Later that night, Luar sat with his Link.
Henry's eyes darted. "That bastard knows…"
Olivia crossed her arms. "Should we take them out before we move?"
Luar shook his head. "No. Waste of time. We can't afford delays. The Big Guilds might do their check-ups this week."
"The Big Guilds…" Aisyah muttered, staring up at the night sky like it held the answer.
Luar clapped his hands once. "We split. Different directions. Each of you carries a barrel.:
He pointed at himself.
"I'll take care of the kid…"
They didn't argue. Just nodded.
Their plan was made.
Ahrie rubbed his temple, glaring at Daiki.
"Arghhh… what a pain. Why do I have to explain this to you, idiot!"
He sighed, dragging the words out slowly.
"They'll split up. Go separate ways. Makes it harder to track. But they'll circle back near the kid. If a decoy gets hit, the real one moves faster. The other decoys either back up the one under attack… or guard the real deal."
Daiki blinked. Starred. Brain fried.
"...Useless," Ahrie muttered. He threw his hands up.
"Fuckkk… if I ever find something that boosts intelligence, I'll shove it straight down your throat."
Yeah. He was pissed.
"But… Bud… Amariel… she's—"
"The same as the kid. Yeah, I know." Ahrie cut him off.
Daiki froze. "H-how did you know? D-did you see her—"
"Use your damn common sense, buffoon!" Ahrie snapped. "Long coat, face hidden/ That's suspicious as fuck. Either they're hiding their identity cause they're forced to… or they're some villain bastard in disguise. That's why I've been watching her."
Daiki's face twisted. "You've been stalking my wife?"
Ahrie raised his middle finger.
Daiki raised his.
Ahrie added the other hand.
Daiki matched it.
Both of them waved their middle fingers in each other's faces.
"In short… we'll target the decoy," Ahrie said.
"Ohhh… then the real deal might slip away," Daiki muttered.
"Someone will follow that," Ahrie added.
"Who?" Daiki asked.
Ahrie pointed his thumb at his back.
Both of them turned. At their room's window—
Amariel. Hanging upside down like a bat.
Her face peeked right over the glass.
"AAAHHH!" Daiki screamed, almost shitting himself.
"You heard everything, right?" Ahrie asked, casual.
Amariel nodded once. Then vanished, off to do her thing.
Daiki gave a shaky thumbs-up.
Ahrie puffed his chest, grinning.
"See? I'm a Genius."
"You should prep too, if you actually wanna help," Ahrie told Daiki.
"Then let's prep," Daiki said, smiling like an idiot.
"...Huh?" Ahrie's face twisted—local gangster mode unlocked.
Next thing he knew, he was on the damn roof, waiting for Luar's Link to make a move.
"DAMN IT!" Ahrie shouted, fists clenched, pissed as hell.
Across the roof, Daiki sat grinning in the corner.
Ahrie glared so hard it could burn holes. "Pay me later."
Daiki mouthed back, no money—crossed his arms, then laughed.
Ahrie couldn't hear him. Didn't need to. He read the lips.
And somehow got even more pissed.
Luar's Link gathered for their last meeting.
"Grab your barrels. Strap 'em tight. Stay alert. Move quietly."
They left the inn. Slipped past the gate.
Out of Glimmerfen—straight into thick woodland.
Daiki trailed them, quiet as he could.
Ahrie dragged his feet behind, zero motivation, muttering under his breath.
Past the gate, the Link broke apart—
Each one bolting in a different direction.
Ahrie pointed ahead… now in the mood. He grinned "Wanna punch Henry? We'll follow him C'mon."
Daiki's eyes lit up. He nodded so hard it looked like his neck would snap.
Maniac mode.
So the two of them tailed Henry.
Minutes of running. Branches snapping underfoot.
Aisyah stopped near a thick tree.
Her ring glowed faintly. She whispered, "This is Windy… someone interfering. I'm changing the plan."
On the other end—
A shadowed figure slammed the table. "Damn it! We're so close. Did they figure us out?"
"Negative," Aisyah replied. "Probably just… some concerned citizens."
"Tch. What a mess.. Keep monitoring them. I'll send backup."
"Got it."
Her ring dimmed. She broke into a run again.
Meanwhile… Ahrie and Daiki had Henry in sight.
They glanced at each other. Grinned.
"Awoooooo!" Daiki howled like a wolf.
Henry froze. Looked around.
Ahrie followed up with the ugliest laugh ever. "Kiii Kiii Kiiii!"
Henry yanked his shield up. Sweat dripping.
Ahrie dropped low, crawling closer, silent as a rat.
"Lokolokoloko!" Daiki gobbled like a turkey.
Why, you may ask? I don't have a fucking clue…
Henry spun, panicked. "Show yourself, coward!"
Ahrie reached his back. Made a C with his hands. Pinched Henry's calf—
And barked like a rabid dog. "ARFF! ARFF! ARFF!"
"AHHH BLOODY HEL—!"
Henry jumped like his ass was on fire.
Daiki stepped out grinning.
Ahrie rolled on the ground laughing.
Both of them laughed like idiots while Henry nearly died of heart failure.
"Yooo," Ahrie grinned.
Henry clenched his teeth.
Ahrie stood up slowly, arms stretched forward, taunting. "Come on, big guy."
Henry tightened his grip on the shield.
Skill flared—
[Dizzy Duo]
"AAAGHHH!" he roared, charging straight at Ahrie.
Out of nowhere, Ahrie pulled out a red cloth.
Full on bullfighter mode.
He waved it. Mocking.
Henry rushed right in.
Ahrie snapped the cloth up—
Behind it, a rapier strapped to the tree, aimed dead at Henry.
"Shit—!" Henry tried to stop. Too late.
He dropped low, shield first, sliding past.
The rapier scraped. Sparks flew.
24 burned bright across his shield.
…silence. For a second, nothing.
Then—BOOM.
The ground split. Dirt blasted upward.
The delayed impact hurled Henry off his feet, shield and all, straight through the air.
"Oleeeee!" Daiki cheered like a drunk matador fan, waving his arms.
"Fudge!" Henry shouted as he went flying.
Henry crashed into the dirt… barely conscious…
"You good? Ahrie asked casually..
"Uuuuuh" Henry groaned, glaring up at Ahrie.
Daiki is shadowboxing behind him.
Ahrie's fist began to glow.
He stretched his hand open, inhaled deeply… and exhaled with a peaceful smile.
"Aaah, what a good day to be alive."
He calmly triggered his skill.
[P.A.I.N.]
Then punched downward on Henry's face as hard as he could.
WOOOOOOOP!
He makes his own sound effects for punching.
A few minutes later Henry regained consciousness.
He slowly gets up.
He saw Daiki sweating… Shadowboxing.
Ahrie is in the middle between him and Daiki.
Then Ahrie shouted.
"Alright—no dirty play, no kicking… 1 round no time limit… first to go down losses."
Ahrie explaining the rules.
"Are you ready?" Ahrie asked Daiki.
Daiki nodded.
Then Ahrie turned to Henry.
"How about you… Haaa!" Posing like a gangster again.
Henry nodd…
"Wait… why am I in this situation?"