sank in. The fact that the Depraved were a coordinated group with an active leader changed everything. At the very least it certainly made them more dangerous then just some random beastly following their instincts. Never mind the fact that each one was more powerful than they originally thought and apparently had areas of specialty that included, but wasn't limited to infiltration. Outside of a select group, it would be hard to trust anyone.
"Zar-Rhah.. I have to stop them." Vincent said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I understand…" The grayed Orc began.
"Not for me," Vincent interjected with pleading, desperate eyes.
His master stared solemnly at him for several seconds. In that moment Zar-Rhah was reminded of another from his past. "....I understand. We must make the most of your abilities while we have the time. Especially given what you've told us. Come, we begin immediately. We shall make a true warrior of you yet." The old master said, turning around and swiftly hobbling out of the cave.
A sweatdrop fell down Vincent's forehead. "What have I just gotten myself into.." He mumbled in defeat before following his master dejectedly. Gildarts chuckled and decided that a little entertainment would be the perfect ending to his consuming of fine meals and spirits.
Though the news they'd received was deeply disturbing, they couldn't let that stop them. As long as they still had each other, they would still have somewhere they could run to, rather than facing their problems alone.
As Vincent exited his master's cave and his eyes adjusted to the lighting, he couldn't help but notice a feather falling leisurely through the air. It seemed odd, partly because it was random and came out of nowhere but also because it was so serene and calm while the world around it was so chaotic.
He watched as the feather landed on the tip of its shaft before twirling slowly and with grace. Vincent subconsciously compared the falling feather to dancing. Vincent contemplated the feather in silence while they made their way to their usual training spot across the pond. He couldn't help but chuckle at how similar dancing was to fighting. Drawing hundreds of parallel movements through the air with his mind's eye. Much of what he saw could be incorporated in his fighting, he realized.
Congratulations!
Your efficiency has risen by 1! Efficiency: 7%
Vincent smirked. His skills and stats had improved considerably since the last time they fought. Of course even with all of his improved abilities he stood no chance against the level 100 Orc whose strength numbered just over a thousand. Taking a stance, they each wasted no words as they began exchanging blows. As one might expect his master casually annihilated Vincent in all of their clashes. Vincent's sword sparked against his master's and the human was inevitably pushed backward, landing harshly on his back and cracking the ground.
He sprang to his feet just in time to avoid the Orc bringing his cane down in a Shockwave that would have crushed his skull. Raising his shield he blocked a vicious ball of wind that caused him to skid back several meters. He grit his teeth, trying against all odds to keep up with the relentless onslaught. Still he could feel himself growing stronger. With each swing of their swords and activation of their skills, Vincent grew a little better than before.
Any time Vincent was training, he typically kept his weights bound around his ankles, and this was no exception. Doing so meant he had to rely on his vast arsenal of skills to avoid his master's frighteningly powerful blows, but he preferred it this way. In fact he almost never took his weights off, except during hunts.
Throughout most of the 'fight' Vincent would step in, throw a multitude of attacks that his master would deftly deflect or avoid altogether and then Zar-Rhah would retaliate. This normally resulted in Vincent parrying and dodging as best as he could until the man could retreat once more. From the sideline Gildarts occasionally congratulated or lectured Vincent, depending on whether he had been hit by Zar-Rhah or managed to counter and evade him. Typically it was the former.
"Gah, C'mon give me a break!" Vincent yelled as he was soaked to the bone after blocking a strike from the old master with his shield. One of the old man's full powered swings was easily thrice as deadly as the Fang's. On that note Vincent still wasn't entirely confident in his ability to defeat the Fang one on one if it were still alive. Frankly he had Lupus's assistance and a lot of ass pull last time..
With a yell Vincent jumped upward before quickly shadow stepping down at his master, resulting in a particularly aggressive bout of clashing. The end result was a bloody and battered Vincent left recovering in a crater. He managed to pull himself to the rim when he noticed his master applying an engraving to his cane. It was kne that he only faintly recognized. He had seen it once before and if he remembered correctly it translated roughly into.. bomb.
"Shit!"
Vincent's eyes widened as he witnessed his master toss his cane in a completely uncharacteristic move for the old man. The master of the mystic arts cackled as he watched his gnarled cane tumble through the air, beginning to glow brightly before it exploded with purple lightning energy. Thankfully the blue and red eyed Vincent managed to shadow step away at just the last second…
The unfortunate side to this was Zar-Rhah had intended for exactly this to happen. Having orchestrated the whole order of events, he had calculated Vincent's next move and trajectory. "Caelum Rendere!" The Orc yelled, swinging his massive blade right where Vincent appeared a moment later.
He had just enough time to gasp and raise his shield "Shiiiit!" Activating all of his skills at once, he cursed realizing he wouldn't have time to activate Silva Deus, which took a few moments of concentration to tap into.
Fortunately for Vincent, both of his companions had cast a variety of buffs on him at the beigninning fo the bout. Plus, before he had left the cave he had cast bleeding heart on each of them so that their damage was shared.
His incredible defensive skills and his multitude of 1v1 bonuses added together with the fact that he sidestepped enough so that the attack only clipped him meant that it was all just enough for the human to avoid being completely obliterated by the attack.
As it stood, even though the attack didn't outright kill him, he still lost consciousness for several seconds as he was blown backward several feet. A considerable portion of his left shoulder and upper torso were cleaved from his body and his shield was cracked, instantly de-summoning the item. His sword was wrenched from hsi grip and thrown several yards away from his body. After healing enough to come to and regaining his senses he began to wail in agony, both because of his own physical pain and the devastated state of his equipment which he felt on a metaphysical level.
He gulped down two large potions of the health variety before collapsing in a heap on his rear and palms. He gasped and panted, desperate to escape the throbbing ghost of the pain he'd felt. Sweat covered his forehead as he struggled to overcome his fear and panic. Honestly one potion had been enough to heal him, even though he was close to zero health. Crimson essence was broken that way. But Vincent desperately craved the warm feeling of the potent vital liquids sliding down his throat, so he had drank two. Plus they tasted really good.
He sighed in relief as he slowly settled his breathing, finally coming back to complete homeostasis. His companions assaulted him with mental messages and a rapid onslaught of emotions.
Zar-Rhah hobbled up to him, huffing.
"Bah." Zar-Rhah said in annoyance, as if he were the one that had somehow been attacked. "You must always be thinking several moves ahead.. *huff* *huff*" The man's face went from stern to guilty and he rubbed his robed head. "But.. Perhaps I got a bit too carried away there. I am glad you survived." He finished with an apologetic shrug.
Vincent waved his concerns away as he staggered over. "I did survive, that's what matters. You pulled back just enough there at the end. I know how difficult it is for orcs to hold back in battle. Especially ones they're enjoying." He said honestly..
He brushed his hands together and took in a deep shaky breath, still coming to terms with the fact that he had almost died… Again. "Besides I gained several levels worth of experience I can distribute. And you've given me a lot to think about. I appreciate you, master." He finished, preforming a fist and palm salute/bow.
Unfortunately for the human from earth, he was quickly learning that skills in the mythic level truly took an absolutely monstrous amount of experience even in the early levels. The Divine rarity was a whole magnitude higher and he could only imagine what the final three levels would be like.
The two finished out the day as they always did, with a cup of tea and a lesson on how psychological warfare and a brilliant mind were even more important than brawn. This was followed up by a pleasant, unwinding chat about nothing in particular. Gildarts had left shortly after the conclusion of their sparring match, claiming he had a hunt to attend.
Zar-Rhah was uncharacteristically quiet throughout the chat and several minutes in he began sipping from his cup in an exaggerated manner. It was a long, loud sip and Vincent sensed sharp emotions brewing beneath the surface of his master's calm amd measured demeanor.
"My son was the last student I taught." He said slowly, putting down his tea. Vincent was shocked so he remained silent for now. Zar-Rhah eventually sighed before turning to Vincent. "He was strong but.. he was rash. As he grew in strength he got arrogant. Thought nothing could beat him. I like to think maybe nothing could.. save one. The king."
He sighed once more and seemed to age before Vincent's very eyes, as if telling this story sapped him further of his vital energies. He continued unceremoniously, "He betrayed the King and tried to usurp control long before he was ready. It cost us.. so much. His mother. And his life…" The old Orc trailed off. Vincent stared for several uncertain seconds as he processed this, unsure of how to proceed.
His throat felt dry and lumpy. He tried to formulate words that would help but what could he say? He eventually worked out the only thing he could think of: "I'm so sorry. I didn't know."
"Of course not.. How could you have?.."
End of chapter 37