Chapter 26: Food Thief 4

"How despicable."

"Disgusting, is this how an ability-user should act?"

"If only I can manifest an element, the great I shall beat you up as punishment!"

"You're going to beat him up?"

"I clearly said 'if'."

The ears of Allen Stryka perked up when he heard the comments of the onlookers. His face twitched on how unfair these people were slandering him.

But instead of addressing them, he looked straight at the low-cost cowboy in front of him. He reasoned,

"Why would I steal something that tasted that bland?"

"How dare you insult the food of the city guards!"

The cowboy with blue-streaked hair snapped. He seemed offended by hearing the description of the food ration. Perhaps he valued those provisions personally.

Allen was troubled though. The person in front of him had missed the point of the statement because of his sentiments with the packed meal. Thus the young man clarified,

"Like I care, what's important is I got them from a trade."

"Oh? What kind of trade is this?"

The cowboy raised an eyebrow. He seemed to be intrigued by the details of the transaction. He urged the young man to elaborate.

Allen answered,

"I hunt mutated beasts for food. If you want to verify you can ask –"

"Ha! What kind of idiot trades their hunt for something that tasted that bland?"

But he was cut off by the mocking reply of the cowboy. The young man was indeed aware that the terms of the trade sounded ridiculous. Especially now that he was hearing it out loud himself.

Alas, that was the truth of the situation. He could not just make up a different excuse now that he had revealed the nature of his work.

And then he noticed,

"Hey, you just insulted the food of the city guards!"

"No, you!"

Allen felt like he was having a headache. Talking to this person had definitely caused that headache!

"I heard enough of you."

And yet the cowboy was the one that had the gall to say that he had enough. What was wrong with this city?

The person with blue-streaked hair seemed unperturbed by these troubles though. He confidently prepared his stance. He said,

"With that lousy alibi of yours, you might have as well confess on your crimes."

Elemental energy began to manifest around his left hand. He looked like he was gripping on some kind of equipment. He continued,

"In the name of the city guards, I shall cut you down!"

Water element surged through his hand. A sheathed sword formed on his hand which was around a meter and a half in length. Its shape was similar to the weapon which was popularly called katana.

"[Aqua Blade]!"

The low-cost cowboy lowered his stance. He was probably preparing for a lunge attack of some sort. His face was solemn, as if he trying to clear up his mind. He murmured,

"Eight worlds, one heaven…"

His eyes with amber-colored pupils gave a sharp gaze. His target was the young man who was readying his stance as well. The former then sprinted forward. He declared,

"Fourth Form: River Slash!"

The person with blue streaks on his hair pulled the sword made of water from its scabbard. The motion was swift, fluid even. He was probably using his elemental manipulation to increase his sword drawing speed.

Allen was familiar with this form of attack to a certain extent. It was referred to as Batou Style. Or the technique of drawing a blade quickly to execute a slashing attack.

The source of this information was of course the popular entertainment media for hot-blooded youths. The young man had consumed lots of this so-called media before the apocalypse after all.

What he was not expecting though, was the possibility of encountering someone who uses the attack in real life. Perhaps the person in front of him was fellow enthusiast of the same mode of entertainment. He was amazed that such people still remained despite the apocalypse.

But such amazement had to be put away for now.

The incoming slash was about to cut Allen after all!

He took a sidestep to avoid the range of the swung blade. But the sword followed his evasive movements.

The image of a river water freely flowing towards his direction suddenly formed in his mind. He was taken aback by the vivid scene he experienced. Was this a form of illusion?

No.

Allen shook his head in his thoughts. He was sure that the attack was not a deception of some sort. It was more of an impression he formed on his own in accordance to what the person in front of him was doing.

This was similar to watching a master craftsman conduct his art. The expertise and thoughts of the person was being telegraphed on his every movement. And the audience could not help but see the person on a different light.

This means he's really serious.

Allen concluded. He then clenched his right hand. If he could not dodge, then he had to face the attack head on.

[Fire Fist]!

Flames erupted as he threw a right hook punch. He adjusted the angle of his punch to counteract the trajectory of the incoming slash.

Bam! Sizzle!

The punch parried the sword by hitting the flat side of the blade. The contact might have doused the flames but that was to be expected.

The aim here was to simply disrupt the attack and cancel the mental image that it brought.

The low-cost cowboy widened his eyes in surprise. Perhaps he was not expecting the young man to cancel his attack in that way. The former had the elemental advantage after all.

Nonetheless his surprise only lasted for a second. He steadied his gaze and continued his movements. He swung his sword towards his target once again.

Allen reignited the flames in his right fist in response. He was planning on deflecting the attacks of the sword-wielder. He would then try to figure out a way to close in the distance.

However, the sword-wielding cowboy leaped backwards when he realized that his attacks were all being parried. He narrowed his eyes. He then commented,

"You're pretty strong."

"And so are you."

Allen admitted. He might be able to defend against the person but he could not land a hit of his own. And just when he was about to gain a chance to close in, the latter retreated.

This meant that the person in front of him had good senses.

But then the sword-wielding cowboy shook his head. He looked like he was conflicted with something. He frowned as his eyes gave a troubled expression. He said,

"Then why are you using your strength to steal food?"

"I don't. I hunt my food fair and square."

Allen replied. He did not bring up the issue that it was his food that was actually stolen here. There was a high chance that he had chosen the wrong soul energy signature to follow after all.

Unfortunately, he lost the two other signatures that he had detected. The low-cost cowboy had formidable skills. And thus he had to focus all his attention to the person in front of him.

What he could do now was to convince the sword-wielding cowboy that he had been accused wrongly as well. He would then figure a way to check on the other two later.

However, the sword-wielder refused to accept his claim. He refuted,

"Lies."

He then threw the scabbard that he was holding with his left hand. It was made from water element which then lost its shape when he let it go. The water scabbard then splashed to the concrete floor of the park.

The person with blue streaks of hair then held his water sword with both hands. He stepped his right leg forward as the blade was poised towards his left side. He lowered his stance. He said,

"I'm done holding back. Prepare yourself."

"My thoughts exactly."

Allen answered as he smiled wryly. He had no other option but to settle this battle first apparently. He clenched both of his fists. He then bumped them together in front of him.

[Fire Fist: Pugilism]!

His flames erupted in preparation with what the sword-wielder was about to do. The latter had declared a while ago that his previous attack was the 'fourth form'.

This would mean that he had more than one of those awe-inducing attacks in his arsenal. This was further confirmed by the fact that he was taking a different stance right now.

Nonetheless Allen decided to face the new move head on. He called out,

"Let's go!"

"Come!"

The sword-wielder sprinted first. He then took a side step towards his right side. He then declared,

"Second Form: Rain Cutter!"

He then continued on side-stepping from left to right. He seemed to be creating afterimages from his movements. He even increased his momentum further.

So fast!

Allen could not help but give compliment in his thoughts. Nevertheless he did not forget to rush forward himself. He raised his guard up as he began weaving his upper body as well.

A barrage of slashes greeted him though. A drizzle of sword cuts was about to fall towards him.

The young man gritted his teeth. He increased his focus on the soul energy of the person in front of him. Since he could not keep up with the speed of attack, he would have to anticipate the movements before they arrived.

Bam! Sizzle! Bam! Sizzle! Bam! Sizzle!

Both of his fists were moving at varying angles to parry the incoming slashes. He had to optimize his arm reach. Determine the shortest path needed for the interception. And then be ready for the next attack.

The barrage continued but the young man refused to give in. Neither side was willing to concede on this standstill.

Until,

"Stop this commotion at once!"

Both sides halted their attacks and blocks respectively. They both leaped backwards to distance themselves. They then took a look on who shouted.

Allen was surprised to see that it was Gurim. He had just arrived together with more than a dozen of city guards. They were all wearing a military-issued uniform.

"The cavalry is here."

The low-cost cowboy grinned. He looked triumphant as he manifested a new scabbard made of water. He then sheathed his sword as he looked at the guards confidently.

Allen wanted to refute the person. He would have loved to remark that the cavalry was supposed to be for him. But he withheld his words when he looked at the green-haired person.

Gurim had a stern look. As if he was not here to assist the young man at all. His eyes shifted between the two who was having a fight. He then announced,

"Arrest these two for disturbing the order in this vicinity. They are also caught in the act of using abilities in a public area."

He started waving his hands and directing the guards. He was also looking over the bystanders and gestured for them to disperse. He then added,

"More importantly,"

He paused as he looked towards Allen. But the meaningful gaze he was giving did not have a slight trace of compassion in them. He continued,

"Both of them are food thieves."