Book 2: Chapter 60: There isnât any difference between a salted fish and a Martial Artist without a weapon
âIâve finally found you, Eleanor Hamelin!â
Standing in the corner of the walkway not far away was Yakov, who was currently unleashing a vicious glare towards the trio. Seemingly not expecting for her to be in the company of others, shock appeared on his face as he started to size up Carol, he raised his eyebrows in a clear indication that he had recognized her, though he wasnât all that concerned about her. Finally, he placed his gaze onto Durangoâs body.
âThatâs why you dare to show yourself at the 7th level after having fled from the 9th level. So it turns out that you have helpers.â
âHuh? Fled? What are you talking about?â Eleanor scratched her head in confusion.
âAnd your helperâs the disgusting subspecies of orc. Iâve really underestimated you.â
âOrc? What the hell are you talking about?â Eleanor instinctively turned her head towards Durango, before immediately erupting with a âpfftâ and laughter: âOrcâ¦hahahaâ¦â
âHow am I an orc! Take a closer look, okay! Iâm a true and true human being!â Durango felt exceedingly miserable as he roared out furiously while pointing towards his âpigheadâ.
Although Durango was vehemently denying Yakovâs words, it had to be said that he really appeared just like those orcs that lived in the Fairy Elvesâ Forest in the South. At the very least, his head was very similar to theirs.
âHuman being!â Yakov appeared exceedingly shocked by Durangoâs reply, causing him to size up the latter with scrutiny. He remained silent for a few seconds before looking at the latter with an expression of pity while saying: âThen youâre really pitiful.â
âI was beaten up! Canât you see that, ???????! Speaking of which, donât you know that you look like some kind of bird? Do you want me to lend you a mirror to take a look at yourself?â
âI donât care whether youâre a human being or not. However, since weâve bumped into each other, you all better not be thinking of leaving,â said Yakov as he immediately unsheathed the large blade hanging at his waist. The light coming from the surrounding light stones caused the shiny blade to sparkle with a chilling glint.
âDonât change the topic, you ugly ???????! Today, Iâll definitely make you understand that youâre the ugliest person out there!â
âEspecially you, Eleanor Hamelin! You actually dare to resort to despicable methods like poison, causing me to lose the majority of my subordinates! Today, Iâll make sure to take revenge for them!â
âI said to not change the topic, ???????.â
âPutting him aside, I donât know what the hell youâre talking about,â Eleanor tilted her head while twirling a lock of hair between her fingers, appearing as though she couldnât even give a damn about Yakov at all.
âIt isnât that easy to kill me.â
âIs that right?â Yakov replied with a sneer: âLetâs see exactly who will be the last one laughing.â
âDidnât I sayâ¦you allâ¦â
Durango attempted to protest but was immediately silenced by a pat on his shoulder by Carol: âDonât feel disheartened, brat. Youâre definitely more handsome than him.â
âReallyâ¦is that true?â Upon hearing that, Durango could feel hot tears filling his eyes, as never in his wildest dreams did he expect for the great miss Carol to stand up and speak out for him!
âOf course.â Giving a thumbs-up sign to him, Carol revealed her sparkling pearly white teeth with a smile: âYouâre the most handsome among the orc.â
Right when she finished her sentence, Carol could not help but clutch her stomach as she burst into laughter.
âHahahahaha!!!â
âYou⦠waaaa⦠I donât want to live anymoreâ¦â Getting beaten yet not daring to retaliate, getting cursed yet not daring to curse back, Durango had no other choice but to abandon himself in despair.
âDonâtâ¦donât mind it! Youâre not a human, but an orc, rightâ¦hahaha!!!â
ââ¦â¦â
âOkay okay. Stop mocking him. Arenât we compatriots? There cannot be mutual spite between compatriots.â Standing on her toes, Eleanor rubbed her hands gently across Durangoâs face, while speaking out with a faint smile:
âWhatâs more, our Durangoâs not one bit ugly, okay.â
âBigâ¦big sis Eleanor⦠wuuuâ¦Iâve blamed you wrongly! Although weâve only known each other for a short half-hour, I never expect that youâre such a magnanimous person.â
âCalm down, calm down. Youâre a big man, okay. Donât cry. Youâll really become ugly if you cry.â Eleanor gently wiped the tears pooling at the corners of Durangoâs eyes.
âYouâre really kind, big sis Eleanorâ¦â all of a sudden, Durango appeared to have made some kind of decision, as his gaze abruptly turned resolute: âJust from the two sentences youâve said earlier, I, Durango, will become your little brother. As long as you say a word, Iâll brave the fires for you without batting an eye.â
âReally?â
âNaturally! I, Durango, always keep to my word.â
All of a sudden, a cheeky smile appeared at the corner of Eleanorâs mouth. Giving Durango a gentle push, she said: âAlright then. Iâll leave him to you, little brother. Donât be afraid, your big sis will support you strongly from behind.â
ââ¦â¦â
Durangoâs face started to contort as he looked at the ferocious-looking Yakov. At this moment, he finally realized that he had been baited extremely badly by her.
âHmph.â Yakov shot a look back at Durango with a gaze akin to what one would show when looking at a goat that was about to be slaughtered, before speaking out with a sneer: âSo youâre the first person to die?â
After considering their disparity in combat strength, Durango was instantly filled with terror as he turned his head miserably towards Eleanor.
âI can retake my words?â
âOf course you canât. Youâre a big man. How can you allow us two petite little beauties face off against that frightening man, right?â
Yet you two petite little beauties are much more ferocious than me, okay.
Of course, Durango did not dare to say those words out. In the end, he could only respond by saying: âHeâs a 6th rank Martial Artist, and Iâm a 5th rank Martial Artist.â
âNo problem. Itâs very common for the main character to step over a few ranks and beat people up.â
âHe has a weapon, I donât.â
It will definitely hurt a lot if that large shiny blade chops down on my body.
With a solemn expression on her face, Carol handed her steel pipe to Durango before speaking out in a stern manner: âThis is this ladyâs ancestral Ugly Beating Stick. With it, youâll definitely be able to win.â
âYou clearly picked this up just a moment ago, okay. Whatâs more, what the hell is with that name of Ugly Beating Stick?â
âYou donât need to care about the little details.â
âI care a lot about it!â
âWhatâs the matterâ¦are you guys not done discussing yet about how yâall going to die?â Yakov shouted with impatience, causing the scar on his face to move about like a wriggling centipede, creating an exceedingly disgusting sight to behold.
Thereâsâ¦thereâs no other choice but to fight.
With the situation playing out like that, Durango also knew that there was nowhere that he could hide in. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his agitated emotions, before grasping hold of the steel pipe and displaying the starting stance of his familyâs traditional sword style.
âThis brat. His aura has changed.â
In response, Yakov also started to turn serious. Grasping his blade with his hands, he locked his eyes tightly onto Durangoâs steel pipe, while anticipating what kind of move his opponent would make.
This brat..should be an aristocrat, Yakov could tell how extraordinary the move should be with just one look at the way he holds the steel pipe. This isnât something a commoner could learn.
Howeverâ¦Yakovâs eyes started to turn redâ¦only aristocrats could trigger his murderous thirst, forcing him to use all of his strength in combat.
âCome, brat. Letâs see what youâre made of.â
âHmph.â At this moment, not the slightest bit of fear was present in Durango as his face lit up with the luster of confidence. It was very hard to believe that this was the same person that was cowering in fear earlier: âAlright then. You better receive it well. This move of mine isnât easy to deal with.â
âWoahâ¦he looks very formidable.â
âLooks like our little Durango isnât some spoilt young master. I can feel some anticipation brewing in me.â
âLightning, three Flashes.â
With a furious roar, Durango transformed into an elusive bolt of lightning that rushed straight to Yakov, appearing right before him in the blink of an eye. However, having predicted that, the latter chopped his blade down towards the incoming bolt of lightning.
If he continues charging forward, there was no doubt that Durango will run straight into Yakovâs large blade.
However, with a superhuman right turn that defied the laws of physics, Durango evaded Yakovâs incoming blade like an arcing bolt of lightning.
âTsk. Movement Technique.â
Yakovâs expression grew increasingly solemn, as his eyes locked onto Durangoâs figure, not letting him leave his sight at all.
âDie! Lightning Stab!â
Durango made a few turns in the air before stabbing the steel pipe from an extremely crafty angle towards Yakov.
Unable to raise his guard in time, Yakov had no choice but to clench his teeth and chop his blade down towards the incoming steel pipe.
âNaive. This Lightning Stab is my familyâs ancestral Martial Technique and is renowned within the Holy Dragon Empire. Furthermore, Iâm one of the most outstanding practitioners within my family, and Iâve never lost a match. Even if you stop me with your blade, my Lightning Stab will still pierce into your body. The only gripe is with the angleâ¦â
All of a sudden, Durangoâs speech was halted in its tracks, with words no longer leaving his mouth. Thatâs because the steel pipe in his hand had been severed into 2. This caused the stabbing tip to lose all of its driving force. Spinning about in the air, the now ordinary steel pipe struck Yakovâs body but was unable to even cause any harm to him.
With a clang, the little piece of steel pipe dropped onto the floor, alongside the ashamed look appearing on Durangoâs face.
âOh, how embarrassing.â
âLooks like you havenât used a steel pipe to execute that move before, little brother.â
âCan you two stop saying such cynical remarks? Speaking of which, isnât this all because of you two!â
âHu~â (Whistling sound)
âAhâ¦the moonâs really full today.â (raises her head to look at the sky)
âStop fooling around, you scoundrels!!!!â
âIs this your strongest move, brat?â Yakov gave a sinister smile as he raised his large blade: âIf thatâs the case, you can kiss the world goodbye.â
âHeyâ¦wait a minute! I donât have a weapon now! You have an unfair advantage.â as he retreated back, Durango waved the severed half of the steel pipe in his hand. Nevertheless, the steel pipe could not do anything but serve as comical relief.
âUnfair advantage?â Yakov rubbed the scar on his face, feeling exceedingly offended by those words: âIâm a villain, you know.â
âItâs very common for villains to do that, you know.â after saying his piece, Yakov slashed his large blade down.
âWait a minute!â
Durango felt as though he had heard the voice of Heaven.
A frown immediately appeared on Yakovâs face as he looked up to Carol, who had stopped him: âWhy? Are you planning on taking his place?â
Taking a few steps forward, Carol walked up to Yakov. Without an ounce of fear, she thrust her little waist forward, raised her small chest, and spoke with an incomparably naive tone:
âHow is bullying a seven-feet tall man going to prove your villainy. If you have what it takes, you should take action against us weak and delicate girls instead.â
âAlthough Iâm very happy that you two have come to save me, for some reason, my heart feels very painful.â
Clutching his chest, tears of humiliation flowed down Durangoâs face.
âHmph.â there was not a single shred of fear on Carolâs young face as she looked straight at Yakov: âNow, this lady will be your opponent.â
As those words left her mouth, not a sound could be heard in here.
In fact, Durango was so shocked he had dropped the steel pipe in his hands.
Eleanorâs gaze, which was what one would use to watch a play, had also turned serious.
âHahaha! You? What can a little squirt like you, who doesnât even have any Battle Qi, do against me?â
âDonât look down on people, ???????! Eat my kick!â
Learning from Lilith, Carol unleashed her ???????? Kick right towards Yakovâs crotch.