Dangers of Strangers

Will stabilized the aggro, letting Akiol and Wrock once again damage the Shadow Knight.

Wrock kicked its knee, causing it to stumble. Akiol used this opportunity to stab the Shadow Knight's back neck.

<-70 hp>

The Shadow Knight let out a ghastly shriek. Spinning its blade at top speeds towards Akiol. Akiol quickly jumped back but the sword still sliced through his forehead.

Nearly instantaneously regenerating no one noticed Akiol got hit. Akiol yelled, "Will, do you even hold aggro? I hit this guy less than ten times and I already surpassed your aggro!"

Will sneered, "You should pay attention more, I save my better taunting skills to save a life."

"Save a life? I nearly got decapitated!"

"You're alive right now aren't you?"

Akiol sighed, this counter argument was always annoying to deal with. The same answer is always used. 'Just because I am fine doesn't make it okay.' And so on.

However, Akiol noticed a look in Will's eye. This perturbed Akiol, so he quickly glanced towards Stale. They had the same look in their eye. Akiol noticed something was amiss, pretending to slightly recover he sent a message to Wrock.

-Something's off about the two strangers, keep an eye out.- Akiol

Once the message was sent he rushed back into battle, he saw Wrock look elsewhere for a split second. He assumed Wrock got his message.

The fight continued, Wrock had landed a solid hit on the Shadow Knight. The Shadow Knight then slashed towards him a great speeds. Wrock went to dodge, but stopped. The attack slashed through Wrock causing massive damage.

Akiol quickly checked Wrock's status.

[Name: Wrecking Rocks]

Level:47

Race:Human

Class: Pugilist

Hp: 75/475

Stats:

60 Strength 35 Agility

35 Dexterity 30 Defense

35 Intellect

That hit did over 400 damage! Akiol assumed it was a critical attack. Wrock was sent flying into the broken siege equipment.

Akiol noticed Will grin, and a notification appeared.

Akiol quickly turned his head in Stales direction, Yielya was casting a healing spell, when she was shot by a brightly colored arrow.

Akiol had no idea what her health looked like since the party was disbanded.

He turned to Will and asked calmly, "What is this?"

Will laughed and responded, "Just a hobby, I guess you could call it. Party with random people, let the boss lower them, kill the off and steal the loot. It's just a bit of fun."

Akiol looked at him coldly, "Oh? It's three versus two, if you ask me it looks like the fight is in our favor."

"That's what you think, but your healer is just about dead. The pugilist is almost dead, and I can keep you busy while Stale shoots you down!"

While chatting Akiol sent party invites to Yielya and Wrock. The two accepted almost immediately. This meant they both were still alive. Akiol looked in Wrock's direction and saw him dodging the Shadow Knight's attacks, keeping it busy.

Akiol sighed, why was it he always had to find the bad bunch? Just about every encounter he had was people out for his life or something else. He truly missed his party.

This didn't mean he wasn't going to ignore the bad bunches. If one rotten apple spoils the bunch. Then just rid of all spoiled apples.

Akiol used [Aura Boost] and put one of the buffs in speed. Tripling the speed buff to 120%! He then put the other buff into speed, and made his speed buff become 360%!

This was a massive boost in speed, nearly a four times buff! Akiol quickly dashed towards Stale, who was loading a suspicious looking arrow onto his bow.

Will, not expecting the sudden speed boost, could only watch as Akiol went to defeat Stale.

Akiol stabbed him multiple times, quickly draining their health bar.

<-50 hp>

Stale was stunned by the sudden strikes and dropped his arrow. Akiol finished him off by stabbing into the it neck.

Will was stunned by the sudden death of his comrade. Cursing he charged towards Akiol with his shield.

Akiol easily side-stepped the attack. He quickly slashed Will several times.

<-40 hp>

As expected of a defender, the defense was high. It wasn't enough to deter their inevitable death however.

It was at this moment Wrock shouted, "Akiol, switch!"

Akiol, startled by the interruption, responded, "I know this is a vrmmo but you can't just say things that could be copyright!"

Wrock frowned, "Since when did you do jokes?"

It was definitely a good question, Akiol never did many jokes in his past world. That was Wrock's job. So he shrugged and responded, "I have no clue. Why did you want to switch though?"

"Lemme deal with Will, I need you to hold this thing off."

Akiol nodded and charged towards Wrock.

Just as Wrock was about head towards Will, he noticed they were approaching Yielya. Who was still on the ground.

Akiol also noticed this and grabbed Wrock, he warned, "Be ready for take off!" And used [Leap] on Wrock's back. Sending him flying towards Will.

Wrock used the opportunity kick Will's back. Causing them to fall forward. Wrock used [Steel Hand Grapple] on Will's neck, lifting them up.

[Steel Hand Grapple]

Allows the user use great strength in grabbing and holding an enemy.

Cost: 50 MP

Wrock cancelled the skill after raising Will up, using the extra strength boost to lift Will into the air. Will spun several times before his back hit the ground.

The force from the fall caused him to bounce, albeit a little. At that point Wrock used an axe kick on Will's face.

Akiol winced at this, to be fair he never had full confidence in beating Wrock in a battle, his past world too. Even if they both had their full strength and didn't hold back.

Wrock's skill in fighting was something to be in awe of. He dominates any hand to hand combat. Akiol would only hold a chance if he had his sword. For two reasons, since he had more experience with a sword, and it's much harder to block a swords strength.

Getting on the bad side of Wrock was a death wish. Though getting on the bad side of Wrock would be incredibly hard anyway. Since he was normally a very caring and forgiving guy.

The only time Akiol could remember Wrock being genuinely angry at someone, was only once. Against one of the Demon Lord's personal soldiers. A twisted demon named Verhalik. This demon used any way to win. From trickery and back stabbing to siding with the stronger side.

He had angered Wrock by kicking around a child who cried for his mother. Even going as far as disintegrating the child once he stopped his foul play.

Wrock looked different that day, the demon Verhalik was near tortured to death. With so many lethal moves being used Akiol wondered how they were even still alive.

During that day was also the first time Akiol had ever seen a demon cry.

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