Deadly Decadence

Engage

We were greeted cheerfully by Uncle Vadim as we enter Hunters' Lair. He handed me the retractable daggers identical to Kronos. I am still amazed by how they are so similar to Kronos, even in weight. However, you can see the difference in the blade's color if you observe closely, but I still find it impressive that Uncle Vadim took the time to make identical retractable daggers for me to train.

"Why did you make these retractable daggers?"

I ask as I receive the daggers.

"Well, they're for you to train."

He replied.

"I know. But the attention to detail is admirable."

I said as I turn the dagger around.

"Thank you, Albie. But I am sure you know why I did so."

"Why?"

"For you to get used to using this weapon while fighting."

He smiled and continued,

"Now go inside and warm up."

"Okay. Thank you, Uncle."

I said as I head in and into the backyard, which is also the training ground of Hunters' Lair. I jogged around the ground and proceeded to wear my armor and warm up on the training dummy. I practiced some dodges and blocks with the training dummy, and then I took a break. I watched Lance and Alisa as they train themselves on the shooting range, aiming at their targets almost perfectly. Upon watching them, I also realized that I am not as anxious as I was yesterday. I sighed when I remembered what happened yesterday. I rise to my feet and told myself,

'That will not happen again. This time I will give it my all.'

I took the daggers out of my pockets and fought with the dummy again. I can't help but sometimes watch in fascination as the daggers look like they're sinking into the dummy's body, when in fact, they're just retracted inside the daggers' handle. I focused on fighting the dummy again. I was about to give another blow to the dummy again when someone grabbed my arm, making my next attack frozen on air. Even though I was surprised, I decided that I should think of an attack instead of turning around, because that certainly won't end well.

That grip is far too familiar for me not to realize who it belongs. I observed my position at the moment. I see that the hand Uncle is using to hold me is empty, which means that his other hand has the weapon, so attacking him by the arms by locking my arms around the one holding me is not a good choice, nor turning around to face him and probably meet his next attack. I also thought of tripping him by sweeping his legs with mine, but no, that will also make me lose my balance since he is holding me with his other hand, and he is currently behind me.

I feel him smirk directly behind me, and an idea popped out of my mind. I gave him a backward headbutt and yanked my hand out of his grasp when he loosened it as he tries to balance himself. The attack I gave made him take a few steps backward, enough for me to regain my stance and prepare another attack on him. It somehow frustrates me how he looks unbothered as I look at him smirk as he composes himself again. I prepare my daggers as I run to attack him on the chest, but of course, he expected that and ducked on time, giving him access on my lower limbs. He grabbed me by my left ankle, causing me to drop to the ground with a thud. I grunt as I continuously kick him on the face to loosen his grip on my ankles, seeing it was hopeless, I kicked his hand that was holding me instead, smiling as I feel him slowly letting me go.

Not yet even able to stabilize my breathing, I gasped when he grabbed my ankle again with his other hand, dragging me towards him. He smirked as he gets near me, his dagger preparing to land an attack on me. When I was finally under him, I did not allow him to land the attack on me. I attacked him on the shoulder, where he held his weapon even before he could stab me. With the dagger on my other hand, I stabbed him on the side and pushed him away from me with my knees. I stood up once again and looked at him as he laughs.

"You're showing no mercy now, aren't you?" He asked as he stands up as well.

"I don't want to disappoint my trainer."

I confidently smile at him, and I just noticed that Alisa and Lance are no longer on the shooting range and are now watching us. I looked in their direction and smiled at them.

"But, if your enemy is armored, there's no way you could have defeated them, Albie."

I looked back at Uncle when he spoke.

"So, you want me to attack only on the exposed points?"

"Yes. Although this armor is enough to protect the chest where the heart is, notice that the neck is bare."

He said as he points his chest and then the neck.

"I see." I replied, calming my breathing as I prepare to fight again.

"However, it was impressive how you attacked the hand that was holding the weapon first. I'll give you credit for that. But, if you're facing a ruthless enemy, go for the kill."

Uncle said as he demonstrated the word 'kill' by sliding a finger on his neck. I nod and gasp when he suddenly launched towards me. Good thing I was able to dodge it on time by shifting to the other side, making me a few inches away from his attack range. His back is facing me, and I took this chance, jumped on him, and swiped my daggers on the base of his neck.

He raised his hands and chuckled as he faces me,

"That was fast. I see you're no longer holding back, aren't you?"

I nod and smile.

"But what if..."

Surprised, I let out a gasp as he pulls me to him and sets his dagger on the back of my neck. It looks like he is hugging me instead of killing me, making me wonder if such an enemy would kill me in such a manner?

"You are fighting face to face with your enemy."

He continued as he looks me deeply in the eye, perhaps searching for what I'm thinking and how I will counter this attack. My hands are pretty much trapped since he is somehow hugging me, although I can attack him by stabbing him on the sides if he sweeps his dagger on my neck; that is more critical of an attack than stabs on the sides.

"I doubt it would be this close."

I replied as I gave him a headbutt, luckily, this made him stagger; I took this chance and stabbed him on the base of his exposed neck, near the collar bone with both of my daggers. It was very much exposed since he was leaning his head back because of the impact.

He looked at me as I pull out the daggers, chuckling and smiling at me proudly.

"See? I knew you had it in you!" Uncle remarked and I smiled at him.

"I thought you would falter when I attacked you like that." He continued.

"Seriously, I don't think a killer would give you a hug." I said as I snicker.

"Using your looks can be a good strategy to slow your enemies." Uncle said, wriggling his eyebrows.

I laugh and said, "If your enemy is going to kill you, do they even care about your looks?"

"That is what you call 'to charm,' Albie. Knowing when to use your charisma." He said this as he slides his fingers on his face, I laughed again.

"Is that so?" I snickered.

'So he knew he has the looks after all.'

I thought to myself. But the fact that Uncle used it against me bothers me.

"I'll take note of that." I said.

"Let's wrap up. Tomorrow, you'll have to fight me, Alisa, and Lance." Uncle said.

"What?!"

Lance, Alisa, and I exclaimed at once.

"Yes, but all of us are your enemy, Albie." I looked at Alisa and Lance.

"If you win against us, you can start training with long-range weapons."

My eyes widened, and I automatically agreed.

"Okay! Tomorrow then!" I widely smiled as I thank Uncle.

Lance and I were waiting at the shop's lobby while Alisa is still getting changed. Uncle is on his counter, busy on something, perhaps doing inventory?

"Have you read about the recent announcement from Deadly Decadence?"

Lance asked. I observe his giddiness as he says this.

"No, I haven't. What was it about?"

I replied. It must be good news, right?

"They said they have everything ready already and are currently just debugging the game."

"Oh. I see."

Of course, it's good news for him since he is not aware of what will happen, even though he felt that there’s something wrong with it.

"Why are you not happy about it?"

Lance looked at me in the eyes as he asks.

"Of course, I am! Maybe I'm just tired."

I smiled at him weakly. I want to tell him about it, but how can he easily believe that? It's not like if I tell him all about what I've seen, he would believe them in an instant. Words are not always enough evidence.

I sigh.

"You're also waiting for the launch of Deadly Decadence?"

Uncle suddenly asked us, overhearing our conversation.

"Yes! It's going to be launched two months from now!"

Lance happily replied, but I can't respond the same way as anxiety starts to churn inside my stomach. I only have two months left to train. I should tell my friends about it, shouldn't I? But how?

"Yeah. I've read about it too." Uncle replied.

"What are you talking about?"

Alisa asked as she finished changing and gets into the shop.

"We were talking about Deadly Decadence." Lance replied to Alisa.

"Oh, that game? I've been waiting for that too!" Alisa exclaimed.

"Yeah! Albie and I have been waiting for that too!" Lance stated.

"Really, Albie? That's cool! I heard the game would have something where you need to ally. Let's build an alliance together?"

Alisa suggested.

"Sure!" I replied.

"Hey, include me there too!" Uncle joined in.

"Yeah, that would be cool!" Lance said.

"What would be our Alliance name?" Alisa asked.

"Zombie fighters?" Lance suggested.

"Nah. Too cliche. What about 'Hunters'? Since all of us are training here? And we'll include Uncle too, the shopkeep and trainer of Hunters."

I gulped. Of all the words, why Hunters? Was it meant to happen?

"That's amazing!" Lance exclaimed.

I wonder, will I meet the same faces in the future too?