Chapter 36: Todos (3)

To their surprise, people started to move away from them as they walked the street. Thadius had reigned in his Ambient Pressure to the bare minimum, but people were avoiding him all the same.

“They look wary of us.” Christina whispered.

“No, they look wary of me.” Thadius replied solemnly.

“Why?” Yuna asked.

“I don’t-”

Suddenly, both Thadius and Yuna felt a stabbing coldness penetrate their Auras, followed by a foreign entity. Thadius leaned forward as he pushed Christina to the side. Yuna leaped off his shoulders and rolled to the ground as a two blades struck his shield.

*Chink

The steel blades left visible indentations in his iron shield, and sparks flew as he rolled with the momentum. His sword was at the ready before he returned to his feet.

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Standing in front of them was a person clad in all black leather armor that seemed to absorb the light around it, diming the colors in the general vicinity. The face of the would be assailant was hidden from the nose down, and neon red irises glowed ominously from underneath a large hood.

Thadius immediately thought about the last update, and how the game warned him about attempts on his life.

Christina moved in behind Thadius as the two watched each other. The assailant was looking at his equipment while Thadius was waiting for any signs of attack. His wait was a short one as the Chaotic player charged him.

The speed wasn’t that fast, giving Thadius enough time to grab his shield and turn the first lunge aside. His opponent moved inside, trying to use the range of the daggers to gain the upper hand. Yet Thadius' eyes were wide open, following every thrust and slice while resetting them useless. He could have used his pressure to restrain his foe, but he'd never get battle experience like that.

So he dragged out the fight, using every second to learn as from his enemy as he could. Soon the assailant fell into his pace, breathing heavily with every attack.

Dragon's Scales is the most arrogant form of the Dragon's Path sword style. You wither away the opponent with nothing but pure defense. You give them hope by being constantly on the defensive, only to have every attack become a glancing blow. Like a dragon that pays no heed as a knight swings his sword in vain. Then when the knight throws everything into attacking in an attempt to pierce the dragon's hide...

Thadius lowered his shield, inviting an attack with feigned fatigue. The Chaotic player gladly lunged at the opening with both daggers in an attempt to finish the fight. Unfortunately, the trap had been prepared and set long before this moment. As the blades reached out for his chest, Thadius hid his presence completely. Then he aimed a blow at the legs that was filled with his Holy Fighting Aura.

The assailant reacted instantly, moving his daggers to parry the blow. However, what met the blades was Thadius' lingering Fighting Spirit; a phantom attack created by completely separating his Aura from his body. The confusion was still clear in the assailant's eyes as a iron sword plunged into his chest.

[You've killed SmartYeti in single combat. As The Iron Dragon, a one time reward equaling 10% of his fame/infamy has been awarded.

+1267 Fame ]

[Chaotic player killed

+100 Alignment ]

[You've leveled up!

You've leveled up!

You've leveled up!

...]

Without a shedding a single drop of blood, Thadius quickly removed his sword. The stranger was dead before he hit the ground.

"Shit..that guy just got owned."

"I thought that noob was done for with that iron gear , but he's pretty good.

"Still, it's been a while since a Good player was seen in Todos. I thought they all left."

Thadius flicked his sword before he sheathed it. With his Concentration, he listened carefully to the comments of the spectators.

He was just attacked in broad daylight on crowded city streets. Yuna could handle herself, but if Christina had been harmed because of him, he wouldn't have been able to face Marshal ever again. It seemed like he would have to put the trip to the Adventurer's Guild to the side for now.

"Yuna, stay hidden, and keep an eye on the rooftops. I don't think our trip to the big city is going to be the adventure we were looking for."

"Okay." she replied as she fell back to trail behind them.

"Christina, we need to get you to the temple as soon as possible. It's no longer safe around me, I'd feel better knowing that you're with the church."

"But what about you and Yuna?" she asked. She didn't want to part from him, but if it was for her safety, she could tolerate a brief absence. Especially when she witnessed the danger first-hand.

"For now, Yuna will be with you. Whoever that was, has seen you with me. Since it was a Traveler, they'll resurrect in four days. So until I can confirm that they won't try to get revenge, I don't want any other potential attackers to see you with me. I should have expected this. From what your father told me and what I heard just now, this isn't exactly the safest place."

"Where will you go?"

"Well..I'll be walking around the city. Maybe drawing some more people that want to do me harm. I also need to talk to a tailor and find the mage my master was talking about. Don't worry, I'll visit you guys every day."

"Just be careful Thadius..."

"I'd rather you worry about yourself more than me because traveling with us means putting yourself in danger. Unless you become stronger, you'll always be relying on us to protect you. I'll do so gladly, but do you really want to constantly put your life in someone else's hands?"

Christina couldn't find the words to respond. She knew she'd been a hindrance since they left Yune, and that fact had been reinforced when she watched Thadius fight. If she was going to travel with him, she needed to do more than just stand there. If anything, she wanted to be beside him when the fighting broke out.

"I understand..."

"Good." Thadius said as he looked around to ask someone for directions. "Excuse ma'am, which way to the temple?"

They changed directions and followed the instructions to find the temple. The building was made of the same white stone that they saw in Yune. Except this temple was at least three times larger. On either side of the doors was a statue of the Goddess Thena.

Thadius saw them off at the door, making sure that Yuna watched over Christina from the shadows.

"I'll return later today. But if you don't see me for a couple of days, don't worry about too much."

"Wait a minute! What does that mean!?" Yuna whispered fiercely from in front of him. She had used 'Vanish' to remain hidden.

"I'm just preparing you for the possibility of my death."

""What!?"" The girls shouted in unison.

"Where exactly are you going!?" Yuna questioned.

"I may stop by the coliseum..."

"Then take us! I want to fight too! Why do you get to fight and I don't!?"

"No. The most important thing right now is for Christina to continue down the path of a priestess since she is otherwise defenseless. However," Thadius leaned down so only she could hear him, "If Christina was capable of fighting for herself..."

"I'm listening."

"It could possibly prevent situations like this in the future. All she needs is a teacher."

"You do it then!" she hissed.

"She may be a bit...distracted if I taught her."

Even with Yuna 'Vanished', Thadius could still tell that she was putting her hand to her face in realization. She knew exactly what Thadius was talking about.

"Well then, I'll leave you to it." Thadius said as he headed toward the coliseum. The gigantic stadium was visible from every corner of the city.

He walked with his Aura stretched out to the limit. If anyone tried to attack him again he'd be ready.

After an hour of uneventful walking, he was standing beneath the coliseum. It was exactly like he'd seen it in movies and shows. Tall columns shouldered massive walls of stone. The air was filled with dust and the thunderous roar of the crowd within. A giant archway welcome spectators and competitors with a statue of Braumas, God of Strength and Order, leading to it.

"Soon Goddess, it'll be your image that stands proudly outside the arena." Thadius declared as he walked past the statue to the entrance.

Inside, torches lit the corridor as the sunlight was blocked out. There was a door to the left and a larger door on the right. Straight ahead was a small crowd of people leading out to the stadium, but Thadius had different plans. He looked around for a guard and walked up to the first one he found.

"Excuse me, sir. Where can I register to fight in the arena?"

The guard tensed up as he approached. "That door there leads to the amateur waiting area. You can get a bite to eat and ask for a registration form." The guard said as he pointed to the small door.

"Then what's the other door for?"

"Gladiators."

It made sense to Thadius. The gladiators needed somewhere to sleep too. He quickly made his way to the door.

When Thadius walked into the amateur waiting area, NPCs and Travelers alike quieted down and stared at him. A group of people whispered excitedly as they watched him with wide eyes. They had no doubt recognized his face. Thadius took a look around, not shying from the stares and glares that met his eyes.

The waiting area was more like a tavern. There were tables all around where adventurers and other patrons could order food and drink. The counter, where you could register for the arena, was off to the left. Waitresses came out from behind the counter carrying food and beverages, so the kitchen must be located further in the back.

Thadius found an empty table at the opposite corner of the room and waited for one of the waitresses. Unfortunately, any waitress that looked like they were about to serve him, turned away when they came within range of his fighting spirit, making uncomfortable expressions as they walked away.

So Thadius sat patiently as he leaned back in his chair. He had a feeling that there would be some discomfort from his Fighting Spirit, but he didn't think it would be to this degree. Minutes passed, and he began to receive even more stares from the other patrons. He looked to the counter, hoping that he wouldn't have to talk to a manager.

Some of the waitresses were in the back talking amongst themselves. Even with his Concentration, Thadius couldn't make out what they were saying. Though it was obvious that they were arguing about who was going to serve him since they all kept glancing in his direction.

Just as he was thinking about asking for management, a woman came out from the back. The waitresses swarmed around her in relief while she looked down at them in confusion.

The woman towered over them. Her caramel skin had a light film of moisture from the heat of the kitchen, and jet black hair was wrapped neatly in a scarf on her head.

One of the other waitresses motioned towards Thadius and the woman's eyes meet with his. Her beauty was apparent in every feature: the sharp angle of her jaw, the prominent green of her hazel eyes, the strength and poise in her stature. She was a lioness among alley cats.

She raised an eyebrow when she looked at him. "He doesn't look so bad....He's actually quite handsome. Why hasn't he been served?"

"I know he doesn't look scary, but he is!

"Yeah! We can't tell how strong people are like you can, but this guy is different!"

"Even we can feel it!"

The woman looked at the mystery man again. This time, he was the one with the raised eyebrow. Silently asking if she would be the one to help him. She held eye contact with him, debating whether or not to help the cowardly waitresses. Then he motioned ever so slightly for her to come over.

"I'll take this one girls. He's piqued my curiosity." She said as she smiled at the man. The confident ones were always interesting, and according to her co-workers, this one was especially so.

Thadius sat up as the lioness strode to his table. He could tell that if he stood up, she would be just as tall as he was. As soon as their fighting spirits overlapped, the woman made a surprised face, but she kept going without so much as skipping a step.

Grabbing a menu from an empty table, she came to stand right beside Thadius. Her fragrance washed over him like tsunami, drowning out all other smells. If 'everything nice' was a perfume in Chaos Online, then she bathed in it. The scent would drive him mad if he let it.

She watched his reaction carefully because she knew exactly what he was experiencing at the moment. She'd learned to gauge a man's character by his actions once he was exposed to it.

'FOCUS YOU FOOL!!'

Thadius was snapped out of his trace by the growl of the wolf within. Only a second had passed before he responded to her presence.

"Good afternoon." he smiled casually, flashing his bewitching smile. The waitress stopped breathing for a fraction of a second before she she returned the greeting.

'Extremely handsome, and his reaction was good too.' she thought. Many men had lost themselves to her ridiculously high charm stat.

"I apologize for the wait sir. I'm afraid our staff isn't used to a man of your strength."

"No need to apologize. It's not the first time something like this had happened."

"Thank you for your patience. What can I get for you?" she asked as she handed him the menu.

"Well, for starters...how about your name?"

"My name is Sarene."

"Sarene? It matches your presence. You have a calming air about you."

"Well thank you." She smiled.

"Now let's see...I wouldn't mind having some of this, Seredin Tea? I hope I pronounced that correctly."

"I'll bring it out shortly." She replied, taking back the menu to return to the counter.

On the way back, a man at one of the nearby tables slapped her butt. Before Thadius could intercede, a crisp jab flew to the man's nose faster than he could return his hand to his side.

The man had a dumbfounded expression as blood trickled down his nose while Sarene looked down at him, waiting for him to explode in rage.

As he stood up, a crushing pressure seated him. He looked at Thadius, who was shaking his head with a smile on his face.

Ignoring the man who started to sulk at the table, Sarene moved on to the kitchen and returned with a glass pitcher of light grey liquid. No one tried to slap her this time.

"You seem to be quite popular." Thadius said as she returned to the table.

"He's the first one in a while to do it. Most of the people here are veterans, so they know not to toy with me. But he knows now, and so do you." She said as she poured him a glass.

"I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing...in public."

"Is that so?" she laughed, sliding the glass to Thadius. He took a sip and made a satisfied face.

"This is pretty good."

"Of course it is. I brewed it myself."

"In that case, try adding some lemon next time. You might be pleasantly surprised."

"You have the cooking skill?"

"I do."

"I see...well then. I'll give your suggestion a try. Is there anything else I could get for you?"

"Could I possibly have a moment of your time? As you can probably tell, I'm new to the city, and it wouldn't hurt to get some information. Though I hope your employer won't mind." Thadius smiled again. He knew it had some effect.

"She won't mind, but I don't share tables with strangers..." She said, giving Thadius a knowing look.

"My friends call me Thadius."

"Oh?" she smiled too, sitting down on the opposite side. "What do your enemies call you?"

"The Iron Dragon."

Sarene tensed immediately at the mention of that title. No one had heard from The Iron Dragon in years. When she heard he was taking students, she had desperately searched for him. She made it as far as Todos before she lost his trail. "He was your master?"

"Yes he was. Unfortunately, he's no longer among the living."

"I see. Well then, Thadius. What do you want to know?"

"I want to sign up to fight in the arena, but I'm interested in hearing how it works."

"Nothing to it really. We hold tournaments here daily. If you want to enter, simply pick a tier and regis-" Sarene paused as a young man clad in armor walked up to the table nervously.

"Excuse me...I know I'm interrupting, but aren't you-"

"You must a Centurion fan." Thadius cut in.

"Yes I am! I knew it was you the second you walked into the door! I know this is strange, but...can I have your autograph!?"

"Really? I don't see how-"

"I know. I really do, but I never thought I'd get the chance! Please sir!"

"I don't mind, but I don't have anything to write-"

The young man immediately pulled out a quill, some ink, and parchment. Thadius just smiled as he dipped the quill and scratched his signature on the parchment. Then the man shook his hand before running back over to his table. It was the same group that had been whispering when he first walked in.

"It seems I'm not the only one who's popular." Sarene commented as she watched the young man return to his table. Then she turned back to Thadius with a puzzled expression. "What was that about? He seemed absolutely thrilled from you scratching nonsense on a piece of paper."

"I'm afraid that's a story for another time. I'm quite anxious about fighting in the coliseum at the moment."

"Another time then. As I was saying, the tiers at the moment are bronze, silver, and gold. You seem strong enough for the gold tier, but your equipment isn't good enough. So I'd suggest you pick silver when you register." She said as she looked around. The waiting area was beginning to clear out.

"Actually, you might want to register now. They should be closing the silver brackets soon."

"Oh!" Thadius raised from his chair in excitement. He didn't want to miss his chance.

As he walked passed Sarene, she reached out to stop. She'd thought she'd grabbed his arm, but he was standing a foot from where he was supposed to be. She didn't grab air though, for in her hand was a single gold coin.

"Keep the change." Thadius smiled as he walked up to the counter to register.

He filled out the paperwork quickly. It was a simple form asking for a name, tier, and who to send the body to if he died. There weren't any restrictions as far as level. It was up to the competitor to know their own strengths.

"Hey Thadius!" Sarene called from the table. Thadius already had one foot out the door, but he turned to look at her one more time. "Make sure you get to the finals. I heard the champion is pretty strong."

"We'll see about that!" Thadius called back as he rushed out the door.

Sarene walked back to the counter carrying the pitcher of Seredin Tea. The other waitresses swarmed her as she reached for the kitchen door.

"What did he say!? Spill!"

"You two looked like you hit it off!"

"Yeah! Tell us!"

"Nothing happened. He drank his tea, and we chatted for a bit. Nothing to get so worked up over."

Sarene said as she moved on to the kitchen. An old woman was in the back washing the dishes.

"Damn those girls. Making you do their job for them."

"Don't worry about it gran. I'm here to clear out the trouble makers after all." She smiled.

"I know that look. You found another one didn't you? Why don't you just ask for a duel instead of referring them all to the silver tier?"

"And ruin the surprise? No way. I enjoy the looks on their faces too much."

"I have violent con woman sleeping behind the kitchen..." The old woman sighed as she returned to work.

Sarene laughed at the old woman's plight. "By the way, do we have any lemons left?"

"Lemons? Check over there with the rest of the fruit."

Sarene continued through the kitchen to a door leading into a back room, grabbing a lemon on the way.

It was a simple room with a single bed. There was a suit of armor in the corner with a mythril sword leaning against it. Sarene picked up the sword and tossed the lemon. With a blindingly fast stroke, she cleanly cut the lemon in two.

After squeezing a generous amount of lemon juice into the pitcher, she took a sip. The sip turned into a few gulps. Then she dropped the sword as she drained the pitcher with both hands.

"Whew. That's pretty damn good Thadius." She said as she picked up her sword. " And I look forward to seeing you again soon." She grunted as she returned to her sword practice, swinging her sword at blinding speeds.

On her bed was a gigantic belt gilded in silver.