บท 41: The Creeper In The Night
Whoosh!
The cool air billowed at Katana Creek as the residents of the surrounding area lay sound asleep. The night was tranquil. Moonlight bathed the landscape in a pale, ethereal glow, moreover, cast a serene radiance on the water's surface, shimmering against the archaic remains of multifaceted sword parts scattered along the riverbank. The rhythmic sounds of nocturnal creatures provided a natural soundtrack to the night, while a gentle breeze carried the distinct scent of rust and damp earth through the air. Amidst this tranquil setting, the towering water tank stood tall, its aged exterior hinting at stories of a bygone era.
Nestled at the peak of the water tower, an unassuming abode provided an unmatched view of Katana Creek. The workstation below, usually bustling with activity during the day, was now deserted, enveloped by the calm darkness of the night.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A figure resembling Hao with an Uncommon Blade Edge at his waist and a long X-Class sword on his back, emerged from the darkness and began slowly ascending the metallic stairway to the abode above, each step echoing softly in the stillness. A gust of cold wind brushed against his face, prompting a word to escape his lips, accompanied by a wisp of frost, "This is it." The tone was foreboding, touching at the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Creek!
The door separating the hall from the bedroom slid open, its chillness revealing the steps of a burglar infiltrating a target's residence. Inside, the bed was fully occupied by a muscular figure, whose snores rumbled like the low growls of a hibernating bear. He slept on his side, one arm flung over his head while the other draped across his waist.
A tall shadow stretched across the room, moving closer to Mentos's head. Hao's dark silhouette was revealed against the dim moonlight filtering through the window. The outline of his figure seemed to loom menacingly over his sleeping friend.
"Huh!"
Suddenly, Mentos was jolted awake by an inexplicable sense of unease. He squinted at the figure looming over him and stammered, "H-how did you get in here? Did I leave my front door open again?"
"No, I let myself in," Hao replied shamelessly, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Mentos was torn between relief and irritation. "Why have you come back here? Do you want to get me into trouble?" he grumbled, rolling out of the tangled sheets and getting up from the bed, his movements slow and groggy.
"I need a place to crash for the night. You won't believe the kind of day I've had," Hao said with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Again? You want to crash here after the trouble you've caused?" Mentos shot back, his voice rising in frustration.
"What trouble?" Hao feigned ignorance and acted innocently.
"What do you mean, 'what trouble'? I'm talking about what went down at the Blade Engineering Guild. You chopped that Imperial Hound's arm off, didn't you?" Mentos accused while his mind replayed the incident he heard from the news broadcast.
Licking his lips, Hao corrected, "Actually, his partner Diana chopped his arm off to prevent Judgment Day from absorbing his essence, not me," his tone matter-of-fact.
"It doesn't matter! You were involved anyway," Mentos countered.
Hao admitted his fault, "Yes, I confess to that. But you don't have to worry; I wasn't followed here if that's what you're worried about."
"That's what you say, but you don't know that for sure," Saying this, Mentos's gaze moved over to the window. He crossed the room and peeked outside, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. The night was still and cold; the only sounds were the creaking of metals and the gentle swoosh of Katana Creek in the distance. Satisfied that they were alone, Mentos turned back to Hao. "So, what really happened?"
Hao recounted his experiences from the previous day, detailing his encounters with Vicky and her gang. Mentos listened intently to what was being shared with him.
"The Wranglers District, huh? So you got caught up with that dirty gang?" Mentos asked when Hao had finished. "I've heard the name Vicky Gonzalez before. Back in the day, she used to be a Scrap Diver just like me before she upgraded to becoming Blade Engineer and later became an expert Blade Forger. I heard she has the skills to clone low-tier Uncommon Blade Edges almost perfectly. This one time, she ripped off the wrong person and ended up losing her legs in a heated argument."
"A bad deal made her lose her legs…?" Hao listened to Mentos's words in down-answered silence, his mind connecting the dots. 'So that's what she did with Judgment Day? A Blade Forger, huh?' He was curious to know more. "What else have you heard about her?"
"Besides her being extremely cunning and dangerous? Not a whole lot," Mentos shared with a shrug. "Hao, why do you keep getting involved with such shady people, huh?"
Hao chuckled as if it were a joking matter. "I can't accurately say. Trouble is just drawn to me, I guess."
"Or you're drawn to it," Mentos retorted with his expression serious.
Mentos led Hao into the living room where they continued their conversation. "So, you mentioned earlier that you've discovered a way to unsheathe Judgment Day. Is that true?" He eyed the X-Class sword warily as Hao pulled it from his back. "What did you call it? Bio something...?"
"Bio Esp," Hao corrected, "It's a sort of sealing mechanism installed in Judgment Day's scabbard." He leaned the sword closer to Mentos to observe, who instinctively backed away, not wanting the frightening weapon to touch him.
"Careful with that, Hao," Mentos warned. "So, how do you unlock it?"
Hao pondered for a moment. "That, I'm not sure of yet. Vicky… she knows." His fingers tapped the scabbard, deep in thought.
"That tone in your voice and your behaviour... Don't tell me you actually plan on going back there?" Mentos was concerned for his friend.
"No! Of course not," Hao faint a lie. "I'll figure it out somehow, and... you're going to help me, Mentos."
"Help you how?" Mentos was taken aback by the sudden request.
Hao outlined his plan to Mentos, and they discussed it late into the night. Their conversation wound down, their minds grew tired, and eventually, they both fell asleep, their dreams were occupied with the upcoming uncertainties they would have to face together.
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