Accepting the Challenge

Knock Knock Knock

While Patrick was getting a 'Brutal' beatdown from Alice, three soft knocks resounded from the front door. Everyone paused what they were doing and connectively stared at it.

They all glanced at each other before turning towards Ada with an expectant glint in their eyes. Ada rolled her eyes before spreading a sarcastic grin across her face.

"Geez, guys... I just woke up." She gave a chuckling sigh before getting to the door.

From behind the door was Raven in his usual attire. Black feathery cloak with a rocky texture and his signature mask that covers the bottom half of his face.

"Good Morning..." Raven greeted her with a deep and horse voice. There was also a hint of weariness in it, almost like he was forcing himself to speak.

Ada noticed this and compared his voice to yesterday. She raised a brow before asking him about it out of pure curiosity.

"I swear you didn't sound like that yesterday." She bluntly stated. This elicited a reaction amongst the group.

Raven didn't seem like he was affected by the comment. He held his hand to his neck before speaking, "Everyone held a 'little' party last night and pressured me into drinking a lot of alcohol."

He then raised his hand to the side of his head, "So now I'm left with a throbbing hangover." His forehead wrinkled, conveying how irritated he was feeling.

"Okay... So why are you here then? Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Hm? I'm here for your group's answer to our challenge."

"Huh? Challenge..." She gave a short glance back at Everette. He stiffened and avoided her gaze before giving a half-assed whistle. She pinched the gap between her brows before turning back to Raven.

"Could you tell me what the challenge is?"

Raven nodded briefly before explaining the challenge in a summarised way.

"6 vs 6 team battle. The winner attains the king class while the loser submits to the winner. Of course, reluctantly... our leader will give you the maximum of a week to get prepared."

Ada crossed her arms and shut her eyes. She tilted her head up towards the ceiling and fell into thought. Her index finger would repeatedly tap her arm.

'Winner becomes king while the loser becomes the servant...'

Her eyes flashed open with a glint of excitement.

"Sure. We accept."

***

After Raven left to inform Crow of her decision and told them to meet at the bus to pick up their things, the group crowded around her. They began to question why she didn't discuss it with the group.

In response to that, she rolled her eyes before explaining her reason, "I doubt we had any other options. I'm sure one of you was informed what would happen if we refused their challenge."

She looked towards Jack, "What're your thoughts, Jack?" Jack's eyes widened at the sudden attention before fidgeting with his ear.

"It's just like you; we don't have any other choices in the matter other than trying to escape. However..."

Jack's eyes then seem to become unfocused before continuing, "I doubt we'll get far if that Raven guy is in the equation." Everyone, except Patrick and Alice, remembered the giant bird he had arrived on.

'That bird was even bigger than the one I fought...' Jack thought.

"Hm? Is that guy big trouble?" Patrick asked while still lying on the ground. He nursed the back of his head from the beatdown he received.

"The guy rides a huge ass bird," Everette answered. Patrick stared at him wide-eyed with a gaping mouth.

"...That sounds really cool."

"It is! But it isn't cool for us!"

***

They all

"Here's your bow back and knife back."

Raven handed back the 2 two two-metre-long bows with one hand and held out the knife to Amelia with the other. Jack thanked him with a smile before equipping it onto his back.

Amelia did the same and carefully sheathed it before hooking it to a belt similar to the one Jack had. She did all this with a tired expression.

"Huh... I didn't even notice it was gone." Everette looked at the bow, which made Jack turn around with his mouth open. His right eye began to twitch.

"You didn't notice a bow this long was missing?"

"You're the only one I see."

"...Ehm..." Jack's smile tilted to a wry one when Everette said what could be interpreted as a flirt. "Thanks...?"

"Hm? Your... Welcome?" Everette raised his brow at Jack, thanking him before a cold shiver tingled down his spine. He quickly turned around to be face-to-face with Ada.

She was just staring at him innocently with her eyes closed. Her head was tilted to the side at an angle.

"Bahahaha! Let the guy have a breather, Ada." Patrick repeatedly slapped Ada's back while laughing out loud. He was then shot a glare. He backed up into Alice, who just pulled on his ear.

Yawn...

Amelia corrected her glass before leaning into Jack.

He couldn't help but chuckle and pat her head, "Still tired, babe?" She nodded tiredly. In front of them, Ada was trying to force Everette's hand to pet her.

"Come on! Just one!" She demanded. Everette strained his arm and pulled back with all his might.

"No! Let go!"

Raven gazed at them with pity before feeling a hand fall upon his shoulder. He twisted his head back before the veins in his forehead began to make themselves more noticeable.

"I still have a hangover."

"Oh, lighten up! You'll have plenty of those in the future. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't stop looking for a wife."

Crow patted his shoulder with an obnoxious grin spreading across his face. He blew aside a couple of hairs dangling in front of his face before looking forward.

After a few seconds, Amelia's half-lidded eyes were able to spot the tall old man standing next to Raven. She nervously tapped Jack's shoulder before pointing towards Crow.

Jack did the same and stopped the tug of war between Ada and Everette. Ada clicked her tongue in frustration while Everette gave a huge sigh of relief before feeling a bit of soreness in his shoulder.

"Well then, you guys should get going unless you want to forfeit right now."

Crow said, followed by a boisterous laughter that ticked them all off. Patrick stared at the guy and couldn't help but think he looked sort of familiar.

Crow noticed the squinting eyes directed at him and gave Patrick a small wave. Patrick gave up before nodding at him with a smile.

They all made their way on the armoured bus and made their way out of the base. Figuring that they had some privacy now, Crow looked towards Raven with a soft smile before asking for his opinion.

"Tell me, Damien... Do you think they have a chance?"

Raven, now revealed to be Damien, caressed his mask before giving back an answer.

"They may give some trouble with their current stats... But..."

"But...?"

"We'll win without a doubt."

Crow's eyes widened at Damien's absolute confidence in the battle before bursting out into laughter. Damien covered his ears before scolding the old man for his consistent habit of laughing.

"Do you have to—" He then suddenly paused before tilting his face down towards the ground. Damien didn't have the right to scold a man...

That was still mourning the loss of someone special to him...

"Don't be fooled, Damien."

"Hm?" He looked back up to see a glamorous, bright smile on his leader's face.

"That girl..." The image of the blonde-haired girl flashed in his mind, and so did the image of her willpower clashing with the old man.

"Has, without a doubt, the will of a king. Beating her and her group will be a hard-fought one. We may even lose someone on our side to them. However..."

He tightly formed his hand into a fist. He watched the gate to the outside close before pumping it into the air.

"If we beat someone like her, then I'm sure we'll be able to have our get-backs at those bastards back in London..."