The Invisible Intruder

Lucian had separated from the group in order to pursue this mysterious figure, who was powerful enough to freeze the entire desert. His current target is Yuki Mitsuko.

While he was off doing that, he discovered that there was another fighter in the frozen desert. He suspected this to be a wanderer, but little did he know that this person had invaded their camp.

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{Vladicus Faust POV}

"Mr. Shin, do you have any more burnable stuff?"

Brock-san uttered as he was warming up by the fire. Shin-san was guarding the entrance of the cave, looking out for any potential enemies.

"No, I don't have any more spare paper that you can use."

Shin-san liked to read, that's probably how he was so knowledgeable. So was Lucian-san, who said that he had lived under a cave. I could tell he wasn't faking as he already prepared for this kind of situation. Lucian-san had left the cave in order to deal with whoever froze the desert, which was now a frozen wasteland.

"Vlad-kun."

Shin called for me, I walked up to him.

"Yes?"

"Can you take over now? Your precognition could help in this situation."

"Oh, sure."

My aberrant skill is called precognition. It allows me to predict the future that will happen in a 10-second range. Basically, a 10-second vision will appear in front of my eyes.

Huh, what was that?

You're wondering how I'm able to have a 10-second vision that allows me to look into the future, even though 10 seconds will pass in the real world?

Well, when I use my precognition and look at the 10-second vision, only 1 second really passes in the actual world. So for me, only 100 millisecond passes.

My eyes flashed as I used my skill. I saw was nothing but snow, which stretched out all the way to the end of the forest.

"Anything Vlad-kun?"

"Nothing so far."

Nothing is really going on, but I think I saw a figure in the distance. The snowfall was pretty thick, so I could see who it was. It couldn't be Lucian-san because he left not long ago.

I know, maybe Shin-san could see who it is. He has great vision.

"Lucian-san, can you see who that is?"

"Huh? Who? I don't see anyone."

I peaked my head out again, but the figure that was just there was gone.

"B-but I just saw someone there."

"You did or you think?"

"No, I really saw someone."

Maybe it was just me. I don't know, but I'll use my precognition to check. Maybe it was an animal, but it was human-like. I know, maybe it could be camouflaged. I'll use my precognition and inspect the snow.

I used my precognition once more, I can use it every 10 seconds after another vision. There was nothing interesting in the snow, nothing to be found except the trail that Lucian-san left.

!

Wait a minute? Wasn't Lucian-san the only one that left? If so, why is there another trail?

Then my precognition ended. I stumbled onto the ground and started panting. Shin turned around and looked at me.

"What's wrong Vlad-kun?"

"I saw another trail of footsteps."

"Another trail of footsteps?"

"There is someone else out there and it looks like they are heading this way."

***

Brock-san had gotten into serious mode. He brought out a cutlass made from Mythril from his own spatial. While Shin-san brought out this bow made with wood from the Qlipoth, a demon tree that resides in the underworld. It was decorated with metal ornaments that made it look eastern. You could say it was fancy looking. My weapon was a singular, short but sharp dagger. It was the only weapon that I am able to wield due to its weight and size. Since I was an important asset, aka, my precognition, I was being shielded.

"Vlad, can you use your precognition once more?"

"Yes."

Glow...

The vision plays. Nothing really happened in the first 5 seconds, but then I saw that the footsteps had reached the entrance of the cave, then 3 more seconds passed, and then Shin-san was knocked out. My vision had ended, but I think I saw Brock-san being taken out as well.

"Shin-san, Brock-san, get away from the entrance!"

"Huh?"

They both looked at me, puzzled. They looked at each other and nodded, so they walked up closer to me while eyeing the entrance.

"Whoever this is, they can't be seen. If you two had stayed there, you would've been taken out one by one."

My precognition allows me to see the future and since I can foresee it, I can alter what could happen instead as I have only 9 seconds to change it.

"Well, thanks for warning us, so when does this person come?"

"Right about now."

No one was at the entrance, but a second later, the snow at the entrance of the cave collapsed. This person had finally arrived at the entrance of our hideout.

"Who's there?!"

The invisible person didn't respond but took instead dashed towards Brock, stepping into our hideout.

Tap-tap-tap~

Brock-san yelled as he waved his cutlass, his blade striking against something with sounded like metal.

Swish-swash-swish!

Whoever this was, they were swinging their blade quickly. Somehow Brock-san was able to evade all their attacks.

Fwing!

"Huh? Shit!"

Brock dropped onto the ground as a sharp dagger sank into the corridor of the cave. Shin looked at the dagger and his face turned into the expression that he discovered something.

Pit-pat-pit-pat~

This person was getting closer to us.

"If you're not going to tell us, then cool off."

Swish...

What?

There was a large puddle near the campfire. Wait a minute, how hasn't that puddle reached the campfire yet? Has it been there the whole time? The puddle was rippling. Was this due to the wind?

No, it wasn't, this was the work of Brock-san. The puddle then turned into a stream of liquid and it splashed down onto the invisible person.

"Ahh!"

We heard a lady yelp.

"Huh? A lady?"

Brock-san lowered his weapon. Shin-san facepalmed and sighed.

"Onee-san, what are you doing here?"

Onee-san? This person was Hana-san?

"I'm here to defeat you guys so I can get up to gold rank. Isn't that obvious?"

"But sis, couldn't you have done that at the forest?"

"No, I traveled over here because I thought that there would be more people here since the forest is obviously an ambush site. Why are you here in this cave?"

"Lucian-san suggested us to stay the night here. He said it would guarantee us silver rank. This desert, or that's what it was supposed to be before it became an Iceland, was empty when we arrived so it was pretty much safe until you got here."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Umm, uhh, nothing..."

Shin-san and Hana-san continued to argue. Me and Brock-san looked at each other and we shook our heads. Siblings...

Siblings... they get along great. I wish I could get along with my Onee-san.

After the two settled down, Shin-san introduced Hana to Brock since they haven't met. Well, they did, but not directly, and it was awkward.

"So you said that Lucian-kun was here?"

Hana-san said that with a bright smile, her face blushing. Shin-san shook his head and answered.

"He was here, but he left to deal with whoever was creating this storm."

He said as he looked out of the cave.

"Lucian-kun did that? But he's going to freeze!"

"We tried to stop him, but he proposed that he had to stop this person if we were going to survive this cold."

Hana-san began to tear up. Why was she tearing up? I looked at Shin-san, who looked back at me. He got closer to me and whispered into my ear.

"She has a crush on Lucian-san."

"Oh, I see."

So she likes Lucian-san. Well, I could tell why. He's respectful, has an impressive body, charming looks, the traits that a cool guy would have. I could tell why a girl would fall for him. But I have a feeling that he's not the kind of guy that could deal with a girl.

"Whatever, he's going to freeze in that storm. I, Hana Masami, will go out there and retrieve him, Ohohohoho~!!!"

"Onee-san, your laughing like an Ojou-sama. Please show some civility."

After she settled down, we discussed whether we should go out and help Lucian-san or not.

"Can anyone of us use fire magic?"

Shin threw out.

To my surprise, no one could except me.

"I'm not really good with fire magic and I don't think I'll be able to use it for long."

"But we have to save him or-"

"Save him from what?"

"Fro-"

Hana-san tried to throw out some words, but she didn't know what to say and she just looked away and returned to the campfire, her face reddening.

"Well, all we can do is wish him luck."

"Yeah."

It was getting darker. About 3 hours had passed since the exam started. It was time we got some shut-eye.

"Onee-san, you don't need another blanket?"

"No, I got one right here."

"Isn't that the one Lucian-san gave you?"

"Yes, it's really comfy."

"Onee-san, I know you just want that because it has Lucian-san's scent on it."

What am I witnessing? This is kind of embarrassing to watch.

"But it..."

Little fox ears perked up from her green hair and 5 furry tails appeared had appeared. She began making these noises that sounded like a cat.

"Onee-san, you're showing your other side!"

"Nyaa~ he smells so good."

"Sis that's what a cat makes..."

"Why does she have fox ears?"

I asked. Shin-san then explained that he and Hana were half-humans/kitsune hybrids. Their mother was a kitsune who fell in love with a human.

"So could you be the same as her?"

"No, unlike her, I'm able to control myself."

Snicker...

I could hear Brock-san trying not to laugh. He was sleeping in another corner; he was drinking before he slept, so he slept almost instantly, but I think he could hear what was going on.

"Well, we should get some rest now."

Lucian-san, we wish you luck.

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