Chapter 7: One head cut off
Riala returned from dropping off Hol and postponed the departure. Grabbing Flores by the arm, she dragged him through the castle, soon reaching a spiral staircase that descended.
"Why are you dragging me again?" Flores asked, not having the energy to deal with this situation.
"Because you need armor. We can't have you losing another limb before the wave begins. That will be a death sentence at this point." Riala explained. "Also, you can't fly."
"I guess I never did get a chance to fix my chainmail after the-... I'm sorry I can't wh-" Flores couldn't finish, as Riala jumped down the stairwell with him in tow.
As they fell, Riala spread her wings and slowed the descent as they reached the bottom.
"See. That was fun. And time-effective."
"Never do that again, please!"
"Heh. Sorry."
Scraping Flores off the ground, he saw a door with a hammer hitting an anvil on the front.
"Cadenza!"
"Agh!"
Riala kicked open the door, and a crash was heard on the other side. Peeking through the entrance? He saw the blacksmith had dropped her tools and was now mourning the loss of some molten metal on the ground.
"Was this a bad time?"
"My prototype. Why must you do this to me, your Riala?" The girl cried.
"Sorry, sorry, I'll get you a newsword, okay? I just found a client for you."
"Oh, a client?"
The girl stood up and dusted away some of the molten metal off her body like it wasn't currently on fire. She was average height for a woman and had fox-like ears. Her greatest feature was the six large tails, with several hammers poking out of them. Other than that, she just wore a black jumper and jacket.
"Flores. I'd like to introduce you to the royal blacksmith, and my sister Cadenza."
"I'm Flores. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Cadenza, but you already knew that, so I'm just wasting time by reintroducing myself... I'll stop now."
It's supposed to be a sly fox, not a shy fox. I don't know why this world surprises me anymore.
"Alright then. You two have fun." Riala left the room and closed the door.
"Okay then... I'm looking for some armor, and maybe some weapons to copy."
"Copy?" Cadenza then gasped. "You must be a hero. Wait, did something happen to paper?
"What no. I just got summoned."
"Summoned? Oh, my God! literally. You're the morale hero! Strongest support mage in the world. Master of several forms of instruments! The inventor of the taco!"
"Taco?"
"You're the successor of Miguel! Oh my god, it's a huge honor!" Cadenza ran at least 7 laps around Flores before coming to a stop.
"Oh my gosh, you're still so weak. No armor, missing an arm. And are you wearing loose clothing?! Who has been treating you like this?!"
"Myself... kind of."
"Oh, this will certainly not do. Here, follow me."
The option of following her wasn't a request. She just picked Flores up with one of her tails and carried him with her. It was very fluffy, but also startling for the poor hero.
"Let's see. 6 feet, 172 pounds. Age 19... Wait, no, 20."
"How did you-?"
"Knowledge of the body is what all tailors need to master. You have 6 scars, 4 stitches, and a body mass index of 24… wait. Right, 23.3"
"You got all of that from just carrying me?"
"Absolutely. The tail senses it all. With this knowledge in mind, I will start crafting you a set of armor immediately. I am thinking of a splint type of armor. We can drop the grieves if you like."
"Anything will do, but I need an armor piece right about now."
"Oh, I see. I'll prepare this one once you return. Feel free to take a chainmail and absorb some of the items in the room as well. I got flags, Pom Poms-."
"Pom Poms?"
"Yeah. Miguel said it's for morale as well,and he gave my master's master the schematics to build one."
"Huh. Well, I'll be damned." Looking through the basket of instruments, Flores indeed found a set of blue and gold pom-poms.
Weapon copy successful
Entertainers Pom Pom (B)
Abilities locked Equip Bonus: Agility +3, Defense +2
Skill: Cheer: Grant extra endurance to an ally or group of allies
"Alright. This is gonna take awhile." Flores cracked his knuckles as he began to copy every tool he could find. Many of which were flags that gave a basic boost. There was, however, one that gave him a new ability.
Weapon Copy Successful
Yang Sho Drum (B)
Abilities locked Equip Effect: Attack +2, Special effect: Drum Roll
Changing his weapon, a small red circular drum appeared in front of him. A strap was wrapped around his body and was currently holding the drum up. He also had a drumstick in his hand, it being a beige wooden stick.
"Oh, great. A drum."
"Is something wrong, hero?" Cadenza asked as she carried several boxes of ores.
"Nothing. I'm just not good at playing instruments. The best practice I've had were those drum lessons my grandma made me take at the mall."
"What's a mall?"
"Don't worry about it." Flores sighed. "I have so much to do."
"Don't be so glum, sir, hero. I failed over 2782 times before I made my first armor piece. Just ask Lady Sinclair, and she'll help you out with those instruments, no problem."
"Sinclair? Who's that?"
"Oh. Sinclair is the previous name of the head clan of Foo. The current leader was supposed to be Lizen, but... things happened." Cadenza chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Long story short. Neila was born, and the adopted child took place instead."
"Mihare is adopted?"
"That's what Lizen told us. She was abandoned in Rinoth, and the Sinclair family saved her. I feel bad for her, though. She spent half her childhood training, the rest on a mountain. Then she had to live her early adulthood trying to lead a nation's army pretty much all by herself. The pressure she's under must be heavy."
The Kitsune finally picked up a chainmail and stuffed it in Flores' hand.
"I'll have to ask her later. There's still one last flag here."
Weapon copy successful
Sterrite Flag (B)
Abilities locked Equip Bonus: +4 Agility, Spearmanship 1, Skill: Beginners Flourish
Swapping to the weapon. It was similar to a gray granite, with its banner being that of a comet streaking through the sky. When he checked out its stats, it was on par with the Ken'bitch banner and even came with its own skill.
He didn't know why it was called "beginners" flourish, but he put those thoughts to the side for the other ability. Spearmanship 1
Whenever he wielded the flag, it gave him a sense of mastery, or something akin to it. It was like basic spear-wielding was implanted in his head. And said knowledge would disappear whenever he swapped out. This obviously freaked him out a bit. Cadenza even looked worried as she saw the hero have a mini-panic.
What in the sleeper agent shit is this? Flores thought.
"I'm not sure what's going on, so here's your temporary armor until I make you a proper set. Also, some new clothes. These will replace your old ones."
"Umm yeah. Thanks. Hey, do you think you can do me a favor and try to restore my original as well?" Flores reached into his bag, taking out a very ripped-up outfit.
"Anything for you, sir hero." Cadenza gave me a salute. The same salute as the Ken'bitch military. Flores could only wonder who was lazy enough to copy them.
/~/
"All Aboard!" Riala shouted.
A black train with red streaks pulled up to the castle's backyard train station. Decked out in his new armor and clothing, Flores opened the train door.
"Where did you go?"
"Uhh..."
/~/
Earlier, in another world
A train fell from the sky and crashed into a floating airship.
"RIALA, WHAT THE FUCK!"
Opening the door of her train, Riala got out and picked up Hol.
"Relax; I remember to debuff myself this time. I'm just there to drop off Hol. Metaphorically and Literally." Riala positioned herself above a railing and dropped Hol onto the ground.
"Anyhow, I got to torture a man. Later, bitches, and Clara."
Instead of getting back into her train. Riala stood at the edge of the airship.
"I've always wanted to do this. Sing with me!"
/~/
"Places."
"...You confuse me. Either way, guess I'm the first to arrive."
"Not even close." Lizen seemingly appeared out of nowhere and jumped off the tree he was on. "I was in this tree the whole time."
"Why?"
"It's a great vantage point."
"…I will never begin to understand his thought process."
"Lizen is just weird. Don't mind him." Ricten insulted. As he arrived, he seemed to be wearing the same exact outfit, and somehow he brought even more weapons.
"Where's your armor?
"Being a monster, my skin is made of leather, which normal elephants can't achieve. This makes my body a natural armor."
"Wait, you're a monster? I thought you were some kind of half-human, half- monster thing." Flores placed his thumb on his chin.
"If Ricten is a monster, then that means Riala is a monster. And if Riala is a monster, then why the hell did Lizen have sex with a peryton?"
"Yes. Monsters as intelligent as myself can cast a form of transformation magic that gives up a human form."
"But don't you have to rhyme to do that?"
"It's called Shang Fo. The human tongue isn't the only language that exists." Ricten crossed his shoulders.
"He speaks the truth; monster speech does exist."
"I don't use it much. I prefer my fist."
Shiku and Leo had decided to join in. Shiku had kept her Shinobi outfit on, sleeves blown and all. Leo, on the other hand, changed his clothes to another ninja fit. This time, it was white and blue with a black strip across his waist.
"So what you're saying is something, something magic."
"Yes. Something something magic." Leo replied with disappointment.
/~/
The ride was uneventful. Flores scrolled through menu after menu to pass the time, but that only made him more bored. Free levels were fun and all, but he needed something entertaining.
"Hey... Where exactly are we going?" Flores asked.
"The nearest dark hydra base."
"Aren't they supposed to be secret?"
"Yes. I just tracked them down in every world and destroyed every operation they had. Serves them right." Lizen scoffed.
"...Okay then." Flores went back to his shield menu to let Lizen have his space. He noticed that the topic seemed hard on the man and decided not to press the question any further.
Flores fell asleep as the train ride went on for another hour. He dreamed of playing Arcadia Climax before being awoken by the train's whistle.
"Everyone, wake up! Things may get ugly, so be ready for anything!" Riala shouted.
Looking out the window, Flores saw that they were out of the forest and were in a town. Unlike Ken'bitch. Its formation was similar to that of a rice farm. A set of houses were built upon each hill, with people and carriages alike walking down the middle paved hill.
"Where are we?"
"Sterill. A town in Foo." Ricten answered.
"That building over there. It's one of their puppet taverns." Lizen added. Pointing to a tavern called the Adventurers Ass.
"These names are getting ridiculous." Flores grumbled as he followed the party.
Entering the tavern. They all got weird looks at first before everyone went back to partying. The tavern was filled with drunks, monsters, and humans alike. They were either playing darts, dancing to the music the bards sang, or being passed out on the ground.
"Ricten, Riala. We're going in first. Twins, be ready to intercept anyone suspicious." Lizen whispered.
"Since when were you the leader?"
"Just go." Ricten ushered Riala forward as they all sat down at the bar seat.
"New customers. What's the occasion?"
"Just a few heads trying to regrow on the main body."
"Just a few heads taking the place of the original."
"I see." The bartender handed Lizen a coin along with a mug. "It's nice to see new customers coming to this little tavern of mine. You'll need this for your room. Final door to the left."
The bartender pointed to a dark hallway, which Lizen, Riala, and Ricten walked towards.
With the seats opened again, Flores and the twins decided to sit there themselves. Waiting for their allies to return.
"Oh, you two are also new. May I ask the occasion?" The bartender asked.
"I just needed a place to rest. Things are not going my way."
"Because of the arm?"
"That and other things." Flores sighed. "You got any juice?"
"Sure, you don't want anything alcoholic?"
"I don't drink. Just juice, please."
"You got it, boss."
The bartender gave Flores a mug of strawberry-cucumber lemonade. He drank around 3 mugs before noticing that Shiku and Leo had disappeared. What's even weirder is that he saw himself entering the door of the tavern.
"Are you sure you didn't put any alcohol in this? I think I'm seeing double."
"None that I know of. What are-" The bartender did a double take as well. The new Flores who entered the building wore his old outfit and had no visible flag on his person. What he did have, however, was a choker he was currently fiddling with."
"Yakov. Send a message to the boss; tell him I failed to... shit."
"So you're the fake!"
"... Damn you, Katarina." The fake closed the door and ran at Flores.
"[Beginners Flourish!]"
Flores shot up and activated his skill. His weapon glowed as he swung it, but the fake slid under the attack and stepped to the side.
"Roundhouse kick!"
"Shit!" Flores summoned his paper arm and braced for the hit. Even with the block, however, he was knocked back and sent through the tavern wall.
"Okay then. That me is stronger than me. That dodge was pretty awesome too."
Flores instinctively rolled back as the fake leaped out and attacked.
Getting back to his feet, Flores sidestepped the attack and kneed the fake in the stomach. He then followed it up with a punch, but the fake fell back and dodged it. Rolling away before flipping back up to gain some distance.
"You know. They say imitation is the best form of flattery. But this is starting to get ridiculous." Flores grumbled. "Who the hell are you?" Flores demanded.
At the moment,. He was unsure whether he could actually take the fake in a fight. So his best option was to stall and wait for Shiku or Leo to return.
"Screw That. You're supposed to be dead!" The fake exclaimed, seemingly more shocked than the person he's imitating.
"Well, I lived, bitch."
"We'll fuck you too. Dealing with the original owner of this body wasn't on my t- do list today. Especially when the person is the damn Morale hero."
"Not my issue... well sort of because you transformed and-"
"Shut up! Look. I don't have the energy for this. How about we just both leave and never speak of this again?"
"You kicked me through a wall. Why the hell would I agree to that?"
"You lived, didn't you?"
"… you know what? [Attack Order]"
Flores deployed his golden circle and rushed at the fake.
"Let's hope this works." Focusing on his mana flow, he felt the magic flow from his arm to his tongue. Since his mastery of magic is still at an apprentice level, he didn't know how to micromanage both his arm and spells yet. So he opted to just send everything to his mouth instead, dispelling his arm for just a moment.
"Light of… Light shine… Damnit, what do I do… Got it! Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might. Be able to cast a beam of light."
Thrusting his spear forward, the fake moved and stepped to the side. Flores, however, feinted the attack and raised his leg.
"[Star Holy Ray!]" Flores kicked at Lee, sending a beam of light towards the fake. This obviously shocked him, as he was prepared for a spear.
"I got you!"
"Not a chance."
Despite being caught off guard, Lee's body used the sidestep momentum to narrowly flip over the beam. The fake then lunged at Flores and attacked with a kick, but Flores re-formed his paper arm and blocked the hit.
"Very crafty dodge, Anti Flores. Or do you prefer negative Flores?"
The fake leaped off his foot and performed a midair roundhouse kick on Flores's side, knocking him away.
"You know damn well this is a disguise." The fake groaned.
He attacked once again with a jumping axe kick, but Flores ducked and brought the brunt end of his flag into his stomach.
"Yeah yeah. Dark Hydra, something something organization. Something, something, the boys."
"What the hell? My autonomous instinct is supposed to auto dodge." The fake groaned.
"Oh. So that's how you dodged my feint. Thanks for telling me; I knew something was up."
Flores unleashed a flurry of skills and attacks. The fake dodged most of them. But whenever he dodged midair, Flores was able to capitalize on it and hit him.
"I've read a light novel about people with unique skills. After that, I sort of became an ability nut myself. It helps me find an ability's strengths and, most importantly, its weaknesses."
Flores made a horizontal slash. When the fake predictably jumped backward, Flores spun around quickly and thrust his flag forward.
"[Drill Run!]"
The fake deflected the hit away from his chest, but the attack still hit his stomach. Being launched back, the fake coughed up some blood as he got up.
"It seems that your auto dodge forces you to use the best dodge at the time. And since it's an auto dodge, you don't have a say in where your body moves."
Flores swept the ground with his flag, and as he expected, the fake jumped. Flores then turned around and kicked the fake in the stomach before he could land.
"And since a person only has a limited number of actions they can take to dodge certain attacks, all I have to do is dictate where you dodge and strike before your body has a moment to recover." Flores chuckled.
"It's funny. My teachers said I should read 'real books' so I could learn 'real material'. We'll look at me now, Mrs. Bailey."
"Well, fuck me." The fake groaned as he stood back up. He then suddenly pulled out a red potion and chugged all of its contents.
Flores watched the small hole from the drill run slowly close in.
He tried to stop it, but the fake ran forward and kicked him away first.
"I'd be damned if someone's Isekai addiction is enough to put me on the defensive."
"Last time I checked, Read or die isn't an ise- Wait a minute, how do you know what that-" Flores paused.
"His reaction to the "holy word" bitch. Knowledge of isekai. Autonomous instinct? No… it can't be."
"You. You're from another world too!?"
"What the! How did you? Oh, right. You're also from another world. What gave me away then?"
"The isekai line."
"Figures." The fake sighed. "Well, since you figured me out, I have no choice but to kill you."
"Then can you at least tell me who you are so I'm not left guessing?"
"My real name is classified. So you can call me by my code name. R. Lee." R. Lee smirked.
"… I'll just call you Lee."
"Also acceptable. Swift as a coursing river, with the force of a great typhoon!"
"You gotta be shitting me." Flores defended himself as Lee dashed forward.
"Increase my speed, and make me light as a balloon! [Star Lightweight!]"
Lee, with a newfound burst of speed, came at Flores with a punch. Flores swung his flag to proc Lee's auto dodge. But instead of a small jump, he slowly floated away.
"What?"
"It's funny. You know more about life force than magic? Usually, it's supposed to be the other way around." Lee taunted.
"Dance in the sky; allow me to fly!" [Star Wind Step!]" similar to Mihare. Lee stepped on the air and used it as a platform to fly back at Flores, kicking him into the ground.
Lee continued to pummel Flores on the ground until he was forced to dodge another flag strike. Once he landed, he wasted no time and started to charge Flores once more.
"Swift as the wind and force of a bear. Boost me forward and break through the air! [Star Backwind Vector Burst!]"
Piercing through the wind like an arrow. All the wind that would usually slow him down surrounded him as he kicked Flores.
Even with him blocking the hit, Flores felt the forceful, speeding car crash into him.
"[Wild Winds: Leaf Hurricane!]"
"Oh, I get the name now." Flores' eyes widened as the wind surrounding Lee flowed into his foot. Recovering from the last hit. Flores could only brace himself as a roundhouse kick was inches away from hitting his face.
/~/
"Alright bartender. Where did he go?"
"Sister please. Do not make a show." Leo sighed as his sister held the collar of the bartender.
Suddenly. Flores crashed through the wall once again and laid on the floor in pain. "Ughh. Where the hell were you two?"
"Uhh..."
/~/
"Damn it, Shiku. Stop chasing after the royal messenger. You have more dignity for this!" Leo exclaimed.
/~/
"Places." Shiku flushed.
"What about you? You look quite beat."
"Is there an-"
"Enough with the rhymes. Tag out!"
"Tag out wha-"
"Dynamic Entry!" Leaping out of the smoke, he launched himself at Leo with a flying kick.
Leo prepared to dodge, but Shiku had moved in front of him and taken the hit. Her arms turned into a sandstone-like substance as sand slowly started to fall from her arms.
"What the? Isn't Flores...?" Shiku looked back and forth between the two Flores.
"Come on, sister. He's obviously the fake."
"I knew he was here! Locomotive Crash!" Riala burst out of the ground and sent her train down at Lee.
"[Star Wind Step!]"
Lee jumped off Shiku, then landed on the train. Ignoring every law of physics, Flores knows. The fake ran up the train until he used the edge as a platform to make his way towards Riala.
"[Wild Winds: Hot Wind!]"
Clang
'Wait a minute I touched the train. Damn it, why didn't I-'
Lee's thoughts were interrupted by a barrage of blades and arrows flying towards him. Leaning back. Lee used a combination of wind steps and high-speed movement to dodge or block the blades and arrows.
When he finally landed,. Over a hundred daggers and arrows landed on the ground with him.
"What the hell is with you people?" Lee exclaimed.
As he turned around. Lizen and Ricten jumped off the roof, with Leo, Shiku, and Flores following shortly behind.
"Well. He dodged everything we sent at him."
"Who said that was everything?" Ricten laughed as he produced more weapons from his sleeves.
"He has something called auto-dodging. His body will automatically position itself into a dodge." Flores slowly stood up and changed weapons to his Yang Sho Drum. "
"Shiku, Ricten. Prevent his escape."
"Right!"
Shiku was the first to move. Slamming the ground, she sent a wave that distorted the ground. Ricten followed behind, drawing swords as he attacked the fake.
"Everyone else. We need to overwhelm him; give him nowhere to dodge."
"Finally giving orders, I see. I'm proud, Flores. Nox!" Nox filled the prism with his electrical energy as Lizen loaded it onto a normal arrow. He then pulled out a charm disk and placed it on the arrow as well.
"Oh, I'll also have fun with this." Riala's train transformed into a railcar that had several miniguns and cannons on top.
"This is a weird situation indeed. Spirit of the earth, I call out to you. Descend and come forth; let the way become true. I pledge my heart to the earth and land and call upon a great plateau of sand. With the might of the world and my magic one, gather it all and make him run."
The three stepped forward, all of them ready to release their attack. Flores couldn't help looking at them in awe, but he soon snapped himself out and did his own prep.
"Attack Order!" Dropping the field of gold, Flores pointed my hand at Lee. Still being attacked by Ricten and Shiku. Flores waited for the perfect moment so he could start the attack.
"Wait. Who do I shoot again?"
"Shut up, I'm—the hell do you mean, who do you shoot, the guy who looks like me?"
Lizen chuckled as he slowly pointed his bow at Flores. Flores, however, was not amused and quickly pushed it back.
"Now. Steady." Flores watched on as the two monsters fought the fake. It was incredible. The way they moved and attacked enticed him in a way no anime or manga could.
He couldn't be fully entranced by their moves, however. He was still searching for a proper moment to strike. A moment that would appear the second Lee flipped into the air.
"NOW!"
"Galaxy Sand Storm!"
"Skybound Storm Call!"
"Gatling Cannon!"
"I don't know what this does, so Drum Roll!"
Leo was the first to move. When Shiku and Ricten lept out of the way, he conjured a whirlwind of sand that crashed into Lee's position. Being mid-flip as the storm crashed down, he had no way to dodge and was knocked to the ground.
With his movement and vision limited, Riala and Lizen wasted no time and attacked as well.
Shooting his arrow into the air. The prism and charmes started to rain down bolts of lightning into the storm.
Flores' attack wasn't as powerful as the rest. When he hit the drum, it sent a singular sour note that slowly flew into the storm as well. Riala picked up the slack, however, as she opened fire with every single weapon she had.
Not being able to see, Flores could only hope that the plan actually worked. His worries came to an end, though, as he heard shouts of pain from the storm behind him.
Once the tornado subsided,. The man came out, barely standing. Riddled with bullet holes, burns, and static electricity from the lightning. How he survived everything was beyond Flores' reason. All he knew was that he's still alive, and the battle wasn't over just yet.
"Shiku, grab him now!"
"On it. Spirit of the Lion, hear me roar!" Shiku disappeared in a cloud of smoke and reappeared as a white lion with a very fluffy mane. Pouncing onto Lee, his injured body was unable to dodge, and he was quickly pinned to the ground.
Falling along with his disguise. The once-fake Flores suddenly turned into a black-haired man wearing green clothing. Flores couldn't help but chuckle as everyone else looked confused.
"Ricten, Help Shiku hold him down. Lizen, you're with me. Riala and Leo, just chill out there."
Walking forward with Lizen by his side. Flores held the flag's spike to Lee's throat while he cleared his own.
"Alright Lee. Start talking."
"Ha… not a chance. Kill me for all I care; it won't matter in the long run."
"So you don't value your life." Flores thought for a moment before looking over to Lizen.
"Well. He is our resident torture master… Why do I consider that a good thing?"
"Bring him to the train. Lizen, he's all yours."
"On it, commander."
"Don't call me that." Flores grumbled as he walked off.
"Congratulations! You're now a contestant in a game I like to call quick death, slow death! Give us what we want, and you die fast. If your answer isn't satisfactory through... well, I guess you can put together the rest."
Lizen chanted a quick rhyme and summoned a black cloud above us.
"So. Let's do a test run, shall we?"
"Wait what. No, don- AGHH!."
/~/
Extra Story: Identification
"Okay. So which one is Shiku and which one is Leo?"
"I am Shiku, the brawler of stone. You can recognize me by the sleeves I have blown. I'm always the first one to start the rhymes, so if you hear one talking, it's usually me who chimes."
"I am Leo, the mage of the land. Unlike my sister, my clothes haven't lost a strand. I second to speak and to others, quite meek. But when we talk normally, I am always the first to speak."
"Liden, translation."
"Ugh." Lizen sighed. To start, Shiku is brash, rash, and dresses like trash. If the sleeves are missing, you can identify her fast."
"Was that on purpose?"
"Yes. Now Leo is meek and quite a geek, so the caster is the way he goes. He wears long sleeves to protect his knees. And that explains how we know."
"...I'm too tired for this."
