Chapter 22: Two Meter Distance

Another day in the game. Percy and Tiara landed together this time and they both looked at each other in surprise. "Maybe we are connecting a little, you know," Tiara suggested, a small smile starting to form. Percy huffed and looked to the other side before straightening his prince uniform. "Connecting, my foot. Stop asking questions in that category from now on and let's focus on our mission, understood?"

Tiara blinked, her avatar purple eyes glinting in the sun. "Is that what you want?"

Percy's face was set and determined, like he was trying to figure her out. But in reality, he wasn't, he was just creating a plan in their head for the future. "Yes. That's what I want."

Tiara nodded slowly, backing away from him. "Okay, I will do as you say. 2 metre distance from now on then." She took one step back, and then another, then looked up at him after she had fixed a position away from him.

Percy held her gaze for one last time, before shaking his head and moving forward. "We'll do the easiest task first. Climb the mountain and collect 50 azures. Keep up." And he took off sprinting. Tiara groaned and she started running behind him.

After what seemed like eternity, Tiara collapsed on the floor. Her hair stuck to her face and little sweat droplets wet the soil underneath her head. She took in deep breaths and lifted a hand in pain. "Percy… stop… I can't…"

Percy halted, but didn't turn back. "You're slowing me down." His tone was harsh, and snappy.

Tiara's face convulsed and she touched her nose to the ground. "We're supposed to work… together. Why are you so different in the real world and so rude to me here?"

That question was like a fish hook thrown at the boy. The hook lodged into his neck and that point started itching. The silence that ensued allowed the hook to dive deeper into his skin and threaten to kill him.

"Were you kind to me only because I was hurt?" Tiara sighed into the soil. Some of the mud got into her mouth and she broke out coughing, spitting the mushy stuff out. It tasted horrible.

"Get up," Percy finally said. "Otherwise we will never make it to Level 5."

Tiara strained and looked up at Percy's face which was above hers now. He had turned around and come to kneel next to her, his long black hair almost grazing against her. Tiara's heart felt funny. "Why Level 5?"

"There's a Qi Test in Level 5, it assesses our compatibility to learn cultivation. I think it will be useful in finding a good teacher. So stop being a baby and come."

Tiara huffed and moved her right leg to get up. Percy extended a hand, but she ignored it cleanly and got up with some difficulty. A Qi Test at Level 5, huh? If her will power was this weak, then she would never be able to get a good score on this test. Now Percy's obnoxiousness welled up a new desire in her.

To beat Percy, to become better than him. The very thought of it started to make her slightly happy.

Tiara pushed past his shoulder and walked faster. She rolled her eyes and looked at him trailing behind. "What are you doing, standing there like a scarecrow? Move, move!"

Percy blinked and pointed behind him. "The mountain's that way."

Tiara gulped and turned around and walked the other way, trying not to meet his eyes. After sometime, she felt weird and turned around to see Percy walking away from her. "But the mountain is this way!" she shouted at him. Percy raised a hand and dropped it.

He looked over his shoulder with a sinister look. "I lied."

"ARRRHHH!" she looked up at the sky and screamed at the top of her lungs. Her feet rubbed against the soil and she lurched forward, running straight towards him to pull his hair out of his annoying little scalp. Percy strengthened his stance and lifted his hands, ready to take an attack.

But Tiara's throw was sloppy and Percy easily dodged it by twisting to the side. Tiara threw another punch and he blocked it neatly with his forearm. Before she could wring her hand out, he grabbed her arm and threw her against a tree. She let out a gasp as her back collided with the tree and slid onto the floor like a ragdoll.

Her eyes were droopy as she looked up at him and his smug look. She watched him shake his head and walk forward, leaving her to fend for herself this time. She slapped hard on the tree trunk and got up again. "I have to try one more time…" she told herself and ran.

The next thing Percy heard were Tiara's frightened screams. He whipped his head backward to see a vile dark colored creature out of nowhere crouch on top of the girl. She screamed into its face, unable to do anything else. "Percy!" she called, not knowing who else could help. "Percy help!"

Percy narrowed his eyes. What was this creature? He asked the system and it gave out an answer which threw him over the moon.

[A Dramon]

Percy started smiling. That was one of the three tasks to complete to get to Level 3! This was his chance! Tiara saw that smile and more fear poured into her. "System, why is Percy smiling?" She was staring right into the creature's eyes who was, for some reason, taking its time to examine her face. It ran its claw down her hair line, her jaw and the curves of her torso. Tiara felt weird, but at least it was buying her time while that doofus just stood there smiling like an idiot.

[I do not know how to explain the peculiar behavior of Players] The system replied cheekily and Tiara opened up her inventory to see if some weapons were there. Nothing. Her only hope was Percy now. The creature unhinged its mouth open and hissed before lurching for her face.

Tiara whipped her head to the other side and shut her eyes close, awaiting for impact. But it never came. Instead, she opened her eyes to see the creature now fighting Percy, who was neatly dodging and parrying the creature's blows with a shiny sword. Where in the world did he get that beauty from?

"It comes with being a Prince!" Percy lauded. He stabbed the creature straight underneath its chin. It hissed, a blood curdling sound and fell to the floor. But that wasn't enough. It got up and shook its head relentlessly.

"Let's run Percy! It'll abandon chase when we get to the Mountain!"

"Can't!" Percy shouted back, now taking a few steps backwards. "Killing a Dramon is one of the tasks to reach Level 3!"

Oh. Tiara got it now. Why Percy smiled. She grunted and watched the two equally cruel creatures duel with each other. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. For a second, the Dramon got more advantage and it bounced off a tree with its agility and crushed Percy to the ground. If it hadn't been soft soil, Percy would have been murdered by now. He let out a whimper and the Dramon stamped on his wrist. He screamed and the sword in his hand came loose.

Tiara stepped forward.

"Stay back, Tiara! I'll finish this right now."

But Percy never really gave her a reason to listen. She edged forward and slyly took the sword. It was a bit heavy, but bearable. She held its hilt tightly and steadied herself.

"Hey Dramon, here!"

The Dramon twisted its head to face her and it growled, baring all its teeth in rows. Then it lurched forward, but Tiara was ready. She drove the sword right through its chest.

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