Second World

As the battle outside continued to rage on. John and Domon were inside the Guild Hall, staring at the projection of the ongoing battle outside.

”You are really fine just standing here while your grandson risks his life out there?” John asked Domon, but his hands never stopped tweaking the control on the trained soldiers.

”His life is not really in danger. Didnʼt he say in this world, anyone will come back to life if they die, no?” Domon replied.

”Only the players. I mean, the ones that have come from our world,” John said. ”But he will lose everything he had gotten till now and will be back to level 1. In case you donʼt know what that means, he will be very, very weak.”

”But he will still live, no? Everything is not lost as long as one still has oneʼs life. We can work back everything we have lost..”

”Very good philosophy. Very stupid, but also very good, nevertheless,” John commented.

”Jack mentioned you are a martial arts instructor? How good are you?” John asked another question.

”The best there is,” Domon answered. ”You are not distracted working that weird device while talking with me?”

”Gramps, I can do this with my eyes closed.”

”Impressive. I would like to see that.”

”… Iʼm just saying,” John said. ”I see you have Instructor and Builder talents. I can understand the Instructor talent since you are a martial arts instructor in real life. What about Builder? Are you good at building things?”

When he didnʼt hear any reply from Domon, John turned to him. Domon was looking in another direction. John was just about to ask what he was looking at before the old man suddenly dashed off in high speed. John recognized the high-speed move as the Charge skill from Warrior class.

John was puzzled, ʼwhatʼs the old man doing? Have an exercise?ʼ

The direction that Domon was rushing to was where the guild core was. His arm suddenly shot out. In that instance, another figure came into view.

John was startled when the figure appeared. He was then feeling disconcerted when he found out that he knew this figure that had just appeared out of thin air. The figure was a beautiful woman with flowing red hair and cold eyes. She was Red Death from Death Associates.

Red Death was equally in consternation when this man suddenly came to her and caught her arm just as she was about to hit the Guild Core. She even wondered if she had wrongly calculated the time limit of the invisibility spell she used from a magic scroll.

This invisibility scroll was acquired by her guild from a dungeon boss drop. Scarface had given it to her for her current mission, she was to infiltrate this Guild Headquarters when she saw the chance. She saw such a chance when John opened some of the chokepoints. Once she became invisible, she moved in a distance from the advancing mob, so that no one would accidentally touch her and cause her invisibility to be dispelled.

Traveling a distance from the main group had also saved her life. She was spared from getting blasted by Jackʼs Lightning carpet bombing. She was still taken aback though by such a terrifying assault. When she watched Jack from the back, she had thought of sneaking up to him and backstabbing him. She had acquired a set of daggers and the Phase Strike skill which guaranteed her a critical hit if she hit someone from behind. Even if she couldnʼt kill Jack in one hit, it should still take a large chunk of his life. It shouldnʼt be difficult to finish him then.

But as she was about to head over to carry out the strike, Jack looked back at her. She was startled at the time, she even looked down at herself to make sure that she was still invisible. When she found out that she was, she looked at Jack who was still staring at where she was standing.

ʼIs it just a coincidence?ʼ She thought. ʼIs he just looking at the town gate to make sure that he doesnʼt miss any enemy?ʼ But that incident had caused her to cancel her intention of sneaking on Jack. She returned to her initial plan of infiltrating the Guild Headquarters.

Back to the current, Domon was holding Red Deathʼs arm with one hand. She immediately twisted her arm as she used her other free hand to stab him. Her arms movements were fluid and fast, but Domon made one twist and stopped her assault with the same one hand. Red Death did not stop, her hands continue to move rapidly, but Domonʼs hand also continued to stop her just as she was about to make her strike, nullifying her momentum.

As she increased her pace, Domonʼs hand appeared to break into eight palms. Red Death thought at first that there was a problem with her eyes, but the eight palms rushed forward and consecutively slapped at her rapidly stabbing hands before the eighth palm slammed her abdomen.

She was sent skidding back a few meters as a damage number appeared above her head.

John was astonished when he saw the damage number. Everyone knew the game system didnʼt count a hit or kick from players as a valid attack. No damage ever occurred from such an attack. He had learned though from Peniel during their discussion about Elite classes, that there was one elite class that received the ability to have all his or her body parts being considered as valid weapons. This class was the Battle Monk class.

Yet, John knew for a fact that Domon was not a Battle Monk. He was a Weapon Master. Did Peniel forget to share the info that Weapon Master also received the same feat?

Red Death was equally shocked. Although she also wondered about the damage number, there was another thing that had shocked her.

”Eight gates Illusory Palm?” She uttered as she took a better look at Domon. Domon was wearing full armor after Jackʼs insistence. And his Golden Knight Helmet covered a large part of his face, so Red Death did not see his feature clearly before.

”You recognized the move? You are quite knowledgable,” Domon praised.

Red Death did not comment on the praise, she instead asked, ”Master Domon?”

”Hm?” Domon was surprised when his opponent called out his name. ”Do I know you, child?”

”It is I, Cleo Lee,” Red Death said.

”Cleo…? Oh… That little brat! How you have grown!” Domon uttered.

ʼBrat?ʼ John had a problem accepting someone calling Red Death a brat, but when he looked at the womanʼs expression, she didnʼt seem to mind.

”The last time I saw you, you are only seven. I heard after you move out of the country, you study under another martial art teacher,” Domon said.

”Yes, I studied under master Wong,” Red Death replied.

”Wong? Hm… That guy is not bad. His character is a bit questionable though,” Domon commented.

”Master Domon, I respect you, but I canʼt let you slander my master.”

”Hahaha, you are always a serious kid.”

”What are you doing here anyway? Why do you join this guild?” Red Death asked. She had used Inspect on Domon and found that he was officially a member of Everlasting Heavenly Legends. ”If you want, you are very welcome to join our guild. We are more professional and have much better resources and contacts.”

”Hey, hey, hey! Lady, are you trying to poach my member in front of me?” John protested.

”Cleo, I have no interest in whatever guild you are talking about. I never care about power play, in the previous world or in this one. I only care about reaching the highest state of martial arts,” Domon said.

”Then, why are you helping them defend the Guild Core?” Red Death asked.

”Because my grandson asked me to,” Domon answered.

”Jack is here?” Red Death asked, a clear hint of surprise in her tone. John raised his eyebrows hearing her.

”Yes. I see you still remember him. Well, it is natural. You two always spar with each other when you still study under me. You know, it was really a pity when you left.”

”You flatter me. I know for a fact you have had many talented students over the years. Iʼm just amongst the few that worth mentioning.”

”Well, you are indeed talented, but that is not the reason I said it was a pity. What I meant was that you and Jack had always motivated each other, even though if the two of you didnʼt realize it. You always tried to beat him, while he always tried his best not to be beaten by you. If only you did not leave, perhaps his interest in martial arts would not have waned.”

When Red Death wanted to say something in response, she heard a burst of long laughter from John.

”Ahaha… ahaha… I canʼt believe it, ahahaha…” John was laughing uncontrollably.

😉