Chương 109: Arrogance to Stay

Evel sat all alone in the circus tent's changing room, studying the strange translucent hand, Eth. To take the next step to becoming a Weaver, he needed to understand how Energy moved and how it interacted with things. Eth was the perfect target for his experiments. He rubbed his temple as he studied the hand, fascinated by the strange movements. He'd gotten used to the headache by now and could study fully focused despite it. Eth was so strange.

He was like a falling squirrel who knew how to position his body to land, without actually knowing anything about the forces of nature like gravity or air resistance. Things just kind of worked. Around him, the room was empty. The circus tent in the slums only really had one room, but ever since he'd occupied it, they'd moved everything outside, creating temporary curtains for those who needed to change. It was only natural— he was the owner, so his needs came first.

It was while he was studying Eth that Yuna burst in. Evel deactivated his ability.

"Yes?" If it were anyone else, maybe he'd be mad, but Yuna never wasted his time.

"We've... we found him." Evel took a breath.

"Already?"

"Yes! Dory — one of the workers — said he saw a man who fit the exact description heading towards the circus!" Evel's face darkened. It was too early. He was still supposed to have one more week of training.

"You're sure?"

"It's the person who fits the description the best so far. We don't really know exactly what we're looking for, but he had everything you mentioned — and he was also carrying some sort of brown metal stick. Probably his weapon." His headache intensified, and his breathing quickened. The circumstances weren't ideal. Because of his training, his energy levels were only at around eighty percent, meaning he was already at a disadvantage. He'd also trained earlier in the morning, so his body was mildly exhausted too.

Yuna took a step back. But if I'm always training, no time would ever really be ideal anyway… eighty percent is fine. Taking a long, deep breath. Evel stood up. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a stempack he'd gotten used to carrying on him at all times. He downed it in one go.

"What are we gonna do?" Yuna's voice shook. He shook his head.

"There is no we." This was his battle.

"I'm gonna head to the western slums. When the man gets here, tell him I ran at the sight of him and went straight west."

"Will he attack us?"

"No, not if you tell him my location."

"Will he attack you?"

"What does it matter to you? Just tell him where I'll be." He left the room without waiting for a reply, running toward the western slums. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The environment around him began changing. Gone was the constant white layer of ash, and gone was the ever-constant bad smell of the slums. Replacing it was the stale smell of distant activity and a layer of overgrown vines. A ghost town.

There were many empty houses and cracked streets. More houses than there were vagrants in the remaining slums combined. But of course, Redigo needed the area for whatever they were doing with the firearms. It didn't matter. None of it mattered. Arriving at the place he'd told Yuna of, he scaled the side of a building and arrived on the rooftop. From his vantage, he wouldn't be ambushed and could have a proper one-on-one duel.

There was no point in laying traps or preparing the battlefield ahead of time; none of that would be representative of how far he'd come. Good family? High talent? Destructive ability? None of it mattered. He'd win despite everything and still face him from this very vantage point. Readying himself for the battle, he checked through his cards. All there. Next, he checked for his potions— the ones he'd bought ages ago. He had ultimately decided that he wouldn't spend his credits on buying more potions.

A cheap win meant nothing. The stem pack's effects began to flow into his body as he felt himself energized once more. But there was nowhere to channel the energy. No enemy to fight. He kept waiting. His energy refilled to one hundred percent, now truly at top capacity minus a few sleepless nights. He kept waiting. But Colton was just nowhere to be seen. Almost a full hour later, he was still nowhere to be seen. Did he attack the circus? Was it a false alarm?

There had been a few reports of people who fit Colton's description, but it was usually far too easy to rule them out. If he were truly a powerhouse as Blake described, it would show in his steps. He'd known from the moment he met Bremin and from the moment he met Diana that the two of them were special. The elite had a certain air about them that most folks like him just didn't have. If this 'Colton' were anywhere near either of those two, it would be clear. So he kept waiting.

Evel relaxed his shoulders and took deep, long breaths. If it wasn't Colton, I'd have wasted so much time. I could even do some training now… Of course, it was a stupid idea, one he couldn't possibly follow through with. He wouldn't take any cheap options to win like expensive potions or preset traps, but he knew that he'd need to be near top form to win. I need to relax right now. The more relaxed he was before the fight, the better headspace he'd be in, and the better he'd be able to fight. Yeah, relax.

He continued taking deep, long breaths while scanning the buildings and horizon for the Redigo soldier. I'm strong enough. I've trained hard enough. He paced around the rooftop, checking every angle to ensure he wouldn't get ambushed from behind. Still nobody. His breathing turned ragged. Would I be able to beat Diana? Bremin? He clenched his jaw as he kept pacing. Colton is not Diana. He began taking deep breaths again, this time forcing himself to sit down.

But when he was sitting, he couldn't get a proper vantage point to watch every direction Colton could arrive from. It was useless. He groaned as his head began pulsing again. He stood back up and walked from one side of the building's roof to another, hands firmly on his temples. Is he not coming? Why? A false alarm? It's a good thing; I get more time to train. But I'm ready now; there's no need to train more. A small movement caught his eye, and he slowly turned to face the figure.

Taking a sharp breath, a subtle smile began forming on Evel's lips. He was here. A tall man with a grim expression. His russet hair shone in the midday sun as he slowly walked down the street. In his right hand was a long, thin copper pole, and on his left was a strange bracelet made of white beads. He looked up, noticing Evel and stopped. About time. Evel jumped off the rooftop, one hand on his top hat, and his coat fluttering in the wind behind him. The two locked gazes. Neither moved an inch.

"You killed Blake?" Colton's deep voice rumbled across the empty space.

"He bled to death from wounds I caused." Colton's face darkened.

"And what is it you're trying to pull here?" He looked around, studying the ghost town carefully. His eyes landed back on Evel.

"You think an ambush is enough to beat me?" Colton was looking down on him. Evel glared back, "Are you even worth ambushing?" Their eyes clashed for a few seconds before Colton raised the copper rod forward.

"I don't bear any ill-will against you." Evel squinted. Colton's words didn't match the fury in his voice.

"But," Colton snarled.

"Blake brought shame on the whole family by losing to a nobody like you. Your arrogance to not run when given the opportunity will be your death." Finally. After all that waiting. After all that training. He could finally get the fight he'd waited so long for.

"And what are you gonna do about it?" Evel snarled back and reached into his breast pocket. The Redigo soldier narrowed his eyes. Other than the howling wind, the empty streets were completely silent. He leaned forward; the air shifted. Evel's body tensed, his arms digging deeper into his pockets. Colton's aura detonated. The air cracked like a whip, dust lifting off the street in a ring around his boot.

Sparks began crawling up the copper rod on his right, and the bracelet on his left hand hummed with a soft light. Evel matched Colton by activating Eth and letting his Energy slowly funnel into the three top cards inside his pocket. Colton's eyes slammed open. His stance broke. A fierce smile spread on Evel's face as the looming figure enlarged.