-Vol 5: A New Life-

-Chiba’s Dilemma!-

“Kenshin is late! This shouldn’t take this long?” sitting inside her room on their rented hotel, Chiba sighed and looked out of the window in worry.

“Relax. He won't run away with our loot, I guess he might have held up with some matters.” Joy, who was sitting on the couch of the room and sipping on some beverages said with a smile. Seeing that the girl's mood was a bit down, he cracked a joke.

“That’s not what I mean! I don’t care about some loot! I am just worried…it's already half an hour since we parted our ways.” Chiba gave Joy a white-eye and then moved towards the TV, intending to use it to distract herself.

[Breaking News!! Two hunters are seen fighting near the gate of ‘xxx’ dungeon, destroying public property and normal lifestyle. It was seen that the first hunter attacked the second hunter while he was going inside the DCB office. They both are suspected to be magic skill users. Government is trying…]

“Hey, JOY, come here!!” Chiba shouted, calling to Joy, who was chilling on his chair. Hearing her call, he startled and looked back. He had also heard the announcement from the TV. But he didn’t get up. Instead, he shouted, “What?”

“Just come here, dammit! I want you to see something.” Chiba gritted her teeth in anger at Joy’s negligence. Seeing her, ‘the look’ Joy shuddered in fright and reluctantly stood up. Coming closer, he asked, “What? I was just about to have another sip…” his words trailed off when he saw a steeled image on the TV screen. It showed Kenshin extending his arms to block something yellow coming from a woman a few meters standing behind him.

“That’s Kenshin, right? Why is he being attacked? Who is that woman? Joy, what’s happening?” Chiba asked in worry. Her brows furrowed as a frown formed on her face. Countless thoughts went past on her head with more than 90% being bad ones. Shaking her head, she cleared her erratic thought and looked pleadingly at Joy.

“Let’s go. He might need our help, let's go quickly.” Chiba sprang out of her seat and hurried to the bathroom to change into her hunter gear. He had already removed everything and just wore her pajamas for the night, not expecting that something like this would occur.

“No! you stay here. I will go.” Joy adopted a serious face and commanded the girl. Chiba was too young, and her strength was not up to the mark. She might hurt herself if she goes there. From the looks of it, the opponent woman was a level 100 fighter, all the more reason to not take her.

Hearing Joy’s words, Chiba looked gloomy and was about to cry. She wasn’t a dumb person. Joy’s refusal could only be the result of one thing, he was concerned about her wellbeing. It was because she was too weak to be of any help to them. Instead, she might cause more trouble for them during their fight. That would be counterproductive, even lives could be lost. But she suppressed her tears and looked at Joy with a hopeful gaze. Curling her fingers to a fist, she said, “Joy, you must help him no matter what. I don’t know that woman’s true strength, but I can tell just by the look that she harbors intense hatred for Kenshin. She might go to any length to hurt him…please…help him! My heart tells that he will need it sooner or later…”

“Don’t worry. Kenshin is my friend, and he had also saved my life twice. If I won't help him, then who will?? But…I am sorry, Chiba! You are not ready for such battles yet.” Joy said apologetically. He could feel the emotional condition of this little girl as well as the fact that she was close to crying and breaking down. He also knew that all the confidence she accumulated today due to her continuous level ups, had already evaporated to thin air. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough time to explain anything to her, at least not now.

“I know. I will work hard from now on!” Chiba nodded her head and looked distant as if a huge weight had been weighing down on her heart.

Nodding to her, Joy bolted out of the room with his face morphing to an ugly frown. That woman, although he didn’t know her, Kenshin had told him about every opponent he fought till date when they were drinking one night. From that conversation, he could remember that Kenshin had talked to him about his two lady opponents. One he killed, others had slipped away. This lady must be that slipped away enemy who had come to take revenge. It was just this morning they had the talk about unpredictable future, how come trouble found him so soon.

“Are you the protagonist of some fantasy movie??” joy had the urge to shout these out loud enough for everyone to hear.

…

Indeed, as Chiba had expected, Kenshin was having a very hard time inside the dungeon. After the death of the crow, the other creature started to fight even more cautiously. With Lyda controlling them from behind the scenes, he had already suffered a few blows.

His Burrow was countered by that Lion-driller like monster.

His Air step was countered by the monkey.

His heavy hit attacks were missed due to agility.

What damage he causes, instantly healed up by the sparrow.

On the other hand, Kenshin had suffered five super-powered punches from the monkey, a whiplash from the lion-driller hybrid, irritating mind attacks from the dark angel like monster with an overinflated ego, and a few occasional attacks form Lyda.

He indeed needs help. With so many monsters flanking him, he was being suppressed from all sides. But although he was suffering from all sides, he was holding his ground pretty well. His DEF was high, his regenerative powers were astonishing, and his wealth was enough to buy a continuous influx of HP potions. As such, he was able to fight the monsters from all sides with his own strength until now.

By inviting her to the dungeon, he knew he had dug his own grave…but he couldn’t just sit and watch her destroy a whole city with her monsters. Anyone of the monsters gathered here could destroy the city beyond recognization if let loose.

Using [Blackmoon Beheader] he sent a wave of the yellow crescent blade of pure destructive force and flames licking its edges towards the monkey’s knees. With a shout, the monkey kneeled down, unable to endure the pain and the force of its own body.

[-7412]

A huge amount of damage value floated above its head. But the decreased HP started to heal instantly at an alarming rate. “Damn! I hate that bird!!” shouting in frustration, he changed his target to the dark anger which was standing with Lyda inside the barrier. Giving it a look of absolute hatred, he once again changed his sites on the lion-driller thing.

That thing was very sneaky, only attacking when he was least prepared and then running away with all its might. It had already given him enough nightmares to last a month. But he had no time to ponder anymore, a punch, accompanied by a funneling shock wave came his way like a speeding train.

The monkey counter-attacked.