RETURN OF THE SHADOW - Chapter 223

Glen wore a full armour that covered him from top to bottom including his head. Having his specialization as a guard, he had habit of wearing heavy armour on almost all his body. The only thing different from wearing a combat suit is that a combat suit is much thicker than his armour. If the armour was any heavier, he would have to use a control system integrated into it similar to those used in combat suits for him to be able to move comfortably in it.

Balthazar on the other hand had light armour behind his clothes which were like a beast trainer. He wore a whip on the right side of his waist while a pair of short knives hung on a holster on his back. There was a gun hanging of another holster on his belt to his right while a few expandable throwing knives were in his belt to the left.

“You think that so much of armour is inconspicuous?” asked Balthazar as he remembered that Glen had told him that they were meant to look like non-military personnel who could blend in public.

“Come on, bodyguards to a lot of famous figures wear much more. Many explorers and rich travellers also wear such outfits,” replied Glen. “Better than yours. You look like you are a beast tamer.”

“Thanks, that was what I was hoping the public would think,” said Balthazar.

“Ready,” said Glen as he jumped towards Balthazar without even waiting for his consent. He had a small device in his right hand that created a 2 feet diameter circular force shield in front of him. He immediately enabled it and tried to dash into Balthazar, while he pulled out some other device in his left using the force shield to block Balthazar’s vision from it.

Balthazar had already been expecting something like this. Glen didn’t treat the previous fight as a traditional duel, and he had been expecting that the same would be repeated again. So, he quickly jumped to his right.

Balthazar pulled out his gun and started firing it. He knew that fighting directly wasn’t his strong suit, so he also threw a flash grenade. Glen stopped, jumped to his right and took cover behind a couple of crates as he pulled his own firearm out. He had been counting the number of rounds fired and decided to wait for the right opportunity.

He waited for a few seconds and when he realized that the rounds in the magazine were over, he peeked out and tried to take a shot. He was about to discharge his firearm when he heard the crack of a whip.

“That is waste against humans. It is actually giving away your position,” thought Glen. He had already known that Balthazar knew how to use a whip and he was learning to tame beasts in the mansion grounds. So, he was sure that Balthazar would use it. He expected Balthazar to use his whip and immediately pulled his hand back to avoid the whip and even hopefully catch it, but it never came into his sight. Instead, he found a grenade near him.

“Shit!” yelled Glen as he turned around and jumped to get away from it. He realized that the whip crack was just a distraction. Still, he didn’t think much about it was not enough to harm him with all his armour.

As he was jumping back, he suddenly bumped into Balthazar who stuck his knives into his neck and an eye. He didn’t even realize it till he felt the pain of the blades stabbing into him. The grenade exploded pushing him further towards Balthazar and the blades into him. He fell on top of Balthazar who had used him as cover from the explosion.

“Impossible,” he croaked hardly audible as the blood gushed out of his neck. He couldn’t understand how he could come here where the grenade was just thrown from the opposite side.

Balthazar quickly pushed him off his body as he got up the dying Glen. “It is possible. I was atop the crates here and I am quite silent. The gun was left there since I started firing it. I just used the whip to throw the grenade and it appeared to be thrown from the other direction while I jumped down when you were frightened of the explosion,” explained Balthazar.

“You honestly didn’t expect a proper duel, did you?” said Balthazar sarcastically as he caught the knife stuck in Glen’s neck and pulled to the side forcefully causing Glen’s spine to break and kill him quickly.

As he died the duel was over, Glen’s body disappeared, and he spawned again. “You were good. Silent and quick. I didn’t hear you at all even though you came quite close to me,” said Glen disappointed that he failed so badly, but he was looking at Balthazar in admiration.

“No wonder, you managed to silently get information from them and deal them a good blow at your citadel,” he continued. “You have a knack for scheming and strategy. I had practiced quite a bit in this map and the other ones I have. Still you managed to take advantage of me so quickly and defeated me within a minute. I am thoroughly impressed.”

“Ah! You are embarrassing me,” joked Balthazar. “Can we move on to the next one? What is it going to be, combat suits are allow this time.”?

“I wanted to try two maps. That was all, but since you already won the bet,”

“I thought we decided not consider the bet,” interrupted Balthazar.

“You won the bet. Take the victory,” said Glen. “We can just forget about the third match. I am satisfied. Introduce me to the game.”

“Sure,” said Balthazar. He also didn’t feel like continuing. Thought he found Glen to be a good sparring partner, he believed that only if they were to fight directly in an empty map. Such maps gave him a good advantage and after the second fight, he felt that Glen was not adequate to be a good opponent in such maps.

“Just register to the game and play. It is all self-explanatory. There are different nations and different tribes available. I recommend using human as you race. It is the best option, especially if you intend to use manual control to play the game. Else, most of your movements in combat would be regulated by the available ones,” said Balthazar.

“Which nation are you in. I will join you. It would be easier, and I would also like to know how to get a decent profit. I don’t trust others to honestly help me,” said Glen.

“Get to Five Elements Empire or White Heart Kingdom. I can help you. You will be put in a beginner town at the start of the game. For the first ten levels you would be there. Then you will be able to move. Anyway, my nick is Shadow Tyrant. Just send me a friend request informing it is you. I will accept. But it is best if you play the beginner village on you own. It will give you a good perspective of the game,” said Balthazar.

“Ok. I will try it on my own first and will contact you,” said Glen as he went into the game. Balthazar was also pushed out of the arena as Glen had cleared the arena that he had established. Balthazar wanted access to the feature and train similar to Glen. So, he put in a mail to Glen and included Elias asking for the permission and then logged in to the game.

He was back in the Murk Water town and it had already become morning. He was spawned at the gates of the Murk Water town and he first contacted Agua Canalon.

“Mr. Shadow, you are about six hours late. I have joined a group and are farming at the forest. Want to join us?” asked Agua Canalon. “We are quite close to the area where we captured the mud lizards. There are other joining us too. It would be much easier with you joining us.”

“No. I wouldn’t be joining you guys now. I am more interested in the Greybark marshlands,” replied Balthazar.

“Might not be that useful. There are many exploring there, and the competition is very high. Really hard to get anything and the area has a high fatality rate. The Valhalla Raiders continue to employ the Ardent Ronins and any other team they can to explore that place. They kind of formed a group under a few members of the Raider’s management. They are not allowing others to enter deeper regions to even find something new,” said Agua.

“I was expecting that, but it definitely is better than the forest. Anyway, that is not the main issue. What did your guild think about my suggestion of creating a new subsidiary guild?” asked Balthazar.

“The managers have their view split, but Muramasa is supporting you. He suggested that we start working on it. My team already registered with the new guild name – Free Life.”

“That is good. I will find someone to represent Crimson Realm and get him to the town soon,” said Balthazar. “I also have a few antidotes ready which can be used against the beasts in the GreyBark marshlands. We can put them up for sale to start with. Try to get hold of some poisonous materials, poison of the beasts and herbs from the marsh. I will pay for them.”

“Ok. You managed to find another recipe for the antidote. We have alchemist who could be hired to speed up the process.”

“No, I managed to create it by some other means, but need different kinds of poisons.”

“Sure, will try my best. Will probably return with our bags full in a few hours to the town. The forests are currently empty as all players are being taken by the Valhalla Raiders to help them at the marshlands. They are splurging money for some reason. The antidotes will sell for a good price in these conditions,” said Agua.

“Yes, they seemed a bit desperate yesterday. It looks like someone in the guild has a quest in that area, but the beasts are extremely violent and easily noticing the players,” said Shadow.

“Yes, currently the forest and even the coast are being neglected by the Raiders. They are putting all their force into it. They have been at it for the past two hours. You can try the coast if you want to, right now. Will not get a better time,” said Agua. “But best avoid the public eyes. The Raiders are a bit possessive of their areas. If they find out about it, they might attack you later even if they don’t have the time now.”

“Ok. Let us meet when you return. I will move in stealth at the coast. Thanks,” said Balthazar as he cut the call.

“Now, I need to increase my experience first. Without that it is a waste to pursue those Knuckers,” thought Balthazar. “But first a visit to the temple. The rest will be filled with many normal quests and that is definitely a better place with my iron-grade membership.”

He went to the temple, but he received nothing other than a common collection quest for some herbs. Putting it aside, he decided to go to the coastal guard again. Creating equipment and gaining free experience was the fastest way for him. Moreover, he had already gained some experience and even reputation from the coastal guards.

He went to the coast and move in stealth till he reached the coastal guard station. As he got into the main hall, he started to check the quests board and found that there were no updates and the forging quest was still his best option to quickly gain experience.

As he was about to request it again, he found himself being pulled on the shoulder by someone. On turning around, he found the son of the town head, Barnabus along with a pair of guards in the coastal guard uniform. Even Barnabus wore the same uniform and he was smiling at him in a weird manner.

“Shit, this guy became the lieutenant’s apprentice. Did I shoot myself in the foot coming up finishing that quest for the temple?” thought Balthazar as he saw this NPC who was fond of yelling at him. He had forced an apprenticeship on the NPC, and he might have the authority to prevent him from taking quests at the coastal guard station.