Chap 14

"Dana."

In front of me was the first daughter of Duke Keith Hall.

Dana Hall.

The only thing mentioned about her in the game is her name and that she is a total genius with the water element.

Getting a little out of my confusion I activated Ice Heart causing the mana to flow through my body, causing it to drop in temperature drastically.

"Long time no see, little brother. I thought you would jump into my arms like you always did? You have changed a lot."

Dana's words stopped as she paused, and she took the opportunity to look directly into my eyes.

I returned the look.

Her eyes as well as her hair were King Blue, her well-toned and muscular body was visible through her white and sky blue striped suit and her tanned and burnt skin gave her a wild and intense look.

"....Although I must say I like your eyes better now, plus your hair is beautiful like this, you should let it grow out."

Dana turned towards the hallway, as she waved her hand which slapped hard and dry on my back.

"Come on, I have to say hello to the old folks."

I nodded, as I positioned myself behind Dana's back who walked with a fierce smile.

"By the way, what happened to your face."

------------

Paaaaam.

The door to the dining room opened along with a clatter, thanks to Dana's rude knock.

Inside the dining room the now familiar image of Keith sitting at the headboard, with Elena on his right side and Terry and Tasha in the seats next to her, and across from them lay my empty seat and next to it little Everly.

"Dana, daughter, why didn't you let me know you were coming back."

Elena gave a little jump and mail to hug Dana, on the way my eyes met hers causing a slight tremor in hers, but she soon averted them and buried herself in her daughter's arms, hugging her.

"Come on, sit down tell us what happened."

The three of us moved to our respective seats, Dana filling the simple void to Keith's left.

"Well we got back yesterday from the monster subjugation east of the kingdom and I remembered you said you were traveling to the capital so when I arrived I came straight to the mansion."

The food cart pushed by a maid stopped behind us and passed two plates full of food.

Time flew by as Dana told about her job.

Apparently she had joined the knightly order that dealt with the subjugation of monsters in the kingdom two years ago.

They were like the adventurers but with much higher status and higher pay.

Thanks to their talks I got to know a little of the world outside the capital.

Apparently to the east of the capital there was a mountain range called Josola where there was a huge amount of monsters, they had been lowering the population to control the attacks on humans.

"Oh that's right, I had forgotten to mention it in the letters, but I was finally able to break through to the D-rank-".

Everyone's eyes were hooked in surprise as they congratulated Dana on her breakthrough.

After I finished my breakfast and stood up I prepared to say goodbye.

Thud.

Before I could stand up, Dana had punched me in the mace as she looked at me with a fierce smile.

"Hey, Adad changed your looks a lot but how about your strength eh. Come on! let's have a fight."

To say I was surprised was a lie, it was easy to deduce what kind of person he was just by looking at his smile.

But, still a match with someone of D rank.

"No thanks."

I said, as I took quick steps to my room.

I didn't want to get beaten up, definitely not by her.

"hahahahahaha. you're still the same crybaby as before ADAD."

Before I could run with all my might Dana grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the room.

"Come on, grab your stuff and head towards the field, if you don't get there in five minutes..."

Without hesitation I took a set of clothes similar to the one I wore yesterday, put on my belt and put on my sheath.

Just before sheathing my sword, I stared at it and thought about the status window, causing letters to appear in my mind.

[Name: Dead Rose]

[Contract: N/A]

[Type: Item]

[Rank: A]

[Ability: Allows the user to conjure roses that drain the enemy's mana (The amount of mana drained depends on the amount of time it is kept active.)]]

Rank A.

Even the heroine took a while to get into one in the game.

Even more amazing was that it takes a contract, so the sword can choose its owner.

I have to become strong enough to be able to activate that ability and have my name sealed in contract with Dead Rose.

I left the room alone without my pair of earrings and jumped out the window.

When I fell Dana raised her eyebrow, focusing on my sword.

"Oh~ That kind of outfit looks good on you, if you manage to scratch me I'll buy you a suit, Adad."

He said as he pulled a small black staff out of nowhere.

My gaze moved all around the field that was surrounded by the Hall family and their servants who were watching through the windows "discreetly".

As I watched I could hear the sound of water being conjured flying towards me.

Before I could realize what had happened I was rolling on the ground as I saw Dana running towards me.

I put strength into my hands and pushed myself backwards somersaulting and landing on my feet.

I activated Ice Heart and felt the nervousness disappear, giving way to an intense chill in the air.

Click.

I unsheathed Dead Rose and ran towards Dana, formulating a plan in my head.

I had to get close, a swordsman is better than a melee mage.

Soon five spiked water bullets flew in my direction.

I tensed my legs and jumped closer to Dana.

She responded by cushioning a large ball of water.

Before I could let go I pointed my sword at her from which a small silver streaked out.

"Gyaah."

Dana's wand fell to the ground, while the silver lightning flashed in her hand.

Without wasting any time I approached three steps away from her and swung my sword at her neck.

But unexpectedly, my sight fell at an immense speed and I felt my head hit the ground.

I felt Dana move and run as she picked up her staff.

I shifted my gaze to my foot which was sunk in a small pool of water.

My head seemed to vibrate with alarms causing me to look up.

Dana had her wand held high as she pointed it at me and took a step back.

I moved my left hand in her direction and imagined a 2 meter wall being generated behind her.

"Gafhuu."

Dana made a strange noise as her back hit my ice wall.

I took the opportunity to pull my foot out of the hole and run towards her.

The wall didn't seem to hold her back for long as some blades of translucent blue water flew in my direction.

I tightened my grip on Rose and swung her around cutting some of them but my body was already filled with cuts.

Dana mail, moving further away from me and with no other choice I chased after her.

Thousands of ways to reach her or damage her from a distance went through my mind, but one clearly formed in my head.

Causing three spears of ice to fly towards Dana from my outstretched left hand.

In response, she conjured a large translucent shield of water that exploded blocking my vision but not my running.

Suddenly I heard the air being cut off and before I could move a kick slammed directly into my shin doubling me over.

The water dissipated showing Dana with her hands raised ready to strike me.

With one swing she hit my face and with another, my stomach kept repeating the same pattern for an uncounted amount of time.

Because of Ice Heart my emotions couldn't leave my body but that didn't mean I didn't feel pain.

Seeing my lack of response Dana stopped for only a few seconds which I took advantage of to conjure a tympanum that tore a part of his pants.

With a great leap I moved to the side, and ran to my sword while conjuring ice bullets one after another.

The difference between our ranks began to score as with every step I used to deftly dodge he came closer to me.

Separated only by a few meters from Dana I managed to grab my sword which I instantly swung blocking a water blade.

Our next attacks were unexpectedly melee.

Every time I hit a blow she dodged it, something I could not imitate.

Soon I saw an opportunity.

Dana stretched out her arm, sending a blow to my head.

I used my arm to entangle her arm body with my own and with a key I saw in an anime I threw her to the ground.

Without depraving the opportunity I kicked her forehead causing her to roll on the ground.

When I was about to give others my foot stopped and I couldn't move it when I looked at the ground, my foot was enclosed by a layer of sand.

Instantly, I felt a pain go through me, the origin of a kick in the stomach that sent me flying a couple of meters.

Without my sword in mana I could only watch as Dana approached me with a fierce and chilling smile.

With nothing else to do I sent with all my strength an ice tympanum that collided with a translucent shield of blue mana.

The water spread out and soon began to rise in the form of steam.

I ran to the left, to the place where Dead Rose was lying.

I grabbed her and began my run towards Dana, who was surrounded by steam.

When the steam dissipated, Dana was standing with her hand covering a large cut on her leg.

I ran towards her and swung my sword towards the tip of her neck.

Just as I was about to speak an alarm in my head went off, just as the Dana in front of me turned into a puddle.

I felt the water fill my back.

And before I knew it my body had released hundreds of ice eardrums all around me.

At that moment Dana had only one thought.

How the fuck can she have that much mana!.

She had checked that her rank was at most G+, so how.

But she was still missing something essential.

Learning what mana was not omnipotent in this world.

Unaware of Dana's thoughts, Adad moved out of the amount of eardrums.

My heavy breathing was visible in the air and I felt my strength failing me unlike Dana who was completely normal.

There was still some mana left in my core, due to Ice Heart lowering the amount of mana consumed with the ice element.

With no other options, I tensed my legs and gathered all my strength.

Lightning bolts shot out of my body as I forced my mana to stick to the outside of me.

I released my tension in my legs and took a huge leap.

Dana had a huge amount of strange black water around her.

But I didn't hesitate and swung my sword, causing Dana to swing to the left.

But that attack was a feint.

I spun Dead Rose on my own hand and grabbed it with my left.

I swung my sword sharply and managed to cut Dana's stomach.

With no chance left, I released all my compressed lightning causing a light that was soon covered by the black water.

"Dark Ocean."

Dana mumbled, while via a slight glow.

At that moment only Dana and her family could see it.

A thin, translucent layer of silver mana covered Adad's body.

He was enveloped by the dark blanket of water.