Liam caught Lorthon who hugged him tightly like a child. They quickly let go and Lorthon suddenly glance at his back.
"Is she your friend?" he asked curiously.
Liam almost burst into laughter when he heard that. Friend my ass. He looked back and saw Dianne glaring at Lorthon.
She noticed his stare and her gaze became more hostile.
"Yeah, she's my friend." he responded with laughter in his voice.
How did they became together? Well, let's go back a few minutes before.
***
So this, must be a trap!
Dianne grinned. You think you'll be able to fool me?
She glanced at Liam's figure... Liam... Her eyes widened in shocked. Where is Liam?!
Dianne look around in panic. What the hell? He suddenly disappeared!
"Where is he?" she subconsciously whispered.
She just blinked and he suddenly vanished. What the fuck? Is it his skill? As her thoughts became chaotic, she heard a man's voice from behind.
"Maybe behind you?"
Dianne frozed in her position. Her eyes shook, gulping in nervousness. The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Swoosh-
A sword was casually stabbed right beside her face, a hole was made in the sturdy tree covering her.
The tree staggered before falling away from her.
Boom-!
The ground shook from the shock of the fall.
Dianned immediately let go of her weapon before raising her hands, surrendering.
"Smart." Liam praised making her veins almost popped.
I don't need your compliment, asshole. She thought.
Liam took a step forward and his hand suddenly touch Dianne's waist.
She frozed. Heat rise up to her face and a scream rang out the forest.
"Aaaahhhh! You pervert!" she forgot everything and tried to kick Liam.
Liam bend his body, his feet put force on the ground and his body instantly flew into the air.
A gorgeous backflip.
Liam landed in one of the tree branches. His sword already sheathed.
Dianned on the other hand was trembling in anger and embarrassment. "How dare you!"
She trembingly pointed her fingers at Liam with red face and cursed him endlessly.
"You son of a bitch! Who do you think you are? Aaahhh! Harassment! Pervert, pervert! Fuck you! I hope you--"
"You're not my target." he cut him off. His face filled with disappointment.
Dianne was stunned. With her eyes almost popping out of her socket, her jaw drop as she dumbfoundedly stared at her badge.
"When did you-?! It's in my waist-!" as if she was struck by lightning, she realized what happened.
Dianne gulped. A sweat slid down her jaw. How did he see it? I made sure to hide it well. Earlier too, how did he see my position? And he was able to move so much faster.
Dianne was full of question. However, she doesn't have the time to ponder.
"If I submit this, you'll be eliminated right?"
Dianne flinched when she heard him. Her eyes became hostile but she kept silent.
Seeing this, Liam grinned in amusement. He wanted to laughed loudly but the growing hatred in Dianne's eyes made him stop.
[Skill
Name: Dianne James
Age: 17
[Status Window]
Rank: G+
Strength: G+
Agility: F-
Stamina: G+
Mana: G
=Authority=
[Boss Stunner]
Skills:
>Double Impact (B)
Upon activation, any attack that hits it's target will be followed by another attack with increased power.
Hmm... she hasn't awakened her second skill yet. But this is enough. If she was groomed well, this skill will be useful in critical moments.
Liam smiled 'kindly' at her. "Wanna team up?" he casually asked.
That skill is simple but powerful. However, it's only useful if the enemy wasn't aware of it. Since it's easy to defend.
The girl was stunned. She didn't seem to expect he'll suggest that. She fell silent and her face turned serious. Dianne seemed to be contemplating hard about his offer.
Dianne definitely didn't expect this developtment. But this is more beneficial to her than Liam, so she doesn't understand why would he want to team up with her who was weaker.
Actually aside from her skill,
In the first place, Dianne didn't come from an awakened. She was the first one in their family to ever have the ability to control mana.
At first, she was very excited. She once dream of becoming the greatest hero. But reality is cruel, compared to other awakened at her age, her talent is average.
Even so, she worked hard. She was gifted a weaker body so she chose a bow that would focus on long-range attacks and started working on her accuracy.
Whwn she brokethrough G+, Dianne decided to take the entrance exam here. She was only trying her luck.
She had already given up on becoming the strongest hero, however... to survive, one need to grab the opportunity.
Dianne relaxed her body. It doesn't matter anymore since Liam have her badge anyway. So, there's actually nothing for her to lose.
With a heavy sigh. she finally answered.
"I accept."
***
So that's how the two of them teamed up. They have no trust in each other but strangely, this made their journey peaceful.
They killed some beast here and there.
Dianne knew how to properly skin a beast and because of that, we have meat. And to his delight, this girl can also cook.
He was about to die in happiness. It feels like he hit a jackpot.
With Dianne, food is not a problem anymore.
Liam had been livinh alone for as long as he can remember so he knew how to cook. However, he knew nothing about beasts.
It's not like things like that were gonna be mention in the novel.
"Hello! I'm Lorthon Wayne. You are?" Lorthon shyly extended his hand to her.
Dianne was startled. "Uh, yes, I'm Dianne James. Nice to meet you." They shook hands for a moment before letting go.
The two fell silent and the atmosphere turned awkward.
However, Liam couldn't be bothered with them. He met Kierra's smiling gaze.
She seem to be amused by the situation, glancing at Angelina who have a shock expression in her face and Lorthon who was having a silent battle with Dianne.
Angelina recovered quickly. She glanced at the three of us before smiling. "It seems like, Lorthon was already in a team?"
Angelina was willing to take Lorthon in but definitely not us. After all, in her eyes, we're not worth her time.
In the end, Angelina and her group left with no intention of teaming up with us.
He was also unable to have a conversation with Kierra.
But it's fine. He have time.
***
"Congratulations! You submitted your target's badge before the time limit."
The person in-charge spoke with a smile on her face. Lorelei just nodded her head before leaving the checkpoint.
She started walking on the jungle. She have no idea what to do from now on.
Now that she wasn't busy, Lorelei started to remember her conversation with 'him' once again.
***
"Why are you working so hard?" he asked while leaning in the doorframe of the training room.
He's here again. Lorelei frowned when she heard the same mocking voice. He really hate me a lot. She thought.
"Of course, I need to train hard to get stronger."
Although she doesn't want to respond, Lorelei still politely answered his question.
The man seem stunned for a second before bursting into laughter.
"What are you talking about? We don't have any expectations on you anymore! So just sit back and relax." his laughter echoed in the spacious room.
"Don't tell me... you still thought you're the hero?" there was a sneer in his voice.
"Lorelei, you're a failure."
"I hope you won't forget that."
Lorelei gripped the sword tightly, her eyes bloodshot and her body trembling.
Is she angry? Maybe. But the feeling that's dominating her right now, is frustration.
It's so frustrating how she couldn't even refute any words that he's saying. Because it's true.
She already failed once. And once is enough. The thing that she's lacking the most is time.
Time for her. And this world.
"Just wait for your comrades to die in front of you again. Since you can only do something decent when countless lives were already lost."
He chuckled. "I already have someone to replace you."
"His name is Liam Austine Terron."
"If you ever see him, say 'hi' for me."
He left after leaving those words.
***
"Liam..."
Lorelei did her researched about this person and he was shocked to find out that he was Hannah's brother.
However, he died way before the disasters started. He's definitely weaker than me.
But...
"He said he's my replacement, right?"
Lorelei's eyes seem to be burning in determination.
"Then I should see it myself."
She wasn't convinced. And she'll prove him that she's far valuable than him.
***