17. Matteo Faces The Dragon

17. Matteo Faces The Dragon

Matteo stood awkwardly in the expanse of the cave, his face and clothes were covered in blood. His hands still trickled with the red fluid, around him the corpses of some players. Before him was an equally bloodied dragon, his blond hair half soaked in blood. He tried to catch his breath as he looked at Matteo.

"Who the hell are you?" The dragon said followed by a fit of heavy coughs.

Matteo tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and pushed himself up to his feet, his face cold and distant. "What are you saying, I'm Teo."

The dragon feigned a smile. "Teo my ass, you killed every damn person here and what for?"

Matteo launched forward and said in a cold voice. "To kill you of course."

They met in the middle, their swords clashing sending sparks flying in the air. The dragon's footwork was more steady and even more grounded than Matteo so he forced him back in the first clash.

Matteo grunted as he skidded back, he raised his sword just in time to guard against an attack from the dragon. The attack caused his already weak hands to tremble. His body almost lost composure but with the activation of his killer's instinct talent he managed to focus a bit more.

The dragon found an opening and swung his blade at Matteo who blocked it, he saw his body trembled he moved with moment and planted a kick on Mattoe's chest. Matteo grunted as the blow backed him into a tree, he struggled to catch his breath.

"Teo, why did you let them die?" The dragon said, his handsome face filled with grief. "You were pretending all this time, I don't want to believe that you are some cynical killer. I also don't want to kill you because of that. This is a game and we should be working together."

Matteo chuckled and coughed, spitting out blood in the process. He opened his inventory and took out two vials of red fluid and downed it. It was smooth and tasteless except for a metallic tinge it gave the back of his throat.

[Basic health potions has been consumed]

[5 health has been recovered]

[Health - 9/15]

He watched the dragon do the same, the more he saw his handsome face the more he wanted to punch it into a tree. "Your constant whining still makes me want to throw up."

The dragon ran those words in his head, for some reason it sounded familiar. There was a player who had told him that a few times, his eyes widened as the words escaped his mouth.

"It's can't be, you're noble zero?"

Matteo took a drink of his stamina potions while his opponent was still dazed. "Yeah, it's me Santa."

The dragon looked at the young boy with renewed reverence, he never expected his rival to be an highschool kid. He also did not expect him to be out to kill him.

"What's this all about, I thought we were buds. I'm sure we can talk this out." While saying this dragon went into an attack stance or something that resembled one. With his newfound reverence came dread. He knew how unpredictable his rival was and he would not take a chance. "So you lured be out here to kill me."

Matteo nodded slightly, "You're an annoying insect and unfortunately the biggest threat to me in future."

The dragon tried to hide his shock, "What the hell is wrong with you, I haven't even done anything."

Matteo wasted no time and charged forward, the dragon met him in a frontal clash, their swords creating sparks in the air. With each swing there was a parry, they continued their blades dancing indefinitely. Their stamina started to deplete and their self made forms breaking, the forest terrain only caused them to lose more stamina.

Matteo grunted as he received a light cut on the side, he thrust his blade forward to strike his opponent in the chest but his limbs had a shorter reach than his opponent. He cursed as he received a knee to the side, the pain caused him to let go of his sword and fall on his knees. He cried out in pain and looked up at the dragon standing above him with his sword raised.

The dragon hesitated for a second, Matteo paid him in deed by summoning his dagger and jumping forward. With the momentum he plunged his dagger into his chest and pushed him aside.

The dragon screamed as he stumbled back and fell down. The only words that escaped his mouth was. "Why, noble zero?"

Matteo looked at what he had done, he has one hand clutching to his side that had been kicked earlier. His eyes trembled for a bit as he spoke. "You knew too much, without you in the story I can get what I want. If you were to geo beyond this phase and get how to work your abilities you would be a threat."

The dragon wheezed in pain and said. "Dammit, you really are a cynical piece of shit. You're after the holy armour aren't you?"

Matteo looked away and said nothing.

The dragon continued. "Tell me, did you ever see me as your rival?"

Matteo sighed and responds. "No, you were always a threat."

The dragon's eyes paled and lost their light as he gave his last breath, he still looked at Matteo with a look of pain and confusion as he died. The image bore down into the very depth of Matteo causing him to freeze there, the system notifications jarred him awake.

[You have slain a player]

[You have received 20 exp for killing a player of the same level]

Matteo gasped as he backed up till his back touched a tree then he collapsed into the ground and buried his head into his hands. The system messages continued to roll in.

[You have awakened a unique talent "Dark Avenger"]

[The thirst for vengeance has driven you to slay all in your way to accomplish it. The game master has his eye on you.]

[Special effect- against an enemy the user despises one stat is given a random boost. Effect is affected by the level of malice shared with target, it is limited only to other players]

Matteo wanted to give a remark but his mouth came out dry, he could see the puddle of blood streamed under him and this made him want to throw up.

[For being the first to awaken two unique talents you have been gifted 2000GC]

[Your contract to the Solaris Bank is in effect, all earnings have been deducted]

Just as he was about to have a piece of mind, more messages appeared.