Flashy Adventurer System : Show Off to Get Stronger! - Chapter 628

Chapter 628: Demons
Shye felt danger coming from behind him and it was too late for him to react.

Hence, he immediately opted to activate his trusty skill [Stoic Lv.5] instead. Tanking an (S-) or (S) ranked monster’s attack with such a skill was dangerous.

However, it was the best protective skill available for human scouts like Reginald, whose strength attributes weren’t particularly high.

It not only provided effective defense but also allowed for counterattacks.

Only, Shye hadn’t expected that after feeling the satisfying dull thud, there was no wrist he could grab on to as what attacked was merely another phantom that could somehow emit a bloodthirsty aura.

Then, before he could make sense of what happened…

*BOOM!*

An explosion erupted behind him, sending a wave of scorching heat against his back. It didn’t hurt much.

However, no matter how minor, damage sustained is damage sustained. Reginald successfully drew first blood against him.

“Hoh, not bad, Regi… What a cunning combat style,” Shye said, a mix of annoyance and admiration in his voice.

A few meters in front of him stood his opponent, Reginald Bodan, who was examining his dagger leisurely.

“Hahaha! I’m flattered. Receiving a compliment from Shye Crowley of the Black Dawn—now I can die peacefully,” Regi joked.

However, after taking a hit, Shye, who was clearly in no mood for humor, took it as a taunt.

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was always something about Reginald that annoyed him slightly—probably the deep-seated arrogance in his demeanor and the occasional irksome sarcastic remarks he made.

‘Phew…fine. Let’s introduce ourselves properly, then, Reginald Bodan.’ Shye thought inwardly as he took one deep breath to calm his heart down.

From their first clash, he could tell that Reginald didn’t follow a mindless “speed reigns supreme” fighting style. Instead, he was extremely cunning and skilled at anticipating how his opponent would feel and think.

Shye realized he had to take the guy seriously and stay sharp during the fight. Otherwise, he would fall hook, line, and sinker into every trap Reginald set.

Furthermore, he still wasn’t sure if the damage he took this time represented Reginald’s true firepower.

He needed to stay vigilant and avoid underestimating the guy’s ability to deal damage.

After a series of reminders to himself, Shye was ready for another clash.

This time, he swiftly charged forward, not allowing Reginald to blend into the shadows once more.

“Oh sh*t…” Regi unknowingly cursed as he jumped back upon seeing Shye’s serious expression.

He couldn’t allow Shye to catch him.

Otherwise, based on the aura he felt from Shye’s casual attack on his phantom earlier, he would be destroyed in a single hit.

‘How the hell did this guy grow so strong in such a short time? Too damn scary…’ Regi thought inwardly as he retreated.

Reginald had never lost a spar, thanks to the talent he was born with.

His “Ego of the Undefeated” was also the reason why Shye was slightly irked at him for unknown reasons.

While Reginald respected Shye’s prowess in leading parties and slaying monsters as if Shye was a monstrous creature himself, he never believed he could lose to Shye in a duel.

This confidence sometimes led Reginald to make sarcastic remarks that, even unintentionally, would get under Shye’s skin.

Their status as allies and the impracticality of them clashing didn’t help.

Fortunately, Shye had the opportunity to resolve his inner conflicts and, hopefully, forge a closer bond with Reginald, who would stand beside him in the final battle.

…Shye’s attack hit nothing but air as Reginald successfully dodged.

However, he had no plans of giving the guy a moment of relaxation, continuously charging forward while hacking and slashing at his opponent.

With this, Reginald was forced to fight Shye head-on, revealing his prowess in terms of melee combat techniques.

He adeptly dodged, blocked, and parried most of Shye’s attacks, his footwork both graceful and immaculate.

It was as if he were a near replica of Siegfried, though considerably faster and somewhat weaker in terms of strength.

Naturally, Shye was impressed.

He was initially frustrated by the guy’s habit of lounging around almost every day.

In fact, Reginald didn’t even take on quests regularly, completing only one each month to keep his adventurer license from becoming inactive.

Such actions would naturally make one appear lazy in the eyes of others, which would not be appreciated by one’s allies or comrades.

As the saying goes, it’s not a strong enemy one should fear, but an incompetent ally.

This was the reason why Shye was forced to finally confront Reginald.

However, despite spending most of his time lounging around, the guy still proved to be remarkably competent.

Shye thought he had long left Regi in the dust, especially now that he bore a hero’s crest.

How could he have thought that the guy would still be so difficult to defeat?

He was both amazed and confused.

For around a minute and a half, Reginald continued flawlessly defending himself from Shye’s attacks, earning the young hero’s approval with each passing second.

“Hoh, it’s truly a wonder how you can fight so well despite lazing around all the time…” Shye said in a slightly taunting manner.

This time, it was Reginald who felt annoyed, as if Shye were looking down on him, despite their positions being reversed just a year ago.

In his imagination, at least.

“Hmph! Didn’t I tell you I’ve been training non-stop? How else do you think someone like me could keep up with you, oh mighty hero?” Reginald taunted back.

The fight was on.

It was time to address their mutual misunderstandings, as both seemed to have their egos hindering any chance of a deeper connection.

Shye ceased his attacks, realizing that trying to take Reginald down with such basic methods was futile.

As a result, The two ended up standing a few meters apart, their eyes locked and blazing with fighting spirit.

Soon, black and red vapor began to emanate from Reginald’s body as dark runes appeared on his left arm.

Meanwhile, Shye summoned a pair of blackish-transparent, decayed mana wings on his back, and a sinister black armor materialized on his chest.

It was as though two demonic beings were having a turf war in hell.