I could feel that something was different with me after that spar.
I feel...as if I could do more than just what the game had originally set to the player. As if I can do those almost unimaginable stuff like what was narrated in the game and act like the canon pilots in the TitanFall universe.
[Hey?] (Ethan)
Maybe I could, I wanna try it after this.
[You good?] (Ethan)
I wonder, would it be even better if I use real life martial arts with the pilot?
[Hello????] (Ethan)
Maybe....maybe.
My thoughts were suddenly cut of when a sharp slap hit my head. That's when I noticed Ethan was calling at me.
[Snap out of it, man! You're scaring me with how spaced out you are!] (Ethan) He repeated, rubbing the side of his palm after the slap.
[Ah—sorry. Just...thinking...about a lot of stuff]
[Thinking? You looked like you were trying to ascend into a higher plane or something. Seriously, are you okay? You're not going to pass out or start floating again, are you?] (Ethan) He leaned closer, squinting intently at my face after I removed the helmet.
[I'm fine. Probably.] I rolled my shoulders, feeling something electric still buzzing under my skin. My muscles felt lighter, my reflexes somehow faster. Like my body had finally decided to stop holding back.
Rynia stepped up behind Ethan, arms folded, her expression torn between amusement and curiosity.
[You fight like a cornered beast, you know that? I've never seen someone dodge my Binding Ring like that] (Rynia) She smiled...excitingly before draping a cloth at the blade of her weapon.
[Yeah, well...next time maybe warn a guy before proposing mid-fight. That surprised me for all the wrong reason, also...who the frick propose just like that!?]
[T'was a joke...Heh....or not] (Rynia) She tilted her head, the crimson braid sliding over her shoulder.
[That definitely didn't sound like a proposal. More so...like it was a declaration of intent.] (Ethan)
[...That's worse!]
A fresh wave of laughter rippled through the audience, some still climbing back onto the shattered benches from all the excitement.
[Anyway—] (Ethan) He cut in before Rynia could escalate the conversation further.
He looked at the place that she had wrecked, truly making me realize how strong she is. No ordinary human of any fantasy world is capable of such a feat....she must be a joke character.
[Let's wrap this up. You two have basically turned the arena into a crater, and I'm pretty sure you scared off every newbie who planned to spar today] (Ethan)
[They'll get over it] (Rynia) Rynia said breezily, then shot me a grin...a menacing one.
[Uh....what is it? I can't do a round two, just saying]
[That's disappointing. But! I'll be seeing you again. You made this old blade of mine feel alive] (Rynia) She made a sad expression, but she held both of my hand and placed them in her chest.
[THe hell!!!!????? Stop!!!!! D0n-]
[Just joking~] (Rynia) Just as I pulled my hands away...a notification flickering across my HUD put me to a stop.
+Pilot Protocol Sync: 87%
+New Abilities Unlocked.
Wait—what?
A list of unfamiliar options scrolled past my vision:
Adaptive Kinetics Module – Boosts hand-to-hand combat effectiveness.
Reflex Matrix – Automatically predicts enemy movement within a limited radius.
Apex Drive – Temporarily enhances reaction speed.
[...Oh.Oh...Oh!]
[You good?] (Ethan) Ethan frowned.
[I think...I leveled up.]
[Leveled up?] (Rynia) She raised an eyebrow out of curiousity.
[Like, uh...you know how some heroes have that moment when they fight a boss, and then suddenly they get stronger mid-battle...] It took me a moment to realize that I was not talking at common earth people, but people of this fantasy world.
Oh crap! I was talking at them as if they were my friend back at earth who are equally addicted to RPG.
Rynia and Ethan exchanged a look.
[He's insane.] (Ethan) Ethan sighed.
[I think he's fine] (Rynia His twin beamed.
[That's exactly what worries me] (Ethan)
I let out a shaky breath, ignoring the lingering adrenaline and the fact my knees still felt like pudding.
[Anyway, shouldn't we move back at the guild hall?] I mumbled
I had no comeback. None. My brain completely refused to supply anything coherent, so I did the only thing I could—walked away as fast as possible while the crowd erupted in fresh laughter.
==================================================================
Later—at the guild infirmary
I sat on the edge of a cot while a healer fussed over the cut on my cheek. Ethan stood by the doorway, arms folded, still looking vaguely exasperated.
The spar earlier may have ended, but it sure have attracted quite a lot of eyes.
UGh....It may have been stupid of me to do that since I may have attracted the good and the bad in many ways that I do not even want to know.
[You really planning to stick around here?] (Ethan) he asked finally.
The smell of herb and medicine enters my nose as the healer finally applied some ointment after casting a healing spell at my cut.
[Maybe. I kind of want to settle down for a bit because of how chaotic my journey went. For once, I felt as if all of my worldly burdens were released]
[That sounds...tough] (Ethan)
Yeah, but I don't know about others though. My experience might be harrowing and depressing, but someone out there has one that upscales whatever I have.
[Well--buckle up. You're going to attract a lot of attention. No wait. You have already garnered a lot of it] (Ethan) He folded his arms.
[Probably.]
[Including hers.] (Ethan) He tilted his chin toward the window, where Rynia was currently leaning against a pillar outside—polishing her naginata and humming some terrifying war tune.
[..Ugh.Yeah.]
I slumped further on the cot, rubbing my temples. The healer gave me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before moving on to the next poor soul who'd gotten themselves thrashed earlier today.
[You know, most new arrivals in town try to keep a low profile. You? You accepted the challenge of the most dangerous muscle-head lunatic in the region to a spar and survived. And now you have a fan club.] (Ethan)
Did I hear him correctly?
I cracked one eye open.
[The hell? A fan club? For what?!]
He pointed toward the window again. A small cluster of adventurers were gathered just behind Rynia, gesturing animatedly at the cratered arena. A few of them were even taking rough charcoal sketches of the destroyed ground like it was some historical artifact.
That's a lot of people!!!!!
[They've been out there since you got hauled in here] (Ethan) He said, before dropping the bomb.
[Rumor's spreading you're some kind of hero from a hidden kingdom. Or an experimental golem in disguise. Or a divine emissary sent by the war god himself.] (Ethan)
[What? I'm not—]
[—Don't bother denying it at this point. It's honestly useless] (Ethan) He rubbed his forehead.
[This place runs on gossip as much as coin. By tomorrow, every bar in the city will have a different version of your little duel.] (Ethan)
I groaned. Now that I think of it...
Even if I denied her of the spar...she would still force me to..........That's when I realize it.
As if my fate was sealed the moment we met....I was already doomed for this result.
[Perfect. That's exactly what I needed—legendary status and zero privacy.]
[You're not entirely blameless. Most people don't get to see someone teleport into the sky answering the marital threats of their enemy in front of two hundred witnesses] (Ethan)
[I panicked!]
[Clearly.] (Ethan) He grinned.
Ugh.
I buried my face in my hands, resisting the urge to scream (KYAAAAAAA)
[At least you didn't lose,] (Ethan) Ethan continued, trying—and failing—to sound reassuring.
[Trust me, Rynia's never looked that happy about anything except free booze and a good brawl] (Ethan)
I risked another peek through my fingers. Rynia had set the naginata aside and was now braiding her hair with a dreamy look in her eyes. Occasionally, she'd glance up at the window like she could sense me watching—and then smile. Of course, I would break the glances and look back at the clinic's unlucky patients.
[She's going to eat me alive, isn't she?] I muttered.
Ethan looked thoughtful, pitying me as he looked back at his twin just outside waving at us as she enters the room.
[...Metaphorically? Probably.] (Ethan)
[That doesn't help at all.]
He snorted, pushing away from the doorframe.
[Relax. She's not going to do anything right now. Just…keep your head down. Maybe take a job that keeps you out of the guild hall for a few days.] (Ethan)
[Like what?]
[There's always bandit-clearing contracts up north.] (Ethan)
[Ah, yes, because facing a gang of desperate criminals sounds like a vacation after nearly being diced into pork chops!]
[Better than staying here while she plans your wedding.] (Ethan)
I opened my mouth to argue—then closed it again, because he had a point.
Before I could answer, another notification chimed in my HUD, flickering across my vision:
I stared at it, my pulse kicking up again. However, that feeling gets to be interrupted as from outside, Rynia's voice drifted faintly through the open shutters.
[HEY! JACK! WHEN YOU'RE DONE IN THERE, WE SHOULD GET DINNER! YOU CAN SIT NEXT TO ME!] (Rynia)
Ethan closed his eyes and sighed.
[I take it back, you're doomed.] (Ethan)
I slumped forward on the cot again. Thinking about what to do now....what a tiring life.