Don't Bite Off More than You Can Chew

The Western desert housed a modest abode, occupied by three proficient gu masters of the A-grade caliber. Among them, Wis Dom meticulously crafted a needle using a Needle Gu, his attention focused on producing a remarkably sharp needle, while also producing a durable string to match.

Lying on a bed within the abode, Star Dom lay awake, one of his limbs substituted with a wooden leg.

Meanwhile, Bor Dom lay on an operating table, awaiting the skilled hands of Wis Dom to stitch up the small hole blown through his stomach by a rank-3 Beetle Harpoon Gu.

Hanging onto dear life, Bor Dom roared his frustrations, "What could have been the motive for a rank-3 gu master to launch a sudden attack on us in the middle of the street?"

"It's probably retaliation for our victory against the rank-2 gu master he had placed a bet on," speculated Star Dom, as he scanned through a list of healing gu masters in the village, just in case Wis Dom's method proved to be ineffective.

⸻Battle Arena⸻

[This sucks! Remind me again why we have to hide our A-grade apertures?] ~ Bor Dom transmitted, while engaging in a fierce battle with two sand spiders, wielding a Beetle Spear Gu.

[It's because if we reveal our A-grade apertures, they may resort to enslavement path Gu on us, dumbass!] Wis Dom retorted, swiftly employing a Smoke Gu to blind three sand spiders.

[We've managed to deceive them into believing that we communicate through a specialized Gu, but that illusion won't last forever.] Star Dom conveyed, as he skillfully wielded a Beetle Harpoon Gu in one hand and a Sharp Blade Gu in the other, slicing off the head of a gargantuan sand spider.

[And by that time, we'll have reached rank-3 and become clan elders. They won't dare to inquire further after that as they would want to retain us in their ranks.] Wis Dom added, as he deftly wielded a Heavy Beetle Axe Gu to decapitate three spiders at once.

[Can't wait till we get to fight that rank-2 gu master!] Bor Dom exclaimed, as he walked away from two spider corpses with their heads skewered on his spear. As a "gladiator," he had to put on a good show for the audience.

[They will let him out any momen...]

"People of San Village! It's the time you've all been waiting for! He's a demonic gu master with a first for blood, a hunger to kill, and over 6 rank-2 gu master kills!", The announcer paused for effect, "Bruce Lee!"

The crowd roared in a frenzy of excitement.

[Remember to watch out for his Sand Spider!] Star Dom reminded.

[It's him who should watch out.] Bor Dom replied confidently, activating his Sand Shield Gu and reinforcing it with his Clay Gu to make it strong enough to withstand up to three attacks from the average rank-2 Gu.

[According to the information I've gathered he doesn't have any investigation path Gu.] Wis Dom mentioned, as he pulled out a small smoke bomb and placed it in his sling.

Bruce Lee noticed the trio moving in unison and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Just three rank-1 gu masters? Have people already forgotten how dangerous I am?", he thought to himself.

As he stood there, a round ball flew towards him. He easily blocked it with his defensive Gu, but what caught him by surprise was that it exploded on impact, reducing his vision. With a twitch of annoyance, he yelled out, "Annoying bugs!"

But before he could fully recover, a spear flew at him. He reacted quickly to block it, only to find it shattering into pieces and revealing a drill worm.

His eyes widened in shock as he muttered under his breath, "Shit!"

The drill worm was notorious for its exceptional drilling method that could rapidly shatter defenses up to a whole rank higher than its own.

The gu master attempted to grab the worm and crush it, but was interrupted by a shield smashing into his face. "Hold up there, pal!" Bor Dom shouted.

Reacting swiftly, the demonic gu master activated an offensive Gu and fashioned a whip-like weapon to strike at Bor Dom.

The initial attack was repelled by the shield, but the force of the strike was so powerful that it knocked the shield out of Bor Dom's hand and sent it flying toward Star Dom.

As quick as he could, Star Dom attempted to dodge the incoming shield, but was unable to avoid it completely, resulting in the loss of one of his legs.

Despite the initial success, the demonic gu master's triumph was short-lived. The drill worm managed to break through his defense in just a couple of seconds, prompting his Sand Spider to leap out of the ground and snatch it before it could attack again.

However, before the Sand Spider could make a move, Bor Dom swiftly severed the master's head from his body. At the same time, a rock struck the small sand spider in the face, crushing it.

⸻

Wis Dom examined the needle closely and gave Bor Dom a piece of leather to bite on. "Just my luck that I was the one to get pierced!" Bor Dom grumbled before putting the leather in his mouth.

"Be thankful it wasn't me," Star Dom transmitted through a Message Gu. "I don't have any medical skills."

"Be thankful it wasn't Wis Dom who got pierced, since he's the only one with any medical skills," Star Dom said as he sent a Message Gu through the window.

"Just hold still," Wis Dom instructed, piercing the wound with his needle and proceeding to make stitch after stitch with a speed that would impress even the most skilled doctors. However, as there was no anesthesia to numb the pain, Bor Dom's screams of pain were audible through his gritted teeth.

After the stitching was complete, Wis Dom applied some boiled beeswax as an antiseptic. "Alright, we're finished. Rest up," he said, satisfied with his work.