The Four Anomalies (I)

Haruki twirled the spear normally. He smiled at Rhistel, "Ready?"

Rhistel drew her bow. She steadied her aim towards Haruki. The moment she took aim she opened her eyes wide. Even with the huge distance between them she could not spot an opening. He was calmly looking at her without moving. However she could feel that with one wrong move she could lose her life. Sweat slowly started sliding down her forehead.

She clicked her tongue she pulled back the string and aimed towards his legs. However before she could let go of the string she saw that he could deflect the arrows she fired and cut her in half in the very same instant. Her grip on her bow tightened as she glared towards him.

"What kind of monster are you!?"

She screamed towards him. Haruki on the other hand just grinned and tilted his head, "Hey, Hey, I haven't even started yet! How rude!" He said as he started walking towards her slowly. She could feel her spine tingling as he approached her. She could feel her neck turning cold everytime she stared him directly in the eyes.

She could hear her own heartbeat, drumming loudly within her chest. Her legs felt like jelly, yet heavy like cement. He was giving off the same vibes as the four anomalies. A goddamn beast wearing human skin.

She bit her own tongue until she drew blood to wake her up as she fired off arrows towards Haruki. Haruki only spun the spear lightly to deflect the arrows aside. He grinned as he ran towards her. He slashed towards her as widely as he could, showing her as many openings as he can. However she never took her chances. She was too focused on avoiding Haruki's strikes.

The wind from Haruki's strikes would blow away the dirt and dust on the ground. Rhistel coudn't help but be fully on the defensive, thinking Haruki was not giving her leeway to counter attack. She clicked her tongue as she flipped in the air aiming towards his head. However he only needed to tilt his head aside for her to completely miss.

She snapped her fingers and green brambles sprouted from beneath the arena.

<<Faelith Tempus Natura>>

Haruki grinned as he whistled, "Finally getting serious missy?" He said as he cut down every single vine that approached him without missing a single beat.

Haruki continued his onslaught whilst destroying the bramble vines that got in his way. Rhistel could feel herself steadily getting cornered. Before she could fire another arrow a strong breeze whizzed past her. When she looked behind her she saw the spear firmly lodged on the arena's walls.

"I give! You fucking monster! Mother Nature was right!" Rhistel she said while grinning broadly while looking at him. "Oooh! I know that look. You're thinking of something bad." Haruki said as he stretched his body and disloged the spear. He then returned the weapon to it's proper place before sitting beside Rhistel who was chilling on a nearby bench.

"Does this mean I'm eating good tonight?" He said while grinning towards her. She rolled her eyes as she picked up her bow after a few minuites of resting. "Alright, I'll treat you! On one condition!" She said. haruki tilted his head, "Sure name it."

She then smugly smiled as she waved her finger, "No take backs! You should've thought about this more." As she confidently laughed. The two walked side by side in complete silence till they reached the restaurant that Rhistel recommended.

The two ordered their food and a bunch of alcohol, to fill their starving bellies. While they were waiting for their food Rhistel brought out a map that had several routes that lead directly to each of the four anomalies within the boundaries of Elysium.

"This!" Rhistel said as she pointed at each of the anomalies. Haruki put a palm on his face to cover his wide grin. "I knew it! My guts were right..." He said as he sighed. Rhistel crossed her arms, "C'mon now! Don't be a wuss! Just because Minerva said No, doesn't mean you can't!" She said in great confidence.

"Why are you so hung up about these 4 whatevers anyways? I thought a lot of S-ranked adventurers lost their lives to those four already." Haruki asked as he took a sip of his ice cold beer. Rhistel shook her finger. "You dont understand. Sure many of them died but those were just run of the mill S-rank punks who got promoted through their connections! The ones that are on the leaderboards are the ones that could wipe the floor with them."

Haruki raised his eyebrows, "So why don't they?" He asked while putting his palms on his cheeks whilst staring at the map. "Simple, They don't want to risk their ranks. Getting an S-rank is a lifetime achievement you know!" She said as she excitedly moved around like a kid. "So? What's this have to do with us?"

She then smiled smugly, "Simple! If we managed to beat the 4 anomalies we get promoted to S-rank almost immediately! We can shove it to those pompous assholes and show them who's boss!" Haruki chuckled dryly, "How do you propose we do that? If those S-rank fucks lost to it? I mean say what you will they're still S-rank."

Rhistel scoffed towards him, "Hmph! You're so pessimistic! Obviously I've gathered strong willed adventurers to participate! Plus with how strong you already are I can't wait till you awaken! We could all venture forth and become S-ranks together!" Haruki tilted his head, "How ambitious... Do you really think it would be smooth sailing from there?" Rhistel chuckled, "Not really some may still die. Still, cooperation is key. After all, the crimes you commit is recorded on your Identification Card."

Haruki instantly had cold sweat gathering on his back. He secretly took a peek at his plate and saw a green light. He sighed inwardly.

"Now Listen up!"