Before Elin could say another word Dylan was already walking away.
Elin: "Ok."
Elin: (Did I say something wrong?)
Dylan, avoiding further conversation, brisked his pace.
Dylan: "Phew.."
Dylan: (That conversation was getting worse by the second.)
With each step, the tension left his shoulders.
Dylan: (Almost forgot.)
Dylan: "Open."
[ Name: Dylan (T#€ ***@#%i¥0r O$ #*§∆)
Class: Warrior
Race: Human
Level: 9
Exp: 796/800
Hp : 83/100
Strength : 13
Defence : 12
Intelligence : 7
Mana : 4/6
Speed : 19
Bonus points : 2
Skills: Strike
Race Skills: Stat distribution ]
Dylan: (I can level up after another fight.)
Dylan: "Stat distribution."
He swiftly increased his defence and speed by one.
Ethan remained completely absorbed in his experiments. His eyes were practically glued to the skill. Completely oblivious to the annoyed Dylan towering behind.
Dylan: "Ethan, we shou–"
His hand planted onto Ethan's shoulder.
Ethan: (What, Who?!)
His body instantly recoiled back, with his hair standing on end.
The skill dissipated soon after.
Dylan: "?"
Ethan calmed, looking at the familiar face.
Ethan: (Oh.)
Ethan: "At least give a warning next time."
Dylan: "Why, you scared?"
Ethan: "Startled. Just a bit."
Dylan: "Ya, right."
He rolled his eyes, delivering the words with an extra scoop of sarcasm.
Ethan: "Are you here just to make fun of me?"
Dylan: "Nope. You did that yourself."
Ethan: "Fuck you."
Dylan: "Noted."
Ethan: "Why are you here?"
Dylan: "Because unlike a certain person I would like to get this over with before sunrise."
Ethan: "Sure, let me just test out one last thing."
Dylan: "You already tested mana blast five times. How much longer are you going to experiment for?"
Ethan: "Hey, I am doing some groundbreaking research here."
Dylan: "Oh and what did your 'groundbreaking' research figure out."
Ethan: "I can't change the direction of mana blast."
His confidence made it seem he had won a Nobel prize.
Dylan: "What?"
Ethan: "Yaaaa. Once I activate it I can't change the trajectory."
Dylan: "So, if I want to dodge your skill, all I have to do is move 5 steps to the right in 30 seconds?"
Ethan: "Pretty much but I did learn how to deactivate my skill."
Dylan: "Wasn't the point of these experiments to improve your skill. This sounds like a downgrade."
Ethan: "Well, it's better to find out this information now, rather than in a battle."
Dylan: "I guess."
Ethan: "There are a few more theories I want to test out."
Dylan: "Do you even have enough mana for that?"
Ethan: "Ya, open. I have... 4?"
His confidence immediately swept off his face.
Dylan: "Correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure your skill consumes 3 mana."
Ethan: "Guess I went a bit overboard."
Dylan: "You think?!"
Ethan: (Come on, canceling Mana blast still consumes mana, seriously?)
Ethan: "Don't worry if push comes to shove I can just use my bonus points."
Dylan: "For now, go and help Elin set up another wire trap."
Ethan: "Fine."
With all the enthusiasm of an overworked salary man heading to his job, he shuffled away.
Dylan: (No sly comebacks, huh? Has this ever happened before?)
I am as surprised as you are.
(Ethan POV)
Nearby, Elin crouched beside an open backpack, examining a bottle of alcohol?
She studied the bottle with quite interest.
Her head tilted.
Elin: (What was this doing in the bag?)
Ethan: "Can you pass me the gloves?"
Elin, startled nearly fumbling the bottle as panic flashed over her face.
In one swift motion she shoved it inside the bag with the subtleness of a morning rooster.
Elin: "Ugh– gloves, sure."
By some miracle Ethan didn't notice.
Elin: (Did Ethan keep the alcohol inside?)
Elin swiftly handed the gloves over.
Ethan: (What was that all about? I don't even want to ask.)
Nevermind Ethan wasn't interested enough to care.
Pulling out a bundle of wire, he wrapped it around a nearby lamppost.
Elin: (He doesn't look old enough to drink, though.)
Ethan: "Here."
Ethan flung, rest of the bundle over to Elin.
Within the span of a few minutes another similar trap was built.
Practically invisible beneath the night sky.
Ethan: (That will be it. Let's hope this is the last, I don't have much wire left over.)
Elin grabbed his attention with a simple tap, pointing in the direction of a house.
Ethan: "What?"
Her mouth moved but no words could be heard.
Elin: "I am going to go hide, give me a signal when it's over."
Ethan: "Sure, but you really don't have to ask for my permission."
Without further talk, Elin quickly made herself scarce.
Ethan: "Ready?"
Dylan closely examined the trap.
Dylan: "Ya. It's just, you know."
Ethan: "What?"
Dylan: "It's still hard to see it."
Ethan: "Oh."
The remaining shoe caught his attention.
The shoe sensed danger.
Ethan: (With the other one lost, this one is basically useless.)
Ethan: "Might as well. It's not like I use them often."
He took off his remaining shoe and placed the poor soul right before the wire.
That poor thing saw daylight after months only to suffer the same fate as his brother.
Farewell, brave soldier.
Ethan: "Is this good enough?"
Dylan: "Yep."
With a nod, Dylan began advancing towards the police station.