23 Inevitable Fight
As the two Energy Refiners began descending the stairs and away from the Rift Monster that could probably take down Aldrin's Shadow Clone at any moment, Renissa's curiosity about Aldrin ended up being unable to be contained by her.
In her knowledge, a Concept was something hard to gain enlightenment by oneself, especially if someone didn't refer to a Concept Book. The even more special fact about Aldrin was no one or even if there was, it was super rare for a newly-awakened Energy Refiner to become enlightened with a Concept.
Renissa had even begun to suspect that Aldrin was already awakened long before this reunion. However, upon remembering what she saw earlier, it all pointed to that suspicion to be false.
'If he's not awakened before, then he must be a rare talent. He also awakened in a different way than me.' That kind of idea ran around her head as she constantly looked back to Aldrin that was running beside her.'
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"Uh... Can you stop staring at me? I told you. I will answer your questions later. By the way, you're not injured in any way, are you?"
Aldrin noticed how Renissa kept on staring at him even though they're supposed to be in a hurry. That's why before any of them became uncomfortable with it, Aldrin opened a conversation as soon as they reached the ground floor of Paradise Hall.
Even though he could somehow guess what's going on in her head, now's not the time for questions.
Truthfully, he was actually amazed upon seeing that Renissa managed to kill the Rift Monster from earlier. But when he noticed that the fluctuations of her icy-cold hair were less intense than what she showed earlier, Aldrin guessed that Renissa probably used up most of her strength to accomplish that feat.
'A single Rift Monster reduced an Energy Refiner who trained for a month in this state... That goes to show that I will suffer worse if I ever faced one of them alone... Then there's a flood of them outside! No wonder the use of Metadomes is normalized. They will lose numerous soldiers without it.' Aldrin shook his head as he thought of that possibility.
Despite hearing Aldrin's words and questions, Renissa still took a while to respond to him. "... I'm not injured. Just low on refined energy. I need to replenish it."
"I see. I might need to replenish mine as well. I can't summon another Shadow Clone."
The vision of the Shadow Clone they left behind had already disappeared. Although he saw how it tried to fight back against the Rift Monster, it didn't put up much of a fight to give Aldrin an idea of how to defeat it by himself.
Perhaps only remembering this time that he was supposed to be a newly-awakened Energy Refiner, Aldrin watched Renissa react to his words rather strongly. "That's normal! It's already a wonder you can do it almost instantly after awakening."
"Is that so?" Aldrin wondered. But upon thinking about it, he found that Renissa was right. It was too strange for him to Awaken and at the same time possess a Concept.
In any case, Aldrin thought that even if she asked him later about that, he had to make an excuse because pointing to the IDLE Database would be useless or he might be seen as outright lying.
Better create a believable lie than tell the truth and be perceived as lying because she wouldn't know what IDLE Database is. Furthermore, it was already proven that no one could see it... Alisa, Bert and those with him earlier never saw it and thought of it as him just staring at his phone.
Following that the two Energy Refiners began to look for a place to hide while waiting for the Metadomes of the City Hall Guards and replenishing their refined energy to use a Concept if they ever faced against a Rift Monster again.
They naturally avoided going to the Emergency Shelter lest they implicate those hiding there. That's why even if they already found an obscure place, namely the bathroom, they stayed vigilant.
Five minutes later, Aldrin was instantly alerted when he heard a distinct growl of the beast slowly nearing their position. If he's not wrong it was the same beast that was on the third floor earlier.
Apart from its growl, they could also hear the walls of the place being destroyed by it. And most likely it was searching for them.
Although they didn't look like it, Aldrin started to suspect that the Rift Monster was an intelligent species.
Beside him, Renissa also opened her eyes, cutting off her refinement of Dimensional Energy before gripping her katana tightly.
The two looked at each other and without words exchanged between them, they dashed out of their hiding spot.
The space inside the bathroom was narrow, if the Rift Monster found them there, they would be at an extreme disadvantage.
They had no other choice. They had to move into a bigger space if fighting was inevitable. Besides, leaving the restaurant was not a good idea. Instead of one, they would be faced with a horde of Rift Monsters while inside this restaurant, they only need to defeat this one.
Although Aldrin was lamenting the plight of his friend's main branch of business, he knew that it was inevitable.
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When they arrived at the lounge and dining area of the restaurant, they finally heard the arrival of the Metadomes and the engines of vehicles that were most likely evacuating those in every building and house's shelter from a distance.
Considering the restaurant was unluckily located near the Dimensional Rift, they believed that it would still be some time before they were granted relief by the experts at handling this situation.
"Have you recovered enough?" Aldrin asked her which Renissa answered with a nod.
"Enough to last against another one if you use your Concept again."
"I see. But I can fight too, you know?"
"How? You're empty-handed."
"Me? Not anymore." While showing a rare smirk, Aldrin pointed outside.
And when Renissa followed what he was pointing at, she saw a flying courier drone carrying a metallic suitcase almost the same as her Equipment Case.
It entered Paradise Hall and dropped the suitcase in front of Aldrin before flying away.
"You..."
"Renissa, questions later, okay?" Aldrin cut her off as he picked up the suitcase that surprisingly used biometrics to unlock.
After a few beeping sounds that indicated a correct verification of his identity, just like what happened when Renissa's suitcase opened, two different types of weapons fell on Aldrin's hands before a small black breastplate attached itself to his chest, providing protection to it.
As he excitedly stared at the black-gripped Sword that was a meter long as well as a brown handgun, he recalled the specifications of what he bought at the Idle Shopping interface.
With only 300 IDLE Points, the best he could buy was the cheapest that cost him 100 IDLE Points each.
[Blacksteel Sword
Grade: 1
Specifications: A standard sword used by Energy Refiners. Its sharpness can be enhanced by using refined Dimensional Energy]
[Stag Mk.1
Grade: 1
Type: Handgun
Specifications: A standard handgun used by Energy Refiners. It uses refined Dimensional Energy to craft bullets.]
[Basic Refiner Breastplate
Grade: 1
Specifications: A part of Basic Refiner Battlesuit. Made from a special alloy that is known to be durable. It uses refined Dimensional Energy to repair or enhance its durability. Will transform into a whole Battlesuit once all parts are collected which will provide further enhancement for the wearer]
'As expected, IDLE Database will not fail me. Although Renissa's question towards me probably piled up again, I would think of an answer later.' Aldrin thought as he calmly stood next to the flabbergasted woman.
"...What the hell are you?"
That's the only question she could utter and with complete difficulty before the Rift Monster finally appeared before them.
"Let's see. I'm an Energy Refiner like you." Aldrin calmly answered as he pointed the handgun towards the newcomer and unhesitatingly pulled the trigger.
BANG!
Before even the bullet could hit the same quadrupedal beast, Aldrin fired two more shots as he dashed forward.
And with the sound of gunshots, the stupefied Renissa woke up as she gritted her teeth to follow after him.
"My Concept is the most effective against it as long as it will not be able to counter or block me. Can you take his attention so I can deal with it?" With her mind geared up for combat, a suggestion and advice instantly left her mouth.
"Understood."
Although he might appear fearless for someone who had just awakened, Aldrin was just taking in the reality of the situation. If he didn't fight and just cowered in some corner, what's the use of being Awakened?
With Renissa who already killed one of these cooperating with him, he just needed to follow her strategy at the moment.
With the three energy bullets hitting the beast's skin, it howled towards his direction and spit a fireball.
Upon seeing that, instead of dodging sideways, Aldrin rolled forward, letting the fireball shoot past him.
Following that, with his remaining refined energy, a Shadow Clone formed beside him.
After throwing the sword in his hand and ordering it to charge towards the beast, Aldrin then stood on one knee and carefully aimed his handgun.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
At the same time as the three energy bullets hit the Rift Monster, his Shadow Clone arrived and slashed his sword at it.
However, the beast used its sharp claws to block the sword.
Upon seeing that, Aldrin wasn't worried.
He was successful with his role after all.
As a cold breeze swept over his position, Aldrin saw the icy blue-haired Renissa appearing from behind the quadrupedal winged beast.
With the Shadow Clone taking the beast's attention, Renissa slashed her white katana to its two wings.
While the scorching hot blood spurted out from it, Renissa's katana then became covered with ice as her Icy Breeze Concept enhanced her slicing power.
Just like earlier, steam rose as the ice from her sword and the fiery flesh of the beast made contact.
Without any chance to defend itself, the beast howled its last even before Renissa landed on the ground.
And that's because the Shadow Clone also used the opportunity to stab the sword in its hand to the beast's throat.
As something that could be counted as Aldrin's first battle as an Energy Refiner... they won against it in less than a minute! Moreover, it was his Concept that actually dealt the final blow!
