Avilien

Not too bright

Lance froze mid-swing and turned his head to look at Brit and her game guide, Squeeks. He glared at the pair and then at Cissy. The fact that she was here was a massive blow to him and the guild, as Lance knew that even all of them together couldn't take her if they tried—she was that far out of their league. Another issue was that he really hated her after she'd utterly destroyed him in their fight earlier.

"What have you done to Cissy?" snapped Lance as he dismissed his shield and clenched his sword with two hands, turning away from Luke.

"Oh, are we going to fight again? You didn't do very well the last time...maybe you're very dumb." Brit laughed. The sound of her girlish chuckle echoed off the walls in the basement.

"Like you have the right to call anyone dumb. He has more brain cells than you." Squeeks stepped forward, sniffing at the air, "My nose is not as good as a Grenchitty, but we have here a level-four Warrior, a level-five Paladin, a level-three Druid healer, a level-four Assassin and a...a level-zero knight. What are the chances of three beta-class users being in the same town?" Squeeks rambled to himself as he stroked his furry chin.

"Answer my question!" Enraged, Lance stepped away from Luke and towards Brit. He had left himself wide open to an attack from a fully reenergized Luke, should Luke seize upon the opportunity.

Nebs moved around to Luke's blindside and proceeded to protect him, his eyes never moving off Anna. Not in the least concerned about the arrival of new people, Nebs understood that he had to protect Luke from Anna. Otherwise, he would never taste a potato again. All-out war could break loose and poor Luke was nothing more than easy XP, along with himself.

"Squeeks has the ability to bore people to sleep. If he licks them, they fall asleep for a few minutes depending on their level...she'll wake up soon. I grew curious as to why Nate attacked here, but now I see no reason to fret or protect you lot." Brit edged her sword closer to Cissy, who snored while standing still.

"What do you want?" asked Lance. He now tried to be polite.

"Nothing. Heard some commotion and abilities being used, so I came to have a look after I deleted a bone sabre. You're welcome, by the way, since I saved you all." Brit now looked past Lance and at Luke. "Are you with these people?" she asked with a warm friendly smile.

Luke didn't understand the situation, but realised that he may have been saved by a crimson-haired goddess. He'd thought Anna was the picture of beauty, but her looks failed in comparison to this other girl. A little taller than Anna and quite a bit older than Luke, she glared at him with ocean-blue eyes. She had no GTs on her head either, like him. As they both looked at one another, her friendly smile faded into an irritated one and her hand on her sword clenched tighter. She was getting impatient, as Luke had done nothing but stare at her like some kind of puppy.

"We're not with these people. They are trying to delete us and take our XP and my master's class," Nebs spoke instead, as Luke felt weak in the knees.

"Get out of here, then. They won't lay a finger on either of you with me around." Brit moved her head to motion that Luke should leave up the stairs behind her.

Not wanting to waste time, Luke made a beeline for the exit. A close brush-in with the grim reaper was not what he wanted, yet he couldn't help wondering if he could have taken Lance in a one-on-one battle. Towards the end of their fight, it felt more game than life, the catalyst Luke would strive for.

"I'm not going to let you leave! Not after the effort I put in to being nice to you," screamed Anna. "Shadow swap." Anna appeared at Luke's side, catching him and Nebs unaware.