Ch. 10 Continue The Bet

Gwyneth recalled her first meeting with the tenth-level Swordmaster, a man who had left a lasting impression on her. The moment was burned into her memory, as if it had happened only yesterday, despite the time that had passed. The man had worn a featureless face mask, so Gwen couldn't discern the shape of his eyes or mouth. The mask left a mysterious aura around him, making him all the more intriguing. But despite the obscurity of his face, one thing was undeniable—his hand was incredibly warm when it had gripped hers. She liked the warmth, even though his hand was rough, callused from years of wielding a sword.

What struck Gwen the most, however, were the double wings attached to his back. They were not mere decorations but powerful, majestic wings that seemed to emanate a force of their own. Their sheer presence was awe-inspiring, filling the air with an undeniable power. And then there were his swords—dual blades that carried a terrifying aura, one that made the very air vibrate with the promise of destruction. Every inch of him exuded power and grace, leaving Gwen with a mixture of admiration and awe. She couldn't help but feel a strange yearning to see him again.

"Oh, have you met him?" The master's voice broke through Gwen's reverie, pulling her back to the present.

"He once saved me when the monsters ran wild on the night of the red moon," She would never forget that night. The terror, the chaos, the unrelenting onslaught of monsters—until the Swordmaster appeared like a figure from a legend.

"You're lucky," the master said thoughtfully, nodding. "This world is full of Hunters, tens of thousands of them, but there are only four who have reached god-level status. One of them is the Realm Knight, and the other is the Grim Reaper. Both are above tenth-level Hunters and together, they were the ones who managed to kill the Seventh-Pillar Demon King."

Gwen nodded, her mind racing with the information. She had heard of the Demon Kings before, those terrifying rulers who resided in the Nether Plane. It had been thousands of years since demons from the Devil Realm had come to colonize this plane. In the five millennia since then, over fifty Demon Kings had emerged, each one more powerful than the last.

The demon clan's growth was nearly unstoppable. Their strength doubled the rate of human progress, but the human population was still vastly greater. Humans, though less naturally gifted, possessed something that the demons did not—creativity. They built magic walls, enchanted tools, and developed countless innovations to defend themselves. Despite the monsters' rapid growth, humanity remained strong.

Even a Hunter at level six, when properly equipped with armor and level-eight magic tools, could take on a level-eight monster with the help of a few companions. But the real threat came from the Demon Kings—beings who could shatter entire armies with a single strike.

The Telekinesis Master handed her a token. "Okay. I think it's time for me to go. This is for you."

Gwen took the token from him, feeling its weight in her hand. It was made of platinum and shaped like a diamond, its edges sharp and precise. At its center was a small zephyr stone, its blue surface intricately covered with gold filigree. It was beautiful and unique, and Gwen could feel a faint magical aura emanating from it.

"I am Master Rocco," the man continued, his voice calm and assured. "An eight-level mage and the only telekinesis master. If you need help, you can show this token at the Mission Tower. The guards there will take you to my room."

"Mission Tower?" Gwen asked, her brow furrowed in thought. She had heard of it. The Mission Tower was a place where Hunters could gather to take on jobs and earn money by completing dangerous tasks. It was a hub for those seeking to prove themselves or gain fame and fortune.

"You live there?" she asked, surprised.

"Yes," Master Rocco replied with a nod. "Come whenever you want. I'll be there."

"Thank you, Master Rocco," Gwen said, bowing respectfully.

Her mood lifted after meeting him. The encounter with the Swordmaster had been a bright spot, and now Master Rocco's kindness added another layer to the day. She didn't even give a second thought to the childish 'test' from the seniors that had been hanging over her head. The petty argument with them seemed insignificant now as if it had happened in another lifetime.

The following days passed peacefully, but Gwen couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her sixth sense, the one that had never steered her wrong, was telling her that something was coming. It was the calm before the storm, and Gwen couldn't ignore the nagging sense of unease that grew with each passing day.

Sure enough, on one ordinary school day, as she walked through the gates, she found herself face-to-face with a group of hostile seniors.

'Shit!' Gwen thought, suddenly remembering the bet. The one thing she had tried to forget was now coming back to haunt her. "I shouldn't have gone to school today," she muttered under her breath.

"We're here to collect," one of the seniors sneered. "You know the bet. If you succeed, we'll all be your friends. But if you fail..." Her voice trailed off as she gave a malicious smile. "You'll be our slaves until graduation."

Gwen sighed, feeling her shoulders slump. It had been days since the bet had been mentioned, and she'd hoped they had forgotten about it. But no such luck.

"Why are you bothering me now?" Gwen asked, genuinely confused. "I thought you would have forgotten by now."

"We gave you time to figure out his likes and dislikes," another senior chimed in. "But it seems you learned nothing. We gave you a chance to study his preference."

Someone needs to split this girl's head open. Gwen thought bitterly, feeling the familiar itch to use lightning magic to electrocute her tormentor.

But then, she reminded herself of the rule that she could never use magic on a fellow Hunter unless they were equal or stronger than her. This was something that all Hunters learned when they trained in the Nether Plane.

Zak, the senior who had challenged her, was a level four Hunter, but his role as an Assassin made him more dangerous than he appeared. Still, Gwen knew that she couldn't let her anger get the best of her.

"Okay," she said with a resigned sigh. "I'll do it today."

She walked past them, ignoring their triumphant smiles, and made her way to her class. Sitting down in her seat, she greeted her deskmate, Sofia, who was her first real friend at this school.

"Sofia," Gwen said, leaning over. "I need your help."

"Say it!" Sofia replied eagerly, her bright eyes wide with interest.

"Do you know Senior Clayton?" Gwen asked, her curiosity piqued.

Sofia's eyes practically sparkled at the mention of his name. "Do I know him? Are you kidding me? No one in this school who doesn't know him! His hair is like a cute puppy's fur, his eyebrows are perfect, and his eyes... you'll feel like you're drowning in them. And don't even get me started on his lips..."

Gwen made a face, feeling her stomach churn. "His lips?"

Sofia laughed. "What? Every girl in the world wants to know what they taste like!"

Before Gwen could respond, she pulled out a bucket—God only knew where she had gotten it—and vomited all the contents of her stomach.

"Sofia, seriously?" she gasped, trying to regain her composure.

Sofia crossed her arms, still grinning. "You were the one who asked about Senior Clayton! What did you expect?"

"Forget the details," Gwen groaned. "I just want to know what he's really like. His character, his hobbies, what kind of person he is."

Sofia paused as if considering her words carefully. "Well, honestly... He's a total pushover. A mama's boy, really. His grades are terrible, so bad that the school might expel him, but his mother's one of the biggest supporters of the school, so he gets away with it. His hobby? Sleeping."

Gwen blinked in disbelief. Is that the same person her friend described before?

"Long story short, he's good for nothing except his looks."