Seiji, despite feeling a bit of comfort at the familiarity of someone from his past life's world, quickly snapped out of it. Observing Kade's unsettling presence, he realized that despite the connection, being around Kade was not a comforting experience.
Kade Northwood:
"You seem to be living the life due to the amount of women you surround yourself with."
The girls faintly blushed at Kade's words as he walked with Seiji. Seiji turned his head to glance at the girls, noticing their subtle blushes.
Shinoda Seiji(INT):
"Is he talking about the girls...?"
Shinoda Seiji:
"What? No, we're just an adventurer group... that's it."
Kade Northwood:
"Right."
Shinoda Seiji:
"Uhm... I notice you keep calling me kid."
"I'm talking to someone the same age as me right?"
Kade Northwood:
"Ah, you see, I may seem as young as you but I'm infact middle aged. I'm just a man stuck in a young persons body."
Shinoda Seiji(INT):
"...This is strange, Quasarra told me that only teenage or young adults can be reincarnated in another world."
"This only makes me want to bring him in for further questioning."
Kade abruptly stopped, causing Seiji to halt as well. The girls looked at him suspiciously, curious about the sudden pause. Kade released his hold on Seiji's shoulder and walked to face him directly.
Kade Northwood:
"Now, what does your Goddess want with me?"
Shinoda Seiji:
*Clears throat*
"Well, Quasarra sent us to retrieve and take you to her–"
Kade Northwood:
"I know that."
"So get to the point."
Shinoda Seiji:
"She just wants to have a talk, that's all."
Kade Northwood:
"A talk, huh?"
Kade peeked to the side of Seiji to glance behind him at the five girls. He noticed Alys mildly shaking from the back, positioned behind Luna.
Kade Northwood:
"Your girlfriend back there looks abit shaken–"
Eira and Riku stepped in front of Alys, shielding her from Kade. Riku wore an expression that seemed to convey her frustration with Kade's behavior.
Hagakiri Riku:
"Seiji, I'm just about done with this man."
"Hurry up with what you want to say, and let's finish this already."
Shinoda Seiji:
"Riku, stop–"
Eira Morfiel:
"She's right Seiji, this isn't leading us anywhere–"
As Seiji began to argue with the three girls, all expressing frustration and being done with Kade's behavior, Kade narrowed his eyes, observing the group with a small smirk.
Kade sensed an unfamiliar aura emanating from the group, a feeling he couldn't quite place but that struck him as different and intriguing.
Kade Northwood(INT):
"From what I know about this world, it has a Goddess, a High-Goddess at that, people with animal ears, and an aura."
"I have a strong feeling about this kid, that animal eared girl, and this Riku chick."
Anyssa Mosatra:
"Would you guys calm down...?"
Eira Morfiel:
"Oh shut up Anyss, why won't you just keep quiet like you always do?"
Shinoda Seiji:
"Would you all just stop talking right now!? I don't want to force him, okay?!"
Luna Emberscraw:
"Huh? Why? What's wrong with knocking afew heads out to get–"
Kade Northwood:
"Hey."
"Check your girl, kid."
He looked at Alys with that small smirk he kept on his face.
Kade Northwood:
"Cause I might just take her for myself."
Seiji/Anyssa/Eira/Luna/Alys/Riku(INT):
"What?"
The six were left in confusion by Kade's words, unable to respond before he took swift and unexpected action.
Kade delivered a sucker punch with an uppercut to Seiji, swiftly ducked, and ripped Seiji's katana from its sheathe. He quickly slashed, leaving a large wound on the front of Luna's chest, and executed a forceful front kick that sent Riku tumbling out of his way. In a split second, Kade ran into the forest.
Hagakiri Riku(INT):
"Damn it! I knew we should've taken him in the moment we saw him!"
"He was stalling us so that he could get close to Seiji and move himself closer to the forest!"
Kade ran senselessly through the forest, without a single thought of stopping or looking back.
As Kade ran, he was suddenly punched in the back of his head, sending him flying into a tree. Clutching the back of his head, he noticed a small glowing text pop up in front of his eyes that read.
???:
"DURABILITY LEVEL UP!"
Kade Northwood(INT):
"... Have I finally reached the edge of my sanity? What the hell am I looking at?"
Luna Emberscraw:
"You little sh##bag, you left a cut on me, and ran away!"
Luna walked up to Kade, who was laid back against the tree. She placed her foot on him, putting her weight down with a visibly angered expression. Her eyes glowed yellow, and she bared her fangs.
Luna Emberscraw:
"If Alys hadn't been there, I wouldn't be able to crush you like I'm about to now–"
Kade swiftly grabbed Luna's feet, pushing her off and causing her to trip. He quickly stood up, wiping spit off his mouth, and faced Luna, who also got up.
Kade Northwood:
"Y'know, for a wolf such as yourself, you'd think that talking to your prey would be the last thing to do?"
They both assumed fighting stances, glaring at each other.
Kade Northwood(INT):
"I'm still wondering how I'm not passed out dead from that punch, being hit into that tree with that much force should've been it for me too."
"So why do I feel good, if not better? It must have something to do with that text popping up."
"This time, I wanna see it again."
Luna lunges toward Kade, extending her claws to maul him, but Kade deftly dodges and delivers a punch to her face. Despite the impact, Luna remains unfazed, prompting Kade to move back with his with a slight look of surprise.
Luna began to chuckle from how weak that punch was.
Luna Emberscraw:
"I thought a guy with a body like yours could be able to do some damage, kinda disappointed."
Kade Northwood:
"I'm surprised that even a stupid mutt like you could even form words."
Luna, quickly grabs a fallen tree and hurls it at Kade. Swiftly ducking underneath, Kade closes the distance and seizes Luna's wrist.
He delivers punches to her sides and follows up with an uppercut to her chin. Luna retaliates with a punch, but Kade manages to block the hit in the nick of time and moves back.
As Luna lunges at Kade with claws extended, he dodges and leans back, grabbing a rock from the ground. He bashes the stone against Luna's head, causing it to break upon impact.
Seizing the opportunity, Kade knees her in the face and follows up with a push kick, sending her sprawling backward. In the midst of the conflict, two small glowing text messages appear in front of Kade's eyes that reads.
???:
"STRENGTH LEVEL UP!"
"MARTIAL ARTS LEVEL UP!"
A smirk crept across Kades face as he raised his fist to ready his punch.
Kade Northwood(INT):
"There it is... there's my invigoration!"
The atmosphere charged with energy, Kade, now with his fists randomly infused with bright blue lightning sparks, swiftly dashed towards Luna. His powerful hit landed squarely on her stomach, sending her hurtling through a tree and into the distance.
Seiji and the four girls, sensing the sudden change in energy and hearing the thunderous impact, raced towards the source, they encounter Luna's body flying straight past them, leaving them in shock.
Kade stands at a distance, waving the dissipating sparks of lightning away from his hands, and gazes back at Seiji and the four girls with a hint of a smirk.
Seiji/Eira/Riku(INT):
"Physical Imbueation?!?"
Hagakiri Riku(INT):
"Don't tell me he knows how to use it already?!"
Kade's chuckle evolves into a full-blown laugh, fueled by the rush of adrenaline and the newfound power he experienced from the powerful punch he delivered.
Kade Northwood(INT):
"That was incredible! What were those sparks?!"
"And It's all because of those messages popping up!"
"I NEED MORE OF IT!!!"
Seiji, Eira, and Riku rushed toward Kade, hands on their sheathed swords, while Anyssa and Alys cautiously observed from a distance.
Shinoda Seiji(INT):
"If he's like me, then he must also be a user of the system!"
Flashback(11 Months ago.)
Kairi Anamos:
"Using and seeing the system provides you with many advantages, Seiji. You have the capability to easily obtain power through training or battles beyond the typical means."
"Additionally, the system will allow you to adapt physically, rather than mentally, based on your experiences."
Kairi grabs Seiji's arm to quickly demonstrate what's meant to show and proceeds to tightly squeeze his arm.
Shinoda Seiji:
"O-ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! C-can you not?!"
Kairi Anamos:
"Just shut up and wait."
Kairi squeezes his arm more tightly until his arms were sure to break, Seiji bites on his lips to hold back his shouting and tears up from the unbearable pain.
The System:
"DEFENSE LEVEL UP!"
The pain on Seiji's arm became less dull, his arm still hurt but just less.
Shinoda Seiji:
"Woah, s-so that's the system you are talking about?"
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing???"
Kairi Anamos:
"No, only system users can see that text and the stat board."
Shinoda Seiji:
"So only system users can see what I see... will I ever find someone who could?"
Kairi Anamos:
"...No, not at all."
"There can only be one system user, and it's those who have been chosen by the High-Goddess to be reincarnated into this world."
"If there were possibly two system users, that would probably mess with our reality, hopefully such a thing like that won't happen, our High-Goddess is truly wonderful."
Shinoda Seiji:
"Uhm, right..."
(Current Time).
Shinoda Seiji(INT):
"I wonder what Kairi meant if two existing system users would mess with our reality."
"Although now that I think about it, it does seem very bad."
Kade slicks his hair back and assumes a fighting stance, a gleeful expression on his face as he awaits the approaching trio.
Kade Northwood:
"Let's take this up a notch, kid! I wanna see how much I can take from you!"