Jack sent Shredding Fang at Anotherday and Wilted Tree. Five fangs came out of the ground and charged at the two. He also added Mana Bullet and Energy Bolt for the two.
Jack then went at Handsome Joe who was slowed. His two Spectral Blades were not affected by the slow effect. Joe controlled them to slash at Jack hindering his approach. Jack's staff was replaced by Whirlwind Falchion again. The two spectral blades were not Jack's equal opponent. They were struck to the side, exposing Joe, who was wide open for a beating.
"Hold!" Jack heard Wilted Tree shout.
'Yeah, right. As if anyone ever stops when an opponent yells hold,' Jack thought as he did a feint slash yet swiped at Joe's leg.
The guy fell from the swipe. Jack delivered a slash to put him into critical, but he saw a round ball being tossed from the corner of his eyes. The ball exploded and formed a protective shield around Joe. Jack's sword hit the shield and he felt as if he was hitting a solid metal wall.
"I said hold!" Wilted Tree said again.
"So, we are allowed to use tools in the fight?" Jack asked as he took out Disruptive Bomb.
"Good God! You are really stubborn. It's enough already, we are not fighting anymore," Wilted Tree said. To prove her words, Mazin which had come out of frozen status no longer attack Jack. It came over to its owner's side and stood on standby. Anotherday was also just standing still.
"Why stop? He has not used his Concealed Needle yet," Jack said pointing to Anotherday.
"You are quite knowledgeable about other class' skills," Wilted Tree commented. "Can you please move away from him?" Wilted Tree pointed at Handsome Joe. Jack looked at the guy that was still protected by an energy shield. Joe looked him back with an ugly face.
"Fine," Jack stored his weapons and moved away.
Wilted Tree came to Handsome Joe's side. She did something and the protective bubble disappeared. Handsome Joe stood back up.
After making sure Handsome Joe was okay, Wilted Tree turned back to Jack and said, "It seems that you really can protect yourself. In that case, the Lightning God Blessing should be safe with you. Please don't let it fall into World Maker's hands."
"Never plan to," Jack said. "So, are you people going to tell me now what is the deal with those World Maker people and what's your connection with them?"
"I'm sorry. We don't trust you enough for that," Wilted Tree said.
"How about the place where these World Maker people gathered? Maybe I can go there and ask them myself."
"If you go, you will just be delivering your Lightning God Blessing to them. So, I won't tell you. Please do not underestimate them. We know now that you are strong, but they are in another league. You should be grateful that you came to this world into Themisphere country. This country was very far away from their base of operation, hence they are not very active here. If you want to fight against them, become stronger. I will come to ask for your aid when that time comes."
"Well, if that time comes, if you ask nicely, perhaps I will consider," Jack said. "Are we done here? Or do you still have another test for me?"
"No, no more test. We won't bother you anymore," Wilted Tree said.
"What are you doing all the way out here anyway?" Handsome Joe said. "Took us a while looking for you."
"I'm going to the Corporate United's Guild Headquarters that way," Jack didn't hide his purpose. These three didn't seem to be the kind who associated with guilds. He didn't believe they would warn Corporate United people. Even if they did, Jack was not afraid.
"What are you going there for?" Handsome Joe asked again. "The information on you is that you are enemy with them."
"Exactly. I'm going there to destroy their headquarters," Jack replied.
The three were quiet. They subconsciously looked behind Jack. 'You and what army?' Their faces said.
"If there is nothing more, I will take my leave then. Oh, right. Before that, I heard you talk about a contingency plan. Mind telling me what it is? Or is that a secret as well?"
Wilted Tree smiled. "The contingency plan was if you proved weak. We will kill you. That way, the Lightning God Blessing will leave your body. It can only be gotten again from a new SSS quest. We will not know where to get this quest, but so will the World Maker people."
"So… you were lying when you said you will hold back when my HP is low. Well, not that I believe you will hold back anyway. However, since you know I have two classes, you should be aware of my Immortal Soul as well, right? I will simply revive in a safe zone. The Lightning God Blessing will still be with me."
Wilted Tree's smile was getting wider. "I have a tool that will cause you to revive at the place where you died. So we can kill you again when your Immortal Soul is in cooldown."
"There is such a thing?" Jack turned to Peniel.
Peniel shook her head. "Not in my knowledge."
"An alien entity then," Jack mumbled. Jack looked again at the three, he saw them in a different light now. This group was not a pushover. They didn't use any tools during the fight. But evidently, they had plenty of it. If they went all out, he might not have an easy time. But then again, he himself was also still holding back. He only used his Archmage class at the last moment and he also comply with Wilted Tree by not using Lightning God Barrage.
No longer having any questions for them, Jack walked over. The direction of Corporate United's Guild Headquarters was at their backs. They didn't respond as Jack passed them by, but Wilted Tree called again.
"Mister Storm Wind, I hope you truly put my warning to heart," she said. "Unless you have sufficient allies with you, please run when you meet World Maker people. Do not attempt to search them out. Particularly the Master, if you meet anyone with that alias, make sure to run immediately."
Jack turned to her. "This Master guy is that powerful?"
"More than you can imagine," Wilted Tree said.
"He is a player though, right? Not a native?"
"Yes."
Jack didn't believe there was a player that can render him powerless. Every player came to this world at roughly the same time, so everyone had the same amount of time and resources to improve. Even if this Master had some tools that aid him, Jack believed he should still be able to somewhat contend.
"Okay, I will be careful if I meet him," Jack said.
"Not be careful. Run immediately!" Wilted Tree insisted.
"Fine, fine," Jack lied.
He took out a red whistle and blew. Pandora appeared with splendor.
"A… a Nightmare…?" Wilted Tree stammered after seeing the appearance of the fiery steed.
Jack climbed up to Pandora and sped away.
"Isn't that…?" Handsome Joe asked halfway.
"Yes… a Unique steed," Wilted Tree answered.
"How did he get his hands on one?"
"… I don't know."
"I thought you are supposed to know everything about this world?"
Wilted Tree responded by giving Handsome Joe an irritated stare, which shut him up.
"He said he was going to destroy a Guild Headquarters," Anotherday said. "Wanna watch?"
"Well… we do have some free time to kill…"
The three then took out their own whistles and summoned their steeds. All of them had rare steeds. Although they were not as fast as Pandora, they were not slow as well. They hurriedly rode in Jack's direction.
Jack still spent some time killing monsters when he met a new one. He was in the process of completing the monster of his last hunting quests when Wilted Tree and the others caught up to him. They didn't come near Jack thought. Wilted Tree just stayed at a distance as he watched Jack's dot on her radar.
Jack also noticed the three. "What are the three of them doing following me?" He thought. He was thinking of going over and asking them, but he then decided not to. If they wanted to attack him again, he would welcome them. He would not hold back anymore though if that happened.
Jack continued on his way after dispatching the monsters. It was again slightly off than he had estimated. It was an hour after sunset before a large structure of a Guild Headquarters came into view.
'They had developed it until this stage? As expected of a famous guild,' Jack thought. Corporated United had gained this headquarters later, but from its structural look, its progress was not lacking compared to Heavenly Citadel.
Jack noticed from his radar, some activities by both blue and white dots could be seen. The blue dots should be the Corporate United people roaming around their headquarters' territory, accompanied by the white dots which were the native soldiers they trained.
Jack was pondering how he should approach this. He saw on his radar the three had caught up again. These three stayed at the periphery, not interacting with the Corporate United people.
'So, they only want to watch,' Jack grinned.. "Let's give them a show then."
