Word count: 2200
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The big man smirked, clearly mistaking Nouflex's lack of response for weakness. "Guess they're handing out A-ranks to just about anyone these days. You don't even look that tough. I bet I could take you down with one hand tied behind my back," he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.
The room fell into an uneasy silence as those around them watched the interaction unfold. Many onlookers recognized Nouflex, and whispers of his nickname, The Rising Shadow, were circulating among them. But the man in front of him seemed oblivious to the reputation that preceded Nouflex, or he simply didn't care.
Nouflex looked up at the burly man, his lips curling into a smirk as he decided to play into his own arrogance. He loved moments like these, moments when someone underestimated him, moments when he could show them just how wrong they were.
"So, you think you can take me down, huh?" Nouflex's voice dripped with disdain. "I've seen plenty of idiots like you who think their muscles make them invincible. You're nothing special. Just another overgrown meathead with more brawn than brains."
The man's smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of anger. "What did you say to me, you little—"
"I said." Nouflex interrupted, his tone sharp and mocking. "You're nothing. A small fry pretending to be something bigger. You've probably spent your whole life swinging that oversized sword of yours, thinking it makes you tough. But deep down, you know you're just a coward hiding behind your strength."
The insult hit its mark. The man's face twisted with rage, and before anyone could react, he threw a mana-infused jab straight at Nouflex's face. The energy around the punch crackled with power, and Nouflex barely had time to react. He instinctively raised his forearms, channeling mana just in time to soften the blow.
But the impact was still massive. The force of the punch sent Nouflex flying backward, crashing through the guild's wall with a loud bang. He landed hard on the ground outside, his body skidding across the cobblestone road as debris rained down around him.
Pain shot through his arms and chest, but Nouflex quickly pushed himself up, assessing his injuries. Small cuts and bruises, nothing too serious, but enough to piss him off.
'This guy… he's stronger than I thought.' Nouflex mused, wiping the blood from his forehead. 'Let's try not to use my techniques, only mana this time.'
As the dust settled, the large man stepped through the hole in the wall, grinning triumphantly. "Not so tough now, are you?" He sneered, clearly thinking the fight was already won.
Without wasting any more time, the large man charged at Nouflex with full force, his massive fist swung towards him with terrifying speed.
Nouflex, always quick on his feet, managed to sidestep the initial attack, narrowly avoiding the powerful blow. The man's fist sailed past him, hitting nothing but air.
Nouflex quickly countered, darting in close and delivering a series of blurs. Leaning his body sideways, Nouflex launched two fast precise blows to the man's ribs.
His fists moved like lightning, striking vital points with pinpoint accuracy which made the man slightly fold on the side of the punch lowering his head and allowing Nouflex to deliver an uppercut to his chin.
But despite the flurry of attacks, the man barely flinched. Each hit landed, but it seemed to have little effect on the behemoth in front of him.
'Damn, he's built like a tank.' Nouflex thought as he danced around the man, trying to find an opening. His blows weren't doing much more than annoying his opponent. 'On top of that, he's applying mana...'
The man grinned, unfazed by the light strikes, and swung again with a wild punch. Nouflex ducked under it, delivering another quick jab to the man's cheek, but again, it did little to slow him down.
"You think those little taps are going to stop me?" The man taunted, his voice dripping with confidence. "You're just making me angrier!"
Nouflex's eyes narrowed. 'Fine. If that's how you want to play it…' He decided that it was time to switch tactics. He needed to go all out.
As the man prepared to unsheath his longsword from his back, Nouflex decided to end this quickly. He braced himself, ready to make use of the ruthless techniques of Jiu Ji Tae.
Without warning, Nouflex increased by several fold the mana output inside of his body and dashed towards the fellow adventurer, launching a savage attack using the techniques he'd learned in his brutal Jiu Ji Tae style, a fighting style that prioritized winning at any cost, no matter how dirty or cruel.
Nouflex ducked low, driving his knee into the man's stomach with enough force to knock the wind out of him. As the man doubled over, gasping for air, Nouflex didn't hesitate.
He grabbed a handful of the man's hair and yanked his head back, bringing his knee up to smash into his nose with a sickening crunch.
Blood spurted from the man's broken nose, but Nouflex wasn't done. He twisted the man's arm behind his back, locking it in place before driving his elbow into the joint with a savage strike. The sound of the man's shoulder popping out of its socket echoed through the air, followed by a howl of pain.
"AAAGGHH!"
But the cry seemed to make Nouflex even thirstier for blood as he didn't stop there. He grabbed the man by the face, his fingers digging into the eye sockets with ruthless intent.
The man screamed as Nouflex's fingers pressed deeper. "Stop! Stop!" the man begged, his voice desperate and filled with agony. But Nouflex didn't let up. He wanted this guy to feel every bit of pain he had coming.
With a wicked grin, Nouflex finally jammed his thumbs into the man's eyes. The man's confident expression twisted into one of pure agony as blood and ocular fluid dripped down Nouflex's hands.
"AAAAGGHH!!"
The man's screams echoed in the street as Nouflex finally released him, letting the blinded brute collapse to the floor, his hands now clawing at his ruined face. Nouflex stood over him, his eyes cold and unfeeling, but his smile cruel and demonic.
The stunned silence was palpable in the area. People who had been going about their daily business froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Those closest to the hole in the wall, made by Nouflex's earlier impact, peeked through cautiously, their faces contorted with fear and revulsion.
Others who had stepped outside watched with bated breath, unable to tear their gaze away from the gruesome spectacle unfolding before them.
"What… what kind of monster is he?" One man whispered to his surroundings, his voice trembling.
A woman covered her mouth, her eyes locked on the bloodied figure of the unfortunate man who had dared to challenge Nouflex. "How could anyone be so… cruel?" She murmured, horrified by the brutality she had just witnessed.
Children, who had initially been curious about the commotion, were swiftly pulled away by their parents, their innocent minds shielded from the sight that would haunt many for days.
Nouflex ignored those gazes stepping nonchalantly back inside the guild, those who had witnessed the fight quickly averted their eyes, terrified of meeting his gaze.
The air was thick with tension, a heavy silence falling over the place as the reality of what had just occurred settled in. It was not the fear of his strength that held them in place, after all, everyone here is an adventurer with at least years of experience.
Rather, it was the utter lack of mercy in his actions, the way he had systematically dismantled his opponent without a second thought.
Once Nouflex was out of sight, the spell of terror broke. People rushed to the man's side, trying to assess the damage. Blood poured from his ruined eye sockets, and his body was littered with bruises and broken bones. Despite their efforts to help, the lingering fear of Nouflex's wrath kept them hesitant, their hands shaking as they attempted to stabilize the battered man.
"We… we need to get him to a healer." someone finally managed to say after seeing the man's sorry state. And as the crowd began to move, carrying the man to safety.
As Nouflex walked through the guild, his eyes scanning the area for Fubuki, he noticed Sandy descending the staircase from the second floor.
She was carrying a stack of paperwork, her steps light but purposeful as she moved toward her desk. Their eyes met briefly, and she quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing slightly.
'Damnit, how could someone as good looking as him be allowed to freely walk around.' She thought, trying to suppress the flutter in her chest. She didn't want to appear flustered in front of him.
"Come to my office, we need to discuss something." Sandy said, her voice steady, though she didn't linger with eye contact. She moved swiftly, entering her office and closing the door behind her.
Nouflex, curious about what she wanted to talk about, followed her inside. As he stood before her, Sandy took a moment to really look at him. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she noticed the black blindfold covering his eyes.
'What's with the blindfold?' She wondered, but before she could ask, her eyes drifted lower, catching sight of his hands and forearms, streaked with blood, and his shirt, stained from the recent fight.
"What… what happened to you?" Sandy asked, her voice laced with concern. Her puzzled expression deepened as she gestured towards the blood. 'Did he just come from a fight?' She thought, trying to piece together what could have transpired.
Nouflex leaned casually against the doorframe of Sandy's office, his posture relaxed despite the mess he was in. His blindfold was stained with small traces of blood.
Sandy's concern was visible, but Nouflex's demeanor remained nonchalant.
"Oh, the blood?" Nouflex said with a smirk, shrugging as if the whole situation was trivial. "I had to teach someone a lesson. They were getting a bit too big for their britches. Not a big deal, just a little educational session."
His tone was laced with sarcasm and amusement. "It's crazy how some people think they can just take a jab at me and get away with it."
Sandy blinked, taken aback by his nonchalance. 'He really doesn't care about the blood or the fight.' She thought, a mix of admiration and worry crossing her mind. She cleared her throat, shifting her focus back to the matter at hand.
"Right..." Sandy began, her voice gaining a formal edge.
"The reason I asked you to come here is to discuss your title. As an A-rank adventurer, you're entitled to a title that you can use during official gatherings, missions, or royal meetings. It helps in maintaining anonymity and adding an extra layer of formality if needed."
Nouflex's eyes, hidden behind his blindfold, seemed to sparkle with intrigue. He leaned forward slightly, curious. "A title, you say? Sounds interesting. What are my options?"
Sandy hesitated, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Well, there's been some talk about a particular title that seems to suit you. It's 'The Rising Shadow.' It reflects both your impressive rise through the ranks and the shadow techniques you've been seen using. Would you like to adopt this title?"
Nouflex took a moment to think about Sandy's suggestion, the title "The Rising Shadow" echoing in his mind. He leaned back against the wall, considering it with a critical eye.
It is an important matter after all. He may be stuck with this title for his whole life, so he better pick something good.
'Rising Shadow, huh?' He thought, a slight smirk forming on his lips. 'It's not terrible, but it feels a bit too... on the nose. Kind of cringe. I need something that truly represents who I am, something with a bit more weight and authority.'
His mind drifted back to his previous world and the characters he admired. He recalled Sung Jin-Woo, a figure whose power and presence were undeniable. 'He had loyal undead servants who obeyed him without question.' Nouflex mused. 'That's the kind of control and respect I'm aiming for.'
Then his thoughts shifted to Cid from "The Eminence in Shadow." 'Cid worked from the shadows, manipulating everything behind the scenes.' Nouflex thought with a smile.
'He had the power to influence everything without ever being in the spotlight. I like that, being the master of shadows, commanding from the darkness.'
Nouflex's eyes, hidden behind his blindfold, narrowed in contemplation. After a few seconds, he snapped his fingers decisively. "You know what, Sandy? I've been thinking about it, and I've decided to go with a different title."
Sandy looked up, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? What do you have in mind?"
Nouflex straightened up, a confident grin spreading across his face. "I want to be known as 'The Shadow Monarch.'"
Sandy's eyes widened, clearly impressed. 'The Shadow Monarch.' She thought.
"That's a fantastic choice." Sandy said, her tone genuinely admiring. "It sounds powerful and distinctive. I'll make sure to update the records with this new title."
TO BE CONTINUED --->
--Note--
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