Chapter 20: Operation: Beat 'em Up!

(This chapter was uploaded on Saturday 21/September/2024 10:40 PM, timezone GMT+3) 

(This chapter was finished getting edited and reuploaded on Thursday 14/November/2024 7:25 AM, timezone GMT+3)

('1), ('2), ('3), etc. means that there is some explaining for the thing in the chapter's footnotes. 

"..." small moment of silence. 

"Talking" 

[Different Language Dialogue (Different from the language of the PoV)] (What language it is: Accent if necessary) 

"He-" Someone was interrupted. 

'Inner Monologue' 

{Skills' names, chanting, spell keys and spells' names} 

(PoV) 

(Flashback, including the text) 

Don't shy from commenting on typos and/or inconsistencies. That and/or suggesting a modification to certain things that didn't make sense to you. 

I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. 

(Line Break) 

(Thursday, 15/10/1058) 

(Shira's PoV) 

I watched as Henry rushed the scoffing werewolf, the silver wolves spreading around him. 

The werewolf, scoffing even more as he saw Henry stand there confronting him alone, looked down on his opponents. His arms went slack to his sides as he didn't intend to step off his spot, or so the air around him feels. 

Henry swung his right knife in an amateurish way on purpose. 

'What is Henry aiming for with this? Could it be, since his opponent is too high level for him to attack directly, that he wants to distract him and make him loosen his guard?' 

As if to prove me right, Henry fought him alone while the silver wolves sat back, still in attention should they get called. 

Bete, for his part, narrowed his eyes as he noticed the lack of wolf attacks from his 'blind' spot. But, for some reason, he ignored them, treating them as not enough of a threat to take into account. 

Bete started dodging Henry's attacks while throwing insults his way and dissing him between swings. After some swings, Bete got fed up from Henry's 'poor skill and weakness' that he kicked him away. 

Henry didn't fall to his back after the kick. Instead, he kept his balance and remained secured on his feet. He brandished his knives again and went in swinging, a madman was the image he wanted to be seen as in this battle. He even went so far to match it with his crazed face. To my side, one likened his dual-knife fighting style to an amazoness who is called a berserker. Though, he said that Henry's style felt more like a watered-down version of it, lacking. 

'He is intentionally making you all believe that, mind you' 

"Bete Loga, shut up. Talking in a fight's a waste of breath" Henry said as he straightened up, looking him down. 

"A pretty big thing for you to say, you greenhorn bastard" Bete grumbled. He was still taking it easy and not paying attention. And that was when things went wrong for him. Since the silver wolves were positioned in a way so that 2 of them were behind him, he relied on the other two for signs of all of them attacking, the lack of grass preventing him from detecting them via sound as they were stealthy. Henry made sure they practiced being very silent during ambushes. 

It was no surprise, then, when the two behind Bete, Prata and Platina, slid beside his feet as they bit them and clinched their jaws, dragging him off the ground and onto Henry's range. Henry tried to stab him with both knives. 

Being level 5, Bete didn't struggle much to break free before the stabs were delivered, digging his hands into the ground. He then proceeded to try to punish the girls for doing that, which he failed again. He was too focused on the only opponents that were in front of him that he forgot another one. Rather than just him, no one expected to see Fey descend on him so silently and strike his head with her balled-up talons, the force of which forced him to face-plant from the sudden shift in momentum. ('1) 

It was during that short period of time that Henry put both knives to either side of his neck, ending the fight with an unexpected victory. It was also then that I noticed how absent my thoughts were. I was concerned with how bad this will end up being that I stopped thinking. 

'This is bad. I don't want to paralyze and stiffen up every time he is in danger' 

(Bete-centered 3rd person PoV) 

Bete was not having a great day today. Today, he met a very 'vile asshole'. And because he expressed his heartfelt dissatisfaction about him joining, he was 'called' into a disciplinary room. Oh, joy. A familia member of lower rank will be berating him again. 'Those bitches,' he thought. 

Later, after the shorter part of the disciplinary, because yes, it is in multiple parts, Bete had the honor of facing off against the very person who caused today's miseries. To rub salt in his emotional and mental injuries, the person he looked down upon ignored him in favor of some wild animals with little to no strength. 

Spreading around, and thinning their strength, they tried to overwhelm Bete. But that would not work with a level 5. Flanking one of such level by those mere level 1, or even those of level 2, yields nothing but defeat, or so Bete arrogantly thought. 

In his hubris, he left two of his opponents out of sight and out of mind. That was not mentioning the opponent who was way too far to even consider under normal circumstances. 

As he was getting dragged by the 'shitty imitations', Bete regained control of the situation and flung the annoying, literal, ankle biters away. And just as he was going to dish out his self-righteous justice, he did not notice the airborne opponent diving at him, some 'Stupid Birdbrain!'. Said 'Bird Brain', assisted by the other pair of 'Shitty imitations'-turned-ankle-biters, increasing Bete's levels of frustration in the process, had knocked him on the back of the head so hard that he face-planted, eating some dirt in the process. ('1) 

He left himself prone on the ground, grumbling to himself as he felt his brain rattle inside that tough skull of his. Oh, how he was going to drag that 'Asshole's face through the dirt for this day's humiliation, but he never got the chance to get up again. It seems that he left himself prone one second too long, enough for his opponent to put him at knife's edge, thinking that he sealed his fate should he move. 

Just because one got to level 5 does not mean that they become impervious to bladed and blunt weapons. They are resistant, but will still bleed if pushed hard against an edge, and would still get their insides rattled if only slightly in most cases, just like this situation. Bete could choose to move, but then he risks the probability of incurring lethal damage. 

'It doesn't fuckin' matter anymore! I'll rip him apart! Right here! RIGHT NOW!' Bete snapped. He disregarded his personal safety as he knew that the 'Hag' would heal him afterwards. He would never die under her watch, not when she always carried a couple of potions under that cloak of hers, not mentioning her healing magic. 

As Bete flipped and rolled to shake Henryk off his back, his neck got cut open superficially, making him bleed lightly. But thanks to his END parameter, his flesh was too tough to completely cut with the 'Asshole's knives, barring him from reaching the arteries underneath. He was still good to go with some light tre- And his reality after was a world of hurt, followed by darkness. 

The next time Bete woke up, he was sat on an adamantine chair, tied to it using an adamantine chain, and being glared at by literally every executive and Loki at the same time. That was especially so for Riveria, who gave him a death glare. Even he knew that he should shut up for now. 

(3rd person PoV) 

Finn was disappointed as he stood over Bete's sprawled form. He had to step in after Bete showed signs of wanting to beat their most recent applicant. The test they conducted today was a test for their new applicant's close combat abilities, which were phenomenal for someone who just entered Orario a few days prior. His plan to exploit Bete's mental state and him coordinating his attacks with his tamed animals, without talking to them might Finn add, were the crowning factors in his victory over a level 5. 

Although some might question the possibility of telepathy, it is ruled out. He called them with that whistle so naturally that he had to have practiced it far too much for a mere cover for telepathy. If it was for cover and nothing else, then it is too perfectly executed to be taken lightly. And with his failed attempt at tricking Loki, Finn had reason to believe Henryk was not capable as a trickster. And he followed it by honesty. It made Finn start taking a more positive look at Henryk. 

It was impressive that Henryk won, whether you do or do not point out how said level 5 adventurer was holding back. A level 1 and 5 animals that are barely the strength of unknown strength was all Henryk had to work with, and he did something. 

Finn's disappointment did not come from Henryk. No. It came from Bete. The test was also a test for their familia's biggest problem child. To test his temper in a fight, and if the few earfuls made him rethink how he acts. Bete failed. Again. Finn sighed yet again. 

'Bete has much to learn. Underestimating his opponents, just because they were of lower levels, was his biggest and most recurring mistake. I would need to make sure that Raul is capable of dealing with Bete once I retire from the captain position much later. After I have achieved my life-long dream' Finn thought as his brows furrowed, uncharacteristic of him. 

"Your thumb?" Riveria asked him in a hushed voice. None heard her beside him. 

"Yes, Riveria. If we don't keep him with us, trouble awaits, or so I feel" Finn sighed again. His thumb was aching too much for one person. "This is the most ache my thumb gave me yet, coming from one person" He left the rest of it for her imagination. She wordlessly went to Bete to check on him. 

"Finn, Bete will go into heavy training. And his rank will temporarily drop from an executive to that of a regular member as punishment for underestimating an opponent. Such behavior could result in the deaths of his charges inside the dungeon" Loki was solemn a second time today. But this time, it was out of her motherly concerns towards her familia members. She cared for them as if they were hers, truly hers. Although a pervert, she was respected mostly for this one redeeming quality, among other things. 

Finn nodded to her request before walking up to Henryk, Shira already done checking on him for any injuries. He was mostly fine, spoiling 5 very happy animals, who by turn checked him with what apparently looked like looks of concern. 

'He has such a close relationship with them. Dare I say it, he looks like a pack member to the wolves. And as for that eagle, she considers him her father. He is special. Accepting another person so we get him in our familia is well worth the concessions. And, if we play our cards right, we could finally feel safe against the Freya familia' Finn had evaluated Henryk's potential highly. It was a fresh judgement, in need of lots of polishing, but Finn was more than satisfied by the performance. 

After being done healing Bete's neck, closing some shallow cuts, Riveria moved over to Henryk, healing his aching ribs and strained muscles. 

'Healing magic's truly a must. If I remember right, the monster list I acquired yesterday at the Pantheon listed Blue Papilio, a butterfly monster capable of healing others. I need one to help with me develop my muscles and stamina faster' Henryk put another short-term goal on his list. ('2) 

"Now, I think it's time we test your archery" Finn said it to both Shira and Henryk. The archery test was originally arranged for Shira, who was the one was introduced with any archery skills. But the sight of Henryk's oversized bow made them realize that he hid that from them and they prepared a space for him in the range regardless. 

"And I really wanted to leave this role to Shira" Henryk sighed as he purposefully hit the target on the ring around the center. 

"Henry, try again. And this time, do it seriously" Shira said, looking displeased that he tried doing this to her. It felt boring.

'It's out of character for him. He normally doesn't sugar-coat things, especially not to coddle someone's self-respect and their sense of achievement. The only other option is that he really wanted to relegate this role to me and do something else, which is even weirder. Why can't we both be archers? The others could go melee the monsters since they couldn't use long-ranged attacks anyway. And the two of us could stay at the back and shoot from safety' Shira thought as she observed Henryk's face morph into an annoyingly smug expression.

"Really? I thought that might give you some extra confidence? Oh, I know what else could do the job!" He exclaimed as he shot the target dead-center. He delivered on his promise to himself to improve, and his aim with a bow was one of the things he focused on. Before Shira's turn, Henryk shot another arrow to pierce the arrow at the center of the target, splitting it in half. "Hit either arrow within 3 tries!" Henryk said, taking away all but 3 of Shira's stock of arrows. "And I'll give you anything you ask for! On the condition that I could!" Henryk patter her shoulder provocatively. He knew that acting like this ignites the embers of challenge within her. And true to that, Shira took this very seriously. 

"Showoff" Shira jabbed his side before she took a shooting stance. She concentrated and took some steadying breathes. Her first shot missed the arrows as it hit the outermost ring. 

"Two tries left!" Henryk taunted her. It irked Shira, as the next arrow was filled to the brim with her irritation, almost hitting one of the 2 arrows. 

"Umm... I'm not so confident now... ha.. Haha..." Henryk's smug grin fell as he started sweating nervously. 'Tell me she woul- !' 

Shira shot the last arrow filled with her vindictive thoughts, but barely nicked the feathers of one of the 2 arrows, with Henryk having excluded the arrow that he split in half. 

"That... would count, right?" Shira said, befuddled. Her brain would not believe that the arrow she shot last actually hit the mark. 

"Alrighty! Let's keep that wish for later!" Henryk said as he held her by the shoulder and spun her away from the range. 'Way to go! Me! You just had to jinx it! I got a really bad feeling on what she might want!' 

"Hey! No running from this!" Shira grabbed the nervous giant by the neck of his shirt and pulled him down. He averted his eyes from her with apparent unease. 

"I know you usually keep your words. But even this joke is taken seriously, okay?" Shira's entire presence threatened him at the moment. 

"Yeah, I will" Henryk sighed as he held his hand over hers, telling her to release him. 

To the side, some dark-skinned beauty was envious. She got a new idea to try. And, subsequently, someone else got the feeling of imminent doom as a result, even though they did not know the source. 

"Then, I will keep this wish for when I need it most!" Shira's face flowered with a beautiful, shining smile. 

"Fey wants to play too~ Papa~" Fey, who was playing with the wolves, saw them and thought that they were playing with their bows. She landed right beside Henryk, where he put his arm around the underside of her neck and scratched the cheek on the other side while hugging her head. 

"Not now, my daughter. Papa's still doing very important and grown-up business" He tried to say no. 

"Then Fey'll search for mister rabbit and ask mister rabbit to play with Fey~" It was then that Henryk knew, Fey was listening in on his conversation with the god and the guards in the gate's checkpoint the entire time they were talking. What was scarier, she remembered then proceeded to use this information to her advantage. 

'Ah, the unpredictability of children. They remember the most random of things and happen to use them at just the right time to negotiate their parent into something' Henryk patted her head, smiling fondly. 

"Okay, we'll play after Papa's done, okay?" He whispered into Fey's ears as she blissfully melted into his hand. 

"No~ Fey wants to play now~" Fey, in spite of wanting to feel more of this heavenly touch, still insisted on wanting to play instead.

'Such determination for such a cute birb' Henryk thought as he continued to spoil her with more scratches.

"Ahem!" Finn coughed into his hand, garnering their attention. "There is nothing more, aside from receiving your falna. You can play with her after that, if you want" 

'We need to arrange them a room that is neither on the men's wing nor on the women's wing' Finn's mind spun for some time before he discussed the arrangement with Riveria and Gareth later. 

"We're back!" Another dark-skinned beauty stormed through the front gates, followed by a blond that wore a poor imitation of what armor should be. The pair of a bright amazoness and a stoic human was accompanied by a ginger elf that shied away from others' glances some of the time. 

The blond, Ais Wallenstein, caught sight of the animals and, seeing how large their bodies were, assumed them monsters. Her winds picked up as she unsheathed her sword, called Desperate. And just as she was going to spring into an attack, she was karate-chopped to the back of the head by a familiar, well-meaning hand, diffusing most of her apprehension. 

"Ais, leave them be. They are animals, and their tamer is joining our familia today" Riveria said to her in a motherly tone, intending for her to maybe find a friend in either of Shira or Henryk, or maybe both. If she attacked first, that would become like ashes scattered through the wind. 

After meeting the blonde and explaining things to her so she would not attack his tamed animals and monsters unwarranted, Henryk insisted on receiving his falna before playing with Fey. He knew that once they started playing, it would never stop before he was spent. Sometimes, it would extend far past that point because Fey just wanted to play extra-long. 

'I'm the blessed between the 2 of us, yet I tire before she does. I wonder, how is that possible?' He thought while in the room arranged for him and Shira to share. Fey was stuffing herself on the bed beside them with her talons covered in wooden 'sheathes' that Henryk took good care in crafting/carving for her. Truly, he feared being accidentally stabbed while they were sleeping in the same room back in Preblica. 

(End of Chapter) 

'1: 

So, let's start by explaining this simple practical application of momentum and inertia. 

You see, no matter how strong you are, your body mass and centre of balance are the important parts here. You can't manipulate your mass in the middle of a fight, but you can manipulate your centre of balance. 

Now, in their fight against Bete, Henryk utilized this simple thing called inertia. By having the wolves bite and drag Bete's feet when he wasn't looking at them, and having Fey descend on him peregrine falcon-style, that led to something that needs further explaining. 

After a short search, I came to the conclusion that if a peregrine falcon hit the back of someone's head at full speed, it would either heavily injure or kill the person. Take into account that Fey is now slightly over 30 kg of weight after altering her height and the amount of feathers she had, along with their type, and compare it to the peregrine falcon's measly ~0.4-1.4 kg. The drastic increase in mass would insure a devastating amount of force/pressure, thus leading to all sorts of nasty scenarios for normal people, and surely to at least affect Bete somewhat when she goes dive-bombing him at speeds of up to 300 km/h. And with her speed enhanced, her flight and dive speeds were as well, making her top at slightly higher speeds when diving from high above.

Now, some would argue that the sound would alert him. I would remind them that Fey's feathers were altered. It was in one of the entries that weren't shown in Henryk's diaries. Now, they are closer to those of owls, and there are many more of them than before. And while it isn't completely silent, she barely beat her wings at all while diving. Not to mention, entering Bete's hearing range, the other noises Henryk was making distracted an already careless werewolf and covered Fey's wing flaps.

After getting hit at the back of his head by such a monstrous amount of force, Bete, being level 5, endured the injury part. But, since nothing was broken to absorb most of the shock, his body kept moving along with the inertia generated by the momentum of Fey's strike and the wolves dragging his feet from under him and up afterwards. 

In conclusion, Bete was so careless that he let them feed him dirt. 

'2:

Healing magic, as its name suggests, heals the target. From minor scratches to large wounds that need stitches, it works on them. Of which, the microscopic wounds made by straining your muscles are counted. Once they are healed, the muscle's strength increases.

Fatigue, blood loss and nutrient consumption, however, are not the concern of healing magic, as it doesn't take care of them in most cases.

(Line Break) 

Greetings, dear readers 

I have nothing to say about this chapter aside from the usual quality-check questions.

How do you rate the fight? Is it at all feasible in reality? Or did I do it wrong? Did I miss some world-logic/law-thing up? 

How do you rate Shira's PoV? By the way, she was so focused on what happened to Henryk that her PoV did not include the wolves biting Bete's ankles as Fey hit the back of his head. It was one of multiple reasons why I included an extra 3rd person PoV. 

Also, how do you see the Bete-centered PoV? Do Bete's thoughts and actions line up with what he actually is by that point in time? 

Be well, ladies and gentlemen.