I laughed maniacally before giving Jukhan the middle finger.
"Ligma balls." [Solace]
Jukhan looked at me in confusion.
"Alert: You have gained the attention of the god of Malevolence. She watches in anticipation." [Spirit Guide]
A few seconds passed as I saw Jukhan try to make out what I just said.
"Wha-" [Jukhan]
Is what I heard before he got blown away. He got hit so hard that he practically vanished, causing me to drop since I was no longer under his grip.
"Oh dear." [???]
Something grabbed me by my cloak before descending gently. As soon as I touched the ground, I turned to see who it was.
"...Master?!" [Solace]
There he stood, with his weird fashion sense of a suit and tie.
"It appears that I've caused you some trouble." [Vincent]
Master glanced at Nakros, who lay there injured in his dragon form.
"Solace, please tend to your senior disciple." [Vincent]
He then placed an orange ball in my hand. It looked like one of those gum balls anyone could buy in the mall.
"Feed this to him. The pill has healing properties." [Vincent]
Nodding, I hastily made my way to Nakros. I wasn't sure how such a small pill could heal Nakros since his dragon form was massive, but it seemed to do the trick as soon as I tossed the pill into his mouth.
"Ngh…" [Nakros]
Starting to move, he shrunk down to his humanoid form.
"Ow…" [Nakros]
Barely managed to sit upright, he glanced around.
"We're alive?" [Nakros]
"You are." [Vincent]
"...Master! You came!" [Nakros]
Master nodded.
"How can I not notice when someone is roaring at the top of their lungs?" [Vincent]
("Is that what it was?") [Solace]
I recalled when Jukhan was pinned down and the two roared at each other. I thought it was an attack, but maybe it was just to call for help.
"...Nakros, can you watch the youngest?" [Vincent]
"Of course." [Nakros]
He then made a few signs with his hands.
"|Oceanic Barrier| |Reinforcement| |Grounding| |Concealment|." [Nakros]
A transparent dome washed over Nakros and I. Seeing such things, I thought we were going to get transported again.
"Stay put. This is where we'll hide." [Nakros]
"Wait. We're not running?" [Solace]
"To where? There is no place safer than Master's side." [Nakros]
Master stood there looking into the distance. As he waited, something crashed into the floor before him.
"...There you are." [Vincent]
There appeared Jukhan, standing face to face with Master.
"Was it you? The person who dared to attack me?!" [Jukhan]
Master smiled.
"It's been a long time, Jukhan." [Vincent]
Hearing the familiarity of Master's voice, Jukhan's eyes went wide with surprise.
"...Vincent?!" [Jukhan]
"The one and only." [Vincent]
Jukhan furrowed his brows.
"No. That can't be…!" [Jukhan]
Master gave him a strange look.
"How so?" [Vincent]
"You… You look so…!" [Jukhan]
"Fashionable?" [Vincent]
"Terrible!" [Jukhan]
Master looked offended.
"You're wearing such formal clothes! And that monocle! You never had bad eyesight!" [Jukhan]
"...The monocle is fake." [Vincent]
"All the more reason not to wear it!" [Jukhan]
Master sighed.
"What did you expect me to look like?" [Vincent]
"Like how you were before! Where are your battle garments?! That ferocious glare! Your disheveled hair! Your arrogance! You used to curse at least every five seconds! What happened to the warrior you once were?!" [Jukhan]
Master's eyes wandered.
"…Look, did you want to have a rematch or not?" [Vincent]
"Not with this… disappointing version of you! Give me back my five years in prison! I didn't lose that duel just to come back to fight a clown!" [Jukhan]
Jukhan's face red with rage.
"You might as well just drop dead like the disgrace you are." [Jukhan]
Master raised a hand and wagged a finger at him.
"I won't die if you can't kill me." [Vincent]
Coils of lightning flashed around Jukhan.
"You still dare to challenge me?" [Jukhan]
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" [Vincent]
"...Fearless as ever." [Jukhan]
Jukhan clenched his fists.
"|Roaring Thunder|." [Jukhan]
Jukhan vanished, leaving a deep footprint behind. He then reappeared with his fist inches away from Master's face.
"Impressive." [Vincent]
Holding a calm demeanor, Master evaded the punch by a hair's breadth.
"You've improved your speed from the last time we fought." [Vincent]
Master evaded a few more lightning infused punches before they both backed away.
"...So your skills did not deteriorate." [Jukhan]
"Are you delighted?" [Vincent]
"Very." [Jukhan]
As he smiled maliciously, dark clouds converged overhead.
"Five years in prison. Five years to train." [Jukhan]
The sky was quickly covered in darkness, alongside the rumbling of thunder.
"This is something I saved just for you." [Jukhan]
A single bolt of white lightning fell from the clouds. It rippled through Jukhan's body, causing the black ink of his tattoo to turn crimson.
"...Interesting." [Vincent]
The white lightning diminished. However, Jukhan was able to pull out red lightning from his tattoo.
"What do you call that technique?" [Vincent]
"|Heaven's Wrath|." [Jukhan]
"Is that so?" [Vincent]
Looking up into the sky, another bolt of lightning fell. Strangely, it struck Master instead.
"Ma-!" [Solace]
I was about to cry out to him, but Nakros placed a hand over my mouth.
"Is this how you do it?" [Vincent]
White lightning coiled around him, moving as Master willed it.
"...No, this isn't it." [Vincent]
The lightning's color shifted, turning purple as seconds passed.
"This is more befitting." [Vincent]
Jukhan stood there with anger in his eyes.
"What did you do to my technique?" [Jukhan]
"I made it better." [Vincent]
Jukhan grit his teeth.
"I had forgotten how you were. Always stealing skills and using it as you please. You foul thief." [Jukhan]
Crimson lightning cracked around him as if to mimic his rage.
"A thief? Hardly." [Vincent]
In contrast to Jukhan, the lightning kept itself close to Master. It was as if he wore the lightning itself.
"Well… I believe that is enough of the pleasantries. Shall we begin?" [Vincent]