Nimin

"Ah, and here she comes."

Jarvis raised his arm and waved, "Yo! Yielya!"

Yielya waved back, the funny looking lizard slowing to a stop.

Kiro eyed the newcomer, "This is the arrival I'm suppose to expect?"

"Expect?"

"Ah never mind. She's tagging along?"

"Yep, she plans to spend some time looking through the various libraries of the cities we visit."

"A researcher then?"

"Against her wants."

Yielya approached the two, "I have finally arrived! Good to see you Jarvis." She the turned her head towards Kiro, "And this is?"

Introducing herself Kiro spoke, "Kiro, Mister's guide."

"Heh, Kiro is it. Your name is quite similar to this fellow." Yielya patted the funny looking lizard.

Her face warping into confusion Kiro asked, "What?"

"I named this one Niro. I just thought it was funny."

"Oh."

Jarvis stretched, "Don't take it to heart, Yielya likes to tease."

"In that case. . ."

Kiro lifted out her hand, "A pleasure to meet you."

Yielya shook it, only to find a centipede of some sort crawl up her arm. A playful smile spread across her lips, "What a surprise."

Tring~

A small stone fell to the ground where the centipede was. Dusting off her palms Yielya casually asked, "This place has a library right?"

Although slightly dissatisfied from the lack of reaction, Kiro did her duty, "No, this city is one of entertainment. You'll be hard pressed to find a book here."

"How distasteful, who says reading isn't entertainment?"

"This place."

"I made all this journey for what?"

Jarvis interrupted, "You can tag along, that just gives us an excuse to head towards the next city."

"Ha, jokes on you I was already planning on that."

"Then we can head off when the sun rises."

"Are you going to sleep outside or log off?"

"Why not both?"

Yielya shook her head, "I'm not joining you for a nap out in the wilds. I'll head off for now."

"You could miss out on something lucky."

"I'm good."

Yielya promptly turned to white lines and vanished. Kiro seemed to not notice the exchange and instead asked, "A night out is it?"

"Did you need something to eat?"

"I can probably convince someone to hand me something."

Jarvis made a face, "Let's not 'convince' anyone. I always carry food on me, I don't mind sharing some."

"Then don't mind me being impolite."

Returning to the same spot they had already visited, Jarvis rest against a tree. Loni appeared from the tattoo and yawned, "This place is quite strange."

Jarvis put a finger onto her lips, although it was more like the lower half of her face, "Shh, let's not worry about that."

Tossing a strange fruit towards Kiro he apologized, "I have only the longer lasting stuff."

Kiro caught the fruit, "I would be shocked if you had a bunch of fresh fruits regardless. Wait isn't this a fruit?"

"Yeah."

"How is this long lasting?"

"It's not some random fruit. I told you I only carry the good stuff on me. That's quite a treasure."

Kiro tasted the fruit and was quite surprised by its flavor, "It's good!"

"I told you."

Jarvis gave Loni a chunk of another fruit and ate rest of it.

Kiro munched silently while watching Jarvis, her curiosity grew on who exactly he was.

~ ~ ~

Hundred sighed, "You two have been like this for two minutes already. Do you really plan on just standing around?"

Nimin made a face, "When you put it like that. . ."

Mana shot forward, Akiol was pleased to see that someone else has reached a level with Mana Control, especially a player. Responding in kind Akiol blocked it with his own control. Impacts forming in the air.

Nimin was already making his next move however. He charged and leapt forward, thrusting his spear to pierce Akiol's head. With a small movement Akiol guided the spear away and to the side with Stars. Then with a flick of his wrist he swung towards Nimin's neck.

The guild was momentarily stunned by the brief exchange. Very, very few manage to even see Nimin's movements in the beginning. Yet this random they came across handled it easily. Akiol himself was quite surprised, Nimin's strength would most likely be around the top back at their home continent. He believed it to be due to them wielding one of Borus' weapons.

Ducking under the swing Nimin spun their spear and aimed towards Akiol's legs. This was stopped by merely stepping onto the spear. Nimin's posture faltered slightly. With a quick recovery he retreated, more wary of his opponent.

Using a different method Nimin began using his advantage. The spear was always an incredibly good weapon, and it almost always had an advantage over and other melee weapon when it came to combat. Merely due to its range. Nimin began to stab forward. A barrage of forward stabs began to approach Akiol. With only light movements Akiol dodged each thrust.

The spear flashed a bright golden light, blinding Akiol's eyesight. Nimin had created an opportunity and stabbed forward! Akiol could feel the air move, the sound of Nimin's movements. As if he was never blinded, Akiol moved fluidly. The spear passed by harmlessly.

Lifting Stars the blackhole fluctuated and a powerful explosion sent Nimin sliding back. As Akiol's vision returned he playfully asked, "What happened to no Skills?"

Body freezing momentarily Nimin scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, "Ah, I was so absorbed in the fight I forgot!"

Stars wasn't so pleased however, 'You didn't shout the name!'

'Oops, forgot.'

'Now he's pouting, shouting the name of your move is so dumb. Why are you so obsessed with that?' -Givale

Akiol interrupted, 'If you're gonna bicker do it later.'

The two apologized simultaneously and remained silent.

Mira watched the battle with starry eyes, he never had seen Akiol fight like this. His own battle against Akiol ended quickly.

~ ~ ~

'Oh~ Little Stars did not lie after all!'

'Pardon?'

'His sword asked me to call him Stars, such an adorable one. He seemed quite confident in his wielder, I can see there was reason behind that.'

'Yeah, this guy is ridiculous. It's almost as if he isn't even trying.'

'Clearly you aren't much of a threat, but I disagree. Although it may just be out of respect, but that one is taking the battle seriously.'

'Yet I haven't got a hit in.'

'Quite the humbling battle~'

'I have to agree with you on that one.'

Changing his stance Nimin focused on the battle. His sight flickering in and out.

He blinked, trying to rid of the annoying effect. After all he couldn't see it.

From ever since he could remember, Nimin was able to see a path towards the best outcome. Almost as if a hand guided him down the road to success. His grades ranked top of his school, he made many friends that intertwined with his path. He was always praised to be a genius, with a future that seemed bright as gold.

It was boring, he never really felt like he earned anything. He never held a respect for hard work, after all he was shown the way to the best choice. One day his parents bought him the VR headset to celebrate his success. Nimin never really had any interest in games, it was too easy anyway. Yet his parents insisted he give it a try, so he obliged.

Oddly enough as he saw the headset he couldn't see a path. There wasn't anything telling him whether or not putting on the headset was the best choice. The headset gave him something he hadn't really seen before. A choice.

This intrigued him, so he put it on and created an account. As he ventured he realized he could see the same path again. It dispirited him. Was he really going to be shown the way to success again?

A thought struck him, since it was a game with little consequence. What if he chose not to follow the path? Thus led his new life of rebellion, choosing choices that the path never led to. He made mistakes and learned from them, even if intentional.

It gave him a newfound respect for everything, it made him appreciate those without the same gift. It also made him realize how lucky he was to have such a gift. So he came to terms with the path, occasionally following it to have the best outcomes. While sometimes choosing what he wanted.

He also eventually realized that the path would lead him to victory. It showed him the best methods to fight his opponents. Utilizing it he quickly became a top tier fighter, his name spreading across the continent.

Yet despite all this, he couldn't see a path to victory. Unlike when he first saw the headset, it wasn't like there was no path to be found. Instead the path kept changing, as if trying to test his opponent.

As he watched this a sudden thought struck him. Could he not see a path due to Akiol's skill? Could a path not be created because Akiol was capable of reacting accordingly?

'. . .'

What kind of experience was needed to be capable of doing that?