OUR STORY, GILWORD HERE WE COME!

Chapter 6

40.

For the remaining time of their stay, Akari, Reiko, Ryuu, and Hikari, decided to do things all at the same time. While Hikari is on her work, Akari, Reiko, and Ryuu rest. After her shift, they all train for 2 hours while the rest of the day will be spent on doing different quests. In this manner, they can all do what they want without risking too much. They fear that someone might get in danger if they get separated, that's why they stick with this technique for the rest of the week.

Hikari possessed a strong amount of magical aspect. Day by day she slowly learns how to control her wind magic. Teaming up with the others creates numerous experiences in being an adventurer, sharpening her skills and mindset during a battle.

The weeks of their stay come to an end. Hikari thanked everyone for giving her the opportunity to become a better person. She also pledged her loyalty to Mechtown and swore to protect it with her life. Even though their training ends, their journey is not yet over.

After the heart-warming gratitude speech, Kane finally came back to Mechtown. In that instant, they started the discussion of what happened during those days…

"She defeated all of you? Given the circumstances, she has the upperhand. That's why I can't really pinpoint how strong she is based on your story" Kane stated.

"Upper Hand? But how? It's 6 versus 1" Ryuu questioned.

"The numbers do not always tell the victor, you should have known it by now" Kane argued.

"Based on our experience, well... he has a point" Reiko commented.

"You were all confused that time. Meanwhile she was mentally prepared. Just like you said, she followed you on purpose, meaning to say she is ready to act immediately by the time her cover blows up. Not to mention, most of your skills are AOE (area of effect). A fight in a small room always favors the skilled one." Kane added.

"What should we do?" Akari asked.

"Proceed as planned, Let's go to Gilword" Kane answered.

"But how about Kyap and the others? Isn't it risky to leave them? They might take Gali when they go back here... or worst" Akari questioned.

"If Gali is really that important to them, Nin should have picked him up then escaped. Something does not add up, if they did not get him last time, I'm sure they won't attempt to do it soon. They probably have a different plan." Kane argued.

"He has a point again. They probably have a different scientist by now." Reiko added.

"But aren't they worried about leaking their plans?" Ryuu questioned.

"They must have a different plan that I don't know. It's like letting you guys fall into a trap that they set, using my info to outsmart you." Gali intervened.

"At this point, I don't know who's outsmarting who…" Ryuu confusedly stated.

"If you are worried about your next move, just go with your plan. I'm afraid that my information will only lead you into a possible trap." Gali suggested.

"Don't worry, I will train harder during my free time so that when they come back, I'll defend this town for sure!" Hikari confidently said.

"I know you are worried but let's trust Hikari this time." Reiko said to Akari.

"I already formulated an escape plan this time. I've been thinking a lot since last night. I figured that we need an escape route when things get dire. We cannot beat everyone, especially those with the same level of Nin. I'll work secretly with a few of my trusted friends, so that others won't know the escape route I'm about to build." Kyap mentioned.

After the discussion, they all proceed to their duties. Kyap gathers his men, Hikari goes to the Guild's reception, while the rest pack their things and prepare for their trip.

"By the way, Captain, where did you go last time? I heard you were out of town" Ryuu asked Kane.

"I went to visit a tribe called Ozo on Coronn" Kane answered.

"You head back to Coronn? How do you manage to get there in less than 2 weeks?" Akari questioned.

"The crystal from last time serves as a teleportation port. I only need to go to Mystic forest, twist that crystal then it automatically teleports me to Coronn. I requested Mych for more of those crystals so that we can put multiple teleportation ports as we travel. She gave me another one in exchange for 50 meats, to feed her carnivorous pets." Kane explained.

"You went to Coronn! Why didn't you invite us! We wanted to spend time there!" Reiko complained.

"You said to do things individually, and besides, if I brought you there, Hikari might not be as she is today. Plus Nin probably slaughtered everyone on Mechtown if she was not properly dealt with" Kane defended.

"We can visit Coronn some other time, especially since we have an efficient way of going there now" Akari said.

"You said train right? Why did you go there just to train? What's special there?" Ryuu asked.

"Ozo are Demi-humans. They look like humans but they have the features of monkeys. That's the reason why they adapt their fighting style on how monkeys move." Kane explained.

"Demi-humans... Does monkey style help your fighting style or you just want to learn it?" Reiko asked.

"The Ozo tribe are known for their circular mode of attacking, thus utilizing weapons like Ring blade, Dual swords, and Scythe. Their movement showcases agility while mostly spinning their weapons. I practiced those movements in order to wield my scythe to its full potential." Kane answered.

"It looks like it's a long story, mind telling everything in detail while we are at the ship?" Akari suggested.

"That's a great idea! Those trips are indeed boring but I think Captain's story will fire things up!" Ryuu agreed.

"In that case, let's get moving~" Reiko responded.

Akari, Reiko, Ryuu, and Kane are finally ready to leave Mechtown. Together with Taurus, they started their journey, holding an optimistic outlook in their trip to Gilword.

41.

Modern ships have multiple stables now. A cruise ship which is good for travelling with multiple passengers, alongside their carriage. The innovation on Mechtown never ends. Once every 2 weeks, a trip always occurs. The cruise from Mechtown will travel to Gilword in 2 days, it will dock for 2 more days in Gilword then it will go back to Mechtown in 3 days time span. Going back is always slower due to the sea current. Upon reaching Mechtown, the ship will be in maintenance for a whole week in order to maintain it's safety. A different ship voyage as the other one rests, thus the cycle repeats.

Reaching the Mechtown's dock, the party boarded the cruise and finally started their journey towards Gilword. During their voyage, Kane told his story.

2 weeks ago, Kane went to Mystic forest to ask Mych for advice. He thinks that the way he wields his Demonic Scythe is flawed. Mych suggested different masters that can wield Scythe effectively. Among all of the options, the most favorable one is the Ozo tribe from Coronn since Kane can instantly go there without a hassle. With that, Kane teleported to Coronn and started his journey.

While walking towards the village, Kane was ambushed, completely surrounded by the Ozo tribe.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" Asked by Gok, the highest ranking soldier of the Ozo tribe.

"I'm here to find a master that can teach me how to wield my weapon" Kane answered.

"Are you fooling our kind? You look like a demon, and demons are the proponent of scythe. Not to mention your weapon speaks for itself" Gok Furiously replied.

"I am not here to fool you, I need a master. This weapon chose me and I am only a mere human. You're a demi human right? Can't you distinguish between a demon and a human?" Kane argued.

"Only the chief can tell the kind specifically" Gok answered.

"Then take me to your chief, you can tie my hands if you want" Kane responded

In order to prove Kane's purpose, Gok tied Kane's hands and escorted him towards their chief together with his men..

"Chief, we found this man, heading towards our village" Gok announced to the chief.

"Hoho…. Is he a threat? Why is he tied up?" Wuko, the Chief asked.

"Not sure yet, he said that he was looking for a master but he possesses an extreme aura. He might be a demon." Gok responded.

"Hmmm.. It's true that heee possesses a strong aura but it does not automatically mean he's a bad…. person.." Wuko stated.

"We are just being cautious" Gok defended.

"I believe he can kill us all if he wants to. Letting you tie him proves his true intention on his visit! Hoho…" Wuko added.

"You are indeed wise, release him and treat him as a guest" Gok praised Wuko as he ordered his men.

"Or perhaps he is pretending to be one to fool our kind.. He is a human after all.." Wuko counter-argued his previous statement.

"You might be right again chief, stop untying him!" Gok ordered his men.

"Is this always like this?" Kane asked.

"No one dares to question the way he thinks! He is the smartest Demi-humans!" Gok furiously replied.

"Alrighty, it's time for me to know who you really are" Wuko stared at Kane for 5 seconds.

"Okay, I'll train him" Wuko stated.

"Chief, with all due respect, I just want to know how you judge him?" Gok asked.

"My guts… Now prepare the training grounds" Wuko said.

The Ozos proceed to their regular routine while their chief and Kane head to the open area.

"I wouldn't question why you need to learn our fighting style, there are some humans who did the same but I declined. I have only taught 3 humans so far."

"Why did you decide to train me?" Kane asked.

"We all have our personal gain, I believe our sticks on this one are the same length. Now let's start your training, let me see your stance first" Wuko said.

With his left foot forward, Kane holds the upper part of the scythe on his left hand while using his right hand as support on the lower part of the scythe.

"I see, your left hand is stronger. Let me remind you that even though you are holding a long bar, you are not using a spear. That stance is for spearmen. Try putting the scythe on the center then tilt it towards your stronger side" Wuko criticized as he shows the proper stance.

"With that stance you can easily launch your first strike. It can be a slash, a spin, even a parry if they manage to attack you first. Keep in mind that Scythe is a medium range weapon, having the right distance will always be advantageous to you." Wuko discussed.

"Now that you know the basics, start spinning your scythe over your waistline. You may rest if you are tired but make sure to continue up until I stop you." Wuko instructed.

Kane did exactly what Wuko said. Spinning the scythe while standing still sounds simple but it is entirely exhausting after a couple of spins. 5 hours have passed, Kane is still spinning the scythe. A couple of more minutes, Kane decided to take a rest.

"So your limit is 5 and a half hours, after your break, hold the scythe at the edge and spin for as long as you can." Wuko said.

After a short period of time Kane stood up and proceeded to do the next instruction. He continuously spun on the same area and after 10 minutes Kane lost his footing and fell down.

"I see, 10 minutes. From now on you'll spin your scythe around your body for 5 hours then spin for 10 minutes, 3 times a day. This will help you to get used to the circular motion that we, the Ozo tribe, used to do." Wuko explained.

A whole week of spinning has passed, it looks like Kane is already adapted to this motion and can move his scythe efficiently.

"It seems that you are already accustomed to this part. Now for more advanced training, spin the scythe while moving it around your body. Mastering this technique can protect you from incoming projectiles no matter what angle that came from. You can do that for the whole day, it's your choice if you want to take some rest." Wuko instructed.

Without saying a word, Kane is precisely doing what Wuko said. On the third day of the 2nd week, they level up the difficulty.

"Since you are getting used to spinning, let's try actual deflection of projectiles. We don't have archers here but we all can throw rocks." Wuko said.

Wuko ordered his men to gather around and throw rocks at Kane. Even though Kane is strong enough to swiftly spin his scythe, the accuracy on deflecting needs improvement. He manages to deflect some, but there are multiple rocks hitting him all over the place. Due to blood covering Kane's eyesight, Wuko ordered his men to stop and postpone the training.

On the next day, Kane persistently asked to redo the training. Wuko saw the desperation in Kane's eyes, that's why he eventually agreed. But before letting Kane do it, Wuko showed how it's done. They all throw rocks at Wuko while he deflects everything using his scythe. After observing Wuko, Kane tried to replicate what he saw.

From randomly spinning the Scythe around, Kane realized the proper timing of every spin. Not just constantly spinning clockwise, he sometimes moves the scythe in flow of an infinity symbol in order to reverse the spin without losing its momentum. Because of that, Kane managed to block all incoming projectiles in every angle.

"Hoho! You finally realized how our spin movement works. Randomly spinning is pointless without accuracy!" Wuko praised as he ordered his men to stop throwing rocks.

"Now that you have the fundamentals of our style, let's put this in combat. Gok it's your time to shine!" Wuko called Gok to fight Kane.

"I won't disappoint you master" Gok stated as he wielded his ring blade.

"Now let the battle begin!" Wuko shouted.

Holding the Ring blade on his right hand, Gok charges in. He leans forward in order to create an extended swing of his blade in his first attack, continuously spinning the ring blade in a medium range. Even though the stance of a ring blade and scythe wielder are different, the principles are the same. Spinning without losing momentum alongside its accuracy is the key. Gok is surprisingly on even footing in terms of combat but he is no match on Kane's raw strength. Because of that, Kane can parry and push him to the edge. After a couple of blows, Kane's last swing broke Gok's weapon, causing Gok to lose his balance and fall down.

"Kane wins! Hoho, this is a pleasure to watch" Wuko stated.

"I'm surprised you managed to learn our style in that time span. I'll beat you next time" Gok said to Kane.

"Speed is not enough, start working out" Kane commented.

"I can't believe I'll hear that to a human but sure, I'll be stronger next time" Gok replied as a friendly rivalry was created at that moment.

After Kane's training he thanked everyone for training him. He gave 5 golds in exchange for his stay. The Ozo tribe will warmly welcome him again someday. With that, Kane goes back to Mystic forest and hunts 50 meats in exchange for another crystal.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOW, that story is mind blowing!" Ryuu commented.

"I guess there are a lot of things that we still don't know. I would like to meet the Ozo tribe someday!" Hikari added.

"What I want is to actually see Captain in action! My imagination can't keep up with his story!" Ryuu replied.

"Wait, you have an imagination?" Reiko sarcastically said.

"HOY!" Ryuu shouted.

"I already told the whole story, can you guys move to your rooms now?" Kane said.

"I'm thinking where should we find a Mage teacher?" Akari mentioned.

"I kinda want to meet someone who can heal in a different way so I can have a new perspective" Reiko added.

"I also want to have a master! Someone who is an expert in terms of daggers!" Ryuu responded.

"Did you guys hear any words that I said recently?" Kane asked.

"OF COURSE! I will definitely battle Gok someday! He seems like a strong opponent" Ryuu confidently replied.

"That is not the most recent phrase I've said" Kane said madly.

"I guess the answer is no?" Reiko commented.

Akari, Reiko, and Ryuu laugh as they continuously have an unstoppable conversation with Kane throughout the night.

42.

Going back to Mechtown, Kyap is overly thinking about how weak their defense is. Their prison got busted out by random thugs. Infiltrated and got played by a single opponent in their own guild room. As soon as Kane's party left, Kyap immediately assembled his crew.

"I'm here to discuss things with everyone here. I gather all of you because you are my most trusted men here in Mechtown. You can bring those trusted friends of yours too. Just make sure this plan won't leak. We need more men but only those we can fully trust, understand?" Kyap stated.

"Hai!" Everyone responded.

"Now we will formulate a plan and draw some blueprints. The main concept is building a hidden escape route from here to Graspmoon. After polishing every angle, I will head to the Graspmoon and talk with Orichi. We'll start the task when we manage to land a deal with him. Now start working!" Kyap initiated.

Swiftly, they split their groups into two and thoroughly examine the most efficient place to build a secret tunnel. It has to be near the Guild.

After hours of examining the area, both teams failed to find a place near the guild. The only hidden area, suitable for an escape route is the one on the far north of Mechtown, near Mystic Forest. With that, they decided to include digging a path from the guild upto that area, creating an underground pathway towards the said place. Ensuing their progress, they finally translate their plans into the blueprint. In that instant, Kyap proceeds to Graspmoon to show their plan.

Upon reaching Graspmoon, Kyap heads straight to the Guildmaster's room.

"Long time no see, what's the sudden visit for?" Orichi asked.

"Sorry for my sudden intrusion, I'm here to propose a plan" Kyap answered.

"I see you are holding a blueprint, it means you are well prepared for this. Have a seat and let's start the discussion" Orichi responded.

*After the discussion*

"Things are now complicated, I suppose. This plan benefits both of our places, we can't tell when an attack might occur. I'll summon Broko to help you find a place here in Graspmoon. If possible, make it similar to yours, so that it is not directly connected to the guild. It will be too obvious if it's within the vicinity." Orichi replied as they sealed the deal.

"Thank you so much, we'll start immediately" Kyap said.

"If you need more help, I can send more troops. Our place is known for its loyalty and integrity. This plan will be confidential even though someone spots it." Orichi replied.

Kyap walked outside with a successful agenda. In a couple of minutes, Broko and Kyap met up. Good thing Broko already knows a hidden cave in the mountains. They can continue to dig deeper and connect it to their tunnel. The operation will also be easier since no one roams the area, not to mention, Broko can use Earth magic. With that, everything went smoothly according to their plan.

Countless night shifts, digging secretly without anyone noticing the project, after a month of progress, they successfully built a hidden escape route connecting to their allied country.

"A job well done sir Kyap, would you like some coffee?" Hikari congratulated as she offered something to drink.

"Thank you, I hope we don't resort to it immediately" Kyap said as he reached for his cup of coffee.

"It's been peaceful lately, I guess they are all taking their time. I think you should take yours too" Hikari replied.

"Sounds like you are telling me to take it easy" Kyap responded.

"Fatigue might defeat you before the enemy does" Hikari mentioned.

"HAHA! You're right, maybe I'll take some rest. Thanks for the advice" Kyap said.

After drinking his coffee Kyap heads to his workshop and grabs his equipment to craft something. Eventually Hikari saw him working again.

"I thought you were going to take some break?" Hikari asked.

"I am taking one right now" Kyap said.

"It does not look that way, Sir." Hikari confusedly replied.

"Haha.. This is my rest, I'm at peace when I'm crafting different things. Learning, designing, inventing! I actually prefer this rather than being the Guildmaster" Kyap explained.

"I see, that's why you and Gali are on good terms. Just wondering, has anyone asked you, aren't you too masculine to be this crafty?" Hikari asked.

"HAHA! Believe me, I've heard that a thousand times, in fact I'm immune to that question." Kyap responded.

"I did not mean anything bad about it, I just wonder how you respond to that question since I've heard some people saying those" Hikari explained.

"It's fine, in fact I think this is literally who I am. Others said that I should be on a more physical type of job. I was born to be this big and I also do hard chores like building ships, I guess that explains my muscles. I don't regret being this masculine since it helps my daily life, I also don't regret being this crafty since I'm living in a town where they love to innovate, and most importantly I don't regret being both since this is who I am and people here accept me as I am. Craftiness and masculinity are not 2 polar opposites, you can be crafty without affecting your masculinity" Kyap clarified.

"Indeed, that question is nonsense. I hope you rest well here" Hikari responded as she headed back to the Guild's reception table.

Kyap continued to craft and study more about the inventions of Gali. On the other hand, after 2 days of their travel, Kane and the rest of the party finally reached Gilword.

"WOHOHOWOAAAH!" Ryuu shouted as they finally took their first step in Gilword.

Numerous vendors can be heard from the moment they reach Gilword, calling for customers to look at their products.

"This is amazing, it feels like there is a fiesta here" Akari stated.

"I'm looking forward to this, it's time to do some shopping!" Reiko mentioned.

"YOSHA!" Ryuu, Akari, and Reiko energetically shouted.

-This will be a new chapter to our story, Gildword here we come!