No more Heroes: Similarity and causality
Rank 25-24 aftermath
The storm started when he arrived at the blacksmiths. It was a thunder storm. And it was a big one. As he looked out along the lines of the tall buildings, he could see lightning strike an aerial on top of a tall concrete block of flats. He could hear it crackle all the way from his apartment building. That was powerful…
Storms like this were actually quite common in this area. Appearing out of nowhere with amazingly powerful lightning. Other than the assassinations, the lightning storms caused most of the obituaries. No-one yet knew the cause…
But right now Jordan couldn't care less. He knew that soon Melissa would call him with the location of his next challenger. He needed a weapon he could wield properly. Thanks to the two Romans, his sword was broken and he was defenceless to any new opponents. Consequently, his last opponents had also given him the means to get a new weapon. If he could sell their swords for a high price, he might even be able to get a better weapon that last time. And with a better weapon, it meant more efficient killing.
The blacksmiths was as hot and humid as ever from Isaac's work. Steam and smoke hung in the atmosphere as faint and familiar smells, intermingled with the other. The massive figure of Isaac himself could be seen working over a hot set of coals. He was tempted to tap the giant man on the shoulder, but he decided to play it safe and kept away. Isaac continued to heat some metal over the coals before he turned and moved toward the anvil, bringing down his mighty hammer on the metal, forming it into the short sharp blade. Finally, he dunked the metal in the water vat and a might hiss filled the air, ringing out around the small room. After he placed the sword on the wooden bench, he turned toward Jordan and gave a gruff grin.
"I figured you'd want to see me sooner or later. What can I do for you?" he inquired.
"I wanted to see what I could get for these two." As he offered the two short swords to the blacksmith. The large framed man picked the weapons up and examined them with the eye of an expert. After a while he looked back to Jordan.
"I'll give you a hundred and twenty pounds for each." He offered. Jordan's eyes lit up.
"Deal!" he exclaimed, holding his hands out for the cash. But he got none. Isaac chuckled.
"I'll give you your money when you've decided what you're going to buy from me." Jordan's eyebrows shot up.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"Well your empty sheath was a dead giveaway" he explained with a chuckle. Jordan groaned as he realised how obvious that was.
"Right… well what would you recommend?" Isaac turned and rooted through some stacks of weaponry. After a short while, he drew out a long gleaming slender sword.
"You seem to have done well with long quick swords. Try this." He said as he gave the sword to Jordan. Jordan took a few practice swings with it. The blade felt so easy to swing, yet from its gleaming edge, he guessed it was extremely sharp. The handle was wrapped in black ribbon with red diamond shapes in between ribbons. "The sword is known in Japan as "Singing Death." It looks like a work of art, but it harbours the power of the reaper himself." Cackled Isaac like some kind of witch doctor. Jordan just stared. "Well that's what they say anyway." He continued. "Oh, and it costs two hundred pounds." Came the stinging price words. Jordan flinched. That was practically all the money he had gotten for the swords. Well it wasn't like he had that much of a choice… and hey, he'd still have some money left over.
"Ok I'll take it Isaac." Jordan said. Isaac handed over Singing death and the four hundred pounds spare he had left. He also handed over his old sheath and took a new one. He pocketed the cash and sheathed Singing death. He didn't care for the name, but a sword was a sword no matter what you called it. And that was all he needed for the coming fights.
"So what rank are you at now?" inquired Isaac. That was odd…why would he be interested?
"Uh…rank 24th." He replied.
"Still a long way to go huh?"
"Yeah…long way" he almost lamented. Isaac clapped him on the back.
"Don't worry about it too much. You're a dab hand with that sword and I'll bet you could even get to the top someday." He encouraged. Jordan smiled at the bigger man.
"Thanks man." He responded before his phone went off. Jordan wondered if he should change the ringtone on it. The current one sounded a bit depressing. Then again, knowing who was calling, maybe that was fitting. He answered his cell.
"Hello Jordan. Are you well?" came the sterile voice of Melissa.
"I am for now…" he grumbled and he could swear he heard Melissa chuckle…
"Good. Anyway, your next fight has been set up. Head to the western outskirts of town and follow the sky." Follow the sky? What the hell did that mean? Before Jordan could ask, the line went as dead as his last opponents. He sighed and pocketed the cell before he left the blacksmiths. Isaac watched him go… and nodded at the man in the shadows, who has watched the unfolding events with extreme fascination.