The Plan

Reaching the tavern, everyone took a random seat inside. 

Roz being the main talker decided to start. 

"I know keeping your abilities hidden is usually ideal, but for us to fight as a team effectively. I think we should share a basis of our capabilities."

Soren cut in, "Shouldn't we know exactly what we're doing in the forest? All you said was that we were exploring and now were fighting?." 

"Ah, you're right. The plan is to hunt some of the monsters that are in the forest and hopefully empower us before we have to fight the demons." 

"Demons?"

Further understanding hit Roz, "You really didn't understand the book. The demons are just the demonic faction." 

'There could've been a monster called that too. If we are to share our abilities though, what do I say? I will not be telling them I have to beg for my life to use God's Plea. Nor can I tell them I have two abilities right now. All that is left is the item I got before. What was it Shocking Speed?'

'That's probably a good enough ability, at the very least its side effect is useful.'

Hearing no answer, Roz started speaking again. 

"To show my sincerity, I'll go first." Slightly embarrassed he continued, "I can make any one target, have explosive diarrhea."

The other members just stared at him silently, not expecting that answer. 

Feeling the sincerity of his fellow members, the tall guy spoke up.

"I can choose one person and have them repeatedly throw up."

Then the small guy, "I can make sticky string, it's not too much but it can hold one person most of the time."

And lastly the normal-height guy, "I can conjure a 4-inch dagger made out of bone."

'Finally, a normal ability, however small it may be. Is this why they're all here? Because they don't have good abilities? I mean in combination something could be done, but like, what is up with these abilities?'

Everyone looked at Soren who still hadn't said anything about his. 

"Oh, I get faster and if I pierce them, it will paralyze them for a small moment." 

Everyone looked at him. 

They were all thinking something similar to each other. 

'How was this guy here?'

Even Roz was surprised. Everyone he picked had either been an outcast from other groups, or he had assumed that their powers weren't great, like Soren. 

Not wanting to make anyone feel inferior Roz clapped his hands and said, "Alright we have a fine lineup. I think we can come up with a form of strategy."

The three others had their doubts though and the only thing keeping them from speaking up was the fact that they drank together last night, getting to know each other, and the fact Soren had one arm. 

Would he brag about how much better he was to them?

For the next few hours, they went over a few plans. What to do in case of a flying monster, a swarm of them, and even if they met demons. 

They were fairly limited in that regard though.

Having discussed what they wanted to talk about they dispersed. Everyone was going to do their own thing for the rest of the day and meet up tomorrow to leave. 

Soren decided to go to the training area where no one was at the last time. 

Remembering the way he came from, he finally reached it. There weren't many people there right now, as most were doing what they needed to do. 

There were two sections to this training platform. One side had stone dummies and the other were the individual fights between candidates.

He didn't want to fight anyone and planned on getting used to throwing punches. 

'I wish I could have some kind of slicing or piercing weapon before I left tomorrow, but oh well.' 

Approaching one of the dummies, he felt dumb. What was he supposed to do, just hit it? 

Where was he to hit? Does he move around while throwing punches or stay still?

He had never done this before.

Ignoring his thoughts he clenched his right hand, the only one he had, and punched with all the strength he had right on the dummy's face. 

When it hit, nothing happened. 

Soren backed up hissing faintly. His fist was on fire from the pain and a few drops of blood made their way to the ground. 

He looked back at the dummy like it had killed his mother. This frustrated him because he was so weak. Even without the pain affecting him, his punch did nothing to the stone dummy. 

"Hey, fight me."

Soren turned his head to see a woman with short dark brown hair and a small body. One could see that she was strong just from looking at her. She exuded a presence that demanded you not underestimate her.

Soren didn't know that though. How was he to gauge someone else's strength when he had none himself?

"Why?"

"Because I asked."

"Okay, but wh-"

"Just fight me bastard."

Soren could tell that she was starting to get mad, he had no idea why though. What did this woman have to do with him? He'd never seen her before.

'Should I? This lady seems very aggressive, she wouldn't kill me, right? Maybe I could get some experience.'

Sighing, Soren replied, "Fine, but let's not hurt each other too much."

The girl laughed to herself as if she had heard a great joke, but instead of saying anything she just walked towards an empty part of the platform.

Soren walked behind heading to the other side, ready to face his first human opponent.

Both of them got into positions.

Without hesitation, the girl quickly rushed to Soren with a fierce look in her eyes.

Soren was getting ready to deal with it half surprised that there wasn't anything to signal the start of their match. 

He raised his arm to block and protect his head, but as he did that the girl disappeared. 

He completely lost sight of her and then felt a fist of iron slam in his lower back. 

That punch launched him forward, falling onto the ground and rolling away. 

Soren was alarmed, 'What is that power? Is she secretly super strong? This was a setup.'

Feeling the pain flow through his body, he stood up unsteadily. He just needed to learn from this fight, nothing more. 

He threw away his pride for now, this was an opportunity to learn and he had to take it. 

The girl rushed again, this time she had a smile on her face as if she liked abusing people.

As she approached, Soren threw a punch of his own, trying to make the girl defend. This time, the girl didn't move away or defend. No, she kept running toward him.

This frightened him to a degree, but followed through with it anyway.

His attack landed on her face but caused no reaction to it. It didn't even look like she was in pain. Instead, she was smiling even wider, in a mocking way this time.

It was comical considering it was coming from a smaller girl.

Soren's fist hadn't recovered from the stone dummy but the pain had gone down a little, but now it exploded through the roof, doubling what it was before. 

'This is cursed, I'm going to break my hand at this rate and I haven't learned a single thing yet.'

Even though he had thrown his pride out earlier, he speedily picked it back up and decided to leave this godforsaken match. 

"Okay hold on, I forfeit. Let me be."

The girl stopped moving and her face dropped to a blank expression. 

A few breaths passed when Soren thought he was free to leave without any issues, the girl smirked.

Then, she started running even faster than before.

Seeing this, Soren started running away from the platform hoping to leave in time, and got close.

Only a few feet away from the edge, the girl caught up, jumped into the air with both her feet flying forward, and kicked Soren right in the middle of his back. Sending him flying out of the platform causing a large bruise to take over his entire back. 

It's a good thing he still had his rose tunic on to cover himself from everyone's view.

The girl landed gracefully on the side and started walking away like nothing had happened, however, if one looked close enough there was a deep satisfaction in her eyes. 

Soren was in a world of pain. So much pain had befallen him the last few lives it was strange. 

'So uncalled for.' Soren silently lamented.

Picking himself up slowly, he made his way to the hut. One step at a time.

He needed to recover before they left tomorrow.