Chương 18

Oliver woke up with a start, struggling to breathe. An amused smile appeared on his face when he realized that it was Alice's hair blocking his nose and mouth. Without waking the beauty in his arms, he slowly removed the hair and took another look at his fiancée. She slept soundly and peacefully, like an angel in slumber. Once again, he was pleased with his decision to bring companions along on this so-called lonely cultivation path. It didn't have to be a lonely journey.

As long as he had party members who cared for and pushed each other toward the peak, they could walk this treacherous road to ascension together and even ascend side by side. He got up slowly and dressed quietly, leaving the tent with soft steps. It was still early. Nuvian was on the watch, taking notes for his new song, which Oliver didn't doubt would make the young maidens of Ehrendil go crazy when they returned. He gave a nod to his friend and received the aspiring bard's signature smile in return.

Ethan was also awake, doing his routine morning exercises as he carefully stretched every muscle, training his body to bend and yield without resistance. Alice had made fun of him when they first saw it and said that maybe he could become a performer in the Moonlight Pavilion. The joke died after a few days of witnessing his absurd movements during the hunts. His routine wasn't for aesthetics or health; it was a brutal conditioning of a body that needed to fold into small spaces and strike from impossible angles.

Whatever they taught this poor boy in his dystopian village, it was working. Fetching the empty basket near the tent, Oliver went to collect some edible plants and fruit for breakfast. He remembered the berries Alice liked from their walk yesterday and planned to surprise her with them when she woke up. As he resumed his short hike, he considered his future plans in a good mood. The goal of this trip was to help Nuvian, but Alice was also getting close to late tier-2.

Maybe she could reach peak tier-2 on their way back and be ready to break through as soon as she advanced one of her skills. He still had a long way to late tier-3, but it was nice that others were catching up to him, and now they even had another potential team member. After spending a week together, he really wanted Ethan on his team, but the new guy seemed to have other plans. Whenever he dropped some hints, Ethan changed the subject, looking slightly troubled.

It wasn't like he refused his approaches outright, but it was clear that something was bothering him. The original plan was to find a healer for his party after returning to Ehrendil, but someone like Ethan was also a perfect fit. He had ranged attacks, knew how to fight, and could get away from dangerous predicaments with his [Blink]. That way, Alice wouldn't need to learn scouting from Nuvian either, since he could take the position of the second scout easily.

If they had him and found a healer, the ideal party in Oliver's mind would be almost complete. Regrettably, so far Ethan had only implied that he'd leave them after they reached the city, and Oliver wouldn't press the guy. In the end, it was his decision. He would guide him in the city to show him around, and before saying goodbye, he'd ask one last time for him to give them a chance. Maybe I can snatch a good quest from the adventurer's guild with the help of Felicia and invite him.

Come to think of it, Ethan's combat style actually reminded him of Jeremy McGregor, the kid who changed his mindset in a single bout. His eyes lit up as he spotted the berries. Stepping inside the bush, he started collecting them one by one and reminisced about the fight that had been on his mind for the past year once again. Oliver reached tier-3 before turning twenty. More than three million people lived in Ehrendil, and under ten percent of them managed a feat like this.

Most of them were talented in their elements, so they only needed to cultivate with their manuals. Less than one percent risked their lives to catch up to their peers despite having poor talent, and ultimately outperformed them just as Oliver and his father had done. After this feat, he celebrated a bit too much. He spent a year in Ehrendil, showing off to his friends and having a good time. With how much his father and fiancée were proud of him, he thought life was perfect.

Until a 17-year-old brat mopped the floor with him in front of everyone. At that time, Jeremy McGregor was mid tier-2. His skills were a perfect fit for his style, and his techniques were much more refined than Oliver's. Even his [Unbreakable] had been seen before, and Jeremy just waited for the effect to pass before trashing him once more. And this was before his family started pumping the kid's body with rare elixirs. As he was lying on the floor, bloodied, he acknowledged the reality.

He was no genius, and he had nothing to be pleased about. In that short moment, he understood that years from then, Jeremy would be at tier-7, calling shots in the council, like his father. And Oliver would be at tier-5, working for McGregor's, like his father. This wasn't the life he wanted. He loved his father, but he loathed his lack of ambition. Oliver wouldn't be content with less, not without a fight, not without giving his best. He decided to push himself much more than before.

But if he sought dangerous environments one after another to challenge himself, even if he survived and progressed faster, he would've left the ones he cared about in the dust. He would have to leave his fiancée for years without any news from him, and his father would be worried sick. This also wasn't an acceptable outcome for him. So, he settled on the only option he had left.

He would carry the others with him until eventually forming a party of like-minded people, where they struggled together to reach the peak. That was why he chose Nuvian, the best and most trustworthy of his old party members. Even though he was a little older, he was still a talented man with great potential. Now that Nuvian was about to reach tier-3, all he needed to find was a few more members. Alice would catch up to them; he would make sure of it. After filling the basket, he went back to the camping site.

They were all awake, chatting among themselves.'' Ah, blueberries!'' Alice jumped over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

''You are the best.''''We were saying that perhaps we shouldn't hurry to return to Ehrendil,'' Nuvian said.

''Alice and Ethan could use more essence to get closer to tier-3, and once they get their rank-2 skills, it'll be easier for them to advance.''''I don't mind delaying to get a few more levels,'' Ethan commented, skinning a rabbit on the ground. Levels? That's the second time he said that. Is it a phrase from his hometown? And who eats rabbit at breakfast? Oliver mused as he watched him.

''Sure. We're not in a hurry. We can also take a roundabout way in the Emerald Forest to look for more beasts on our way back.'' After breakfast, they packed up and started their hunt. They only encountered a few tier-2 beasts, and as they planned, they let Alice and Ethan kill them alone. Ethan even killed a late tier-2 beast without using any skill, which was quite the feat. It was past noon when an early tier-3 ogre ambushed them. It immediately charged at Ethan with a lumbering gait and swung its big club.

Not knowing what a lone ogre was doing here, he quickly moved to help.'' Oliver!'' Nuvian called him back.

''Let us try first. I think we can handle this one without your help.'''' Alright,'' he said, after some hesitation, and yelled to others, ''Ethan, ask for help if it's too much!'' Ethan didn't respond; he was already dancing around the ogre and landing quick strikes. Alice got closer and started to help him with her ranged skills, while Nuvian was having an easy time with how big and slow the creature was. There were some close calls, but it seemed like they got the hang of it. The ogre smashed its club down.

Ethan narrowly avoided it with a sidestep and slashed his dagger at its hand, severing a thumb in a single motion and causing it to drop the big club with a loud cry. Ready to capitalize on it, he leapt to strike its head, but in mid-air, he was hit in the neck by Alice's [Spark]. As he recoiled, the ogre grabbed his head with its other hand and lifted him into the air. A [Power Shot] struck at that moment and pierced through his shoulder, missing his heart by two inches.

The ogre let out a furious scream and slammed Ethan's head against the ground with all its might. Just before impact, a pale blue, transparent shield enveloped him and stopped the ogre from crushing his skull. Ethan drove his dagger into the base of its inner wrist and twisted it. As soon as the ogre's fingers loosened, he freed himself and [Blink]ed away. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Oliver was dumbfounded for a moment as it all happened too suddenly, until he heard Alice's shrill voice.

''Kill him, Oliver! He is a Noxara spy!'' What the fuck is happening? Noxara? How did they learn? And why didn't they tell me first!? His thoughts were a mess, but he didn't have time to ponder as Ethan already turned his back to the Ogre and faced Alice with a terrifyingly calm gaze. His [Fabric Tear] swallowed the next [Power Shot] before Ethan dashed for his lover. As Oliver ran to help, Ethan raised his dagger.

Alice jumped to the side immediately, but before throwing his dagger, Ethan simply [Blink]ed to reposition himself and pitched his dagger with a [Fabric Tear], eliciting a pained cry from Nuvian. He passed them by with another [Blink] and charged at their archer. If Oliver ran after him, the enraged ogre would target Alice. He had no choice but to kill the beast first and help them later. Gritting his teeth, he ran by Alice and confronted the ogre.

The creature balled its remaining four fingers and swung its fist at him. Rolling beneath it, he jumped to his feet and slashed his sword across its thigh, drawing blood. In order to use his skill, [Unbreakable], he had to receive at least two strikes from the enemy first, but doing so against this creature would waste his time at best and cripple or kill him at worst. He needed to finish this as soon as possible and stop the others from killing each other.

[Earth Spike]s started shooting from the ground, restraining the ogre's movements. Oliver circled around the beast as he slashed his sword and opened more and more wounds. When he finally found an opening, he used another [Earth Spike] under his heel. The sharp construct struck under his boot where he kept a piece of flat adamantium, and launched him upward with a dizzying speed. At the same time, he stabbed his sword in the ogre's head, killing it on the spot.

He pulled his sword back and jumped down, turning to look at others. Barely any time passed, but Nuvian was already a bloody mess, lying on the ground next to his broken bow. N-No! How is this even possible? Nuvian's build is based on escaping and stalling! With a steady pace, Ethan moved toward Alice and raised his dagger. Alice threw herself to the side once again, and yet, Ethan [Blink]ed next to her, facing Oliver in mid-release as he hurled his dagger.

A [Fabric Tear] appeared at the same time, and a sharp pain erupted in his knee. As he yelped in anguish, he heard Nuvian's hoarse warning.

''Be careful! His daggers are poisoned!'' Oliver's stomach dropped as he watched Ethan kick Alice's mace and begin cutting her in a flurry of movements.

''No! Ethan, stop!'' From his pocket, he took out his emergency potion and gulped it down. He hobbled toward them amidst his lover's wails, but before he even got close, Alice dropped to her knees with a petrified look, covered in blood. Ethan turned to him and yelled, ''No! Stay out of this!'' W-What? Bastard! After everything you– His eyes opened wide as he used his [Mana Sense], noticing someone behind him. From the corner of his eye, he spotted the creepy purple mantis.

Beet closed in on his back, then froze, its chin tucked tight as its eyes tracked upward, locking onto him. Clenching his jaw, Oliver made his way toward Alice in a hurry. When Ethan blocked his way, he screamed and attacked in fury, engaging in close combat. He was a lot stronger and slightly faster than Ethan, and thanks to the mid-grade potion, his lame leg was already healing rapidly, while Ethan didn't have any potion for the hole in his shoulder.

Yet Ethan was reading him like a book, not even using his [Blink] against the [Earth Spike]s but simply avoiding them with his footwork. This is Jeremy McGregor all over again. No. It's fucking worse. I can't even land a hit! The wounds kept accumulating on his body as the poison slowly wrecked his internal organs. Ethan stayed within his reach the entire time, but seemed far away. Oliver waited for the perfect moment.

After the fiasco with Jeremy, he'd trained for this day and night and increased his awareness to new peaks. When the dagger thrust toward his side with breakneck speed, just before the contact, he used his [Unbreakable] right on cue. Ethan used [Blink] this time, but his position stayed the same. Oliver only noticed it through the fluctuation of mana he sensed with his [Mana Sense].

The bastard had teleported to the exact spot he'd been standing, somehow stopping his momentum at once and halting his dagger a hair's breadth away as Oliver's body morphed into a marble statue. The next five seconds passed in a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts before Oliver finally gave in to desperation. He never fought the monsters like this. Was he holding back? Right! His training... He said he only trained in martial arts until he was 18.

This guy is only now learning how to fight against beasts, he thought bitterly as he realized there was no way to turn this fight around. They were all going to die. Except Ethan didn't kill him. He stored his daggers, and the moment Oliver regained his mobility, he threw a haymaker at his jaw, sending him rolling over. Then, he turned to Nuvian and ambled toward him. In a daze, Oliver rushed to Alice as best as he could and checked her injuries. She had lost a lot of blood, but nothing seemed lethal.

Grabbing Nuvian by the hair, Ethan dragged him back with Beet on his shoulder and threw the elf next to them.'' Tell me then, what was that about?'' Ethan asked with an edge in his tone.

''I thought I made it clear that I wouldn't tell him about what was going on between you two?'' His eyes were on Alice while his dagger pointed first at Oliver, then at Alice and Nuvian. A shiver ran through Oliver.

''W-What do you mean?'' He turned to Alice, his eyes widening.

''Were you cheating on me with Nuvian!?''''Shut up, Oliver! Not now!'' she yelled back and turned to Ethan.

''This was not about that!''''What then?'' Alice stared down at the ground with a dark face, her eyes burning with frustration. Ethan stepped closer to Alice.

''Alright, since you don't wanna talk…'' Oliver tried to stop him, but a kick in the nose sent him back with a wet, cracking sound, mixing with his grunt. Ethan grabbed Alice by the throat and picked her up. When he called his dagger, Alice went pale, tears running down her cheeks.'' We wanted to rob you! Okay? We wanted your goods!'' she shouted with a trembling voice. Ethan lifted an eyebrow as she continued, ''We all saw how your cloak repaired itself. It is at least a top-grade artifact.

Who knows what else you are holding up in your storage ring? Even if your bullshit story is correct, it doesn't change the fact that you are loaded!'' she disclosed hurriedly with greed in her eyes and venom in her tongue. What fucking we? Since when are we thieves who backstab each other? It felt surreal to see the girl he loved like this.

''You mean you and Nuvian? This was about your greed!?''''I said, not now, Oliver!'' Ethan dropped her to the ground and pointed at her with the dagger before talking to Oliver.

''You see, I had a similar experience once. I learned that my girlfriend slept with one of my friends after telling him that I didn't mind, that we are in an open relationship.'' There was something eerie about his speech, like he wasn't talking to them but to himself.''When I confronted her, she too started to yell at me. She said I was narrow-minded, that I was old-fashioned. It's just sex, she said,'' he continued while making gestures with his dagger and imitating his ex-girlfriend.

''I mean, if we are going to have an open relationship, shouldn't we fucking discuss it first!?'' he shouted to Alice, who was freaking out from Ethan's performance.''That's not what this is about, though.'' Ethan turned to Oliver.

''It is a defense mechanism of the guilty. Don't let her get into your head. I broke up with that girl after a heated argument, but for the next six months, I kept questioning myself,'' he shared as he started walking back and forth in front of them.''Was I in the wrong? Perhaps love is beyond bodily pleasures? Didn't I always yearn for something more? For six months!''''No.'' Ethan snapped his head at him.

''That was entirely another issue. She broke my trust and changed the subject. It was that simple. But she was so righteous about it, I let her get into my head for half a year! So, you be careful, Oliver.'' Despite the warning, Oliver didn't see any goodwill on his face.''What happened to your friend and your ex?'' Nuvian asked in a low voice.

''Did you kill them?''''What? Of course not. What am I? A maniac?'' Ethan scoffed, swinging the spider's leg left and right. Bloodstained and dressed in tattered clothes, he stood barefoot with a sinister-looking mantis perched on his shoulder.

''Feeling ashamed, my friend apologized non-stop. I told him I needed some time, and never contacted him again. Same with the girl. The moral of the story was that she kept staying in my head rent-free because I was an idiot. And perhaps, as we see it now, that I'm a poor judge of character.'' A silence ensued before Oliver turned to Nuvian with a scornful look.

''Are you worried that I will kill you?''.''What? God no! I'm worried what he would do to us,'' Nuvian said, gesturing to Ethan. Ethan's hands met in a sharp, sudden clap, his weapons nowhere in sight.

''Well, then. Good news for you! I've just started to live my second life. I even grew my hair long and almost got a tattoo. Do you think I would allow some petty thieves to ruin it from the start? Consider yourselves lucky, but you're not going free. I'm taking everything useful, including your armor.'' Nuvian didn't complain and instead started undressing as quickly as possible. Alice shuddered under Ethan's cold glance and reluctantly threw him her spatial pouch.

Oliver's sword was even more expensive than the armor, but he didn't seem to want it. Ethan turned to Alice after storing everything.

''My cloak is only useful for the void element, and my ring is full of low-tier monster parts and useless flowers. Sure, you could've still sold them for a decent sum and resumed your pathetic lives a little richer. It's too bad that now you are both broke and still pathetic,'' he said in a low voice and turned around to walk away. Oliver felt sick with everything that had happened. Adding the poison clouding his mind, he barely managed to call out to Ethan.

''I'm... I'm sorry.''