Chapter 77 - Angry Dad… Check?!

Eniyala stares at Termi for a moment. "Tank Saint?"

The woman nods proudly, pulling her sleeve up once again to flash the sigil.

"Huh… Better not attract any more, or you know what that means," Eniyala teases me, and I roll my eyes in exasperation. "She found me, not the other way around."

Termi stomps her foot, making Lynsel jump a bit. She gives the man a strange look before continuing. "So? Am I in?"

"What's her reasoning for joining?" Eniyala asks me, and I give her a blank stare. "Uh…"

Eniyala raises her eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. I didn't peg you as being THAT dumb."

I click my tongue, whipping my head around to face Termi. "So… Why do you wanna join us?"

Termi gives me a long stare before she responds. "… I was in the same tournament you guys were in, and I didn't make it nearly as far. Especially you," she says, pointing at me. "Even for a Saint, to be winning against not just that much of a stronger opponent, but the fact they were also often big names is basically unheard of. Next, you're going to tell me you're a Reincarnate or something. Wait, no, that doesn't make sense considering your Level. Point is, I want to grow with you guys, and see how you become as strong as you do."

Eniyala and I exchange a look, and she shrugs. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

She pulls up her Statbook, flipping through to the party section, and sends off an invite. Sure enough, when she accepts…

[Termi Foartiff has joined your party.]

'Huh. Now…'

[Skill Analyze+ was activated.]

[Name: Termi Foartiff]
[Age: 26]
[Level: 25]
[Class: Tank Novice {Saint}]
[Health: 114/114]
[Mana: 76/76]
[Stamina: 104/104]

STR: 30 MAG: 10
AGI: 9 DEX: 7
VIT: 40 INT: 19

ACC: 8
DEF: 35 {+40}
POW: 14

[Skills: Tank Saint's Sigil (Unfound), Novice's Mastery (Legendary), Smash!+ (Super Rare), Skill Hermit (Rare), Bash+ (Uncommon), Sprint+ (Uncommon)]

[Spells: Fortify, Fortify Allies, Taunt, Defensive Rockwall, Land Manipulate]

'So I'm still the only one who can't use Spells… This is bullshit!' I think bitterly, biting my lip to remain silent.

"Something wrong? Do you disagree?" the short woman asks, peeking over at me.

"No, no!" I reassure her, waving it off with a smile. "Just looking at something in my Statsc—" I cough, trying to cover my words before restarting. "My Statbook, that's all."

She shrugs, turning away to introduce herself properly to the other member of our party — Lynsel.

She inspects his excessively muscled body, giving an affirmative nod as she looks back up at his nervous face. "Good looking build you got going on there," she notes, extending her hand. "What's your name?"

"U-uh… Lynsel," he responds slowly, shaking her hand slowly. She frowns at his floppy grip, continuing on.

"Well met! So, what are you? A Berserker? Or maybe a Brawler?" She asks, grinning at him.

"Ehhh… I plan ta go to the Bard's College once I have the money, so… I guess maybe a Bard?"

She gives him a blank stare. "You're not a disguised jester, are you?"

"… What?"

She shakes her head. "Never mind. So… you don't fight?"

"I can't even hurt a fly."

"Great. What a ragtag team this is," she sighs.

Meanwhile, Eniyala had been greeting the other new member of our team, Panko. "How cute!" she exclaims in a girly voice uncharacteristic of her. She scratches his chin, earning a purr, before I turn my attention back to the two big lugs — one excessively short, one excessively tall.

I shrug a bit. "He's our porter, basically. Oh, and we ARE paying him, don't worry."

"Yeah, I'm not that interested in the specifics," she replies, waving it off. "You three exchange Lines with me, and we'll meet up when you guys are leaving town. 'Kay, later." And with that, she turns and briskly walks off.

'She's like a military veteran from Earth,' I wonder to myself in slight exasperation.

"She's like an Army General," Eniyala confirms my thoughts.

"Are you reading my thoughts?"

"Stop thinking about her boobs and let's go. I need new equipment."

I tilt my head in confusion. "I wasn't… wait, were you??" I try to ask, but she is too far away to hear or answer.

Lynsel and I share a helpless look before running to catch up.

- - -

"I'll have that ready for you by tomorrow morning!" The old man says happily. "Are you sure you don't want to come and learn—"

"That's alright. We'll be leaving town soon anyway," I reply quickly.

He sighs, but nods. "In any case, I appreciate the recommendation to your party to come here. I'll get right to work."

And with that, he turns and heads into the back, and Eniyala, who has stayed silent aside from providing some materials and the equipment she wanted, walks out with me back to Lynsel, who sits patiently on a bench.

"All done?" he asks, standing up readily. We nod, and I open my mouth to speak. "Let's go get a bite to e—"

"Eniyala Fiera Ignios!!"

"Shit…"

"Your middle name is Fiera? Why is that not that surprising, knowing HIM?" I ask, and the three of us turn to face the older man storming our way with a beet-red face.

"Not now, Klum," she says through gritted teeth, stepping forward to meet him halfway. "You can't force me to do anything, you know. I'm an adult, and it's my life."

"I understand that better now, but do that somewhere that's not with that demonic shit," he points harshly at me.

"I'm not a demon," I cut in, earning a 'what the fuck' glare, but I ignore it. Losing his patience, he charges at me, his body coating itself in blue flames. "Dad, no!"

[Skill Sprint+ was activated.]
[Elemental Infusion: Lightning.]
[Skill Underdog+ was activated.]

With my added speed, and my own lightning element coursing over my own body, I meet him head on. The bottom of my foot slams into his lowered shoulder with a loud BAM!

As he struggles to straighten his back, I continue slamming my foot down, but his Strength obviously surpasses mine, and he begins pushing me back. As he does, he glares at me out of the corner of his raging red eyes. "You're lucky Eniyala is here, or I would nuke this whole area."

"You don't know nukes like I do, geezer."

He yells loudly, one last push allowing him to stand all the way up, but… I'm gone.

Well, to be exact, I used his force to jump off his shoulder up into the air.

As he looks left and right for me, I plummet towards him, my fist pulled back. The lightning is gone, but I swing full force at his face as he finally looks up.

A large smack sounds out, and I roll clumsily, landing on my back near Eni. Gaslion slides back several feet, lowering the blue gauntlet protecting his face. "Fucking evil bastard," he mutters.

Feeling a surge of arrogance, I smirk. "Y'know, I just got a promotion from the Adventurer's Administration, actually. The crazy part? They bumped me up to Rank Orange, just like that." I snap my fingers for added effect, and watch as the flames burning in his eyes blaze even brighter. "I'm going to kill you!"

"Try it, you overbearing asshole."

He roars again, charging at me and raising his fist. "So slow," I note, reaching behind my right shoulder. The piece of the Amorphous Shape in my 'sheath' reacts to the piece in my middle knuckle's plate, and it pops open, pushing the handle up and out in order for me to grab it.

As soon as my fingers close upon it, I yank it up, and a solid black blade wriggles out at the same rate I draw it, and when I brandish it in front of me, it's fully formed, small wisps of purple Mana trailing from it. I raise it to a high position, preparing to thrust, and Gaslion laughs. "I know your moves, demon. This one's obvious."

I stick my tongue out. "Yeah, I know."

[Skill Heavy Thrust was activated.]

Gaslion's guard had been lower on his body, anticipating the crescent slash that I had practiced many times over, but the Skill's activation caused his sneer to drop and he raises his arm up rapidly to try and punch into the thrust. His blue flames swirl around his knuckles, and my purple Mana collects at the tip of the sword, casting an eerie glow over the dark blade.

We both shout loudly as our attacks reach for the other's throats.

* * *

[Name: Beholder's Eye]
[Rank: Ultra Rare]
[Description: A base handle that changes its weapon depending on the holder. Stats and requirements also change depending on shape taken.]

[Unique Skill: Reform]
[DUR: 83/83]