31 Joshua

Aside from my sudden headache, the whole trip was uneventful. We reached our destination without any problems. Richard said that Joshua our guide frequents the local pub. This guide is said to be the only person that can accurately tell where the forest of mist is. We entered the pub everyone was staring at us, especially at Lauria.

Richard approached one of the men and they pointed at one drunk looking guy. He was wearing something similar to bare skin. Everything about him screamed came from the wild. On closer inspection, the guy looked he was in his early 20's. He didn't look at me or Richard. He simply stared at Lauria and Clarabell.

He spoke " The little one is cute but too young. The other one is a real beauty but still lacking in important areas. Sorry I don't have interest in kids or washing boards." With that one comment alone. The two girls emitted raging killing intent. Even the normal people in the pub could feel it. Everyone looked nervous except for the guy who's supposedly Joshua. He was chuckling "pretty impressive from a little girly and a washing board."

This guy must have a death wish. Clarabell summoned her binded weapon, on seeing this Richard was going to intervene "Clara..." "Shut up Richard or do you want to join him?" He was immediately shut upped. Well, fine do what you will but don't kill him. "Understood master I'll stop after half killing him." Well if it gets out of hand I'll stop them. "Hey look at their uniform isn't that emblem from Regon academy? That girl even summoned a weapon out of nowhere." "They really are students does that mean even that little girl is a student."

"Look at that weird guy wearing the fox mask he's a student too right." "What are these elite kids doing here?" "And to think I was going to try and flirt with that girl. Good thing I didn't or I could have died." There where many reactions in the surrounding area. So Regon academy was famous and being a student there made you an elite. Joshua smirked, "Oh so what does the great knight apprentices of Regon academy want with me."

Clarabell was the one to answer, Richard couldn't open his mouth until all of this was over. "Hmmph we did come here to ask you something, but seeing how rude you are we'll just settle for your corpse." Clarabell was really furious, but against this direct provocation, Joshua simply chuckled.

"Rude? Is stating a fact rude? Is the oh so great academy student hurt by a little truth?" Clarabell lost all light in her eyes "hahaha." She let out a dry laugh "so you're saying you're ready to die right?" "Huh? Who's going to die miss washing board. At least try acting mature like little miss kiddie here. She's been quiet the whole time." "Hey, Lauria how about a momentary truce." "Agreed Clarabell let us destroy him. Enough for him to die but still barely live." With that the two attacked.

Clarabell used her weapon to pierce him. Her movements improve since we fought. She was also faster than back then. Yet even with that speed the man simply swayed his body while sitting in his chair. Lauria, on the other hand, got behind him and was about to deliver a deadly chop aimed at the back of his neck.

It was swift there was no unnecessary movement from Lauria she even purposefully hid her killing intent it was a perfect sneak attack. Yet even this was evaded he pulled his chair upward along with his body. One of the chair's legs rested on Lauria's hand. Though it was amazing that the back of Lauria's hand can support the weight of a full grown man sitting in a chair. That was the most ridiculous way to evade the attack. With this one short exchange both Clarabell, and Lauria knew that man was something else.

No not only them everyone was bewildered by his abilities. Without even getting out of his chair he perfectly evaded both Clarabell, and Lauria's full-on assault. "So little missy and Miss washing board. Have you calmed down yet?" This guy his making fun of Lauria and Clarabell too much. Yet even with that direct taunt the two girls simply looked at him irritated. Well, I guess I'll step in.

Can't have my classmate and my little partner be bullied too much. Master did you just call me little. Hey, now you just told to think of you as my little sister right. This and that are two different things. Will talk later master please take care of this rude ruffian.

With that, I moved forward in front of the man called Joshua. "Oh, so the weird boy with the fox mask came up. You did see my abilities do you think you can match up?" I smiled under the mask. This guy is fun though I said I was doing this for the girls but the truth is I was simply interested in fighting this guy. The man looked at me curiously "what can't say anything?" Without warning, I moved closer and with my index finger pointed at his throat. He couldn't react but he still wore a smile.

Joshua's thoughts:

What the hell was that! There was no warning his body just suddenly moved. The little missy was good too at hiding her presence and movement but this was on whole other level. I really took this guy lightly just because he was wearing that weird fox mask.

†

"You're pretty good." While saying that Joshua stood up. Without warning, he punched me. It was pretty fast but not as fast as sir Layfon. It was easy to dodge after dodging I returned the attack with a high kick. He blocked it with his left hand and pushed it aside. This move made my body a little unbalanced that gave him a little opening. He took the opening and did a knee kick aiming at my gut. I pushed his knee down with the palm of my hand. Then I noticed that this was a feint. His open palm was placed at my chest with that at point-blank range my entire body shook. His palm vibrated it was ripping my innards I was pushed back. I flew and hit the wall crashing and destroying a part of it.

†

"That kid was pretty good. He even forced me to use my secret technique. So you guys aren't you going to help your friend. He's not dead but with that move, some of his ribs might be broken." "The fight is not over."

The little kid said, "you better get ready this is where the true fight begins." Even miss washing board spoke. What the hell are these two saying that move was created to rip not the outer layers of the body but the inside. The move was created to pierce armored opponents with your bare hands. How can you still stand up from that? While I was thinking I felt it. An extreme pressure that engulfs you. A pressure that strips away all your pride and courage and replaces it with fear and cowardice.

The fox mask boy stood up barely damaged I could even imagine that under the mask he was even smiling. His dangerous all my senses where screaming that. The only time this happened was when I was facing my master. Does that mean this boy was on the same level? Everyone present in the pub except for me and the boy's companions were trembling in fear. I noticed that some even peed their pants.

The boy spoke his voice sounded delighted. "That was an incredible move! Really great! If I haven't countered the vibration with my own vibrations some of my innards would've blown up." With feeling it with his own body in that short interval before irreplaceable damage was to be inflicted. He understood and countered my prided technique. The fear, the shame, and the irritation all of these emotions swirled inside me. While I was feeling confused at all the raging emotions inside me. The boy spoke the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. "That was a good technique mind if I try it?"

That was it that was the limit of my patience. "That's not a funny joke boy. If you're going to spew nonsense do it while your sleeping." "It's not nonsense I really do think I can do it." This boy is now really getting on my nerves. I forgot about the extreme pressure he was emitting because of my irritation. "If you really think you can just try it then!" "Will do" After stating that the boy disappeared from my vision. Where will he come from? Above? Left? Right? Below? Or behind? I felt a little wind from behind. So its behind I was going to look behind and counter when I heard the boy's voice.

"Wrong it was below." After that, I felt his open palm placed at my back it vibrated strongly. No way! He really did copy it after seeing it just once. The technique I devoted ten years of my life mastering took him only a few minutes to reproduce. Really who is this guy? After that, I was blown away three of my ribs where broken.

My backbone was at its limit, I was also having difficulty breathing. Before I lost consciousness I heard their voices. "What are you doing Gabriel we need him as our guide!" "Gabriel thanks for showing that rude person pain." "Master even though you said not to kill him." "Hey I didn't kill him he's still alive come on let's bring him to a doctor." That was the last thing I heard before my mind faded into unconsciousness.

†

Richard's thoughts:

No matter how many times I see him fight it's always so ridiculous. Well, guess I'll just pay the owner of this pub for the repairs. Gotta find a good doctor too. Can't have this guy die on us before reaching the forest of mist.

Clarabell's thoughts:

I'm still so weak. Still that Gabriel how much talent does he have it's almost like a cheat. Copying a move he just saw.

†

I woke up in an unfamiliar bed. What happened? I then recalled that I was beaten by a kid wearing a fox mask. I looked around and there they were the little missy, the washing board, the kid that looks like a noble, and the fox mask kid.

"So you're awake." The fox mask kid was the first to speak. "No thanks to you."

I answered curtly. "Hey don't be like that it was fun. I hope for another battle someday." "How about right now. I'll take you on right now." Though I was still injured my pride was pushing me to fight this kid.

The noble kid butted in "now you two let's stay calm. Gabriel let me talk to him." The fox kid nodded, "what is it you guys want with me anyway?" The noble kid answered with a question. "Are you sir Joshua?" "Yeh, what of it? What does a bunch of brats from the academy want from me?" "This guy is really pissing me off. Do we really need him? How about we beat the crap out of him again."

"What's that washing board if I remember correctly you couldn't even hit me." "Huh? How about I hit you now!"

"Stop that Clarabell please calm down. We really do need him." The noble kid stopped washing board and looked at me. "Please sir Joshua, we need your help to guide us into the forest of mist."

The forest of mist. So that's what they were after. I started laughing "hahaha. So that's what it was I am guessing you guys are one of those fools looking for the stone of truth." "Yes that's right will you help us. We're willing to pay any amount."

This noble kid really is loaded but even then. "No can do. That place ain't for brats like you." "Please!" The noble kid doesn't give up. Still, they do have that kid with the fox mask. Though I hate to admit it. He was just playing when we fought I haven't witnessed his true strength yet. His hands when I looked at them were not really for barehanded combat he seemed more proficient with a weapon at hand.

If it's him maybe I can finally have my revenge. "Fine, I'll help you guys under one condition." The noble kid answered quickly. "Yes, we'll do anything as long as it is within our power." "Then the condition is to help me slay the 3rd generation water dragon that guards the forest of mist."