Chapter 73: Ch:73 Disciple of Marco

Daniel lay on the ground, slowly recovering from the flask’s effects. Out of nowhere a Faravark entered the dungeon—white smoke seeping between its teeth.

“Tch, it even followed me in the dungeon,” the black figure muttered in frustration.

“Status,” said Daniel.

——————

Name: Faravark

Age: 8

Hp: 1000/1000

Mana: 510/1300

Standard: Uncommon

Description: A magical wild beast, renowned for its tactical cunning and powerful energy blasts that consume vast amounts of mana.

——————

“Fuck, why this dog again…” said Daniel, trying to get back on his feet.

The Faravark opened its mouth and began charging it for another blast. It’s charging toward daniel. Its mouth gathered small bits of light compressing it into a ball.

Daniel groaned. “Damn it, why me!”

He struggled to get up, his legs weren’t fully recovered, but before the blast could hit him, the man shot a fireball, smashing it into the incoming energy blast.

*BZZZ-SWOOSH-BOOM*

Seizing the moment, he lunged toward Daniel, summoning twelve small fire spirits in midair.

“Young man, you finish that dungeon boss and I’ll finish that faravark. Understood?” the man said, his voice calm and commanding.

Before Daniel could even speak, the man bolted toward the Faravark.

“But— But I don’t know how to—” Daniel stammered.

“Just focus!” the man shouted.

Daniel glanced at both his palms as he sat, his body nearly fully recovered. His breathing was slowly returning to normal.

In front of him, the dungeon boss was distracted, smashing through the fire spirits. The spirits were buying time while the man dealt with the Faravark. One by one, the spirits lunged at the boss and detonated in fiery explosions.

“Focus… he says…” Daniel murmured, closing his eyes while gripping his hand like a fist.

’If this man can throw fireballs like it’s nothing, then why can’t I. I can do it, I can feel it, the air… the air is… vibrating…’ he thought.

*Bzzz-Tzzz-kzzz-Zap-ZZzz*

The blood flow intensified in his right hand, mana rushing through his veins toward his palm as he focused. The air around his palm vibrated, and a sudden electric discharge spread across the area.

*BZZK!—Whoosh*

The man battling the Faravark felt the surge and smiled beneath his hood.

Daniel opened his eyes and saw the thunder ball taking shape. Small white particles rose from his palm, fueling the growing energy. He stood, his gaze sharp and serious.

When the last fire spirit lunged at the boss and exploded, Daniel stood still, waiting for the smoke to settle.

As the dust cleared, the boss spotted him—standing tall and steady, his right palm glowing with a strange energy—and immediately charged forward, raising its hammer.

“RRRAAA!!”

*BZZZ!! BOOM!!*

Daniel hurled the energy straight at its face. The spherical mass stretched into a straight beam as it shot forward. The helmet protecting the boss’s face shattered into pieces, and the creature fell backward onto the ground.

*THUD-DHHHSH~*

…

“You did well, disciple of Marco,” the man said from behind.

Daniel turned. “Huh! Who are you?”

“Heh… it’s not the time for introduction. The arcana town guards are marching toward this dungeon. We got to move, hurry. Follow me if you don’t want to die,” the man said, sprinting toward the exit.

After the boss fell, a holographic mist swirled in the corner of the cave—it was the exit. Daniel watched as the man disappeared into it instead of crashing into the wall.

But before he could sprint after him, Daniel’s eye caught a glint coming from the spot where the boss had first erupted—the door.

The boss lay dead in the left corner, its eyes grey and dull, one of its long teeth broken in two.

Daniel hurried toward the glimmer and saw a wooden treasure chest resting atop a small mound of gemstones. Its brown planks were bound with gray metal bands, secured by large silver rivets, and it glowed softly in the dim light.

“Yeah! Another chest and it looks way better… must be some rare item,” said Daniel.

He opened it quickly and saw a dagger.

The blade was long and sharp, with silver patterns. The metal crossguard had three yellow rubies. The handle was wrapped in dark leather, with small rubies along it and a bigger one at the end.

“Woah, it looks so… good and light. Fuck I’ve to hurry,” he said, throwing the empty chest.

He then shoved the dagger in his pouch and walked outside and spotted the faravark—dead in the corner.

Daniel stopped. “Damn it.”

…

*BWOOOSH~*

Daniel exited the dungeon.

“What took you so long?” the man asked, crossing his arms.

Daniel stammered.”Ugh… I—”

*Swooosh*

Suddenly, a spear flew toward them.

“No time! Take this and run!” the man shouted, already sprinting down decline.

The man tossed Daniel a wooden mask. Without hesitation, he pressed it to his face—it snapped on like a magnet. Then he sprinted after the man.

“Where are we going!” Daniel shouted.

The man didn’t say anything. He just kept running, and Daniel followed behind him.

*Swoosh-Swoosh-Swoosh*

Spears flew through the air like arrows, one nearly striking Daniel and the black-hooded man.

…

Soon, they reached the edge of a cliff, where the land below was covered in trees.

“What now?” Daniel asked.

The man jumped. “If you want to die, stay there.”

Another spear flew past and struck the ground beside Daniel.

“Agh! I’m scared!!” Daniel shouted, leaping off the cliff.

Both of them fell. Daniel’s heart pounded hard, his vision blurring from the drop. He glanced at the man and noticed he was wearing a mask similar to his own.

The man reached toward Daniel. “Hold onto my back!”

Daniel obeyed instantly, wrapping his arms around him.

Then the man cupped his hands together. Daniel felt waves of warm air hitting his face. A moment later, the man fired a blast of flames straight downward before they hit the ground.

*FWOOSH*

The explosion absorbed most of the vertical impact but sent them flying sideways. They lost their grip on each other and slammed into separate trees.

*BANG*

*BANG*

“AGHH!” Daniel screamed.

The man rubbed his back, rose to his feet, and moved toward him without a word.

“Get up, there’s still more to walk,” he said, stopping beside Daniel.

“Agh… who even… are you mister mysterious?” Daniel groaned, wincing as he pushed himself upright.

The man simply walked away, saying nothing.

’Heh… you really think you can hide your identity with me?’ he thought.

“Status,” he whispered under his breath.

Nothing appeared.

’Fuck, not again. why isn’t this working?’

“Ugh… wait, Mister” he called, rising to his feet.

…

The afternoon sun hung high above them as they walked through the jungle. The air was cool under the thick shade of the trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves in scattered beams.

*Grrr~*

’Ahh… my stomach…’ he thought, rubbing his belly.

*Bang*

“Ouch, what’s wrong with you mister?” Daniel asked, frowning in annoyance.

“Eat it, you’ll feel better,” the man said, tossing another one.

Daniel caught it and turned it over in his hands. It was warm, rough like a walnut, and almost hummed in his hand.

With a gentle press, the shell split open with a quiet hiss, releasing a curl of fragrant steam that spiraled into the air.

*Sniff*

*nom*

“Mmnh…”

*Bang*

“Ouch, at least tell me you’re throwing,” he said, rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

*Catch*

*nom*

The birds scattered from the treetops as they passed, the cold wind sweeping through the jungle. The man moved casually, plucking nuts from low-hanging branches as he walked, grabbing them effortlessly with a simple brush of his hand.

“Okay mister, you can stop throwing nuts at me,” he said catching another nut.

“Status,” he whispered staring at the nut.

Nothing appeared.

“Okay, young man. Let’s play a game,” the man said, plucking another nut. “You ask me some question and I’ll try to answer it and in return I’ll ask you some question back. But here’s the catch.

If either of us fails to answer two questions in a row, then on the third one, that person must answer anyhow. Okay?”

“Okay, I’ll go first then,” said Daniel.

“Who are you?” he added almost immediately.

“Denied,” the man replied. “Oh, and I forgot to mention, you can’t ask the same question again.”

“What! That’s cheating.”

“No, it’s not, it’s called rules.”

“Fine,” said Daniel. “How do you know about master Marco?”

The man paused. “Hmm… because we are trained in the same academy.”

“And…” Daniel started, but the man cut him off.

“Now it’s my turn to ask,” the man said.

“What? That’s it? That wasn’t even half the story.” Daniel exclaimed, frowning in disbelief.

“Where are you from, young man,” the man asked.

“Denied,” he replied.

“What is your motive in life once you obtain power?”

“Uhm… I… De… nied,” Daniel stammered.

“Okay, but before I asked my final question. We have arrived at our destination,” the man said.

Daniel glanced around—only to see a dead end.

“What? There’s nothing in here?” he said, his right hand shooting instinctively into his pocket.

“You see, young man. The end is only in our imagination,” the man replied, lightly touching the cliff wall.

Slowly, a tunnel appeared, as if the rock wall itself had dissolved into thin air.

“And my question is, how do you know about me?”

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