Ultimately, Polstar, stopped sending attacks.
He leaped away and cracked his knuckles as he subtly smiled to Mereon.
After blocking those consecutive attacks that seemed to last forever, the hard shell of Mereon's shape-shifted crab claw arm cracked.
(Even though he was not using magic to enhance his punches; his blows were still strong and heavy as if his hands were boulders, they knocked me back every strike.
Hadnt I became weak, knocking this guy off would be a child's play.)
"Not bad at all. You could land some attacks but it was truly weak to even bother myself dodging it."
After noticing that Mereon was panting heavily, he jeered at him.
"Well, are you having a hard time already? Play with me more, I kinda want to practice my combos using a live dummy."
There were countless enemies whom Mereon had encountered which had verbally intimidated him so as to take away his focus.
He had immuned himself to it; hence, Polstar's mockeries were ineffective.
Mereon was hesitant whether to counter-attack or not since he was concerned with the place and the people encircling them.
He wanted to minimize the damage of the area or possibly even prevent it from taking no damage at all.
But to him, Polstar seemed to be unmindful that his failed attacks had blasted up the pavement and also the fountain.
Mereon felt a little sad after seeing the fountain where he once watched the fishes at was destroyed.
Polstar tsked as his brows furrowed.
"Hey! Dont you dare ignore me when I'm talking to you!"
Polstar zoomed in front of Mereon and did a straight punch however Mereon was able to block such simple attack.
Mereon wasnt able to see through Polstar trick, the straight punch was a momentary divergence to leave Mereons upper body unguarded; the blow landed straight to Mereon's unhealed wounds thus made him fall to to the ground.
Polstar then grappled Mereon tightly.
"Its time to give you an arse-whooping—next time, know your enemy,
their weakness,
their strenght. What can a weakling like you do to a level twenty two adventurer like me? a tickle?"
Mereon's head shapeshifted into a Gryphon, pecking Polstars left eye, thus blood shed from it.
"Ugh, my body cant shape-shift anymore."
Polstar wailed as he loosen up his grapple and took a few steps back.
"YOU SLY JERK, YOU LULLED ME INTO LOWERING MY GUARD SO YOU COULD PULL OFF THAT COWARDLY TRICK UP YOUR SLEEVE!"
Polstar shouted on top of his lungs as he covered his eyes with his hands. His veins surfaced because of overwhelming anger.
"Polstar, get it together, youre going too far."
yelled Maxima nervously, noting that Polstar's anger is getting out-of-hand, he might go berserk!
"I'll surely make you pay for that, by all means!"
A dark colored metal gradually covered Polstar's hands up to his elbow, he concentrated his power at his hands; a common technique of grapplers so as to add intensity to their strikes.
"Ugh that hurts."
Psyche moaned, wiping off the blood on her mouth and stood up. She wandered her eyes around noticing that people are already clustered around them.
(How did everything escalated so quickly? Did I pass out?
AGAIN?
Soon after just regaining my consciousness from mana depletion... sigh Im such a burden!)
"STOP IT!"
A kid stepped in, calling everybody's attention.
He equipped the strange gauntlet device on his hands.
People were curious about the device; murmurs circled the air.
"What is he trying to do?"
"Do you know that device?"
He directed his palms towards Polstar; its hands extended and enlarged, huge enough to constrain him.
People then screamed and grabbed the opportunity to throw hard objects at Polstar.
"Throw at him!"
"Serves you right!"
"Rot in jail!"
Four guardians arrived on the scene with red and drunk faces; they were having hiccups as they walked towards Polstar who was constrained by a giant mechanical hand.
"Alright folks /hic/ the fight's over! get lost now!"
Said a Guardian as he casted an immobilizing spell to put Polstar to sleep.
The giant hand loosen up its grip and shrunk as it returned back to the kid's hand.
On the other hand, Maxima, just willingly offered her hands to a guardian as she ogled at him with a seductive smile on her lips.
(She's using a dirty trick to escape punishment in exchange of her body and dignity!
Basing from that Guardian's reaction, he's gonna fall for it without a doubt.)
Surely, theyll be put straight behind the bars.
Since there are tons of people who have caught them red handed, Im certain that they will be unable to escape their punishment.
(I admire his overflowing boldness.)
I pulled off my boots and threw it to Polstar's head; he's asleep so he cant feel it.
I watched them go until the dispersed crowd blocked my sight of them.
"Milady Psyche what was that for?"
Asked Mereon.
(This guy just pops up from nowhere!)
"A counter-attack, obviously, so I will feel better.
You see, I wasnt able to fight back because I'm weak."
I looked at him worriedly, he's bruises looked so severe in a close-up view.
"Your powers are not on par with that guy Milady, yet you are still defiant and bold. You fight for what is right just like Milady Aria."
"I know, that guy is truly strong; I didnt expect that he doesnt care even if he's in front of the civilians or probably even the guardians, as long as your breathing, he wont hesitate to kill you, no matter the place and time. Arent people supposed to start off happy early in the morning?
/sigh/ I hope I can be strong like Aria soon so I'll be able to fight for myself."
I patted Mereon's back and smiled.
Thank you."
My words brought a smile to his lips as his honey-colored eyes sparkled like the ocean during sunset.
"Lets go, you must rest."
I said.
We are about to go when the brave kid approached us as he waves the boots that I had thrown away.
"I believe this is yours!"
The kid has a soiled face and hands caused by dirty work probably, or he just doesnt know how to take a bath, he has a blonde hair that is swept up by his goggles and a pair of bright aquamarine eyes.
"Oh yeah thats mine, Thanks for getting this for me!"
The chainmail-guy rested his elbows on the kid's head while the angel girl gently smiled to us.
"Three tough guys have bunched up together, What a lovely sight isnt it Aeryn?"
Aeryn nodded as an approvement.
The brave kid has his head a bit lowered because of the weight of chainmail-guy's arm.
"B-by the way, I'm Raku hehe, this tough looking guy right here is Ma'el, that beautiful girl is Aeryn."
They raised their hands as Raku mentioned their names, thus releasing Raku from Ma'el's heavy arm.
Raku let out a sigh of relief.
"I am Psyche!"
I cheerfully smiled and raised my hand.
On the other hand, Mereon primly bowed—here goes his unecessary formality again
"Good Morning, My name is Mereon, Psyche's companion. I am very pleased to meet you."
They looked a bit shocked.
Raku slightly bent his body and giggled at him
"M-Mereon, you dont need to be really formal"
He said and did a 'no' gesture using his hands.
Aeryn's eyes and face smiled dearly; she looks so pretty and cool at the same time.
Ma'el bowed likewise and introduced himself.
"I am Ma'el! I believe that one shall treat the other the same way he treats him. Nice meeting you Mereon!"
He unbent his body and scratched his head.
"Thats why I want to reciprocate your kindness. That Polstar guy is from Black Mist guild, he likes to trouble our guild as a means to past time, To be frank, I think he deserved that arse-whooping."
"hn! hn!"
Aeryn made a several quick nods; I can tell that she totally agrees with what Ma'el has said.
"I agree, He just punched me all of a sudden, It's unfortunate that peace talks dont work on him because he settle things by blood."
Ma'el face became worried after noticing a violet bruise on my cheek.
"I sincerely apologize for dragging you into this. Even injuring you because of our incompetence... I feel bad."
"We are sorry."
Raku apologized as well.
"Hey, hey, you dont need to apologize alright? You guys were not involved in that fight, Im at fault here because I snapped at him, not knowing that he's a ruthless monster."
I feel bad too, dragging Mereon into the trouble because of my carelessness; He's a good guy you know. Seeing his wounds and torn up clothes makes me really guilty.
"Mistakes are inevitable, I believe it is the best way to learn."
Said Raku and beamed a smile.
"Coming from our best inventor!"
Ma'el chuckled and messed Raku's head.
Their lively smiles and chuckles are viruses; even Mereon looks happy too, his eyes gives me the clue, I guess this scenario reminds him of a happy memory.
"So do you accept our invitation?"
Asked Ma'el and crossed his arms.
Now, I noticed their eyes are fixed on me, intently waiting for my answer.
I was busy staring at Meron that I didnt notice what they were saying.
"Sorry, I kind of spaced out what was that again?"
"Eh...is that the truth?"
Their faces are teasing me! Well, whatever they think about us is wrong.
"No! I would never, I mean I think of him only as my companion nothing more nothing less!"
Mereon nodded— thats my loyal companion for ya, he always backs me up no matter what.
"Hmm...Its too early to assume"
Said Raku after considering things up.
(You are a hundred percent right!)
Aeryn held his chin and did an approve gesture.
"Raku is right, Well I hope our assumptions wont turn out wrong!"
Ma'el winked at me, making me avert my eyes.
"Hey, I told you guys already!"
"Dont take it seriously, we are just joking around hahaha.
So, I was inviting you guys to join our guild.
Will you accept?"
I looked at them with sparkling eyes of joy.
All of them have friendly smiles on their faces, making me feel that I am truly welcome!
"A guild invitation?! Why not!"
I jumped around as I yell 'yahoo'. I dont care if I passersby see me as crazy. I will celebrate if I am happy!
Soon after that, they have invited me for lunch, as a means to show their gratitude. They also gave Mereon some new clothes and a pair of brand new shoes.
Now, he looks like he didnt come from other dimension.
Their guild headquarters is just a normal house built using wattle and daub method.
The tiled roof has ocassional holes; I hope they fix it sooner or later, Im afraid that rain will flood down their furnitures— just kidding I was exaggerating.
On the inside, their house is squeaky clean; no dusts under the table so I assume the guild leader is a clean freak.
The guild leader exclusively cooked for us; Its a feast right here and I am certain that I can eat this all alone!
I havent had breakfast thats why I am so hungry— I can eat a horse!
/munch/
"Aah~ It's so delicious!"
I rested my head on the chair and released a long burp.
Mereon didnt eat so I had to solo the food and I didnt have a problem about that.
He said: Gojins are never hungry and never thirsty.
"Ma'el, does Pheonix guild only has five members including us?"
Asked Mereon
I answered him in Ma'el stead as if I know better.
I'll just try to guess.
"If I not mistaken, this guild is relatively new right? That's why there are only five members."
"Yes you are correct— we established the guild 10 months ago, however Phoenix guild doesnt only have five members but fifteen as of now— they will arrive sooner or later.
After drowning in debt to the Black Mist, guild resignation letters have gradually filled the mailbox— their members were harrassing us, raining attacks on the roof, pummeling my members at the tower, even sending us death threats.
After that I have realized that their glory and kindness is nothing but a facade; they are filthy foxes disguised as a sheep.
Our agreement was five percent lending rate, I was unwary that it was their means to bait us so we took it and we were able to make steady payments. However, they increased the lending rate up to ten percent so we decided to stop making payments because it was unreasonable thus their harassment began."
"They are greedy bastards! No worries me and Mereon will help to find a way to solve that—"
Ma'el told us the root of the issue between the Phoenix guild and the Black Mist guild.
Amidst my talking, marching footsteps from a number of people became audible.
/Knock Knock/
"They are here!"
Raku yelled in excitement.