“OH? You know me, Slave?” Blake exclaimed his expression one of surprise.
However, Aether couldn’t suppress the eerie chuckle that bubbled up from within him. It started as a faint, almost imperceptible sound, but soon escalated into a cacophony of unsettling laughter. “Hehe… hehe… Hehehehehehehehe,”
This uncanny smile almost made everyone lose control… It felt entirely different from before, though they couldn’t pinpoint exactly how. This laugh was like that of a…. True manic.
Blake’s features contorted into a wry expression as he struggled to make sense of the situation. “H-Hey, why are you laughing like an idiot?” he stammered, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
And yet, despite the apparent anger simmering beneath the surface, Aether continued to laugh…. a laugh that seemed to defy reason and logic.
“What the…?” Blake was completely caught off guard by Aether’s unexpected reaction.
After a few seconds of uninterrupted laughter, Aether fixed his gaze on Blake with an unsettling intensity.
“What the hell, man? Have you gone completely insane?” Blake said with annoyance.
“…” Aether remained silent, his eyes boring into Blake’s with almost palpable intensity, before finally uttering, “So, you’ve finally come… ah,” his words dripping with a strange sense of foreboding.
“Pardon?” Blake furrowed his brow in confusion what the hell this slave was trying to say?
“Whatever…” Aether shrugged indifferently as if dismissing Blake’s confusion with a mere wave of his hand, before gesturing for him to approach, “Come at me,”
Blake’s frown deepened as he sensed the simmering rage emanating from Aether’s gaze, a rage that seemed to burn with an intensity that bordered on madness.
“Heh…” A sly smirk played across Blake’s lips as he leaned forward ever so slightly, a glint of determination shining in his eyes, “I’ll make you regret acting like a big shot,” he said. With a swift stomp of his foot, he closed the distance between them in an instant, ready to engage in battle.
‘Bam’
‘Bam’
Blake unleashed a flurry of punches with lightning speed, each blow aimed at Aether with deadly precision.
‘Hmm?’ Blake’s brow furrowed in confusion as he observed Aether’s peculiar blocking stance, a stance that seemed to anticipate his every move with uncanny accuracy. It was as if Aether possessed an innate understanding of his opponent’s intentions, reacting with preternatural reflexes that defied explanation.
Meanwhile, Aether remained unfazed, his haughty smile never wavering as he effortlessly parried each of Blake’s attacks with calculated precision.
“What’s going on?” Blake’s teammates exchanged puzzled glances as they watched the battle unfold before them, unable to comprehend why their leader had yet to unleash his full power.
“Perhaps he seeks to defeat the slave through sheer skill alone, without relying on his magic,” one suggested, the uncertainty evident in his voice.
“Hmm… There’s something peculiar about that slave… I swear I’ve seen him before,” another muttered under his breath.
‘Thud’
‘-Huff-Huff-‘ Blake staggered backwards, his chest heaving with exertion as he struggled to catch his breath. Despite his best efforts, he found himself unable to land a single blow on Aether, whose unwavering composure seemed to mock his every move.
“Looks like your body is tougher than I thought,” Blake remarked, a begrudging admiration shining through his words.
“Hmm… Finished with your assessment?” Aether inquired casually, his expression betraying no hint of fatigue or exertion.
“Oh? So, you knew I was just testing you?” Blake’s surprise was evident in his expression. Indeed, after witnessing Aether’s fight with the bulky man, Blake had intended to gauge Aether’s physical capacity before the actual confrontation.
Aether remained silent, merely beckoning Blake once again.
“Hmm…” Blake’s smile widened as he muttered, “Arcane!”
With those words, a faint light emanated from Blake’s sternum, manifesting as a small, sliver-colored card that popped up and hovered before him.
Taking the card, Blake explained, “This is my Arcane Card. Now, I’d like you to show me yours.”
Blake was keen to see what kind of card Aether held, as it would determine his next course of action.
“Why should I?” Aether’s frown deepened.
“Pufff…”
“Hahaha… Look at him, the illiterate slave.”
“He doesn’t even know basic courtesy.”
“What do you expect from a slave? Hahaha.”
Amidst the mocking words, Aether discerned that the world he now found himself in adhered to strange social conventions before combat.
Blake couldn’t help but smile as he remarked, “There’s no need to be shy. Even if your aptitude is low, your performance was commendable for a slave.”
Veins bulged on Aether’s forehead as he listened to everyone acting as if they knew more than him.
“Tsk, Come out, Bitch” Aether said with annoyance, his frustration evident in his tone.
“….” A hush fell over the crowd momentarily, followed by a wave of murmurs.
“H-Hey, what did he just say?”
“Bitch? Who’s he calling a bitch?”
“A-Arcane? The god!”
“This slave has some nerve to use those words for the god!!”
“No knowledge, no respect… Totally useless except for his handsomeness!”
The criticism of Aether’s behaviour spread among the onlookers.
Blake and his team couldn’t contain their laughter at Aether’s outburst. Blake then regarded Aether with disdain and began, “Do you really think our Arcane god would–”
His words were abruptly cut off as a small light emerged from Aether’s sternum.
“What the…” People gasped in disbelief as the Arcane card reacted to Aether’s words. With eager anticipation, they waited to see what kind of card would be revealed…
But, to their surprise,
“Blank?”
“…”
The crowd was genuinely surprised to see a blank, transparent card hovering before Aether.
“Hahahahaha….” Laughter erupted across the field as the situation turned into a comedic spectacle.
Velc and his family were utterly shocked to witness Aether summoning an Arcane Card.
“S-Seriously, man, I was really worried, you know… I thought you were going to unveil something silver or gold,” Blake said with visible relief.
“Hmm… Do you think this determines my talent?” Aether asked as he flipped the card back and forth between his fingers.
“Of cour—‘Sllckkk'” Before Blake could respond, Aether flicked his Arcane card with lightning speed. It shot past Blake, cutting his cheek before disintegrating into particles and vanishing.