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The morning sun bathed the Cheery Black Guild's training yard in a warm golden hue, casting long shadows over the neatly arranged practice dummies and sparring grounds. Miri stood at the center, her toned muscles glistening with sweat, the result of hours spent perfecting her swordplay. She wore a thick white tank top, dark blue pants, and black boots, her refined, lightweight Paladin armor gleaming faintly as it hung nearby. Her recent class upgrade from Knight to Paladin had transformed not only her skills but her very presence—she exuded strength and determination.
With practiced precision, she delivered a series of fluid strikes to the practice dummy, the sound of her blade cutting through the air sharp and deliberate. She paused to wipe the sweat from her brow with a towel, her gaze unwavering as she assessed her technique.
"Hey, Miri! Up for a friendly sparring match?" came a deep voice from the guild entrance.
Miri turned to see Max stepping into the yard. He wore a simple black shirt, dark blue baggy pants, and brown boots. Resting casually on his shoulder was his newly forged greatsword, a weapon brimming with power that mirrored his recent class upgrade from Greatsword Wielder to Greatsword Knight.
"Max, huh?" Miri raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Sure, what are the rules?"
Max grinned, planting the massive blade into the ground with a thud. "Only pure swordplay and weapon skills. No magic or abilities outside of that. First to disarm their opponent wins."
Miri nodded, her expression firm. "Sounds fair. Let's do this."
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As she fused her Bastion shield into her sword, forming a hybrid weapon imbued with versatility and power, guild members began to gather to watch the match. The balconies and sidelines soon filled with familiar faces—old and new members alike. The lively chatter grew as the sparring match caught everyone's attention.
"This should be interesting," said Yuka Warebara, one of the founding members, leaning casually against the balcony railing.
"Miri's swordplay is on point as always," Jun Kishibe chimed in, sipping from a steaming cup of tea.
"Max's greatsword technique is no joke either," Elma Drifwood added, her twin brother
Even the Raven Corps members joined in on the excitement.
"So, whoever disarms the other first wins, huh?" Kash, a new fledgling member, mused aloud.
"Doesn't that mean Max has the upper hand? He's wielding a greatsword,"
"Maybe, but Miri's sword looks special," Joan noted. "Plus, she's no slouch in a fight."
The sparring began with both combatants assuming their stances. The atmosphere shifted as they locked eyes, their blades raised. The tension in the air was palpable.
"Here we go," Yuka murmured, leaning forward slightly.
Max took the initiative, his greatsword carving through the air in a powerful arc. Miri sidestepped with agility, her hybrid blade meeting his weapon with a resounding clang. Sparks flew as they exchanged a series of calculated strikes and parries, their movements precise and deliberate.
"Look at that technique,"
"Miri's sword is rocket-powered now, right?" Rick, another fledgling member, asked.
"Yeah, she's added some insane upgrades since becoming a Paladin,"
Miri launched into action, activating her rocket-powered slashes. The first two strikes forced Max onto the defensive, his greatsword narrowly deflecting them. The third strike, however, connected with his blade, the impact reverberating through the air.
"She's pushing him back!" Joan exclaimed.
Max smirked, planting his feet firmly. "Not bad, Miri. But let's see how you handle this."
He unleashed a devastating horizontal sweep, forcing Miri to duck and slide beneath the massive blade. Seizing the opening, she closed the distance and attempted a Rocket Thrust Burst. Max, however, anticipated her move and deflected the thrust, his greatsword pushing her blade aside with brute force.
"He's not making it easy for her,"
Undeterred, Miri transitioned seamlessly into a counterattack. She slid behind Max, using her enhanced agility to avoid his follow-up swing. With a precise grazing slash, she activated Single Slash to Thousand Cuts, to direct a flurry of ethereal strikes at her opponent. The shimmering cuts homed in on Max's hands, targeting his grip.
Max's eyes widened as his weapon slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
"And that's game," Yuka declared with a grin, clapping enthusiastically.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Miri stood victorious, her blade resting at her side. Max chuckled, reaching out for a fist bump. "Thanks for the match, Miri. You've gotten even better."
"You're not so bad yourself, Max," Miri replied with a rare smile, returning the gesture.
Elma tossed two recovery potions their way, which they gratefully drank. The sparring session had not only entertained the guild members but also served as a reminder of the strength and camaraderie that defined the Cheery Black Guild.
As the crowd began to disperse, conversations shifted to other topics. On the sidelines, Zac couldn't help but ask, "Hey, do you think Miri has a boyfriend?"
Burbon gave him a knowing look. "You saw the silver statue outside, right?"
"Yeah, the one of Tobe Kusakabe,"
Burbon nodded solemnly. "He was more than that to her. Childhood friend, crush… She's loyal to his memory. She's living for him now, keeping the promise they made."
Zac fell silent, the weight of Burbon's words sinking in. "That's… inspiring. She's really strong, isn't she?"
"Stronger than most," Burbon agreed, his tone filled with respect.
As the day continued, the guild yard buzzed with energy and laughter, the sparring match a shining example of the strength and unity that had made the Cheery Black Guild one of the most formidable in the world.
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The golden rays of the afternoon sun bathed the Cheery Black Guild's training yard, casting a soft yellow glow that painted the walls of Miri's room as she finished her shower. Damp strands of hair clung to her neck, but she didn't mind. A towel in hand, she dried her hair with swift, practiced motions, her mind briefly drifting back to the morning's sparring match with Max. She had won, of course, but the intensity of their fight lingered in her muscles. She needed this moment of calm before diving into whatever the guild had planned next.
But just as she was about to finish, there was a sharp knock at her door.
"Who is it?" Miri called, her voice muffled by the towel in her hand.
"It's Yuka, Miri!" came the sleepy reply, accompanied by a faint yawn.
"Just one minute!" Miri responded as she quickly threw on a big black shirt, comfy jorts, and slippers. She wasn't one for formalities when it came to these kinds of meetings, especially when it was just Yuka.
With a quick tug at the hem of her shirt, Miri opened the door, finding Yuka standing in the hallway, barely keeping her eyes open. Yuka was still in her pajamas, her hair a tangled mess from just waking up.
"Hey, Miri, wake up. There's something important." Yuka's voice was heavy with the weight of sleep but laced with urgency.
"Give me a second," Miri muttered as she quickly finished fixing her appearance. She barely had time to tie her hair into a messy bun before she followed Yuka down the winding hallways of the guild.
The quiet steps echoed as they arrived at the meeting room. Miri stepped inside first, scanning the empty room with a flicker of curiosity before turning back to Yuka, who was leaning against the doorframe with an exhausted look on her face.
"So, what's up?" Miri asked, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow.
Yuka straightened up, pushing past the haze of sleep that clung to her, her voice suddenly sharper. "
Miri's brow furrowed as she took a step forward, the hair on the back of her neck instinctively rising. "And the location?" she asked, voice steady, but tension already building in her chest.
"The Capital of Engo," Yuka replied, her tone weighted with a sense of foreboding. "The Capital of Books, Tomes, and Utter Knowledge."
Miri froze, the words echoing in her mind. The capital of knowledge… It was a place of culture, study, and history. The thought of something so dark looming over it made her blood run cold. "Wait... weren't Lala, Chisa, Umi, and Toma visiting that capital?" she asked, disbelief creeping into her voice.
Yuka's eyes widened in shock as the realization hit her. "WAIT! WHAT?!"
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(On Vast Star's (Lala, Chisa, Umi, and Toma) end...)
The Vast Star, strolling casually through the bustling streets of the Capital, were deep in conversation as they window-shopped, taking in the sights. Lala led the group, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she turned to Toma.
"So, what did you buy from that shop, Toma?" she asked.
Toma adjusted his glasses with a thoughtful expression, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I found a Tome that'll help me unlock new Shadow Shard Daggers' Weapon Skills," he replied.
Lala's excitement faltered for a second as her brow furrowed. "Wait, is there a Tome inside about Fervent?" she asked, her tone almost pleading.
Toma scratched his chin, considering her question. "I don't think so. I mean... Fervent is one of the sentient legendary weapons, right?"
Lala's face dropped dramatically, her hands flying up in mock frustration. "AWH! THAT SUCKS!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing down the street.
The sound of footsteps approaching caught their attention, and Chisa and Umi emerged from a nearby shop, each holding something in hand. Lala waved enthusiastically at them.
"Hey, you two!" Lala called out.
Chisa flashed a grin, a stick of dango dangling from her mouth as she chewed. "Dango... chew chew," she mumbled, clearly enjoying her treat.
Umi, equally unfazed by the situation, spoke around a mouthful of dango. "I bought a book that shows the weak points and weak spots of all existing creatures, monsters, and beasts... except for the Demon Lords and these things called the 'Legendary Beasts.'"
Lala's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds sick!"
Chisa wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and nodded. "We should head back to Riscone now. If I do say so... this capital is really extravagant. We should definitely visit again soon!"
Just as she finished speaking, a violent explosion erupted from the direction of the Capital's centerpiece—the Grand Library. A massive burst of red energy shot out from the top of the building, obliterating the roof and sending a cascade of books and tomes flying into the air. The sheer force of the explosion rattled the street, causing bystanders to scatter in panic.
"What the hell?!" Lala shouted, eyes wide with disbelief.
"What was that?!" Toma and Chisa exclaimed in unison, both taken aback by the destructive display.
Before they could react further, a dark figure emerged from the cloud of debris. Floating effortlessly above the ruins of the library, a hulking, muscle-bound figure clad in a dark brown hooded cloak. His presence was overpowering, his aura thick with danger. In his left hand, he gripped a dark red tome that pulsed with ominous energy. In his right hand, he held a massive battleaxe, its vicious, intimidating blade crackling with bright red electricity, the energy surging through it like a living thing. The weapon glowed malevolently, its presence alone exuding pure malice.
The Vast Star immediately drew their weapons, their expressions hardening as they readied themselves for whatever this towering figure was about to bring. Lala's eyes narrowed as she raised her weapon, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a sense of focus and determination.
"This doesn't look good," Toma muttered, his eyes locked on the figure as he prepared himself for the inevitable confrontation.
"Stay sharp," Umi said, her voice low and serious, his hand resting on the handle of his weapon.
Chisa was already positioning herself, a determined look in her eyes as she tightened her grip on her weapon. "We need to take him down quickly before he causes more destruction."
"Alright, time to kick some ass!" Lala declared, spinning Fervent on her fingertips before gripping the shaft and dropping into a battle-ready stance.
The group stood ready, their weapons raised, as they faced the hulking figure—who, with the power emanating from him, promised to be one of the greatest challenges they had yet to face.
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