BXBX NOVEL Chapter 148: Edward
Chapter 148: Edward
Argus said, facing a mirror-like glass that showed the room where the fight between the mirror doppelgänger and Adam just happened.
It was a one-way window, and it looked like just an ordinary white wall from inside the room. Thus, Adam couldn\'t tell that anyone was watching.
Albertson smiled beside the man and said, "Special people need special privileges. That\'s why we delayed every other Ordergiver promotion test to allow Adam to do it alone without any distractions."
"I am curious how he will fare against Beyonder," Argus said, touching his exotic mustache. "Can that be arranged?"
"Of course." Albertson said with a smile and left the room to make the necessary arrangements.
Argus stood up from his seat, then strode through another door and arrived at the other hidden room. There, from the window, he saw Adam waiting inside the room.
"He showed that he is decently skilled, but is that all?" Argus wondered with a frown. "I have seen S-rankers do their early tests, and so far, he is rather dull. Strong, for sure, but dull." Argus was in his late thirties, but he had already seen many young geniuses come and go. He had one of the sharpest eyes when it came to the talent and potential of the new recruits. He was awed whenever he saw the S-rankers do their early promotion tests, as they already showed signs of greatness from the get-go, but now he was in a dilemma.
Adam didn\'t bring him a feeling of awe, like the other S-rankers did.
Instead, he brought a feeling of uncertainty and doubt.
At the start of the Mortal Online, on its first days, only 100 players were allowed inside the New World. They were beta testers of sorts.
Argus was one of them.
Those hundred players eventually created the Mercenary Guild, and when more players started to enter the New World, they quickly established the hierarchy system and helped others to create their guilds.
Argus saw Konrad Moriarty\'s talent before anyone else did.
"What\'s with him?" Argus looked out of the window at Adam. "Why does he feel so ordinary?"
...
\'What\'s taking so long?\' Adam wondered while tapping his feet against the white floor. He had already been waiting inside this white room for nearly half an hour, yet it didn\'t look like the next test was about to start anytime soon.
However, as soon as he said that, the door on the opposite side of the room opened.
At the same time, a weapon dropped from the ceiling and landed beside his feet-it was a sword with a broad blade.
Adam picked it up and looked at his opponent.
His opponent entered the room, clad in nothing but a leather ragged outfit. It looked like it was made out of the worst material possible. He was also holding the same sword.
Szz...
The static voice said. "This time, you\'re facing a high-level Ordergiver. Do your best." \'Wait, this isn\'t the same test as I had to do in my past life.\' Adam frowned. \'Something is wrong.\'
"Tch, this sucks." His opponent suddenly said, scratching his dirty blond hair. "Fuck this." \'Huh?\' Adam frowned. \'What\'s with him?\'
Szz...
After the static, the voice said. "Edward, do you want to return to the Black Keep?"
"Fuck you," Edward said and pointed his middle finger all around him. "I\'m never going back there!"
"Then fight," the static voice said. "If you lose, you\'ll get thrown back there."
"Hmph," Edward turned his gaze to the black-haired young man and said, "You\'re unlucky one; I guess you made some enemies, haha!"
\'The Black Keep? Edward?\' Adam frowned. \'Is he one of the prisoners of the Black Keep? Why is he here?\'
"You must be confused; so am I." Edward approached him slowly while picking his ear and looking slightly annoyed.
"You\'re from the Black Keep?" Adam asked, keeping his sword ready.
"Yeah." Edward said and yawned. "They said if I defeat you, they\'ll give me back my freedom."
\'I guess they created a special test for me.\' Adam scoffed. \'Privileges of S-rankers, I suppose.\' "Let\'s get this over with." Edward stepped forward, his sword dangling in his hand.
He walked very casually, like he was taking a stroll in a summer-heated park with no care in the world.
Edward was taller than Adam and packed some muscle behind his dirty, leather rags.
He was either tanned or simply dirty; it was hard to tell. It looked like he hadn\'t showered for quite a while.
The lengths of his arms were covered in tattoos, and his armspan was immense, resembling that of a basketball player.
"I wonder what crime you committed." Adam said and moved to his sword-slashing stance. "Oh, you curious?" Edward laughed with his yellowish teeth peeking out from his smirk.
"It can\'t be too severe if they allow you to receive your freedom if you defeat me." Adam said.
"If you win, I\'ll tell you."
Edward said and then took another step closer; then, with a whip of his arm, he brought his
sword down.
Adam took a step back, allowing the sword to narrowly miss him.
"Heh!" Edward grabbed the sword with both hands and swung it heavily sideways.
It looked like he was using the sword like it was an axe!
Without having any intention of blocking that strike, Adam jumped backwards and evaded the
sword strike.
It would\'ve been suicide to try to block or parry that strike.
It looked like the strike would simply go through Adam\'s sword and then through his torso. It was destined to end badly.
\'It looks like his choice of weapon was an axe, not a sword.\' Adam thought, as it looked like Edward was not that experienced with swords.
Again, after his long swing ended, Edward brought his sword straight at Adam.
Once again, he was holding the sword two-handed and using all his strength.
Adam quickly sidestepped to avoid the oncoming blow. The sword missed him. He then quickly stepped towards Edward.
Edward\'s gaze shrunk slightly, and then they exchanged several blows, their swords clashing loudly. They were near each other, swinging their swords, and clashing one after another.
"Tch..." However, Edward looked like he was in a worse position.
With each clash, Adam\'s follow up attack took Edward by surprise, and he awkwardly managed to somehow block the attacks, but it looked like he couldn\'t do that much longer.
Edward backed off quickly and wanted to do another one of his mighty strikes, but Adam closed in and delivered another series of sword slashes that left Edward reeling. "God damn it, annoying!" Edward shouted and suddenly clapped his sword-wielding hand against his other open palm. "Clapping of Thunder!"
SMACK! "Argh!" Adam covered his ears in a futile attempt to block out the deafening sound.
It was the work of Edward\'s skill-Clapping of Thunder-that would momentarily deafen and disorientate his surrounding opponents!
"Ha!" Edward grabbed his sword tight and slashed at Adam\'s chest, the slash wound
stretching from his shoulder to his waist.
"Ngh!" Adam\'s eyes widened in surprise, and he reeled back with a bleeding waist.
"By the way, they lied to you." Edward grinned and launched at him. "I am not a high-level Ordergiver. I am Beyonder!"