SPAR WITH ME?
Syton just finished picking some Sylvan Leaf herb. While Syton was harvesting some herbs, Stalane is the one who was tasked on protecting themselves from dera.
Stalane used her enhanced eyesight to avoid engaging up with a dera. Whenever she sees that a dera is coming on their way, she'll throw a rock to lead the dera on the other way instead. But sometimes it doesn't work so she have to kill it using her arrows.
The dera was harder to kill compare when she used her Blast on Hit to Amoura's Cuazenta illusion. It'll take her three to four times using this skill in order to kill one dera, which easily depletes most of her mp.
Needless to say, despite of her being well-trained she is now getting tired by this simple task.
Syton noticed that Stalane is slowly getting exhausted. He brought out a water bottle from his inventory then threw it at Stalane. The water bottle flew into Stalane's head. Stalane was too preoccupied to notice the battle or she was just too lazy to dodge it. Either way, because of this Syton received a glare from Stalane, before she picked up the water bottle that was now on the ground.
"Thanks" Stalane halfheartedly said as she drank the water.
"Relax for a minute and just sit down. We will be leaving this place later so it's best if you could reserve your energy now" Syton advised while he tap the ground beside him.
Stalane observed him for a minute before she sighed on how easygoing he is with the situation.
"Don't you even realize where we are?"
Syton answered in questioning manner, "We're at the Tree of a Realm?"
"Amoura and Logan is not here to protect us from those ferocious dera we have seen earlier anymore" Stalane reminded him.
Syton tilted his head, "and so?"
Stalane got stunned at what she heard.
"I still have you. And you still have me. Wait... don't tell me you're scared?" Syton asked confusingly.
Syton was really puzzled at what Stalane is getting too worried about. But when Syton realized how cute Stalane is acting right now, he can't help but to tease her more.
"What? Does your confidence dropped after we fought with Amoura's dera illusion? Or is it because of Amoura's dream illusion that you had troubled getting out of? Oh my, my! Stalane, I didn't knew that you were---"
Before Syton even finished his sentence, Stalane already threw the water bottle back to his face.
"Shut up! Don't tell me, you're not bothered at that girl's illusion after she confessed that those three Cuazenta were only a fake one?"
Syton went silent after Stalane retorted back. He was indeed bothered by it and was still conflicted. He still doesn't know if that was a real Cuazenta, would he be able to defeat it at his current level or would it be really too difficult for him?
Due to Amoura's illusion, he was unsure of how powerful does his experimented skill really is.
Syton still know for a fact that Stalane and him is already strong . He was just not sure how strong they really are.
"See?" Stalane said as she rolled her eyes after she noticed how Syton became quiet.
Syton then smiled at her before he stood up. There is only one way for their question to get answered.
"Shall we spar then?"
It is to test it one more time.
Stalane was stunned at his blunt invitation for a fight. But she quickly realized what his intention was. It was actually beneficial for the both of them, so she accepted his challenge.
Syton felt how serious Stalane was that he became skeptic at his decision. He sighed to somehow remove his nervousness.
---
Surprisingly, the spar between them led into a draw.
"It's because my mp is already too drained from trying to divert all those deras from before" Stalane reasoned out. She was barely standing as she catch some breath.
Syton slumped down on the ground while he stab his sword beside him. He used the sword as his support.
"Well, I didn't think that I'd be able to even last this long against you" Syton admitted.
Stalane stood up properly before she looked around her. "But I think we really did it too much, considering how the place became like this. The near deras even ran away"
Syton chuckled. "See? There's nothing to worry about! Besides, I already have a plan how to leave this place after analyzing the deras we've met so far"
Stalane ignored what he said. She was just too satisfied after going all out in sparring against Syton earlier. She could feel that she could do much more better.
Syton felt the same way as Stalane. He successfully confirmed how effective the experimented skills he have done with his altered first form on his Path of the Sword. It actually gotten better after doing it more seriously with Stalane.
He doesn't know what's wrong with those 3 Cuazenta that Amoura summoned as an illusion. But, if Syton would guess she might've just underestimated them considering how they were not being too serious before. Or it's just that the dera has really been nerfed and the real Cuazenta is really too strong for them.
They wouldn't know unless...
"Shall we hunt some deras now?" Syton gave out a new unnecessary idea.
But Stalane didn't dislike it.
"Let's" she agreed.
Syton was happy to see how eager Stalane is. But they need to rest first.
"Let's rest for a minute before we go. We'll be killing some on our way out" Syton said.
Stalane then sat down like what Syton is doing.
"Oh! Something keeps bothering me. How did you meet with that spy friend of yours? You also mentioned that its an upgraded class? What's that supposed to mean?" Stalane asked what she was been curious about.
Right after she asked, Syton received a new message from his friend.
"Do you want to meet him?" He asked after he read the message.
"Huh?"
"He'll be meeting us midway to guide us where the Astro's Labyrinth is" Syton said as he smiled.