Crafting Gear From Monster Genes

Click.

Groza closed the heavy wooden gate, locking it with steel bolts. Usually, she or someone else would lock it in the evening, but now it was early morning, and training hadn’t even started yet.

The only way in now was through the window above the gate or through a passage in the wall that ordinary people couldn’t access.

"Hmm?"

Arstar, who was sitting at a table in the distance reading a book, raised his eyebrow.

"Did something happen? Why are we locking up the training hall?"

His expression was innocent and puzzled, but his voice carried a dangerous depth.

Groza had no intention of playing these games with him. After working with him for the past few days, she’d realized it was pointless.

"Arstar."

Groza stepped forward confidently, taking off her robe and standing in only her loose combat uniform.

"Leora is dead."

Clasp.

Arstar snapped his book shut. His black eyes narrowed into slits.

"How curious... You can’t know that for sure, but your voice is full of confidence. Even if it’s actually true, it wasn’t you who did it, was it?"

There was no point in hiding anything now. They would either win or lose - there was no other option.

"No, it wasn’t me. It was Kreyn. You’re right, I didn’t see Leora die, but it definitely happened. That was the plan. And..." She glanced at the windows above the gates. "I have more than just blind faith."

Tap.

Arstar set the book on the table and slowly stepped forward. Unlike her, he didn’t take off his outer clothing, remaining in his long black coat.

"And, if Kreyn took care of Leora, does that mean you’re the one tasked with getting rid of me?"

Groza didn’t answer. Instead, she assumed a fighting stance, clenching her fists.

"I see... So, what’s the ultimate goal? I take it that after Leora and me, you’ll head straight for Hargod?"

Groza nodded.

"We’re going to take control of the Crooked Horn. It’s a power takeover."

Arstar pointed at her. "Liar."

Whooooosh!

Groza lunged forward. She no longer saw any point in talking. Only one of them would walk out of here, and that was all that mattered.

Still, Groza was cautious. She didn’t dare underestimate Arstar. She’d only seen him fight a few times during sparring, but that was enough.

’He’s strong, but I’ve trained for years with the best instructors in Sector 1! He doesn’t stand a chance!’

True, her first punch was straight, fast, and precise, heading straight for his face.

Step.

Arstar shifted forward just as Groza’s knuckle left a scratch on his pale cheek.

"Agh...?"

Faster than Groza could realize it, Arstar’s hand fell on her face. His foot ended up behind her right calf as his entire body weight crashed down on her through those two simple movements.

Groza’s balance was lost in an instant, and her back hit the ground.

’Wait...’ Groza’s eyes widened as Arstar raised his fist to strike. ’I should have attacked! Why... Why didn’t my combo work?!’

SLAM!

Like an explosion, Arstar’s fist slammed into Groza’s stomach, forcing her to double over.

Blood gushed from her mouth, splattering onto his pale face, but his expression didn’t change.

"Not bad. You must have trained a lot at Dust Star. I’m sorry, but your skills aren’t nearly as elite as you’d want to believe." Arstar’s voice was low, full of mockery and contempt.

Thump!

Groza slammed her fist into the ground and kicked Arstar away from her. He blocked her blow with his palm, but Groza achieved her goal, she broke the distance.

"Agh... Agh..." Groza was breathing heavily, clutching her stomach. "Damn it! Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"In places a pampered city girl like you wouldn’t dare to go."

His reply was cold, but Groza wasn’t about to give up. Arstar might be physically superior to her, but not in ability.

Crack.

Lightning flashed across her hands as she attacked immediately, without wasting a moment.

She moved in a zigzag pattern across the training ground so that Arstar couldn’t predict where she would strike.

’Even if he manages to block my strike, he won’t have the strength to do it with his bare hands!’

BAM!

In the next instant, Groza’s palm, like a thunderous spear, shot toward Arstar’s left neck.

Suddenly, his hand rose, shrouded in dense, purple energy, grabbing Groza by the wrist.

Electric sparks flared out to the sides before his calm gaze.

"Try again."

His palm headed toward her chest, but Groza quickly realized her attack had failed. She jumped back, touching her aching wrist.

"What the...?" She stared at her wrist, looking at the darkened skin.

It wasn’t a burn or frostbite, but as if her flesh had begun to rot while she was still alive.

Then, her gaze returned to Arstar, whose palms were shrouded in purple energy. She was less prepared for her opponent than Kreyn was, and it wasn’t as if she had much of a shot.

Fortunately for Groza, she wasn’t alone.

Whoooooosh!

The darkness parted behind Arstar, revealing Kalysa’s blue eyes and her dagger moving toward Arstar’s throat.

"You’re finished!"

But...

Tremble!

Her dagger trembled as the purple energy stopped the sharp blade right in front of Arstar’s neck.

"N-No...!" Kalysa’s eyes widened in disbelief.

SMASH!

The back of Arstar’s hand slammed into her cheek with such force that she flew off to the side, rolling across the ground like a puppet.

"Hmm..." Arstar hummed as he glanced at Kalysa. "So you’re in cahoots with them? Old man Hargod really did go too far with his stubbornness."

Soon, Kalysa and Groza exchanged glances and nodded.

Together, from different sides, they attacked Arstar, hoping it would be enough to take down the second captain.

Bam! Bam!

Their blows rained down from all sides. Groza used her lightning, while Kalysa acted like an assassin, targeting vulnerable spots.

But...

"GHA!" The girls cried out in pain as Arstar’s straight palm strike sent them flying to the side.

All they managed to do was leave a few scratches on his face and a cut on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, they were both in far worse shape, as if they’d been fighting an entire army.

"Almost good enough. You know, Groza, I’m starting to doubt what you said at the beginning. If Kreyn’s skills are on the same level as yours, then he doesn’t stand a chance against Leora."

He raised his hand, giving her a stern look.

"In fact, he’s a rookie, unlike you, isn’t he? The entire success of your operation depends on a rookie who’s supposed to kill the first captain. Isn’t that a bit too optimistic for such a crucial plan?"

Groza got up from the ground, wiping the blood from her mouth.

"You... You just don’t know what you’re talking about. Kreyn, he is—"

CRASH!

A crash rang out from behind them as the stone pillar with a sharp crystal tip smashed the heavy wooden gate to splinters. The pieces flew off in all directions, raising a cloud of dust that obscured all but a single figure.

Thudding footsteps receded as Kreyn stepped through the dust veil, clutching Leora’s gauntlets to his chest.

Arstar’s expression changed immediately as he frowned for the first time.

"Oh... Forget what I just said. I’ve changed my mind."

Kreyn, in turn, looked at Groza and waved his hand in greeting.

"Yo."

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