The room returns to normal. The runes have lost their shimmer but still glow, bathing the room in their light if less bright than before.
" What happens now?" You ask the woman.
" Now we test you, " she says before heading up the stairs. She stops after taking three steps and looks over her shoulder. You follow her. " I will admit I am interested to see how this plays out." She briefly glances back, her gaze is one of curiosity.
She leads you out of the building and towards the area where the duo from earlier were locked in a duel. Sage has been quiet ever since the agreement was made.
It feels strange to have another conscience in your head. You feel Sage's presence at the back of your mind, adjusting to its new home.
" Do you have any pronouns I should address you by?" You question the sentient voice residing in your head.
" He/him. To you humans I am what you refer to as a male," he explains.
" Please select a weapon. " She gestures to a rack of weapons ranging from a short sword to a strange contraption you've never seen before. It is a long, metallic tube connected to a curved wooden handle with a small pointed metal part at the opposite end of the tube.
" What is that?" You point to the apparatus.
" That is a gun." She takes it off the rack and presents it to you, the wooden part facing you. " Perhaps you prefer this? " Another invention of this new generation it seems. It looks small but looks can be deceiving.
You shake your head and opt for the wooden sword. It feels lighter but much comfier. It is better to use something you are familiar with for the time being. You give it a couple of test swings before nodding to the woman.
A man steps into the ring. His demeanor is one you find interesting. He's a veteran of his time but does he have the experience you have? His armor is one of aristocratic regalia.
" May I know your name, old man? " He asks, giving his weapon, a spear a few swings.
" What do you plan to tell him?" Sage questions before you can answer.
" The same thing I told you," you mutter under your breath.
" Gramps," you reply with a stoic face.
The man seems taken aback by this but simply nods. He enters a stance with his weapon low to the ground. You enter a stance of your own, well not exactly yours but who cares about that right?
" Very well. I am Farus," he declares in a proud tone.
He waits for you to make the first move. You don't and enter a battle of wits with the lad. He is the first to move, losing the mental battle which might hopefully not be the last.
He delivers a sweep kick which you easily avoid and thrust. He deflects and slides away. You feel Sage's excitement which is baffling in many ways but you push everything toward the back of your mind.
You deflect an overhead strike before hitting him in the chest with the butt of your sword. He groans as he stumbles back. You give him no room to recover as you unleash a flurry of attacks on him. He takes each strike with surprising efficiency. You sweep his legs from underneath him and deliver a kick to his falling midsection which sends him flying.
He digs his feet into the ground and lets out a roar that pushes you back by a substantial distance as you attempt to close the distance. A warning? From who? Your instincts go into overdrive as you see a blue aura dance around your foe. What the hell is that?
He charges at you and the difference is already clear. His attacks are much more powerful and faster. Each gives way to another which you have a hard time countering, evading, or even blocking.
" He's using a system," Sage informs you. " Not powerful as yours but still powerful."
So that is a system in effect. Quite the show.
" What do you propose?" You ask, dodging another strike.
" Activate me. "
You flinch, giving him enough time to hit you with a devastating strike. The wind is forced out of you but you won't go down from just one well-placed strike, what kind of god killer would you be then? You grin and grab his arm which is still buried in your gut and twist
" That won't be necessary Sage, " you reply. " Witness the power of a Forgotten Knight! "
Infusing the sword with a long-lost power, you charge at Farus, considering the environment, this should not take long. You leave an opening he cannot afford to ignore while preparing for the final strike.
He blindly takes the bait and you waste no time in punishing him by striking him square in the torso. Let's see how his 'system' reacts to this. He flies into a pole, destroying it completely. That strike took more effort to control than you had anticipated. Hopefully, you'll remember that you are fighting people rather than gods before trouble rears its ugly head. You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. Glad that's over.
" Do you think he is alive? " Sage's voice reverberates within your head. " That was a nasty strike you delivered."
You cautiously approach the dissipating cloud. With a wave the cloud retreats, revealing Farus covered in scratches and bruises. His breathing is haggard. Is he that frail? Do these 'systems' grant the user powers beyond what their bodies would allow?
" Sage,"
" Yeah?"
" How far can a system push someone? " You kneel, checking his pulse which is present but faint.
" It depends on many things actually," Sage says. He goes on to give a vivid explanation of how the physical and cognitive prowess of the person in question as well as how strong their spirit is affects the person's system and with the right training, great things can be attained.
The lady from before walks up to both you and the unconscious Farus. She looks at Farus before focusing her gaze on you.
" You took him out quite easily," she states in a monotone voice. " That is no easy feat as he is one of the four guild guardians."
" Oh really?"
Guild guardians huh? The others will be probably out for blood for their fallen comrade at the hands of a newcomer, an elderly one at that.
" Before I forget," you rise and turn to fully face the woman. " What is the name of the guild?"
" Demon's Bane. "
" Well, that certainly needs no explanation," Sage quips.
" What will happen to him? " You point to Farus.
She indicates that he will be taken to the infirmary and gestures for a group of on-lookers to take him away.