Oliver woke up with a start, having trouble breathing. An amused smile appeared on his face when he realized that it was Alice’s hair that blocked his nose and mouth. Without waking the beauty in his arms, he slowly removed the hair and gave another look to his fiance. She was sleeping like a peaceful angel. Once again, he was pleased with his decision to bring companions into this so-called lonely cultivation path.
It didn’t have to be a lonely journey. As long as he had party members who care for each other and push each other to the peak, they could treat this treacherous road to ascension together and even ascend side by side.
He got up slowly and dressed quietly before leaving the tent. It was still early. Ethan was also sleeping. Nuvian was on the watch, taking notes for his new song, which Oliver didn’t doubt would make the girls of Ehrendil crazy when finished. He gave his friend a nod and got the young bard’s signature smile in exchange before going to collect some ingredients for breakfast.
It wasn’t healthy nor sensible to eat meat for breakfast every day, so they usually picked fruits and herbs in the morning. Yesterday, when they were passing through some berries that were Alice’s favorite, no one noticed, but it didn’t escape Oliver’s attention and he thought about surprising her all day.
As he resumed his short hike, he considered his future plans in a good mood. This trip was for Nuvian, but he and Alice also got the benefits. He still had a long way to mid tier-3, but his team was catching up to him, and they got another potential team member.
He really wanted Ethan on his team, but the new guy looked like he had other plans. It wasn’t like the first time he joined them; he was clearly getting along with them much better now. They were joking together and having a good time even at times the subject wasn’t cultivation but just empty talks.
Even though he was much more relaxed compared to the past, there was a thin wall that Oliver couldn’t pass, no matter how he tried. Ethan was undeniably hiding things, and Oliver had no intention of learning them. He just wanted to give him a place he belonged, and whatever problem he had, he wanted to show him that they could handle it together.
After returning to Ehrendil, the original plan was to find a healer and a mage for his party, but someone like Ethan was also a perfect fit. He didn’t lack range skills, his close combat skills were even better than theirs, and he could get away from perilous situations with his blink. If they had Ethan and found another healer and a mage, their team would be ideal.
Sadly, so far Ethan only showed that he would leave them after they arrived at Ehrendil, and Oliver wouldn’t press the guy; after all, it was his decision. Thinking again, he actually reminded him of Jeremy McGregor. The kid who changed his mindset in a single bout.
When he saw the berries, he realized that he had forgotten to bring a bag to carry them. So he first started to look for something that would help. It didn’t take him long to find a huge leaf and started to collect them while thinking about his fight with Jeremy McGregor.
Oliver reached tier-3 at 20 years old. More than a million people lived in Ehrendil, and less than ten percent of them managed a feat like this. Most of them were talented in their elements, so all they did was cultivate with their manuals. Less than one percent of Ehrendil had average talent in cultivation but still risked their lives to catch up to their peers and even outperform them as Oliver did and as his father did.
After this feat, he celebrated a bit too much. He spent a year in Ehrendil, showing off to his friends. And with how much his father and fiance were proud of him, he thought life was going perfectly.
Until a 17 years-old brat mopped the floor with him in front of everyone. At that time, Jeremy McGregor was at the mid tier-2. His skills were a perfect fit for his style, and his techniques were much more refined than Oliver's. Even his [Unbreakable] was seen beforehand, and Jeremy just waited for the effect to pass before trashing him once more.
As he was lying on the floor bloodied, he acknowledged the reality. He was no genius, and he had nothing to be pleased about. In that short moment, he understood that years from now on, Jeremy would be at tier-7, calling shots in the council, like his father. And Oliver would be at tier-5, working for McGregor's, like his father.
This wasn’t the life he wanted. He loved his father, but he disdained his lack of ambition. Oliver wouldn’t be content with less, not without a fight, not without giving his best.
He decided to push himself much more than before. But if he went to seek dangerous environments, even if he survived and progressed faster, he would’ve left the ones he cared about in the dust. He would have to leave his fiance for years without any news from him, and his father would be worried sick. This also wasn’t an acceptable outcome for him.
So, he resolved himself to the only thing that was left. He would carry the others with him until eventually forming a party of like-minded people, where they struggled together to reach the peak.
That was why he looked for his old party members and chose the best of them, Nuvian. Even though he was a little older, he was still a talented man with great potential. Now that Nuvian was also at tier-3, all he needed to find was one or two more members. Alice would catch up to them; he would make sure of it.
Once they were back in the Ehrendil, he would ask Ethan to join them, but whatever he decided, Oliver would do what he had already planned.
After collecting the berries, he went back to the camping site. Everyone was awake and chatting among themselves.
‘’Ah, blueberries!’’Alice jumped over and gave him a kiss. ‘’You are the best.’’
‘’We were saying that perhaps we should slow our march to Ehrendil. Alice and Ethan could use more essence to get closer to tier-3, and once they got their second rank skills, it’ll be easier for them to advance,’’ Nuvian informed.
Ethan was focused on skinning a rabbit. ‘’If it's okay with you guys, I don’t mind getting a few more levels.’’
Levels? That's the second time he said that. Is it a phrase in his hometown? Oliver mused as he watched him, And who eats rabbit at breakfast? ‘’We’re not in a hurry. It's okay to go back slowly.’’
After breakfast, they packed up and started their journey back. They only encountered a few tier-2 beasts and as they planned, they let Alice and Ethan to kill them alone. Ethan even killed a late tier-2 beast without using any skill, which was quite a stunt.
It was past noon when a mid tier-3 Ogre ambushed them. It immediately went for Ethan with a flurry of movements and attacked with its big club. Not knowing what a lone Ogre was doing here, he quickly moved to help.
‘’Oliver!’’ Nuvian called him back. ‘’Let them try first. I think Ethan can handle this one with Alice.’’
He was hesitant but agreed in the end. ‘’Alright,’’ he said before yelling to others, ‘’Ethan, ask for help if it's too much!’’
Ethan didn’t respond; he was already dancing with the Ogre and giving it small injuries. Alice also got closer and started to help him with her skills from afar. There were some close calls, but it seemed like they got the hang of it.
The Ogre allowed Ethan to stab its arm and tried to hold him with its other hand, but he blinked behind it at the last moment. Just when he was going for a lethal hit, Alice sent a [Lightning Bolt] to his face. He avoided it with a side step, but a wind arrow appeared aimed at his head. A [Fabric Tear] appeared, and the arrow disappeared just before reappearing at his back and piercing the Ogre.
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Oliver was shocked by what was happening until he heard Alice’s shrill voice. ‘’Kill him, Oliver! In the name of Azora!’’
What the fuck? Azora? Is he from Pacor like they talked about? But why didn’t they tell me first!? Oliver’s thoughts were a mess, but he didn’t have time to ponder as Ethan had already left the Ogre alone and turned to Alice with a calm face. He evaded the incoming arrow with a [Blink] and dashed toward her.
When he raised his dagger toward Alice, she moved early on, but Ethan blinked once more and threw the dagger at Nuvian. It appeared on his shoulder right after Ethan’s throwing.
As Ethan went for their archer, the Ogre changed his target to Oliver, who was closer. Oliver knew if he went for Ethan, the beast would kill Alice. He decided to end the gravely injured beast as quickly as possible.
He kicked the Ogre just to piss it off and took a full-blown attack with his [Unbreakable] before stabbing his sword to its heart when he was able to move again. As he turned back, Nuvian was already on the ground with two daggers piercing his body. Ethan took his bow and stored it before turning back to them with a stoic face and rage in his eyes.
How is that even possible!? Nuvian has wind steps that would allow him to step into the air for a short time. It wasn’t even fucking 5 seconds. What did he do?
‘’He has poisoned daggers. Be careful!’’ Nuvian yelled.
Ethan was already going for Alice, he once again raised his dagger. Allice tried to dodge, but Ethan blinked and changed his target to Oliver. The dagger arrived at his thigh before Oliver realized that they had fallen for the same thing again.
And, of course, it is fucking poisoned. I can’t believe we are so stupid, Oliver fumed as he pulled the dagger.
Ethan turned to Alice, and this time, he really went for her. A few [Blink]s carried him to her, and it was like a storm passed through. Till the time her scream concluded, his daggers slashed a dozen times until eventually, she was a bloodied mess, kneeling on one knee. Ethan picked up her pouch and stored it before turning to walk at Oliver.
His expression was like a nightmare. His apathetic face told Oliver this was a casual business for him and his piercing eyes were the tellings of how pissed he was. But Oliver didn’t care, Alice was in bad condition, and he would make Ethan pay for what he did.
Without saying anything, he attacked with utmost determination, but no matter how resolved he was, it was futile. He now understood how Nuvian lost in 5 seconds. This was even more ridiculous than his fight with Jeremy.
Ethan ducked before Oliver attacked, and he attacked to where Oliver would dodge. He was no faster than Oliver - if anything, he was slower - but he moved as if their fight was choreographed, a play in a theater. Oliver didn’t even land a single attack.
He was in awe all the time. In fact, he was even a little proud to make him use [Blink] twice with his [Earth Spike], which was likely the most shameful thing in his life.
He never fought with the monsters like that. Either he was holding back, or he was trained to fight humanoids. Right! His training... He said he only trained in close combat until he was 18, Oliver thought bitterly as he realized there was no turning this fight another way. They were all going to die.
Except, Ethan didn’t kill him, instead he turned to Nuvian and walked toward him. Oliver rushed to Alice as best as he could and checked her injuries. She had lost a lot of blood, but nothing was lethal.
Ethan came back while dragging Nuvian from his hair and threw him to their side.
‘’Tell me then, what was that about?’’ Ethan asked. There was an edge in his tone. ‘’I thought I made it clear that I will not tell him about what's going on between you two?’’ His eyes were on Alice while with his dagger, he first pointed to Oliver, then to Alice and Nuvian.
Oliver shivered after hearing that, ‘’W-what do you mean? You were cheating on me with Nuvian!?’’ he exclaimed to Alice, his eyes wide.
‘’Shut up, Oliver! Not now!’’ she yelled back and turned to Ethan, ‘’This was not about that!’’
‘’What then?’’
Alice looked at the ground, her expression angry and frustrated.
‘’Alright, since you don’t wanna talk…’’ Ethan walked toward Alice.
Oliver tried to stop him, but all he got was a kick on his chin. Ethan grabbed Alice by the throat and picked her up. When he called his dagger, Alice was pale with tears on her cheeks.
‘’We wanted to rob you! Okay? We wanted your goods!’’ she cried with a trembling voice.
Ethan lifted an eyebrow as Alice continued, ‘’We all saw your cloak can repair itself. It is at least a top-grade artifact. Who knows what else you are holding up in your storage ring? Even if your bullshit story is correct, it doesn’t change the fact that you are loaded!’’ she disclosed hurriedly with greed in her eyes and venom in her tongue.
Oliver was shocked to see the girl he loved like this. What fucking we? Since when are we thieves who backstab each other? ‘’You mean you and Nuvian? This was about your greed!?’’ he asked in a seething manner.
‘’I said not now, Oliver!’’ she yelled again.
Ethan dropped her to the ground and pointed at her with the dagger before talking to Oliver. ‘’You see? I had a similar experience once. I had learned that my girlfriend was sleeping with not one but two of my friends.’’ There was something eerie about his speech like he wasn’t talking to them but to himself.
‘’When I confronted her, she too started to yell at me. She said that I am narrow-minded, that I am old-fashioned. It's just sex! she said,’’ he continued while making gestures with his dagger and imitating his ex-girlfriend, ‘’I mean, if we are going to have an open relationship, shouldn’t we fucking discuss it first!?’’ he yelled to Alice who was also freaking with Ethan’s performance.
‘’That’s not what this is about, though,’’ Ethan turned to Oliver, ‘’It is a defense mechanism for the guilty to feel better. Don’t let her get into your head. I broke up with that girl with a small argument, but for the next six months, I kept questioning myself,’’ he shared and started walking back and forth in front of them.
‘’Was I in the wrong? Perhaps love is beyond bodily pleasures? Didn’t I always yearn for something more? For six months!’’
‘’No!’’ Ethan stared at Oliver, ‘’That was entirely another issue. She broke my trust and switched the subject, but she was so righteous about it, that I stayed in her tune for half a year! So, you be careful, Oliver.’’ In contrast to his warning, Oliver didn’t see any goodwill on his face.
‘’What happened to your friends? Did you kill them?’’ Nuvian asked in a low voice.
‘’What? Of course not. What am I? A maniac?’’ Ethan jeered. Swinging a spider leg left and right while his entirely tattered clothes were full of bloodstains. Standing on his bare feet, he carried on, ‘’One of them constantly apologized, apparently, he was told that I’m okay with it. I forgave him and we even stayed as friends. The other didn’t know and didn’t care. So I stopped talking to him. He also understood my stance and stayed the fuck away from me.’’
‘’Are you worried that I would kill you?’’ Oliver mockingly asked Nuvian.
‘’What? God no! I’m worried what he would do to us,’’ Nuvian said, gesturing to Ethan.
Clap!
‘’Well, good news for you then! I have just started to live my second life. I even grew my hair long and considered getting a tattoo. Do you think I would allow some petty thieves to ruin it from the start!?’’ Ethan ranted, ‘’Consider yourselves lucky, but you are not going free. I'm taking everything useful, including your armor.’’
Nuvian didn’t complain and instead quickly undressed. Ethan also sent his clothes to his ring and started equipping the armor. Oliver's sword was even more expensive than the armor, but he didn’t seem to want it.
Ethan turned to Alice as he almost finished dressing, ‘’My cloak is only useful for void element, and my ring is full of useless flowers. Sure, you could’ve still sold them for a good price and resumed your pathetic lives a little richer. It's too bad that now you are both broke and still pathetic,’’ he cursed in a low voice and turned to walk away.
Oliver felt awful because of many things. He was still in shock but managed to call for Ethan with a shaky voice, ‘’I’m... I’m sorry.’’
Ethan didn’t turn back. He just shook his head slightly and kept walking.