Byurn, the alien prince, and Gorgn, a member of the royal court and Byurn's combat teacher, had retired to a secluded training area on their alien homeworld. Their practice was a mixture of physical combat and the exchange of ideas, a longstanding tradition among their kind.
As Byurn continued to train with Gorgn, he couldn't help but bring up the subject of a human he'd heard about from the news circulating around the palace. "Gorgn, there's a human who's recently made quite a name for himself in the simulation," Byurn began, his interest piqued. "He defeated a Colossal Alien on his very first day."
Gorgn, who was well aware of Byurn's fascination with this human, emphasized, "Byurn, whatever's in your head, don't think about it." He knew that Byurn was intrigued by the idea of meeting this remarkable human, and he was cautious about any potential interactions with the inhabitants of Earth.
Byurn couldn't help but smile, though his interest remained undiminished. "I'm just curious, Gorgn. What kind of human could achieve such a feat? I'd like to learn more about them."
Gorgn continued to spar with Byurn, his voice firm. "Focus on your training, Byurn. You have your own responsibilities."
Byurn sighed and nodded, accepting Gorgn's wisdom, even if his curiosity about the human who had defeated the Colossal Alien remained unabated. He understood the importance of his role as a prince, but the allure of the unknown still tugged at his adventurous spirit.
As they continued their training, Byurn couldn't shake the desire to meet the human who had achieved such a remarkable feat. With a sly smile, he attempted to sweet talk Gorgn, saying, "Gorgn, this is his last day in the simulation. Who knows if we'll ever have the chance to meet this human again during the invasion? I don't want to miss the opportunity."
Gorgn, however, remained resolute. "Byurn, our primary focus is for the invasion. We can't afford distractions."
Byurn, determined to find a way to meet Az, persisted, "I promise it won't take long, and it might be valuable for us to understand this human's capabilities. Besides, who knows if he might make it through the invasion, so this could be our last chance."
Gorgn regarded Byurn with a stern expression, recognizing the sincerity in his words. He knew Byurn's curiosity was insatiable, and he also understood that this might be their only opportunity to interact with the human.
After a moment of contemplation, Gorgn relented, but with a condition. "Fine, Byurn, but keep it brief. We have much to prepare for, and your curiosity should not jeopardize our mission."
Byurn's eyes lit up with gratitude as he agreed to Gorgn's terms. He was eager to meet the human who had captured his interest.
Beneath the shade of a towering tree, Az sat, idly nitpicking his nose with his finger. He turned to Lumi with a bored face and asked, "Is it three days yet?"
Lumi, who had been keeping track of the time, chuckled at Az's impatience. "Not quite, Az. We still have some time left in the simulation. Be patient, and before you know it, it'll be time to return."
Az's curiosity knew no bounds, and he couldn't help but ponder the peculiar aspects of the simulation. He turned to Lumi and mused, "You know, I just noticed that we don't need to eat in these three days. I haven't felt hungry at all."
Lumi nodded in agreement, her face a picture of thoughtfulness. "This simulation is designed for training and challenges, so perhaps it bypasses some of your basic needs to focus on other aspects."
Az tilted his head, still intrigued by the mysteries of this fantastical simulator. "I suppose that makes sense, but it's definitely an interesting experience."
As the hours passed, Az began to feel a different kind of fatigue. He let out a dramatic yawn and stretched, then turned to Lumi with a hint of sarcasm, saying, "But I need to sleep, though. This place is boringggggg!" His voice took on a playful, exaggerated tone, echoing his impatience and humor.
"Az, why did you put most of your Alien Skull into Arcane?" Lumi had been curious about Az's choice to invest most of his Alien Skull into Arcane for a long time but she didn't have the courage to ask the question before.
Az started to respond with a playful tone, saying, "You know..." but before he could finish his sentence, a sudden burst of electric energy crackled in front of them. In a flash, two humanoid figures materialized right before their eyes.
The first figure was Byurn, the alien prince, his presence exuding an air of regal authority. He had come, driven by his curiosity about the human who had defeated the Colossal Alien on his first day in the simulation.
The second figure was Gorgn, the combat teacher, standing beside Byurn as a formidable and imposing presence. He observed the Az with a watchful gaze, his expression revealing nothing.
Az glances at the aliens who have appeared before them. Az couldn't help but wonder if this was a result of his earlier outburst, and he decided to address the newcomers. "Uh, hello there. Can we help you with something?"
"Kneel!" Gorgn's stern command sent shivers down Az's spine, and before he even had a chance to react, his body automatically knelt before the imposing figures of Prince Byurn and Gorgn. He glanced at Lumi and saw that she, too, was trembling as if she had some knowledge of who these aliens were.
Az's mind raced with questions, but for the moment, he remained obedient, awaiting the words and intentions of the alien prince and his formidable companion.
Byurn, the alien prince, spoke in a measured tone as he acknowledged Az's achievement. "This is the man who defeated the Colossal Alien on his very first day here."
His gaze then shifted to Lumi, and he added, "Good job, thrall, in finding this remarkable individual."
Lumi stammered in response, "Y-yes, Prince Byurn." She was clearly caught off guard and unsure of how to handle the situation. However, Byurn silenced her with a gesture.
Az, growing impatient with how Byurn was treating Lumi, couldn't stand by any longer. He forced himself to stand, his body weary from exhaustion. He began to walk, albeit slowly, putting himself between Byurn and Lumi.
Az, never one to back down from a challenge, confronted Byurn directly. "Hey, fuckface! You want to meet me, right? How about talking to my face, huh?" His words carried a mix of defiance and anger.
Byurn, amused by Az's boldness, suddenly vanished from in front of him, leaving Az shocked and searching for his presence. Then, Az heard a voice from behind, issuing a challenge of its own. "If you can touch me, I'll give you anything you want. How about that, huh?"
Az, in his usual audacious manner, responded, "I mean, you look weak. I'd rather fight with that other person," subtly implying Gorgn.
But before Az could fully comprehend the consequences of his bold statement, he was sent flying sideways by the force of Byurn's punch. Lumi cried out in alarm, "Azzzz!"
Gorgn shook his head in disapproval, knowing that Byurn had disobeyed his earlier command to keep the meeting brief. Byurn, standing over Az's impact zone, taunted him with a laugh. "Huhhh! Big mouth for someone weak."
Gorgn warned Byurn, "You should look carefully." Shockingly, Az managed to stand steadily despite the powerful punch he had just received. He covered himself with the Colossal Shield, clutching it tightly to protect himself. The shield bore a visible crack, evidence of the immense power of Byurn's strike.
Byurn, his initial shock giving way to amusement, began to laugh. He turned to Gorgn and exclaimed, "Did you see that, Gorgn? Isn't this interesting?"
However, his triumphant moment was short-lived as Az's voice interrupted. Az, who had regained his composure despite the powerful punch, couldn't resist a cheeky remark. "Told ya, your punch felt like a baby flick. Heh."
Byurn, suddenly materialized in front of Az, but this time Az positioned himself for what was to come and had prepared for anything, braced himself behind the Colossal Shield.
Byurn began a relentless assault on the shield, delivering powerful punches one after the other. He provoked Az from the other side, taunting him with, "Let's see how long you can hold on."
Gorgn remained an observer, assessing the situation with a watchful eye. Lumi watched with deep concern for Az, worried about his safety in this intense encounter.
As Byurn continued his relentless assault, provoking Az with taunts and heavier, faster punches, Az remained focused. He whispered to the shield, "Please hold on a little longer."
Byurn's taunts grew more intense, with him challenging Az's courage. "You won't be able to touch me if you keep hiding behind the shield."
Az continued to count in his mouth, his concentration unwavering. At the count of 55, he made his move. He quickly disarmed the shield, and at the 56th punch, the Colossal Shield shattered. As the shield's passive effect activated, boosting Az's dexterity, however, he was still slower than Byurn.
From the start, Az readied his right arm for this precise moment. Byurn's final punch, also coming from his right hand, was met with Az's swift counter. Az's hand quickly grabbed a shard of the broken shield hanging in the air while his punches went through between them and slashed it across Byurn's neck.
For a fleeting moment, Az thought he might have won this duel. However, Byurn declared, "Who says anything about stopping?" and swiftly punched Az in the stomach. The impact was so intense that Az vomited blood.
Just as things seemed dire, something unexpected happened. A notification popped up in front of Az's face, displaying a message that read, "The simulation will end in 00:00:59" and it began counting down.
The notification acted as Az's lifesaver in the nick of time. He collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from his injured stomach. He believed that his insides might have been damaged by the force of Byurn's punch. As he lay there, barely conscious and his vision blurring, Az's face made contact with the ground.
Byurn, wearing a smug expression, confidently walked away from the fallen Az. He approached Gorgn and Lumi, who had watched the encounter with concern.
However, from behind, Az mustered the last of his strength to call out, "Hey, ugly, you said I can ask for anything." Byurn turned back, surprised, and retorted with a mocking laugh, "Haha, I thought you were already dead. Tell me, what do you want? Treasure? Power? Weapon?"
But Az's request caught Byurn off guard. Gasping for breath and on the brink of unconsciousness, Az desperately pleaded, "Give me Lumi!" Then, with his request made, Az finally passed out, leaving the alien prince perplexed.