"You truly are something, aren't you?" An unexpected yet familiar voice sounded in the room.
Jacob's immediately sprung out, throwing a fist at the unexpected visitor, his body reacting on instinct before his mind formed any questions.
However the visitor seemed prepared, stretching out his hand as an inconspicuous bracelet came to life wriggling out of his wrist before forming a black shield filled with blue veins running along it's surface.
Fist met shield, the collision sending out shockwaves that blew the room apart, little B who hadn't expected the result widened his eyes in shock which later gave way to apprehension when the shield began to crack.
"Hah…it's been a year and you've managed to come this far by only meditating, you really are a true specimen"
Jacob eyes widened, firstly he was shocked at how powerful his punch was then the fact this strange shield was even able to stop it, and did the kid seem older?, Wait did he say one year?
Unfortunately before he could dwell more on his thoughts, the shield shifted deflecting his punch to the left as little B moved to his side swinging his arm at Jacob.
The sheild lost it's integrity, morphing into a pole arm that quickly found it's place in little B's hands.
Jacob's eyes sparkled, intrigued by the weapon that had many forms. As for the pole arm swinging at him, he merely grabbed it wrestling it out of little B's hands.
Now without a weapon little B halted his attack and Jacob who had now determined how inferior the kid was to him now couldn't be bothered to attack anymore.
"What's with this weapon, how does it work?"
Jacob commented as he rubbed his palms along the pole arm, he thought about changing the form in his mind but it didn't change.
'maybe it only responds to the owner, no that shouldn't be the case. He would have taken it back if that were the case'
"That is of no concern to you" little B replied emotionlessly.
Jacob turned to look at the kids face for the first time, his lips parted and his grin widened.
"Mr B was it, I believe you're a smart man so you know what situation you are in, don't you Mr B"
Unfased by the irony of the situation, little B corrected with a smile
"I'd much prefer little B still"
"Oh forgive my mistake then esteemed one, now care to explain how this works"
Jacob replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"..."
"Hmmm?" Jacob hummed as he tightened his fists causing reverberating sounds of bones popping.
"Tch, it responds to mana"
"Mana huh?"
'well that should work too right?'
Jacob immediately sprung into action, sending a stream of abyssal particles into the pole arm, with the image of a sword in mind, immediately the pole arm deconstructed itself falling into a liquid like state, however before it touched the ground, it reconstructed itself becoming more solid as it took the shape of a saber with a broade blade tapered to a pointed tip
However, it didn't have the characteristic blue veins it normally had, it was rather completely black. Sucking off any and all light surrounding it.
"Tha–thats weird…" little B commented offhandedly. 'it shouldn't have been that easy, don't tell me his mana is purer than mine, no that's impossible, it must be something else and why is it black?'
"Hmm right it does look a little different, doesn't it?"
"Different yes… you really never stop to amaze me" little B muttered.
"Oh that reminds me you said something about a year passing" Jacob inquired.
Little B sighs "Yes indeed there's no fancy way to put it, you've been sitting on that floor for the past year"
"A year you say?" Jacob said absentmindedly, it seems there wasn't much of a time difference between the two planes.
"Say, since you're so strong and it doesn't seem like you've got any affiliation here, won't you consider joining NEXUS, I mean you've got the strength and all" B suggested
"Why so you can keep close tabs on me and perform your experiments?
"Eh? No never… it's just well you see, I'm just helping you, yes the pay is really good and you have enough skills to ensure your survival so the work should be a breeze I believe, but if you're not interested it's also fine"
"Oh that's true i don't have a lot of money with me…and I'm quite hungry at the momment too"
Jacob affirmed as he stretched out his palm to B with a knowing look on his face.
"What?"Little B feigning ignorance tilted his head to the side.
"Hmm?"
"I don't carry money around" B stated
"Oh that's inconvenient, well follow me for now"
Jacob said as he willed the saber in his hands to form a sleeve around his forearm and walked out of the room through a hole that had been created from his clash with the shield. He dropped to the ground with a dull thud,
'weird, I got stronger but I didn't get heavier, really weird'
Little B also didn't dally around as he quickly followed Jacob, jumping out of the building likewise.
They both walked in tandem, little B a few steps behind Jacob but it seemed he had no issues keeping up with his pace and strides.
The image of them walking like this was amusing to the passerbys and onlookers, to them it looked like a funny choreography.
Jacob realizing this turned his neck to see an annoying face with an annoying smile looking back
Tch
The duo made their way out of the slums, on entering the commercial district, Jacob halted.
"Is there a mall or something similar in this place?"
"There is a market not far from here" B replied.
"Good enough, take me there"
"Didn't you want to eat, there's a good resturant in the other direction" B inquired
"I want a bath first and some change of clothes" Jacob said as he scrunched his nose, the odour coming from him wasn't pleasant in the slightest.
'oh you just realised' B mocked internally
"Alright this way then"
Making their way to the market, they seemed to garner more attention this time it had nothing to do with their choreography.
Half the people they encountered covered their noses and glared with hatred in their eyes mixed with a little tears. The other half seemed to be some fan of B, however one look from jacob was enough to dissuade them from approaching.
They entered a store and Jacob quickly made a few selection of clothes, he wasn't particular about his appearance so he only grabbed a pair of black joggers, a blue sweatshirt and a pair of white slides in addition to some comfy briefs.
Little B on the other hand stood to the side observing Jacob and when it was time to pay he did so with a smile and word of mouth, he was a pretty known figure so that would suffice.
Somehow he managed to lead Jacob to a cheap store and fortunately for him the other party didn't seem to be particular about appearance.
Their next stop was a bathhouse, Jacob hadn't ever been fond of the idea of bathing with others which was part of the reason why he didn't do it often back then. So he had B empty the place, of course with some cash of which B was able to get along the way.
Before entering he gave B a bone chilling glare,
"Don't run away, I'll find you"
"I wasn't planning to" B likewise gave his own indifferent stare, unwilling to shed his pride.
After a few hours of diligently scrubbing every inch of his body from caked sweat and dirt, Jacob finally stepped out with sooth jade like skin and facial features of a model, his black hair which had taken most of his time moved with even the gentlest of breeze, a testimony to their softness and lightness. Their violet tinted ends added to his appeal elevating his beauty a few tens of point.
The clothing on him although picked casually couldn't have looked better on anyone else. The sweatshirt draped loosely around his body hiding his dense and streamlined physique.
The bands of his joggers were pulled to rest on his calves exposing the beautiful pale skin of his legs. The white slides even though being merely footwear didn't loose out in highlighting his beauty, his exposed toes devoid of any blemish and weird structure wriggled comfortably in their softness.
"That's…surprising"
"I'm not interested" Jacob said with a blank look on his face.
"Wh–what, 'fuc you mean you're not interested, let me tell you I love boobs, BOOBS"
B's visage cracked as he bellowed out exasperatedly.
"Yeah whatever, I didn't ask…now how'bout we go get some food"
B now realising his mistake cursed Jacob internally as he led the way to a restaurant not far from them.
'bastard gigolo'