Jake was waiting to hear many things, but not that. If that was some sort of tactic to make him drop his guard, it sounded pretty stupid. He didn't dare to look away from the enemies, but Louise's silence confirmed that she knew that guy.
"Louise?" Lana asked, visibly confused.
While Jake didn't look at Louise, Lana did, and she was looking as pale as a ghost. Her eyes were moving from one side to the other as if she was seeing the last thing she wanted to see.
"Wow, it is really you, Louise…" The dark-haired guy said while. "I didn't imagine you were the kind of person who play games like these."
"Louise! Answer me!" Lana shouted.
"Hey, don't get so nervous, I guess seeing me made her remember some intense things," The armored guy said while still smiling. "You can call me Justin, and once I was engaged with Louise."
Jake sighed and then looked to the side for a moment. It seemed that things took a weird turn for a very unusual reason. Based on Lana's words, Louise wasn't feeling too well because of that guy. While Jake didn't want to know anything about other people's lives, that complicated things Louise would be fundamental if they wanted to defeat that party. Louise fell to her knees and then began to gasp for air, Lana thought she had been poisoned or something, but that wasn't the case. She was having a mental breakdown…
"You… what did you do to her?" Lana asked while she was hugging Louise.
"Wow… kids these days sure are quick to blame others for no reason," Justin frowned. "Why do you assume I did something? Do you think I did something, kiddo?"
"I couldn't care less, middle-aged man," Jake shrugged.
"Ouch… that hurt," Justin said. "Did you get offended, kiddo? A kiddo is a kiddo, right?"
"Yes, and the same logic applies to you, uncle," Jake said. "You shouldn't be here, there aren't women out there that you need to fool and throw aside to protect your frail ego?"
"Why everyone is assuming that I am the bad person here?" Justin asked while looking toward his friends. "Hey, guys, can you defend me here? I am being bullied for two high-school kids."
Jake sighed again… that acting sure was ridiculous. His friends laughed as Justin had said the funniest thing in the world. While he was calling Jake a high-school student, he was acting exactly like the kids who need to be in groups and making fun of others to feel superior. He was almost in his forties, but Justin was the one who didn't grow up since high school.
"Jake, Louise isn't feeling too well… she needs a doctor," Lana said.
"You are studying to be one, remember?" Jake frowned. "Help her and then move her to somewhere else. She is feeling bad because she was forced to look at this guy. Even I am starting to feel sick."
"Come on, kid… there is no need to be rude just because you are jealous," Justin said. "If you eat your veggies daily, perhaps you can become like me one day."
"No thanks, I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror," Jake replied. "Anyway, let's stop this bullshit. Are you here to fight or what?"
"What a bloodthirsty kid…" Justin frowned. "You can't solve everything with violence, just because this is a game."
"Don't worry, I treat well my elders," Jake replied. "I will be sure not to humiliate all of you too much. Now, let's get going already, all this conversation is making me cringe hard."
"This kid didn't receive a proper education from his parents it seems…" Justin said, visibly annoyed. "You really don't fit to be a teacher, Louise. You can't even tame a snot-nosed brat like this."
"Once this is done, we will see how is fit to be what," Jake said and then unsheathed his katana.
"I will handle this, don't interfere," Justin said and then put his helmet back on.
Justin was confident because he was a typical tank. His armor protected his whole body. He also barely could see a thing through the openings of his helmet. He was as slow as someone could be, but his defense was absolute.
In any case, Jake wasn't imagining that things would be solved in a one-on-one fight, but that certainly would be fun. That guy was annoying on so many levels that Jake couldn't remember the last time he saw someone that made him so pissed to the point where he would trash-talk throughout the whole conversation.
Justin grabbed a kite shield and green spear from his back and then assumed his stance. However, Jake waited for him to move since he wasn't crazy enough to charge toward a tank and an army behind. At least not yet…
Justin couldn't move faster, but after a while, he suddenly swung his spear and made a burst of wind move toward Jake. He blocked the attack by using his katana and scabbard, and Justin used that chance to charge toward Jake and thrust his spear. Once again, Jake blocked the attack, but he was pushed backward several meters with the impact alone. Not to mention, he lost some health…
"He can't move fast, but his mastery over the spear and its range makes his attack heavier and faster," Jake thought.
It was hard to believe, but Jake assumed that Justin's strength was at the same level as when the bat boss was about to die… that or the weight of his whole body made his attacks many times heavier.
Justin thrust his spear again, but Jake moved to his left side at the last moment and dodged. However, Justin easily swung his spear to the left side and almost hit Jake, but he blocked the attack with his katana.
"This guy… he has been playing this game for more than a month…" Jake thought.