Fifth Quest (2)

<Author's Thoughts: This is an extra chapter for receiving 10 Power Stones this week. Thank you, hiatusy, blankish_myth, LeonidasCSNeto and Ink88seeker9! Thank you for your support!>
 
Beak!
 
Beak!
 
Whooosh!
 
Thud.
 
Thud.
 
Vivian swung her sword and the Bukaroo bird was sliced into two before crashing to the ground.
 
She stopped and looked at Marie who was walking over to the lower half of the bird's body to extract the tail.
 
When Marie was done extracting the tail she turned to Vivian.
 
"Sister, we already have 15 tails."
 
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
 
"Really?"
 
That was quick…
 
It's only been 1 hour since they arrived at the forest. But thanks to the sword on Vivian's hand, her Lore Title [Nemesis of Beasts] and Marie's assistance, especially her [Blessing] skill, she was able to kill many monsters in a short period of time. She was also able to level up her Sword Art, both the main and body twice.
 
She glanced at the sword on her hand.
 
I never knew having a proper weapon could give this such an advantage…
 
It's just so different compared to when I was using sticks…
 
I really need to gather money as fast as I can so that I can buy other weapons as well…
 
"What do we do now? Go back to deliver these tails?" asked Marie.
 
Vivian turned to her.
 
"Yes, but not just yet," she said and then paused for a moment. "Sister, can we try to duel?"
 
"Duel?"
 
"Not a serious one, of course."
 
I don't know how strong this woman is and I've never seen her fight…
 
But based on the fact she can keep up with my speed despite wearing all that armor, I'm assuming we're more or less close…
 
"Sure. Do we use Physical and Magic Arts?"
 
Vivian thought about it for a moment and recalled last night, specifically the Awakening Ceremony.
 
If we use Physical and Magic Arts, we would be destroying our equipment and I'm broke…
 
Looking at this woman, I'm sure she would have no problem with that…
 
She'll probably even offer to fix my equipment as well…
 
However, I don't want to have any debts…
 
And plus, how shameful would that be…?
 
I'm the one who proposed the duel and yet I will have her fix our equipment…
 
I would die from embarrassment…!
 
"We won't use Physical and Magic Arts."
 
"Do we only use swords? I don't mind only using a sword and you can use anything."
 
Vivian thought about it for a moment.
 
Compared to Marie who was wearing a full set of armor, Vivian was only wearing leather armor with a white shirt underneath, a pair of fingerless gloves, a pair of worn-out green pants, a pair of old leather boots with metal plates covering its tip, and a kitchen knife hidden inside her left boot.
 
"No, we use everything. That would be too boring."
 
"Okay."
 
Vivian got into a fighting position.
 
Marie pulled out her sword and then got into a fighting position as well.
 
Compared to Vivian's sword, the one that Marie held had red-colored runes engraved on them.
 
"Should I go first or you?" asked Marie.
 
Well… 
 
Since I'm the one who proposed the duel… 
 
I guess I should go first…
 
"I'll go first."
 
Vooom!
 
Vivian suddenly burst into a charge and thrust her sword, aiming for the shoulder.
 
Clang!
 
Marie parried her attack with her sword.
 
Vivian lost her balance a bit but she didn’t let it hinder her. She spun around and swung her sword wildly with all of her strength.
 
CLANG!
 
What…?!
 
Their swords clashed once again and Vivian’s eyes widened a bit.
 
She tried to overpower Marie with that heavy attack but it didn’t even manage to move her from where she was standing, as if she was an impenetrable wall. 
 
She quickly took a step back and was still in a fighting stance.
 
Tch…!
 
Vivian clicked her tongue mentally.
 
So I was wrong…
 
Our strength isn’t more or less the same…
 
Or is it because of her armor…?
 
Her brows knitted together when she noticed that Marie didn't chase her and was simply waiting for her to come.
 
So she's the turtle type…?
 
Well… 
 
I guess it makes sense… 
 
Given that she's wearing armor…
 
A thought suddenly popped inside her head and her lips curled up into a smile.
 
You’re going to play turtle…?
 
No problem…!
 
With that helmet you’re wearing, your vision should definitely be limited…!
 
Marie was wearing a helmet that covered her entire head except for the horizontal slit for her eyes to see and holes underneath them for her to breathe properly. And underneath it was a padded leather and chain mail hood, which also limited her hearing that Vivian had to speak louder than usual so that she could hear.
 
Vooom!
 
Vivian bursts out into a run. But instead of charging, she ran to the side and then began running around Marie in circles.
 
Marie's head would turn from time to time to follow Vivian but she still remained in the middle.
 
A grin appeared on Vivian's face.
 
She's no different from those trunk monsters…!
 
When she got behind Marie, she suddenly stopped and then charged forward.
 
Vooom!
 
Clang!
 
Before her attack could land, Marie suddenly turned around at an impossible speed and blocked her attack with her sword, catching Vivian.
 
"You're quite fast, sister!" Vivian said and grinned as she pushed her blade forward.
 
"You too."
 
Vivian quickly tried to look for an opening on Marie's body.
 
She thought about kicking her knee in the opposite direction.
 
However, she dropped the idea because she didn't want to hurt Marie that much.
 
She thought about pushing their swords to the side so that she could either kick or grab Marie and then put her in some kind of hold.
 
However, she dropped the idea because she deemed it too dangerous.
 
If I can’t do those two things, then this one…!
 
She was about to take a step back when all of a sudden, Marie reached out her hand, grabbed the collar of Vivian's leather armor and pulled her back.
 
Bam!
 
Crack!
 
She headbutted Vivian, causing her not only to break Vivian's nose but also to put her in a dizzy spell.
 
Pah!
 
Thud!
 
Before Vivian could even recover from the headbutt, Marie turned around and delivered a backkick to her stomach, causing her to cough out bodily fluids as she was sent flying away before crashing to the ground.
 
Still dizzy and in pain, Vivian gasped for air hungrily while she lay down on the ground.
 
But as she was still desperately trying to gasp for air, a shadow loomed over her and a blade landed on her neck.
 
A being donned in full armor was in a crouching position on top of her. The being held its sword in a reverse grip and pressed the blade against her neck.
 
"Sister, do you yield?" an eerily calm female voice asked.
 
Vivian, who was bleeding on her nose and had vomit on her lips, stared at Marie in horror.
 
Although Vivian didn't think she was incredibly powerful, especially when compared to the higher-ranking people, she believed that she was at least above average compared to most people. Not to mention Marie was only in her late teens.
 
"Y-Yes…"
 
The truth is, if Marie had a Status Panel like Vivian, it would've looked like this.
 
***
 
Name: Marie D. Bowdler
Class: Priest
Race: Human
Age: 19
 
Affinity:
• Light - x2.2
• Wind - x2.1
• Earth - x1
• [Magic Art] (Wind) - x2
• [Magic Art] (Ice) - x1.4
• Sword - x1.8
• [Body Art] (Sword) - x1.6
• Mace - x1.7
 
Stats:
• Str - 8 (+62)
• Vit - 8 (+68)
• Agi - 10 (+62)
• Int - 14 (+75)
 
Mana: 178/178
 
Class Magic:
• Halo - Boost mana recovery, Makes the bearer appear more trustworthy
• Greater Heal (40 mana points)
• Blessing - Temporarily boosts all stats by 1 grade or 30 points (40 mana points)
 
Skills:
• [Light Mastery] - Level 1 (x2.2) (Max/45) - Heal (20 mana points)
• [Light Mastery] - Level 2 (x2.2) (Max/227) - +3 Int
• [Light Mastery] - Level 3 (x2.2) (Max/455) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi
• [Light Mastery] - Level 4 (x2.2) (Max/2,273) - +6 Int
• [Light Mastery] - Level 5 (x2.2) (Max/4,545) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Light Mastery] - Level 6 (x2.2) (??/22,727)
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 1 (x1) (Max/50) - +3 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 2 (x1) (Max/250) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 3 (x1) (Max/500) - +6 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 4 (x1) (Max/2,500) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 5 (x1) (Max/5,000) - +9 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Light Mastery) - Level 6 (x1) (??/25,000)
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 1 (x2.1) (Max/48) - Wind Arrow (20 mana points)
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 2 (x2.1) (Max/238)- +3 Int
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 3 (x2.1) (Max/476) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 4 (x2.1) (Max/2,381) - +6 Int
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 5 (x2.1) (Max/4,762) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Wind Mastery] - Level 6 (x2.1) (??/23,810)
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 1 (x2) (Max/25) - +3 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 2 (x2) (Max/125) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 3 (x2) (Max/250) - +6 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 4 (x2) (Max/1,250) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 5 (x2) (Max/2,500) - +9 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 6 (x2) (Max/12,500) - +3 Str, +3 Vit, +3 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Wind Mastery) - Level 7 (x2) (??/25,000)
• [Earth Mastery] - Level 1 (x1) (Max/100) - Earth Arrow
• [Earth Mastery] - Level 2 (x1) (Max/500) - +3 Int
• [Earth Mastery] - Level 3 (x1) (??/1,000)
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Earth Mastery) - Level 1 (x2) (Max/50) - +3 Int
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Earth Mastery) - Level 2 (x2) (Max/250) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi
• [Magic Art Mastery] (Earth Mastery) - Level 3 (x2) (??/500)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 1 (x1.8) (Max/56) - Power Slash (10 mana points)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 2 (x1.8) (Max/278) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 3 (x1.8) (Max/556) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 4 (x1.8) (Max/2,778) - +3 Str, +3 Vit, +3 Agi
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 5 (x1.8) (Max/5,556) - +3 Str, +3 Vit, +3 Agi, +2 Int
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 6 (x1.8) (Max/27,778) - Explosive Sword (30 mana points)
• [Sword Mastery] - Level 7 (x1.8) (??/55,556)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 1 (x1.6) (Max/31) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 2 (x1.6) (Max/156) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 3 (x1.6) (Max/833) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 4 (x1.6) (Max/1,562) - +4 Str, +4 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 5 (x1.6) (Max/3,125) - +4 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 6 (x1.6) (Max/15,625) - +2 Vit, +2 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Sword Mastery) - Level 7 (x1.6) (Max/31,250)
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 1 (x1.7) (Max/59) - Power Mace (10 mana points)
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 2 (x1.7) (Max/294) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 3 (x1.7) (Max/588) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 4 (x1.7) (Max/2,941) - +3 Str, +3 Vit, +3 Agi
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 5 (x1.7) (Max/5,882) - +3 Str, +3 Vit, +3 Agi, +2 Int
• [Mace Mastery] - Level 6 (x1.7) (??/29,412)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 1 (x1) (Max/50) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 2 (x1) (Max/250) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 3 (x1) (Max/500) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 4 (x1) (Max/2,500) - +4 Str, +4 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 5 (x1) (Max/5,000) - +4 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Mace Mastery) - Level 6 (x1) (??/25,000)
• [Fist Mastery] - Level 1 (x1) (Max/100) - Power Fist (10 mana points)
• [Fist Mastery] - Level 2 (x1) (Max/500) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Fist Mastery] - Level 3 (x1) (??/1,000)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Fist Mastery) - Level 1 (x1) (Max/50) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Fist Mastery) - Level 2 (x1) (Max/250) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Fist Mastery) - Level 3 (x1) (Max/500)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 1 (x1) (Max/100) - Power Fist (10 mana points)
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 2 (x1) (Max/500) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 3 (x1) (Max/1,000) - +2 Str, +2 Vit, +2 Agi, +1 Int
• [Leg Mastery] - Level 4 (x1) (??/20)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 1 (x1) (Max/50) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 2 (x1) (Max/250) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 3 (x1) (Max/500) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Leg Mastery) - Level 4 (x1) (??/2,500) -
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 1 (x1) (Max/100) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi, +1 Int
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 2 (x1) (Max/500) - +1 Str, +1 Vit, +1 Agi, +1 Int
• [Savage Mastery] - Level 3 (x1) (??/1,000)
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 1 (x1) (Max/50) - +2 Str, +2 Agi
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 2 (x1) (Max/250) - +2 Vit
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 3 (x1) (Max/500) - +1 Vit, +1 Int
• [Body Art Mastery] (Savage Mastery) - Level 4 (x1) (??/2,500)
 
Equipment:
• Soul Long Sword - [Soul Enchant - Rune - 100%] (30 mana points for activation, 2 mana points per second)
• Poison-Lightning Small Mace - [Poison Bomb & Lightning Lance - Rune - 5/5] (?? mana points)
• Helmet of Vision - Allows the bearer to see in low-light conditions (30 mana points for activation, 1 mana point per second)
• Earring of Magic Mind - Reduces Magical Art skill cost
• Earring of Physical Mind - Reduces Physical Art skill cost
• Ring of Spirit - Boosts mana recovery
• Ring of Stamina - Boosts stamina recovery
• Boots of Speed - Momentarily increases movement speed (50 mana points)
 
Lore:
• Noble
• Town Girl
• Belle of the Town
• Engagement Breaker
• Runaway Fiancee
• Belle of the City
• Belle of the Temple
 
***
 
And if Vivian had enough knowledge to assess and compare Marie's strength, she would've known that Marie’s Physical Force was more or less comparable to a Gold I Rank Adventurer’s Physical Force, while her Magic Force was comparable to a Gold II Rank Adventurer’s Magic Force and she wasn't even wearing her strongest set.
 
 
Marie cast a spell.
 
[Greater Heal].
 
A yellow light enveloped Vivian's body and all of her pain disappeared, even her broken nose was healed.
 
Marie stood up and offered her hand.
 
Vivian grabbed it and was pulled up.
 
"My apologies, sister," Marie said in an apologetic tone.
 
Sniff.
 
Spit.
 
Vivian blew out the remaining blood on her nose and spat out some food inside her mouth before wiping out the rest of the blood and vomit on her face before finally turning to Marie.
 
"It's okay. I was the one who challenged you after all," she said and smiled. "Let's go back to the Adventurer's Guild."
 
"Okay," Marie said and nodded.
 
"Oh wait, I forgot about the sword."
 
Vivian dropped her sword when she was kicked away earlier.
 
She swept her gaze around the area. And when she spotted the sword, she immediately headed to it.
 
This woman is younger than me, a White Cloak, and as far as I know, she’s not one of the instructors at the Training Grounds…
 
If that’s the case, then how strong are the instructors…?
 
Also, how strong are the Gold, Red and Gray Cloaks…?
 
Are Priests really that strong…?
 
Or is this woman an anomaly…?
 
Vivian gritted her teeth and balled her hands into fists.
 
I really need to get as strong as possible…!
 
"By the way, sister. I have a question," said Marie.
 
Vivian stopped and turned to her.
 
"Yes?"
 
"Why are the monsters aggressive to you?"

********************
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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
 
By the way, I posted some Chapter Drafts at P-a-t-r-e-o-n. And to view them, you can read them at…
 
https://www.patreon.com/Immortal_Shades
 
There, you will have access to the Chapter Drafts for $5 a month.
 
Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when those said Chapter Drafts will be published here, there will be some edits. They also involve a few secret outline notes/details that I won't publish here because they contain spoilers or dispel some of the mysteries. And at the moment, Chapter Drafts 273-277 are posted there.
 
I would like to give my special thanks for this month's Patrons:
 
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Thank you once again and I will see you in the next chapter.

Chapter end