[Sam perspective]
"Can you give me immeasurable strength?"
"No."
"Can you cast immeasurable strength?"
"No. That's cheating. I already know this is for the regionals. You talk like a player??"
I can't trick Mag into enhancing my strength. I don't feel strong enough at all to win. I want to win but...I'm not ready?
"Then don't. It's annual. You don't have to win now. You are too young to win now."
"Maybe there's a way to train now."
"And be elite enough in one day? I'm sorry. You're not even used to your katana. Your favorite weapon is still the practice sword."
I missed that sword and Mag is right. Anything other than the practice sword...I haven't wielded for more than a sunset.
"What's up with you measuring time with sunsets?? Ah...an NPC."
I think I heard NPC from the old man too. I think it's New Perfect Contestant.
"Idiot. Alright there's someone here who can help you train in the Human Kingdom."
"Master Speed. Help this poor fool."
An old man teleported in front of me. This time it's a peaceful old man.
Master Speed wore regular white garments but brought a katana. Too old to be called Master Speed.
Before I drew my sword out. My hands fell off again. I'm pretty used to this now and it's futile to scream.
"I won't heal you."
Time to scream because Mag has betrayed me.
"I'll heal you."
This indecisive magician...Cutting off my hands isn't funny!
This is the very problem with strong healers! They may not value your life anymore because of their confidence in healing.
"Mage. I don't do street shows. I'll give you a skill to earn Experience just by being in combat. You don't have to defeat Master speed. You can't anyway."
And so my afternoon was spent losing my limbs again and again. My legs, arms, head feel numb now to being torn apart.
A miracle happened.
I blocked one attack!
Then proceeded to lose my limbs a few more times.
I felt faster and stronger each time I lost a limb and I began to read a few familiar movements. I could finally see a few movements of this speedy demon.
Progress at last. I've blocked three consecutive strikes.
"Is that your best Master Speed?"
I've realized I'm better at tapping one's anger than tapping on my own potential.
"...What happened?"
I looked at Mag
"Master Speed went too far so I sent him off. You literally were a pile of blood and cubes of flesh. I've healed people in worse situations."
What's worse than being cut into cubes symmetrically???
"The planet of demons?"
"What on the gods' green Errd is a planet of a demons??I thought there's only the kingdom!"
"Well it's a planet ruled by demons. There are plenty more Demon Kings there."
"Are you telling me non-humans on Errd are aliens?"
"No. Some demons were born or created here. Most of the population inhabits a planet."
"Why are the angels here then if they have a planet?"
"Maybe they can't stand the abundance of archangels that are better than them. Here they feel much more superior and hailed by human history."
That is true. I used to look up to angels. Angel Michael wielded an otherworldly weapon called "mini-gun".
"Is Queen Lucy an Archangel?"
"There's only King Gab."
"There's no King in the Angel Kingdom."
Mag fell silent and looked dead serious. I looked away, too serious.
"Then Lucifer has taken over and it should be remapped as the Kingdom of The Fallen Angels."
"Don't they have weird feathered wings."
"No. Only magic can detect a Fallen Angel. Physical appearance does not determine one's side to be good or evil."
"Then you mean it's wrong to hunt down Demon Lords."
"It's not wrong. The party should first determine the level of danger the Demon Lord is capable of. I know one that can destroy kingdoms."
"Then I'll make it simple. Can there be a good Demon Lord?"
"Yes but weren't we talking about Queen Lucifer or Queen Lucy? Stop changing the issue."
"We can't do anything about it. The Regionals is tomorrow."
"And that's far more important than a lvl 10,000 Fallen Angel?"
"What is...a lvl?"
"Don't mind it. You don't have to experience what players do regularly. Have you respawned?"
"What?"
"When you die, do you go immediately stand around the dojo and speak a few words?"
"Of Encouragement? I've died so many times but that doesn't happen."
"Then you are a strange NPC."
"Yes I am. I am a newly picked contender for the Regional Finals."
"...Typical NPC thoughts."
"What does that mean!?"
"Keep quiet. There's a sniper around. I can't detect its magic."
The last thing I saw was Mag's mask...
I'm still alive? Was that magic?
"Headshot. I can heal anything but I'm not so sure your intellect is still the same. Doesn't matter if it's that low."
"Reveal yourself!"
I'll deal with the insult later. I'll ask later too what's a headshot.
"As if snipers do that."
Suddenly an unfamiliar...thing appeared.
"What's that!? It's not any of the races I've heard."
"It is but in some faraway planet. It's a cyborg. Interesting, it knows magic. That was invisibility magic, even the weapon was invisible."
"Target locked."
The cyborg speaks! And points at me! Time to run.
"Lock-on missiles activated."
I don't even know how to describe this voice. It's all dead serious and deep with no hint of emotion.
Why am I thinking about the voice when some kind of magic is following me!
I think I can slash it!
"Missiles slashed."
I am truly a master of mimicry.
"Switching to Second Form: Speed Form."
The cyborg reduced its bulk and became thinner and taller. It took out two unfamiliar weapons one on each hand.
"Blasters! Just Dodge."
Mag explained that they were blasters. That wasn't even enough explanation!
"It's too fast. What are those?? Magic spheres?"
"It's either a charged bullet...or a magic sphere. The cooldown is too fast. This must be cheating..."
The cyborg continued to aim at both of us with ease but Mag has a shield and I don't. I have to keep blocking with the katana.
"Melt on impact."
Mag was too late shielding both of us. My katana was in half after the it blocked one sphere.
No our family honor...I have that spell book but this cyborg is strong...It might work but I haven't even trained in magic arts!
"Infernus!"
I casted the spell and a small flame disc came out of my palm. It was in the shape of one of those village boomerangs.
"Adjusting Temperature Tolerance...Calculating heat from 'Infernus'. Damage analysis: Weak."
"Use it with your katana!"
Mag threw the katana to me but the cyborg revealed a violet orb at its chest.
"Charge Cannon."
"Infernus!"