After fighting the first part of the first wave, I was left with mixed feelings.
I was glad that there were no problems, as expected there was a good level of interaction between mine and Dante's skill, his abilities still outclassed mine by far. This meant that even if I don't go all out, he can still make up for it, but also make it that is more difficult to feel the pressure and reach the level of achieving resonance between us.
I was clear that it was going to happen like this, I don't want us to have problems with the lower tiered beasts, but still, it would have been nice to have a couple of beasts that gave us some troubles, that way we could found a better way to act when the second wave comes.
Whistling was simple, and I didn't have any problems maintaining the volume or the tone, I didn't get breathless or tired either. The only problem was that after the sixth time, I got bored of whistling the same song, so I decided to change it, I tried some random rhythms and other melodies that I knew.
On the sky I could feel a familiar presence keeping an eye on me from time to time, I found some comfort on it as I whistled, even with Dante here I feel a little lonely, it's been a while since I left a place to hunt on my own.
"Wow you have amazing lungs bro… are you an opera singer or something? I remember that the father of one of my sister's husband told us that he used to be one… that guy had a powerful voice. Did you notice that with or without my whistle the beasts act the same?"
Right… this guy is here too… he got tired of whistling as soon as he started. Obviously despite what he asked a couldn't respond to him.
The second group was coming, so I started to infuse the whistle with more fear.
"Hey, we should run, there are a lot more beasts! We need to tell everyone to get ready and sound the alarm!"
I didn't move. I was clearly ignoring him on purpose at this point, and he knew that.
"We can stay here too if you want…"
The effect was the same, I had to put more power into it because of the quantity.
This time I let a couple of them pass. Since these beasts weren't strong, I was losing a good source of system points income, and if Stan is busy fighting, he might shut up, or even better… escape.
I had the kukri on my left hand and the short spear in the other one. I tried to keep whistling as I fought, but it was proven to be a lot more difficult than I thought. The main reason was that while I was whistling, I needed to maintain constant breathing, this was interrupted during the fight because I liked to change the tempo of the battle constantly.
Despite the source being a little unstable, Dante managed to keep the rest of the beasts under a constant state of fear. I took my time to kill some of them and a couple for Stan to be busy.
Unlike what I expected of him he wasn't a bad fighter. The main reason was that the beasts… ignored him until he attacked them so he could strike easily.
In my case, I kept slashing and moving to avoid the incoming attacks. The lizards had a tough skin so for them I used the spear. One quick thrust was enough to penetrate the skin. Unfortunately, I didn't know much about their anatomy. Because of this it always took me at multiple attacks to finish them off.
The spear felt a little shorter than what I expected it to be, but unless I fought a giant beast, I shouldn't have that many troubles using it I still feel like the tomahawk suits me better anyway.
[Spear Level Up Lv. 0->Lv. 1]
[Dodge Level Up Lv. 2->Lv. 3]
[Skill Upgrade]
(Spear Level 1, Firearms Level 2, Short Blades Level 2, Throw Weapon Level 1, Axe Level 1) Do you wish to upgrade these skills into Weapon Master? 10 skill points Required(Y/N?)]
Between the notifications of the dead F-Rank beasts, there were a couple a couple that called my attention, I was curious about this upgrade, but I don't have enough skill point to buy it yet.
The fight around me finished, the other beast had started to run away. Despite my lack of ability to whistle during the battle, the fear in their minds was enhanced by the images of me killing them. I don't mention Stan because they probably didn't even notice him during the fight so they will not remember that image.
As I saw the beasts running away and stopped whistling. The first wave was repelled, my plan was working, but still, it wasn't enough to achieve resonance, on the good side with the traps and the beast that I killed today I was able to gather more than 200 system points going back to a comfortable amount to have for emergencies.
"We make a great team don't you think?"
This guy really doesn't get hints…
I just tried to keep ignoring him and decided to look as if I was deep in thought observing the other beasts running away.
I noticed that Rose was looking at the results of the battle, she was pissed because of something… I wonder if everything is okay in Green Shelter.
'Don't worry~, everything is fine, she just talked with Pinky~.'
Oh crap…
'Why did she talk with him? Can't you give him the messages?'
'Yeah, but I didn't want to talk with him~… I mean~… I needed to focus for this and talking with him stress me, and I will not be at my full capacity if I talk with that idiot~.'
Even if it was a poor excuse, I thought for a second about the idiot behind me, and I could understand Dante a little.
'He said something stupid right?'
'He called her "the Main Wife" personally I found it hilarious.'
Oh, sh*t…
I hope she doesn't get the wrong idea.
"Hayley is great, but sometimes I wonder how it would be to be with Rose?"
"What!!!!"
I turned around, I think that I used induce fear just now.
"Hahaha, I knew you were listening to me!!"
Stan was there as carefree as always grabbing his stomach laughing.
"Sorry man, I was joking, but I hate to be ignored, and is fun to talk with you. I know Rose is yours don't worry I'm not stealing her."
… I'm not sure if this guy is really an idiot? Does he really thinks he would have a chance with any of them?
I usually would be a lot angrier because of what he said, but besides Cold mind, there was another in my mind right now. I used Fear inducement, right?
I looked at him seriously.
"Don't talk about her like that…ever."
This time I was sure to make clear my threat and filled my voice with fear inducement.
No reaction.
"Chill out bro, I told I was joking, that girl adores you even if I wanted is impossible to steal her."
…
"Walk to the right?"
"What?"
"Just do it."
Stan took a couple of steps to my left. The direction wasn't important… but he isn't affected by Slow either. Time bubble unexpectedly did work on him making him slower.
"Don't dodge."
"What?"
I started a relentless attack, I infused my attacks with slow too, trying to see if it worked. He moved back barely avoiding my first attack.
"Hey Hey!! I'm sorry I promise I will not steal her, we are bros!!."
"I told you don't dodge I'm trying something."
I should explain to him, but I really wanted to punch him too, so I said nothing to him about what I was trying. He didn't have my expertise in fighting even if he tried to dodge, I managed to land hits and I noticed that each attack made him move slower.
I stopped attacking
"Seriously you need some sense of humor!"
'Dante, can you read his mind?'
'… now that you mention it~… no~.'
Stan was in front of me with his guard up. He had a couple of bruises.
"I already learned my lesson! I will never joke about your girlfriend! Can we say that we are even?"
"Sure."
I tried to use Time heal on him, but it didn't work either at the beginning. I focused more and touched one of the bruises, this time I was able to heal it back, and the bruise disappeared. I did the same with some of the other bruises and stopped.
"Wow, that is amazing. Can you do something with this one?"
He pointed one on his forearm that I left there. I ignored him again… that one should be enough to remind him to not talk about my girlfriend…
"Did you know that you can't be the target of Esper abilities?"