ZAP! Crackle! Crackle!
"You DARE?!!" Briar spat, unsheathing his blade to send a lightning strike at Bil's feet. Dust clouds were kicked up as Briar scolded, "Fool! Refuse to offer up your ring, and I must then take it by force!"
"... Oh, you've done it now…"
Briar and the two men felt their spines suddenly stiffen. They couldn't see through the dust cloud in the dark forest, but from senses alone they knew that something, some beast was now standing there.
"What rank are you kids? Steel?" Bil asked with a sigh, still tossing the pebbles up and down.
"Th-that… did nothing…" stammered the tall man.
The short man retrieved his twin daggers out of reflex. He felt like he was standing before a wild beast about to go on a rampage and felt the need to ready himself.
Briar, however, was still fuming with rage. "As gold rank mercenaries, you can't simply stand there and expect me to roll over. Now hand over your ring!"
