In the dimly lit room, Rizki's late-night fervor was evident as he continued to sketch intricate symbols and writings on the quadruplets' bed. The room was filled with the mystique of unknown languages, and Rizki's face bore the telltale signs of his intense focus, smudged with ink from his quill pen.
His thoughts echoed through his mind as he contemplated the impending challenges. "I can't confront Liora directly," he muttered to himself, aware of the immense power she possessed. Everyn's warning about Liora being a force capable of defeating a human hero loomed large in his mind, making him doubt his abilities.
His drawings illustrated his desperate plan to gain Liora's trust, with images of one-on-one combat scenarios. He knew that this was a crucial step in their mission to subjugate the shady businessmen who had abducted innocent girls.
"Eva mentioned those merchants are backed by the hero," Rizki reminded himself, recalling the information he had received. Liora had forbidden him from joining their mission, and the revelation about the hero's involvement had only deepened the mystery.
With a sigh, Rizki recognized the disparity between his strength and the challenges they faced. He contemplated a solo mission to the beastmen village, aiming to decimate some of them as part of their villainous plan. But then, a moral dilemma struck him: "Killing innocents is no different than them abducting those girls."
As he examined various strategies, it became evident that none would guarantee the safety of the quadruplets, a responsibility he couldn't ignore. Rizki realized that he needed assistance beyond his own abilities.
"I need to call Faye," he decided, reaching for his phone. Faye, the goddess who had summoned him to this world, held answers he needed.
Faye's voice resonated through the phone as Rizki called her. "Hello," she greeted. Rizki cut to the chase, "Can you provide me with Liora Nightshade's complete biography?"
Faye's response was cryptic, adding an air of mystery to the conversation. "I can't give you all of it," she replied, "but I can provide an important note."
"Bow," she said simply. Rizki's incredulous response hung in the air, "Bow? Are you going to ask me to kneel?"
In another realm, Faye, tattered and disheveled from just waking up, dropped into a fit of laughter. "I'm not asking you to kneel!" she exclaimed between laughs. "She is my believer, and I wouldn't want you to do that!"
Regaining her composure, Faye settled into a chair near her desk and continued to shed light on Liora's background. "Liora was a knight," she explained. "But her weapon of choice was the bow." This revelation piqued Rizki's interest and raised questions about the relationship between Faye and Liora.
Faye went on to provide insights into the quadruplets, revealing their strengths and weaknesses. She highlighted Eva's proficiency as a long-ranged fighter but weakness in close combat, Eve's skills as a knight with a focus on close combat and healing, Evelyn's dual role as a healer and magician but vulnerability in defense, and Everyn's strength in defense but fragility in body.
Rizki quickly jotted down notes, piecing together the puzzle of their team dynamics. He concluded, "So, if I can use a bow, the five of us could potentially defeat her?"
Faye's response was affirmative. "Yes, you have a bow yourself. And its more than enough to do it yourself" she confirmed.
Rizki couldn't help but correct her, "That's a gun, not a bow."
Faye's perspective, however, added another layer of intrigue. "To them, it's like a magic arrow," she explained. "In fact, they've been researching your gun. Oh, and by the way, you'll be receiving a keepsake from your family through an offering soon."
But before their conversation could conclude, an unexpected turn of events left Rizki in agony. A sturdy black box that had been hidden away popped out, striking him right in the groin.
"Faye, you..." Rizki began to curse but was cut short by the intense pain.
Clutching his injured groin, Rizki couldn't help but wince. But as he examined the box more closely, he discovered something unexpected inside.
His smile spread as he realized what it was. "This..." he muttered with a sense of satisfaction, pulling out a modern-looking bow. "Fighting venom against the venom, huh?" he mused, finding irony in the situation.
Despite the lingering pain, Rizki decided to continue with his plan. He knew that he now possessed the missing piece of the puzzle that could aid him in the challenges ahead.
Slowly, he made his way out of the room, each step a reminder of the recent injury. The determination in his eyes, however, was unwavering.
As he opened the door, he found himself face to face with a familiar figure, Liora Nightshade, who had an arrow pointed directly at him.
"I want to duel with you," Liora declared, her voice laced with a mix of determination and tension.
Rizki raised his hand in a calming gesture, attempting to defuse the situation. "Chill, Liora, chill," he implored.
Her initial hostility began to dissipate as she spoke. "Eva told me everything, and I want to test your conviction."
Rizki saw an opportunity to address the secrecy surrounding Liora's mission. "We want to help you," he stated
She walked into the room, setting her bow aside, and took a seat beside Rizki on the quadruplets' bed.
Rizki, curiosity brimming in his eyes, broke the silence. "What do you know about anything that you talk about?"
Liora met his gaze with a resolute expression. "They told me that you are insisted to go. So I had to duel with you to see if you are actually capable for this."
Rizki sighed, acknowledging her concerns. "Okay, evening, today. Place as you wish."
With a nod, he left the room, his modern-looking weapon in hand. Liora watched him go, her thoughts swirling with questions. "Why is he that insistent..."
In the evening, the two archers met in a designated area on the barracks. Both were equipped with their well-maintained bows, ready for the duel that would test their skills.
Liora laid out the simple rules, her voice steady and determined, "Rules are simple, whoever hits the other's body wins, and the loser shall comply with the winner's request."
Rizki nodded in agreement, accepting the terms. He raised his modern-looking bow, aiming it steadily at Liora. With unwavering resolve, he announced his condition, "I want you to tell me everything about your past, about your mission, and allow me to join you if I win."
The referee, positioned to the left of the area, chimed in, "Granted if Rizki wins."
Liora took her turn to state her demand, "I want Rizki to stay silent and let me handle the mission. All he needs to do is rest and be with his wives."
Behind Rizki, the quadruplets reacted in unison. "So they are dueling at last?" they mused in curiosity.
Everyn, the most timid of the quadruplets, ventured a comment, "But Grand Master is highly skilled in archery."
Eva, the leader of the group, reassured her sister, "Similarly with Rizki, you remember, right?"
On the side of Rizki and Liora, the referee took charge once more, directing them, "Raise your bows."
Both archers complied, lifting their bows in unison. The referee continued, "Focus on each other."
Rizki, drawing from his past experiences, recalled that archery duels in his previous life were conducted similarly. He followed the referee's instructions, his gaze locked onto Liora.
The referee's final command sealed the beginning of their duel, "No sharp arrowheads are used here. Anyone with a hint of paint on their arrow will be declared the loser."
With that, both archers concentrated on their bows, ready to commence the duel and determine the course of their shared destiny.