Percy twisted his wrist and ankles, jumping up a few times to loosen up. The mysterious youth stood a few meters away from him, his aura even more enigmatic now that his face has been revealed.
"He's even more handsome than I imagined…" Marceline blushed.
I wonder where he comes from.. I don't think there's a noble family known for amber eyes or any of his features. Perhaps he's not a noble? Then how did he get a black ticket?
Yvonne stared at the mysterious youth, her gaze bright and her mind running calculations.
The mysterious youth looked at his hat which was now on the floor, his lips bent into a slight frown. At that moment, he raised his briefcase up just in time to block an attack from Percy.
"My turn!" Percy spoke coldly as he pushed the mysterious youth back. His sword trailing after just a few moments later on a flurry of attacks.
The mysterious youth staggered backwards continuously, parrying and blocking Percy's sword strikes. With each successful block, a chip appeared in his briefcase.
Oh no!!
Zandov yelled inwardly as he rapidly retreated to the third cabin. The mysterious youth was retreating towards the third cabin, if he remained where he was, he might mistakenly get cut by Percy.
The other youths in the second cargo seemed to have realized this and they too began to hurriedly retreat and just like that, there was chaos once more in the cargo.
Another round of fight broke out but this time, it was a battle to leave the second cargo and retreat to the third as soon as possible.
The mysterious youth frowned, Percy's attacks were relentless. They were fluid and chained, each one seamlessly linking to the other. No matter how much he parried, blocked or dodge, he always met another attack coming for him.
But that was the least of his problems.
He's getting faster. He's just getting used to a new weapon?... As expected of a noble. Their talent never ceases to amaze me.
Shing!
With one more strike, the locks of the briefcase bursted apart, its battered body with multiple cut marks sprung apart and opened in Percy's direction.
At that moment, Percy caught a sly smile on the mysterious youths face and hurriedly retreated. He stopped a few meters away and stared at the briefcase which now laid on the floor, opened and damaged beyond repair.
His brows furrowed as he stared at the briefcase…
It's empty?
It's empty….
The same thought ran through Percy's and Yvonne's minds simultaneously.
"You are pretty talented form someone with no practical experience." The mysterious youth suddenly spoke. Percy scowled in anger at his words, the first emotion on his face since he "resurrected".
"What do you know?" He scoffed dismissively but the youth only chuckled,
"Your instincts are sharp but unfocused. That will be detrimental to you in real fights."
"Meaning? Are you indirectly trying to say you've been taking it easy on me?" Percy sneered, his eyes filled with disdain.
He wasn't the only one, the youths in the train who were beginning to look up to the mysterious youth in fear and adoration began to sneer inwardly. Of course they didn't dare voice their opinions.
"I can prove it, I can show you how battles in the real world go. Not the spars you've been partaking in."
"Well show me then, oh great one." Percy mocked.
Ratatat!!
Everyone's eyes moved to the right hand of the mysterious youth, including Percy's. His gloved slender fingers wrapped around a black telescopic baton that had at some point appeared there.
When did that get his hand? A few of the youths found themselves asking inwardly. Some thought he had it there previously and they just didn't see it because it was in its compressed state but the smarter ones knew that even in its compressed state, it was still quite sizable.
That must be what was in the briefcase. Strange…. Why keep it in a briefcase? Yvonne's sharp eyes saw through the crux of the matter immediately.
"I see you are still trying to play silly jokes." Percy's eyes became frosty. To him, the act of using a steel baton against someone wielding a sword was an insult. He seems to have forgotten that the youth had been using a briefcase.
"No problem. I'll just have to show you."
Percy's aura changed, his battle intent turning into bloodlust. It permeated the air, spreading through the surroundings.
"What's this?"
"I feel like I just entered a beast's territory."
"This… this is bloodlust? It feels so real, like I'm being hunted by wild beasts!"
The youths, who had almost reduced to half their size due to the chaotic fights murmured at each other from the third cargo. Zandov now stood beside Lassen and the new girl that had been beside him.
"What do you think?" Zandov asked,
"It's pretty thick. Mine is barely stronger and I've been killing for almost five years now." Lassen replied, his grave expression not letting up. He seemed to be on edge, constantly waiting for something that might or might not happen.
"If the mysterious youth is right and the noble boy lacks experience then….." Zandov didn't complete his sentence but Lassen and the lady beside him knew what he wanted to say.
"If it's this thick without him having killed anyone, I wonder how much stronger it will be when he does."
"A cub baring its fangs at a dragon…" the mysterious youth spoke, his head low as he took slow deliberate steps towards Percy. He chuckled, low at first before it suddenly became louder.
"You have guts. Let me show you,...."
Bash!!
Eh?
Percy stood rooted to the ground, his eyes wide. The side of his head caved in, bashed heavily by the steel baton.
Blood leaked from his eyes, nose and mouth, his thoughts were a mess as he wondered how the mysterious youth had arrived before him so quickly.
His eyes rose as he looked at the youth, the latters hair was covering his face, revealing only a pair of eyes.
A pair of golden eyes that sent a shiver down his spine.
I… I think…. Am I dead?