Still... and vibrant... the world around them stopped, as if time had paused to watch the scene unfold. Trees, ancient and wise, cast long, sprawling shadows that stretched lazily across the soft grass. Their leaves rustled... gently, whispering secrets to each other, while the low-hanging sun painted everything in hues of amber and bronze.
A distant river murmured its song, a soft, flowing lullaby that danced through the air, accompanied by the occasional chirp of hidden crickets. The scent of damp earth and fresh greenery was intoxicating, making the very act of breathing feel like a forgotten luxury.
Here, the silence of the afternoon was palpable, broken only by the gentle sighs of the mist that wove through the air. Each gust flew by like ghostly fingers playing an unseen piano. At the edge of this dividing line, three figures stood, facing off against the swan and his group of 'pure-bred' ducklings.
Or at least, it should have been three figures standing.
Steven was sitting on the ground, though.
The ducks... er, Daseo's gang... intensely watched as he took out a piece of bread... and chowed down. (He was hungry, why were they staring?)
"How about this," Daseos raised a finger, locking eyes with them, "A 3v3..." He sliced his fingers to his right, "...on the bridge?"
Steven looked at Mayo, who had already taken initiative to move ahead: "Sounds good," she said, agreeing to the terms.
- 'Ding!'
['Mission Acquired!']
'Defeat Daseos's Group in a 3v3.'
[Penalty for failure: • • •]
Pending...
[+50% chance of additional unforeseen penalty.]
Current party members: Mayo, Steven, and Zero.
> SELECTING... 1st opponent...
...The tall raven-haired girl, her eyes blinking with cattiness, declared, "I'll take you on, then." She winked, putting a finger on her lips.
[Profile: 'Elara: Raven-haired Duelist' X]
"Fine by me," Mayo said, narrowing the distance between them.
They took their stances on the root-woven bridge. Despite its sturdy appearance, it quivered gently, echoing with subtle creaks, reminiscent of an old lullaby sung by the winds. The bridge linked the mainland to the floating island, its width fitting no more than three at a time. Below, the vast expanse was hidden, as thick, swirling clouds concealed any view of the ground.
One misstep looked like a long...
d
-r
o
-p
Down.
Around them, the air charged with anticipation. Elara's eyes, sharp and predatory, locked onto Mayo. Then, with a speed that seemed almost unnatural, the raven-haired girl lunged.
Slice—Slash... crack!
She gripped multiple knives in each hand like talons and hacked them down towards where Mayo stood. With each strike, the raven-haired girl made little, tantalizing marks around Mayo's feet, not enough to reach, but just enough to mock her attempts to counter.
"See, I'm at core condensation." Elara purred with a hint of smugness, "But, I guess you're not that terrible?"
Mayo's eyes flickered. "Less talk, more action." Mayo retorted, using the opportunity to send a swift kick, knocking one of Elara's knives from her grip. It plummeted and tumbled into the clouds below.
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Fantasy[??? book - D grade] [Description: A third-rate novel about the slice of life adventures of a boy and his friendly AI assistant. Nothing bad happens.] Recalibrating description... [Description (Revised): A hand-me-down novel about a boy who goes mi...
